Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin was a senior in high school when police pulled him over one day near his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
NFL Player, Son of Officer Says He Wants to Build Bridges Between Officers and Community
Doug Baldwin Sr. served 35 years in the Pensacola Police Department and later worked for the Department of Homeland Security. He is well aware of how confrontations with police can go wrong and had laid out a specific plan for his sons to follow whenever they were approached by law enforcement.

"They thought my car was stolen, told me to get out of the car, lay on the ground," Baldwin said. "They searched the car, did whatever while I was on the ground, and then they stood me up, said they thought that the car was stolen, and it was a misunderstanding, that they were wrong or whatever, and then they let me go."
Baldwin, the son of a police officer, had done nothing wrong, but he knew how to react and was prepared for the situation.
Doug Baldwin Sr. served 35 years in the Pensacola Police Department and later worked for the Department of Homeland Security. He is well aware of how confrontations with police can go wrong and had laid out a specific plan for his sons to follow whenever they were approached by law enforcement.
"Regardless of what the situation may be when he's stopped, whether he feels like he is right or wrong, compliance is the key," Baldwin Sr. said. "Always comply with what the officer tells you to do. Make sure that your compliance is visible, and articulate it to the point where there's no doubt that you're doing anything other than being compliant and that you're able to come home the next day or that day or that night and be able to tell me the circumstances so we can go from there. ... You never know what information that officer has at the time or doesn't have."
Baldwin has spearheaded the Seahawks' "Building Bridges" campaign which aims to bridge the gap between police officers and the communities they serve. He has demanded that attorney generals from all 50 states review their training policies and "eliminate militaristic cultures while putting a higher emphasis on de-escalation tactics and crisis management measures," ESPN reports.
More Patrol
From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
Back Face Deformation, Brain Injury and Ballistic Helmets – Why the “Dent Doesn’t Matter” Claim Ignores Science
Alex Poythress, co-founder and CEO of Ballistic Armor Co., explains why ballistic helmet buyers should insist on full test data, including BFD measurements, standoff distance, and padding configuration, rather than rely solely on penetration ratings.
Read More →
Streamlight Marks 15 Years of Support for Breast Cancer Research Foundation With $20k Donation
In its 15th year of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Streamlight donated $20,000 to help in the fight against cancer. Donations were generated through the sale of special Wedge XT models and other pink flashlights.
Read More →
Police-Led Mental Health Charity Expands to Include Veterans
Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.
Read More →
WakeMed Campus Police Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting
A WakeMed Campus Police Officer died after being shot in the lobby of the emergency department at a North Carolina hospital over the weekend.
Read More →
Video Shows Barricaded Suspect Fall Through Ceiling and Into SWAT Custody
Deputies in Indian River County, Florida, apprehended a suspect after he fell through the ceiling with SWAT members waiting below. The sheriff’s department released video of the apprehension.
Read More →From the Show Floor: T2 Systems
Learn about T2 Systems and its electronic parking enforcement solutions. Retired Chief John Holland outlines the benefits of using such a system to manage parking enforcement.
Read More →
