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Street Combat – This Ain’t No Game! – Part 5a of 9, by Pat Cascio
[Street Combat - This Ain't No Game is a SurvivalBlog exclusive.]
When we get into the topic of guns and knives, it holds a special place in my heart. I have carried a handgun since I was 18 years old and some sort of pocket knife even longer.
Deadly weapons don’t necessarily have to be used in the way they are generally intended for them to make an impact. Sometimes, the mere presence of one of these deadly implements is enough to stop an attack. The following is a true story. I know, I know; usually when someone starts out with the words “true story”, it’s not exactly true. Well, this one is!
CASE STUDY: Armed Robbery Admission
It was January 1975 at Chicago, Illinois Police Headquarters, which also houses various court rooms. I was present in one of these courts for a number of shoplifting arrests I had made while working temporary, plain clothes, store security detail.
While awaiting one of my court cases, I heard an elderly black man (probably in his late 60’s or early 70’s) explain to the judge the circumstances leading up to his arrest. The following is almost verbatim what this man said.
“Yore honors, I admits to going into that store. I admits that I had me this gun. I also admits that I wuz gonna rob that store. But, this here man (the elderly black man was pointing at a plain clothes police officer standing next to him) never told me he wuz no police man. He only pointed his gun at my head and said ‘Bye-bye mother f- – – er.’”
At this point the entire court room was laughing hysterically, including the judge. Court had to be recessed for 15 minutes while the court regained its composure.
LESSON LEARNED:
Never admit to attempting an armed robbery. The old gent above received a fairly stiff jail sentence. Silent hold-up alarms work, at least sometimes!
TECHNIQUE USED:
The plain clothes (tactical) officer didn’t need to fire his weapon. However, his judicious choice of words caused the elderly robber to cease and desists his actions IMMEDIATELY!
The elderly hold-up man wasn’t all that upset about being caught for his crime, but he sure enough was upset with the way the police officer identified himself as well as his carefully chosen challenge. Intimidation worked. Enough said?
Over the years, while working as a police officer, private investigator, or security officer, I had several occasions in which I drew my gun. There have also been occasions when I would have been justified (under the law) in firing.
CASE STUDY: Equalizing the Hefty Shoplifter
While working for one particular detective agency in Chicago, I was assigned to work a plain clothes store security detail for the two weeks leading up to Christmas. The store was Alden’s, a mail order outlet store. This was a fairly small outlet store with probably less than 5,000 square feet.
I worked with my partner, Dave Guritz, and four other security officers at this store, plus Alden’s had two off-duty Chicago Police Officers also working the store.
Source: http://survivalblog.com/street-combat-this-aint-no-game-part-5a-of-9-by-pat-cascio/
