“When you have a lot to tell, you have a lot to share.”
Sino Melo
“Tells”
In poker, nearly all players consistently and unconsciously display certain emotions via involuntary facial expressions and other bodily movements.
These often-subtle “tells” are occasionally noted by other players and subsequently interpreted (sometimes correctly, sometimes otherwise) as indicators of the player’s perceived strength of his hand.
Shrewd players are acutely aware of tells and do their best to camouflage their own, while carefully noting those of other players
Of course, it’s all part of “The Game!”
For LEOs, “ The Game” is much more serious, as we are paid to seek-out and confront unstable, sometimes dangerous, people.
There are a number of well-know “pre-attack behaviors” (“tells,” if you will) that are consistently seen prior to a precipitous “Flight-or-Fight Response” on the part of suspects.
At last week’s ILEETA Conference, I learned of several such “tells” of which I was not aware:
>Suspect rubbing the back of his neck
We watched a number of videos where this behavior was clearly on display immediately prior to the suspect physically attacking officers
>Suspect places hands on hips
This is an obvious “power challenge,” where the suspect is trying to take charge of the narrative. Again, extremely dangerous!
>Suspect’s chin drops as his head tilts forward
We also observed this “tell” in a number of videos. Sure enough, the suspect charged officers within a second or two!
When noted, these and other pre-attack behaviors must immediately “register” with officers, as they increase distance and appropriately prepare for violent action on the part of the suspect.
In potentially violent encounters (which is ALL encounters!), officers need to always be a step ahead of suspects, establishing control quickly, so no one gets hurt.
Predicting human behavior is, of course, more art than science. Injurious, indeed deadly, force is oftentimes necessary. And, attempting to “de-escalate” is sometimes not possible/practicable, nor does it always represent the best option.
Naturally, the best outcome of any LEO/suspect confrontation is when it concludes with a successful/appropriate resolution, and no one gets hurt. Scant argument with that!
Yet, when pain/injury/death is unavoidable, it must be suffered by suspects, not officers!
/John
