Lesson 23: Don’t detain people at gunpoint.

Holding someone at gunpoint may feel like a powerful way to control an encounter with a potentially violent criminal, but it is more likely to create new tactical and legal risks. A suspect may lash out, escalate, or try to disarm you. Worse, when law enforcement arrives, they may not know who the bad guy is if you’re the one holding the gun. Unless someone poses an immediate danger to others, it’s usually safer to disengage, let them flee, call 911, and be a good witness from a secure position.