Handcuffs

[SouthernSgt]

I see this over and over, two things that irrate the hell out of me and make me go "huh".
You have a suspect, you know you are going to arrest him, why, why not cuff him first. Lock your fingers, step back, bend down, sit up, lean to the left, smile! Geez, in my opinion, cuff then search.
Okay, so now that he, or she, is cuffed, some other unit is going to transport.
so what happens. Lets swap out cuffs. What are you people thinking. Leave the friggin cufs on. You can always get them back later as you share a couple of donuts or a latte or whatever new cops drink. I prefer Dunkin to Starbucks but I have been doing this awhile. Seriously, think about it. You have your catch cuffed. Leave them on. These people practice ripping, and other means of getting away from you. Hint, if you have to handcuff someone in order for them to stay with you, and you are not naked, you are doing your job.

[johnnyReb]

Just apply a pair above the ones already on, then remove the first pair. you just have to watch your keyholes.

[DARE_SUPPORTER]

Just apply a pair above the ones already on, then remove the first pair. you just have to watch your keyholes.

X2 just watch those keyholes

[PD Sergeant]

I agree completely - leave the prisoner handcuffed. Maybe if your are transferring to another jurisdiction in the field, but otherwise there is no justification for the delay or effort.

Another thing that drives me crazy - I wrestle and handcuff my prisoner. Then I ask officer newbie to hold him while I get the information I need. The prisoner complains his cuffs are too tight and newbie is going to take them off so he can "reposition them properly."

Back of the wrist to back of the wrist IS properly. No officer has any business loosening handcuffs in the field, on another officer's prisoner! If you think there is a problem call the arresting officer. Who do you think is going to answer IAD and the lawyers in court?

Same is true with reading miranda (or other rights) to my prisoner or talking to him about his crime. No you don't let him make a call on his cellphone or talk to his buddies. No his girlfriend can't have what is in his pocket. He is a prisoner.

Training? What training?

[SouthernSgt]

Hey guys, no offense, I know about keyholes and all that. What I am trying to get across is, once they are cuffed, leave 'em cuffed. I can not think of a single reason to unlock the cuffs. By the way, over 25 years experience has allowed me to hear all the excuses. Although i must admit, there are new ones coming along. Keep this in mind, if the prisoner complains they are too tight, tell them the cuffs are new and they will stretch.

[CH47Doc]

Hey guys, no offense, I know about keyholes and all that. What I am trying to get across is, once they are cuffed, leave 'em cuffed. I can not think of a single reason to unlock the cuffs. By the way, over 25 years experience has allowed me to hear all the excuses. Although i must admit, there are new ones coming along. Keep this in mind, if the prisoner complains they are too tight, tell them the cuffs are new and they will stretch.

+ Infinity.

Hate to admit it but, ONCE IN A WHILE, ill watch COPS and be friggin totally stunned how many times I see a search before cuffing when they know theyre gonna hook the guy anyway. IF the perps holding hes gonna try and jet, fight, whine, if he thinks youre gonna find his whatever it is he isnt supposed to have. Cuffing prior to searching takes away a WHOLE lot of drama and gives you a HUGE advantage while searching.


As for changing cuffs. Like previous posters have said, just throw on your set while hes still cuffed, just watch the holes. To easy and again, takes a WHOLE lot of potential drama out of the equation.

[MPDCjock]

I was on a scene with a 20 year vet that uncuffed a wanted suspect in order for him to remove his jacket(it was a warm day...whatever), as soon as the cuffs came off the suspect fled on foot. After a long foot chase I caught the suspect and the vet learned a lesson.

As did I, but I also got a good workout in the meantime.

[Bighead]

Hey guys, no offense, I know about keyholes and all that. What I am trying to get across is, once they are cuffed, leave 'em cuffed. I can not think of a single reason to unlock the cuffs. By the way, over 25 years experience has allowed me to hear all the excuses. Although i must admit, there are new ones coming along. Keep this in mind, if the prisoner complains they are too tight, tell them the cuffs are new and they will stretch.

