WHY I TRAIN OFFICERS TO CONTROL THE SITUATION: NOT JUST REACT TO IT.

Years ago, while stationed at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, I was dispatched to a loud noise complaint alongside a young K-9 officer. We arrived at the residence and could hear the music before we even got to the door.

As the senior patrolman, I gave the K-9 officer the opportunity to initiate contact. I hung back in an overwatch position. When the door opened, the odor of alcohol hit immediately. The resident was clearly intoxicated—slurred speech, unsteady posture.

​As the K-9 officer explained why we were there, the man cut him off mid-sentence, hurled a few expletives, and slammed the door in his face.

At that moment, everything changed.

​As the senior patrolman, I stepped forward and knocked again. When he opened the door, I noticed his stance; left hand on the knob, right on the frame. I grabbed his right arm at the elbow, pulled it toward me, and pushed his left shoulder inward. He stumbled out and I pressed him against the exterior wall. He resisted, but we were able to take him into custody without further incident.

That was a leadership decision—not a reaction.
The door slam made the situation dangerous. I had no idea what was waiting inside. It was no longer a noise complaint: it was a threat assessment. The K-9 officer with me, though capable, had little experience handling moments like that. I had to act.

Here’s why this story matters:

This wasn’t about aggression.
It was about decisive control to prevent escalation.

That’s why I train law enforcement the way I do.

I teach that control must be established early; through tone, posture, and presence. And when it’s time to go hands-on, you move with purpose and intent. Half-measures create danger, not only for the officer but also for the subject and the public.

In that moment, I didn’t rely on brute strength.
I relied on training. On awareness. On clarity under pressure.
It was martial arts. It was military discipline. It was leadership…all in one move.

My training philosophy is built around three things:

1. Control Yourself First: If you can’t manage your own energy and presence, you can’t manage a tense situation.
2. Train for Real-World Chaos: No fluff. No choreographed moves. I teach officers what works when there’s no room for error.
3. Act with Purpose and Restraint: We don’t use force to dominate. We use it to stabilize, de-escalate, and preserve life.

“Control isn’t something you use on others—it’s something you master within yourself.”  — Cliff Kinchen

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