You’re dealing with a subject for whatever reason — anything from a traffic infraction to a felony investigation — and you are within arm’s reach of the subject. As you take their ID, they can cooperate or attack you.
Are you picking up the signals or are you so focused on getting the ID and viewing it that you’re not paying attention to the pre attack signals being sent your way.
Let’s look at a few that have been mentioned in other articles here on P1 — kind of a reminder / refresher, if you will.
What are the eyes telling you? Are they:
• Cast in a thousand-yard stare, looking right through you?
• Looking around checking flight options or checking to see if anyone else is watching?
• Checking out your sidearm — looking at it, and back at you then down again?
What are the feet saying?
• People will usually point their feet in direction they want to go when they’re thinking of fleeing.
• Bent knees may indicate an attack is coming your way — this is a precursor to a double leg take down or tackle to get you down.
• Watch out for shuffling feet, moving side to side, as well — this also could be an indicator for an imminent attack.
What about the hands?
• Is the subject moving his hands all around, going from closed fist, to open palm, to closed fist?
• Are his hands going back and forth from behind head? He may be deciding if he should attack or not.
• What about hand position? Are his palms up or down? Are his palms away, fingers down?
• Is he touching clothing behind, side, or front possible weapon hidden?
What about facial expression?
• Clenched teeth, tight jaw, biting lip, and looking away from you instead of at you, all are harbingers.
• Look for nervous laughter and sweating as well.
For the sake of review and safety, let’s get together and share whatever I missed in the comments below. We’ve lost just too many officers to street violence. When we know what to look for, we can better evaluate what to expect and better respond in our defense of an attack. Understand the pre-attack signals — get home after your tour.
Be safe. Be smart. Be tactical, always.