New Mexico Info Guide copsmatter

"Manners Matter When Pulled Over"


Basic courtesy, attention to instructions will go a long way
toward making interactions with police go smoothly.

By Emily Ashby
Teenager

After the many deadly events involving the community and police,
the question asked is “What can we do to stop this?”

Many say we should come together. It’s easier said than done, and too vague.
With many different factors, we need to come up with multiple solutions.

One of which is education on how to treat police and how to treat a situation involving them.

AS a teenager, I have surprisingly never been pulled over
or have never been in an accident
(great, now I junxed it)

Thanks to my parents, I know how to act if it ever happens.
They have taken the time to tell me that I must behave myself
and do anything a police officer tells me – nothing otherwise.

If I am told to stay put, I stay put. If I am asked to get my license and registration, I do so.
I know that I must do what I’m asked and to be respectful as well. We need education.
While my parents have told me this valuable information,
other kids my age may not have been told.

Education is the key. That is the most efficient way to spread the message
about how to act when involved with law enforcement.

If we don’t know, we go about it our own way, a way that may be unreasonable.

I can only imagine the fear inside a police officer
as they walk up to a car they have pulled over.
Not knowing whether or not the driver may be armed, agitated or impatient.
The officer has no idea what may be in store. Things could go south easily.
One movement of a hand could mean or do so much. An officer doesn’t know better.

They have families too, they have lives to live. They have every right to be cautious.

As a member of the community,
we can ease the tensions tremendously on cops
by playing our parts well.

If we do what we are told, listen and cooperate, a busted tail light or a speeding ticket
will not be a big problem. Not for us and not for the police.

I find it very upsetting that many people in the community bash officers so much.
They ridicule people who put their lives on the line every day to make sure we’re safe.

Police deserve every ounce of adoration we have.
If you dislike the police, that is OK. We are free to feel what we want.

Regardless of our emotions, we should still comply with them completely. That is very important.

Knowing this, the
Albuquerque Police Department and every other police department around should inform,
educate and reiterate that obeying officers is the key to safety
and good understanding of one another.

This is extremely crucial.

If the community and law enforcement are aware of proper “manners”,
many situations that may potentially be blown out of proportion will be diffused.

I must repeat, this is just one measure we can take
to solve this large mess of problems among this
"police versus the people battle"
(even though officers are people too, not monsters).

There are other flaws and imperfections that are occurring this big mess.

Education and etiquette bring us one step closer toward “coming together”.