Black Officer fears being pulled off-duty, gives advice to survive traffic stops
Black Police officer Michael Lawrence said he got pulled over during a traffic stop in Prince Georges County, Maryland, for allegedly taking a non-direct route to get on the Capital Beltway. Lawrence said the white officer’s “whole demeanor changed” when he confirmed that he had a knife and a gun in his car, despite being an officer himself and having the necessary paperwork to carry weapons.
The white cop put his hand on his own gun and asked to see Lawrence’s credentials. “That was the most scary encounter ever,” Lawrence said. “You see how it feels when the sheep becomes the wolf. But it was very scary because now you got a wolf pulling over a wolf.” “Fuck no,” Lawrence said. “I’m not reaching into my pocket where my gun is, on my hip.” Lawrence then demanded the white cop turn on his body cam. “All police officers have a body cam they’re supposed to wear, it’s a little box,” Lawrence said. “If you don’t see that red light, don’t you do shit.” Lawrence told the white cop where his knife, gun, and wallet were located in his car, but he refused to reach for them himself. “‘You can get it.’ No the fuck I can’t,” Lawrence said. “No, sir. You can get it with your body cam on.” Lawrence said he then reached for his cell phone on his dashboard. He said people have a right to demand “a lieutenant or sergeant or somebody in charge” when an officer pulls them over. “Grab your phone. When they pull you over, you dial 911,” Lawrence explained. “‘An officer’s pulling me over. I need your help. I feel scared. He is in uniform but I just don’t trust the situation.’ They will send them to you. They have to now.” Lawrence admitted that even as a fellow police officer, the situation was terrifying. He said he empathized with other Black drivers who get pulled over by white cops and urged viewers to “please be safe.” “Drive right, don’t give them no motherfucking reason,” Lawrence signed off. “I’m not going home dead.”