"This document details the Safety Priority decision-making model used by law enforcement to evaluate tactical actions based on a strict hierarchy of life safety: 1. Hostages, 2. Innocent Bystanders, 3. Responders, and 4. Suspects . The framework functions as a risk mitigation tool where decision-makers assess if a proposed plan causes higher-priority groups to "suffer" while lower-priority groups "benefit," establishing that those with the least control and highest danger must be protected first. Adapted by C3 Pathways from NTOA doctrine, the guide emphasizes that these safety priorities strictly outweigh mission objectives (such as arrests or evidence preservation) during critical, evolving incidents."
This document outlines the Safety Priority tactical action evaluation model, a decision-making framework adapted by C3 Pathways from the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) doctrine . Its primary function is to guide law enforcement command and line-level personnel in evaluating whether a specific plan (action or inaction) is ethically and tactically sound during critical incidents. The model asserts that safety priorities must always supersede mission objectives—such as preserving evidence, arresting a suspect, or protecting a crime scene—to prevent decision-making errors during chaotic, rapidly evolving situations.
The framework establishes a rigid four-tier hierarchy based on an individual's potential jeopardy and their inability to control the outcome; entities with less control and higher danger are ranked higher. The priorities are ranked as follows:
To apply this model, decision-makers utilize a "Benefit vs. Suffer" checklist to assess a proposed course of action. The fundamental rule governing this evaluation is that a higher-priority group must not incur harm ("Suffer") solely to provide a benefit to a lower-priority group. For example, a tactical plan is considered unsound if it allows Hostages or Innocents to suffer in order to provide a benefit to Responders. This logic ensures that risk mitigation principles remain congruent with legal and ethical standards, enforcing that the safety of the most vulnerable populations drives the decision-making process rather than the mission objective itself.
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