April 24th, 2007
Whatcha gonna do? Cops and deaf people
Ridor apparently has a love-hate relationship with authority figures: He loves to hate them.
In a recent posting, he pointed out media coverage of another incident where a deaf person was “shot” with beanbags by police officers who thought the vehicle was related to an earlier incident where shots “may” have been fired.
In the same posting, he singles me out as saying that deaf people need to reach out to police officers and educate them. Even worse, he says, “Avoid the cops. Don’t call the cops. Don’t trust the cops. They are a menace to us all.”
Now, I’m not sure how the kind folks at NAD, HLAA, or more relevantly, ADWAS or other domestic violence agencies would take that kind of advice. My biggest fear is that a battered woman (or man) is sitting reading his blog torn between calling the police or suffering yet another night at the hands of their abuser. I certainly hope Ridor is willing to accept the consequences of his actions.
In the interests of full disclosure, I’m the Program Director for the CEPIN project and I work almost daily with emergency responders (police, fire, EMS) from all different kinds of backgrounds (city, rural, etc) and doing exactly that: education.
In the course of my job, I’ve met many police officers who deserve the “pedestal” that people often put them on and they are truly dedicated to the notions of service to the public and enforcing the law. Furthermore, as many of the comments on his blog indicate, most people have very positive interactions with the police.
Police officers are taught to use force along a “continuum” beginning with simple conversation and ending with lethal force. A report published in 1998 indicates that police officers in 1996 used force (or threatened to) in .2% of all interactions with citizens during that time. This makes sense because continuum concept trains officers to start at the lowest level appropriate to the situation.
In other words, a police officer should not come at you with guns drawn if they only think you’re jaywalking. On the other hand, if you just shot and killed someone, they’re not going to approach you with a smile on their face (unless you’re Ridor).
That said, the overriding concern for police officers (and all emergency responders) is to end their shift alive and unhurt. You only need to visit the Law Enforcement Memorial in DC to realize how dangerous the job of police officer is.
There have also been many, many documented instances where officers used deadly force only to find out that the “other guy” only had their wallet/phone/pencil etc. in their hands. It’s not a “deaf” thing but it IS a problem that affects all folks.
In our training course, we train officers to recognize that a deaf or hard of hearing person trying to communicate can sometimes appear to be uncooperative or combative.
I’ve also had the opportunity to discuss these types of incidents (such as Bahl and the recent one linked above) with police officers “off the record” and they almost always reference some “10 percent” number. In a report published by the National Institute of Justice, the author said:
It has become a truism among police chiefs that 10 percent of their officers
cause 90 percent of the problems.
Furthermore, the same report said:
Investigative journalists have documented departments in which as few as 2 percent of all officers are responsible for 50 percent of all citizen complaints.
The implication is that these police officers are either mis-applying the continuum at hand or are ignoring it altogether. Furthermore, these types of incidents are repeatedly occurring through those officers’ careers to different individuals across all types of socio-economic-cultural boundaries. In other words, they use way too much force on hearing and deaf alike.
Now, I cannot speak to the specifics of the Bahl case or the recent posting. Playing “monday morning quarterback” rarely helps anyone and it seems that in both cases, lawsuits are working their way thorough the court systems.
Now, to wrap this all up. Ridor is right: we shouldn’t have to constantly be reaching out to hearing people for whatever reason. I get *paid* for doing it and sometimes even I get frustrated with the ignorance I encounter. But if you’re someone who has embraced being deaf, being hard of hearing, then you’re automatically an advocate.
Being an advocate means being a voice for change. And that is exactly what you’re going to do when you make that phone call to the local police department, introduce yourself and say, “Hey, can I come and talk to some of your officers about this?”
