Police Taking Control of Scenes
Settling disputes is one of the primary responsibilities of police officers. This can at times be difficult and sometimes situations happen so quickly, that you feel the best decision was not reached, especially as a new recruit. Slowing things down, and taking control of the situation is an extremely important skill to have as a police officer. If you get caught up in the situation, and swept away in a current bad decisions can result.
James was brand new to the job and had been working as a patrol officer for about three weeks when he was assigned to partner with Bill. James didn’t really know Bill, but did respect the fact that he was a senior officer with about ten years on the job, and would allow him to take the lead, and hopefully learn something.
One of the first calls that they had to respond to was a dispute at a local convenience store. The only information was that there was a dispute about payment where a customer was demanding a refund. The store clerk called in the complaint. When James and Bill arrived on scene they encountered an empty store. It was just before noon, and there was a large male who was obviously angry, demanding that he get his money back. Behind the counter was a small young female, who looked quite intimidated.
As they approached the two, Bill asked what the situation was, and the large male began shouting that the female handed back the incorrect change for his $20 bill and demanded an additional $10 that he was owed. He continued in a loud voice that she was ripping him off, and he had to get to work, and that this was completely offensive. He continued saying that she had no right to keep his money and he wouldn’t come back to the store. The woman behind the counter, finally opened the register, and handed him the $10. She was near tears.
The man left. She spoke to the police for a couple of minutes afterward, and said she did not hand out the wrong change, and the man had been yelling at her continuously before the police arrived. Her manager told her to hand money over if anyone seemed aggressive, and she wasn’t sure what to do in this situation.
James wasn’t really happy with the way the situation had unfolded in front of him. He felt the woman was telling the truth, and the man was either mistaken, or was just trying to rip off the young woman. What are some of the things James should have done differently in this situation if he were in charge?
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James should have separated the two individuals and spoken to them separately. This would have allowed the tension in the room to disapate somewhat and allowed each person to state their case.
If the man handed her a $20 bill as he had stated looking at the products he had purchased would have determined if he infact received correct change or not.
Wouldn’t it still be possible to look at the receipt given to the customer or at least on the till to determine if indeed the correct change was given or not?
Had James been in charge, upon arriving he should have asked the man to calm down and separated the two. Then officers could speak to the individuals separately to hear each side.
The officers shouldn’t have allowed the angry man walk out with the money the clerk had handed over out of intimidation without first speaking with both people.
Some convenience stores have security cameras over the clerk’s position, perhaps this could be reviewed to aid in determining the amount of money the customer handed to the clerk.
Yeah, separating them would have been the appropriate thing, but it is kind of tough to take the lead when a senior officer is there to supposedly guide you. Having a loud, possibly beligerent character has to be dealt with immediatey. Police have to take charge of the situation, and should have quieted the guy right off the bat. He was obviously the one that was in control there.
After the introduction of both the Officers, The senior office should have calmed the situation down by instructing the angry/noisy customer to calm and lower his voice.
Bill, being the senior office to the aggressor could have asked to customer to walk outside the store, or the corner of the store, and then ask the Customer what he had purchased and how much it cost. Also how much money he had handed over to the young lady and the amount of change he received. This could be for the purpose of finding out that the customer had accidently added the amount up in his head incorrectly.
The same time James could have asked the young lady the same questions maybe to discover that there was a miss read of the amount of changed to be required to hand back to the customer.
If all adds up to be both incorrect, depending on time the young lady could have done a quick take of the earnings for the day’s total.
They should not have let the man walk out, he could have been an armed robber or something, he was obviously the agressor, they should have had the man count his change infront of them and and officers should of checked the price of the items and make a decision based on thes facts.