FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2021
DPS Partners with Valerie Castile to Help Reduce Deadly Force Encounters
Not-Reaching Pouches now Available for Citizens
ST. PAUL —“License and registration, please." It's what we expect to hear when law enforcement stops us for a moving violation.
But today, many motorists ask themselves when the appropriate time is to reach into their glove box, purse or back pocket for the information.
The Minnesota State Patrol, along with several law enforcement agencies across the state, want to make it easier for drivers to store the information and for law enforcement to see when motorists are reaching for documents.
It's called a “Not-Reaching Pouch." Its intent is to store a person's driver's license, and insurance card in a pouch that's kept in plain sight in the vehicle on an air vent or other visible location.
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) recently purchased some Not-Reaching Pouches, which were created by Valerie Castile in partnership with Jacquelyn Carter, to help reduce deadly force encounters between law enforcement and citizens during traffic stops.
The Minnesota State Patrol and other agencies hand out the pouches during community events and other contacts with citizens.
Participating agencies include:
Minnesota State Patrol
Saint Paul Police
Brooklyn Park Police
Crystal Police
Bloomington Police
St. Louis Park Police
Richfield Police
Eagan Police
St. Cloud Police
University of Minnesota
Rochester Police
Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office
“We are continually looking for ways to reduce deadly force encounters as these instances can be catastrophic for police officers, and community members ," said DPS Assistant Commissioner Booker Hodges. “By working together with Ms. Castile, who has tirelessly advocated for these since her son was killed in a deadly force encounter with law enforcement, we are hoping these pouches help in some way reduce these instances, even if it's just one."