Critical Incident Response: Is Time on Our Side?
Scott Savage
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According to a 1964 hit song by the Rolling Stones, “Time is on my side, yes, it is.” How true is that statement for law enforcement officers? Is time always on our side? We have all heard the assertion that it is repeated over and over but is it really? In this article we’ll briefly explore the concept of time and how it relates to decision making both during critical incidents and during routine calls for service. My hope is that you’ll walk away with more than just a ‘Stones hit in your head. I’d also like you to walk away with a different way of considering time.
Time cannot always be on our side because of the simple fact that time is neutral. Whether it is “on our side” or not depends on a specific set of circumstances. As law enforcement professionals we constantly have to choose what to do next. One of the paramount decisions we make is choosing between action and inaction, and if we are going to act when to do it. One way of determining time’s constraint on that decision is to ask ourselves, “Is there a need to act immediately?” An easy to digest example of this would be an active shooter incident where we must act immediately to neutralize the threat. In a case where we have decided there is not a pressing need to act immediately, ask yourself the equally important follow-up question of, “Will my delay in taking action increase the risk of a negative consequence?”
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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/
Founder | President | YPO member | CEO at nextGen Campus Safety, CEO at Strand Resorts
4 年Ultimately the suspect dictates whether or not time is on your side. Every situation presents a different set of facts that have to be considered. Time is on your side until it isn't, which is based on the suspects actions. Every officer needs to be prepared and have a plan in place to take immediate action should the circumstances change based on the suspects actions. A blanket statement that time is on our side is no longer a primary step to take. It takes time to get all the resources you need to handle the situation. Most SWAT teams are not full time position and it takes time to get SWAT members and negotiators called out. Some agencies who have SWAT as a collateral duty, tend to assign a couple of SWAT trained officers to each shift so they can responded immediately to help assess the situation quickly. These SWAT officers often have advanced weapons with them. The old model of "time is on our side" is not always practical in many situations. This is the reason, patrol officers must have on going training on rapid response to mobilize in a safe manner. Even with the best intentions, often officers self dispatch without notifying the IC which causes all sorts of problems as we know. Train Train Train!
International Negotiation Coach for Business Owners and Executive Teams
4 年Not a hostage/kidnapping/crisis negotiator but as a business negotiator, time is on our side only ... When we negotiate for it. When we stall. When we slow things down. When we de-escalate. When we show our counterpart “wait, there’s something here you need to think about/consider”. Time is neutral. It’s how we use that time. For a crisis negotiator. I would venture to say time is almost always NOT on your side. If it were, you would not have to rush to a scene. You would not feel pressured to engage with the perpetrators. You could stop by the ice cream parlor, sit down and have a couple of ice cream cones. Then stroll to the scene where the conflict it. I could be be wrong and that is in fact how Dan Oblinger does it. He talks about ice cream. ??
Hostage Negotiator + Counter-Human Trafficking Team Lead + Keynote Speaker + Author + Negotiation Coach
4 年It is until it isn't. We have to process information and verify it quickly to recognize if this is a situation where we are losing a tactical advantage (position, containment, or violence is actively occuring). Prime example that is completely overused... Columbine. Time wasn't on our side. Usually, it is. We have to guard against BOTH tactical paralysis AND the deadly "action imperative".