LEO Question: Placing yourself in front of a vehicle during a stop

[Keith_Indy]

Is it SOP for a LEO to put themselves in front of a parked car, while their partner attempts to question the driver?

 

[Peacekeeper3073]

Don't know about agencies SOP but it is a stupid practice. Just like trying to get the keys out of the stopped car's ignition and walking in between your unit and the car you have stopped.

 

[Gingerbeardman]

I've never seen it in any of my stops or the many police videos I've watched on YouTube. Did you witness this event?

 

[Hookeye]

Proly wondering about the Columbus shoplifter that thought it OK to try and drive into a cop w gun already out.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

It used to be fairly common practice, if not exactly SOP. In recent years it's become more and more frowned upon as a form of self induced jeopardy and is prohibited in some (many?) departments to do so purposefully.

 

[freekforge]

We were prohibited by policy from standing at either bumper or any pinch point without good reason. So no standing in between cars or between the stopped car and guard rail unless traffic was heavy then we could go on the passenger side between the car and guard rail. Standing in front of the stopped care during a "routine" stop could have gotten us a write up. I like the bumper policy but i think standing on the driver or passenger side should have been our choice.

 

[Keith_Indy]

Proly wondering about the Columbus shoplifter that thought it OK to try and drive into a cop w gun already out.

Yes, that’s what I’m referencing.

If this is against SOP, I’d assume civil liability is going to jam him up.

 

[Gingerbeardman]

Is it allowed to shoot at a suspect in a car if you don't know if they're armed? Just a procedural question, I don't know anything about this particular instance. I watched a video recently where an armed suspect was running away and the officer was shooting at them, wasn't sure if that's "allowed" or what the protocol is. I'm sure there are many factors involved, just curious what they are if anyone can enlighten me/us.

 

[Brandon]

Different situation completely, but there use to be a motorcycle leo that would hide under the 465 bridge on 70E and catche speeders. He would often get in right to the edge (if not in) of the lane to try to stop them.

Haven't seen him in many many years though.

 

[freekforge]

If they are ramming you with the car they aren't unarmed. I think it was stupid and avoidable in the pregnant girl incident but she made a bad choices too. In the case of shooting them as they run you have Tennessee v garner guiding you. Off the top of my head if the officer reasonably believes that the fleeing person poses a significant risk of severe injury or death to the public you are justified in shooting. The shooting of a fleeing suspect is a seizure under the 4th amendment. You can't shoot them for just fleeing they need to pose a risk to the public and/or officer.

 

[bwframe]

Is this about the pregnant woman who was killed along with the baby she was carrying?

 

[Gabriel]

Is it SOP for a LEO to put themselves in front of a parked car, while their partner attempts to question the driver?

I do it quite a bit depending on how a traffic stop is situated.


I just read some replies and I thought this was a vehicle position question. I'll back up another unit and pull my vehicle partially in front of the stopped one... I don't stand in front of it like an idiot. I didn't see or hear about whatever incident this thread is referring to.

 

[freekforge]

I do it quite a bit depending on how a traffic stop is situated.


I just read some replies and I thought this was a vehicle position question. I'll back up another unit and pull my vehicle partially in front of the stopped one... I don't stand in front of it like an idiot. I didn't see or hear about whatever incident this thread is referring to.

Story is a woman was suspected of shoplifting and a worker flagged down 2 popos doing a lockout in the parking lot. One stood at the driver's door ordering her out the other stood at the front bumper with his gun out ordering her out of the car as well. She put it in drive and rolled a bit before being shot and killed. Everyone is upset because she was pregnant.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Story is a woman was suspected of shoplifting and a worker flagged down 2 popos doing a lockout in the parking lot. One stood at the driver's door ordering her out the other stood at the front bumper with his gun out ordering her out of the car as well. She put it in drive and rolled a bit before being shot and killed. Everyone is upset because she was pregnant the cops didnt just let that poor innocent woman drive off.

FIFY

 

[freekforge]

FIFY

I'm upset that if she did steal that she decided the merchandise was worth more to her than the baby. If she didn't steal she decided that her time was worth more than the baby. The world is a weird place.

 

[Denny347]

Yes, that’s what I’m referencing.

If this is against SOP, I’d assume civil liability is going to jam him up.

Every department is different with their SOP. If there is no department SOP prohibiting this, it will be a tougher fight in court. There is a difference between stepping in front of an already moving vehicle and stepping in front of a parked vehicle where the driver then decides to drive into you.

 

[Keith_Indy]

I’m not commenting on the shooting, just questioning the officer who put himself in front of the car.

I’d hope my son or future grandchildren would not be fearful of the police & not panic & do something dumb. Fear & panic makes people do stupid things. Accelerate instead of brake, reverse instead of park. Not saying that is the case here, other than the fear & panic.

It’s tragic in any case.

 

[hopper68]

I'm upset that if she did steal that she decided the merchandise was worth more to her than the baby. If she didn't steal she decided that her time was worth more than the baby. The world is a weird place.

She was stealing alcohol. Somehow I do not think she was worried about her baby's health.

 

[Ark]

I wonder what tune people would be singing if she mounted a curb and ran down a three year old child, and the police just shrugged and said "well we have to let them run, it would violate their rights".

Protect and serve. Serve the public, by protecting the public, AGAINST the kind of people who drive recklessly to escape with stolen goods. In a normal and sane society, the criminal's wellbeing is last in line behind the rest of the public and the police officers who had to be summoned to deal with their criminality.

 

[Keith_Indy]

She was stealing alcohol. Somehow I do not think she was worried about her baby's health.

Allegedly.

Ta'Kiya Young's family urges officer's arrest after video shows him killing the pregnant Black woman

Ta’Kiya Young’s family wants the police officer who fatally shot the pregnant Black woman to be charged.

apnews.com

In his interview with the AP on Friday, Walton denied that Young had stolen anything from the grocery store. He said his firm found a witness who saw Young put down bottles of alcohol as she left the store.

“The bottles were left in the store,” he said. “So when she’s in her car denying that, that’s accurate. She did not commit any theft, and so these officers were not even within their right to place her under arrest, let alone take her life.”