CONNECTICUT, USA — The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association kicked off a new initiative to improve transparency and build trust with the communities officers serve.
It’s called “Breaking Barriers,” an education campaign from law enforcement, the Connecticut Departments of Transportation, and Motor Vehicles, to let young drivers know what to expect during a traffic stop.
“We all tend to get nervous when we see those lights turning when we’re getting pulled over and sometimes the first reaction is to jump out of a vehicle and say, 'What’s going on,' which startles all the police officers because we don’t know why this person is jumping out of a vehicle,” Tony Guerrera, CTDOT commissioner, said during a Thursday press conference.
The initiative features two videos that instruct new drivers to stay calm and cooperate with officers while being pulled over.
“Don't make any sudden moves. Keep your hands visible like on the steering wheel. Basically, don't give them a reason to be alarmed,” the video states.
Another video features dialogue between drivers and police officers, where tough conversations are had.
“Sometimes, I feel like I'm the prey and you guys of the predator,” one driver tells police.
It’s sentiments like these that law enforcement say they hear far too often. So, in Connecticut, police are taking steps to listen and boost understanding.
“When you guys pull over somebody in the community, (we) don't know what's going to happen,” a driver tells an officer in the video.
“Do you know that we feel the same way?” the officer responds.
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Members of law enforcement say when both drivers and officers are respectful of one another, it reduces the chances of a traffic stop taking a violent turn.
“It is a nerve-racking experience for us,” an officer says in the video.”
Right now, these educational videos are not required to be part of the driver’s ed curriculum in Connecticut, but the DMV says many driving schools plan to voluntarily include them in future lessons.
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Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
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