When society signed on with the plan to have criminals placed behind bars as a means to protect the public from dangerous criminals, and to punish those who choose to break the law, well, there was a certain expectation that the men and women tasked with guarding those prisoners would be honest, forthright, and law-abiding. I mean, come on, we can’t have murderers and thieves watching other murderers and thieves, right?

Well, as odd as it may seem, that “no crooks watching the other crooks” disqualifier might not be the case in at least one U.S. jail, the Hampton Roads Regional Jail located in Portsmouth, Va. HRRJ serves the cities of Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, and Norfolk.

Originally established to ease general overcrowding in local jails, HRRJ has since evolved into managing inmates with medical and mental health issues or disciplinary problems.

Before we look at the qualifications to work as a corrections officer at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail, though, let’s first take a quick look at former HRRJ prisoner Mark Goodrum.

Goodrum was (notice I mentioned him in the past tense) a 60-year-old man who was arrested for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

On January 8, 2014, officers responding to a complaint of the odor of burning marijuana coming from Goodrum’s apartment, did indeed experience the same. They smelled marijuana smoke so they knocked on Goodson’s door. He answered, as we do when someone knocks, and the officers issued him a simple summons for the misdemeanor and were quickly on their way, leaving Goodrum to go about his daily routine.

Well, as bad luck would have it, Goodrum was evicted from his apartment and then didn’t show up for court on the scheduled day he was to appear for the marijuana possession case.

Soon after, Goodrum missed yet another court date.

Goodrum then suffered a stroke and missed another court date. The judge had enough of the missed court dates and issued a bench warrant for failure to appear. Goodrum was arrested and jailed at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail.

Remember, Goodrum’s initial offense was for simple possession of marijuana. He was issued a summons (basically the same as a traffic ticket). Keep in mind, though, that he was not jailed for marijuana possession. He was locked up because he didn’t appear in court to answer for the minor marijuana offense. Still, the entire mess started over Goodrum’s desire to smoke pot within the confines of his own home.

On October 14, 2015, Goodrum was booked into the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. He died on November 11, 2015, less than one month after the steel doors closed behind him.

According to Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (the place where Patricia Cornwell’s famous fictional character Kay Scarpetta worked), Goodrum died of “end stage renal disease with history of hemodialysis, hypertension, anemia of chronic disease, peripheral vascular disease, tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, and history of stroke contributing.”

What does Goodrum have to do with bad guys being supervised by other bad guys, you ask? Okay, remember Goodrum’s initial offense, the one that started the chain of events that ended with his death in jail? That’s right, he was ticketed for possession of marijuana, an act that is still very much illegal in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Simple possession of mairjuana in the “Virginia is For Lovers” state is a Class 1 Misdemeanor, an offense that’s punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.

Possessing marijuana is I.L.L.E.G.A.L in Virginia. It’s a crime that’s punishable by time behind bars, like the bars and steel doors and the razor wire at the HRRJ. And that, one would think, would be just cause for a person to not be allowed to wear a badge and supervise others who’re incarcerated for committing the same offense. Makes sense, right?

Well, if we dig a bit into the qualifications to work as a corrections officer at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail we see a couple of real head-scratchers appear.

Their list of disqualifiers for employment includes (notice the text highlighted in red):

AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFIERS

The following automatic disqualifiers will cause the processing of the application to be immediately discontinued:

Criminal Record:

• –  Conviction of any felony.
• –  Conviction of driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance (within 3years).
• –  Conviction of a misdemeanor involving morals, decency, or illegal drugs other than marijuana.
• –  Conviction of any domestic assault (Title 18 Federal Code). Driving Record:

• –  Current driver’s license suspension.
• –  Driver’s license suspension for moving violation within last 6 months. Drug Usage:

• –  Any use of heroin, cocaine, PCP, methamphetamine, hallucinogen, or other Schedule 1 or 2Controlled Substance within past 3 years.
• –  Any use of illegal substances by injection at any time.
• –  Any use of marijuana or hashish within the past 12 months prior to submitting your application or any time thereafter.

So it appears that corrections officers working in the HRRJ could have broken the law (smoked and/or possessed marijuana and have been convicted of doing so) and still work as an officer who supervises prisoners who’re incarcerated for smoking and/or possessing marijuana.

