I agree with the comments quoted below.

For another insight into alternative ways to train officers I urge you
to listen to Police Captain Cheri Maples who appeared on the NPR program
"Speaking of Faith" where she talked about a retreat on the practice of
mindfulness in a world of violence given by Thich Nhat Hanh in eastern
Wisconsin for more than 50 people who work in the criminal justice
system, about half of them police officers. It changed her approach to
her job, and may well have saved the life of a citizen she encountered
in a domestic violence incident.

You can listen to the entire show, which I highly recommend, or just
read the transcript:
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.o...anh/transcript
shtml The pertinent section begins about 1/4 way down the page. You can
also search the page for "Wisconsin" and read from there. But it really
is best to hear the woman officer in her own voice tell the story. The
link to the downloadable podcast is at the top of the page.




Similarly, I don't care if the woman stopped for a traffic violation
said, no I'm not getting out of my car. I don't care if she said
that if the cop tried to drag her out of her car she would hit him.
The cop should have the skill to realize the woman is afraid. She is
likely not herself. Screaming at her is only going to make
everything worse! The cop escalated the encounter! The cop can call
a female officer who may be able to relate to the fearful woman
holed up in her van. The cop can call for more people. If worse
comes to worst, two or three guys can reach in and as gently as
possible pry her out of her car. She can be arrested. She can be
punished by the judge. With fines. With license revocation. With
jail time. That's the judge's job. The judge decides how much she
has to pay for the amount

wrote in message
...
I agree with the comments quoted below.

For another insight into alternative ways to train officers I urge you
to listen to Police Captain Cheri Maples who appeared on the NPR program
"Speaking of Faith" where she talked about a retreat on the practice of
mindfulness in a world of violence given by Thich Nhat Hanh in eastern
Wisconsin for more than 50 people who work in the criminal justice
system, about half of them police officers. It changed her approach to
her job, and may well have saved the life of a citizen she encountered
in a domestic violence incident.

You can listen to the entire show, which I highly recommend, or just
read the transcript:
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.o...anh/transcript
shtml The pertinent section begins about 1/4 way down the page. You can
also search the page for "Wisconsin" and read from there. But it really
is best to hear the woman officer in her own voice tell the story. The
link to the downloadable podcast is at the top of the page.





Cops escalate violence. That's their job. If the "perp" has a fist, they
bring a club. If the "perp" has a club, they bring a gun, and so on and so
on. Cops believe that fear of cops is irrational, and that anyone who
behaves irrationally must be brought under control -- for their own
protection, of course. If this means that someone must be tased, or beaten,
or stomped, or shot...well, the person shouldn't have been behaving
irrationally. They brought it all upon themselves. Cops who appear to be
trying to peacefully defuse a situation are usually acting as a diversion
for the SWAT team sneaking in through the back door.

Stereotypical TV drama perspective? Perhaps. But I'm given to believe that
it's more truth than fiction.
Similarly, I don't care if the woman stopped for a traffic violation
said, no I'm not getting out of my car. I don't care if she said
that if the cop tried to drag her out of her car she would hit him.
The cop should have the skill to realize the woman is afraid. She is
likely not herself. Screaming at her is only going to make
everything worse! The cop escalated the encounter! The cop can call
a female officer who may be able to relate to the fearful woman
holed up in her van. The cop can call for more people. If worse
comes to worst, two or three guys can reach in and as gently as
possible pry her out of her car. She can be arrested. She can be
punished by the judge. With fines. With license revocation. With
jail time. That's the judge's job. The judge decides how much she
has to pay for the amount