Relationship Exploitation

Sometimes an officer may be especially friendly or understanding during an interview. They might offer you food or water, ask about your life, tell you a personal story, or say they want to help you.
Building trust can be a normal interview technique. When people feel comfortable, they’re often more willing to talk.
This can be especially effective with young people, who may naturally trust adults who treat them with kindness and respect. As a result, you might feel like the officer is on your side and decide to answer questions you otherwise wouldn’t.

Remember: Even if an officer is kind and respectful, their job is to gather information about what happened. Anything you say can still be used in court, so it’s important to think carefully before answering questions.