Cops are mission driven. When they engage they are in it to win it. They hate an order to stand down. Our heroes hold the line, damn the torpedoes, and say “nuts” to surrender.
Retreat is not an option.
Or is it?
Completing any mission — whether it be a field contact of a suspect, a hostage situation, or a lengthy investigation — means not only winning but also depriving your target of a victory. One strategic move is to disengage.
Thinking about a retreat brings to mind the famous attack rabbit scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where the knights scatter at the frantic command "Run away! Run away!" Running away and tactical disengagement and redeployment are polar opposites because one is a result of poor planning and the other is a winning strategy.
The law enforcement ethos of embracing the battle will always remain preeminent and the courage to walk into chaos will always be a necessary character of a police officer. Disengaging for a tactical objective is not contrary to that character. Making sure you have an avenue of retreat is no less important than scanning for opportunities of cover and concealment.
We also need to recognize strategic retreat as an element of an adversary's strategy as well. Being lured into a foot pursuit, or engaging a suspect who is pretending to comply is part of our need to understand the concept. Even a snake must recoil before striking again!
Turning our minds to tactical disengagement and redeployment requires a plan. If we have the opportunity to think (and often we only have time to react) consider the advantages of tactical disengagement:
1. It creates time to observe, gather assets, and plan for redeployment.
2. It may get your adversary to let their guard down, making your redeployment more effective
3. It may prevent unacceptable loss or injury
4. It allows redeployment to a more favorable time, place, or emotional state
5. It can thwart an effort by a numerically superior adversary intent on surrounding or flanking you
6. It can avoid an unnecessary battle that can be won by diplomacy.
The reality of many of our engagements is that we often think of our warrior spirit only as the tip of a bayonet. Battles are won by strength and strategy. Tactical disengagement and redeployment is a strategic tool that should be in our tool kit.
Very good point. Too often, officers do not take advantage of this for fear of being labeled as a coward.
ReplyDeletetrue
Deletereteat
Deletevery true
DeleteYes, I see this as a tool, one of many, that the officer at some point will need if he plans to be around awhile.
DeleteGreat article. It's always better to have a plan and all available resources before addressing issues.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGood Article.
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DeleteWhen your life is at stake, it makes sense to run to live another day than to die with pride.
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DeleteSome time running can let you assist better the situation,and always make sure you have backup on the way.
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ReplyDeleteI have been assigned to patrol my entire career and have encountered many similar incidents. There is nothing wrong with retreat. Many times officers are dispatched into situations only to find a totally different situation. This article is excellent and defines law enforcement's mission.
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ReplyDeleteUnknown December 19, 2018 at 17:45pm
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ReplyDeleteR. Strozier APSPD
resourceful information
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ReplyDelete...we will get them another day.
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ReplyDeletei never retreat push on fight through it victory is just moments away, i can see the sun shinning bright
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ReplyDeleteIsn't the Florida officer facing criminal charges for not bum rushing into a school of chaos? He stood at the perimeter and waited for backup, only to be later ridiculed by media and now charged with a crime.
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