They Were Just in The Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

GUEST EDITORIAL

With the increased amount of violence, we are seeing in the asset recovery industry there is a lot of talk related to body armor, body cameras, and de-escalation techniques. I feel it is excellent that the industry recognizes the danger involved in the act of repossessing vehicles, equipment, and other items on which the consumer has defaulted, and the industry has come together attempting to mitigate the risk by using these lifesaving items.

However, and I speak from many years’ experiences, none of the items previously mentioned, individually or in combination, can ensure that a person will not be injured or survive a violent act by an angry consumer or third party.

When you wear a vest there are many other body parts exposed and unprotected. You are still vulnerable to a firearm or edged weapon attack. Body cams are certainly a deterrent, but many people do not care if they are being filmed and even though cameras are great for telling the “real story”, the real story will not mean much if a person is critically injured or killed.

Finally, the ability to use de-escalation techniques is a great way to calm a situation down but there will always be the person or persons who cannot be talked down. The person who is in a fit of RAGE and is not even hearing what you say.

So, what can we do to make our jobs safer and see that we go home at the end of shift?

I train men and women to understand a very simple principle, “AVOID BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.”

I fully realize that in our occupation this is not always possible, but it is possible for many situations.

There are three elements to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, YOU, CIRCUMSTANCE, and POTENTIAL ATTACKER.

Let’s look at each of these elements individually.

1 – YOU

We should always be aware of the risk element of the area where we are working on our assignments. There are many things we cannot control in our line of work but where we go and when we go there are two things we can control.

I have investigated and analyzed numerous incidents involving industry violence and, in my opinion, many of these violent incidents could have been avoided if the agent had heeded that age old expression, “Another time…another place”.

Many people in our industry get into confrontational situations because they had made the choice to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, A professional recovery agent will exercise common sense, realizing they must always be aware of where they are, who they are with, and of what they say and who they say it to.

Many times, recovery agents think that their size, their attitude, any weapons they may be carrying and the vest or the camera acts as a magic talisman protecting them from evil. As a result, they get the civilian version of what people in law enforcement refer to as being badge heavy: They are quick to run off at the mouth or try to push their way around. This type of attitude usually causes conflict.

In today’s environment of concealed carry, open carry, constitutional carry and permit carry you may assume the consumer or any person you are dealing with is carrying a weapon which may be used against you. YOU must stay alert to stay alive.

2 – CIRCUMSTANCES

In our industry the circumstances relate to the physical surroundings that we find ourselves in on each assignment that we work. To some extent this overlaps with what was written earlier. Be careful where you go. Don’t go into areas where you know there is the high risk of confrontational encounters.

Anyone who has been in the recovery business for any length of time understands that there will be times when we must go someplace that is questionable. It is crucial that we are allowed to choose the time we go there.

We are often told to “Conduct legitimate business during legitimate business hours”, which generally means while the sun is up. The phrase, “Nothing good happens after midnight” is usually true. Assignments may go bad at all times of the day, but the most serious incidents I have encountered occurred at night.

Day or night, train to always be aware of your surroundings by staying in condition Yellow.

I have instructed Situational Awareness for many years and feel it is necessary training for everyone in our business, but I also realize, and would hope all who reads this missive, that this training and field usage is not a magic talisman but only another tool in your protection box to help prevent you being injured or killed.

3 – POTENTIAL ATTACKER

This is the Joker in the deck as there are so many variables and unknowns and as a rule, you cannot control the movements of other people. You cannot identify a potential violent person by the way they look, or by the way they act.

Be aware and do not let angry and dangerous people into your perimeter of safety. Exercise common sense about the people you encounter when working assignments.

If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, for whatever reason, get away from them. Follow your instincts. Do not get into situations or go into demographic or geographic areas if you feel unsafe.

GET AWAY! Get away, run away, live to fight another day. Retreat, if the tactical situation permits. If you are by yourself and can get out of a situation without being hurt, then leave. Remember the adage, “Discretion is often the best part of valor”.

I live in a world with a blue sky, a few clouds, and the occasional tornados and I fully realize that you may be in a situation that if you turn to run you may just get you shot in the back. If that is the case, you may have to stay and fight. Every scenario is different, and the tactical response must be different.

Leave if you can. Fight only if you must. If you find yourself in a position where you have no choice but to stand and fight to protect yourself then fight with everything you have, do not fight fair, bite, scratch, use anything within reach as a weapon. Fight as if your life depended upon it because it probably does.

MOVE… Movement may keep you from getting hit in a gunfight. It can also get you to cover and give you time to react or get you out of the fight completely.

Studies indicate that most attackers expect people to freeze up when they attack. Moving will surprise the attacker, allow you to respond, and maybe let you escape. But you must train to move during a fight, or you likely will freeze up and make an easy standing target.

USE COVER AND CONCEALMENT… If someone is shooting at you then it is imperative that you find things that stop bullets from hitting you. Cover and concealment are not necessarily one and the same. Cover stops incoming rounds from hitting you. Concealment keeps you from being seen. Bullet-resistant glass stops most types of gunfire, but you can still be seen. This is cover but not concealment. Hiding behind a big bush or a sign that fully covers your body is concealment but will not stop incoming rounds. A large brick wall or the wheels and bed of your vehicle can stop bullets and prevent you from being seen by the attacker. Know and understand the difference between cover and concealment and use it appropriately.

MOVE SOME MORE…Don’t stay in one place if someone is shooting at you. If possible, you must move from location to location, if you can move safely. If you can use your phone call 911 and report “Shots Fired” …” I fear for my life and need help immediately.”

In summary, armor and cameras are great mitigators for the prevention of violence, knowledge of de-escalation techniques is a great thing to possess, but the best way to avoid confrontations and a risk of injury or death to yourself or others is to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Always take into consideration the three elements previously discussed, YOU… how do you feel about the situation? Trust your “Gut Feeling” as it is based on previous experiences.

CIRCUMSTANCES… Where are you? What time of the day or night is it? What is the risk factor?

POTENTIAL ATTACKER… What do you know about this consumer? Past experiences with this consumer? Potential for violence?

Use these three elements to make your decision… NOW… or ANOTHER PLACE, ANOTHER TIME. Avoid injury or death by not putting yourself in the WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.