Page 25 - Argyle Police Officer Field Training Tips

Never search vehicle without a cover officer. If your cover officer insists on helping your search for some
reason, then you can become the cover officer. Be one or the other, but not both. Follow a routine
when searching vehicles. On pc searches, I prefer to begin on the front passenger’s side and work my
way around the vehicle to the front driver’s side. However, since the driver’s side is closest to the lane of
travel, I try to do most of the searching while I’m on the passenger’s side. This helps limit the amount of
time you spend searching from the driver’s side which is the side you are most likely to get hit on.

Be mindful of suspects actions when searching their vehicles. They know where they’ve hidden items
and will try to distract you when are close to finding them. Suspects often do this by trying to engage
you in conversation. Other suspects won’t do this, but their demeanor will change and they will exhibit
signs of stress.
Run everyone you can and maintain proper mic discipline. Now, don’t simply rely on dispatch, your
MDC, or their criminal history to help you figure out if someone is up to something. Develop your
interview and observation skills to help you figure things out first. One way that officers do this is by
acting like they already know the answer to the questions their asking. An example of this is instead of
asking if they’ve had something to drink, ask them how much they’ve had to drink. “How long have you
been out?” Instead of “have you been to prison”.

For those of you at larger agencies with undercover units, if you’re ever out and about and see another
officer, don’t immediately run over to say hello. This is especially important if you’re in uniform. You
could easily burn their cover or worse, put their life at risk, if they’re working.

And last, but not least, I want you to understand that officer survival is more than just weapon
proficiency and defensive tactics. Remaining professional and maintaining your integrity, staying out of
trouble, and keeping your job are all factors in officer survival.

Pg. 24 POLICE FIELD TRAINING CONCEPTS