As police officers, we sometimes only have seconds (or less) to decide if a person is an active threat to ourselves or the general public. Therefore, proper criminal identification is a key skill that every officer must possess. Unfortunately, it is also a skill that can transcend human limitations; instincts combined with adrenaline is a concoction that can fail anyone, including an officer with adequate training and experience. For this piece, we’re diving deep into fact and fiction of criminal identification. We begin by asking a simple question: “What does a criminal look like?”

Defeating Criminal Misconceptions

There is a civil misconception that criminals come in certain colors, cultures, genders, etc. Note, we said misconception. The truth is that the world is far too large diverse to believe that every member of any particular affiliation is a public or national threat. Instead, Hero911 urges all officers to focus less on the demographics reported by the media; rely on your training and skill to determine the dangerous elements of a situation. Use only facts to guide your judgement.

Look at the Facts

Going back to the question we posed at the beginning of this piece, you can help guide your judgment by refraining from asking, “What does a criminal look like?” Instead, officers from coast to coast should be asking themselves, “How does a criminal act?” All criminals, despite their identifying traits, exude what the FBI calls Behavioral Anomalies, or verbal and nonverbal cues. Proper interpretation of these cues can help an officer determine if a suspect has hostile intent, is displaying suspicious behavior, or if he/she is telling a lie or the truth. Ultimately, every police officer must become an expert in verbal and nonverbal communication. Having an understanding of how a criminal thinks and behaves will inevitably help the officer understand what type of person he/she is dealing with – non-threat or active threat – and determine the severity of the situation.

A Brief Message From Hero911

The Hero911 Network is devoted to keeping both police offers and civilians safe from such circumstances. We urge you to always use your best factual judgement when navigating a potentially life-threatening situation. Stay safe out there, and thank you for your service.