‘Know Your Rights’ is Survival Guide for Law Enforcement Encounters - Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper
October 22, 2016
By Dylan Deprey
De Torre keeps the crowd engaged by using them as hypothetical examples. (Photo by Dylan Deprey)
Whether it is the first time or the fifteenth time, the heart sinking feeling of red and blue lights in the rear view mirror spring an emotional roller coaster of responses.
To some, an MPD officer walking up to the car may invoke fear, having witnessed hundreds of police shooting videos online. Others burn with anger knowing their bank account may take a critical hit following the experience.
According to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Youth Coordinator Emilio De Torre, the cards are not always stacked for civilians when they interact with law enforcement.
“It’s like playing Monopoly,” De Torre said. “The banker has all the money, the banker has all the muscle, the banker is the enforcer, and the banker can cheat.”
De Torre spoke to UWM students, faculty and the community during an ACLU ‘Know Your Rights during Law Enforcement Encounters’ training event at the UWM Fireside Lounge Oct. 17.
He sat low adjusting the volume on the imaginary radio in a checkered armchair, which doubled as an imaginary car, to show the proper way to handle oneself during a traffic stop.
He said that people get nervous and fidget while getting pulled over. He said to always keep one’s hands where the officer can see them (on the steering wheel/folded in your lap), and always tell the officer if you are making any movements, whether it is grabbing for a wallet or registration from the glove box.
Emilio De Torre teaches the audience the best way to handle oneself during a traffic stop. (Photo by Dylan Deprey)
He also said that if an officer asks about weapons in the car, even if they are knives for carving pumpkins in the trunk, let the officer know.
“The time to debate is later, do not give them anything that misconstrues with them,” De Torre said. “Don’t give the cops a reason to freak out.”
Whether it is a police officer knocking at the door or asking to search a car, De Torre had one powerful statement regarding the fourth amendment, “Respectfully officer, I do not give you consent for you to search my personal property.” This also applies to Smartphone footage because unless a person offers it or shows police, they cannot take it.
“Nobody arrests people on the planet like the U.S.A.,” De Torre said.
Taking a look at the numbers, the United States sits near the top for incarceration, police involved shootings and police funding. Around 2.2 million people are incarcerated in the United States. Milwaukee’s 53206 zip code is nefariously known for 62% of adult black men being incarcerated, which is the largest in the world.
De Torre said that whether we like to admit it or not people have cultural biases, and that includes police officers. He shared the example that in a 2010 CDC study black and white people used Marijuana roughly the same amount, but in Milwaukee County black people were 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for possession.
In 2015, the City of Milwaukee reduced the fine for Marijuana possession of 25 grams or less from $250-$500 to $0-$50.
While prison and jail time usually never follow for low level offenders, De Torre said that once people are in the system their hole has been dug. Amenities like Government assisted housing, food share and student aid are out of the question.
Clyde Macklemore made the trek from Illinois for the event. He was formerly incarcerated back in 1995, and is now running for office. He worked on Ban-the-Box legislation in Illinois.
Macklemore said he knew people with felonies could not vote, but was dumbfounded that those on parole and probation also lost their right to vote.
“This is their voice, this is their right to vote” Macklemore said.
De Torre said that a minute number of people know that even a person with a felony is off of probation or parole they are actually allowed to vote as well.
Over the course of the event De Torre covered countless examples involving cavity/strip searches, warrants and cellphone footage of police.
He summed up the two-hour event with six simple steps:
1) Stay Calm
2) Be polite
3) Can say ‘I don’t consent to search of my person or property’
4) Can ask ‘Am I being detained or am I free to go?
5) Can ask for a lawyer while being interrogated
6) Keep copies of any law enforcement complaints.