I was recently speaking with a law enforcement friend of mine about an observation each of us has made more than once when watching dash cam video — and in my most recent case, an encounter happening live, right in front of me, on a sidewalk in a Bay Area city — which can potentially cause problems.
Most times, when an officer has the mic clipped to the epaulette on his or her shoulder, it’s on the “support side” of the body — the holster is on the opposite side. Often, it seems, in an effort (it seems) to have slightly more covert radio communications during the contact, an officer will turn his or her head away from the subject somewhat in order to speak into the mic.
The argument made to me once was that “the subject is still in the peripheral vision, and any movement will be detected.”
Eyes on Target
I don’t know if I’m totally on board with that argument, but that’s what I’ve been told. I happen to think that if you’re speaking (or listening) intently with your eyes directed away from the subject, you’re closer to the awareness level of a distracted driver than a switched-on cop, but that’s not the point I want to make here.
Here’s the crux of today’s tip. On several occasions, both me and my buddy have seen cops not only look away from a subject to speak into that microphone, but rotate their upper body so much (and even unknowingly reverse their bladed stance) so as to basically “present” that holster side to the subject.
The most recent time I saw that happen, I flat out stopped in my tracks and watched the five-minute-long contact with my jaw on my clavicle. Not only was this cop’s head turned completely away from the subject, his “strong side” hand was not on the butt of the pistol. It was keying the microphone!
From my little square of sidewalk across the street, I basically took a covert cover position for that solo officer. Nobody but me was aware of my little act of vigilance — well, until now, I guess.
The 10,000th Time
I would bet a waist-high stack of green money that this officer has safely conducted no fewer that 9,998 similar sidewalk contacts. Perhaps I just watched number 9,999... which also ended without incident. The officer quickly got into his squad and took off before I could get up the courage to cross the street and let him know what I saw.
I stood there, thinking to myself, “If that subject had the intent, and some level of skill, he’d have had a decent shot of disarming that officer.”
Then the fight would be ON, almost certainly involving me jumping into the fray. One bad guy, one good guy, and one dumb-assed Police1 Editor just begging to get his nose busted again.
Courageous Conversations
I’m ashamed to admit it, but the facts are the facts: My concern about him being angry at me for offering my observation paralyzed me — prevented me from pointing out a way he could better ensure his safety next time.
I’ve been kicking myself in the ass for my failure every day since.
So I resolved to write about it.
If I couldn’t help that one cop with a frank discussion (that probably would have ended up with him just pissed off), I would help everyone on Police1 instead.
If you insist on turning your head toward that mic on your shoulder, be aware of what’s happening to the rest of your body. Hell, try doing it in front of a full-length mirror.
Possible Solutions
Perhaps you can create some greater distance between yourself and the subject. Perhaps you can actually exaggerate your bladed stance such that your “support side” shoulder is actually blocking your speech somewhat, even as you look directly over that shoulder at your subject. There are probably five different solutions to this problem, and the point here it to get Police1 Members to offer their thoughts in the comments area below.
Regardless of what solution you choose, use that “support side” paw to key the mic and keep that “strong side” mitt free to quickly grip the butt of the pistol, okay?
Stay safe out there my friends.
