NCJ Number
192496
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 25 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2001 Pages: 54,56-57,58
Date Published
November 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article presents the scenario of an actual police operation searching for members of a gang.
Abstract
Four police officers wearing typical gang raid gear were driving in a residential neighborhood, looking to serve an arrest warrant. The officers were going to deal with a gang member whom they knew from previous activities. All prior meetings with this gang member had been non-aggressive, no weapons had ever been found on him, and he had been docile and cooperative. However, the article cautions police officers not to become complacent because subjects were cooperative and non-threatening before. The police should always be prepared for the unexpected. Team members reviewed the operation and agreed that their retreat to cover and concealment had been a prudent move. One of the team members felt that if he had made an aggressive move, like charging or arming himself, the gang member would have fired. The retreating action actually de-escalated the situation. The article concludes with a reminder to police officers to be flexible with field strategies.