What To Do If The Police Come To Your Home

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The following is a reprint of an article published by
THE STATES MOST WANTED

Lieutenant Jose Lopez, Sr.
Commander, HPD Detention Division

Lieutenant Jose L. Lopez Sr.
Commander/Detention Division
Hartford Police Department

You are in your home when an unusually loud knock is heard coming from your door.  You ask, “Who is it?”    The person knocking yells, “It’s the Police! Open up!”

Well, you did not call the police and since all is well in your home your first instinct may be to shut off the light, turn down the T. V. and yell, “NOBODY HOME!”.  I guarantee that you will not fool the police officer at your door.  They will knock again.

There are many reasons why the police officer could be at your door.  The reasons for a police officer to knock at your door may include (but are not limited to):

·    A complaint against you by another person

·    A concern from a neighbor

·    A Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) emergency in your area

·    The canvassing for witnesses to a crime

·    The notification of a family emergency

·    Your home being the last known address for a wanted person

·    A police officer responding to the wrong address (mistakes do happen)

For these and many more reasons you should answer the door. 

Every time that you open your door you should know who is on the other side.  If your home does not have a window that overlooks the outside of the door, then you should have a peep-hole installed.  There should be a means by which you and your family can see who is at your door.

Of course if the person on the other side says that he or she is a police officer you would expect to see someone in a police uniform, with a badge, a gun belt with a gun in the holster and a police radio (walkie talkie).  In some instances, the police officer might be a detective or "plain-clothes officer" and will be in civilian attire.  Even police officers in civilian attire will have a badge and identification card to prove who they are. 

If you truly believe that the person on the other side of the door is not a police officer, then call your local police department and ask if police officers where dispatched to your home.  If you know that they are not police officers then dial 911 from your home phone.  Either way the police operator will advise you whether or not the parties at the door are police officers, and if they are not then real police officers will be dispatched to investigate.  

Should the imitation police officers force themselves into your home, put down the telephone and comply with their instructions.  If it is in fact the police your compliance will make the situation as safe as possible.  If the intruders are not Police Officers and you don't do as they say it may result in the intruder injuring you.  Nevertheless, the 911 operator will know your address and if the police are not at your home, they will dispatch a unit to assist you.

Be aware that when you dial 911 from a cellular phone in Connecticut the call goes to the Connecticut State Police and your location may not be displayed. Make sure that you start your conversation by giving your address so that the State Police dispatcher can contact your local police department for verification of the police officers at your door.

Once you are aware that you have the police at your door, answer it.  You do not have to invite them into your home but depending upon the reason why they are there you will be letting your neighbors know your business if you don't invite them in.  In the event that the police are responding to a complaint where a victim may need help or the nature of the call might present a risk to the officers, the responding officers will demand entry and will check all of the rooms to insure that everyone is safe. 

Should the visit result in your or someone in your home's arrest then the officers are allowed to conduct a search of the area within the arrestee’s reach without a search warrant.  If you feel that the entry and search are not justified then you can file a complaint after the police leave or after you are released from the arrest.  A belief that the entry, search or arrest is improper does not give you the right to resist.  Even if your complaint against the officer is sustained after an internal investigation, you can still be convicted for “Interfering with Police”.

The police may also visit your house to serve a search warrant.  Depending upon the crime related to the search warrant, the police may knock on the door and announce themselves by yelling, “Police! Search Warrant! Open Up!!!”  If there is no response, the police will force entry into your home. In many search warrants involving guns or narcotics, a "no-knock" order may be issued by the judge which allows the officers to force entry into the house without any notice.

During a search warrant the police officers will be entering with their guns drawn instructing everyone to lie on the floor.  The police officers may not be wearing uniforms, but they will have badges, shirts, jackets or caps with POLICE written in bold letters.  They will use reasonable force in order to have you lay down and will search and handcuff every person in the home.  The police officers will insure that the premise is secure so that they can start the search for the items listed in the warrant.

When the police enter announcing that they are executing a search warrant, it is NOT the time to declare your innocence or demand to see the warrant.  This also is not the time to be concerned about how you are dressed or if you are dressed.  Just comply with the officers and after the premise is secure the officers will give you the opportunity to speak and if necessary, cover up.  Understand that these officers are trying to do their job without getting hurt.  Although the mission may be to search your home, their plan is to leave your home uninjured and to return to their families. 

During the summer of 2004 two Hartford Police detectives were shot while executing a search warrant.  The two detectives were injured and the shooter was killed.  Each search warrant carries the same potential for harm.  There is no such thing as a routine execution of a search warrant. 

During my career I have been involved in many search warrants where individuals in the target location were just visiting and not involved in any criminal activity.  In one instance my squad executed a search warrant for narcotics at an apartment where two missionaries from the Church of the Latter Day Saints had just arrived to deliver a sermon.  They were placed on the floor and handcuffed until the location was found to be secure and they were identified.  Narcotics were found in the home and the residents were  arrested.  Having complied with the my squad's orders the missionaries were released after the search was completed. 

Cooperating with the police is always the recommended course of action should they come to your home.  Respond to the police in the way you would want another person to answer if you or your family were the victims. 

This article was written based on a suggestion by Ms. Lillian Ruiz, Director of Human Relations for the City of Hartford.  Thank You.

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