The list of disqualifiers is a bit contradictory, too. Because while stating that people who apply for jobs may not have on their record a conviction of a misdemeanor involving morals, decency, or illegal drugs other than marijuana, the list goes on to state a disqualifier of any use of heroin, cocaine, PCP, methamphetamine, hallucinogen, or other Schedule 1 or 2 Controlled Substance within past 3 years.

What’s the one big argument we hear from marijuana advocates? That’s right, it’s listed as a Schedule I drug alongside heroin and other dangerous drugs that have no medicinal value.

This listing of things you can and can’t do when expecting to be hired as a jail employee tells us a couple of things. One—marijuana is not dangerous. Well, it’s certainly not dangerous in the sense that heroin’s dangerous. Next, It’s okay for jail employees to have a history of pot smoking, but the same is not okay for people who don’t wear a badge? After all, 2nd and 3rd offenses may increase sentencing lengths for those convicted of marijuana crimes.

How is it possible that uniformed, badge-wearing pot smokers are standing on the outside of the bars looking in at other pot smokers who’re wearing black and white stripes while waiting for their day in court to answer charges for smoking pot? Maybe it’s time for lawmakers to seriously rethink marijuana laws? At the very least, everyone should be held to the same standard. Shouldn’t second chances (for nonviolent crimes like marijuana possession) be offered to everyone, not just the people who work in this particular jail while guarding the folks who may not have received a second chance at their dream job?

And, why is it so that a regional jail is housing mental health patients behind bars? But that’s a topic for another day.

Yes, I know, I’m probably the last person you’d expect to hear this from, but this sort of thing gets my goat, and I don’t like it when my goat is missing …

 

There are many jobs within police departments and sheriff’s offices, and each of those duties require special skills and training. Some of the assignments even require a special “look.”

In addition, many of the officers assigned to these special details have their own expectations of how they should carry themselves, and which type of appearance is appropriate for the mission.

Over the years, police officers have developed a set of unwritten guidelines for working in the individual divisions, and with one glance cops can usually tell another officer’s assignment. How? Well, certain little details give them away. Such as…

Narcotics

Yes, that’s me back in the undercover days.

• Officers assigned to this detail immediately grow long hair and a beard, then tell everybody the boss ordered it.
• Start watching every episode of Gator Boys and Honey Boo Boo to learn how to speak and act in the “real world”.
• Buy a biker wallet with a big chain.
• Make every case involve overtime.
• Learn to play golf while guzzling Jack Daniels.

SWAT

• Wears team T-shirts, dark sunglasses, and boots, everyday.
• Tries to fit the word breach into every conversation.
• Has a mirror handy to check hair, if they have hair.
• Never says hello to anyone who is not an operator, but is quick to deliver the cool SWAT head nod.
• Subscribes to Soldier of Fortune and Muscle and Fitness.
• Plays golf while wearing a gun.

The Feds

• Shaves head and grows goatee (unless they want to be a management weenie, then they remain clean shaven, with short almost military style haircut).
• Wears 5.11 pants, and a polo shirt with agency logo (unless they want to be a management weenie, then make sure they always wear shirt and pants to which a jacket and tie can be quickly added for those occasions when the president shows up unexpectedly).
• Arrives at work at 8 a.m. sharp and spends one hour answering emails, and 30 minutes checking their retirement investments. Then go with another agent to Starbucks “to discuss a new case.”
• After participating in their first warrant service, they make plans to join the agency SRT, SWAT, etc, to “properly utilize their superior tactical skills.”
• After doing their first buy bust, the agent immediately begins asking the boss about “long term undercover” jobs.
• Refuses to play golf with the inferior locals cops.

Traffic Units

• Write tickets to EVERYBODY, including mom.
• Spend every weekend cleaning their vehicles and polishing their boots.
• Annoys everyone on the radio calling out their stops.
• Talks only about the huge number of traffic tickets they write in a single day.
• Rides by storefronts with big windows to admire their reflection.
• Golf is lame. Paintball all the way.

K-9 Units

• Become sadistic. Enjoy seeing their dogs chew on human flesh.
•  Proudly show pictures of their latest dog bite.
•  Brag constantly about their largest drug find.
• Smells like a dog.
• Uniform and car seats coated in dog hair.
• Works out three times a day, with or without the dog.
• Enjoys an occasional doggy treat as a mid-morning snack.

