command voice

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I'll just throw this out there for discussion. Some people have it and some do not.... but if you can pull off an abrupt, loud, harsh and commanding voice, I think it can be deployed strategically, taking people off guard and putting them on the defensive.

I wouldn't want to hang my hat on my ability to spook a BG by yelling at them, and I wouldn't go barking at shady character without something to back it up. But I think it can throw a BG off stride and buy you a second or two to draw your piece or move to a better position.

It can also establish your presence as someone who is pissed off and not to be trifled with.

What made me think of this today was that I chased off a pretty large black bear that was taking out our bird feeders at first light and when I harshly barked "Hey! Get out of here!" he wanted nothing to do with me.

Any thoughts or first hand experiences out there?
 
Command voice is one of the basics taught rookies coming into police work - but it's not for everyone... On the street a "command voice" coupled with good training and sound tactics can greatly reduce the need for use of force, but... I wouldn't even know where to begin trying to teach it to an ordinary armed citizen.... I'll shut up now and just listen...
 
I'll just throw this out there for discussion. Some people have it and some do not.... but if you can pull off an abrupt, loud, harsh and commanding voice, I think it can be deployed strategically, taking people off guard and putting them on the defensive.

.

Any thoughts or first hand experiences out there?

One June morning at dawn, I crawled out of my tent in Northern Saskatchewan to find a large black bear thirty feet in front of me. I yelled in my harshest voice.

It didn't work.

I was on the straight line between him and the woods line. Animals think in terms of a straight line. In that wilderness, it's unlikely the bear knew what a man with a rifle was.

It seems to me that you're almost morally obligated to try to use presence, a harsh voice, anything like that you can to avoid a deadly encounter, if the opportunity presents itself, but one thing probably needs to be considered--how any witnesses are going to perceive your words and demeanor, which you absolutely cannot control. If you can be perceived to be carrying the ball, escalating the encounter, then whatever follows could be argued as something other than self-defense.
 
Command voice is one of the basics taught rookies coming into police work - but it's not for everyone... On the street a "command voice" coupled with good training and sound tactics can greatly reduce the need for use of force, but... I wouldn't even know where to begin trying to teach it to an ordinary armed citizen.... I'll shut up now and just listen...
Hell yes.

I was an LEO and learned the "command voice" from many decades in the martial arts.

It was a cross between a yell,a scream,and a kiaa [ a martial scream,in a way ].

I was not a tall or very large officer [ 5'4" and about 185 ]

But the voice worked well.

As did the Fox police whistle !!.

I have lots of whitnesses to the fact that the Fox 40 stopped 300 after bar hours crowds RAN wen they heard that pitch !.

And do note,its much easier to blow that whistle when your about to poop your pants.
 
A good voice is something that is extremely underrated in so many areas of life. Command presence is just one of it's uses. Fortunately you're voice is something that can be trained even if you don't come by it naturally. If I was going to yell at someone in a public setting I would want it to be something like "Stop!" or "Back up!". Something that wouldn't be mistaken for you trying to pick a fight by onlookers. The only downside to trying to use a big voice is that if it cracks or squeaks unexpectedly you get the opposite effect. I prefer to use a clear, firm, and conversational tone, and only get loud if there's no other choice.
 
Well … I once "pushed boots" in recruit training … The transition to working in the jail, then on the street, was easy.

One Sunday mid-day, after church, took my daughters to a nearby fast-food restaurant for a quick bite. Several local gangbangers strutted in and were upsetting some older folks just out for a quiet lunch, terrorizing the counter staff, loudly using the F-word (among other vile expressions).

Making myself as large as possible, chest out, shoulders back, chin up (thanks, SSGT Wilkens), I walked up to them and commanded them, "Get out! NOW!"

They actually all slunk out in a group, muttering some threats and curses. My daughters (apparently as well as some other patrons) were astonished and asked, "How did you do that, Dad?" I was a tad relieved myself that none of them decided to challenge me, especially as I had disarmed to go to church (I know, I know, but this was back in day when people didn't come in to houses of worship and start shooting).
 
