Blue Sheepdog

We’ve all dealt with them: EDPs. EDPs, or emotionally disturbed persons, come in all shapes and sizes, and they all have the potential for violence.

Through the years, I have had a variety of police training classes, and a bunch of first hand experience. Probably the best set of tips I’ve gotten came from the Street Survival officer safety seminar I took in 1998. I don’t know if Calibre Press is still teaching the same tips, but here they are.

1. Never underestimate the intelligence of an EDP. Many of them are highly intelligent.

2. Get back-up enroute ASAP. If things go bad, you may have a fight on your hands.

3. Don’t rush. Wait for your back-up, and be prepared to talk for a while to establish rapport. As trainer and law enforcement veteran Bob Willis told us, if you don’t talk, you’ll have to fight.

4. Use simple, straightforward language. Speak slowly. Use soft tones.

5. Try to calm the EDP.

6. Maintain your reactionary gap, and be willing to widen those gaps more than normal.

7. Be ready to use force if it becomes necessary.

8. Do not assume cooperation in previous encounters will mean cooperation in this or future incidents. Apparent cooperation doesn’t mean the danger has passed.

Use your training, and watch out for yourself and your partner.

Stay safe!