Administrative

• Good for three-hour lunches, everyday, telling everybody it’s a “meeting.”
• Upgrades department cell phone practically every month.
• Tells everybody they’re published in a national law enforcement magazine.
• Update their revenge list on a weekly basis, and has investigators build files on “enemies.”
• Plays lots of golf (often called “afternoon meetings).

Patrol Officers

• Have nerves of steel.
• Despise department politics and stupid rules and regulations.
• Inability to keep mouth shut when around the media.
• Is respected by peers.
• Plays golf but is unsure of the rules. Driving the cart while drinking a cold Bud is cool, though.

FTO (Field Training Officer)

• Automatically grasps the door handle until knuckles turn white when the rookie is behind the wheel.
• Considers a multiple-victim homicide in progress a “good training opportunity” and asks to take primary.
• Considers less than three hours of OT to be a quiet day.
• Knows that it’s a rookie’s place to handle ALL foot pursuits while he/she follows along in the air-conditioned patrol car.

Detectives

• Show up for work at 0800, or so.
• “Breakfast” is from 0815 to 1030.
• Shuffle through paperwork from 1030 to Noon.
• Lunch from noon to 1400.
• Meet informants from 1415 until 1500.
• Office walls are packed full of awards, commendations, and photos of the investigators with various celebrities.
• Rest of the day is spent in the office talking to anyone who’ll listen to their plans to write a bestselling book based on their many outstanding cases and accomplishments.
• Choice of beverage becomes wine and specialty beer.

Sergeant

• Remembers very well “how we used to do it back in the good old days.”
• Always willing to tell his officers the above.
• Tries to fit the word “liability” into every sentence.
• Talks about “what he’s hearing from upstairs.”
• Hates what he’s hearing from upstairs.
• Hates carrying those newfangled guns. Give him an old wheel gun any day.
• Plans retirement on a daily basis.
• Counts the number of days until retirement…every day of every week.

Trainee/Rookie

• Watches every episode of Cops, 48 Hours, CSI, and the Andy Griffith Show.
• Worships the ground the SWAT guys walk on.
• Arrives for work three hours early and stays over past regular shift (on their own time) to ride with other officers.
• Thinks the sergeant is always thrilled to see him/her.
• Male trainees are too young to grow facial hair.
• Their favorite song is the sound of a siren blaring.
• Are extremely surprised to learn that many people enjoy hitting cops.
• Are shocked when many people hit them.
• Don’t like it when hit by many people.
• Won’t drink on the golf course because it violates the open container ordinance.

New Corrections Officers

• Show up for work 15 minutes early.
• Buy only the best ink pens.
• Wear T-Shirts of their “dream police department” under their uniforms.
• Wear a full duty belt of gear (purchased with their own money from the local cop shop), even though they have to remove everything when they arrive at the facility. But it’s really cool to go inside a convenience store wearing full gear.
• Become friends with every local police officer.

Court Security

• They say they don’t want to work patrol, but secretly monitor dispatch channels while inside the courtroom and at home.
• Have jail and courthouse cafeteria menus memorized.
• Have seriously thought of entering law school after sitting through three jury trials.
• Think they know more than the judges and attorneys.
• After sitting through four or five trials, they’re positive they know more than judges and attorneys.

Defensive Tactics Instructors

• Starts stretching and warming up before making arrests.
• Can spend hours debating the advantages of ASP vs. straight stick.
• Has spent more than $50 on a wooden baton.
• Knows how, where, and when every scar on their body was received.
• Giggles when a suspect starts to resist.

Firearms Instructor

• Responds to every question/statement with the word, ‘huh?’
• Thinks a new tactical handgun is a great Christmas gift for the wife/girlfriend.
•  Has an image of a custom 1911-A1 for a screen-saver.
• Wears the latest high-tech electronic hearing protectors during normal conversation.
• Decorates uniform shirt with every marksmanship pin and medal available.
• Clean their weapons while eating lunch.
• Uses gun-cleaning lube/oil as cologne.
• Wears at least two concealed backup weapons at all times.
• Wears an ankle holster to bed in case he can’t reach either of the 12 firearms hidden throughout the bedroom.
• He/she and their family decorate the gun safe during the holidays.

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So, your city is listed as one of the safest in your state. How wonderful for you and your neighbors.

Now that the new report is out you no longer need to fear those bullets whizzing by your head as you stroll down the sidewalk. Nor should you concern yourself with the gang members battling it out in the parking lot of your favorite store, SlayMart.

