- During an interaction with an officer, try to remain calm. Try to control your emotions. No knee-jerk reactions.
- During a police stop, let the officer speak first so you can determine what is going on first.
- During a police stop, always ask if you are free to leave. If you are not free to leave, you are being detained. During a detainment, if you are asked questions that could potentially lead to you being arrested, then request to have an attorney present. You should consider any questions asked as potential investigative questions and you should be careful about answering the questions.
- If you do not want to answer questions indicate that you choose to remain silent.
- Speak clearly and loudly enough so the officer can hear you if you choose to speak.
- Do not argue with the officer, even if you are right. You can respectfully correct the officer if the officer is wrong. Once you have stated that you disagree with the officer’s comments or actions, remain silent. Your best challenge to an officer’s actions is through filing a complaint against the officer, not a debate or fight with the officer on the street.
- If you have a question about the officer’s actions that are not resolved, request a supervisor to respond to the scene and remain silent.
- Peacefully assert your rights (right to remain silent, right to refuse to give consent, right to have a lawyer present during questioning, right to know charges, right to ask for a supervisor to come to the scene, right to ask for the officer’s name and badge number, right to file a complaint against an officer).
- Remember, your goal during any police officer interaction is to remain safe and to safely end the contact as quickly as possible. Sometimes compliance with the officer’s request, without compromising your rights, is the quickest way to end the encounter.
- Always listen more than you speak. Your role during the encounter with a police officer is to focus on what the officer says and does during the encounter. This will be important if you decide to file a complaint against the officer because the officer’s actions caused you concern.
- Always write down the details of your encounter with an officer after the encounter ends. That is the best way to ensure that you remember what happened during the encounter. Remember the 5 Ws – Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Be honest about your actions and comments.
- Be aware of your movements and what you are communicating through your movements. What you think is a harmless movement may be interpreted differently.
- If an officer is pulling you over and you feel unsafe to do so, call 911. Tell the operator that you are being pulled over, you are not sure of the officer or the surroundings, and you want the 911 operator to confirm the stop and stay on the line. Pull over, do not hang up the phone, place the phone on the dashboard, and inform the officer that you are on the phone with 911.
- The Body Worn Camera (BWC) does not capture everything that happens during an encounter and only provides a certain perspective. Your point of view is always important. Your point of view includes what you saw, how you felt, and what you heard.
- Remember, you only have 365 days to file a complaint with the ACRB against an officer for alleged misconduct. The sooner you file a complaint, the better.
- Remember, your actions can cause a reaction. Do not let fear control your actions.
- Do not get baited into an action.
- Do not physically resist the officer. If you believe the officer is wrong, fight by filing a complaint.
- Remember, you can always file a complaint against an officer if you believe the officer has taken an action that violated your rights. Use the ACRB process. You must be a part of the process to hold officers accountable.
- The purpose of a complaint is to correct officer behavior as needed. The outcome of an investigated complaint can mean correction for an officer, discipline as needed, and clarification of whether the officer’s actions were legal and justified.
- Signing a ticket or citation is not an admission of guilt. Your signature is in lieu of an arrest and acknowledges that you received the citation. The Georgia law requires it!
- Practice these tips! Reading the tips is not enough.
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Atlanta, GA 30303