This brochure presents law enforcement officers with information to better prepare them for the challenges they face in defusing difficult encounters. Law enforcement officers across the nation make tens of thousands of public contacts every single day, including those resulting from casual encounters, responses to calls for service, traffic enforcement, and arrests. The majority of these contacts are routine and uneventful, with most members of the public recognizing and complying with lawful instructions. Sometimes, officers become involved in interactions in which achieving compliance is more difficult, as the result of either willful resistance or a person’s inability to comply. In either scenario, the first priority of involved officers is their own safety and the safety of those around them...Well-trained, disciplined officers who are both technically and tactically proficient with defusing techniques can reduce potential physical injury to themselves and the subjects they encounter, mitigate agency liability, and encourage trust within the communities they serve. The ultimate goal in learning to defuse difficult encounters is to provide a safe outcome for all involved.
