"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing."
-Theodore Roosevelt
The element of time is critical to officer and public safety. Officers must have a thorough understanding of when they can deliberate and when they must take immediate action to bring a volatile situation under control.
In many cases, officers have ample time to evaluate a situation and consider their tactical options. Under these circumstances, moving too quickly can unnecessarily expose the officer to danger. If time is on your side, take advantage of it.
On the other hand, since the role of a police officer is largely reactionary, we are often forced to make split-second decisions in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation (Graham v. Conner). Under these circumstances, there will be little time to deliberate.
If time is on your side, proceed cautiously. If not, respond aggressively to stop the threat!
Slow down
Scenario #1
When dispatched to a 9-1-1 call at a residence with a loud verbal dispute heard in the background, it would be ill advised to approach the residence without waiting for cover (assuming you work in an area where you have a cover officer available). Failing to wait for cover compromises your safety as well as the safety of potential victims, since responding solo limits your tactical options in the event you or the victim are assaulted. In this case, there is no benefit to responding solo.
Scenario #2
After conducting a pedestrian stop, you should consider having the subject sit while you monitor his hands and wait for back up rather than conducting a pat down by yourself. (If you have reason to believe the subject is armed, directing him into a prone position would be a better choice). If the suspect is armed, he knows that you will find the weapon during the pat down. This might be all the motivation he needs to draw the weapon and use it against you. Keep in mind that due to the nature of conducting a pat down you will be dangerously close to the subject. Even if the subject is unarmed, when you grab hold of him, the fight may be on. "One on one" is not a fair fight from a law enforcement perspective.
Scenario #3
During a foot pursuit, the subject runs around the corner of a building. While chasing the subject around the corner may be an instinctive response, it's obviously not the best response. You have to assume that the subject is waiting to attack when you round the corner. Taking this for granted is a potentially fatal error.
There are several viable alternatives to chasing a subject around a corner. You could stop short of the corner and "slice the pie" to visually clear the corner while exposing as little of yourself as possible. You could also do a "quick peek" around the corner. When using this tactic, it's a good idea to lower yourself since the subject's gaze would likely be relatively high. Regardless how you decide to negotiate the corner, you need to rein yourself in and slow down.
Scenario #4
When dispatched to a fight involving several subjects in the parking lot of a bar, consider pre-deploying your Taser, pepper spray, baton, or other less lethal option. Obviously, if weapons are believed to be involved, your firearm should be deployed. Pre-deploying a weapon and waiting for an appropriate number of officers before confronting the subjects will help tilt the odds in your favor. It's also a good idea to assign personnel so that there are lethal and less lethal options.
Take immediate action
"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in."
-Napoleon Bonaparte
Scenario #1
When suddenly assaulted at close range, accessing any of the weapons on your belt will be no easy task. To make matters worse, the suspect might try to disarm you. We are particularly vulnerable to being disarmed when grappling with a subject and while on the ground. In these conditions, you must respond immediately and aggressively. The longer the fight takes the greater the likelihood you will be seriously injured or worse.
Scenario #2
If you're responding to an "active shooter", you certainly don't have the luxury of time. Since you don't have time to proceed as cautiously as would be preferred, you have to compensate by moving aggressively and working as a team. Remember that if someone is shooting people, your response is clearly to locate the shooter(s) and stop the threat. In this case, you are knowingly putting yourself in harms way or taking a calculated risk to protect those who are less prepared and equipped to survive. Some officers have a hard time with this but ultimately, we are expected (rightfully so) to give our lives if required to protect innocent citizens who are being fired upon. This is completely different than recklessly chasing a suspect around the corner during a foot pursuit.
Conclusion
Using time to your advantage can greatly enhance your safety and effectiveness in dealing with potential threats. Consider scenarios other than those presented and evaluate whether time is on the side of the officer or the suspect. Remember that there is a time to proceed with caution and there is a time to respond without delay. Understanding when to slow down and when to go full speed ahead could be the difference between victory and defeat.
Always have a plan B. Never give up!
