Understanding Police Conduct During Incorrect Felony Stops: Analysis and Critique

The question Why, when in the process of performing a felony stop and the law enforcement officer realizes that they have the wrong person, do they continue with the stop including additional seizures and searches instead of releasing the citizen? is a valid concern that highlights a significant issue in law enforcement practices against civilians. Herein, we will analyze two primary reasons for such behavior: the frequent interaction with criminals and the justificatory need following a mistake.

Reasons Behind Persistent Misconduct

There are two key reasons why law enforcement officers persist in such conduct:

Interacting Primarily with Criminals

Law enforcement officers spend a considerable amount of their time dealing with individuals who have committed crimes. This frequent exposure to criminal behavior can influence their perception, making it easy for them to view everyone as potential criminals. When officers interact mainly with criminals, the boundaries between the law-abiding and criminal become blurred, leading to the belief that everyone is suspect until proven innocent. This mindset makes it hard for officers to see civilians as anything other than a potential threat or culprit.

Need to Justify a Mistake

The second reason is the officers' desperate need to justify their actions, especially when they have made a significant error. Realizing they have the wrong person often breeds a heightened sense of anxiety and the pressure to have a valid reason for their actions. This is when they may leverage frisking and searching as a means to turn a probable mistake into a justifiable stop.

A Specific Incident for Analysis

The linked video detailed a drug sting operation where officers had a drug shipment delivered to a suspect. The suspect was arrested upon possession, and the search began. Here, officers pulled over a man at gunpoint, assaulted him, and detained him without any clear explanation. Despite clues indicating the package was still on the porch, the arrest team insisted on searching his vehicle further, even after finding no evidence. This behavior epitomizes the justificatory need and the mindset that sees civilians as potential threats rather than innocent individuals.

Behavior After Realizing the Mistake

Upon realizing the mistake, the officers did not immediately release the man. Instead, they doubled down on their actions, seeking a broader justification. The officers called in a K9 unit to search his car, knowing they had already made a significant error. Even when the K9 did not alert, they continued with the search, violating the man's civil rights further.

Conclusion and Call to Action

It is crucial to address and change these attitudes within law enforcement. Every officer involved in such incidents, except the K9 and the handler, should be held accountable. Officers who knowingly violate civil rights, continue to violate them, and then work to cover up their mistakes need to be held to account. Establishing a culture where support for officers is conditional on them being in the right, condemning them when they are in the wrong, is essential for ensuring justice and fairness in law enforcement.

In conclusion, the behavior of law enforcement officers during felony stops, especially when they realize their mistake, is complex and multifaceted. Addressing these issues requires a combination of trained officers, a fair and transparent legal system, and a society that maintains a critical eye on law enforcement practices.