http://cinemageddon.org/details.php?id=76222
How to Talk to the police
Review
Citizenship Training: Do Not Talk to the Cops.
Whatever you are doing, its probably not as important as watching this video, where Professor James Duane of Regent University in Virginia explains why you must never, ever, respond to police questioning. No matter how honest you are, no matter how innocent you are, no matter how smart or well trained you are, do not talk to the cops. Ever.
He is followed by Officer George Bruch, who explains how the police conduct interviews (interviews, mind, not interrogations) and why they so often result in convictions.
Yeah, its 48 minutes long. Its worth it. How much is it worth? At the very least, whatever your lawyer would charge to talk to you for 48 minutes, likely hundreds of dollars. Possibly, it is worth many more hours of your lawyers time, time in court, your reputation, your freedom.
Nicked from The War on Guns, where I made the following comment:
The video is great, and a must see. I appreciated both the lawyer (who looks like Eric Idle and talks like an auctioneer) and the cop. They both reinforce the command: Do not talk to the police. Ever.
However, check out this comment from Martial Talk, listing Massad Ayoobs advice on what to say when reporting a self defense incident:
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When the cops arrive tell them the dynamics of the situation.
That is:
a. you are the victim
b. the ones on the ground (hopefully) are the suspects
c. point out any evidence (like clubs, knives, guns, etc.. before someone in the crowed walks off with them.) Same goes for any other evidence.
d. point out any bruise, cuts, tears, etc.. done to you or others.
e. tell the cops you will co-operate 100 percent, totally, but
. you are upset and would like to talk to your lawyer first!
Then shut up! If they try to ask even small-talk questions, be firm, be polite, but tell them you still want to talk to a lawyer first.
[Minor spelling and grammar corrections.]
Placing this in a self-defense context is very troubling, because I have often seen advice to the effect that if you must even display your weapon, you must be the one who reports the incident first. Ayoobs advice still applies, I think, if you can keep from adding any details whatsoever. That guy forced me to act in self defense. He cut me here. You can see the knife there. No, Im sorry, I can come in and make a full statement tomorrow, but thats all for now.
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Best bit from Prof. Duane: showing how hard it is to remember exactly what you heard. I listened twice, and still got it wrong.
Best bit from Officer Bruch: if he follows you in your car long enough, you will eventually do something he can legitimately pull you over and ticket you for. The next time Im followed, Im pulling into the nearest store parking lot as soon as I can.
One more piece of IANAL advice: never consent to a search. Dont resist, be respectful, but do not consent. You have no idea what the cops are looking for, or how they will interpret what they find. Most important, whatever errors the police may have made in stopping you, or in the warrant, or in the subsequent search are irrelevant if you consent.
