What would you say? Language you would use?

[toddlinder]

I was wondering about what language would be appropriate in confonting bad guys in a couple of scenarios. When I posed this question to my CHL instructor he said "I could not use that kind of language here in mixed company" Yes, well, I suppose we all could do some yelling and cursing given the right circumstances. However what I am looking for is: what is the best professional language to use in confrontation. My main objectives are to communicate clearly with the bad guy and to have a clear and professional presentation to the witnesses or any other bystanders. Lets also make the assumption that what we might say here is done with as loud and authoritative voice as you've got.

Scenario #1. The group of bad guys is coming at you in the mall parking lot when you are going to your car. The situation does not look good so you change directions a couple of times to see if they are still heading your direction. They change direction also. At this point I have used up so much time that if I turn to go back into the mall they could be right behind in a few seconds if they started running. So, I need to say something that will ask them to stop moving toward me, or back up, etc. The threat is not great enough right now to produce a wepon, but it is too great to not say anything. (What do we say: "I need you gentlemen to stop immediately" ???)

Scenario #2. You have found the bad guy in your garage with a bunch of your stuff in his hands (or you find him just outside your home right after he has broken a window to enter into your house). Anyway I am trying to create a scenario where you would certainly draw your wepon, and would not shoot, but you would want to say something to him (LEOs would say "this is the Sherrifs Dept. do not move" or something like that) - what would you say - "I need you to get on the ground and put your hands behind your head"???)

Other situations may be more clear cut - you have enough time to exit the situation without having to say anything, or its so bad that you draw your weapon and fire immediately. I am interested in those times when you need to communicate clearly.

Looking forward to good suggestions - just like everything else I would like to have some good phrases in my head so I am not trying to think up something on the spot, nor say something that would sound dumb (or unprofessional) to the other people that may be around or may hear.

[seamusTX]

Stop! Drop it! Down! Now!

Short words. Simple sentences.

Most of the criminals in circulation now are literally brain damaged.

Even if they have PhDs from Oxford, they will understand this language.

The Charles Bronson cleverness is best left to the movies, IMHO.

I could be wrong. I'll let you know when I find out.

- Jim

[SCone]

#1 - STOP WHERE YOU ARE, I WILL PROTECT MYSELF
#2 - STOP WHERE YOU ARE, I HAVE A GUN

Both yelling as loud as I can. In #1, I would be ready to draw my gun if the threat became real. In my garage, the gun would be drawn, the threat is already evident.

[seamusTX]

¿Puede Usted hablar inglés?

- Jaime

[CHL/LEO]

"You need to stop right there right now", while you reach for your weapon (make sure they see you do so). If they don't stop you need to use some different language that I cannot write on this forum along with producing your weapon. If that doesn't work then it's pretty clear that they don't have good intentions in regards to your well being and you need to act accordingly.

Remember the saying, "Don't carry a gun unless you're first prepared to use it and don't draw it unless you are prepared to use deadly force."

Over the years I've had a couple of occasions (off-duty and in civilian clothes) where I was in a situation where I had to give "strong verbal commands" and either put my hand on my gun or take it out. I can tell you that if you make (and keep) eye contact with the threat, and you fully intend to use force to protect yourself or your family, that it somehow gets communicated to them most of the time (if they're hopped up on dope or they're ED then all bets are off). My wife is also LE and she doesn't hesitate to speak clearly in the language that these type of animals understand (again - can't be repeated on this forum) when in confrontations such as this. Every time that happens they immeadiatly back off and say to her, "You're a police officer aren't you?". 99% of the females on the street would never initially talk to another person that way unless they were a LEO and most of these types have been arrested by female officers at one time or another so they know how they act and talk.

I'm not telling you to do something that you're not comfortable with because if you come across to them as fake, or putting up a false front, then it might just make things worse. Again, in the scenarios that you presented, and based upon the action of the guys following you, they aren't out to check on your well being. The most important thing I can tell you is to listen to your "gut instincts" when in these type situations. That sixth sense was put there a long time ago to help keep you alive. Lots of folks just tune it out now and that's a shame.

Stay safe.

[Liberty]

I would yell out "Stop Incestuous one", or words to that effect and probably wouldn't worry about his ten year old daughter, I wouldn't verbally inform him that I had a gun. He can figure it out when the time comes for me to draw and fire.

Course language does under specific circumstances does serve a purpose. Some of these people can't speak or apparently understand English unless it is liberally salted with a few unsavory words. Words that paint the target as perverse in his sexual proclivities are generally the most effective and easily understood It is is generally not required to take the Lords name in vain.

[BTin]

"You need to stop right there right now", while you reach for your weapon (make sure they see you do so). If they don't stop you need to use some different language that I cannot write on this forum along with producing your weapon. If that doesn't work then it's pretty clear that they don't have good intentions in regards to your well being and you need to act accordingly.

Remember the saying, "Don't carry a gun unless you're first prepared to use it and don't draw it unless you are prepared to use deadly force."

