Treating Uncooperative Subjects as Tactical Problems, Not Personal Challenges

If you have been a cop for any time at all, I think you would agree that dealing with uncooperative people is part of the job. I’m sure I have been criticized by referring to police work as an adversarial job, but I stand by that statement. From verbal defiance to being attacked, the levels of resistance may differ, but being in adversarial situations with another human is one of the most basic realities of being a police officer. However, how we view those encounters can make all the difference in how we handle them.

I want to offer a shift in mindset: What if we looked at uncooperative individuals as tactical problems to solve, instead of taking their defiance as a challenge to our authority or dignity?

I’m not talking about situations where there’s an immediate safety threat. When a suspect is about to harm you or another person, using decisive force is the correct solution. In those moments, force is not only justified, but also often absolutely necessary.

What I’m talking about are the far more common situations, when someone is being difficult, rude, noncompliant, or disrespectful, but there’s no immediate danger. You’ve been there: the subject isn’t following commands, is being mouthy, or is intentionally delaying you. These are the kinds of moments that test your professionalism and self-control.

Why Do We Take It Personally?

Because it feels personal. You’ve given a lawful order, and they’re ignoring you. It feels like an attack on your authority, your professionalism, maybe even your dignity.

But the minute you take it personally, you’re in trouble. Because once you let your emotions take the wheel, you’re more likely to:

• Escalate the encounter unnecessarily
• Abandon sound tactics
• Make legally indefensible decisions
• Create body-worn camera footage that looks terrible, even if your actions were technically lawful

That last one matters more than ever in today’s environment. Optics are part of the outcome. Every cop who wears a body-worn camera is filming a high-definition movie and soundtrack. Your performance in that movie may not win an Academy Award, but it may prove to be life-altering for everyone involved.

Try Thinking Like a Tactical Team

Let me offer an alternative approach. What if you treated every uncooperative subject the same way a SWAT team treats a barricaded suspect?

Not as a jerk who’s “disrespecting” the badge.

Not as someone you need to “teach a lesson.”

But as a tactical problem to solve.

That shift in mindset opens the door to better decision-making. SWAT operators aren’t supposed to get emotional. They’re supposed to think like chess players. They slow things down. They exploit time, distance, and their advantages such as the availability of superior resources. They outthink the suspect.

Why can’t patrol officers use the same philosophy? Granted, as a patrol officer you may not have the actual resources that SWAT does at your disposal, but even something simple as disengaging temporarily while you wait for more units, can help you gain a tactical advantage.

If You’re a Working Street Cop, Consider This

If you’re a working cop dealing with people face-to-face every day, here are a few thoughts worth keeping in your back pocket:

• If there’s a real officer safety threat, take action. Period. But if there isn’t, slow it down.
• If you’re pissed off, you’ve already lost the advantage. You’ve been emotionally captured by the subject.
• When in doubt, ask yourself: How would a tactical team approach this? They’d probably outmaneuver the suspect, not out-shout them.
• Although most of us were trained to dominate every situation, remember: the law doesn’t support that mindset. It’s not about dominance. It’s about the outcome.
• Simply being uncooperative does not equal an immediate threat.

We Need to Get Smarter

This isn’t about being “soft” or backing down. It’s about being smart. Tactical. Professional.

It’s about choosing actions that are effective instead of just momentarily satisfying.

At the Savage Training Group, we teach this mindset in our Practical De-Escalation and Tactical Conduct course. It’s where officers learn how to use tactics, communication, and a superior knowledge of the law to outsmart their adversary. Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to “win the argument.” The goal is to resolve the situation safely, legally, and professionally.

If that sounds like something you and your fellow officers could benefit from, I invite you to check out the course. Whether you’re new to the job or a salty veteran, this kind of thinking can help you increase your safety, reduce liability, and be smarter.