Is this appropriate behavior for a police officer?

Question

I was pulled over by a state trooper for speeding in Wisconsin just between Madison and Milwaukee around 1:00am last night. Unfortunately, I'm guilty as charged. But when the cop approached my car his first comment was "Good evening, do you speak English?"

As a second generation Korean American I was a bit offended by the presumptuous question. Is this standard procedure or was this a bit out of line?

BTW, I did politely respond by saying "yes, officer" Although a bit put off by the question wasn't up for any friction that would result in a more severe citation than necessary. I did however for a fraction of second consider requesting a translator (although it would have been tough job for the translator as my Korean is terrible). The irony of it is my first and last name are entirely "American".

Answer 1

I had to ask my father, who is a retired officer with 37 years on the job (actually just north of Milwaukee County) to get his opinion. His take on it is that while unfortunately, this is a touchy subject, there is no 'gentle' way to ask such a question. Unfortunately, there are immigrants out there who speak very little english, and tend to answer yes to everything, not knowing what it is they are being told or asked to do. Due to cultural sensitivity training, they may be asking this question for the exact reason that if you did not, they would have definately called in an interpretor, to be sure you understood what was going on. I don't think the officer was "assuming" anything, other than making sure he was doing his job, and that you as the driver (or accused) understood what was going on.

Answer 2

I was a cop for 21 years, and never felt the need to ask this question. I also speak Spanish and German as well as English and I would usually switch to Spanish when the person answered by in awkward English, or didn't do anything except sit there.I do know that there are some strange departmental policies that a desk jockey genius thinks up and makes the field officers implement. The good thing is they usually die out after a few weeks or months of misery for the field officers.
So, it was a bit unusual I agree, but it may have been that Trooper's awkward attempt to make you feel comfortable (Iwhat the heck, he may have even served at Camp Casey and wanted to try out his limited Korean!).

Answer 3

There was nothing wrong with him asking that question. If worded like that, it wasn't disreprectful in anyway.

I am in Texas, and it is fairly common if we pull over someone Hispanic to ask it from the get go. It is a way of getting the ball rolling quicker if they do not. It is a fact of life in this state, and country, that some do not speak english. He just asked.

Had he asked in a way that was disrespectful, I would understand. ie. "Great, well do you speak english or do I need to get a translator out here", something along those lines. But, it seems he just asked a simple question by the way you worded it.

Answer 4

There are no procedures for determining whether someone speaks English or not. There is nothing in writing that says you have to ask someone something in English first or just go ahead and ask if they speak English. For all you now he may work, or had worked, in an area where there was a large population of Asian Americans that did not speak English.

He certainly sounded respectful. I think you are just being too sensitive.

Answer 5

I am sure that with the influx of foreigners, both legal and illegal, this is a legitimate question. We are no longer the "melting pot" as most immigrants do not want to learn English and therefore try to push government into catering to their native languages. I would not be in the least bit surprised that if you acted like you didn't understand him, he would have probably let you off.

Answer 6

Very debateable! I would have smarted off something along the lines of "Better than you" or if I knew the Korean for it "Do you speak Korean?"!!!
And I wonder why Police give me a hard time?!! LOL!

He should have given you the benifit of the doubt! Many South Koreans have a basic understanding of English-But then again he might have been a typical American and thought you were Chinese!

Answer 7

This was not appropriate. This police officer obviously forgot that America is a melting pot full of third generation citizens and that they were born here and are American. If it was a Caucasian individual that just came from Croatia and did not know the language yet, I am pretty sure the police officer would just assume he spoke English
Rude or inappropriate yes, but never assume anything.You do not know what his intentions were behind his question and probably never will.

Answer 8

hi, The habit of the cop such as you stated may well be because of the fact he encounters lots of human beings day and night that are actually not in a position to communicate English or have constrained understanding of the language. He asked like this to you just to confirm approximately your English talking fluency. He has no different meaning in that sentence.

Answer 9

I think it was a "bit" out of line. He was prejudiced to think that anyone who is "non-white" could not speak English. I don't think that pre-judging someone necessarily means you will be treated in a racist fashion though. Write a letter to the appropriate official outlining the event and ask that the officer be spoken to about it. I would guess that once someone mentions it to him, he probably wouldn't do it again.

Answer 10

Not at all out of line. I don't mean to be forward with you, but you have asked for responses. Here's mine. Political correctness is tearing this nation to threads. Creating divisions among races. Causing others to think wrong of others that are not like them. You could have just smiled and said yes.