Those purse snatchings, robberies, stabbings, shootings, and bloodstained pavements? Nope. No worries. Because the crime rate is down and you know it’s so because today’s headline says it’s so.

Well not so fast.

Here’s how a police department/city can skew the numbers to make even the most dangerous city in the country look good … on paper. And they some do.

First of all, when crime reports are issued for public review we should, before taking the stats at face value, look at the number of actual calls for service. That’s the real meat of situation.

Oakland, Ca. police calls for service report.

How many times did officers report to locations where shots were fired? Where purses were stolen? Where assaults occurred? What’s the tipping point for determining when a theft warrants arrest as opposed to a issuing a summons?

In our area, for example, a simple theft typically must exceed $950.00 before police are allowed to physically take the suspect(s) into custody (for a felony). Otherwise the crooks receive a summons, if caught, and that often equates to no report to UCR ,which in turn does not show up in the grand total of crimes reported to the public.

After all, if police respond to a million calls about people breaking into cars and never do more than take information and/or write a simple summons, but write no report, well, this large number of tickets doesn’t come into play on the official crime tally. It’s only certain crimes in certain categories that show up in the federal Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)— the violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault, and the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. In 1979, arson was added as the eighth category. Remember, too, that police departments are NOT mandated to provide information to the government for inclusion in the UCR reports.

To add to the so-called pretend “decreases in serious crime,” California passed Proposition 47, a law that instantly transformed many felonies into misdemeanors. For example (from Balletpedia):

The measure requires misdemeanor sentencing instead of felony for the following crimes:

• Shoplifting, where the value of property stolen does not exceed $950
• Grand theft, where the value of the stolen property does not exceed $950
• Receiving stolen property, where the value of the property does not exceed $950
• Forgery, where the value of forged check, bond or bill does not exceed $950
• Fraud, where the value of the fraudulent check, draft or order does not exceed $950
• Writing a bad check, where the value of the check does not exceed $950
• Personal use of many illegal drugs

In January 2015, it was announced that as many as 1 million Californians may be eligible to change past felony convictions on their records under Proposition 47.

Many businesses directly attribute a spike in shoplifting claims to California’s proposition 47. Thieves can now grab up to $950 and run without fear of a felony arrest/conviction.

So, if you want to know how safe your community really is, read the local police department’s calls for service/daily blotter, etc. Don’t rely totally on what you see in the media or in those published UCR reports published by the FBI. The latter is by far the better of the two, but even it is not 100% accurate.

In the meantime, trust your instincts. If a local Gang Members 101 union meeting is taking place in the SlayMart parking lot, well, you might want to consider shopping at another store. But, shopping at a business that uses a bulls-eye as their logo kind of gives me a willies when thinking of all the shootings these days. And let’s not forget KillZone Auto Parts, Corpse and Barrel, Robbery Lobby, Drug Buy, The Home Invasion, and Totally UnSafeway.

Speaking of crime …

 

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John Hinckley, Jr. is getting out. He, as you may recall, is the man who shot President Ronald Reagan, a police officer, a Secret Service agent, and Press Secretary James Brady. Brady later died as a result of the gunshot wound that struck him in the face just above the left eye. It was in 1981 when Hinckley fired the shots, attempting to assassinate President Reagan as a means of impressing actress Jodi Foster. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

A moment after the assassination attempt of President Reagan by John Hinckley, Jr.

Now, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman feels that Hinckley is well enough to live in the community. Although, had Hinckley been declared sane at the time of the shootings he would most likely have spent the remainder of his life behind bars. But, come August of 2016, Hinkley will be residing with his parents in a gated golf course community in historic Williamsburg, Va., where he says he’d like to fit in and be a good citizen. The man (Hinckley) who once was fixated on the assassination of President Kennedy, fantasized about hijacking an airplane, and stalked President Carter, now enjoys speaking to groups in art galleries and at mental hospitals. He also enjoys playing guitar, painting, and photography. He would like to land a job at Starbucks or Subway.

I wonder what Mr. Brady, had he survived the attack, would have enjoyed had he not been confined to wheelchair by a gunshot wound that left him with slurred speech and partial paralysis and suffering deficits in memory and thinking and the inability to recognize people. I’m sure that the simple act of standing at a counter and placing an order for a sandwich, unassisted, at Subway or any other business would have been high on his “I wish I could” list. Unfortunately, he died because of the actions of a man who speaks to people at art galleries and strums and plucks his six-string while intently watching men and women on the golf course behind his parents’  home.

