Pushing the defense attorney's buttons

Changing gears on this post.

I wrote this a while ago, but the concepts are still very good. I always kept a mini tape recorder nearby in my unit to record notes of events and refresh my memory when writing the always-required reports. This technique works depending on the control features of your unit dash. And the overall theme of this article is building better testimony in court for the win.

 One button pushes a bunch of defense attorney’s buttons.

I wrote this a while ago, but the concepts are still very good. I always kept a mini tape recorder nearby in my unit to record notes of events and refresh my memory when writing the always-required reports. This technique works depending on the control features of your unit dash. And the overall theme of this article is building better testimony in court for the win.

 One button pushes a bunch of defense attorney’s buttons.

 “Dispatch, I am behind the vehicle... The driver is failing to stop... I’m 10-31 (chase).”

 How many of you love being in this situation? I did. After several wins and some losses in court, I discovered a way to assist in winning more of those cases. The moment I began the chase, I immediately reset the odometer back to zero and started the tape recorder. The outcome has had a great impact on what happens next. I am able to provide clear details as to the length in miles of the chase, pinpoint how far into the chase events occurred, such as items being thrown out of the suspect’s vehicle, and increase my credibility in court.

 At my first deposition, when I stated that at precisely 3.7 miles into the chase, the suspect threw a brown bag of smaller packaged crack cocaine baggies out the vehicle window, the defense attorney realized that putting me on the stand and demonstrating such clear-cut facts would not be in his client’s best interest.

 In time, I found that others using this tip had similar experiences. Many of these cases ended with suspects either looking for deals or pleading guilty.

 Your cases can be won at the deposition level. Our responsibility does not end with the arrest; it ends with either the suspect pleading guilty or being found guilty.

 Defense attorneys do not want to put the very detailed and methodical officer on the stand in front of a jury.

 It is just that simple. Push those little buttons, and you’ll push the defense attorney’s buttons later in depo or at trial.

 This is another tip from my Officer Survival Mindset course.

 “Dispatch, I am behind the vehicle... The driver is failing to stop... I’m 10-31 (chase).”

 How many of you love being in this situation? I did. After several wins and some losses in court, I discovered a way to assist in winning more of those cases. The moment I began the chase, I immediately reset the odometer back to zero and started the tape recorder. The outcome has had a great impact on what happens next. I am able to provide clear details as to the length in miles of the chase, pinpoint how far into the chase events occurred, such as items being thrown out of the suspect’s vehicle, and increase my credibility in court.

 At my first deposition, when I stated that at precisely 3.7 miles into the chase, the suspect threw a brown bag of smaller packaged crack cocaine baggies out the vehicle window, the defense attorney realized that putting me on the stand and demonstrating such clear-cut facts would not be in his client’s best interest.

 In time, I found that others using this tip had similar experiences. Many of these cases ended with suspects either looking for deals or pleading guilty.

 Your cases can be won at the deposition level. Our responsibility does not end with the arrest; it ends with either the suspect pleading guilty or being found guilty.

 Defense attorneys do not want to put the very detailed and methodical officer on the stand in front of a jury.

 It is just that simple. Push those little buttons, and you’ll push the defense attorney’s buttons later in depo or at trial.

 This is another tip from my Officer Survival Mindset course.