Читать книгу Force Decisions. A Citizen's Guide to Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force онлайн

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Officers are taught early in their careers that a professional appearance enhances their presence. It is easier to disrespect or ignore a slob than someone who looks like he takes the job, and therefore his duties, seriously.

Presence is a very powerful but very subjective attribute. In On Killing, Lt. Colonel David Grossman pointed out that even major military battles are won more often by display than by a physical destruction of the enemy. An impressive show of force—whether a line of musket men in bright coats with hats that make them look seven feet tall or a phalanx marching in perfect order—does more to break the will of the enemy than to increase killing efficiency, especially when combined with the confusion, smoke, and dust of real battle.

Officers use these concepts as well—lights and sirens, the black armor of the riot squad, and even the starched uniform, peaked hat, and shiny badge are all aspects of presence. If the presence is sufficient, you rarely have to use physical force. That’s a good thing.