In Monday’s P1 Member tip, a California officer recommended that prior to a body search, you ask the subject, “Do you have anything on you that I should know about?” Good advice. Something else to keep in mind is the fact that the way you ask that question — and ones like — it can sometimes play a considerable role in their effectiveness.
At ILEETA 2011 in April, I attended a great presentation by Lou Tessman, a retired cop from Waukegan (Ill.), who said that when it comes to skillfully enticing a suspect to unwittingly reveal wrongdoing, an approach to consider involves beginning with a series of ludicrous questions that can help relax him and lull him into a less defensive mindset while giving you an opportunity to monitor the pacing of answers and the level of stress revealed while answering. This can be particularly effective during traffic stops that involve a suspicious driver who you sense might be transporting contraband.
Start off with something like, “Before I address your speed violation, I’m told by my bosses that I need to ask if you’re carrying any bazookas, hand grenades, rocket launchers or missiles in your vehicle?” You’ll likely get some kind of snicker and a relaxed and quickly-delivered response.
Once you get a negative, follow with another. “How about huge piles of cash? Is your trunk loaded with millions of dollars?” You’ll probably get another quickly offered and relaxed response like, “Ha. Yea, right. I wish. Nope. No huge piles of cash.”
Now you can establish some rapport with, “Tell me about it. Believe me, I know how you feel, buddy. I hate having to ask these things, but you know, you get a memo from the bosses and you’ve just got to grin and bear it.”
You pause a beat, and then say, “How about bodies? Got any of those lying around?”
“Nope.”
You’ve now had an opportunity to see how the driver responds — repeatedly — in a relaxed fashion. Now, move into a laser-focused question but continue to maintain a non-threatening feel about the “discussion,” by couching it as something you don’t really want to ask, but have to.
“OK, so now the agency makes me ask you seriously whether you have anything in your vehicle that is illegal? I hate asking that question, but I have to. Do you have anything illegal in your vehicle?” Pay very close attention to the timing and tone of the answer. If he’s got nothing to hide, he would have no reason to get tripped up here. Does the answer match the timing and tone of the relaxed answers you got earlier? Does the driver now pause and give indication that he’s suddenly gotten nervous? If so, your suspicion may be confirmed.
