Strategy to defuse conflicts

AS A LIEUTENANT with the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, I responded to approximately 100 calls involving emotionally disturbed persons. Every time I arrived on scene, I reminded myself that patience and time were my friend and the goal was to use as little force as necessary to extricate the disturbed person safely and secure medical attention for them.

Generally speaking, these jobs typically start with a 911 call and a response from patrol officers. Patrol officers are trained to set up a perimeter to contain the disturbed person and call for backup, which generally involves the ESU.

Patrol officers, when possible, will give the disturbed individual as much room as possible without compromising containment. Generally, by this time, an ESU supervisor is at the scene and negotiations begin. The ESU officers in contact with the disturbed person are trained to communicate from an emotional standpoint.

The approach supports the goal of keeping the person talking, leading to a voluntary surrender.

If the subject is uncooperative and/or a danger to themselves or others, as a last resort we have to make a tactical entry. In that case, a stack of eight highly trained officers enters with the lead officer holding a bunker or shield as well as a Taser.

The second officer in the stack has his firearm drawn.

Once the area is secured and the disturbed person is in custody, the medical team is called in.

What is often not appreciated is that, according to several policing studies, officers have less than 2.3 seconds to make the right decision.

I can categorically say that no police officer ever wishes to draw his or her weapon or use lethal force at any time.

Victor Medina served as a police officer for 20 years with the NYPD and retired in 2006. He was in the ESU from 2003 to 2006. He is now president of Delta Strategic Solutions in Nassau County.