Gresham police officer gives tips on how to prevent an attack

Officer Michael Brooder from the Gresham Police Department gave a presentation on how to keep yourself safe on Wednesday.

He focused his discussion on recognizing pre-attack indicators and safety awareness.

He began his presentation by encouraging people to never hesitate calling 911; he explained if a situation is happening right now, or if perpetrators are still around, it’s always okay to call.

When  calling the police, either through 911 or the non-emergency number (503-823-3333), it is important to be able to describe where you are. Brooder said call load and volume is one of the most quantitative ways to help distinguish each jurisdiction’s load and therefore who needs funding.

Knowing where you are at all times is also Brooder’s first safety tip. He suggests practicing establishing check points (intersections, mile markers, direction traveling) on your common routes and testing yourself.

Brooder believes in the power of the mind.

Your mindset needs to be “I’m not going to be a crime victim,” he said.

Trust your instinct, because it’s usually spot-on, he said. Don’t ignore your instinct based on the premise of wanting to be polite and not cast snap judgments.

Our “hunches” about people, he said, are really our brains assessing the immediate situation or person.

In a situation that could be dangerous, have a plan. Even if the plan is to run away in a particular direction, said Brooder.

Although stranger-on-stranger violent attacks are not “super common,” said Brooder, to avoid being a victim, walk with an air of confidence — like how many people picture a “bad guy” walking around. Don’t blindly walk out of buildings, take wide corners when walking so you see what you’re walking into and can have time to turn around and don’t be immersed in technology.

When it comes to cars and parking lots, always keep your windows up and doors locked when parked, always (while keeping your distance) look around your car at all angles and inside of your car before getting in, have your keys in your hands when you begin to walk to your car, and don’t park next to any vehicle you cannot see into.

Brooder continues to say to watch for unoccupied vehicles or people standing around your car; look for any vehicles circling the parking lot when there are empty spaces; if you are a victim of car-jacking, don’t go with them, let them have your car; and throw your keys if you are grabbed when entering your car.

A reminder when coming to a stop while driving is to leave plenty of room between your vehicle and the one in front of you, just in case you need to drive away.

Another part of staying safe is recognizing the signs of an upcoming attack. These signs include someone scanning their environment, glancing at their target victim, clenching their muscles, rapid or extremely slow blinking of the eyes, standing in fighting stances, and hesitation in responses.

Brooder said often perpetrators will engage their target in conversation as a test.

If you see any of the signs, or get a strong feeling something isn’t right, Brooder strongly emphasized the importance of trusting and acting on these feelings.

If a situation does become violent, his advice is to stay loose, keep your hands by your face and adopt a fighting stance with one leg back.

In non-life threatening instances, the best way to be helpful is to be a “good, effective witness,” he said. This involves getting descriptions, locations, and knowing how people left, in both directions and means of transportation.

 

Tips to stay safe from a Gresham Police officer:

 Trust your instincts

Know where you are

Walk with confidence

Don’t be immersed in technology

Have your keys out when walking to your car and always check around and inside it before getting in

Recognize pre-attack indicators