5 Important Books About Law Enforcement Tactics

“I can’t tell you the number of times I looked down at what was going on on the ground or I was engaged in a fight somewhere and I knew within a couple of minutes how I was going to screw up the enemy. And I knew it because I’d done so much reading. I knew what I was going to do because I’d seen other similar situations in the reading. I knew how they’d been dealt with successfully or unsuccessfully.” – James Mattis, former US Secretary of Defense and retired United States Marine Corps General

You're a professional; you wouldn't be reading this article if you weren't. Part of being a professional is studying your craft. Like any profession, law enforcement has textbooks we can use to learn the lessons of the past and guide our decision-making in the future. Whether you are trying to master critical incident response tactics or are honing your skills as a law enforcement leader, having read a few books will give you key advantages over those less informed.

These texts contain easy to apply principles for catching crooks, leading people and winning engagements of all types. I have used these same books as source material for developing training courses. I recommend them to officers looking to develop their tactical prowess and decision making, and those wanting to prepare for promotion and specialized assignments. For supervisors, I humbly suggest these are a must read.

Apprehending Fleeing Suspects: Suspect Tactics and Perimeter Containment, Jack H. Schonely, Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd , 2005

Field Command, Charles “Sid” Heal, Lantern Books, 2012

Sound Doctrine: A Tactical Primer, Charles “Sid” Heal, Lantern Books, 2000

The Art of War, Sun Tzu, Edition edited by James Clavell, Delta, 1989

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcom Gladwell, Back Bay Books, 2007

What books would you suggest to officers and supervisors trying to master their craft? Let me know in the comments so I can be sure to pick up a copy of what you recommend.

About Me: My name is Scott Savage and in addition to currently serving as a law enforcement officer in California, I founded the Savage Training Group. Most law enforcement officers are frustrated by a lack of high-quality training classes. That's where the Savage Training Group comes in! Our expert instructors teach advanced courses that help officers advance their careers, become experts and save lives. To see what we've prepared for you, go to https://savagetraininggroup.com/