James Brady

In fairness to Hinckley, he’s been allowed out for numerous visits with his parents and he’s been driving around and interacting with people in the community for quite some time and all without incident. Of course, he hadn’t attempted to kill a U.S. president until he fired that first round at Reagan. Until that day, he’d been out and about in the community as well. As they say, I’m just saying.

By the way, the Hinckley’s rear deck is just mere feet away from the 13th hole, just in case you decide to play there.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is 40-year-old Melissa Wright of Hillbrook, Alabama. You may recall that Ms. Wright pleaded guilty in 2003 to the attempted murder of her 14-month-old daughter, Ashley Smith. She tried to kill the girl by placing her in a broiler oven. The child has since endured over two dozen operations due to the burns she received.

Ashley is now 15.

Melissa Wright was recently up for parole. During the hearing Ashley requested that her mother remain in prison. However, her older sister pleaded with the board to release their mother. A prosecutor says he wants Wright to serve every day of her 25 year sentence.

Ashley Smith at her mother’s parole hearing.

The board denied Wright’s release, for now.

And then there’s the case of the Baltimore Six, the officers on trial for the death of Freddie Gray, a man who died during an incident involving those six officers.

Today, Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby dropped all charges against the remaining officers accused of killing Gray. Previous trials each resulted in acquittals with the exception of one that ended in a mistrial. During the trials, Judge Barry G. Williams Jr. made it perfectly clear that he did not believe Mosby’s theory of the case, In addition, Judge Williams found that prosecutors deliberately withheld information that would have been beneficial to the defense.

So, a case that received much national attention, one that prompted protestors to riot and loot and burn parts of the city and presented Mosby with opportunities to appear in national TV sows, magazines, and onstage with Prince, has ended without a single conviction after a judge repeatedly said there simply was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

This, after Mosby’s news conference announcing that she planned to bring charges against the Baltimore officers. She said, “To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America. I heard your call for “no justice, no peace…To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf. This is a moment, this is your moment…You’re at the forefront of this cause. And as young people, our time is now.”

After the prosecutor’s fiery press conference and subsequent to when areas of Baltimore were set ablaze and destroyed, Judge Williams issued a gag order preventing all parties from the prosecution and defense from publicly discussing the case. Today, the order was lifted and a still-defiant Mosby once again turned to the media to share her feelings about police when she blamed them, a lack of communal oversight of police, and entire the justice system (the same justice system that’s for everyone, not just her) for her failure to produce guilty verdicts.

Mosby said today, “After much thought and prayer it has become clear to me that without being able to work with an independent investigatory agency from the very start, without having a say in the election of whether our cases proceed in front of a judge or a jury … we can try this case 100 times … and we would still end up with the same results.” 

To respond to Mosey’s comments:

• She and her team had every opportunity to work with an independent agency of their choosing, but she elected to do conduct her own investigation using her own investigators and the evidence they presented—evidence the judge said did not rise to the level of criminal wrongdoing. Remember, there must be proof of a crime to convict anyone. And it was their own evidence, evidence that favored the officers, that was withheld from the defense.
• It is the right of ANY and ALL people who’re facing criminal charges as to whether or not they want a bench trial (by a judge) or a trial by jury. This is not something a prosecutor has control over. Not today, not ever before.
• She’s right, she’d probably not get a conviction in this case in 100 attempts to do so, because the crimes charged were not a reflection of the event. There must be criminal intent.

On the hand, were the officers responsible for the safety of Freddie Gray? Sure they were, but the safety of the officers as well as the safety of everyone at the scene were equally as important. Decisions made that day, during the spur of moment—in mere seconds—are a small example of the decisions that must be made by police officers every single day.

Mosby said she stands by the medical examiner’s report that Gray’s death was a homicide. Well, I can sort of agree with that statement. Remember, homicide and murder are not always the same.

It is Murder that’s the unlawful killing of another person. The judge in this case said there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. None.

“I understand that murder is a crime,” you say, but…what’s the difference between murder and homicide? Don’t they share the same meaning? Is there a difference?

Yes, of course there’s a distinction between the two, and the things that set them apart are extremely important.

Again, murder is the unlawful killing of a person, especially with malice aforethought.

