Document everything. Write down or record everything you can about the incident. Do this however you can - on paper, with your phone etc. Especially things the police say or do. If you can’t do it when it’s happening, do it as soon as possible after. Make sure you note the date, time, where it happened, and who was there. Take photos if you can.
For a traffic stop, the law says they have to give you their names, badge numbers, and the police department they work for.
Other things to keep in mind:
- Get squad car numbers – these are the numbers painted on the squad cars
- Get contact information from any witnesses
- Hang on to photos, clothing, or anything else that could be used as evidence.
In Minneapolis, if you get badge numbers/names you can look up the officers’ discipline records online. Go to the Officer Complaint History Dashboard. In other cities, you may need to submit a ‘data request.’ Find more information by looking up the city’s official website.
Get medical attention. If you are hurt, get medical attention right away. Ask for copies of your medical records. You might be able to use your medical records as evidence.
Remember: Be gentle with yourself! It can be really hard in a stressful situation like this to remember everything you should do. If you forget a detail, or forget to assert a right, it’s ok. Just do your best.
