Search Control of Suspects

There are different schools of thought on tactical control of a suspect during an arrest. First and foremost it is imperative to conduct a thorough search of their person after arrest. Many officers perform a cursory search or simply a pat down after an arrest is made. This error can cost you your life. Many times suspects can hide knives, handcuff keys, and even firearms on their person without an officer's knowledge if a search is not conducted properly. A good rule of thumb is to do a quadrant search. Think if a persons body split into four separate quadrants. The upper left (if facing away from you) is quadrant one, the upper right is quadrant two, lower left is quadrant three and lower right is quadrant four and the base is the waist area of the person.

So, search quadrant one, then search the waist, search quadrant two, then search the waist again, search quadrant three, search the waist again, and search quadrant four and research the waist one last time. Also gauge the width inside the handcuffs. The last thing you want to happen is a cuff slips off the wrist and they are free to grab a concealed weapon, open the door and dive out, or do worse to you.

There has also been some debate on how to search a suspect safer either by having the suspect lean against an object, interlocking fingers behind the head, or just searching with arms in downward position. If standing, searching a suspect alone with his hands behind his head is not a good idea generally speaking. The suspect already has his hands up while your hands are busy searching. Although, it is a good position when suspects are taken out of a vehicle on a felony stop when kneelng. Leaning a suspect against a building is okay but bear in mind the suspect is not as off balance as you would think. The suspect can easily regain his balance by "rolling" toward one direction or another ( left or right) in which case he has the momentum to start running.

Be sure to check the mouth and socks/shoes for weapons or handcuff keys. Don't let a suspect take you by surprise. Think about transporting a suspect, without a cage, and the suspect become uncuffed.

Remember a good search can save your life!