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ali-babba40 karma

As a police officer, it is a balancing act. We have to protect others from the victim, the victim from the victim and ourselves from the victim. And sometimes these recommendations work in plenty of space all alone only threatening himself. Believe me, I don't want to hurt anyone and take great strides in preventing force. But I'll give you an example.

We responded to a suicidal person called in by the neighbor. Upon my arrival, twenty plus neighbor were around a screened in front porch. I could see the victim screaming with a knife to his throat to the point of slight bleeding and three young kids inside the enclosure. He was threatening to kill his kids and then himself.

We first removed all the neighbors as fast as possible, then through distractions were able to remove the kids when I forced my way into the back door through the house onto the front porch taking the kids to safety. All the while guns were drawn and this escalated things tremendously. But at that point, his safety was the least of our priorities. The kids were top, even above our own.

At this point overt aggressive actions were needed and at any point if he would have lunged towards the kids things would have gone south FAST. We were prepared for the worst but had to balance the risk to others to his own.

So now to my question. In situations like this, where real danger, real lives are actually at risk what do you recommend police do? For example, walk slow deliberately or in regards to contact and cover teams. Specifically when actions are required to avoid escalation.

ali-babba6 karma

thank you for your reply. Very insightful.