By Michael E. Musengo, Lynn L. Westover and Lon D. Bartel for Calibre Press

If you read the first installment of this series, which discussed the fact that management and leadership are not the same thing (click here to read), and that belief is a lie often told in law enforcement, then this is a even bigger lie. There’s a dangerous myth floating through briefing rooms, locker rooms, and field training manuals across the country—”Time is always on your side.”

It’s a comforting thought. It implies that patience, control, and de-escalation will always win. In certain scenarios—like true barricaded suspects or stable hostage negotiations—taking time may be an asset. But in adversarial situations, where opponents are maneuvering against us, that phrase isn’t just false. It can be lethal.

To understand why, we need to turn to a name more common in fighter pilot briefings than patrol cars: Lt. Col. John Boyd. His theory of decision-making under pressure, known as the OODA Loop, should be required study for every law enforcement officer who wears a badge and carries a gun. The four parts that many speak of are just a surface glance at the depth of Lt. Col. Boyd’s work, and it is encouraged to study beyond this level.

The OODA Loop: Decision-Making in Combat

Boyd’s OODA Loop stands for:

  • Observe
  • Orient
  • Decide
  • Act

It’s a cycle we all go through—constantly. You take in data (observe), make sense of it based on your experience and mental models (orient), choose a course of action (decide), and then execute (act). But here’s the kicker: whoever can go through this loop faster—or disrupt their opponent’s loop—wins.

That’s why fighter pilots who internalized Boyd’s theory routinely defeated more experienced adversaries. It’s also why in law enforcement, time isn’t a luxury—it’s a contested resource.

Adversarial Time: You Are Not the Only One Thinking

In a non-adversarial setting—say, talking a mentally ill person down from a ledge—taking time may be fine. But when someone intends to do harm, they have a OODA loop too. They’re processing, planning, adapting. This is where tactical cunning comes into play—recognizing that your adversary is not static but actively maneuvering against you. Tactical cunning requires not only understanding your options but anticipating theirs, staying one step ahead in both thought and action. You make reasonable inferences to do so.

Every second you hesitate isn’t “time on your side”—it’s time in their hands. In an adversarial setting, time is fuel for maneuver.

Situational Awareness Must Be Accompanied by Situational Understanding

It is not enough to see the situation developing; understanding the broader context, the trajectory of the threat, and the decision-space you occupy is what allows you to influence outcomes. Situational awareness alone will get you killed if you cannot interpret and act upon what you see. Every action or indecision matters. Not picking a course of action is still a decision.

COA Development, MPCOA, and MDCOA: Orient With Intent

One tool to sharpen orientation is Course of Action (COA) Development, especially when it incorporates Most Probable Course of Action (MPCOA) and Most Dangerous Course of Action (MDCOA). By examining the most likely outcome and preparing for the worst-case scenario simultaneously, officers can narrow their decision points and act proactively.

The intersection of MPCOA and MDCOA is where decisive action is often required. When these courses of action begin to converge, you are approaching, or already at, Bang. Waiting longer doesn’t create safety—it creates advantage for your adversary.

Uvalde: When Time Was Weaponized Against Us

The 2022 Uvalde school shooting is a heartbreaking example of time being misused. Law enforcement on the scene waited for “resources” and “plans.” Meanwhile, the shooter moved unopposed for 77 minutes. He wasn’t stuck in his OODA loop—responders were.

Each passing minute gave him initiative, freedom, and control. Officers observed but failed to properly orient. The belief that “we have time” prevented decisive action. Children bled out because we forfeited time.

Las Vegas Mass Shooting: When Speed Was Critical

In contrast, during the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, officers inside Mandalay Bay rapidly closed in on the shooter’s position after determining the source of fire. Although it was too late to stop the initial carnage, the speed of their response disrupted the shooter’s loop. His ability to re-engage or shift positions was neutralized.

Time wasn’t on anyone’s side—but using it aggressively rather than passively limited the damage.

