Tactical Communication
Tactical Communication
Tactical Communication can best be described as a planned exchange of information between two or more people with some degree of understanding which reaches a predetermined goal.
In essence, it is how you communicate with the public and subject(s) to control and de-escalate a situation. Tactical communications can be used in first contact, crisis-resolution, or situational control responses.
The goals of tactical communication are:
- Officer safety
- Professionalism
- Control
- Prevent escalation
- Crisis-resolution
- Make subject responsible
- Make subject accountable
- Create positive witnesses
In tactical communication the following techniques are used:
- Support
- Deflection
- Side-step
- Block
- Setting limits
- Direct
- Command
Through our words and speech, we can verbally support the subject and then talk them down, we can deflect verbal attacks and insults, we can side-step direction questioning that has no recourse in the communication, or block direct questioning by setting limits of behaviour, by directing our subject, or commanding the subject to follow particular instructions. Remember these techniques are used to achieve the goals of communication.
As a general rule there are two ways a hostile person will vent his/her aggression or hostility: verbally and physically. Identifying which type of acting-out the subject is expressing, is one of the essential tenets of managing aggressive behaviour which at first seems obvious, but upon closer examination is a critical key to intervening. Clarification of this point allows the Investigator to begin formulating concrete guidelines regarding the procedure utilized during interventions. These two types of “acting out” behaviours often become somewhat muddled or confused and are not separated from each other. This leads to inappropriate actions on the part of the Private Investigator intervening in the situation. The first principle which must be established is: Avoid overreaction and under-reaction. Use verbal intervention when a person is verbally acting-out, and use physical intervention when a person is physically acting-out.
