From time to time, we get inquiries from parents (especially in interethnic adoption situations) about how to have "the talk" with teens about what to do in the case of a police pull-over. Our friend, Eric Muldrow (from Code Red Conversations) came on to talk about how to do this and not transfer the traumas of past generations onto the current generation.
Eric Muldrow is a longtime friend of the ministry and is the host of Code Red Conversations. Eric brings many years of knowledge and experience in law enforcement and corrections to help us navigate this topic.
What are some of the most common reasons people get pulled over?
Typically, it’s a routine traffic violation, such as speeding, unsafe lane change, broken tail light, etc
How can we understand police use of force?
From the Johnson article linked in the resources section:
Approximately, 385 million police-to-citizen contacts per year
Of these contacts, officers made approximately 11 million arrests
Officers were assaulted about 48,000 times
Approximately 990 deaths of citizens occurred
These numbers equate to 0.0003% of deaths in all the police-to-citizen contacts
In other words, “deaths from police use of force are very unfortunate, often unavoidable, and extremely rare” (Johnson, Dispelling Myths).
What is a police officer’s mindset when going into a citizen encounter/traffic stop?
Multi-faceted!
Cautious, mindful of the setting and all that is going on; SAFETY is the first priority!
Yes, there are certainly bad cops who have ill intentions, but this is rare!
What should a citizen do if they are pulled over?
Don’t panic!
Slowly pull the car over to a safe place on the side of the road, put the car in park, roll down the window, and keep your hands visible while the officer walks over to talk with you
Answer questions and follow police officer’s commands in a respectful and professional manner; a pleasant attitude and demeanor can go a long way!
Video clips from Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police:
Remember, there are two sides to every story
Even when a person is displaying a lot of emotion, don’t be swayed by the narrative alone; remember to base your conclusion on the facts/data
How young is too young to have conversations with children about interactions with the police?
It’s up to each parent’s discretion and the maturity of the child; however, if the child is old enough to play outside unsupervised, it may be good to have a simple conversation about how to interact with the police
Each city/jurisdiction has specific guidelines regarding law enforcement’s ability to have interactions/conversations with children; find out what the law states in your area!
Teach children they should not be afraid of the police!
“The Talk” is not only for black kids, it’s for ALL kids to learn how to be respectful and courteous to adults in authority
Resources:
Eric's course: The Citizen's Guide to Fearless Police Encounters:
Article: Dispelling the Myths Surrounding Police Use of Lethal Force: https://www.dolanconsultinggroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Dispelling_Myths.pdf
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