April 24th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
I have to wonder. I would like to know if there are actually statistics on how cops encounter deaf/disabled/blind citizens and how they react to the situation. I hadn’t heard of any stories in which cops had mistreated the deaf or disabled individuals despite I have been working with deaf clients in mental health in past. In many situations when cops and/or firefighters were needed (such as when clients become dangerous, robbery, fires, they were very polite and very helpful. Yes it is frustrating when they do not know how to sign, but very flexible to write forth and back. I acknowledge that there are situations in which some cops may be ‘brainless’ in situations, but on the other hand, who wouldn’t? I don’t know anyone who is PERFECT who’d know what to do in every situation and always stay calm 100%- if you do, I’ll then eat my shoe. In three situations I had been in, cops were very helpful especially when I was either unconscious, in shock or hysterical. And yes, I’m deaf and I use ASL all the time. And no, I’m not a “old sweet lady.”
Actually after a severe situation, a detective went out of her way to check up on me, keep in contact with me, never mind that she had hundreds of cases to follow. She doesn’t even know how to fingerspell yet she let me know that I’m a HUMAN being, not a case number. Who’d not appreciate THAT?
April 24th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Let me amend that comment “I hadn’t heard any stories in which cops had mistreated the deaf or disabled despite I have been wrking with eaf clients in mental health in past” as in hearing things in PERSON, instead from blogs or articles. So far I have seen two articles in which cops had erred in treating deaf individuals. I would wonder HOW many situations had come up in which cops erred with hearing people…I’m sure hundreds more than compared to deaf- it’s the small deaf community, hence more “noise”. One could say we all are tribal. “Hurt one, hurt us all” would be one belief.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
That’s why I don’t read Ridor’s blog anymore. I have a trouble in trusting the police officers but I don’t blame them because a crazy world out there. Sad.
April 24th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
I’ve had a bad experience with cops before. I was innocent of the charges, but yet I was treated like Hannibal Lecter. They did not provide interpreters, did not provide tty, and they nearly broke my arm while arresting me, even if I cooperated fully.
Then they jammed me under a shelf and made me sit there for 3 hours, hurting my body.
Cops are dangerous, and control freaks. Ridor was right to say what he said.
—Stu P.
April 24th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
It is a tough job being a cop and a firefighter. I wouldn’t want to be one. But you have to admit, there are a lot of bad cops out there - cops that are bigheaded. These are the cops that make the other cops look bad. Those are the cops that Ridor is speaking of - and I agree with him.
I remember when I was in a car accident and after we waited forever for the cops to come — the cops talked to the other party first ’cause they were easier to talk to, easier to handle, easier to take care of, etc., despite the fact that everybody could see I was more severely hurt. Geez. Makes me not too anxious to call the cops anymore! I’ll call my hearing friend or my neighbor and have them interpret or something…
April 25th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Ahh there are both good and bad police officers. I think many police department needs to be educated and yet at the same time they don’t know from one minute to another what’s going to happen. I’ve had some bad experience but that does not change my outlook on some of the officers I know in town where I live. It is the ones that are biased and ignorant that makes the rest of the department look bad. Unfortunately, in past few years, there have been bad press on how police officers treat the disabled, not to mention, people of different race. The more informed the officers are (and that is where we come in, educate them), the better relations we will have with emergency personnels such as cops, emt, fire fighters, etc.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Diane, I have heard stories of cops treating many deaf and hard of hearing people from time to time, I trained and learned law enforcement myself and went on to become deaf volunteer firefighter/photographer like Neil.
Many of today’s police officer’s don’t understand what a deaf and hard of hearing person or subject is, almost 90% of the time, they will mistake the subject for be ignorant and disobeying the officers commands. It makes it more of a dangerous situation in getting an innocent Deaf or hard of hearing by-stander shot or killed in the line of officers fire or other danger involving firearms.
I do public safety consultanting on a department and general public basis involving deaf and hard of hearing public safety.
I can say that approximately 98 percent of the time officers will take a deaf and hard of hearing person for a mental case, being disorderly and ignorant of officers commands. But, than it becomes a safety issue involving both officer and subject alone, because, still officers have to take the possibility that the person can be armed as well, causing the officer to draw his or her weapon and firing the weapon in self defense, when the subject actually trying to comply with the under officer’s understanding and what he/she is being told.
