handcuffing policies

[cbj110972]

Recently, I had a minor traffic accident. I veered off the road and became stuck in the ditch. No other vehicle other than my own was involved. The police were called to the scene. The officer responding said he had no choice other than to give me a ticket for reckless driving. He used his cb to call for a tow truck and told me to get in the front passenger seat of his car while he completed the paperwork. While he filled out the paperwork, he told me he would take me to the police station so I could call someone to come get me. When he had finished the paperwork, he gave me the ticket to sign and I did. He then said that he needed me to ride in the backseat to the police sation. He told me to get out and he would come around and unlock the door for me. I did as he said and he came around to where I was standing. He told me that since I would be riding in a police car, he would have to handcuff me as departmental policy required anyone riding in a police car to be handcuffed. So, I put my hands in front of me to be handcuffed. I was told that I had to be handcuffed with my hands behind my back as departmental policy required behind the back handcuffing. I put my hands behind me and he handcuffed them. Then he put me in the backseat to take me to the station. He did say that I was not under arrest. Once we got to the station, he took me out of the car and inside. He then removed the handcuffs and allowed me to use the phone. My question is were the handcuffs really necessary? Do departments have policies that mandate behind the back handcuffing for all people riding in a police car regardless of whether or not they are under arrest? Basically, I am curious how things would have been handled in your department.

[Menace]

Yes, anytime anyone rides in that confined car with ME in it they are handcuffed, behind he back, and in the rear seats. It's an officer safety issue for me personally. I don't know if the person I'm transporting is going to suddenly think it's a good idea to try and kill me, so I keep it as safe as I can.

[darrell]

He used his cb to call for a tow truck and told me to get in the front passenger seat of his car while he completed the paperwork.

They don't use CB's, they use 2 way radio's. Yes the cuffs are nessary as he TOLD you it is his departments policy to do so. Even if it wasn't his departments policy a lot of officers will still cuff you when you have to get in their car. It is for their safety, they don't want people going nuts on them in their car while they are driving down the road.

[sbrad]

If I'm giving someone a ride (no crime committed) I don't handcuff them. But I do search them and they sit in the back.

[JD45]

If I'm giving someone a ride (no crime committed) I don't handcuff them. But I do search them and they sit in the back.

Me as well, I can't see ANY dept. saying you must handcuff ALL people sitting in the back of your car. What about victims and witnesses? Search and sit down is all they get..

If I'm doing a citizen assist (giving someone a ride), they get searched but no handcuffs.

[steelcityk9cop]

Were in the search and sit catagory too.

[acreature]

Ditto that yo ^

[Toeknee112]

Dit-shizzle the nizzle!

[Darin]

Yep search and sit. No cuffs if they haven't committed a crime.

[Deputy757]

Ditto here!!

[phantasm]

I would do the same.

rear cuffed, in the back seat, behind the driver, seat belted in.

[JD45]

I would do the same.

rear cuffed, in the back seat, behind the driver, seat belted in.

Only addition is, NEVER behind the driver's seat. Easier to see what they're doing if they're not sitting behind you..

[corporal716]

Yep search and sit. No cuffs if they haven't committed a crime.

That is how I always did it.

I understand having to go with department policy, but that could open up a whole sh&* can of worms if someone wanted to go there. And around here they would.

[Colonel]

Were not allowed to give courtesy rides. If you ride in the back your a 10-95 (arrested subject) so you get seached and cuffed before you ride.

[corporal716]

Were not allowed to give courtesy rides.

What do you do when you come a crossed some 80 year old woman with her car broken down on the side of a dark country road at 2300 hrs? Do you leave her there?