HmtPD2
21 November 2000, 16:25
Many of you may have heard this, or have read the study that was done, but for those of you that have not....
There was a study that was done by a Psychologist that delt with officer safety. The Dr interviewed several inmates who had been convicted of attacking police officers, killing police officers. The Dr asked these inmates what factors led the "dirtbag" to believe he would be able to win if he attacked the cop. Basically, we as police officers size up a guy when we contact them. We look at his appaerance. Is he built or in shape, is he a tweeker, is he a parolee or a gangbanger, could I win if this guy rushed me, should I call a back before I contact him. Well, this Dr. found that criminals did the exact same thing to us!
Here is what the study found that criminals use to size up cops.
* Physical appereance;
Is the officer in shape or is he a fat ass.
Uniform clean and pressed, shoes shined. Inmates that cited these things said that it showed an officer took things seriously, ie training, policies procedures, self defense.
* Approach to suspect;
If the officer walked up casually, or did the officer take charge of the scene. The majority of inmates that had killed officers said that the officer was not in control, and allowed them to much freedom to move.
Inmates talked about keeping the gun side away, standing in the "interview stance." Inmates said that they were less likely to take on a newer officer because they were younger, faster, and "had just finished the self defense training."
* Several inmates talked about leather gear and its condition. Some talked about how "worn out" the holster looked. Judging that the officer may have practiced a lot. Some mentioned that if the gun belt was "cluttered" with a bunch of stuff, or did the officer appear to carry things in an organized, "tactically placed" manner. Some even cited that they noticed officers who carried every type of weapon they could carry, or did they carry what would do the job. Some inmates even cited looking for lint on the rear sight of the pistol in the holster. Also mentioned was whether the officer wore a vest or not, indicating an "it can't happen to me" attitude.
* Also mentioned was asking for favors from the officers, ie. "can I have a cigarette", "can you loosen my cuffs." Getting the officer to talk about personal lives, ie. seeing your wedding ring and asking about your wife. This was done in an attempt to change the officers mind set.
Also, when the officer would place the person in a position such as "seated on the curb with legs straight out." The person would slowley change the position to see it the officer noticed.
Several inmates talked about seeing the inside of the officers car and seeing "burger wrappers, and trash." The Dr. said that this was not part of officer appereance, but that it was mentioned enough to bring up in the study. A few mentioned the appereance of the car itself, was it washed or dirty.
Also inmates mentioned that when an officer touched them, such as a hancuff manuever, they judged to see if the officer was "going through the motions", or was he really placing the person in a hold. One thing that the Dr. noticed was that male or female did not seem to present a factor.
This is not all word for word, but I covered the basics, I 'm sure any dept could get the study. If anyone is interested, let me know and I will get you the actual case study, and the Dr.'s name.
Make sure your flashlight is charged, and you have a round in the chamber!
Stay safe
R. Steht
Sgt/ USMC (former)
0331/ 8152/ 8154
Police Officer
There was a study that was done by a Psychologist that delt with officer safety. The Dr interviewed several inmates who had been convicted of attacking police officers, killing police officers. The Dr asked these inmates what factors led the "dirtbag" to believe he would be able to win if he attacked the cop. Basically, we as police officers size up a guy when we contact them. We look at his appaerance. Is he built or in shape, is he a tweeker, is he a parolee or a gangbanger, could I win if this guy rushed me, should I call a back before I contact him. Well, this Dr. found that criminals did the exact same thing to us!
Here is what the study found that criminals use to size up cops.
* Physical appereance;
Is the officer in shape or is he a fat ass.
Uniform clean and pressed, shoes shined. Inmates that cited these things said that it showed an officer took things seriously, ie training, policies procedures, self defense.
* Approach to suspect;
If the officer walked up casually, or did the officer take charge of the scene. The majority of inmates that had killed officers said that the officer was not in control, and allowed them to much freedom to move.
Inmates talked about keeping the gun side away, standing in the "interview stance." Inmates said that they were less likely to take on a newer officer because they were younger, faster, and "had just finished the self defense training."
* Several inmates talked about leather gear and its condition. Some talked about how "worn out" the holster looked. Judging that the officer may have practiced a lot. Some mentioned that if the gun belt was "cluttered" with a bunch of stuff, or did the officer appear to carry things in an organized, "tactically placed" manner. Some even cited that they noticed officers who carried every type of weapon they could carry, or did they carry what would do the job. Some inmates even cited looking for lint on the rear sight of the pistol in the holster. Also mentioned was whether the officer wore a vest or not, indicating an "it can't happen to me" attitude.
* Also mentioned was asking for favors from the officers, ie. "can I have a cigarette", "can you loosen my cuffs." Getting the officer to talk about personal lives, ie. seeing your wedding ring and asking about your wife. This was done in an attempt to change the officers mind set.
Also, when the officer would place the person in a position such as "seated on the curb with legs straight out." The person would slowley change the position to see it the officer noticed.
Several inmates talked about seeing the inside of the officers car and seeing "burger wrappers, and trash." The Dr. said that this was not part of officer appereance, but that it was mentioned enough to bring up in the study. A few mentioned the appereance of the car itself, was it washed or dirty.
Also inmates mentioned that when an officer touched them, such as a hancuff manuever, they judged to see if the officer was "going through the motions", or was he really placing the person in a hold. One thing that the Dr. noticed was that male or female did not seem to present a factor.
This is not all word for word, but I covered the basics, I 'm sure any dept could get the study. If anyone is interested, let me know and I will get you the actual case study, and the Dr.'s name.
Make sure your flashlight is charged, and you have a round in the chamber!
Stay safe
R. Steht
Sgt/ USMC (former)
0331/ 8152/ 8154
Police Officer