I think what they are saying is that you can change out cuffs without uncuffing the suspect. You put the second pair of cuffs on before you take off the first pair, you just have to make sure you don't put the second pair on covering up the first pairs keyholes. Then you've got two sets of cuffs on, so you take off the first pair without the suspect ever being unsecure. Sometimes you're working with someone that you don't want to try and track your cuffs down from.

I agree 100% that as soon as you have an arrestable offense you slap the cuffs on, that is the way I was trained. How many videos have we seen where some officer discovers half-a-dozen offenses without securing the suspect only to end up in the ditch fighting for his life.

[tripledouble]

I was called to transport a person who was in cuffs. Well, another agency had hooked him up at the time (for investigation detainment, not arrest) but he turned out to have a warrant out on him in our county.
In order to switch cuffs, I got the arrestee in a bent wrist lock and had another officer unlock his cuff. Second officer was holding the other arm. After the agent's cuffs were off, I got mine on.

Otherwise, no cuff switching. I'll return the cuffs later in the shift.

Stay safe.

[DAL]

I think what they are saying is that you can change out cuffs without uncuffing the suspect. You put the second pair of cuffs on before you take off the first pair, you just have to make sure you don't put the second pair on covering up the first pairs keyholes. Then you've got two sets of cuffs on, so you take off the first pair without the suspect ever being unsecure.

Exactly. There are over 100 law-enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County, and large departments have multiple stations besides. It is not uncommon to arrest someone who is wanted by another agency, which will come pick up the suspect in the field. Also, multiple agencies get involved in pursuits, and the suspect may get cuffed by someone who is not from the arresting agency. And you sometimes have to pick up prisoners who are arrested by an off-duty officer from another agency or by security guards who need their cuffs back. Sometimes prisoners that you need to transport to your jail from another jail are handcuffed, and you can't take the other agency's cuffs. So there are lots of circumstances when switching cuffs may be necessary. As long as you don't remove the first set until the second set is fully in place, you are not increasing the risk level.

[MRRBEST]

I think what they are saying is that you can change out cuffs without uncuffing the suspect. You put the second pair of cuffs on before you take off the first pair, you just have to make sure you don't put the second pair on covering up the first pairs keyholes. Then you've got two sets of cuffs on, so you take off the first pair without the suspect ever being unsecure. Sometimes you're working with someone that you don't want to try and track your cuffs down from.

I agree 100% that as soon as you have an arrestable offense you slap the cuffs on, that is the way I was trained. How many videos have we seen where some officer discovers half-a-dozen offenses without securing the suspect only to end up in the ditch fighting for his life.

+1
Exactly

[iamacop]

I agree completely - leave the prisoner handcuffed. Maybe if your are transferring to another jurisdiction in the field, but otherwise there is no justification for the delay or effort.

Another thing that drives me crazy - I wrestle and handcuff my prisoner. Then I ask officer newbie to hold him while I get the information I need. The prisoner complains his cuffs are too tight and newbie is going to take them off so he can "reposition them properly."

Back of the wrist to back of the wrist IS properly. No officer has any business loosening handcuffs in the field, on another officer's prisoner! If you think there is a problem call the arresting officer. Who do you think is going to answer IAD and the lawyers in court?

Same is true with reading miranda (or other rights) to my prisoner or talking to him about his crime. No you don't let him make a call on his cellphone or talk to his buddies. No his girlfriend can't have what is in his pocket. He is a prisoner.

Training? What training?

Hey sarge, not to over ride ya, but courts came out with a ruling saying that if they complain, we must check, but if they are properly fitted, then you don't have to adjust. Now, I have to write on every arrest, "I arrested Mr. Wacko Nuts at approximately 5:00pm. His handcuffs were double-locked and checked for proper fit."

I'll try to find the case and post it..

[Kieth M.]

I used to teach my trainees, as I was taught, if you have the slightest, teeniet, tiniest, notion you'll be arresting some turd...'cuff him/her right away, then do the pat-down. I do not get the "separate the parties, pat them down, hear everyones' story while they wave their arms and point their fingers, make your decision, then 'cuff them" approach to LE.

