The Thin Blue Lifeline

I have had the opportunity to review and read THE THIN BLUE LIFELINE: Verbal De-escalation of Mentally Ill & Emotionally Disturbed People - A Comprehensive Guidebook for Law Enforcement Officers. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is relevant, well-written, operationally-based, and goes to the heart of the matter in dealing with people who are in crisis - not just for dealing with "mentally ill" folks - but virtually everyone with whom police officers come into contact.

This moves policing communication so far beyond "Verbal Judo" and "Tac Com" that those systems cannot even compare (though, to be sure, there are some similar techniques that they utilise in those systems). In an age where police officers are under increasing pressure to move from call-to-call, there can be accompanying pressure to resolve situations more quickly than they should be resolved - which, when time is compressed, usually leads to the application of physical force.

This book offers perspective, is incredibly insightful and will help officers recognize specific issues and conditions. It provides real-world, usable tools, tactics and techniques to help resolve situations at the preferred threshold of "Officer Presence" and "Communication." If you own books such as: "The Art of War"; "Sharpening the Warrior's Edge"; "On Killing"; "Training at the Speed of Life"; "Police Pistolcraft"; "Warfighting"; "Terror at Beslan"; "On Combat"; "The Green Beret in You" - you MUST add this extremely relevant text to your library. I wish I had read this book 25 years ago.

• Joel A. Johnston Staff Sergeant 1314 Use of Force & Municipal ERT Coordinator Province of British Columbia

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