Over the years I've had a couple of occasions (off-duty and in civilian clothes) where I was in a situation where I had to give "strong verbal commands" and either put my hand on my gun or take it out. I can tell you that if you make (and keep) eye contact with the threat, and you fully intend to use force to protect yourself or your family, that it somehow gets communicated to them most of the time (if they're hopped up on dope or they're ED then all bets are off). My wife is also LE and she doesn't hesitate to speak clearly in the language that these type of animals understand (again - can't be repeated on this forum) when in confrontations such as this. Every time that happens they immeadiatly back off and say to her, "You're a police officer aren't you?". 99% of the females on the street would never initially talk to another person that way unless they were a LEO and most of these types have been arrested by female officers at one time or another so they know how they act and talk.

I'm not telling you to do something that you're not comfortable with because if you come across to them as fake, or putting up a false front, then it might just make things worse. Again, in the scenarios that you presented, and based upon the action of the guys following you, they aren't out to check on your well being. The most important thing I can tell you is to listen to your "gut instincts" when in these type situations. That sixth sense was put there a long time ago to help keep you alive. Lots of folks just tune it out now and that's a shame.

Stay safe.

Thanks for this advice. Do they tell you to listen to your gut in the police academy?

[CHL/LEO]

Thanks for this advice. Do they tell you to listen to your gut in the police academy?

That's usually a "learned behavior". The only "gut listening" that rookies do is when their stomach growls and they start thinking about food.

[Keith B]

The only "gut listening" that rookies do is when their stomach growls and they start thinking about food.

Been there, done that. I used to get teased that during briefing that my first question to a couple of the other officers was "Where are we going for 10-81 (lunch break) today?"

To keep on topic, it really is a learned thing. Every scenario is going to be at least a little different, so the language and actions will need to be adjusted.

I usually run scenarios through my head when I am in everyday situations like going to the grocery store or getting gas. Every time I look around and play 'what if?' It will help you see what you might need to do if something did happen and keeps you Spidey Senses keen.

[bdickens]

Even though my English can often lean towards the - shall we say - flowery, I'd want to keep in mind any witnesses that may be around. Not because I don't want to hurt their virgin ears, but because I want them on my side. They probably didn't witness everything leading up to the confrontation, so by toning down the colorful language and speaking like a calm, authoritative and educated person any witnesses will probably be more likely to realize that I am the good guy and not the aggressor.

[seamusTX]

That's a good point about witnesses. Depending upon circumstances, what you say may already be going to 911 dispatch.

Someone whose opinion I respect says to avoid using any language that indicates racial animosity or anything like that. You can connect the dots and see why that might create trouble.

- Jim

[Charles L. Cotton]

. . . I can tell you that if you make (and keep) eye contact with the threat, and you fully intend to use force to protect yourself or your family, that it somehow gets communicated to them most of the time (if they're hopped up on dope or they're ED then all bets are off).

That's so true it's almost spooky. You'd think if they were clairvoyant, they'd have chosen a different line of work.

Chas.

[KBCraig]

Speaking forcefully doesn't have to mean using profanity. If it's not part of your vocabulary, don't say it. Did you see the movie "Signs"? Mel Gibson was a pacifist pastor who couldn't say the word if he had a mouth full of it; one of the most hilarious scenes was when he was trying to be intimidating, so he was running around the house yelling, "I'm insane with anger!"

That said, the right word at the right time, especially if it's unexpected, has a way of fixing everyone in place by interrupting their OODA loop.

Some 30+ years ago when I was about 12, a neighbor's big dog came into our yard and jumped our little beagle mix cur. I was beating them apart with a broom when Mom stepped out as they separated. Our dog was ki-yiying and theirs was circling for another attack, when Mom drew up to her full 5-foot-nuthin' and issued a bellow that would make a drill sergeant proud: "YOU BETTER KEEP THAT (darn) DOG HOME!"

Well.

I froze. The dogs froze. The birds froze. Time stood still, while the Universe tried to adjust to this warp in its fabric. The neighbor dog took a tentative step towards home, then hastened its retreat. The Universe resumed breathing, and that remains the only time to my knowledge that my mother has ever uttered a four-letter word.

But she did so effectively.

I politely decline coffee most of the time, saying that caffeine is like profanity: it's most effective when you save it until you really need it. But if you need it, don't hesitate to use it.

Most of all, don't try to make yourself sound like something you're not, or you'll sound like Mel Gibson ineffectually racing around the house "insane with anger".

[KFP]

Excellent advice for all of us in this thread.

For your first example, using your off hand to do the stop motion along with a "STOP" command with your other hand ready to draw was very effective the one time I used it.

[jimlongley]

To keep on topic, it really is a learned thing.

Fresh out of the Navy in 1971, a kid robbed an elderly lady across the street from our house. I didn't see him do it, but I did see him flee, and after I gave chase, found myself hollering "HALT!"

He's kind of lucky I wasn't armed, because my training up until that time was to yell halt twice, fire a warning shot, yell halt again and then fire for effect, and in my Navy, we did that sequence as fast as possible and sometimes got the steps out of sequence.

Kind of like" "HALT, HALT, {bang}, HALT, {bang) and which bang was the warning shot?