Makes it a political situation were, departments can error or margin on their own, when the officer goes along with defending his or her life in the line of duty. I can understand the officer’s views as well as the person they are about to question or take into custody. But, like as many say, many recruits are gunho’s out of the department wanting to get a piece of the action and promotional hikes up the ranks.
Which still causes it to be political battle of it all. Its just the the deaf and hard of hearing community needs to be more active in the community to know their public safety departments are there to help, nut to hurt them in times of need and vise versa on the deaf / hard of haring community as well.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Stu and Anonymous: I sympathize with your situations and I suspect most cops who “get it” would be pissed too.
I think both of your experiences show exactly the reason why more work is needed in terms of advocacy and education.
(by the way, folks.. I’m on the road a lot these next few weeks so be patient if your comments don’t appear immediately, I’ll get them up as soon as I can.)
April 25th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
As usual, you’re optimistic, Neil. That is a compliment, by the way. I rather not to be optimistic. I prefer to be realistic.
I’m sure you heard of this news where the rapper said he is bound to his code that if he knew that a serial killer is living next door, he’ll never report it to the cops?
Did you ever wonder why he said that? It can be attributed to the repeated experiences with the cops in a bad light.
I do not think educating the cops through workshops, lecture sessions and all that works at all. I recall in early 1980s where the NAD or some other organization initiated the grassroot effort to reach the police departments to educate them. Guess it does not work because it takes two to tango.
How to deal with this? Hire a deaf individual to work in the police departments. I do not mean that they have to be a police officer. They can work in the department … I am aware that there are many Deaf individuals whose majored in criminal justice. Why not?
They simply refused and cited that their deafness may hinder them to danger. In the office? Please.
So for the time being, I encourage Deaf people to avoid cops at all costs … unless they find a trusted hearing friend/relative/interpreter next to them!
Cheers,
R-
April 27th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Ridor,
Thanks for the compliment. We’re both realistic but you’re way more pessimistic than I. I freely acknowledge that our emergency response system is far from perfect and if you ever hear someone saying it is, please let me know so I can give them the ol’ italian headslap.
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion and I certainly hope nothing ever happens to you that would require the use of law enforcement resources.
I will ask you again: are you prepared to deal with the consequences of encouraging your readers to not use the police? Are you indicating it is acceptable for victims of spousal abuse to NOT call the police for help? Are you indicating that deaf people who have had their homes burglarized should not call the police to have reports taken?
Are you willing to accept those consequences? I hope so.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Honey, I will accept these consequences — when people asked me why? I’ll simply tell them the truth — that the cops are incompetent to start with.
R-
April 29th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Not only that, you are putting words in my mouth — if a victim of spousal abuse occurs, there is a way to circumvent without contacting the cops at all — how? Get in touch with the non-profit organizations that deals with spousal abuses. They can help. They are much better than dealing with the cops directly!
R-
April 29th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
re: domestic violence: that may be true but the reality is that the only solution to domestic violence is a multi-faceted one that involves DV agencies, law enforcement, the courts, social agencies, the abuser and ultimately, the victim.
Often the very first “introduction” to domestic violence support services is after police officers have been called to a residence. The sad reality, (for Mr. Ridor, the so-called “realist”) is that many victims of domestic abuse simply aren’t aware of what’s available to them and in most cases, police officers are the ones who “plant that seed” in their heads.
Yes, some cops are incompetent and that references back to the “10% of cops causing 90% of problems” truism I posted above.
Domestic violence aside, how would you propose deaf people who have been assaulted, raped, or simply involved in an automobile accident deal with those particular situations?
May 1st, 2007 at 12:32 am
Simply involved in an automobile accidents? Please. I was involved in two accidents, the cops ignored me and interviewed others. Then issued me a citation. Turns out the others blamed me. But thank God for my insurance agent — he saw some errors and pointed out that my car was already PARKED when it was struck.
