“I want to speak with your supervisor.”
When someone makes that request during a traffic stop or other police encounter, the officer’s response may depend on agency policy and the circumstances.
Police1 readers had different views on how it should be handled. Some said the request should not interrupt a lawful stop. Others said calling a supervisor can provide another set of eyes.
The discussion followed the Police1 article, “I want to speak with your supervisor: Addressing a growing trend in police encounters,” which noted that there is no general federal right to have a supervisor respond simply because someone asks. Department policy, however, may require or encourage supervisory involvement in certain circumstances.
After Police1 asked readers how they handle these requests, the question generated more than 4,000 Facebook comments.
Readers say the stop should continue
Many readers said they would finish the traffic stop before directing the person to a supervisor or the agency’s complaint process.
“After I am done, you can go see him back at the station. We don’t do these debates on the side of the road,” one reader wrote.
Another said the roadside is not the place to challenge an officer’s decision.
“There is no right constitutional or otherwise to talk to a supervisor,” the reader wrote. “Unless it’s in policy or a practice, the side of the road or a scene is not the time or place for a debate. They can call later or go to the department.”
Other readers pointed to the formal complaint process as the appropriate option for someone who believes an officer acted improperly.
“I think the problem is people consume all these videos on YouTube and think that their demand for a supervisor needs to be met,” one reader wrote. “There is a formal complaint process. Use it if you feel there was something not done properly.”
Another suggested providing the department’s contact information before continuing the stop.
“Tell the citizens that they can contact a supervisor after the traffic stop,” the reader wrote. “Give them the department number and continue on doing your job. Simple.”
Calling a supervisor does not have to delay enforcement
Some readers said they would notify a supervisor while continuing the investigation or planned enforcement action.
“I call the supervisor as requested and then I continue with any planned enforcement action without delay,” one reader wrote. “A request for supervision will not delay anything.”
One former supervisor said the reader’s agency required a supervisor to respond when requested. That did not mean the officer had to stop writing citations while waiting.
“My agency had an SOP that you had to call the supervisor if requested, and that a supervisor was required to respond,” the reader wrote. “As a supervisor though, I always told them to start writing the necessary tickets while they wait.”
Another former sergeant described remaining available without taking control away from the officer handling the stop.
“When I was a sergeant, I told a driver, ‘You deal with my officer. I’ll step in if anything happens that needs correcting,’” the reader wrote.
Readers point to agency policy
Several readers said there is no universal response because agency policies and supervisory expectations differ.
“Depends on what your department policy says,” one reader wrote. “Mine said not required they can go see them at the station.”
Another reader, who works in corrections, said most encounters do not require a supervisor.
“I usually tell them a supervisor isn’t required for our interaction and handle it according to our laws and policy,” the reader wrote. “Most encounters do not require a supervisor. I also work corrections so things are different.”
Can another set of eyes prevent a bigger problem?
Some readers said calling a supervisor can be useful, particularly when a newer officer may be making a mistake.
“Sometimes it’s necessary,” one reader wrote. “Sometimes the rookie officer is way over his head and doesn’t know what to do. Sometimes a supervisor can save the rookie from a costly lawsuit and an end to his career.”
Another reader described encounters in which a supervisor corrected an officer who sought identification from a passenger who was not suspected of a crime.
“Only if one is violating my rights is when I ask,” the reader wrote. “I’ve had Sergeants tell their subordinates they ‘could not ID me since I was not suspected of a crime.’ Multiple times I was the passenger and some rookie wanted my ID...nope!! Not getting it. And it took a Sergeant to correct their mistake.”
For some, the officer’s demeanor mattered more than whether a supervisor responded.
“Stay calm and collected,” one reader wrote. “We treat the public like ladies and gentlemen not because they are but because we are. Staying calm and professional is how you stay safe.”
When the supervisor is already on scene
Several ranking officers said people sometimes ask for a sergeant without realizing they are already speaking to a supervisor.
“I ran calls with my officers,” one reader wrote. “When someone asked to speak to your supervisor, my answer was….I’m listening.”
A lieutenant had a similar response: “I like when I tell them I’m the lieutenant and they still ask for my sergeant.”
Whether a supervisor responds often comes down to agency policy. Readers largely agreed on one point: The request should not stop the officer from completing the traffic stop or other enforcement action.
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Police1 readers respond:
- I had this happen twice in hundreds and hundreds of stops. I told the driver that once we got done I would give her my card, and she was free to call in and ask to speak with the Command Sergeant when she got home. (This was before cell phones.) But we weren’t going to spend half an hour on the side of the road waiting for him to show up, so he could watch me write a ticket. And if she wanted to refuse to comply she was going to jail.
- My Sgt told us ahead of time that he would, in most cases, not come to a roadside stop unless the officer wanted to him to. The citizen was told to contact the Sgt. by phone or in person after the stop was completed.
- The place for citizen debate is in court; not the side of the road. IMHO in many rural areas a supervisor is more than 15 minutes away unless running code. Plus, the LEO waiting for the supervisor is not patrolling the assigned zone.
- I was pulled over. Legitimate reason by officer. I told him the truth politely and said my demeanor was the reason I received a warning ticket and it was dismissed when I appeared in court. Courtesy from both sides kept this a friendly situation.
- I don’t take it personally. Most citizens have zero clue how to do my job or even the statutes related to the stop. I usually tell them I’ve been doing the job longer than my supervisor and give them the phone number to call once we’re done.
- Comment: On the lighter side I have been told I pay your salary. My response was than I want a raise. Most time that would make the person laugh. I was working the desk at the 1st Pct Suffolk County Police Department. I would get a call I want to speak to the watch commander. Right off the bat, I knew that was a person that watch too much TV we did not have watch commanders. I would tell the person that I can not send this to the LT without finding out the problem. Most time they did not care who they spoke to the just wanted to air there complaint to some one. I am retied more than 30 years. Different time.
- As a supervisor (sergeant), I did not always respond. It’s not like the supervisor sits around all day waiting to be called. If the call involved an allegation of improper use of force or something that did not concern a lawful traffic stop, then I would respond. If they just wanted to complain, because they didn’t believe the deputy’s or officer’s reason for the stop, then they could come into the District Office and complain.
- Not wasting the manpower based on a simple request. My supervisor is nearly 2 hours away and unless someone is dead, dying, or seriously injured, he won’t waste his time driving 100 miles because you don’t want to be held accountable.
- The person being stopped during the traffic stop is not the making the rules, send them to the station, their attitude will change when they get theirs.
I refused to be the pawn in the citizen’s ticket. If they have an issue, call internal affairs. When I would make the scene, I always pointed out equipment violations the officer missed or didn’t want to write. The road side is no place to argue. Go to court, call IA.
