A Patrol Officer's Field Manual: Ethics to Crowd Control

Chapter 1 – Ethics, Fitness and Incident Managing

The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.

"AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

"I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

"I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession…law enforcement.²

Peelian Principles

Sir Robert Peel (as British Home Secretary) is considered the founder of modern policing with the passage of the Bill for Improving the Police in and near the Metropolis (London) on June 19, 1829.

Peel’s Bill instituted nine Principles of Policing, which are:

"1. To prevent crime and disorder, as an alternative to their repression by military force and severity of legal punishment.

"2. To recognize always that the power of the police to fulfil their functions and duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect.

"3. To recognize always that to secure and maintain the respect and approval of the public means also the securing of the willing co-operation of the public in the task of securing observance of laws.

"4. To recognize always that the extent to which the co-operation of the public can be secured diminishes proportionately the necessity of the use of physical force and compulsion for achieving police objectives.

"5. To seek and preserve public favor, not by pandering to public opinion; but by constantly demonstrating absolutely impartial service to law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual laws, by ready offering of individual service and friendship to all members of the public without regard to their wealth or social standing, by ready exercise of courtesy and friendly good humor; and by ready offering of individual sacrifice in protecting and preserving life.

"6. To use physical force only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient to obtain public co-operation to an extent necessary to secure observance of law or to restore order, and to use only the minimum degree of physical force which is necessary on any occasion for achieving a police objective.

"7. To maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

"8. To recognize always the need for strict adherence to police-executive functions, and to refrain from even seeming to usurp the powers of the judiciary of avenging individuals or the State, and of authoritatively judging guilt and punishing the guilty.

9. To recognize always that the test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, and not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with them.³

Peel’s Principles, which were practiced by ‘Peelers,’ later known as ‘Bobbies,’ who were the ‘Cops’ of their day, are the forerunner of community policing practices in the United States which came into vogue during the 1960’s and continue to this day. United States Law Enforcement has a different ‘twist’ on community policing than do their British counterparts, but the principles of community policing practiced by both remain essentially the same.

A most important point to recognize in community policing, for it to be effective, is that there must be an internalization and adherence by ALL members of a police organization at every level.

The Ship Chandlery

"I began working in law enforcement as an Assistant Patrol Special Officer in San Francisco, June 1962. The training I received at the time was minimal, almost non-existent. I recall being given a handout at the Police Academy containing some legal materials, instructed to study the materials and return in two days for a review. I did as I was told and was appointed after passing the review. No firearms training. I had qualified with both pistol and rifle in the Marine Corps, so I could shoot straight but that didn’t seem to matter much to the Academy.

"A Patrol Special Officer is a Peace Officer, but not a regular Police Officer. In San Francisco, a Patrol Special Officer was very much like a Security Officer, sanctioned by the City of San Francisco to serve commercial interests (businesses) in the city by providing individual premises protection for a fee. Patrol Special Officers wore a regular police uniform, silver buttons rather than gold, and the badge, a six-point star as opposed to a seven-point star worn by regular officers. I took the job until I could become a regular Police Officer, which occurred June 1963.

"As an Assistant Patrol Special Officer, I worked for two different Patrol Special Officers who ‘owned’ Beats, one in the outer Taraval Police District and another in San Francisco’s South of Market area which was in the Southern Police District. I was basically a fill-in for Beat owners on their days off and on vacations.

"In the Taraval District I worked for Patrol Special Officer BOB whose Beat was comprised mostly of the Stonestown Shopping Center, a huge complex of stores and businesses, and another, smaller shopping center on Sloat Blvd. with some residences in-between. My routine was monitoring grocery stores, liquor stores, and restaurants when they closed for business, the most likely time for a robbery, and making certain that all other businesses had locked their doors and otherwise secured their premises.

Not much happening there. I had only one incident to speak of, a window smash burglary of a furrier where two fur coats were taken. I met Officer WILLIS, an SFPD officer who investigated the window smash burglary for me. Later, after I became a regular SFPD officer, Ofc. WILLIS was a radio-car partner at the Park Police District, and, I worked with him when he was the Department’s Training Officer at the Police Academy. WILLIS ultimately became SFPD Chief of Police. After his tour with SFPD, WILLIS became Chief of Police in Pittsburg, CA.

