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When cops use "magic language", watch out for exaggeration, omission, and prevarication.

By Marks & Katz, LLC

Why do cops repeatedly parrot back similar language in their incident reports, no matter the suspect? If there is a training manual with this standard language, I want it, whether through a freedom of information request or otherwise:   Here is some standard language I see repeatedly:   For drunk driving cases: ?The defendant had slurred speech, and bloodshot and watery eyes.? This language is probably prompted by field sobriety testing training manuals.   For drug frisks: ?I asked the driver if s/he had any drugs, weapons or nuclear devices in the vehicle. S/he did not respond, so I asked again.? (Read that as ?I rested my hand on my gun handle, leaned forward menacingly with barely two inches separating our noses, and yelled: ?I asked you, what the f_ck?s in your car? Do you have a  hearing problem or something? If not, how dare you be so rude as to not answer me???)  ?S/he sweated profusely [because of the cop?s intimidation tactics?] when s/he denied having any such items in the car...continue to full post

Full post as published by Underdog on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).