When Time Becomes a Trap

There is no default mode when it comes to time management within an incident. Certain tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) have been developed in response to known threats—such as hostage rescues or active shooter events—where “lockdown” or “wait” strategies are clearly failing to stop ongoing injury or death.

However, many service calls or proactive police contacts are filled with unknowns. Officers step into these evolving environments while trying to read, assess, and understand the situation—only for events to escalate quickly, often violently. In those moments, officers are thrust into a deadly race: catch up, get ahead, or get hurt.

A multitude of dynamic factors lie beyond an officer’s span of control. These variables—controlled by other people or unpredictable forces—must be interpreted using training, experience, and best practices. Officers are forced to weigh the probable against the possible. What are the subject’s intentions? What’s the best-case versus worst-case outcome? How prepared am I? What perceived risks justify a given response? How much time do I have—and what tools are available?

It’s a complex and rapidly shifting mental equation. Often, the decision comes down to what comes to mind first—because there’s no time for deliberation.

Volumes of research have examined this challenge. From Dr. Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow, to Dr. Gary Klein’s work on Recognition-Primed Decision-Making, and the contributions of both the Naturalistic Decision-Making and Heuristics and Biases communities, one truth is clear: time pressure warps cognition.

“Time is on your side?” Occasionally it might feel that way—but that’s rare. Time is a valued resource only when it’s available. More often, officers are chasing it—trying to keep up with a rapidly unfolding event.

As trainers, we should stop repeating this myth and embrace that time doesn’t choose sides. It is a constraint—a measurement—within which behaviors and actions play out. Use it wisely.

Tactical Patience vs. Hesitation

Tactical patience is not hesitation. Tactical patience is deliberate, measured, and flexible. It enhances the “Observe” and “Orient” phases by allowing more complete mental modeling. But it is not a free pass to inaction. Tactical patience still operates under the awareness that your adversary is a ruthless opportunist. Tactical cunning requires understanding not just your options, but also anticipating your adversary’s. It is about controlling time and space—not surrendering it.

Decision-Making Latency and the B+A=D Algorithm

Human Terrain Mapping Behavior Pattern Recognition (HTMBPR) uses a decision-making algorithm where Baseline + Anomaly = Decision (B+A=D). Every observed behavior or environmental cue should either reinforce or deviate from the expected baseline. When anomalies stack—especially when they reach the “Rule of Three”—the need for action becomes non-negotiable. Action should be based not only on policy, but also the mental rehearsal and pattern recognition built through experience.

The faster you establish and complete the OODA cycle, the more Adaptability and Resiliency you build. Hesitation under pressure can often be traced back to corrupt file folders—training scars—or feedback loops that reinforce non-action. These must be recognized and addressed through realistic training and scenario-based repetitions.

Decision-making latency is an inevitable part of human performance. It naturally takes time to cycle through the OODA Loop. However, experience, training, knowledge, skills, and abilities dramatically reduce that time. The faster and more accurately you can process through the loop, the more likely you are to seize initiative. If you can out-cycle your adversary, time truly can be on your side.

OODA Loop in Law Enforcement: Speed Kills (Or Saves)

Every armed encounter is a race through the OODA loop. Let’s break it down:

  • Observe: The suspect reaches for something at their waistband.
  • Orient: You recognize body language consistent with weapon draws.
  • Decide: Do you issue commands? Move to cover? Draw your own weapon?
  • Act: You commit.

Now imagine the suspect has already looped once before you even begin. They observed you, oriented around your slow posture, decided to attack, and are halfway through acting by the time your brain hits “orient.”

That’s how officers die in “routine” stops.

Shattering the Myth: Scenarios Where Time Kills

  1. Domestic Violence Calls These are emotional pressure cookers. Waiting outside too long gives an armed suspect time to rehearse, reposition, or escalate. Quick control of the scene often prevents hostage-taking or homicide.
  2. Active Shooters There is no “safe perimeter” when someone is actively murdering innocents. The first officers must move fast, forcefully, and with clarity. Every second they wait is a second someone dies.
  3. Ambush Situations Cops are increasingly targeted. When ambushed, retreat and reassess if needed—but do not freeze. Movement disrupts the attacker’s loop. Aggressive counteraction reclaims initiative.