"Patrol Special Officer FRED was the Beat owner in the South of Market area which was a pretty seedy place at night in 1962. A mostly commercial/industrial area, crime was very prevalent. My job was much the same as working in the Taraval District. I closed businesses, such as seedy bars at their 2:00 AM closing time, went inside closed businesses, mostly for fire prevention, and made certain our clients premises were secure. It was a very large Beat with lots of clients, so I was constantly on the go. I did have an incident on the street that was a bit strange. As I was walking on Mission at 3rd Street, not a nice area in those days, I saw two guys fighting. I broke up the fight and one of the combatants complained to me, in body language and ‘grunts’, that his opponent was trying to push a pencil down an open ‘hole’ in his throat. I sent them both in opposite directions and told them if I encountered them again I would arrest them for fighting and vagrancy. Such was the South of Market area in 1962.

"FRED had me focus on the client rather than on ‘policing.’ On my first night working for him, we rode together so I could get familiar with our clients and with Beat procedures. After stopping at a donut shop on 3rd Street (a client) for a break, FRED took me to the next stop on our tour. As we drove East on Folsom from 3rd, I spotted a person robbing another person on the street. The robber had his victim ‘up against the wall,’ and had something in his right hand, either a knife or a gun. I told FRED, ‘Look, a robbery!’ FRED responded, ‘It is none of our business.’ We drove to the next stop and made a tour of a client’s premises. No mention from FRED about letting SFPD know about the robbery.

"With all the ‘instructions’ FRED provided me, I tried to focus on the client and not on ‘police work.’ One of FRED’s clients was a ship chandlery located on Howard Street near New Montgomery. I usually visited the place at least once a watch, always going inside and punching the ‘watchman’s clock’ to show I had made my visit. I would also take my lunch break inside the business’ lunch room as well.

"One night, as I made my routine visit, took my break, and, as I was leaving the premises, I heard a loud horn and a crash coming from inside the place. I quickly locked the front door and went to the nearest call box to summons police to assist me in searching the large store. I feared someone was inside and I had missed them during my tour.

"SFPD soon arrived in force. At least 3 radio cars, including a Sergeant. I told them what had occurred and they all had smiles on their faces. I let the cops inside and we began searching. When we got to the second floor, the Sergeant took me aside and asked if I knew about the pulldown stairs that went to the roof. I told him, ‘No.’ So, he took me to the stairs, pulled them down and we walked up the stairs to the roof. None of the other officers followed us.

"The Sergeant and I searched the roof area and then returned to the second floor as we came. Upon arriving back on the second floor, I heard noises coming from the isles. I saw at least two of the officers stuffing items into their long coats. Some of the items had dropped onto the floor and that was the noise I heard.

"The Sergeant directed everyone to go downstairs, our searching complete. Having located the source of my consternation to call the cops in the first place, which was an airhorn with attached gas bottle that had fallen from a shelf, the horn sounding when it hit the floor, the cops left the premises with their coats bulging. I ‘thanked’ them and went back inside to survey the damage. I found ammunition on the floor near where I saw the officers stuffing their long coats.

"I was mad and disappointed, partly because they had stolen property from our client and partly because I had been duped, my attention diverted, my trust violated.

"I told FRED about the event the next day. He told me, ‘Don’t call the cops again. Call me at home if that happens and I will come and help.’ I was disheartened. I thought, ‘Maybe I should not become a full-fledged officer if I have to look the other way!’ However, job security thoughts overcame my consternation. I wanted a secure job in law enforcement with a good retirement and the SFPD offered me that. So, I would have to deal with my doubts if it ever reached that point.

"FRED knew what went on and he was wise to ignore ‘doing police work’ on his Beat. For me, maybe things would be different when I became a regular police officer. After all, there must be and there are ‘honest’ cops in the SFPD, not just the thieves who snookered me at the ship chandlery store.

Of course, much of this was rationalization on my part. Little did I know it would take years for things to change. Thankfully, the police of today, for the most part, have overcome the corruption, the alcoholism, even drug addiction, and the abuse of force issues that were so prevalent in 1962. I wish that were true of politicians.⁴

What is the Patrol Officer’s Mission?

The mission of the patrol officer is: ‘To protect life; provide for the public safety; protect property; and enforce the law by arresting suspected law violators while respecting the rights of individuals.’

What is Patrol Officer Fitness?

