Call Out: Why Walk Up on a Carload of People When You Can Have the Driver Come to You?

• NCJ Number: 198502
• Journal: Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 26 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 56-58
• Author(s): Michael T. Rayburn
• Editor(s): David Griffith
• Date Published: December 2002
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Training
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses how the call out traffic stop tactic works when police officers make a traffic stop and the advantages of the procedure.

Abstract

It is imperative that many options or tactical tools be available to law enforcement officers when pulling over motorists for traffic violations. One such tactical tool is the call out. The call out is when the officer calls the person, whether the vehicle operator or passenger, out of the vehicle and instructs them to walk back to the officer’s position or another location on the side of the road while the officer remains next to the police cruiser for safety. Several precautions and procedures should be followed when performing the call out tactical tool, ensuring the safety of all: (1) once the stop is initiated, the officer should place the police cruiser in the left offset position; (2) unlock the passenger door to check for traffic and exit the vehicle; (3) stand by the cruiser’s driver-side door for a short period of time; (4) if someone attempts to exit the stopped vehicle, order them back into the vehicle or over to the side of the road; (5) if no one exits, move to the passenger-side door of the cruiser and retrieve the public address (PA) microphone; (6) instruct the driver to turn off the engine; (7) instruct the driver to exit vehicle and walk slowly back to the police cruiser to perform a visual check; (8) the officer should put the PA microphone down and use his/her own voice; (9) have the subject walk over to the curb or shoulder or to the center of the cruiser’s hood; and (10) after receiving all appropriate paper work, have the subject stand at the rear of his/her vehicle while writing the citation. Some of the advantages identified when using this tactical procedure include: (1) helps when stopping larger vehicles, such as SUVs and vans; (2) aids when suspect exits vehicle and starts walking toward the cruiser; (3) the unexpectedness of the call out; and (4) the officer is less distracted and less vulnerable to passing traffic.