Growing up, my father’s political background meant that law enforcement was a constant presence in our home. I developed a deep appreciation for the officers and was fascinated by the opportunity to learn from them. One of the most intriguing lessons I absorbed was about what they call a ‘hunch.’
One officer explained that they rely heavily on gut instinct when they first encounter a suspect. Their initial assessment of the person often outweighs the importance of the crime scene, evidence, or other related factors. Their focus is on what their intuition tells them about the suspect. They never disregard the internal “alarm bells” that go off in their minds. In fact, officers may sometimes have to set aside physical evidence temporarily, even risking criticism, due to an overwhelming feeling about a suspect.
“You learn through experience never to ignore your feelings,” one officer said. “Your gut instinct is invaluable.”
I asked, “But people are naturally nervous around the police. How do you distinguish nervousness from guilt, for instance?”
“Everyone feels some level of nervousness when dealing with law enforcement,” the officer explained. “Our job is to detect behaviour that contradicts natural nervousness. For example, some individuals might overcompensate by being excessively open, cooperative, or overly friendly to mask their nerves. When we sense something unusual, we follow that feeling and use it to guide the investigation toward a resolution.”
I pressed further, “But aren’t you ever wrong?”
“Mistakes can happen,” the officer admitted. “But with experience, we learn to refine our instincts. A good officer develops the ability to rely on intuition without being clouded by personal opinions. I guess that’s what sets great officers apart.”
