by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
What can the general public do to help keep law-enforcement officers safer?
That question was asked last Monday by the Newsleader of several area police chiefs and sheriffs, and many acknowledged at first they were at a loss for words because they are rarely if ever asked that specific question.
However, after they pondered it for awhile, they came up with several safety tips, not just for officers but for the public at large.
They agreed most of all on two words of advice: Be vigilant!
All of the respondents also expanded the idea of safety to include many factors. Officers can obviously be endangered by deranged individuals who will run up to a police vehicle and open fire, as happened in Philadelphia last week. That trend – vicious attacks from nowhere against officers – is a growing concern, the respondents acknowledged. But, at the same time, there are other sources of danger that happen far more often, such as escalating domestic situations and roadside injuries or deaths.
The following are summaries of tips suggested by the law-enforcement respondents:
Sheriff Sanner
Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner said people should try to remember that most officers are extremely professional, highly trained men and women with high moral and ethical standards – professionals who swore an oath to protect all members of a community.
“In today’s world, sadly, some view the police as nothing more than common street thugs with a badge on and a uniform,” Sanner said, adding that, in his opinion, the media, by saturation coverage of anti-cop sentiment in metro areas, adds fuel to the flames.
Fortunately, the vast majority, he added, do not share that bleak view.
“Those are the people who should stop being complacent and take action,” Sanner said.
“The next time you see a police officer or deputy at a restaurant, café or gas station, take the time to say thank you and show your support and appreciation,” he said. “Also, when you hear someone complain about law-enforcement officers, counter that with a positive comment. It’s up to you to form public opinion and your voice matters, so be heard.”
People should understand local law-enforcement officers “are your neighbors and friends. Their kids go to school with your kids; they belong to the same churches and civic groups as you do. And to paraphrase the insurance jingle: Like a good neighbor, your police will be there.”
Sanner said he would, as the county sheriff, like to thank everybody in Stearns County for their continued support because “working together, we truly do make a difference.”
Sheriff Heck
Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck advises when a deputy or police officer shows up because of a problem, people at the scene should calm down and help de-escalate the situation, otherwise it can very quickly get out of control. The people involved and/or bystanders should listen to the officer and convince one another to “cool it.”
Motorists, he added, should remember to slow down and change lanes if possible whenever they see a police officer’s or deputy’s car pulled over along the side of the road. Many cops and deputies (and sometimes people they’ve stopped) have been killed by passing motorists, especially if a situation escalates into the traffic lane.
Heck, like the other respondents, encourages people to be vigilant about their surroundings and to call law enforcement immediately if they see or hear something that does not seem quite right. Such things could include an unfamiliar vehicle repeatedly cruising a residential street, sounds of glass breaking, a child’s cries for help or unfamiliar people going in and out of residences at odd hours.
The current negative attitude toward law enforcement has turned too toxic in some quarters, Heck said, and the media should not focus so much on bad cops or unruly demonstrations against them. Such attitudes can lead to more widespread erosion in lack of confidence, lack of trust and lack of respect, Heck said, and that, in turn, can lead to dangers for all officers.
Chief Hughes
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes said he knows of times when Sartell police officers were struggling with a suspect, clearly in danger, when others walked or drove right past without trying to help or without even calling 911.
“Often times,” he said, “an officer may just need assistance in controlling the person they are struggling with to get the handcuffs on them. A bystander stepping in to help can make the difference between the suspect and/or the officer being injured. There are videos on the Internet that show people stepping in to help and you can see how quickly things change (for the better) when they do.”
Another thing people can do is to report someone if that person is threatening to kill an officer via social media, email or verbally. Such threats should also be taken seriously, Hughes noted, and they should be reported whether it’s an overheard comment from a stranger or from someone who is known.
Chief Beise
Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise said it is crucial “if you see something, say something.”
Investigations of school shootings, for example, almost always discover one or more people heard (or had reason to suspect) the perpetrators planning the massacre or heard second-hand about them making some kind of murderous plans.
“It’s so much better for us to check into these thing earlier than later, when it’s too late, obviously,” Beise said.
It’s not just such catastrophic plans that should be reported, Beise noted. Anytime anybody sees or senses something amiss, they should call law enforcement immediately, just in case, so it can be checked out.
Chief Klein
As the police chief for St. Joseph, Joel Klein is all too well aware of not only “it can happen here, but it has happened here.”
Twenty years ago this month, St. Joseph Police Officer Brian Klinefelter was shot to death by a suspect after a traffic stop. Three years ago, Cold Spring Officer Tom Decker was killed while responding to a welfare-check call in a parking lot in downtown Cold Spring.
“I always tell my officers when they finish a shift, ‘Make it home and stay safe.’”
Anti-cop sentiment in metro areas seems to have seeped into other areas, Klein said, which can lead to volatile reactions by some people who do not like officers.
“People should get the facts before they criticize,” he said. “Sure, there’s bad people in every profession, but most people are very good. I think it’s OK to protest peacefully. That’s people’s right, but the demonstrations should be peaceful.”
Chief Hamann
Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann said he wishes adults would not bad-mouth cops or use cops as “threats” to their children.
“Some parents will say to kids that they’ll call the cops to have them arrested and put in jail,” he said.
Such a threat, he said, can easily cause children to fear officers, to avoid them and not trust them.
