Imposing Discipline In This Age of De-escalation

As an experienced professional and volunteer 'safety creator,' I've watched the rise of the de-escalation philosophy this century with alarm, speaking candidly.

Its emphasis on letting trouble makers vent, meaning disturb the peace, use profanity and even threaten, without correction, emboldens destructive behavior instead of disciplining it.

Oddly, this 'stand down' of disciplining disruptive individuals comes at a time filled with unwarranted aggression.

Every sector, from retail clerks addressing theft to officers offering correction this year for noisy conduct have seen wildly disproportionate aggression in response.

Meridian man accused of punching officers following noise complaint (Idaho News 6, Jan. 6, 2025)

Even the once-safe security function of approaching or apprehending shoplifters has become a high risk endeavor akin to edgy professions like bounty hunting.

Retail risk is captured in recent viral police bodycam footage from the customer service battlefield known as Walmart:

De-escalation would've been useless in that situation. Trying to 'talk down' a misdemeanor suspect who just escalated into trying to open fire is insufficient.

Restraining force used by the asset protection employee and arresting officer was absolutely the right response.

I recall an elected law enforcement official telling me about disarming a detained shoplifter who had a concealed pistol a few years ago while working as a loss prevention manager.

There are also tragic cases like this one from 2025:

Man run over, killed by suspected shoplifters outside his family's store in South El Monte (ABC 7 News, April 10, 2025)

While I agree that every encounter shouldn't devolve into arguments and physical confrontations, de-escalation advocates seem too focused upon massaging troublemakers' egos, which inflates said egos and swells strife.

In today's combative climate, letting problem persons curse and threaten without disciplining such unacceptable behavior sets the stage for escalation into assault or vandalism.

Keeping customer service or security professionals hands bound behind their backs to avoid violence unintentionally invites more violence.

Simple equation.

Imposing discipline in this age of de-escalation needs a reasoned resurgence.

Boundaries must be set and enforced.

Nadra Enzi (Cap Black) does 'Borrow A Brother' volunteer safety escorts for female friends and worthy causes.

Now he's sharing experimental 'free will offering security' to former clients and future fair minded ones.