Time is Neutral: Use It or Lose It

Here’s the truth: Time doesn’t take sides.

In adversarial settings, it behaves like a currency. You can spend it to gain advantage—or lose it while your opponent maneuvers. The idea that it’s “on your side” lulls officers into delayed reactions, over-processing, and death by hesitation.

Boyd argued that the key to survival and victory is:

“Getting inside the adversary’s OODA loop.”

This means acting faster than they can process. It doesn’t mean reckless speed—but deliberate momentum.

How Do We Fix It?

  1. Kill the Phrase Remove “time is on our side” from the training lexicon. Replace it with: “Time is a contested space—use it well.”
  2. Train for Faster Orientation Use scenario-based training that forces officers to recognize context quickly. A fast OODA loop depends heavily on the orient phase.
  3. Push Tactical Agility Officers need flexibility—not rigidity. The ability to shift tactics mid-engagement is what separates survivors from victims.
  4. Reinforce Initiative-Based Tactics Especially in active shooter and violent warrant scenarios. Your goal is to out-cycle your opponent—to force them to react to you.

Conclusion: Reality Isn’t Comforting

The law enforcement world is filled with platitudes meant to calm nerves and build confidence. But comfort kills when it blinds us to competitive realities. The next time someone says, “time is always on our side,” ask yourself:

Whose OODA loop is spinning faster right now? Am I shaping the situation—or being shaped by it?

The person who owns the loop owns the fight. And time, in a gunfight or high-threat engagement, is nothing more than a battlefield. The one who dominates it survives.

Stop waiting. Start maneuvering.

About the authors

Michael E. Musengo is a retired Police Training Commander and Director of a mid-sized Regional Police Academy in upstate NY, Mike has studied and implemented non-traditional and empirically supported methods of training which optimize long term learning, retention, and skill transfer into the LEO training experience. His focus is on how we can help each other become more competent instructors, coaches, and leaders within our industry. Mike is also known for his experience in LE tactical operations. With 27 years as an active Swat officer, Lead Trainer, Lead firearms instructor and Team Leader, he has developed and implemented numerous training courses within the tactical, RBT, MCI/RTF & firearms domain. Mike is best known for his work with Force Science in many capacities including instructor in these highly esteemed courses across the US.

Lynn L. Westover is a partner/co-founder SLC Squared. Lynn has over 25 years of experience in intelligence and counterterrorism, with 12 years in USMC Special Operations (Force Recon, Scout Sniper). Aside from several combat tours, Lynn was a Military Formal School Instructor, Master Instructor Certified, and Curriculum Developer. He was one of the first Marines to participate in the Combat Hunter limited objective experiment and ultimately became an instructor for Combat Hunter, ASAT, SOFSAT, and IT-SAT. Lynn is a highly sought-after behavior pattern recognition expert who also serves as a Team Member/Evaluator for USASOC/NSW unnamed covert surveillance & counter-surveillance asymmetric operations. He holds a secret security clearance and is pursuing his degree in Criminal Justice, focusing on Homeland Security at Southern New Hampshire University.

Lon D. Bartel is the owner of Verstand Tactical Consulting, LLC and is the Principal Researcher for VirTra, a leading-edge simulation and training company in the Military and Law Enforcement space. With over 20 years of law enforcement training experience, he focuses on enhancing officer and trainer performance. Lon was recognized as a subject matter expert in firearms and defensive tactics by the State of Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). He is a founding member and lifetime advisor of the Arizona Tactical Officers Association (ATOA) and an internationally certified instructor with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). Lon earned his Master’s in Applied Exercise Science from Concordia University-Chicago and his Bachelor’s from Arizona State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in General Psychology with an emphasis on Performance Psychology.