Citizen and Police interaction and training

[Jon Freise]

Hi Everyone,

You have probably heard that the Federal Government has stated it will now move 3x more Federal agents into Minneapolis than the city has police officers.

It is creating a very dangerous situation.  These unmarked vehicles tend to not obey traffic laws, traffic signals, or stop signs.  There is no way to know where they will show up and block all traffic.  I was nearly struck by an unmarked truck running a stop sign while I was out running errands.  It was not until the flashers turned on during the road crossing that I had any clue what was going on.  If I had not slammed my brakes, there would have been a collision.  It has become much less safe.

I am linking some official guides below for interacting with police and police training manuals in hopes of keeping people safer.

If you read the following guides, and contrast it with videos of agent behavior, I think you will notice that these Federal Agents are poorly trained and / or are choosing to not use safe techniques.  This makes just trying to get around Minneapolis and conduct daily life much more dangerous.  

I feel all Federal Agents should be required to follow the metropolitan police procedures to ensure citizen and officer safety and I intend to bring it up with my city council member.  I encourage you to do the same.  No one needs to be injured or killed while the law is being enforced.  This was George Floyd all over again.  It is unacceptable.

Here is one on how to handle a situation when you are pulled over by an officer.  

https://wsp.wa.gov/traffic-safety/creating-safe-roads/ 

Notice this line " Show their law enforcement credentials if they are not in uniform. If they do not show their credentials, you may ask to see them."

You can read the recommended ways officers should approach a vehicle in this D.C. Metropolitan Police training manual here:

Sections 12.3.3 and 12.3.4

https://mpdc.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/mpdc/publication/attachments/12.3%20Traffic%20Stops%20-%20IA.pdf

Notice it recommends against the officers standing directly ahead or behind the vehicle.  If that training had been followed, no one's life would have been in danger.  And likely no one would have been killed.  The tragedy of Nicole Good's death was entirely preventable if the officer had followed standard training practice.

Notice that for Felony Stops (where they expect danger, such as from a "domestic terrorist")

"Officers are reminded that they need to be able to articulate the applicable legal standards to take these additional law enforcement actions during a traffic stop. For example, to ask a person to the back of the vehicle an officer needs Reasonable Articulable Suspicion (RAS) that the person has committed, is committing or is about to commit criminal activity. RAS that the person is armed and dangerous is necessary if to perform a pat down or frisk of the person."

And they state

"Upon initiating the stop, do not approach the vehicle. Designate one officer or official to communicate to the occupants using a public address system while the additional officers provide
cover. Remain in a safe position of concealment and cover. Use the intercom to communicate all
instructions to the occupants."

Be safe out there.

[Curt McNamara]

Huge thanks!

By any chance was your phone with you and turned on? That allows them to track us.

      Curt

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[Jon Freise]

Hi Curt,

I was just running errands.  I am not talking about protesting.  I don't know all the details about what happened to Ms. Good.  It looked to me like she was on a one way street, but her lane of travel was blocked by an ICE vehicle.  There were also ICE vehicles behind her.  The video shows her first backing up, to get clear of that blocking vehicle, and then trying to steer around the blocking vehicle.  But other traffic approaches in the one clear lane and she waves that other traffic past her just before the two ICE agents stop their truck, get out, and then approach her car door.

The issue that I am trying to bring up is that even if you are not protesting, you may find yourself suddenly blocked from travel or impacted by an ICE vehicle running a traffic signal.  And then what?

And, yes, for those who don't know, your phone does gather GPS data.  That is the mechanism by which google search can tell you how busy the hardware store is right now, how busy it typically is, and how long the average person stays there.  It is using GPS & wireless data from the phones of people who are using its apps.

Stay safe,

-Jon

[Jon Freise]

Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara is interviewed on The Daily and describes why this shooting was a preventable tragedy.  He describes "traffic stop 101" and why he was warning, just the day before, that something like this tragedy was going to happen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DttxfyGBwj0

May you all be well.