Gordon Graham
Category: Law Enforcement

Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for law enforcement.

When sitting in your car, you are at a disadvantage if the violator, or someone else, decides to attack you.

Today’s Tip deals with sitting in your car when writing a traffic citation. 

When I was a young officer, I did not have the luxury (or curse) of having a computer in my patrol car. I didn’t have one on my motorcycle either. In fact, we did not have much in the car at all. There was really no benefit to sitting in the car to write out a traffic citation. Other than getting out of the weather, I guess. But that wasn’t, and still isn’t, a good enough reason.

Today’s patrol cars are a different story. There is a lot of equipment inside that we rely onto do our jobs. I guess it is easier to sit in your car and run a license check on your computer. Although it might be convenient, it can be dangerous and should be avoided where possible. When sitting, you are at a disadvantage if the violator, or someone else, decides to attack you. It is more difficult to fight back or accurately fire your weapon when you are sitting in your vehicle.   

Traffic stops are dangerous enough. Don’t put yourself at a tactical disadvantage just for convenience or to escape the weather. Get out of your vehicle. Stand up. Use as much cover as possible. Look around. This will give you a precious few extra seconds that might help you identify and respond to a threat.   

And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham, signing off.