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| Prisoner Retention |
There will come a time, many times in fact, when you'll be responsible
for a prisoner within a hospital setting. You'll soon learn that doctors
hate handcuffs. It doesn't matter what treatment the prisoner requires.
Whether it's a lacerated lip, or an ingrown toe nail, you'll probably be
asked to remove the handcuffs. If you question the need to remove the
handcuffs relative to the treatment, the fall back reason is usually
difficulty in taking the prisoner's blood pressure reading.
The very first thing you have to consider is this: You are the only
person present who is totally responsible for that prisoner's actions once
those handcuffs are removed. If he punches out the doctor; overpowers
you; gets control of your gun; shoots people; escapes, or engages in
lesser destructive behavior, the causative factor will go right back to your
decision to remove the handcuffs. No, not the doctor's decision...your
decision. If you think for an instant that anyone else will accept any
level of responsibility for your prisoner's potential reign of terror,
you're dreaming.
I was out of the police academy a mere two weeks when I was assigned
to guard a prisoner who was recovering from surgery for a gunshot
wound. He'd been shot during a gun battle with a police officer in which
the police officer was also wounded. The prisoner had his left hand
cuffed to the bed railing. His first communication with me was his
demand that I release the cuffs, so he could go to the bathroom. Yea...
right. I called the nurse, and I requested she provide Mr. Personality
with a portable urinal. To my surprise, the nurse became indignant.
She informed me that the prisoner was physically able to go to the
bathroom, so I should remove his handcuffs. When I refused, the nurse
stormed from the room.
Moments later, a doctor entered the room. I quickly realized this guy
didn't have his heart in this exchange. As the nurse stood behind him,
arms folded, and starring right through me, the doctor ask me to
remove the handcuffs. I may have been inexperienced, but I wasn't
stupid. I refused. The poor guy kept going, so I gave him an out. I
offered to have my sergeant respond. If my sergeant gave the okay, I'd
remove the cuffs. The doctor declined the offer, and he directed the
nurse to use the portable urinal. I actually felt bad for the prisoner...
just a little. The way she shoved that bed pan beneath him had to hurt
more than the surgery.
for a prisoner within a hospital setting. You'll soon learn that doctors
hate handcuffs. It doesn't matter what treatment the prisoner requires.
Whether it's a lacerated lip, or an ingrown toe nail, you'll probably be
asked to remove the handcuffs. If you question the need to remove the
handcuffs relative to the treatment, the fall back reason is usually
difficulty in taking the prisoner's blood pressure reading.
The very first thing you have to consider is this: You are the only
person present who is totally responsible for that prisoner's actions once
those handcuffs are removed. If he punches out the doctor; overpowers
you; gets control of your gun; shoots people; escapes, or engages in
lesser destructive behavior, the causative factor will go right back to your
decision to remove the handcuffs. No, not the doctor's decision...your
decision. If you think for an instant that anyone else will accept any
level of responsibility for your prisoner's potential reign of terror,
you're dreaming.
I was out of the police academy a mere two weeks when I was assigned
to guard a prisoner who was recovering from surgery for a gunshot
wound. He'd been shot during a gun battle with a police officer in which
the police officer was also wounded. The prisoner had his left hand
cuffed to the bed railing. His first communication with me was his
demand that I release the cuffs, so he could go to the bathroom. Yea...
right. I called the nurse, and I requested she provide Mr. Personality
with a portable urinal. To my surprise, the nurse became indignant.
She informed me that the prisoner was physically able to go to the
bathroom, so I should remove his handcuffs. When I refused, the nurse
stormed from the room.
Moments later, a doctor entered the room. I quickly realized this guy
didn't have his heart in this exchange. As the nurse stood behind him,
arms folded, and starring right through me, the doctor ask me to
remove the handcuffs. I may have been inexperienced, but I wasn't
stupid. I refused. The poor guy kept going, so I gave him an out. I
offered to have my sergeant respond. If my sergeant gave the okay, I'd
remove the cuffs. The doctor declined the offer, and he directed the
nurse to use the portable urinal. I actually felt bad for the prisoner...
just a little. The way she shoved that bed pan beneath him had to hurt
more than the surgery.
A lot of people who contemplate a police career don't associate police
officers with guarding prisoners. You may think that once a suspect is
arrested, that suspect becomes the responsibility of corrections officers.
In most jurisdictions, the process for transferring a prisoner to
corrections is my no means an immediate thing.
Since the health and well being of persons arrested is of such great
concern -- primarily because of the potential litigious implications -- a
prisoner who requests, or demands, a trip to the hospital will almost
always be granted that request or demand.
Guess who's going to be responsible for guarding that prisoner during
his or her emergency room visit? Oh...and don't expect to be put at the
head of the line. With all the concern these days about workplace
hazards, hospitals haven't yet put potentially dangerous criminals on
their lists of hazards.
officers with guarding prisoners. You may think that once a suspect is
arrested, that suspect becomes the responsibility of corrections officers.
In most jurisdictions, the process for transferring a prisoner to
corrections is my no means an immediate thing.
Since the health and well being of persons arrested is of such great
concern -- primarily because of the potential litigious implications -- a
prisoner who requests, or demands, a trip to the hospital will almost
always be granted that request or demand.
Guess who's going to be responsible for guarding that prisoner during
his or her emergency room visit? Oh...and don't expect to be put at the
head of the line. With all the concern these days about workplace
hazards, hospitals haven't yet put potentially dangerous criminals on
their lists of hazards.
| Hospitals...a real pain in the @%% |
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