What is the one “basic” mistake cops and soldiers make in a streetfight?

Question

What is the one “basic” mistake even some cops and soldiers make (despite their expensive training) that erases their training advantage in a streetfight. And how do you get out of a situation where somebody uses control and restraint techniques on you, Anybody know?

Answer 1

The basic mistake most people in any job description make is that of complacency , or thinking they are the very best and no one can get the dfrop on them .The second part of your question is one of continuous training in that very thing . the must practice those situations on paper and in their trainning , and then practice and practice in situations they may never face, but must be ready to face at any moment . In other words , they must know what to do in the situation if it ever comes up and before it does .

Answer 2

I can't imagine why you would want to know, but...

The Police rarely make 'mistakes' - if there is a fight in the street, then the Police should break it up but not get involved in the fight itself.  Being that the Police force is made up of hundreds of officers, they are rarely at a disadvantage for long.

The only mistakes they could make are, a) do nothing, or b) exert unnecesary force or attack

Answer 3

Thinking they can win every fight.

Answer 4

Evaluating your targets after you doubletap. NYPD is really bad at that.

Answer 5

If I had to take a guess, it would be pressing the fight too hard.

It is often necessary to go to force to break up a fight.  However, depending on how large the fight is, the police officers may step into a situation that is too big for them.

Even with backup, if everyone is distracted by the guy(s) in front of them, they aren't watching their backsides.  If every officer or soldier is distracted, one of the enemy may be able to get the drop on them from behind.

And if they have no one watching their back or they aren't paying attention, it could quite quickly turn against them.  Even if they have the training advantage, if they lose enough people the sheer numbers of the enemy may overtake their numbers and lose them the fight.

This did happen at one of my jobs.  I used to be a security guard at a mall in a somewhat tough area.  A gang fight broke out, and the police assigned to us moved in to stop the fight.  They were overtaken for a while when one of the gang members broke out his brass knuckles and was able to get behind a couple of the officers.  He knocked one out and hit the other hard enough to take him out of the fight (though he was still conscious).

Me and one of the other security officers stepped in at this point.  I knocked one of the gang members down to the ground and then clipped one with a shoulder into the back of his leg.  At the same time, the other security officer dragged the two hurt officers back and used their radios to call for backup from the police out on the street.

All the officers (security and police) then backed out and left the fight.  They all knew they were in serious trouble, so the gang members ran for it.  But the damage to the officers had already been done.  And its because they pressed the fight too hard without having enough people to watch each other's backs.

Answer 6

Their mistake is wearing a uniform and thinking the job someone on the street works to no rules. There are many techniques using forms of martial arts to avoid or get out of control and restraint.

Answer 7

they,re soft,where you dont care how much damage you do to them ,they on the other hand do think about it .

Answer 8

they use there uniform because thats all they have otherwise they would lose in a street fight plus there is always more than one

Answer 9

Ok, some of these answers are pretty stupid...but a couple things I can say is:

1) We dont get paid to box. There really isnt any type of street fighting or brawling...most **** bags are better fighters anyway. They grew up in tough neighborhoods while most cops grew up in average to nice neighborhoods and haven't ever really been in a fight. We subdue and arrest and now with tazers and pepper spray, the idea is to avoid going "hands on" and get the person to comply on their own. That way, cops aren't getting hurt, **** bags dont really get hurt (they feel pain though) and the excessive force concerns are minimized.

2) If there's a mistake to be made, it's letting your guard down or missing obvious signs of trouble and then either getting too close or letting the **** bag get too close to you for the sucker punch.

Answer 10

Take the "Fight" personal.

Answer 11

They may forget the will to live or "whats important now" (Officer Marcus Young)

Answer 12

You can't make a mistake. The second you do it could cost your life

Answer 13

ermmm... ask him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5lbIsYQO...

Answer 14

I would think they would have to follow protocol instead of using their gut instinct.  

If they've arrested someone and there are a few protesters yelling and screaming and appearing to be getting hostile, they should just put the guy in the car and get out of there instead of calling for back up or managing the situation.  Using gut instinct may diffuse the situation instead of following standard procedure that could result in a lot of injury, damage, etc.

Answer 15

Both cops and soldiers frequently make the mistake of thinking they can get away with anything: this results in them committing all manner of atrocities and/or brutality. The reality is in 9 out of 10 cases, there is someone nearby to document the event with a camera or a cellphone. Thus, blinded by their own sense of power, both cops and soldiers risk being prosecuted for the crime they commit "on the job."

Answer 16

They allow it to fester , if they charged in at the very beginning , and showed they mean business most of it would not get out of hand . As it is they wait until the bricks and stones are hitting them before they react , by then it is to late . It is the age old problem of before you can arrest sombody they have to be breaking the law first .

Answer 17

Cops rarely make mistakes in tactical situations; if the cop knows what he/she is doing then everyone gets hammered the same.  Ergo, the bad guy gets hooked and booked and the cop goes home in one piece.  capische?

Answer 18

Believing people, when drunk, know what they are talking bout. They don't.

Answer 19

assuming that the whole street is full of perpetrators.