You may remember Sheila Bryant's tips on how to look at a law enforcement officer's badge and I.D... she's back with more detail. You may recall she is a library student at the University of South Florida who previously worked for seven years as a Correctional Officer for the Florida Department of Corrections.
To read her update ...
UPDATE: How to look At an Officer’s Badge and I.D. by Sheila Bryant
Previously, I provided what I hope was very useful information and thanks to Mary Minow I am providing an update of additional information regarding, badges, I.D.s, and law changes from the State of Florida.
The badge, although an important part of the uniform, for aesthetics, is really not the identifier. The I.D. that accompanies the badge is the item that contains the important information. An I.D. will include name (first and last), date of birth, date of issue, and the employing agency’s name. Additionally, the I.D. is important, because it contains the photograph of the officer, similar to the photo of a passport. This allows the layperson, in this case, library staff, to confirm the identity of the person alleging to be a law enforcement officer. The photo should look like the person that you are confronting. More importantly, the law enforcement officer should be in the same uniform that he is wearing when you are confronted by him. Law enforcement is a paramilitary organization, which means that the structure of the organization is based on the United States Military. Please note the similarities: both have a dress code; physical fitness standards; use some of the same training and weapons in their jobs; have a strict chain of command, and most law enforcement officers have a military background. The uniform is the beginning of their confrontation with civilians, along with their attitude. These officers do not walk in like Don Knotts and ask for your cooperation.
The uniform, the haircut, the physical fitness is considered their presence and it is meant to intimidate, because they are in your face. This can be a scary situation, but the most important action you can take is to remain calm. Remember no sudden moves, tell them you will be glad to assist them, but just as they have a chain of command so do you. This will show respect and confirm that you know that they have a job to do. Your goal is to get your people in place according to the plan that you have been rehearsing. If you rehearse your plan and use impromptu scenarios you will be better prepared.
In the State of Florida, in the past, law enforcement officers could only meet the force they were given and were committed to de-escalation of situation by statute. However, as of October 2005, this will no longer be the case. The Florida Legislature has passed a law that allows law enforcement officers to escalate their force.
This law originally was to give home owners the right to protect themselves in their homes. As a result, the right to escalate force as a citizen has been expanded to law enforcement.
It is possible that this law could affect other states, because Florida is the trend setter in law enforcement. Law enforcement officers in the State of Florida are correctional officers, local law enforcement officers, and probation officers; they receive more training than any other state in the nation, making Florida a trend setter in this area. The information I am providing varies from state to state, but it is important that you find out how your state defines law enforcement officer, who you are likely to encounter, and be aware of the possible changes that could affect your state and your library.
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