The uniformity with which studies of police behavior and decisionmaking have supported the demeanor hypotheses has obscured the fact that various studies have defined demeanor, both conceptually and operationally, in somewhat different ways. Given that it has been credited with such explanatory power, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to the conceptualization and measurement of suspect demeanor. Klinger's critique notes the failure of so many of these studies to narrow demeanor to behaviors and attitudes that do not constitute crimes. Klinger will have served a valuable purpose if his critique prompts scholars to attend more carefully to the definition and measure of demeanor. Progress may be made through research that generates insights into how suspects' demeanor is perceived and enters into officers' decision criteria. Further ethnographic research might form the basis for a more refined specification both of the behaviors that represent for police officers a lack of adequate deference and of the circumstances under which a "bad" attitude is excusable. In addition, "debriefing" officers in conjunction with systematic observation and other forms of protocol analysis might contribute to a more theoretically sound definition of demeanor. Further, future analyses many need to distinguish among various kinds of citizen affronts to officers. 5 notes and 20 references