The use of handcuffs

[barre]

Hi!

When I'm watching american "reality" cop programs on tv, I get amazed to see how often American police handcuff people they arest.
I's there a rule when to handcuff somone and when not to, if not, how does police determine if they should use handcufs or not?

I ask since there is a verry big difference from how Swedish police use cuffs, here, they are only used if the susspect is realy noisy.

i.e. a murderer who gets caught will not get handcuffed (unless he is resisting arest).

/Barre, the Swede

(sorry for the bad grammar)

[TPDHellhound]

Usually, I cuff people for the following reasons:

• They are a danger to myself or others.
  They are a flight risk
  I am transporting an arrestee or a violent subject.

I don't always cuff people who are under arrest and I do sometimes cuff people who are not. I have also cuffed people I have no intention of arresting (mental patients, suicidals, etc).

Handcuffing isn't synonymous with the arrest itself. It's a tool I use to keep myself and others safe.

Clear as mud? :D

[not5150]

i.e. a murderer who gets caught will not get handcuffed (unless he is resisting arest).

:eek:

[corporal716]

If they go to jail or are a suspect and just sit in the back of the car they get cuffed. It's department policy.

If I give someone a courtesy ride they dont get cuffed, but will be searched before getting into my car. Its just they way things have to be these days.

[aussie1]

I cuff everyone pretty much.... Even my girlfriend, but thats another story!!!!

If they go in the car, they get cuffed. If they go in the truck and have made any threat, agressive action or have tried to escape they get cuffed.

I have also cuffed people who I feel are a danger to me such as mental patients.

[Group9]

We cuff everybody who gets arrested, no exceptions.

[ExUSPP]

if you are under arrest you get handcuffed. The only exception I could think of would be someone with no arms or legs but they don't get arrested that often.

[barre]

:eek:

I'ts not so strange after all, in Sweden during 2004 there were only 4 reported murders (and 24 atemted murders)
Those people most often get picked up by Swedish police special forces, who will have them under really good controll, so cuffs is not really needed, exept some times.

(people with guns will get cuffed, but after all, murderers here are verry seldom caught in the act, so therefore, no need for cuffs, since they wont be armed when they are arrested.)
But ofcourse, if a patroling police is aresting a murderer alone, he will cuff him untill backup arrives.

[danninator]

if you are under arrest you get handcuffed. The only exception I could think of would be someone with no arms or legs but they don't get arrested that often.

I really wish I could see something like this.





I'm not a Leo but from time to time my girlfriend will get the cuffs on her ;)

[scott715us]

This brings me to another question. My Dad asked not too long ago what I would do with a one-armed man. I've never arrested a "one-armer," so I didn't know what to tell him. Any of you guys/gals come across that one? :D

[txinvestigator1]

This brings me to another question. My Dad asked not too long ago what I would do with a one-armed man. I've never arrested a "one-armer," so I didn't know what to tell him. Any of you guys/gals come across that one? :D

If he is wearing a belt you can cuff to the belt. Also a coat hanger can be a good restraint tool. Put the arm thru the hanger, then put the hook into the back of the collar.

[TPDHellhound]

This brings me to another question. My Dad asked not too long ago what I would do with a one-armed man. I've never arrested a "one-armer," so I didn't know what to tell him. Any of you guys/gals come across that one? :D

TX is right-on with that one.

I had a weird case at a former department (CAT_DOC may remember this) of a guy with no legs (stubs only) who I arrested. He was crazy and aggressive. I handcuffed him behind his back, but without legs he could use those cuffs as a jump rope!!

While I drove him to jail, I watched him through my rear-view mirrow as he scurried from window to window on my back seat like a little crab. It was truly a sight to see!!

[Rhinoceros]

This brings me to another question. My Dad asked not too long ago what I would do with a one-armed man. I've never arrested a "one-armer," so I didn't know what to tell him. Any of you guys/gals come across that one? :D

I come across the same one armed guy almost every week. He hangs out at a McDonalds and yells at the customers. He basically gets fed for free by people who feel sorry for him becasue he has one arm and is in a wheelchair.

But the management has made it very clear he is not welcomed and I routinely cite him for tresspassing. I call up the city property truck and take his wheelchair and cuff his arm to his belt then we go to jail.

I know I sounds harsh, but the guy is a terminal drunk and a jerk. I hose out the backseat everytime I transport him. He stinks so bad. The only shower he gets is when the jail does it.

I could go into the funnier part of the story of how he tries to run away from me on his powered wheelchair, but I guess that is for another day.

[chewy]

We handcuff a boat load of people. I think we handcuff more people than we ever arrest.

[Phre4k]

This is off topic.. Hows the IKEA in sweden?