On Monday, July 15, 2013 2:14:10 PM UTC-4, Papa3 wrote:

I think the secret is to start by realizing these guys and gals are people, like anyone else. If the first thing they get from a pilot is a ration of attitude, that's probably not a good start.

I really wish that I could count on "Andy of Mayberry" showing up when I land out. But with my luck it will probably be "Barney Fife" (with one bullet in his revolver), and I need to be on my guard by keeping things professional, formal, and within the law. A good cop will have absolutely no problem with that.

If a bad cop shows up, acting professional, formal, relaxed and within the law might give him an excuse to do something unpleasant, like arrest me, but as long as I keep my hands in full view and act compliant and respectful, the downside of that is fairly limited.

Could I "talk pretty" and convince a bad cop to treat me nice? Maybe. Maybe not. If a cop starts out by thinking that I've done something wrong, or if he is uneasy or disoriented in an unusual situation, my "fast and pretty talk" may rub him the wrong way. Criminals often try to "sweet talk" the cops... at least they do on TV, and it hardly ever works. The fact that you're innocent is irrelevant. All that matters is the cop's frame of reference and his mood.

I agree that "pretty talk" will probably work on a good cop, but keeping things formal and professional will also work with a properly trained cop. I don't buy that providing only the documents and legally required information will turn a good cop into a bad cop. I don't buy that, after providing the legally required ID and papers, saying "I want to talk to my attorney before I answer that question" is being a hard-ass or uncooperative. Will a cop see it that way? Maybe, but they are big boys. They will weigh whether it is more trouble to take me downtown or let me go.

It's nice to hear your tales of land outs from a kinder and gentler time and I hope that that approach will continue to work for you. If I were a "soccer mom" I might try it. Would I ever try to "talk pretty" to a cop in a routine non-land-out situation, like say a traffic stop? No. I don't see why I should interact with the police any differently in a land-out. The land-out for the officer is a non-routine situation and where his behavior is therefore less unpredictable. I will pass up this opportunity to introduce someone to the wonderful sport of soaring.