Spring Break
Lieutenant advises students on how win 'bad cop' battle
Greg Gentile
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
04/15/09 - "Check your attitude," Lt. Charles P. Wilson, chair of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, said during his lecture last night. He had the audience repeat those words after him, noting attitude is everything when dealing with the police after getting pulled over.
"Actions during police interactions can put you into a trick bag," he added, laughing.
Wilson presented a lecture last night entitled "What to Do When Being Stopped by the Police," alongside the University of Rhode Island Police.
During his presentation, Wilson emphasized the importance of better educating "people in communication as well as law enforcement to these issues that have an impact on civilian and enforcement interaction."
He described how the way civilians react to officers during traffic stops really influences whether one goes to jail, gets a ticket or just gets a warning.
"In 38 years, 90 percent of people I have put in jail talked their way into it," he said.
Wilson has been giving the "What to do when stopped by police" lecture to impoverished communities for more than 20 years.
Many of the topics Wilson discussed also included "bad cops," racial profiling and knowing one's rights.
Wilson said racial profiling would never stop, citing a study from Northeastern University concerning the ratio of white to minority groups involved in traffic violations. He said the research states police pull over members of minority groups more often than white drivers. Statistically, more white citizens pulled over are found with contraband than minority drivers, according to Wilson.
He added racial profiling goes both ways against all races and ethnicities. Wilson referred to racial profiling police officers as "the bad cops."
"Bad cops go out of their way to find a reason to arrest you," Wilson said.
But, he said, it is the way one reacts to "the bad cops" that will determine one's fate. Watching one's attitude, maintaining dignity and being respectful to the officer are all ways, "not to get your ass kicked on your way out the door," Wilson said.
"Actions during police interactions can put you into a trick bag," he added, laughing.
Wilson presented a lecture last night entitled "What to Do When Being Stopped by the Police," alongside the University of Rhode Island Police.
During his presentation, Wilson emphasized the importance of better educating "people in communication as well as law enforcement to these issues that have an impact on civilian and enforcement interaction."
He described how the way civilians react to officers during traffic stops really influences whether one goes to jail, gets a ticket or just gets a warning.
"In 38 years, 90 percent of people I have put in jail talked their way into it," he said.
Wilson has been giving the "What to do when stopped by police" lecture to impoverished communities for more than 20 years.
Many of the topics Wilson discussed also included "bad cops," racial profiling and knowing one's rights.
Wilson said racial profiling would never stop, citing a study from Northeastern University concerning the ratio of white to minority groups involved in traffic violations. He said the research states police pull over members of minority groups more often than white drivers. Statistically, more white citizens pulled over are found with contraband than minority drivers, according to Wilson.
He added racial profiling goes both ways against all races and ethnicities. Wilson referred to racial profiling police officers as "the bad cops."
"Bad cops go out of their way to find a reason to arrest you," Wilson said.
But, he said, it is the way one reacts to "the bad cops" that will determine one's fate. Watching one's attitude, maintaining dignity and being respectful to the officer are all ways, "not to get your ass kicked on your way out the door," Wilson said.
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