Defensive tactics training: Enhancing front compliance for a person who is ‘feeling no pain’
Having a toolbox filled with effective tools to instantly stop and/or discourage resistance can de-escalate many a situation
Having been an active street cop for the entire 33 years of my police career, as well as an active police trainer for 43 years, in this series I share some of the defensive tactics techniques that helped me prevail on the street. The series presents a variety of defensive tactics in a format that allows you to follow the instructions and practice the technique. Remember practice makes prepared.
There are people you will meet who because they have invited drugs and/or alcohol on board, may not respond normally, or even at all, to a pain compliance technique. Some officers and instructors have concluded this makes anyone on drugs and/or alcohol poor candidates for control holds.
This perceived obstacle should not deter you from applying trained techniques just because a resistive suspect’s senses have been dulled by the demons of drink and drugs. My hands-on observations made on the street led me to conclude that while there are those whose senses are dulled by drugs and/or alcohol and actually “feel no pain,” they are in the minority.
Do not mistake pain tolerance for “feeling no pain.”