Army team leader then a short stint in corrections. Have a handful of practice projecting a presence. Add in the fact I have a 6 year old, command voice is a constant buddy of mine.
 
There are voices that make a guy double think what he's doing. My Dad had that voice. We could hear him calling us from waaay down the road at the neighbors house. Years later I clocked in that house on my atv at just under a mile. 6' 6" with a big booming voice.

I've saved myself from a black eye or two from a couple short "commands" ie yelling. I more just made myself seem more upset than the other guy. Works 3 out of 4 lol. Or you can get completely naked. Nobody wants to fight a naked guy.

Reality, carry a gun for protection against real threats. Avoid confrontations as best you can.
 
The best command presence story I can relay comes direct to me from my BIL, who is a state police officer. Back when he was a road trooper, he was called to back up a sheriffs deputy (out in the boonies) at a gravel pit bonfire with ~ 100 teenagers partying around a keg of beer.

My BIL is a big boy at 6'6" and 250 lbs, but 100 drunk teens would have to make you think twice (as the deputy did). BIL walked right into the middle of the crowd by the fire, put his foot on the keg and announced "this is mine now" and the first "tough guy" who squawked "you can't do...." he threw to the ground and cuffed. The rest of them scattered like cockroaches in the light, and the deputy stood there dumbfounded.
 
I keep thinking of Cadet Hooks in "Police Academy" "Freeze, dirtbag!"
I have it, but rarely use it. When I've used it around SWMBO, she's usually like "What was that about?" I only use it in dire situations.
 
I keep thinking of Cadet Hooks in "Police Academy" "Freeze, dirtbag!"
What is important is not just the voice, but what is said.

"Freeze" is not a preferred command. Too many people might not understand it.

I would hate to have said "dirtbag" to someone I ended up having to injure.

It is extremely important to not be misunderstood--and to not misunderstand when the subject does comply.

Massad Ayoob covers this well in MAG-20.

Example: "When I say 'turn now', I want you to slowly turn to your right, keeping both hands in view, and stop."

"Turn now."
 
Having actually seen the movie, I got the reference ... can't we have a little humor in the threads? It was on topic ... maybe it was an example of words not to use, but it certainly pertained to using one's "command voice."
 
A "Command Voice" is part of a package. If a cop uses it he has a uniform and a badge and most importantly the authority to back it up. If a private citizen uses it he's very likely to be asked who the Hell he thinks he's talking to

I can only think of two times that my "command voice" actually worked and both times I think my body language and the fact that I was armed had more to do with it than my voice
 
Kleanbore writes:

"Freeze" is not a preferred command. Too many people might not understand it.

I agree. Even back when I started on the job, we were taught that commands ending in a "hard stop", or "hard" consonant, exuded more authority. This concept replaces "Freeze!" with things like "Stop!", or "Don't move!"; though the latter does end in a soft consonant, the idea is to "cut it short" at the end.

We also replaced (in identifying ourselves) "Police!" with "Police officer!" or "Police Department"! to avoid any similarity with the undesired term "please."

Some commands I've used as a non-LEO when approached by potential skels are "Don't come over here!" and "Stay back!" So far, I've not had to use anything else, as the situations have either diffused, or haven't occurred yet (many of them occurred when I had a PT job delivering pizzas. That job brings out the sketchies something fierce.)
 
My Nephew is a Senior Master Petty Officer. When he reverts to his " command voice" everyone stops looks to him and obeys!
Imagine hearing " Leave me alone" vs " STOP, ON YOUR KNEES, HANDS ON YOUR HEAD"
The Command voice can stop a situation before it turns bad, a very valuable talent.
 
My Nephew is a Senior Master Petty Officer. When he reverts to his " command voice" everyone stops looks to him and obeys!
Imagine hearing " Leave me alone" vs " STOP, ON YOUR KNEES, HANDS ON YOUR HEAD"
The Command voice can stop a situation before it turns bad, a very valuable talent.

The last time I used my "Command Voice" a street rat was trying to walk up on me and I told him to stop. He kept coming and I reached into to my pocket and said "I'm not going to ask you again." He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around and walked away.

I never raised my voice
 
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