I know that you can't cover everything in one column. However, leaving out direct engagement gives the sense that this is not an option. Sometimes we will have to approach and engage. The response we get from a friendly, "How're you doing?" can give us a lot of information on the person's state of mind and intentions.
Totally. And knowing things like wrestling, bjj, judo, you’d have ways of taking them to the ground if they attempted aggression. Simply asking them to leave might be an option if conversation doesn’t work. A stare directed at a child may be predatory particularly when the individual continues staring even when adults stare back and then the individual approaches the child repeatedly. This happened when i visited a church with my daughter. I got her out of there, the man had physical and mental disabilities but my wife correctly advised to report it to the pastor. He informed staff. Not sure if they spoke with the individual. Hopefully. I would have someone escorting him if possible and sternly redirecting if he did anything inappropriate.
I saw someone behave like that in a playground and when police came it turned out they had a restraining order from prior incidents. He was arrested. When parents tried to engage him prior he ignored them. From polite yet assertive direct question to screaming, he kept staring it was like watching a predatory animal. One of the reasons i got i to bjj—as i had no options. (Though concern about a possible knife is legit even if you have skill.)
Excellent article Keith, I am also a retired LEO. I don't want to be critical but I didn't see anything about keeping distance when or if you would have to confront this individual.
Please, please any of you Church security staff who may see this keep some distance. This will give you just that millisecond to react to any aggression. In other words, "getting off the X".
Yes, sir. The training mantra is: “Distance is your Insurance.”
Too complicated to go into when to close-the-distance versus getting-more-distance. But “Getting Off the X” messes with their OODA Loop and gives us another millisecond advantage…it all adds up.
Wish I would have been a reader 2 years ago when a man claiming to be a "Saint" entered out parish and confronted my wife in an aggressive manner for not having more outreach.
I stepped in of course and the situation escalated - safely (but loudly) got him out while others around retreated - that said, in hindsight, I should have deescalated. Haunts me - the situation with a mentally unstable person in a church setting with parishioners can go south quick. Learned the hard way, when loved ones are involved, emotions are tough to control. ABC in SoCal.
PS - He had 2 warrants out on ghost guns and a restraining order we later learned. Got a RO on him as well.
Agreed. But the OODA loop should and does include movement once it is recognized to do so. Which is usually from the get go to to few seconds later. It's a VERY dynamic situation and goes from 0 too 100 in a millisecond.
Check your State laws. In Texas, a throat-strike is considered a lethal blow. If the person is unarmed, you’re gonna need a really good lawyer. Just something to research.
I know that you can't cover everything in one column. However, leaving out direct engagement gives the sense that this is not an option. Sometimes we will have to approach and engage. The response we get from a friendly, "How're you doing?" can give us a lot of information on the person's state of mind and intentions.
Totally. And knowing things like wrestling, bjj, judo, you’d have ways of taking them to the ground if they attempted aggression. Simply asking them to leave might be an option if conversation doesn’t work. A stare directed at a child may be predatory particularly when the individual continues staring even when adults stare back and then the individual approaches the child repeatedly. This happened when i visited a church with my daughter. I got her out of there, the man had physical and mental disabilities but my wife correctly advised to report it to the pastor. He informed staff. Not sure if they spoke with the individual. Hopefully. I would have someone escorting him if possible and sternly redirecting if he did anything inappropriate.
I saw someone behave like that in a playground and when police came it turned out they had a restraining order from prior incidents. He was arrested. When parents tried to engage him prior he ignored them. From polite yet assertive direct question to screaming, he kept staring it was like watching a predatory animal. One of the reasons i got i to bjj—as i had no options. (Though concern about a possible knife is legit even if you have skill.)
I took martial arts for many years.
Twenty years in Karate, and eleven years in Kung Fu. When the class was learning knife defense, I found a class on knife fighting.
Excellent article Keith, I am also a retired LEO. I don't want to be critical but I didn't see anything about keeping distance when or if you would have to confront this individual.
Please, please any of you Church security staff who may see this keep some distance. This will give you just that millisecond to react to any aggression. In other words, "getting off the X".
Yes, sir. The training mantra is: “Distance is your Insurance.”
Too complicated to go into when to close-the-distance versus getting-more-distance. But “Getting Off the X” messes with their OODA Loop and gives us another millisecond advantage…it all adds up.
Thank you, Keith! Great info, and as always, greatly appreciate what you do. God Bless you and your ministry.
Again - Excellent.
Wish I would have been a reader 2 years ago when a man claiming to be a "Saint" entered out parish and confronted my wife in an aggressive manner for not having more outreach.
I stepped in of course and the situation escalated - safely (but loudly) got him out while others around retreated - that said, in hindsight, I should have deescalated. Haunts me - the situation with a mentally unstable person in a church setting with parishioners can go south quick. Learned the hard way, when loved ones are involved, emotions are tough to control. ABC in SoCal.
PS - He had 2 warrants out on ghost guns and a restraining order we later learned. Got a RO on him as well.
Agreed. But the OODA loop should and does include movement once it is recognized to do so. Which is usually from the get go to to few seconds later. It's a VERY dynamic situation and goes from 0 too 100 in a millisecond.
Thank you the information you provide go's a long way in teaching me how to better protect my church family
Great information!!!
... Punch em in the throat.
Check your State laws. In Texas, a throat-strike is considered a lethal blow. If the person is unarmed, you’re gonna need a really good lawyer. Just something to research.
A quick glance at the persons forehead then a curt nod should be enough to tell them that they are noticed
Thanks for posting. very valuable.
Thanks for posting, Keith! Much appreciated!
Thank you for all your valuable information