Controling your natural fear response...

[Nightshift va]

As previously stated, training, and then more training, Think about what your response might be in a given situation until it just comes natural.

Like I told David Cannon with Clayton County PD.
He was in a chase with a stolen van.
They opened the back doors of the van and started with an AUTOMATIC weapon.
Shot out his tire, windshield, and most of the front end of the car, along with his right eye, but he kept up until the troops caught up and they were captured.
While he was in the hospital we talked about it.
He said that during the whole thing, he wasn't scared.

Do the job
You get scared and nervous later.

Ive been shot at and on the ground fighting for my life and you are right. The fear and anger and sometimes hatred comes later when you see your friends and family. It comes like a rush.

[Nightshift va]

Job role

I am just curious how you LEO's control your natural fear response. I guess my best example of this would be doing something such as a high risk traffic stop, or a really violent Domestic. Also, how do you deal with someone yelling at you, and constantly threatening you. I am thinking that you would try to hide your fear, especially with someone that has the potential of really harming you. I just often think that it would be really hard to do. Also, when you do traffic stops, does the average Joe seem really nervous when you approach him/her? I know that I everytime I got pulled over, my heart just about drops when the lights go on. This is not because I have anything illegal on me, or I did anything awfully bad, it just seems like it's a natural reaction. I'm just curious how other people seem when you pull them over.

I still after 13yrs have fear at times and from experience instead of tunnel vision I try to focus more. That helps. When someone is aggitated I stare at their hands and become more professional knowing what's next, if they cuss me in Va thats against the law and I arrest them. If they do so in a force threat or intimidation manner rather than just yelling out of frustration that's another charge for obstruction. When any of the above is aparent I call for another unit and if possible continue dialogue with the customer until back up is on scene (again if possible)next I tell the party they are under arrest and order them to put their hands behind their back sometimes I order them on the ground it all depends. Then if they comply I put handcuffs on them. If they dont then thats another paragraph and it's late. As for others reaction when pulled, depends on who you pull. Some are nerveous with reason of criminal activity afoot some nerveous because they aren't used to it. That six sense sometimes works that one out along with good police work and inquiries in a professional tone sometimes friendly. This job, point to sum it up for you. You have to be able to go from howdy yall mr friendly to pumping magazines in their center mass of target/threat to stop them from Zero to 160mph...quicker than timing it. So remember that when you see a cop sitting on the roadside and you are cusing what he isnt doing because you dont see he is catching up on reports before his next call.

[TX Heat]

You just fall back on the training and the task at hand. Hell, the bad guys are more scared of us, even those who try us the most. Yeh I've been afraid but you're the cop and you HAVE to be in charge, or get there as fast as possible. Change the fear into caution and get the job done.

Like the man said, "We work for God". What more can you ask?

[WARWAGON]

As previously stated, training, and then more training, Think about what your response might be in a given situation until it just comes natural.

Like I told David Cannon with Clayton County PD.
He was in a chase with a stolen van.
They opened the back doors of the van and started with an AUTOMATIC weapon.
Shot out his tire, windshield, and most of the front end of the car, along with his right eye, but he kept up until the troops caught up and they were captured.
While he was in the hospital we talked about it.
He said that during the whole thing, he wasn't scared.

Do the job
You get scared and nervous later.

[Sabre]

...intentionally sound like you're bored on the radio

So I'm not the only one who does that...

[Dinosaur32]

As SgtCHP said, the fear never leaves but it can be controlled. I'd like to add that the fear must never leave. I do not want to work with "macho" officers who claim to have no fear of the bad guys. They might either cut and run as the sh*t goes down or use their macho demeanor to get themselves and others injured.

[SgtCHP]

Training, Training, Training, Training and more Training.

A trained response to any given situation will cause you to react without having to think about fear. The fear - ADRENILINE RUSH - will come about shortly after your training has taken over and you will still be able to function with a relatively clear thought process. The Flight or Fight response is controlled with good, applied training.

