Editor’s Note: PoliceOne “First Person” essays are the place where P1 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. This week’s feature is from P1 Member Brandon Roberts of the Waldo (Fla.) Police Department. Do you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members? Send us an e-mail with your story.
By Brandon S. Roberts
Waldo (Fla.) Police Department
I recently relocated to a new agency where not a whole lot of interdiction has been worked in the past. Yes, there are officers here who love working drugs, and are darn good at getting the small user or street-level pops. The question that usually comes is: why haven’t we found a big a load? In my opinion, it is all about your mindset.
We all know what dopers look like, and let’s face it most officers do look at certain stereo types and automatically assume there are drugs in the car. I am not talking about racial profiling. I am talking about profiling a way of dressing or style of car. How many times have you pulled up behind the car with the Grateful Dead sticker on the back window and said to yourself, “oh yeah, there is weed in this car.”
How about pulling up next to the lime green bubble Chevy with dark windows you can’t even see into, the stereo booming, and wheels so big they have to jack up the car’s suspension, and thought to yourself, “Hmmm, there is probably some dope in there.”
Some of the time you are correct, but what do you get out of it? Maybe a blunt, some shake, or a couple rocks? Then you get angry you haven’t hit the big loads.
Officers tend to get in that mindset, stereotyping the typical street level user or dealer, and associating that with mules. Unfortunately, for the most part, you are wrong to assume that. Do you think your smugglers really want to stand out riding on 22’s or with stickers common to the “user” type? Heck no! They want to bend in with the typical motoring public.
Over the last month or so, I have made a decent dealer load about once a week. For the most part, they have been your average everyday, run-of-the-mill car. Nothing special — just blended right in. They have also been your average, blend-in-with-the-woodwork type people. They don’t stand out — their appearances doesn’t scream, “I’M A DRUG DEALER!”
If you are an officer who is interested in going above the street level pops and getting the people who supply your local street level dealers, you have to have an open mind, and you have to look for things other than physical look of the car, or the way someone dresses.
Once you break free of the stereotyping, you will start to notice that your seizure levels will increase. Happy hunting!
