The Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department does not condone police misconduct
of any type.

 

 

In our experience, we have learned negative feelings toward police may result from
misconceptions about legal police procedures or a lack of understanding regarding
why officers may come into contact with citizens. Citizens often wonder the reason(s)
an officer has made certain requests or acted in a certain manner. Demands on a patrol
officer and rapidly evolving situations do not always permit time for explanations
at the time you are stopped. Hopefully, the information presented here will give you
an understanding of some police procedures and let you know what to expect from a
police officer if you are stopped.

 

Here are some tips to minimize your stress and anxiety during your contact with the
police and at the same time give you some insight into the concerns and procedures
of the officers.

 

If you are stopped by the police while in your car

As soon as you notice the police emergency lights safely pull your vehicle off the
roadway. If possible, ensure your vehicle is completely clear of the roadway and the
police vehicle also has enough room to clear the roadway.

 

Although you might not know the reason you are being stopped, you should pull over
as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so.

• There may be some problem with your vehicle of which you are unaware.

• You may be heading into a dangerous area (traffic stopped, detour for flooding, power
  lines across the road, etc) and the officer is protecting you from injury or excessive
  delays.

• Your vehicle may match the description given to police related to an incident and
  the officer needs to speak with you to clear you of any involvement.

• You may have committed some minor traffic violation without realizing it.

 

Remain in your vehicle unless the officer instructs otherwise. Do not attempt to get
out of your vehicle or approach the officer without instructions to do so. Exiting
your vehicle before being instructed to do so does not assist the officer and may
be perceived as a threat. For the officer’s safety and yours, remain in your vehicle
unless instructed to exit.

 

If stopped at night, turn on your interior light. A well-lit vehicle cabin will reduce
the officer’s concern regarding weapons or other possible threats within your reach.

 

Keep your hands easily observable, preferably on the steering wheel where they can
be easily seen by the approaching officer. Reaching under your seat or into your glove
box are actions that will cause the officer concern that you may be reaching for a
weapon.

 

Provide your license, registration and proof-of-insurance to the officer if asked
to do so. Louisiana law requires a driver provide these documents upon request from
a uniformed officer or an officer in plain clothes who displays proper identification.

 

Most officers will not provide a specific reason(s) for the stop until they have received
your license, registration and proof-of-insurance. This is to avoid debating the reason
for the stop prior to acquiring this necessary information. If you wish to inquire
as to why you were stopped or offer an explanation, do so after providing your license,
registration, and insurance card and before the officer returns to his or her vehicle.

 

Answer all questions honestly without becoming argumentative, disorderly, or abusive.
If an officer has already written a ticket, it cannot be voided at that time. ?If
you believe that you have been issued a ticket unfairly, do not make that argument
on the side of the road. Your best alternative is to carry your protest to traffic
court or other appeals process.

 

Whether an officer issues you a ticket or gives you a warning is entirely up to their
individual discretion. Your conduct during the stop may influence the officer’s decision.

 

If the police approach you while sitting or walking

Most of these stops are not officer-initiated but are based on information or complaints
provided by citizens.

 

The most common reasons an officer stops someone:

• You might be walking or sitting in the vicinity where a crime recently occurred. You
  may not even realize a crime occurred nearby until the officer explains why he/she
  stopped to talk with you.

• You may match the description given to police of someone involved in or witnessing
  an incident and the officer needs to speak with you to clear you of any involvement.

• Someone may have called the police complaining about your presence or stated you were
  behaving “suspiciously.”

• Someone may have pointed you out to the officer and said you were involved in or witnessed
  an incident.

• You might be acting in a manner the officer finds suspicious and may act even more
  “suspicious” after realizing the officer is observing you.

 

Please remember, the officer does not know you, your history or purpose for being
where you are, or anything else about you until after he/she has met with you. Although
you may have done nothing wrong and have no intention of causing any issues, hurting
the officer, or committing any crime, the officer cannot be sure of this until after
the interaction has concluded.

Innocent individuals are often offended or angered, or both, because an officer has
detained them for questioning. Although the delay might be inconvenient for you, the
officer believes there is a reason (reasonable suspicion) to stop you and ask questions.
The police officer does not wish to detain you any longer than necessary. Once an
officer is able to determine you are not the individual for whom he or she is looking,
the officer will often apologize for the inconvenience and then quickly leave to resume
the search.

 

In all police encounters

Please don’t be offended by an officer’s caution while interacting with you. You may
know for certain you have no intention of harming the officer or anyone else, but
the officer has no way of knowing this until the interaction has concluded. Most citizens
realize law enforcement is a difficult and dangerous profession. Hundreds of police
officers are killed each year, and thousands more are injured and assaulted. For these
reasons, police officers tend to be extremely cautious. They place a great deal of
emphasis on safety and survival. Certain safety practices are instilled in our officers
from the first day of their careers. Although the procedures maximize safety for the
officer, they may seem standoffish or impolite to citizens who may not consider such
precautions necessary.

Avoid making sudden movements (for your wallet, into your coat, toward your waistband,
swinging your arms, etc.) until you have informed the officer of your intention to
do so and the officer has said it’s okay.

Do not carry weapons on campus (real or otherwise) or even joke about having a weapon
on your person.

Do not touch the police officer or close into his or her personal safety zone (about
six feet.

Remain calm and avoid being argumentative. If you are uncooperative and refuse to
answer reasonable questions, the officer is likely to become more suspicious and the
encounter will probably last much longer.

Comply with reasonable requests and seek an explanation from the officer or the officer’s
supervisor later.

The officers and staff of the University Police Department wish to maintain a relationship
with our community based on mutual respect and assistance. We hope the information
provided here will help achieve and preserve such a relationship. We welcome reasonable,
constructive feedback and suggestions regarding the services we provide.