The Line Officer
Function
CJUS 104
Part 5: The Field Interview
1.
Meeting people
- time is spent dealing with people
A. Contacts vary
- citizens /suspects /informants
- gathering information
(1) Doing the job properly
- professional officer of community
- time spent talking to people
- knowing needs /views /concerns
- interacting with them
(2) Out of way to meet the people
B. Seeking information
- suspects = beyond conversation
(1) Field interview
- implies a two-way conversation
- person wants to give information
(2) Field interrogation
- more formal /adversarial type
- officer demanding information
(3) From a legal standpoint
- law classifies contacts in one of
three ways
(a) Consensual encounter
- most contacts during shift
- no justification /reason
- don’t intend to restrain /exert
any authority over
- approach /identify /ask for ID
/ask questions /night = light
- free to leave /not answer
(b) Detention
- temporary stop /authority
- more consensual /less arrest
- need = reasonable suspicion
- no longer free to leave
(c) Arrest
- take person into custody
- manner authorized by law
- without a warrant
- arrest on probable cause
- reason to believe
2. Main purpose of field interview
- gather /develop information
A. First /most vital step in policing
- necessary = follow-up investigations
- necessary = crime analysis
- necessary = intelligence information
(1) Written record of stops
- FI card
(a) People: name /address /dob /
height /weight /hair /eyes / etc
(b) Clothing /jewelry
- head to foot
(c) Vehicle
- make /model /year /color /license
plate /upholstery /interior color /
items in vehicle
- check VIN
(2) Identifying people /suspects
- discover true identity
- positive ID = traffic /criminal contacts
- requesting ID = matter of routine
- voluntary inquiry /demanding ID
(3) To develop suspects
- question everyone in the area
- follow-up /follow-up /follow-up
- re-contact = question 2nd /3rd
B. Field interviews = help deter crime
- identification /selective enforcement
(1) Predatory criminals
- do not want attention
- police presence = apprehension
- creates security among public
(2) Investigation unit = detectives
- go over all FI cards
- develop leads = crimes in area
3. Know justification to stop /interview
- Terry vs. Ohio (1968) = reasonable suspicion
A. Able to articulate reason for stop
- both persons /vehicles
(1) Observation /perception /circumstances
- must use reasonable person standard
(2) Use discretion
- when in doubt /wait
- abuse of authority = restrictive
court rulings
- observe /gather information
B. Right to frisk /search for weapons
- applies only to reasonable suspicion
- voluntary talk = no justification
- may turn into Terry Stop
- lead to probable cause
- arrest /search = pat down for safety
C. Suspicious persons
- what is suspicious
(1) Anything /anybody = out of place
- should alert you
- know the norms for area
- had a hunch = not justification
- training /experience = enhance
(2) Person turns away seeing police
- gives officer a reason to talk
- approach = look for any signs
- hands /face /clothing/ground
(3) Person in high crime area
- unusual time
- wearing dark clothing (night)
- justify stop = crime in area
- look for tools /gloves = warm
(4) Vehicle /person /clothing
- similar to prior crimes
- stop and detain
- polite yet professional
4. Planning the contact
A. Know justification /legal grounds
- able to communicate in writing
- reasons for stop
B. Always notify dispatch
- location /reason for stop /description
- individual = physicals /clothing
- vehicle = make /color /license
(1) Request backup if necessary
- worst thing to happen if you wait
- suspects /weapons /emotional status
- 3 D’s = drunk /drugged /deranged
C. Pick location for contact
- consider the following
(1) Lighting
- have in lights of your vehicle
- keep under a streetlight
- approach out of the lights
- stay in shadows if possible
- keep flashlight beam on individual(s)
(2) Opportunity for assault
- suspect access to weapons
- suspect access to cover
- officer access to cover /concealment
(3) Escape routes
- location with limited places to run
- easy to contain /catch suspect
(4) Bystanders
- make contact away from crowds
- avoid hostage situations
(5) Protect yourself
- lighting /hiding places /other
persons and vehicles nearby
(a) Bystanders = not want arrest
- take action to stop
D. Notify dispatch of final location
- your safety = primary consideration
- both small and large cities /county
- 1960s bumper sticker = “Today is
the first day of the rest of your life”
5. Approach and position
- get out of the patrol car
A. Vulnerability
- quick assault /escape = reduced
(1) Never pull up next to a suspect
- interview /question from car
- exit quickly /take necessary gear
(2) Scan area continually
-friends /associates
- suspicious vehicles
- elements of crime
- contraband /burglar tools
- anything suspicious
B. Maintain control
- watch the hands
(1) Can have suspect sit on curb
- legs outstretched
- crosses at ankles
(2) Use “contact and cover” guidelines
- step out of shadows = surprise
- approach from the rear
- use vehicle to block sidewalk /
driveway /alley
- passenger side next to suspect
(3) Positioning varies = circumstances
- lighting /people /buildings
(4) Remember = pass /around block
- never see suspect again
6. Conducting field interview
- demeanor = courteous /business-like
A. Guidelines = safe /effective interview
(1) Be firm
- avoid breeding defensiveness
- get cooperation if possible
- defensive = you will know
(2) Listen = avoid continuous talking
- cons get you talking = attack
- harder for suspect = plan attack
- suspect = vent anxiety /anger
- you = time to think /plan
(3) Obtain identification
- check /verify carefully
- run through dispatch
- check physicals /match suspect
- use flashlight = removing wallet
- look for other IDs
- near vehicle = computer verify
- feel safe = write down info
(4) Claims no identification
- look for wallet bulge
- discarded papers on ground
- pat down for safety
- feel wallet = obstructing /theft
B. Multiple suspects
- have backup
- separate before questioning
- position = no eye or ear contact
(1) Non-verbal deception indicators
(a) Looking away /at the ground
- not looking at you
(b) Changing stories
- conflicting answers
- denying = you know is true
- “I don’t know” = all questions
(c) Not interrupt suspect deception
- write down information given
- used against suspect in court
- you can show discrepancies
(4) Satisfy your suspicions
- other officer = check alibis
- call family = identification
- witness /victim = drive-by
- check all references given
C. Concluding interview
- thank for time /cooperation
- warn = watching /following-up
- later crimes = considered suspect
- they know = recorded /to detectives
- or you make an arrest