School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

SCHOOL SECURITY AND THE “DISENGAGEMENT STATEMENT.”

 

So, okay, you are a security officer and you just stumbled upon a group of punks who think they are tough guys in an isolated hallway doing something they shouldn’t be doing.  You always do the right thing, no matter the odds, so you confront them, call them out, so to speak, and, not surprisingly, the apparent leader, spurred on by the other thugs, jumps in your face, shoves a finger in your chest and threatens to kick your ass for good measure if you don’t “back the hell out of here.”

 

Now, if you’re anything like I used to be, your natural instinct will be to do something physical to the leader and any other kid stupid enough to step forward.  I would want to let each one of the punks know they can’t ever touch or threaten a Resource Officer, Security Officer or teacher without immediate consequences.

 

That was me.  Good old Win/Lose Philosophy Hammer!  Back then, my ego required me to always win and anyone with the temerity to challenge me had to lose.

 

Why Don’t We Try A WIN/WIN SOLUTION this Time?

 

Years have smartened me up, though; and I hope you’ll consider what I consider a strategy where everybody wins. 

 

Instead of engaging the gang head- on when I know exactly what will happen – after all, what choice but to fight me does the leader have when I threaten to knock over his Ego Domino? – I suggest instead common sense de-escalation tactics and a Disengagement (Statement). 

 

Start with a greeting, identify yourself, and, of course, explain why you are confronting them (what rules are they violating and what you need them to do in order to rectify the situation).  Ask, do not demand, that they cease the action and either return to their classrooms, or whatever it is you believe will satisfy the situation.  Set the context with a statement regarding the rules, etc.  Give the group some reasonable alternatives, and, finally, confirm that they do not intend to cooperate by asking:

 

“Let me ask you, is there anything I can say and do to get you guys to go along with the program today?  I surely hope there is.”

 

It is possible they will cooperate at or even before that point, but, if not, I believe the ideal solution is to disengage, to physically withdraw from the scene, so that the leader and others can save face by doing what you had asked, but not having to comply in your presence.

 

A good Disengagement Statement might go like this:

 

“Gentlemen, it’s up to you.  You got some good options here.  Tell you what, when I return in a few minutes with backup, if you are still here and still smoking, you will have given us no choice but to take you in to the _____ office for disciplinary action.  Do you really need that kind of problem today, gentlemen?  It’s up to you, like I said.”

 

Disengagement takes you out of the battle scene, removes whatever stress your presence as an authority figure may cause, gives everyone the ability to comply without losing face, and puts the consequences in the hands of the students.

 

Until next time.  Stay Safe.

Hammer

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