{"id":142358,"date":"2025-07-26T04:49:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T11:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.bluetogold.com\/?p=142358"},"modified":"2026-09-17T06:16:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T13:16:22","slug":"the-critical-role-of-psychological-preparedness-in-policing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/portal.bluetogold.com\/?p=142358","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Psychological Preparedness and the Danger of Deficit of Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey guys,<\/p>\n

I wanted to take a minute to share a video with you from an incident that is analyzed in our new
\nLaw Enforcement Liability course (https:\/\/portal.bluetogold.com\/course-description\/law-
\nenforcement-liability\/).<\/p>\n

What happened on the Chicago traffic stop?<\/h2>\n

A subject was stopped by a Chicago Police Department tactical traffic enforcement unit for a
\nseatbelt violation.<\/p>\n

The subject ignored repeated commands from officers to roll down his window<\/a> and exit his
\nvehicle.<\/p>\n

The subject then opened fire on the officers with a handgun, striking one in the wrist.<\/p>\n

How do courts judge police use of force?<\/h2>\n

Every use of force \u201cmust be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene,
\nrather than with the 20\/20 vision of hindsight.\u201d Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 396 (1989).<\/p>\n

The use of force \u201ccalculus must embody an allowance for the fact that police officers are often
\nforced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force necessary in a particular
\nsituation.\u201d Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 387 (1989).<\/p>\n

Unlike the court and those reviewing police use of force at leisure, police officers lack the
\n\u201cluxury of pausing, rewinding, and playing the videos [of the incident] over and over.\u201d Horton v.
\nPobjecky, 883 F.3d 941, 950 (7th Cir. 2018).<\/p>\n

It is true that \u201c[w]e must never allow the theoretical, sanitized world of our imagination to
\nreplace the dangerous and complex world that policemen face every day. What constitutes
\n\u2018reasonable\u2019 action may seem quite different to someone facing a possible assailant than to
\nsomeone analyzing the question at leisure.\u201d Smith v. Freland, 954 F.2d 343, 347 (6th Cir. 1992).<\/p>\n

Why does body camera footage cut both ways?<\/h2>\n

Violence is always ugly, and the ubiquitousness of body cameras among law enforcement
\nofficers now offers a graphic view of the harsh realities in which police officers exist each and
\nevery day. Ignorance regarding the impact of stress on human performance and ignorance of the
\nlegal standards regarding police use of force<\/a>, combined with the often-visceral response of those
\nwho are unaccustomed to conflict or are pursuing a political agenda, or both, has cost many
\neffective law enforcement officers their careers.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, body camera footage may constitute the greatest advancement in the history of
\npolice training. If we do not review and learn from these incidents, we do those involved a grave
\ndisservice, the sacrifices made are undermined, and we needlessly increase risk to those officers
\nwho will find themselves in a similar situation in the future.<\/p>\n

What are psychological preparedness and deficit of initiative?<\/h2>\n

This incident affords a powerful example of the importance of psychological preparedness and
\nthe danger of deficit of initiative.<\/p>\n

Based on their response and ensuing actions, which of these officers were psychologically
\nprepared; which officers anticipated the threat that suddenly presented itself and reacted
\neffectively? Which instead displayed a deficit of initiative? Psychological preparedness \u2013 the
\nwill to act effectively to neutralize a threat and protect your life and the lives of those around you
\n\u2013 is the single most important factor for an officer to survive an attack.<\/p>\n

Briefing Training Video:<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/onQz5Fdpyes<\/a><\/p>\n

It is my hope that this video will engender valuable discussion and dialogue in your squad
\nbriefings.<\/p>\n

If you are interested in more life- and career-saving training, please consider attending our police
\nuse of force course, Response to Resistance: The Legal Realities of Use of Force in Modern
\nPolicing (https:\/\/portal.bluetogold.com\/course-description\/response-to-resistance\/), available only to
\nsworn law enforcement officers.<\/p>\n

Until next time, be safe out there \u2013 and make good case law!<\/p>\n

Related from Blue to Gold<\/h2>\n