An officer was performing a traffic stop when a woman driving on Route 28 did not pull over or even try to slow down. As the officer was getting into his patrol car, the woman flew by, hit the officer’s door, and stopped a little further down the road.

They charged her with failing to move over for an emergency car.

All states have a “Move Over” law that requires you to move over a lane or slow down when passing an emergency vehicle.

These laws require you to move over or slow down to a reasonable speed for any type of emergency vehicle, including police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, etc.

In California, “tragically, between 2018 and 2022, 154 CHP officers were injured, 14 severely, and two officers lost their lives on California roadsides.”

The same thing applies when an emergency vehicle is heading your way or needs to get through. I’ve been behind the wheel of emergency vehicles trying to get through traffic, and it’s frustrating when people don’t get out of the way.

It was a long time ago, but I still remember pulling over because traffic was terrible and we couldn’t get through. The lady in the back went into labor, and her child was ready to enter the world.

She had her kid right on the overpass of Highway 69 in Ft. Wayne, IN. Some things you will never forget.

There may be a day when you are the one in the back of the ambulance or the person who needs police assistance, and they can’t get through.

At highway speeds, you can go about the length of a football field in three seconds. It’s the holidays, so remember to move over or slow down if you see a car on the side of the road.

And people say the police don’t have a sense of humor. The guy’s girlfriend doesn’t believe he got pulled over, and the officer let him Facetime her.

The person being searched is calm and polite, and so are the cops.

We live in a backward world, and the cop has some good advice: “Slow it down and pay attention.” On top of that, he gives the guy a pass on the red right light.

That’s how it’s supposed to work—not take off like a rabbit running down the road.

Give respect, get respect, and hopefully make some friends along the way.

It’s not just when dealing with law enforcement; it applies to everything in life. If you carry a firearm, ensure you know the law in each state and the required requirements for transporting a firearm across state lines. When other states recognize your concealed carry permit (CCP), it is called reciprocity. In some states, you must notify law enforcement if asked that you are carrying.

If you don’t have a concealed carry license (CCL), your gun typically needs to be in a container out of reach of the occupant in some place, like a trunk. Illinois, though, will allow you to have a firearm if it is unloaded and in a glove compartment.

You can research the “duty to inform laws.” USA Carry has an interactive map where you can put the state you live in, and it will show you which states have reciprocity along with state laws.

Stay safe, and don’t get pulled over.

This wasn’t my team’s first time being live-streamed by a citizen. Somewhat ironically, our body-worn cameras were also running according to law and policy.

Here are some pointers for young cops who aren’t accustomed to having cellphone cameras jammed in their faces:

Know The Law

Know the law! I’m amazed by how many of these amateur “journalists” or protestors know legal issues better than police officers. Chief among these are Fourth Amendment search and seizure powers and limitations. (Note: I also suggest that department policy mirrors or references case law.)

Keep It Simple

Learn how to explain the law and your justifications in simple, everyday language. But also in ways that don’t divulge too many details that would jeopardize an investigation. (For the academics out here, this is the “procedural justice” or “legitimacy” piece.)

Don’t Get Sucked In

Understand that many of these people don’t really want answers to their questions. Some of them simply want to make you look foolish, lose your temper, or get flustered. Be polite and professional. Offer answers, but don’t force them on those not interested in listening. Some of these people want dramatic content.

“First Amendment Auditing” has become a career only because we’ve given them so much good content. Don’t give them that content!

Keep Your Cool

Keep your cool. This means you might restrain yourself from otherwise legally permissible searches or seizures for those who are defiant or getting in the way. I don’t suggest placing ourselves in too much risk. However, we should reconsider the (often foolish) concept of “controlling” a situation. We’ve got to be comfortable with a little chaos, especially chaos caused by those who aren’t really an articulable threat to us.

Name and Badge Number

When someone asks for your name and badge number, give it. It’s that simple, but be careful because sometimes they are just trying to antagonize you, so don’t get sucked into a conversation.

