NCJ Number
164155
Journal
Crime to Court, Police Officer's Handbook Dated: (October 1996) Pages: 1-21
Date Published
1996
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The first section explains the ruling and the implications for police officers in Taft v. Vines (1995), which pertained to police procedures in making and conducting a vehicle stop and the frisking of the driver and passengers; the second section describes interrogation techniques for drug suspects.
Abstract
In Taft v. Vines, the police officers were expressly directed over the radio to stop the appellant's car because it was believed that the car was carrying a suspected murderer. The reasonable suspicion standard was thus met, since the officer's decision to stop the car was based expressly on an order from police headquarters. It is irrelevant for qualified immunity purposes that the suspect was not actually hiding in the appellant's car. The appellate court held that the district court did not err in finding that the police officers were entitled to qualified immunity with respect to the appellants' claim that the actual decision to stop the appellant's care was violative of their civil rights. Further, the appellate court supported the district court in holding that the officers were justified in training their weapons on exiting passengers and in patting down the passengers for weapons, given reasonable suspicion that a dangerous fugitive was being harbored in the car. In explaining interrogation procedures for drug suspects, the second section of this article suggests that the suspect be taken to a location where the officer can talk with the suspect without fear of being compromised by others. Another officer should be in the room as a witness, taking notes during the interrogation. The layout of the room, establishing rapport with the suspect, being honest with him/her, and not making any promises that cannot be kept are all keys to a successful and productive interrogation.