‘Curb Sitting’: An Evidence-Based Policing Practice or An Officer Safety Myth?

The curb-sitting technique typically involves officers instructing an individual to sit on a curb with their legs extended in front of them. This approach is believed to give officers more reaction time in the event the subject flees or assaults the officer. Seated subjects were slower than standing subjects to cross a distance of 5 feet. Placing a subject in a seated position (e.g., on a curb) can afford officers additional time to defend themselves, should the subject attack. Subjects who were seated with their legs extended were slower to get up and cross short distances than subjects who were seated with their legs crossed and ankles close to their buttocks. Although a seated subject is slower to cover 5 feet than a standing subject, they can still do so in less than 1.5 seconds. Thus, officers must remain vigilant even when using the curb-sitting tactic. To increase their reactionary time, officers should extend their distance from a curb-seated subject and use cover/concealment when possible.