Officer Presence

Sergeant MacDonald will continue

with the training discussion

on Officer Safety. Sergeant?

Sgt. MacDonald :

We've been talking about

Patrol Bureau Memorandum 39.

Like it says, an officer gets into

many different kinds of 

emotionally charged situations.

The best guarantee 

any of you have

that such a situation 

won't get out of hand is 

"Officer Presence."

In simple English, that means...

...remember, when you're 

up against a criminal,

if YOU believe that 

You're a Better Man than he is,

he'll believe it, too.

Any questions?

All right, fall in for inspection.

Reed :

I guess there is more to Officer Presence than just being there.

Does that mean, you got more Presence if you're as big as Baldwin?

Mallory :

That's not Presence, that's lard.

I had a partner once that had the best appearance of anybody I ever saw.

Reed :

Is that right?

How was his Presence?

Mallory :

Absent.

Reed :

Malloy?

Mallory :

Yeah?

Reed :

About that Officer Presence business, does it really work?

Mallory :

It depends.

Reed :

On what?

On whether you really understand how to use it.

Reed :

The Trouble is, I don't think 

I DO understand.

Mallory :

What?

Reed :

How to use it.

Mallory :

Well, why didn't you ask some questions 

back at roll call?

Reed :

I don't know. 

I guess I was just afraid of 

sounding stupid back there.

You know, in front of 

the whole watch.

Mallory :

Besides, you figured you could always ask me.

Reed :

You're My Partner. 

It's supposed to be part of your job.

Mallory :

Okay, ask.

Reed :

I'd like to know how you impose Your Presence 

other than by, well, just being there.

Mallory :

You let people know 

Who You Are, 

What You Represent.

Mostly, its The Way You 

Talk to 'em.

Reed :

You really think that does it, huh?

Mallory :

Usually. Unless your voice cracks in the middle.

Reed :

Malloy?

Mallory :

Yeah?

Reed :

Just one thing, did you know

your gun was empty?

Mallory :

Yeah, I knew it.

Trouble was if I'd stopped to reload, 

I could've wound up dead.

[police radio chattering]

Reed :

You know that stuff The Sergeant was

talking about today, 

Officer Presence?

I guess I just got The Message.