ZeSpectre
Member
Brief little incident last night but possibly a good one to share.
Took the new doggie out for an evening walk 'round the edge of the golf course near our place and we were having such a pleasant walk that the next thing I know it's pretty much dark and we're only halfway back home. So we cut across the center of the course and then I notice a figure (it's pretty dark) step suddenly away from a big tree just ahead of me.
Well there's been a little low-level trouble in the park so I decide to play it cautious and swing wide to avoid confrontation since I have no idea what this person would be doing on the course in the dark.
The figure moves further away from the tree in my general direction and that triggers me to pull up my flashlight and spotlight him. Okay just a youngish kid (highschooler) who is giving me this surprised "deer in the headlights" look. Then doggie lets out a low growl.
Okay you've heard me say it 10,000 times... "If you see one badguy/suspect you MUST assume there are more present". Yup, that's me, the broken record, so I can't even begin to say why it took my dog's growl to snap that lesson back into my head.
I call out "Son, you'd better tell the others behind that tree to step out where I can see 'em".
Out steps a young (highschool aged) girl, both of 'em looking more than a little red faced..... ooops
Okay so it seems I interrupted some "mischief" but nothing I cared about so we all sort of nodded, I calmly advised them that they probably shouldn't hang out there after dark, and we all went on our way.
The Good:
-I noticed the presence of others very quickly and safe distance was maintained.
-I had appropriate equipment on hand to both determine the actual threat (none as it turns out, thank God) and handle the situation (good flashlight, sidearm, a command attitude, an alert dog).
-I didn't OVERreact to what was (initially) a pretty uncertain situation but I didn't just stand there going "DUH" either. I had an exit strategy and at least three responses running through my head.
The Bad:
-In spite of my own ranting on this issue, I went slightly "tunnel vision" upon spotting the first figure, until the dog alerted me to the presence of additional people (the girl) behind the tree.
-Didn't have my cell phone with me and my wife didn't know where I was walking the dog. (MUST remember to leave a note in the future)
Just another real life situation, take from it what you can.
Feedback welcomed as always.
Took the new doggie out for an evening walk 'round the edge of the golf course near our place and we were having such a pleasant walk that the next thing I know it's pretty much dark and we're only halfway back home. So we cut across the center of the course and then I notice a figure (it's pretty dark) step suddenly away from a big tree just ahead of me.
Well there's been a little low-level trouble in the park so I decide to play it cautious and swing wide to avoid confrontation since I have no idea what this person would be doing on the course in the dark.
The figure moves further away from the tree in my general direction and that triggers me to pull up my flashlight and spotlight him. Okay just a youngish kid (highschooler) who is giving me this surprised "deer in the headlights" look. Then doggie lets out a low growl.
Okay you've heard me say it 10,000 times... "If you see one badguy/suspect you MUST assume there are more present". Yup, that's me, the broken record, so I can't even begin to say why it took my dog's growl to snap that lesson back into my head.
I call out "Son, you'd better tell the others behind that tree to step out where I can see 'em".
Out steps a young (highschool aged) girl, both of 'em looking more than a little red faced..... ooops
Okay so it seems I interrupted some "mischief" but nothing I cared about so we all sort of nodded, I calmly advised them that they probably shouldn't hang out there after dark, and we all went on our way.
The Good:
-I noticed the presence of others very quickly and safe distance was maintained.
-I had appropriate equipment on hand to both determine the actual threat (none as it turns out, thank God) and handle the situation (good flashlight, sidearm, a command attitude, an alert dog).
-I didn't OVERreact to what was (initially) a pretty uncertain situation but I didn't just stand there going "DUH" either. I had an exit strategy and at least three responses running through my head.
The Bad:
-In spite of my own ranting on this issue, I went slightly "tunnel vision" upon spotting the first figure, until the dog alerted me to the presence of additional people (the girl) behind the tree.
-Didn't have my cell phone with me and my wife didn't know where I was walking the dog. (MUST remember to leave a note in the future)
Just another real life situation, take from it what you can.
Feedback welcomed as always.
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