Not long ago in Florida, a Sergeant stopped a vehicle for a minor traffic infraction. He met the driver outside of the pickup truck and had a conversation with the driver. After a short time he obtained the drivers license and went back to his squad to run the subject on his computer. He told the driver to wait at the rear of the pickup while he ran his license.
As the Sergeant entered in the data, he was by the very nature of the task unable to keep his eyes on the driver for short periods of time. As he looked up during one of these periods, he noticed that the driver was no longer at the rear of his pickup. It took a few seconds for him to realize that the driver had gotten back inside his pickup truck and had grabbed a shotgun and was now kneeling backwards on the front seat pointing the shotgun at the squad outside of the driver’s window.
It all hit home as the first blast of buckshot impacted into the squad window and as he bent over to call in the attack, a second blast hit the already shattered window driving several pellets into his head. The pickup truck then drove off with the squad in pursuit. After a short chase in which the suspect eluded the officers, the Sergeant drove himself to get medical attention.
The suspect was later apprehended – without further incident – by other deputies. During the initial interview with the suspect, it was interesting to note that he described the Sergeant as very polite and in fact was so disarming that he readily gave up his license. It was only after he had time to think about it that he decided he should not have given up his license and needed to get it back that he decided to kill the Sergeant and take back his license.
While there are many issues to look at here, such as the use of computers when you’re by yourself and taking your eyes off of a suspect, I want to address the use of – or in most cases the misuse of – the so-called “cover officer.” The officer in the above scenario chose to not call for backup as we do in most cases. However, had he chosen to call and wait for backup there might have been a different outcome.
This scenario is not all that uncommon even in the presence of cover officers. I’ve been on calls when something goes down and I was expecting to have the other officer react only to find out that they did not see or hear anything or were out of position to handle it. Let’s explore some of the functions of cover officers to try and determine why these types of break downs occur.
There is so much more research now (by organizations such as the Force Science Research Center and others) than there was just few years ago. While a lot of this research has helped to explain a number of behavioral issues related to use of force, I want to take a look at the tactics and attitude many times employed by the cover officer in these situations.
The vast majority of backup (or cover) officer situations occur during traffic stops, so let’s concentrate first on this type situation. Usually the backup will respond to the location and position themselves to the rear of the first unit. Many times the backup will not even get out of their car but uses this opportunity to get some paperwork done or stay in the air conditioning or whatever. While in this position, the ability to intervene and protect the other officer is almost nonexistent. Our mindset is that the suspect knows there are two of us so we have the numerical advantage. History is fraught with examples in which force with superior numbers is lost due to poor positioning of those numbers and the inability to react to a quickly changing battle.
One’s tactical senses are dulled while sitting in the car. The sounds of anger or a high pitched voice that may reveal a situation about to escalate can go unheard; subtle changes in body language will be missed as your attention is focused on something other than the suspect. The idea that your presence is a deterrent is no deterrent at all unless you are properly positioned to instantly react to an attack and your head is screwed on for that purpose and that purpose only.
Remember this; if you want to be a deterrent, you have to raise the risk level for your adversary. In other words they have to know that should they attempt to resist, there will be consequences and they will LOSE. Most people are risk aversive so our numbers, positioning, appearance, and other factors have to send a clear message that should resistance occur it, will be dealt with swiftly.
What about situations where two or more officers are confronting suspects on foot? What are the typical positions and attitudes of the officers? Studies have shown that the majority of officers assaulted and injured were assaulted in the presence of other officers. What transpires between the officer and his or her backup? Who is doing what and when? Better yet, who’s not doing what? There are several contributing factors which might help to explain these assaults.
First, a lot has to do with simple human nature – humans feel safer in tense situations when we’re with someone else. The adage “there is safety in numbers” could account for this. Think back to when you were very young and wanted to play in a strange or dark place. You’d go in…but not alone. No, you’d only go in with another person – your backup.
You were brave and reckless, and your backup was a boost to your courage. Now that you had backup, there wasn’t anything you couldn’t do (never mind that the backup of your youth was scared to death and probably had his eyes closed!). The mere presence of a backup puts us into a state of mind that all is well, and that there is nothing to worry about.
The other side of that coin is that many times, having backup gives us a false sense of security. Think back to the times when you were alone, were you diplomatic? Were you alert? Were you polite? I’ll bet you did most anything to avoid a conflict until…the Calvary arrived! Whoa, then things change – then we’ll take care of business and into the fray we wade.
