Behind the badge: PdC police, ‘to us, all lives matter’
When an officer is killed in the United States, police officers wear a mourning band, like the one pictured above, to show their solidarity in loss. (Photo by Caitlin Bittner)
Editor’s note: This is the second part of a small series highlighting the work of Prairie du Chien’s police officers following the deaths of fellow officers across the country.
By Caitlin Bittner
Tune in to any news source and you will see what is coming to be known as “the war on cops.” Protests against police brutality are hot topics on TV, radio and social media. Hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter, #AllLivesMatter and #BlueLivesMatter are dividing the nation, and it’s starting to cause concern.
“I believe that lives matter. Period,” said Sgt. Kyle Teynor, of the Prairie du Chien Police Department.
“It’s disappointing to think that anyone could say one matters. It’s not just one aspect of people. The whole range matters. But, when it’s normal to think that one life matters above another, that’s a bad day for humanity,” he continued.
Yet, the July 7 shooting of five Dallas police officers is what happens when violence becomes the answer. What started out as a protest ended with five dead and several, both police officers and civilians, injured.
“The night of the Dallas shootings, I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. If I had the means and the opportunity, I would have been going down there. It doesn’t matter where we’re from. They’re still a family member to me,” said Abram.
“The officers who died were there protecting people. People who expressed hatred toward them. They were killed protecting the rights of the first amendment,” noted Teynor.
As for the stories in the news like the death of a Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, both Teynor and Abram urge caution. “Looking from the outside in, we don’t have all of the information,” said Abram.
“People are going to judge something as soon as it hits social media,” said Teynor.
“I like to call them Monday morning quarterbacks,” said Abram. He noted that the problem with social media is the fact that people can get carried away by an idea without knowing all of the facts first.
“When we watch videos, we don’t have all the information. But, I believe that if they did something wrong, they need to be held accountable for their actions. There is no place in this profession for bad officers,” added Teynor.
Although it is wildly popular to believe that a police officer’s first option is his gun, both Abram and Teynor assert that is not the case. Instead, verbal communication is the biggest and most useful tool in a police officer’s repertoire.
“Officers use their mouths more than anything,” said Teynor. “You have to be able to talk to people at their level. You can provide advice to someone that they may not get from a family member, that family members may not have had the opportunity to provide,” explained Teynor.
In order make sure both you and the officer go home safely following a traffic stop, it is imperative to be cooperative and visual. Although residents of Wisconsin are not required to inform a police officer of a concealed carry permit, the officer appreciates if they do.
“I always thank someone for telling me,” said Teynor. “I’ll also ask them where their wallet is, and then I’ll tell them to reach for their wallet. The communication here is critical.”
As for the rest of the traffic stop, Teynor urged that you should make yourself feel safe when you pull over. “You need to pull off the road, or go somewhere with less traffic. Maybe even pull in to a gas station parking lot. Pick somewhere well lit if you can. I want to be recorded and if there are other cameras around, they can only help.”
Other things to remember during a traffic stop are: to have visible hands and that this is not the time to argue. “The purpose of a traffic stop is education. Sometimes people can be unaware of the rules or the rules themselves can be unclear. If I make a stop on Beaumont Road, it’s to make you go slower, to reduce accidents, traffic crashes and headaches. Our role is to change behavior.”
While Abram doesn’t make as many traffic stops as he used to, he said that the key to a successful traffic stop is all in how you present yourself. “I try to have the response that by the end of the stop they are thanking me,” said Abram.
