Movement Management | De-escalation Deep Dive

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NYPD Policy Reference

Patrol Guide PG 221-01: Use of Force Guidelines

Tactical Communication: Officers should provide clear, sequential movement instructions that guide subjects through each physical action. Effective movement management includes specifying exact hand and body positions, explaining what will happen during movement, and offering assistance when appropriate.

Subject Safety: Movement instructions should be delivered at a pace the subject can process, with one instruction at a time and acknowledgment of compliance before progressing. Officers should consider offering to physically guide subjects when verbal instructions prove insufficient.

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Best Practice Examples

Best Practice

Specific Hand Position Guidance

Kent Edwards Incident | Officer Brower | 1:18-1:40

Analysis

"No, just keep your hands in front of you. Ishmael, Ishmael, you gotta show me both. You gotta show me both of your hands, Ish."

Officer provides specific, achievable instructions about hand positioning. Uses the subject's name to personalize communication and maintain connection. Repeats the instruction with slight variation rather than escalating intensity, giving the subject multiple opportunities to process and comply.

Best Practice

Offering Physical Assistance

Kent Edwards Incident | Officer Messia | 1:37-1:55

Analysis

"All you need to do is stand right there. I'll walk you. I can if you want that."

Officer breaks down the movement into a simple first step ("stand right there") and then offers to physically guide the subject through the rest. This removes ambiguity about what compliance looks like and provides support for subjects who may be overwhelmed, confused, or physically impaired.

Best Practice

Calm Initial Positioning Request

Kent Edwards Incident | Officer Brower | 0:00-0:20

Analysis

"The only reason why we have to use this robot is because you won't come to the hallway with your hands in front of you."

Officer explains the desired movement clearly - come to the hallway with hands visible in front. By connecting the request to a clear rationale (avoiding the need for the robot), the officer gives the subject both the instruction and the motivation to comply. The calm tone maintains the possibility of voluntary compliance.

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Needs Improvement

Conflicting Simultaneous Commands

King Wong Incident | Officer Lamonica | 1:36-2:06

Analysis

"Get on the fucking ground right now! Get on the fucking ground! Put the fucking knife down!"

Subject receives two different movement commands simultaneously - get on the ground AND put the knife down. When a subject is in crisis or under stress, processing multiple commands becomes difficult. The conflicting instructions create confusion about which action to prioritize, potentially freezing the subject or causing erratic movement.

Needs Improvement

Rapid Escalation Without Guidance

King Wong Incident | Officer Acosta | 1:44-2:05

Analysis

"Get on the ground! Get on the fucking ground! Put the knife down. Put the knife down, sir."

Commands escalate rapidly without giving the subject clear guidance on HOW to get on the ground safely while holding an object. There's no sequencing (first put down the knife, then lower yourself to the ground) and no acknowledgment of the physical complexity of the requested actions.

Needs Improvement

Chase Commands Without Direction

Christian Emile Incident | Officer Campos | 0:24-0:51

Analysis

"Stop! Stop! Let's go! Let's go!"

During a foot pursuit, commands shift rapidly between "Stop" and "Let's go" without clear indication of what compliance looks like. A fleeing subject needs specific instructions about where to stop, how to position themselves, and what actions will follow stopping. Vague commands during movement create dangerous uncertainty.

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How to Improve

Instead of

"Get on the ground! Put the knife down! Get on the ground now!"

Try

"First, put the knife on the ground in front of you. Good. Now, slowly lower yourself to your knees. Keep your hands where I can see them."

Instead of

"Stop! Don't move! Hands up!"

Try

"Stop right where you are. Now, slowly raise your hands above your head. Good. Keep them there. I'm going to walk toward you."

Instead of

"Come here! Get over here now!"

Try

"Walk slowly toward me. Keep your hands in front of you where I can see them. That's it, nice and slow. Stop right there - perfect."

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Key Takeaways

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One Instruction at a Time

Give single, clear commands. Wait for compliance before issuing the next instruction. Stacking commands creates confusion.

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Specify Hand Positions

"Hands in front of you," "hands above your head," "hands on your knees" - be specific about exactly where hands should be.

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Acknowledge Compliance

Say "Good" or "That's right" when the subject follows instructions. This confirms they're on the right track and builds cooperation.

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Offer to Guide

When verbal commands aren't working, offer physical assistance: "I can walk you through this" reduces cognitive load on stressed subjects.

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Control the Pace

Use words like "slowly," "nice and easy," "take your time." Rushed movements increase danger for everyone involved.

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Specify Destinations

"Come to the hallway," "walk toward the wall," "stop at the door" - give subjects a clear endpoint for their movement.

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Discussion Questions

When a subject is holding a weapon, what's the safest sequence of movement commands to use?
How do you adapt movement instructions for subjects who may be intoxicated, mentally ill, or have physical limitations?
What are the risks of giving multiple officers authority to issue movement commands simultaneously?
How do you balance the need for quick compliance with giving subjects time to process instructions?
In the best practice examples, the officer offered to physically walk the subject. What considerations should guide when to make this offer?