Escalation of Force

     Escalation of force is something that we use on a regular basis whether you realize it or not. Have you ever stopped a fight before it started? Have you scared a robber before he was able to do anything? Or maybe you just held someone back long enough that they were able to calm down and it never led to violence. We use escalation and de-escalation tactics daily without even knowing it. As taught in the military and law enforcement world there is a ladder of force and if used properly you can prevent serious harm from falling to yourself and those around you. Although every branch of the military and most law enforcement have different variations of the ladder, the overall idea behind it is to stop the action of the suspect at the lowest level possible.

     The list that we use here at Jack of All Spades is a seven point ladder of force (see the image above). The first step to any event is Presence, just physically being there. Military, law enforcement and civilian are all capable of performing this step however it is usually easier for uniformed individuals because they present a more authoritative demeanor. A civilian may not have the physical appearance of a soldier or Sheriff however they can still deter criminal actions just by being there. The only active requirement to this step is something an Everyday Jack or Jill should be doing anyways and that's paying attention. Being observant can oftentimes lead you to action before anything could be committed. Report suspicious activity if observed and if necessary move on to the next step.

     Verbal commands are the quickest way to deescalate a situation. Using this step can prevent the criminal act or even delay them long enough for law enforcement to arrive and assist. This step is most often used when two people get into a heated argument. This doesn't need to be a step only used when you see a noon-high shoot out. Your voice is the best step to stopping bad things from happening. The more you practice, the better you get at it. Some people are born with silver-tongues that can get anyone to do what they want and others need to work at it, but the bottom line is that speaking up can often be the best step and is almost always the most effective. Even if this step fails on your first attempt you should still continue to use it throughout the next five steps. 

     Most people think that if it comes to physical contact it has to be in fist form. Soft-Hand Techniques are utilized to prevent injury to yourself and the suspect. These skills could easily be used by pulling a friend away from a larger opponent in a bar or even restraining someone until he calms down. Soft-Hand techniques are used to prevent injury to the suspect and others who might be in the area. Non-lethal holds or strikes fall in this category, but understand that if you perform a strike you must do it in an area that will not do any damage. Non-lethal strikes are more to distance you from the suspect then to do any harm. Remember that if this is a violent situation and the suspect continues to grow more dangerous, that escape is still your best option and you should utilize the soft-hand techniques to achieve that. If these steps fail and you're either unable to calm the suspect down or escape then move on to the next step.
     Hard-Hand Techniques are similar to Soft-Hand Techniques but they are more forceful and require you to move the suspect's arms, legs and neck into positions that restrict movement and incur slight to serious pain. Remember that you're trying to deescalate the event as much as possible and throwing your opponent into a bone-breaking arm-bar is not necessarily going to make him happier. Twisting the suspects arm behind his back like the police do is a great technique and many martial art dojos are more than willing to teach simple techniques for a small fee. Blocks, arm locks, wrist locks and holds all fall within this category and are very effective at slowing down your opponent. (Later I'll make a good video showing the five basic law enforcement moves we utilized in the Navy). If you're unable to distance yourself from the suspect or subdue him then move on to the next step.

Police duty belt. So many options.

     Military and most law enforcement combine Strikes in the same category as hard-hand techniques. The reason we don't combine them at Jack of All Spades is because striking is seen by an opponent as offensive in almost every case. A person being "managed" by soft-hand and hard-hand techniques may not see them necessarily as offensive however a strike can easily escalate the situation. Before I discuss this more I must remind you that if it is not required then don't use this step. There are plenty of other steps that can subdue the suspect before you get to this point and a good strike in the wrong place can kill someone. However, if he's still moving around and you're still in danger after exhausting all the other steps, then by all means step in with a well placed strike. You should also understand the state laws regarding this step because in some states a shod foot is considered a deadly weapon and you can go to prison if not careful. If you see that your strike(s) have been successful then move down to a lesser step.

     With any luck you've contained the situation and a Less-Than Lethal Weapon is not necessary. I won't discuss batons, bats or other weapons here in detail because there are very different rules and laws regarding what is and isn't a deadly weapon. I recommend that each person consult the state laws where they live to make sure that their weapon of choice isn't illegal and understand what repercussions could result from using it within your state. When we refer to less-than lethal weapons we are referring to batons, tasers and other items that won't cause death but are often restricted by local or federal laws. Choosing your weapon can often be a difficult one but we will cover is a later article.

     Personal judgment in the last three steps are crucial and at this point are necessary when it comes to deciding how best to escalate or de-escalate further. Moving on to the next step is a serious one and can land you in a situation you may not want or need to be in. Deadly Force needs to be considered very carefully in all situations. Sometimes you're not given that option and you might even jump straight to this step. I hope that no one ever has to but if you are faced with it I hope you’re ready. In the military they drill into your head that deadly force is, "force that a person uses causing, or that a person knows or should know, would create a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm". Looking back on those days in Naval Security I understand better why they made us recite this regularly. The Navy wanted to make sure that we understood what was involved if we had to draw our weapons. Every person that carries a knife, baton, gun or other weapon should understand the possible outcome if that weapon is implemented. If you're not comfortable with that possibility or you're unsure of how to best utilize that weapon then you should reconsider using it.

     Escalation of Force is a series of steps but it should be known that there is no solid break between the steps and it really is more of a scale. Most importantly is to remember that this ladder is a two-way street and just as easily can you escalate you can deescalate. Your goal should always be to deescalate. There’s no reason you can’t encounter a dangerous or life-threatening situation and find a pleasant way to de-escalate it. Every situation is different and they each require a different set of steps and sequence. Remember to keep your head on a swivel and be prepared because when it counts that preparation will come back to you when you need it most.