Another aspect of human nature is the expectation or belief that our backup is doing the things they are supposed to be doing. We automatically impart our responsibility on them and them on us. Another old adage seems to be the reasoning here: “two heads are better than one.” We mistakenly assume that the other officer is watching or listening for things we would, when in reality, there is at least some measure of probability that he/she isn’t even in your time zone. What compounds the issue is that your backup is making the same assumptions about you! You cannot nor should you assume ever, that the other officer is doing your job. Yes, your job.
Being a cover officer – being a backup – is like entering a marriage; it takes 100 percent participation by both parties. It’s not a 50/50 affair. If you approach it from a 50/50 perspective, you’re still 100 percent short somewhere. If you want to make an assumption about your backup, assume they are not watching or hearing what you are.
Another area of concern is the actual training to be good cover officers. Usually officers are told to call for backup but there is really no training in this position. We just assume that everyone knows how to be a cover officer or that the tactics particular to the position are automatically understood. This is not the case and is a dangerous assumption.
When I was at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute, we recognized this issue as we watched the many scenarios the students conducted. We began to see an issue with the backup officers and in fact many of the problems that occurred were directly related to their positions and a lack of understanding of their respective roles. To this end we developed a block of instruction entitled “Suspect Management,” a set of planning interrogatives for handling suspects. Have you ever noticed that everything seems to go well until we have to deal with the human animal in enforcement situations?
The main purpose of the cover officer is to first and foremost protect him- or herself – and by so doing will also protect the requesting officer. The idea that you’re simply another body has to be discouraged. By your positioning, you must place the suspect at a disadvantage. Proper response and positioning by the cover officer can make a difference in the way a situation develops, how the suspect decides to act and enhance the safety of the officers present.
The cover officer needs to arrive so as to maximize observation and cover. Positioning side-by-side or one behind the other makes it easy for the suspect to watch both officers. Sitting in your car and doing nothing is even worse (and don’t think the suspect won’t pick up on it). A cover officer that is constantly watching, shifting positions gives the suspect something to worry about, it raises the risk levels.
Approaching from a different direction (especially if it’s concealed) is a sound tactic. Getting out of the car so you can see and hear better will enhance your awareness of what is happening or about to happen. Once you arrive, do not set up in a static position. If you were seen arriving, quickly change your position to keep the suspect off guard. You always want him looking for you.
What about the position of a cover officer when he attempts to cover a suspect that is being searched by another officer? Just being in the area is not enough in an arrest situation. You must be close enough to lend immediate support and control to the searching officer. How many times have you seen an officer searching a suspect and the cover officer standing off to the side or behind with their weapon out? What in the world do you think he is going to do if a fight breaks out? Shoot? Not likely.
He will have to holster and hopefully secure his weapon and then move in to help subdue the suspect. Since the odds are in favor of physical resistance and not deadly force, then it would make sense to move in very close as the search is taking place and deploy your baton in plain view so that the suspect realizes that if they resist, they are going to pay a price. The idea is to give the suspect some alternatives that will make him think.
He knows that you cannot shoot from behind your partner and should a fight ensue that you will most likely not shoot. If the suspect knows that the cover officer is in a strong defensive position with an impact weapon at the ready, he must consider some unpleasant options should he decide to resist.
Another tactical consideration is that of communications between the officers. Each should try to inform the other when they see or hear things. There are no secrets. Try to communicate without taking your eyes off of the suspect. An officer who yells that he just found a gun seems to somehow stimulate others to maximum attention. Also, don’t let the communications lull you into a false sense of security. How many times have you seen an officer announce that they have found weapons or contraband in a vehicle and within seconds all you see are officers’ rear ends sticking out of doors, searching inside the vehicle while a suspect (or suspects) stands unguarded.
Being a cover officer has some awesome responsibilities. Many departments actually assign officers to that role while on patrol. While working as a backup or cover officer, you must operate under the same premise that you would if you were working alone. Keep in mind that your primary function is to protect yourself while protecting the other officer. That means you can not be conducting your own interviews, searching cars or writing reports in your squad. You must be tactical in your approach and attitude. Good cover and concealment is a must. As are sound movement principles. Don’t loose sight of the fact that being a cover officer is more than just being there, more than just having another body present. A good tactician always remembers that it is you who are responsible for what happens to you and that the person covering you may not be.
Take the role seriously, stay focused and don’t forget to first cover yourself!
