From proactive, to reactive, to inactive?

From proactive, to reactive, to inactive?
By: Kirk Lawless 

Lots of folks use the term “It’s like the wild west, out here” referring to violent crime in America. Foreigners say it way too much. If they only knew how bad things really were here in the United States, the “Wild West” would look like a church picnic in comparison.

Here in “Murder City” St. Louis (we swap 1st place with New Orleans; Chicago may shoot more folks, but here we are keener on sight alignment and that is why our homicide record is so high).

Our streets have been terrifying for years, and since Officer Darren Wilson back in 2014, things have spiraled out of control, to the point the criminals have been empowered to (for the most part) do their dirt without interference from the police. Meanwhile, most administrators hide in the police stations crying like rats eatin’ red onions.

The normal flow of new recruits coming on the job as the older road dogs go out the door upon retiring has been interrupted. The structured chain of command has also been interrupted, regardless of political favors does it make sense to have a two-year sergeant in charge of a platoon of coppers with 10, 15, or 20 years of experience? Similarly, does it make sense to have a two-year copper serving as a Field Training Officer? Seriously, that is one of the most important positions in a police department, and it comes with a lot of weight. But still, they pass on the talents of veteran officers to train the new cops and make the determination that they are ready to leave the nest and fly on their own. Crazy!

Policing has gone from proactive, to reactive and sadly, to inactive. My personal opinion is that skill training in police academies and FTOs with talent commensurate with years on the job being underutilized is a huge problem.

You have a shortage of folks who want to be the police, and when you find the ones that want the job and they’ll fit in a bag (uniform) that’s another cop on the street, regardless if they’re ready or not. The “dumbing down” of the pool of prospects certainly isn’t making matters better. Being able to read and write with some degree of intelligence used to be a prerequisite to becoming a cop. Some departments have taken to allowing candidates with felony records become cops (they certainly know the inside workings of the justice system).

When I am allowed access to academy recruits, I can tell with a degree of certainty which recruits will be good cops, mediocre cops and ones who are choosing the wrong profession.

I’ve learned that many have never been involved in as much as a fist fight or any type of physical confrontation. While that is certainly not a requirement, it neither hurts nor precludes someone from being “the cops.” The violence, use of force and self defense will be coming soon enough and the gaping maws of the criminal element if nothing else, is patient and lies in wait for fresh meat (you).

Some of the recruits are former service members who have been “in the shit, ” others are practitioners of various disciplines of martial arts such as jiu-jitsu (sometimes referred to as “murder yoga” or “the simple art of folding someone’s clothes while they are still wearing them.”) You would be well advised to seek out some additional training to add to your defensive tactics foundation.

We all refer to defensive this and defensive that, but given the current anti-police climate, trust me that you will be called on to perform offensive duties. You will be challenged. If you get bested by a bad guy, it empowers them to strap on the next cop, and the one after that until some grizzled veteran cop sends the mutt to the emergency room for stitches and/or broken bones and assorted boo boos. That is how reputations are cultivated. Although not a panacea to help you win street fights, it certainly doesn’t hurt to work in a jurisdiction where word on the streets is that, “The cops there don’t fucking play.”

You can bluff your way out of some confrontations, but always make good on your word. Maybe the bad guy is bigger and you think you’re going to get a beat down.

“Verbal Judo” can also include what I call “tactical swearing.” You don’t have to cuss out everyone you encounter, but on the occasion you cross paths with a former guest of the penitentiary, you might have to dial up the “Cuss O meter” (I just made that up) to a level they might understand. If you start with the “Sir, I don’t want to hurt you” or “Please don’t make me taze you,” you are already starting at a deficit and might considering sending this person the aforementioned invitation to beat your ass! You’ve empowered them and their aggression level will probably start to manifest itself.

A simple scenario, you’re the cops and you need to lock a guy up for trashing a bar and beating up the bouncers, backup is a few minutes away. The guy is already bloody and has an adrenaline boost. You can see tattoos on his face and hands and arms of the “I’ve been in prison for a hot minute.” Do you think he’s going to obey your verbal command to submit to arrest if you start with the empathy and sir this, and sir that? Please don’t make me hit you with my baton, taze you, hurt your feelings, or put my hand on my gun in an attempt to intimidate you? Probably not going to happen, tiger. Along the lines of,

“You’re under arrest. Get on the ground. Do it now.”

“F**k you!” (non compliant)

“No, f**k you. Get on the ground or you’re going to meet my nightstick.”

Now, you’re in a quandary. If he doesn’t comply and you don’t put the stick to him, you should go ahead and address that envelope and put a stamp on it, as you have invited him to “visit” violence on you. If he doesn’t comply and you feel he is worthy of receiving a taste of your nightstick, swing away (don’t hit him in the head). If you let him get away with it with you, remember the next cop that he crosses paths with? You can work on your own street creds and those of your department at the same time by not playing. My golden rule was/is, “I’m only going to tell you once” if non-compliant, magical things happen. You will take some hits in the process, but it’s really not personal, it’s the business of the streets.

So there are many factors to consider, unless of course, there is gunplay. Tell them one time “Drop it” or “Drop it or I will shoot you.” If they do not drop it (you can be the timekeeper here) fast enough, you better shoot them before they start trying to make your torso look like a giant block of Swiss cheese.

You may never have to shoot at someone (you missed) or shoot someone (but you might) but the statistics are low that you will, somewhere in the area of .001 (.00087 really)%.

Always remember your training, hone your skills, write damned good police reports and use your pen for notes, not invitations to kick your ass! Of course follow the laws in your state and make sure everything you do is legal.

Kirk Lawless is a 28 year, decorated, veteran police officer from the St Louis area. He’s a former SWAT operator, narcotics agent, homicide investigator, detective and Medal of Valor recipient. Off the job due to an up close and personal gunfight, he now concentrates on writing. He’s a patriotic warrior, artist, poet, actor, musician, and man of peace.