Page 42 - Argyle Police Officer Field Training Tips

Walk and Turn

When doing Walk and turn, place the driver close to their vehicle. This is
so the in-car camera will capture their loss of balance or any other clues
during the instruction phase. Instruct from as close to the right shoulder
as possible because it’s safer. Have them walk toward your vehicle in
the first series and away in the second series.

When you demonstrate, if you move to their right and closer to your
vehicle, demonstrate your walk toward the shoulder of the roadway.
This so when you turn, you turn into them instead of away from them.
Basically, you’ll walk three steps from the heel to toe position and you’ll
end on your left foot forcing you to turn left toward them. Also begin
your demonstration 6 feet away from them or closer to your vehicle.
Distance gives you a chance to react in case they attempt to assault
you.

1. Always have your cover unit watch traffic for you so that you
can focus on the actor’s clues, and you do not need to further
divide your attention.
2. If they struggle, do not be afraid to let them try again (they will
nearly always fail just as bad and this adds to your prosecution
as well as makes you look like a good and fair Officer) Also, give
them the option of wearing their current footwear or doing the
test barefoot. By doing this, you are eliminating defense
attorney rebuttals to the investigation, and we also want to be
as fair as possible to the subject.

Pg. 41 POLICE FIELD TRAINING CONCEPTS