Trust me, having spent some time in and around the job, the patrol officer’s mission requires mental acuity, judgement and physical fitness. Perception, tactical awareness and judgement will help keep you alive. Physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle will make you more confident and help you win those physical challenges that occur on the job from time to time.

From my experience, mental acuity, judgement and physical fitness are linked together. There are five things I have found a person can do to enhance them all.

Brain Exercise and Fitness

Exercise your brain constantly. Read, study, ask questions, go to school, teach a class, explore, travel, get opinions from others, study for and take those promotional tests. Don’t let failure set you back! You will make mistakes in your career. But learn from those mistakes and then move forward.

Physical Exercise and Fitness

Engage in some sort of cardio-vascular exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, four to six days a week. This can be fast walking, jogging, biking, stationary biking, treadmill, stair-stepper, tennis, handball, swimming, calisthenics, weight training, dance training, even golf, or, team sports like softball, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, tag football or other such activity. Mix up your routine so you don’t get bored.

Diet and Fitness

A diet of between 2200 to 3200 calories per day (depending upon your gender, height, and body type) will help you keep fit. The diet should be balanced and not too heavy on any one food type. Keep stimulants like tea or coffee at a minimum and never alcohol on work days. Drink lots of water and spare the treats!

Rest and Fitness

It may be difficult for those of you who work ten or twelve-hour shifts, especially if you have court during off hours, but six to eight hours of sleep is recommended for a healthy, alert patrol officer. If you work long shift hours and there is a work-related duty, like court, during off hours, see if you can take a twenty or thirty-minute rest at the precinct during a mid-shift break. Every precinct should have a ‘quiet-room’ for such purposes.

Home Life and Fitness

This subject can get touchy, but a happy home life is probably the most important for all-around fitness. Make certain your family relationships are full of love, respect, trust, and care for one another. A happy home life requires constant attention. Spell your partner from his or her home chores from time to time. Do something together that is fun and enjoyable, and do it often. If religious, practice your religion together at church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other place of worship. Take a vacation together at least once a year. Your preference, either one long vacation or multiple short ones, but take them together with family.

A New Year, January 1970

"It was about 3:00 AM, January 1, 1970 in San Francisco. Two patrol officers had just concluded a walking foot patrol during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the downtown section of the city. The officers were tired, having constantly walked their beat since the previous evening, dealing with revelers, intoxicated persons, and some hostility. The officers were taking a meal break in a restaurant which had earlier closed for business. The restaurant owner had invited the two officers in after business hours and was preparing a meal for them. This was an Italian restaurant and glasses of vino were apparently part of the meal.

"Shortly after beginning their meal, a restaurant employee contacted the patrol officers and told them he saw two young men he thought might be breaking into a jewelry store which was next door to the restaurant. One of the officers, Ofc. ERIC, told the employee he would see what was going on. He left his beat partner at the dinner table and left the restaurant to follow-up on the complaint. Neither officer was equipped with radio or other communications device, save to say a call box key, and, a call box was at least a block away from the restaurant. The restaurant did, however, have land-line telephones for use if necessary.

"At the jewelry store Ofc. ERIC encountered two young males in their late teens. A window in the jewelry store had been broken. A struggle ensued between Ofc. ERIC and suspects. One of the suspects managed to wrest control of Ofc. ERIC’s weapon, a ‘second’ service handgun, partially hidden, holstered inside of the officer’s long coat.

"During the struggle Ofc. ERIC managed to un-holster his primary service weapon but it was too late. He was shot point-blank in the chest, probably dead as he fell to the sidewalk.

"Hearing the commotion and gunshot, employees and Ofc. ERIC’s patrol partner came out of the restaurant to see what was occurring. Ofc. ERIC’s partner fired at least 2 shots at the fleeing suspects, although there were still many people still on the street in addition to the suspects running from the scene.

"First responders to the scene were four officers of a tactical team. The tactical team secured the crime scene, requested medical aid, detectives, and command personnel. One of the tactical team members interviewed Ofc. ERIC’s patrol partner for suspect information. Nothing from Ofc. ERIC’s partner but a direction of escape and shots fired at fleeing suspects. The interviewing tactical officer then left the crime scene and walked in the direction where suspects were last seen by Ofc. ERIC’s partner. He was looking for a credible witness who might provide suspect