The truth is that when they saw me as Deaf person, they do not deal with me — they deal with me AFTER they deal with hearing people FIRST. To me, that is where the problem began.
Remember Thomas Minch? He was accused of killing Eric Plunkett — the DC Police was confident because they claimed that he did confess. Blah, blah. Turns out he was not the killer! One mistake in communication can screw everything for a person like Thomas Minch. That is the reason why I prefer to keep away from the cops. I simply have no bone in trusting them at all. I’m sorry. I just can’t bring myself to do that!
R-
May 11th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Glad I came across your blog. I have a friend who is also hearing impaired and recently lost her job as a career FF after several years.
June 8th, 2007 at 4:32 am
Neil,
I came across your blog and saw this post. I wanted to applaud you for being so right-on about the police planting the seeds in our heads as DV victims to go to DV shelters & agencies for help & protection. So, we *do* need cops and no, they are not perfect but they do their jobs, somewhat and somehow.
L.R.
a Deaf DV victim whose life was saved by a cop
September 25th, 2007 at 2:18 am
“there are both good and bad police officers. I think many police department needs to be educated and yet at the same time they don’t know from one minute to another what’s going to happen.”, I agree. We can not judge all the police officers as doggone officer even our deaf/hard-of-hearing people have ever encounter the bad behavior. Not all the cops are bad-educated.
I have discussed this issue with some deaf/HOH people on deafs.com/i/bl. Some are agree with me, some have different view. Majority of them have bad experience. Therefore, they detest all the cops because things they encounter before. No one is willing to meet bad cops, but what could we do to improve some cops’ bad behaviors?
September 25th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Megan;
Probably the best thing you can do is to go to your local police department, ask for the ranking officer on duty, tell them about yourself and offer to give a workshop to the officers on recognizing and communicating with deaf people.
Be ready, however, to have a dialogue on many issues. I often find that many of the things we suggest for communication access contradict things they are taught in the academy. For example, we ask them NOT to shine lights in our faces. Police officers often do this for several reasons: a) to see the person’s face/eyes clearly; b)to maintain control over the situation since people who can’t see tend to be calmer and finally, c) if you can’t see the police officer, you’re less likely to hit him when you shoot the gun. (in other words, the flashlight in the face is to prevent you from seeing exactly where he is in case you want to hurt him.)
So by having a dialogue with the police, you’ll be able to plant the idea, the seed in their head.
October 21st, 2007 at 8:11 am
Recently, I was shocked!!!
The law, in Georgia, states that, when the police are stoping people, to check licenses, insuraance, etc. they must allow Deaf people to go on through, unless they provide an interpreter.
Recently, I was stopped and, when I motioned that I was Deaf and handed the cop my license, he demanded (loudly) that I get my insurance card out.
When will every law be enforced, the way it is, on the books?
October 31st, 2007 at 10:08 am
Hope you don’t mind if I link to this piece on my blog. As a former cop, I can sympathize with most of the comments here. No, cops are not perfect, and some bad apples manage to sneak in, but that’s the same in just about every endeavor (pedophile priests, anyone? gay homophobic republicans?).
I think most cops (and firefighters and EMS personnel) try to do the best job they can, under circumstances that can be, at best, trying, or at worst, terrifying.
We will continue to make mistakes, because we’re only human. But I hope we can LEARN from those mistakes.
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I was jsut trying to locaate how to locate whee and how to communicate with some one in charge ofthe show “cops” and Icame across this program re; deaf people dealing with the Police. and I think it is in the same vane I am in. I am a disabled retired Police Officer and I watch the COPS Prog. sometimes and begin to get very upset when seeing the conduct of some of the “professional”Police Officers and know the”Police”way of handling some of the Perps. I cannot believe that the So Called “Cops”put forth as professionals I cannot believe they are not arrested and haulled in for assault and batters on the suspects or victims it is not the same Profession that I retired from some years ago