Say you work in an office building. As you're leaving work one day, you see the door of a neighboring office open, one that is usually shut and locked this time of day. You enter the door with the intent of notifying any occupant that the door is unsecured. It's a large office, and there are several hallways and office partitions running off of the entryway, so you can't readily see if anyone is there or not.
While you're looking for an occupant, you come around a corner to find someone pointing a gun at you. Your reaction is unpredictable, anywhere from a panicked sprint to complete submission.
The person with the gun is a police officer who was dispatched to investigate the open door. He entered without any warning. His confrontation with you could end tragically, depending on how he reacts to your reaction. This could be avoided by him shouting 'POLICE OFFICER! COME OUT WHERE I CAN SEE YOU!" as he entered. You, a law-abiding citizen meaning no harm, would also announce your presence and present yourself with your hands in plain view (I hope).
I've had to enter many offices and private homes without being invited in. I could be going in while responding to a silent alarm, or checking the welfare of an elderly resident who hasn't been seen for a few days. Someone inside, lawfully or otherwise, could hear me coming, assume I was a burglar or other intruder, and arm themselves against an assault. Being surprised is to the advantage of neither of us.
So, when entering places like this, I would be shouting "POLICE OFFICER!" not just as I entered, but continually until I was satisfied there was no one there but me. I don't want to get shot, and I don't want to shoot someone unless they truly offer a deadly threat to me.
I should add that training doctrine where I worked was to shout "POLICE OFFICER! DON'T MOVE!" when confronting any suspicious person who might be armed. Whatever they're up to, we want them to stop doing it until we're reasonably sure of what they're about. The "don't move" order works pretty well in those situations.
There are times when a police officer might use stealth when entering a premise, but in doing so, he risks being identified as a criminal intruder, rather than as a cop. If someone inside shoots or otherwise harms him (intentionally or otherwise), the cop doesn't enjoy the assumption that any reasonable person would have known he was a law enforcement officer.
By the way, this is also why law enforcement officers not in uniform are strongly encouraged to wear raid jackets or vests that say 'POLICE," "FBI," or some other simple label to identify themselves when making arrests. Anyone who doesn't is asking for trouble.
Read other answers by Tim Dees on Quora:
- How long does it take the FBI to clear a crime scene?
- What kinds of software do law enforcement professionals use to investigate a crime?
- Do FBI profilers work in teams like in the TV show "Criminal Minds," or do they work alone?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2fjnQD2
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