This is more of a set of reminders than it is a tip. Your personal safety is paramount on every tour you report for duty (as well as your off -duty time), so, here just a few reminders to keep you sharp and moving in a focused but neutral state..
1.) Always keep your police instincts up and running — if it looks suspicious to you, it most likely is. Be mindful of all your options before taking action. Location, environment, day, night how far is back up, cover, etc.
2.) Watch for the warning signs — intoxicated, nervous subjects feet pointing in the area he or she is about to flee toward. Eyes looking around and at your tool belt, nervous hand movement, hands covering face fast talking individual.
3.) Look for those obvious weapons —knives clipped on belts and/or pockets. Have them turn away so you can check back pockets, but always be mindful of the hands. Any movement to a pocket because you asked for ID can produce a weapon. If you ask for movement, you will get movement, so be prepared for any attack.
4.) If you’re doing an investigation and you are not sure of the subject’s intent, wait for backup if possible. Hook them up (cuff) if your safety appears to be at risk. Rather take cuffs off and get a reprimand than explain to the doctors how you got your 36 stitch open wound or worse.
Police1 is a great sounding board for our profession, and many of us sound off pretty good (we can be pretty critical of one another). Even us retired guys still have a hand in much of what goes on around here. Some of us leave the job on our own terms... others leave because they made the ultimate sacrifice. They gave it all.
Some of us retired guys just like to remind all of you who still patrol the streets today to stay positive and focused on what’s important right now: Your survival. Watch the videos on this site — there are lots of mistakes that could have went terribly wrong and some that did.
Be well, stay tactical, stay alive. That’s an order from an old dog. I got out on my terms... Please! You do the same!