Re:“,” Dec. 27 column.
As a retired, 47-year police officer with 26 years as a chief of police, and now a police practices expert specializing in the use of force, I don’t disagree with the observation that most low-level crimes should be dealt with via a summons and release. In most cases, it is a waste of time and money to tie up a police officer for several hours on a low-level offense when they have more important things to do. Write a ticket and get on with business.
What I disagree with is the absurdity of the proposal by Yale Law School teachers Ian Ayres and Daniel Markovits to come up with a new Miranda type of warning for low-level offenses where the police officer would be required to get a judicial warrant authorizing the use of physical force to make an arrest if the criminal suspect refuses initially to be arrested.
What would constitute a “minor crime,” and who would define it? And even if a judge was contacted, does that mean the suspect won’t resist arrest later and pose a threat to the police officer? Of course not. So why go through such a nonsensical process?
Lastly, the rules of engagement do not need to change. What needs to change is the focus on police officer training. Chiefs of police and sheriffs need to ensure that their policies, procedures and rules are in concert with law enforcement best practices; need to ensure a high quality of police supervision and management; need to ensure a high quality system of inspections and controls; and need to ensure that in-service refresher training programs are frequent and relevant. Such training should cover:
1. Use-of-force and arrest-control tactics.
2. Live scenario and situation-based stress inoculation.
3. Crisis intervention certification.
4. Prevention of in-custody deaths and agitated chaotic events.
5. Civil and criminal law updates.
6. Review of internal policies, procedures and rules.
With this type of training commitment, coupled with quality police supervision and management as well as quality inspections and controls, the rules of engagement don’t need to change.
Dan Montgomery is a retired former chief of police for Westminster. He lives in Arvada.
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