Palos Park police are using Law Enforcement Memorial Week as an opportunity to promote a new national educational campaign and advise the public on three key ways to respond to police during a traffic stop to avoid a confrontation.
*Remain calm and comply with the officer’s wishes.
*Don’t be surprised if a second patrol car arrives during the stop. Police departments often require two cars during a stop as a safety precaution.
*Always carry proper identification.
During the stop, the citizen can also ask that a supervisor be called to the scene, according to police.
Village Police Commissioner Dan Polk said the best approach for someone who believes an officer has acted unjustly is to calmly obey the officer and raise questions or comments later — through departmental or municipal complaint channels.
Polk said a national campaign, “Comply then Complain,” is underway to help prevent citizen-police interactions from escalating into physical confrontations. the campaign is in response to the public’s “unprecedented scrutiny” of police tactics and processes in the wake of highly publicized police shootings in several cities.
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The campaign also includes seriously reviewing police procedures and public interactions, he said.
“Citizens who follow the ‘Comply then Complain’ approach help to de-escalate the situation and allow for a “clear (post-incident) review of what is and is not within the scope of (police) service levels and practices,” Polk said.
He said Palos Park police conduct regular peer reviews and best-practice overviews, and the department has a specific procedure for the filing of a citizen complaint against an officer.
When appropriate, Polk said an offending officer is required to undergo training or retraining, and disciplinary action, including dismissal from the department, are also options when deemed applicable.
“We recognize a key to any officer-citizen interaction is in an officer’s tone, which can encourage compliance. We recommend the officer start by asking for cooperation first,” he said.
Dennis Sullivan is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.