You can train physically and mentally. Create scenarios in your mind and constantly go over them using your mind to aptly overcome the threat. It works!!!

The fear never leaves, but it can be controlled.

[11b101abn]

Traffic hit it dead on. I copy all my chases onto my personal video and keep them for myself. Everyone who watches them makes a comment about my voice. They say I am more excited on an "everyday" car stop then I am in a 32. Also, when I am "bored" and just driving around, I run every kind of scenereo I can through my head and I actually practice my reactions to them. It sounds wierd, but I have also been known, of course on nights when no one can see me , I will even take my mic and pretend to do the communication through the incident I am thinking of. Call me wierd, but it has worked for me so far. No over reaction and no supervisor has ever called me off of a chase. They will do it in a heart beat if the officer sounds like he has lost control.

Word. Mental rehersals are the thing to do. I run scenarios through my head throughout my watch and it truly helps. Especially in vehicle pursuits.

[D.o.D cop]

Marine Corps Recruit training aught me self control. To be honest though, we had to go arrest a violent individual with a known history of Battery on LEO's.....I was scared ****less and hyped about it. I had just about every scenario playing out in my head before we got there. I think the suspect saw it, cuz he knew I would have put up a helluva fight if he tried anything dumb. I think that fear and adrenaline kept me more alert than I usually am.

[1042 Trooper]

Actually, you will never loose that shaky hand or voice when dealing with scum; it tells them and reminds you of the role you each play. And, remember it is nervousness - not fear.

I never feared some scuzwad knowing I was nervous- in fact I would often tell them so in so may words, warning them not to do something stupid that I may overeract to. Something which may cause me, in my "nervous" state, to believe they meant to hurt me when they really didn't. Who knows what I might do to them.

Be nervous, not scared. Nervous is good. It keeps, you on edge and on your toes.

Having a true faith always helped me as well. Knowing if the lights went out I would be with God - a God who loves cops - gave me incredible calm when logically, I should have been looking for the toilette paper.

I know that I everytime I got pulled over, my heart just about drops when the lights go on. This is not because I have anything illegal on me, or I did anything awfully bad, it just seems like it's a natural reaction.

LoL- I've got pulled over a couple of times since I came on the job and still get that sinking feeling when I'm getting pulled over, even though I've got nothing to worry about. Its the OH S#IT factor.

[Latino50]

I dont know anyone who works in LE who was never scared. It takes bravery to face fear face to face and still go to work everyday and deal with more calls and not let it get to you. Fear is a common and a good sign to be more alert and cautious. In the academy the instructors constantly yell at the recruits to create a stress enviornment so the recruits get used to being verbally abused. You learn in recruit training not to take things personally and still get the job done.

[signal1]

You breathe, and intentionally sound like you're bored on the radio.

Works for me at least...

Traffic hit it dead on. I copy all my chases onto my personal video and keep them for myself. Everyone who watches them makes a comment about my voice. They say I am more excited on an "everyday" car stop then I am in a 32. Also, when I am "bored" and just driving around, I run every kind of scenereo I can through my head and I actually practice my reactions to them. It sounds wierd, but I have also been known, of course on nights when no one can see me , I will even take my mic and pretend to do the communication through the incident I am thinking of. Call me wierd, but it has worked for me so far. No over reaction and no supervisor has ever called me off of a chase. They will do it in a heart beat if the officer sounds like he has lost control.

[irishdep]

Cops do get into situations where they get scared or fearful, but it's what we are trained for. What I mean by that is when you're staring down some "big ugly" that you may have to go hands on with and back up is still a few minutes or more out your sympathetic nervous system takes over and your hands shake a little and it's "fight or flight". We know the risks we take every time we suit up. Every time we put our body armor on we know there's a chance of "getting a hole in it" that day. Bravery is being scared and still going to the fight. Any body that suits up knowings these things is brave!

[Traffic_82]

You breathe, and intentionally sound like you're bored on the radio.

Works for me at least...