As for switching out cuffs...Sorry, but if I'm turning a suspect over to another cop, I get a pair of their 'cuffs, apply them to the suspect's wrists, then remove mine. The only time you're taking a jacket off is in the holding tank, or the booking cage.

[DAL]

[1]I used to teach my trainees, as I was taught, if you have the slightest, teeniet, tiniest, notion you'll be arresting some turd...'cuff him/her right away, then do the pat-down. I do not get the "separate the parties, pat them down, hear everyones' story while they wave their arms and point their fingers, make your decision, then 'cuff them" approach to LE.

[2]As for switching out cuffs...Sorry, but if I'm turning a suspect over to another cop, I get a pair of their 'cuffs, apply them to the suspect's wrists, then remove mine. The only time you're taking a jacket off is in the holding tank, or the booking cage.

1. Generally I agree, but the lawyer in me says: (a) Doesn't work when you have to give FSTs; (b) you can create a custodial interrogation when otherwise there would be none, so it is not always the best approach, especially when you have someone who is calm and cooperative, plus lots of back-up.

2. Absolutely. Otherwise you may never see your cuffs again.

[metrovegas2]

1. Generally I agree, but the lawyer in me says: (a) Doesn't work when you have to give FSTs; (b) you can create a custodial interrogation when otherwise there would be none, so it is not always the best approach, especially when you have someone who is calm and cooperative, plus lots of back-up.

2. Absolutely. Otherwise you may never see your cuffs again.

That's why you should always have another officer with you when you perform FSTs.....

If you are by yourself and don't feel comfortable interrogating a suspect who seems hinky, cuff him up and read him miranda. What's the worst that can happen? If he refuses to talk to you and gets away then so be it......catch him another day. Not worth your safety to make an arrest no matter how big....

[DAL]

That's why you should always have another officer with you when you perform FSTs.....

If you are by yourself and don't feel comfortable interrogating a suspect who seems hinky, cuff him up and read him miranda. What's the worst that can happen? If he refuses to talk to you and gets away then so be it......catch him another day. Not worth your safety to make an arrest no matter how big....

Absolutely.

[leesrt]

I'll add one thing. If I can articulate a terry frisk I can articulate cuffing them while I'm doing it. If there's a challenge I can show any one of hundreds of videos where suspects have hurt an officer during an uncuffed search.

Regardless of whether you have back up or not.

[Rush817]

If the officers involved are from my agency, the cuffs never come off. Our officers carry two sets on them and most have extras in their duty bags. If its a suspect being transported by another agency and the suspect is compliant then I will switch them but if we had to fight to get them on, I'll follow you to the jail and get them.

If I pat a suspect, I have them way off balance, just like they taught us in dt and almost always will have another officer with me. There can be exceptions about having the second officer, but not that often.

[DIVECOP]

Use plastic zip cuffs for a change off, put them on the suspect FIRST though!! You have the hands secured WHILE you are doing a trade off. Think officer safety here folks!!!!

[2971511]

I too generally agree, cuffs are on, they come off at the station, when the prisoner, has no where to go and we have plenty of hands.

Having said that, there are serveral Depts, that must have an SOP, or GO that says, cuffs must come off before they put the prisoner into a Paddy WAGON...

I want to say Cincinnati ??? maybe, saw it on cops, they had a guy, fought with him, rolled all over the place, and then lead him out to a van style wagon, and cuffs come off and in he goes.


Anyone has any clue about this, I have been curious for a long time, I'm sure this must be some Dept. Policy, I was just wondering the Why, and who behind it.

[janego10]

We got a thing posted up that posts thats some surgeon got arrested and wasnt double cuffed. puke was transported but eventually lost feeling in a hand and sued the agency that cuffed him cuz he could no longer be a surgeon. so now we gotta check that at least one finger fits between the cuff and the wrist. Fine with that. Cuffs stay on. had a guy today totally PI and crap and **** his pants with them off in the middle of the park. I saw him and knew he was going to be arrested. I put the cuffs on before any crap happened and got his name and DOB afterward. i dont need to be rolling around the grass with a guy with fresh **** and crap on his pants when I can be over and done with it a second after contact.