---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That’s standard procedure for officer…"
description: "\"“That’s standard procedure for officer safety. We didn’t know that was Ms. Jefferson’s son. We saw a large, angry Black youth who was visibly upset.” “..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/jodi-picoult-45_black-youth_that-s-standard-procedure-for-officer-sa_547664.jpg"
---

#  That’s standard procedure for officer safety. We didn’t…

![“That’s standard procedure for officer safety. We didn’t know that was Ms. Jefferson’s son. We saw a large, angry Black youth who was visibly upset.” “Really?” Kennedy says. “Was he wearing a hoodie too?” quote by Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/jodi-picoult-45_black-youth_that-s-standard-procedure-for-officer-sa_547664.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/jodi-picoult-45_black-youth_that-s-standard-procedure-for-officer-sa_547664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dbf/jodi-picoult-45_black-youth_that-s-standard-procedure-for-officer-sa_547664.jpg)

> ““That’s standard procedure for officer safety. We didn’t know that was Ms. Jefferson’s son. We saw a large, angry Black youth who was visibly upset.” “Really?” Kennedy says. “Was he wearing a hoodie too?””

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker describes a police encounter where assumptions about a Black youth led to a tense situation.

**In simple terms:** Police assumed danger based on appearance.

Key Takeaway

Avoid snap judgments about people.

Themes

bias policing race

Mood

tense reflective

Type

cautionary social commentary

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- community interactions
- media reporting

Key Concepts

stereotyping implicit bias

Questions to Reflect On

- How do personal biases affect split decisions?
- What training can reduce such errors?

A Different Perspective

Assumptions can overlook individual context.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Black youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-youth/)

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## More by Jodi Picoult

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