For as long as I can remember, Ive always had an interest in law enforcement.
In my early 20s, I began to seriously consider becoming a police officer.
My dad, an electrical foreman at the nearby power plant, did his best to dissuade me.
I remember him saying, Why would you want to deal with the scum of the earth every day?
Its a fair question.
Command presence is hard to define but easy to recognize, especially to a criminal.
Its an air of assuredness, competence and professionalism.
Command presence isnt achieved by putting on a uniform, so everyday citizens can develop this attribute.
Masters of Observation
Cops are masters of observation.
Forget all the BS youve heard about looking in someones eyes to gauge intent.
Cops know that hands kill.
Always watch the hands.
Cops are also aware of exits.
The benefits to this are twofold.
In fact, only a small percentage of them involve any degree of force.
Most often, its a cops verbal skills that help resolve or at least mitigate some sort of dispute.
As such, veteran cops are usually verbally persuasive.
Even when faced with an arrest situation, voluntary compliance is the goal.
Oftentimes, a nonchalant or even reassuring tone yields compliance.
Of course, cops know all too well that being Officer Friendly doesnt always work.
While the officer appears outwardly calm, he is anticipating resistance and totally prepared to respond with reasonable force.
Communication skills are equally as important to those not in law enforcement.
Its great if you might defuse a situation verbally without having to respond physically.
He will likely view your hand placement as a sign of submission.
What he doesnt know is that your hands are strategically placed to strike or fend, as appropriate.
Other situations will call for a more assertive verbal response.
or Dont come any closer!
send a clear message that you mean business and you are ready and willing to defend yourself.
When communication fails, cops rely on sound tactics to see them through.
Theres really nothing mysterious about using sound tactics.
This is a good practice not only from a defensive-driving standpoint but also from a self-defense perspective.
The same logic applies to all drivers.
Unfortunately, in many cases, cops arent as highly trained as the general public may assume.
For instance, its not uncommon for an avid recreational shooter to be more proficient than a police officer.
Cops would love to be there in your moment of need, but thats not always possible.
When seconds count, police are minutes away, as they say.
Originally appeared inHandguns Magazine.
