You've got a belt full of non-lethal weapons and a head full of training. When it comes time to take someone into custody, you have more tools and knowledge than officers have had at any time in history.
Why, then, does it sometimes go so wrong?
The fact is, while you show up with your gear and your knowledge, the bad guy drives the boat. He or she is the one who sets the pace of the encounter -- at least at first. In fact, much of the situation you encounter has already unfolded before you were ever called. By the time you arrive, damage is probably done and injuries have occurred. The person you need to deal with is all wound up … and here you come.
Is it any wonder that you have to struggle to get them into custody? Is it any wonder that, sometimes, things go bad in the aftermath of that struggle, and you end up with an in-custody death on your hands?
You will then spend a great deal of time justifying your actions to just about everybody. The department will conduct an investigation, as it should. There may be an outside agency involved, and maybe a prosecuting attorney. These are the official entities that have a legitimate interest in the details.
Then there is the media, and they have to be "fed" also, although that's not your job -- that's for the bosses to take care of. You should probably factor in the inevitable video of your arrest -- taken by a citizen with a cell phone -- that will go viral on Youtube or Google within minutes of the event.
And that's where the real problem comes in. The calm, rational investigation that should occur (and that any suspect in any crime your department investigates is entitled to) will be overwhelmed in many instances by the frenzy that can ensue once that video starts making the rounds.
I thought of all this as I spent the last few weeks absorbing the media and public reaction to the recent in-custody death at the Vancouver Airport. You know all the details of this by now, so I won't replay them again. Suffice it to say that there are an awful lot of people in a frenzy about the incident. The reaction seems to take two general tracks: first, TASERs kill, and never should have been used on the guy and, second, the RCMP officers on the scene were stupid, incompetent and brutal, and beat the guy to death for no reason. Both of these statements are totally unsupported by the facts, and neither represents a clear-thinking, rational analysis of the events as we saw them on the video. However, to most of the mob, that doesn't matter.
Individuals (and often organizations -- nameless here, but their first initials are usually "A") seem to view incidents, like the Vancouver case, the Rodney King case, or any number of others, with their minds already made up. They KNOW what happened, and they KNOW what's wrong, and they KNOW what should be done, and they're looking for validation. And, of course, when they view videos or read news accounts from their preconceived perspectives, they find more support for their preexisting opinions … which they KNOW to be correct, by the way.
Since this is just the way the world is, and we can't do much to change it, why does it matter? It matters, because we are the ones who actually have control of these situations -- at least at the beginning, and to some small degree.
Before you get into a situation, make sure you have armed yourself with the most knowledge you can regarding the events that are about to unfold. By that, I mean you should reach back into your training and make sure you have a solid grasp of your alternatives. If your department doesn't provide you with the training you need, seek it out for yourself. Do your best to get training in psychology, verbal skills, non-verbal communications and all of the other "soft" subjects that can help you manage encounters on the street.
Next, learn as much as you can about the ways in which you can control someone with the weapons and tools at your disposal. Just because you have OC or a TASER does not mean you should use it in any given situation. And, if you need to use it, make sure you understand how to use it correctly. Know the limitations of pain compliance techniques, and realize that basically everything you have at your disposal is a pain compliance device, with the exception of your TASER, and then only when you use a probe deployment. Drive stuns are painful, but they won't incapacitate reliably.
Next -- and this is the toughest part -- remember that everything you do during every moment you're on the street is subject to being videotaped. Always assume you are being recorded and conduct yourself accordingly. While it's not possible in every instance, just remember that anything you do or say could wind up on the network news.
If possible -- and it often is -- slow down and think. Plan your approach. Use your calming voice. Avoid name calling and profanity. Realize that people on the street have a right to be there, and probably have a right to take video or pictures of you and what you're doing. Think of yourself as a PR person, selling yourself and your department to the public.
This in no way means you should allow yourself to be injured, or put yourself in a dangerous position in order to "make it look good." Safety comes first, at all times. But, much of time, safety can be attained without creating a situation that you'll have a hard time explaining later.
The Mounties in Vancouver were dealing with a difficult situation, and did the best they could. Their department and others will investigate the incident, and things will take their course. From the video I've seen, it appears as if they handled the situation pretty well. Of course, that's a police perspective. An uninformed citizen would likely form a different opinion, and many have.
You are faced with a series of decisions every time you head off to handle a situation, or to control a difficult subject. Make those decisions in your own best interest, and in the best interest of your family, your partners and all the rest of us. That's all anyone can expect.
Stay safe, wear your vest, and buckle up!
A retired officer and a police trainer for 20 years, Steve Ashley works as a trainer, author, risk manager and expert witness. Ashley is a certified trainer in many subjects, and has spoken at many state, national and international conferences. A police officer for 15 years and a risk manager for 16 years, Ashley specializes in training officers to manage high-risk activity. You can reach Ashley through his Web site, www.sashley.com, or at [email protected].