Supervisor Request

When someone asks for a supervisor or the person in charge, do what you can to get that person to the scene. (I get it; the boss isn’t always available.) If it’s you, own it. That’s what we get paid for.

Be Human

Make reasonable accommodations. Allow people in custody or on-scene to get clothes, shoes, baby diapers, car seats, pets, bathroom access, etc. Again, when it is safe to do so and without jeopardizing evidence. Denying access to these basic things will make you look like a fool.

Stay Focused

Stay focused and on-task. Don’t let rowdy onlookers distract you from your primary mission or objective. “Arresting the neighborhood” will have a horrible impact in the short and long term.

John Robert added some thoughts on LinkedIn, “This is very sound advice for those doing a difficult job in today’s environment. Remember, you swore an oath to the Constitution, and even when they are being…less than civil…these are the people you swore to serve. That said, Officer Safety is paramount, so don’t let that take a back seat. Remember that for *most* people, their contact with you is a Significant Emotional Event because it is outside of their normal life experience. You have all the authority you need, which is not in dispute (even if they emotionally dispute it at the time). They are perfectly entitled to their opinions, however, unartfully, those opinions are expressed. Remember to adopt the “Peace Officer” mentality, not “Law Enforcement” when engaging. Be human. Be compassionate. You can still do your duty under the law. ”

Spoiler: All of this advice holds whether you’re being filmed or not. It’s just basic, good policing.

Always remember, “the camera is ALWAYS on,” and officer safety takes you home alive! Remember, it’s not personal; just let the insults go.

Can a Non-US citizen become a police officer?

Federal law states that ONLY U.S. citizens can serve as police officers and deputies. But Illinois House Bill 3751 would change that for immigrants eligible to work under federal law.

What is Illinois House Bill 3751?

For instance, the bill allows people who entered the country ILLEGALLY but are now here legally under something like The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act to become police officers.

House Bill 3751 “Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that an individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law is authorized to apply for the position of police officer, subject to all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject. Effective January 1, 2024.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted, “To the Left, citizenship is meaningless. Illinois is now letting illegal aliens become police officers.”

To the Left, citizenship is meaningless. Illinois is now letting illegal aliens become police officers.

In Florida, we took action to combat the harms of Biden’s border crisis. We also value our citizen officers who serve and protect our communities.

As President, I will…

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 30, 2023

Illinois Rep. Mary Miller tweeted, “At 5pm yesterday, when no one was paying attention, Pritzker signed a bill to allow illegal immigrants to become police officers, giving non-citizens the power to arrest citizens in our state. No sane state would allow foreign nationals to arrest their citizens, this is madness!”

At 5pm yesterday, when no one was paying attention, Pritzker signed a bill to allow illegal immigrants to become police officers, giving non-citizens the power to arrest citizens in our state. No sane state would allow foreign nationals to arrest their citizens, this is madness!

— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) July 29, 2023

Even a former Chicago mayoral candidate, Willie Wilson, opposed the bill, arguing that it “defies common sense that non-citizens should be arresting and detaining legal citizens. This law will further exacerbate already strained police and community relations.” In a press statement Wilson released yesterday, he called on the Illinois Legislature to “Repeal Law Allowing Non-U.S. Citizens to Become Police Officers.”

In an interview with NewsNation, Yolanda Talley, head of the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs, stated that the department had lost 1,000 officers in the past year, mostly due to retirement. “Veteran officers say if they’re not valued and appreciated, they’d rather leave the job than stay and serve where they’re not wanted.”

In February, California introduced a similar bill, SB 960, which is making its way through the legislative process.

The Peace Officers’ Research Association of California (PORAC) is opposed to SB 960 because, among other things, “they will not have taken an oath of allegiance to the country to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the United States.”

I’m unsure what that statement is based on, but I’m curious. There are only so many hours in the day to look into this stuff.

HB3751 goes into effect on January 1, 2024, and is just one example of Illinois having a tough time finding recruits.