Editor’s Note: This week’s PoliceOne First Person essay is from PoliceOne Member Mike Wright, a 23-year veteran of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (Reno, Nevada). In PoliceOne “First Person” essays, our Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which individual officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. If you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members, simply send us an e-mail with your story.
By Mike Wright
Police1 Member
Drug trafficking organizations are complex organizations with highly defined command-and- control structures that produce, transport and distribute large quantities of one or more illicit drugs. The menace of drug trafficking continues to evolve with the changing world politics, but will always be fueled by historic vices, such as greed and lust for power.
While many countries are justifiably preoccupied with the threat of international terrorism, Mexico is under siege by the drug cartels that are battling for control of an estimated $10B to $30B per year U.S. market.
This battle has been highlighted by a spike in violence, which in many cases, continues to bleed over into the United States.
The HIDTA Program
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the nation have diligently defended our communities and country by taking the fight to drug traffickers for several decades.
While there have been many successes in these battles, the nation’s top law enforcement officials and policy makers have recognized that a sustainable progress toward victory is not possible without an efficient and collaborative effort. As a result, national leaders have concluded that a multitude of departments and agencies fighting the drug war would benefit from the existence of a neutral body that shares common goals and promotes law enforcement coordination, as well as the exchange of information.
This recognition led to the creation of the National Drug Control Policy and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
As a result of this creation, we now have thousands of additional law enforcement personnel helping to disrupt the market for illegal drugs, by dismantling or disrupting drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.
In addition to a surge of violence toward the law enforcement profession in general, there has been a recent surge of violence toward officers working highway interdiction. If you work highway interdiction, you need to consider the following:
1.) While the vehicle you just stopped could potentially contain the average, hard-working citizen, it could also contain drugs, illegal contraband, money associated with drug proceeds, fugitive(s), escapee(s) or a multitude of other high-risk factors.
2.) We are also seeing an increase in secondary vehicles, such as decoy vehicles, counter surveillance vehicles ,and vehicles containing criminals armed and paid to protect t these loads.
Interdiction Safety Considerations
As an interdiction supervisor, my biggest concern is that each one of my officers ends their respective shifts daily, without being attacked or targeted, and arrives home safely.
Due to the heightened risks and complexity of these types of investigative stops, I feel it is imperative that every officer displays an even higher degree of self awareness and officer safety. I also feel that the more we think and talk about this subject, the more we are mentally and physically prepared to combat these types of threats and attacks.
Based on industry tactics, practices, and personal experiences, I still think we can learn a great deal when it comes to safety during investigative interdiction stops.
As an industry, we are taught varying tactics when performing traffic stops or conducting vehicle searches. I believe that many of you are already utilizing some of the tactics mentioned, in a similar or slightly different way. Below is a list of safety considerations and reminders for consideration while conducting interdiction investigative stops.
Preparing for the Stop — Time should be on your side, so attempt to make the stop at a familiar location. Do not rush the stop. Wait for additional units prior to the stop, not after the stop.
If unable to do so, take control of the stop and then move it to a desired location. This is your home turf, so think about lighting and a sufficient wide spot that will allow you to conduct your business safely; search of the vehicle and placement of contents, as well as room for K-9 deployment.
Also be cognizant of your surroundings when exiting your patrol vehicle, recognizing possible traffic or threats approaching from the rear.
If a K-9 will be involved, which is always a possibility, the K-9 team must have a safe location, away from traffic, where the K-9 team can work around the vehicle.
Vehicle Positioning — Several times within the last few years, numerous patrol cars have been impacted or aggressively rammed during interdiction stops. This is a direct result of driver inattention, or vehicles driven by criminal associates hired to protect dope, money, and illegal contraband loads.
You might consider an extended distance of two to three car links — you can always re-position at a later time. Take advantage of your emergency lighting to the rear and utilize to your full advantage, using takedowns and spots even during daylight hours.
Offset your vehicle and turn your patrol vehicle wheels outward to help lessen the chance of being struck by your own vehicle, if it is impacted from the rear. The offset should also help provide a barrier if a passing vehicle steers to close and provide an acceptable safety search zone for K-9 deployment.
Approach and Occupant Contact — Upon exiting, look in the rearview mirror for approaching traffic. Watch for secondary vehicles associated to your stops. Three words are important to your survival: “right-side approach”.
A right-side approach is significantly safer for three reasons. First, the occupants think that you are approaching from the left. Second, a right-side approach allows a better field of view of the occupants, especially the driver. Third, you are away from passing traffic that has historically hit officers, resulting in their injury or death.
As noted K-9 tactics expert Terry Fleck says, “Left side approaches gets you dead.”
Occupant Placement and Vehicle Search — Occupant placement is priority. Placement considerations depend on many factors, such as how many occupants, weather conditions, how many officers and patrol units on scene, K-9 unit on scene, and whatnot.
Understanding that not all agencies are in a position to have more than one to two officers on scene, the components of suspect placement are critical to everyone’s safety. Too often I see occupant(s) left unattended at various locations at the stop.
Never Search Alone — You cannot search and cover occupants at the same time! Studies of K-9 officers show that searching alone is a common factor that has gotten officers shot or killed.
Continuously check your six, constantly looking behind the stop for potential threats. Never leave the suspect unattended and make every attempt possible to have a dedicated officer to perform nothing but watch duties.
I see unattended vehicle occupants time after time, and there is no excuse for this. Never place yourself or occupants between the stopped vehicle and your vehicle. As mentioned above, numerous patrol cars have been impacted during interdiction stops. That impact may push your vehicle into the stopped vehicle, crushing anyone in between.
Think about this: Each one of our patrol units at the scene of an interdiction stop is a potential and enormous threat to our own safety.
During an interdiction stop, many officers leave their patrol units unlocked, unattended, and idling. A determined person could potentially use your vehicle for escape or as a device that could severely injure or kill you.
Even with the advent of idle kill switches, a determined person still has the ability to remove your shotgun or rifle, which in turn could have devastating consequences.
In Closing...
I would like you to remember one very important thing. We tend to get too wrapped up in the stop and search, causing some to let down their guard. This is also referred to as “tunnel vision,” tunneling in on something that draws our attention and forgetting about everything else.
Please stay focused, and remember: “I’m going home!”
About the Author
Mike Wright is a 23-year veteran of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (Reno, Nevada). He spent 15-years on the SWAT team as an operator, Tactical K-9 handler, team leader and supervisor. He has been a K-9 handler for 17- years, served as a handler, trainer, has worked 3-PSDs and is currently the K-9 unit supervisor and the Northern Nevada Interdiction Task Force supervisor for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
