Friday, December 6, 2013

Keep Your Hands out of Your Pockets...

I don't understand why people get so bent out of shape when I ask them to keep their hands out of their pockets.

I always get responses like "I ain't got nothin'", "Why?" or "Whatchu think I'm gonna do?"

I don't ask folks to keep their hands out of their pockets just for shits and giggles. I ask it because I haven't searched them and have no idea what they may have in their pockets.  I ask this simple task for my safety and theirs.

I don't ask some people and not others. I ask everyone to keep their hands out of their pockets until I have at least patted them down. I don't care if you're wearing your baggy jeans down around your ass, or you're wearing a three piece suit.

I know not who you are, what you're thinking or what you're capable of.  Therefore, I ask you to...

Keep your damned hands out of your pockets...

6 comments:

Murphy's Law said...

Tell 'em the first time, then tell 'em not so politely the second time, then cuff 'em the third time. They'll learn for the next time. And with that type, there's always a next time.

Anonymous said...

People think they are exempt from complying with orders.

Jeff said...

They keep their hands out of their pockets and you get to keep your gun out of their face ..... sounds fair.

B said...

This is when detaining people or merely when interacting with them?

If the latter, do I have the right to expect you to keep you hands clasped together in front of you for our "safety"?


Officer "Smith" said...

Well, Jon, I'm not sure why I would stop carrying a pistol as a police officer. My gun should not make anyone with any common sense feel unsafe, just as I do not feel unsafe when I encounter a citizen with a gun as long as it isn't in hand and pointed at me. I'm not sure what that has to do with me asking folks to keep their hands out of their pockets.

TheTracker said...

The point would be that you are much, much more likely to kill a citizen with a gun than to be killed by a citizen with a gun. So who should be afraid of whom?

I think the question above is very pertinent. Are you detaining these people? And if not, what are you going to do when you come across a citizen who knows their rights and tells you to fuck off?

I hope it's not akin to these officers', who didn't know they didn't have the right to demand a citizen's name, and ended up escalating the situation and assaulting the citizen: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/27/sitting-while-black-in-minnesota-cops-tase-man-for-not-stating-his-name/