The definition of homicide, however, encompasses ALL killings of human beings by other humans. And certain homicides are absolutely legal.

Anyway, back to the Baltimore Six. I’m all for justice. Had this been a case involving criminal intent, where the officers did something to intentionally injure or kill Mr. Gray, well, they should’ve been found guilty and sent to prison. And I’m a firm believer that when people break the law, including police officers, they should be charged.

However, that was simply not the case this time.

By the way, Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby now faces disbarment charges as well as civil lawsuits from the majority of officers she charged in this case.

*As always, please … no arguments about gun control, police-bashing, protestors, political rants and raves, bashing of political candidates, religion, race, and, well, the usual. Oh, and please do save the bad language for other pages. We have kids who visit this page and I’d like to keep the site as kid-friendly as possible. Besides, I’m extremely weary of seeing and hearing the “F” word. But that’s just me. Thanks!

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You look in your rear-view mirror and there it is, a patrol car.

It’s so close you can see the reflection of your tail-lights in the officer’s sunglasses.

You see him pick up the mic and start talking. He’s a big, burly man who looks as if he’s capable of crushing diamonds with his teeth. Yes, he’s definitely scary.

You read his lips. “10-4. I got me a real danger to society this time. I’m goin’ in.” Well, at least that’s what your imagination told you.

What’s he 10-4ing? What’d you do wrong? You run down the list. Insurance is paid. License was renewed on time. Didn’t run the red light. Seat belt on. Didn’t roll through the stop sign. Then, WHAT? WHY HAS HE BEEN FOLLOWING ME FOR SO LONG? WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY BE DOING BACK THERE?

He just looks so doggone evil. And you’re not positive, but you think you can read his badge number. So you embed it into your memory, just in case …

JUST TURN ON THE BLUE LIGHTS AND GET IT OVER WITH!

And there it is. The traffic stop. He’s pulling you over and here he comes, right up to your window.

When he leans over to peek into your window, for some odd reason you sense that he’s looking deep into your soul.

He’s evil in a uniform.

Sure traffic stops are sometimes a bit unnerving, but once you settle down you’ll quickly realize that officers are just like you … human. Well, sort of.

So, there are several things the officer could be doing back there.

• It’s possible that he’s simply heading in the same direction you’re going and is no more than the next car in line. Also, you might be so worried about having a police car behind you that you’re driving ten miles per hour under the speed limit. He’d like to pass, but can’t because you’re driving in a lane that doesn’t permit it. The latter occurs quite often.

But, you just may be the target of a traffic stop. In that case, here’s what’s likely going on back there in Lucifer’s vehicle.

• The officer is calling in your license plate numbers to dispatch. Those busy folks will let the officer know if your registration is current, if the plates on the car are supposed to be on the car, the make and model of the car, the owner’s name and address, and if the car is stolen, which is a whole new bucket of worms.

Dispatch could also run the owner’s name to see if they’re wanted for any crimes, past DUI’s, have a valid driver’s license, etc.

Of course, the officer could be running the information himself using the in-car computer.

• Your car could match the description of a car that was used in a crime. Therefore, the officer could be calling for backup. If so, he’ll follow you until back up is nearby, or on the scene. This is the time when you could see the business end of one of those shiny Sig Sauers.
• The officer may have seen you commit a traffic infraction (crossing over the center line, running off the road, didn’t dim your lights when you should have, weave within your lane, etc.) and he’s staying behind you to see if that error was a simple mistake, or if you could possibly be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• He could be following you until he’s reached an area where he feels it’s safe enough to conduct a traffic stop. Officers should be vigilant about their surroundings. They should always plan ahead, making traffic stops in areas where they won’t be boxed in should a shootout take place. The stop area should have a shoulder that’s wide enough to safely pull off the roadway, out of traffic. And they should never make a stop in an area where radio communication is hindered by things such as barrier walls and electrical interference. If the radio doesn’t work, don’t make the stop. Wait!
• The officer might be watching your reaction to having a police car behind you. Your actions may give him reason to believe that you’re up to no good. Unusually nervous glances in the mirror coupled with erratic movements (fidgeting with something under the seat or console) could mean the driver is reaching for a weapon or hiding contraband.

• Finally, it could be time for a bathroom break and you’re just in the way. Or, they might be on the way to pick up some lawbreaking clown …

So drive safe, buckle up, and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times. You never know who, or what, might be following you.