Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Police work is not one-size-fits-all

On Aug. 4, Brittany Gilliam was stopped by Aurora, Colo., police. At gunpoint, she and two of her children were handcuffed face-down on the pavement. The officers even attempted to cuff her 6-year-old.

This happened because Gilliam’s car tag was the same as that of an out-of-state stolen motorcycle. But rather than recheck their information or realistically assess the threat level, the officers uncritically followed their procedure for a stolen car stop.

More recently, U.S. Army Lt. Caron Nazario was the subject of a felony traffic stop. The police failed to see the new car’s temporary tag in the rear window and interpreted his decision to drive slowly to a well-lit gas station as evasion. Those officers refused to de-escalate their behavior even after the temporary tag became clearly visible in the better light.

The guiding principles driving police procedures revolve around preserving their own safety. But their rules have devolved into a behavioral rut. Regardless of the situation, to them a felony traffic stop requires drawn guns and everyone in handcuffs. And when police draw their guns, they become a mortal threat to people. Law enforcement is supposed to serve and protect society. But by insisting on a one-size-fits-all approach devoid of common sense, proportionality, and realistic threat assessment, the public is put in harm’s way.

All too often, police interactions with people are marked by disrespect, the suffering of indignities, and the installation of fear. Their behavior and procedures must change.