Lesson #GP20B: Patrol Officer’s Safe Handling of Incidents

Common sense and good judgement rather than impulsive response is critical to the success and safe outcome of any officer action, whether on or off-duty. Officers must always consider the safety risks involved with intervention to themselves and to others in all situations.

To ensure the highest chance of survival and the safest possible outcome for all involved individuals, officers must recognise the particular dangers associated with various situations, both while on and off duty, and understand and employ appropriate response for dealing with each incident.

The goal of this lesson is to introduce students to the dangers involved with dealing with day to day incidents involving disturbances among citizens and the relationship to the safety of the patrol officer.

At the conclusion of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. List at least five (5) possible hazards that an officer may encounter from persons at a call for service as explained in the lesson.
2. Explain the strategy for dealing with incidents as taught in the lesson.
3. List at least five (5) examples of planning that an officer should consider when making a basic plan of action before the arrival at a potentially dangerous scene as stated in the lesson.
4. Be able to define the term ‘observation’ according to the lesson.
5. List at least four (4) factors that may affect an officer’s observation based on the lesson.
6. List at least five (5) techniques used to improve perceptions and observations as stated in the lesson.
7. Explain proper stance techniques used by an officer for his safety according to the lesson.
8. Explain how two officers should position themselves when questioning a suspect as taught in class.