When an officer has a citizen encounter they should consider their “tactical position.” We all have been trained to maintain some distance from the citizen/suspect. This is to allow reaction time in the event of an attack. Typically six feet is a good distance or the two-arms-length rule should be employed for an unarmed encounter.
I think we should go beyond this and train our officers to consider other factors.
The environment is a key consideration.
Conducting the encounter in the safest location is overlooked frequently. Unfortunately officers get wrapped up in the moment and forget to move out of harms way.
Ask the citizen/suspect to move away from traffic and even off of sidewalks to other areas. This may prevent the officer and suspect from rolling into the traffic if a struggle ensues.
Weather conditions are also important.
Consideration of wind, rain and light may effect weapon choices. Chemical agent application (pepper spray) is greatly affected by the wind and moving air. The officer should consider placing the suspect in a location quartering down wind. Keeping the wind directly to our back can cause turbulence where we spray ourselves while attempting to subdue the suspect.
The amount of wind also affects the amount of product that is dispensed and how much actually reaches its intended target. Of course attempting to spray someone during a rain storm will typically be a waste of time.
Light management is wise.
During daylight hours on the street, the officer should attempt to keep the sunshine in the citizen’s/suspect’s face. Have you ever found yourself talking to someone while you were blinded by the bright sunshine? Sunglasses help reduce glare, but they can not eliminate shadows. Keep the sun to your back.
Night encounters are another story. Light management will depend on the situation. We do not want to back-light ourselves. This provides a silloute and a easy target. We must become creatures of the night using the shadows and darkness to our advantage.
Other tactical consideration are the surface conditions.
Is our footing on level ground? Will there be loose gravel or rock?
The art of tactical positioning is complex. The officers who perform well will have to think on their feet and adjust to the situation.
Be safe and always think “tactical positioning!”