CHAPTER 2

QUESTIONING MEN-SEARCHING AND
CONTROLLING PRISONERS

It is assumed that men in proper uniform and behaving themselves satisfactorily during liberty hours are in an authorized liberty status. However, at railroad and bus stations, etc., or when a man's conduct causes you to become suspicious, you should check his identity and determine his status.

Shore patrolmen often have to stop members of the Armed Forces to determine their leave status and to check their identity. When approaching a man for this purpose, you should use courtesy and tact. Unnecessary trouble is sometimes started because a shore patrolman is loud and overbearing in manner. When you ask for an identification card or other papers you not only can make your task easier, but you can also create the correct impression by saying, "please." Never give any man you question the idea that you are placing him in a situation out of which he must fight his way.

When a man must be questioned at length, and it is not possible to send him to shore patrol headquarters, take him to a quiet and inconspicuous place for interrogation. If you have reason to believe that a man may start trouble place him between you and your partner. Never stand directly in front of such a person, for he is then in a position to deliver a sudden uppercut, a blow to your stomach, or a kick to a vulnerable part of your body. When questioning a man while you are wearing a gun, stand in a position which will not enable him to take the gun away from you. Your partner should stand

by to assist you, if necessary. Figure 2-1 shows the proper standing position for shore patrolmen who are questioning a person.

IDENTITY AND STATUS

You must know the order forms, leave papers, and identification cards used by the various branches of the Armed Forces. Such forms are subject to change, and an up-to-date list of current forms should be maintained for you at shore patrol headquarters.

On request from the Shore Patrol, all members of the Armed Forces (commissioned and enlisted) are required to produce proof of identity, liberty cards, leave papers, or travel orders. They must give their name, rank or rate, serial number, and the name of ship, station, or organization to which they are attached. Upon receiving

such papers, compare the name, serial number, rank or rate for validity and authenticity. When an officer or enlisted man states he is traveling on secret or confidential orders, and his identification is satisfactory, you will permit him to proceed without inspecting his orders. However, you must record his name, rank or rate, serial number, and station; and you must advise your headquarters, so that they may check on him and initiate disciplinary action in case he has given you false information.

Altered Records

You may on occasions find altered identification cards, especially in localities where the law forbids the sale of alcoholic beverages to minors. The plastic cover on the Armed Forces identification card can be opened, and men may change the date of their birth to read 21 years of age or over. Inspect cards for signs of tampering and apprehend men having altered cards in their possession. Apprehend any man having two identification cards. Always compare the photograph on the card with the man's face, and check his height against the height scale on the photograph. This procedure will help you discover men attempting to use stolen identification cards. When there is doubt concerning the identity of a person presenting an identification card, have him sign his name on a plain piece of paper, and compare it with the signature on the card.

Final proof of identity in any case is ascertained by taking fingerprints of the suspect (at headquarters), and comparing them with those on his identification card. This means, of course, that you must really be able to compare fingerprints on the identification card with those taken from the suspect; guessing and half-way measures are inadequate. Fingerprints on an identification card are of the right and left index fingers. Do not compare the card directly with the finger, for the imprint on the

card is in reverse from the pattern on the finger itself. Take a print of each of the man's index fingers, and then compare the prints. Just a little experience will enable you to make this comparison. Remember that fingerprints are all different; and remember, too, that they establish the most definite proof of identity. Techniques for taking fingerprints are discussed in detail in chapter 3.

POWERS OF OBSERVATION

As you become more experienced in shore patrol work, you will discover the development of a sixth sense which enables you to spot many men in an absentee status. You won't know exactly how you are able to recognize them

-they just look like absentees. A good rule to follow, however, is that all untidy, dirty men loitering about should be checked. A man in an unauthorized absentee status is likely to be out of order in his appearance.

Be very careful when approaching suspected deserters, for they face tough sentences and know it. Hence they may use any means, or go to any extremes, to retain their freedom. Have your partner with you when apprehending or transporting a deserter, and keep your prisoner in such position that he cannot attack you or make good his escape. If you consider a prisoner a really bad actor, require him to stand against a wall, facing it, legs well apart and arms locked behind his head. While he is in this position, search him for firearms, other weapons, or identification cards and leave papers. You must also familiarize yourself with the wall-search techniques described in this chapter, but remember that this type of search is used only when a man is considered dangerous and when he must be searched on the spot.

LOCAL POLICY

Local orders specify the action necessary for control of personnel in an unauthorized absence status. When a

man is obviously on his way to his ship or station, he will be allowed to proceed, particularly if he is over leave. Men absent without leave are usually returned to their station under escort, for it is not always possible to determine whether they will return to their station, or whether they are actually attached to the organization claimed by them. When the Shore Patrol is reasonably sure unauthorized absentees will return to their stations, the general policy is to let them proceed to their destination; men absent without leave, as a rule, do not have satisfactory evidence as to their organization.

Names stenciled on uniforms, letters, driver's license, traveler's checks, and other possessions may be used as circumstantial evidence in estabilshing a man's identity. However, when the identification card is missing, when there is some doubt as to ownership of an identification card, or when you are not convinced that the person has been properly identified, send him to headquarters for further checking of identification.

Your authority also extends over women members of the Armed Forces, but always be polite when requesting papers and identification. Should it be necessary to question a woman in the Armed Forces, take her to one side and ask the questions in a tone of voice inaudible to anyone but her. However, for your own protection, take one precaution when asking the questions-always have your partner with you. When he is present there is less chance of her charging that you insulted her or made improper advances. When you find it necessary to detain a woman member, notify headquarters immediately and move her from public view.

It is not the usual policy of the Department of the Navy for identifications of men on liberty to be checked. It shall be done only in exceptional cases. Men in liberty status shall be interfered with as little as possible. However, when a military person is detained for checking of identification, he is not under arrest and should be so