Wilmington officers discuss traffic stop behavior

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The officer-involved shooting during a traffic stop near the University at Cincinnati has made national headlines. We asked Wilmington Police what can be done to keep a situation from going too far when someone is pulled over.

Marcel Smith, like many drivers, has been pulled over before. He said people should understand the laws to better deal with officers.

“It’s all in a matter in how you handle it,” Smith said. “But also you need to know the laws that you’ve got going on around in your county, so you can be aware and know how to handle them if they are being out of place.”

Sgt. Myron Irving has been with the Wilmington Police Department for 17 years. He said in his experience working the beat traffic stops can be easy and quick when drivers comply with directions.

“Remain calm. For the most part the stop on the officer’s part should be and will be professional, and we would like a little bit of cooperation sometimes back from the general public and the citizens we stop,” Sgt. Irving said.

He said police can ask a driver for their license and registration, but the driver has every right to ask why they have been pulled over if the officer has not already told them. He also said drivers do not have to incriminate themselves if they’re accused of a traffic violation or a crime.

Sgt. Irving said cooperation is even more important when it comes to his line of work, especially because police officers are being looked at more closely.

“Not all officers are out to do bad things or wrong things,” Sgt. Irving said. “Unfortunately there are some that do make mistakes, and those situations here lately have been coming to light.”

Montgomery Caldwell, a driver, says it is good that traffic stops and other police encounters are caught on camera.

“I think it’s a good thing we live in a world where there’s just video everywhere. They have to be accountable now,” Caldwell said.

Irving said police don’t shy away from accountability.

“We should and we do try to do a good job of showing compassion, remaining calm in an attempt to help in those situations,” Irving said.

Sgt. Irving suggested if a driver has a problem with an officer and how they have conducted themselves during a stop, there is a way to file a complaint with the police department. He said that is the best way to handle a bad situation and to keep it from escalating.