By Sgt Rick Anderson (ret), MScOL
In the ever-evolving landscape of law enforcement, two often-underestimated traits can make the difference between life and death: situational awareness and curiosity. While the former is widely taught and emphasized in police training, the latter, curiosity, is rarely acknowledged as the powerful tactical asset it truly is. But when these two work together, they sharpen our perception, refine our judgment, and help us detect danger before it becomes deadly. If we as law enforcement understand this critical relationship, we will be much safer and more effective at serving our communities.
So, What is Situational Awareness?
At its core, situational awareness is the ability to perceive your environment, comprehend what’s happening, and project what might happen next. It’s a dynamic cycle: observe, orient, decide, and act—constantly. It means knowing who is around you, what they’re doing, how they’re reacting, what doesn’t belong, and what could change at a moment’s notice.
It’s not paranoia. It’s not hypervigilance. It’s maintaining professional vigilance, being calm, alert, and having a fluid understanding of your environment at all times. This is the case whether you’re on a traffic stop, walking into a domestic disturbance, sitting in your cruiser, or just grabbing a quick bite.
The Missing Link: Curiosity
Curiosity is the mental engine that fuels good situational awareness. This is true in both our professional and private lives. It is a natural by-product of really recognizing what is and is not out of place. Thus, in law enforcement, it’s not just about asking questions; it’s about intentionally noticing those subtleties we might otherwise miss or dismiss. In essence, it’s about wondering why with a purpose:
- “Why is that guy walking away as soon as he saw me/us?”
- “Why does this person avoid direct eye contact?”
- “Why is this involved person’s story so different from that of another involved person’s?”
- “Why is that car parked awkwardly in a vacant lot or down a darkened street or alley?”
- “Why do I feel like something’s off here?”
These aren’t just idle thoughts; they’re natural components of critical thinking. Curiosity drives us to look deeper, view things more critically, ask more thoughtful and meaningful questions, and ultimately stay one step ahead of what may cause us harm. It’s what separates the complacent from the proactive, and in many cases, the victor from the victim.
The Situational Awareness and Curiosity Connection
The connection between the two is simple: situational awareness helps us see the puzzle, and curiosity helps us solve it. An officer with strong awareness might see the guy loitering near a closed store late at night. An officer with situational awareness and curiosityis already asking themselves meaningful questions, “Why is he there? What’s in his hands? Is he aware I am seeing him? ” They are thinking critically to process the informational puzzle they have identified and thinking strategically to solve it effectively and safely.
That question-driven mindset keeps the brain active, engaged, and alert. It encourages officers to challenge assumptions, spot inconsistencies, recognize patterns, and recognize the pieces of the puzzle that do not fit.
Training the Curious Mind
The value of training a curious mind cannot be overstated. Most training focuses on observation skills: scan your surroundings, look for threats, check their hands, and assess body language. But we must also train officers to be mentally inquisitive. Encourage them to:
- Dig into why something feels off.
- Notice when behavior contradicts context.
- Question routines and patterns.
- Understand the “why” behind the “what.”
Instructors should frame curiosity not as doubting everything, but as professional mindfulness. It’s not a lack of trust; it’s a habit of thinking that says, “I will not overlook the small stuff, because the small stuff often saves lives.”
Curiosity Enhances Officer Safety and Community Engagement
The benefits go beyond tactical survival. Curiosity builds better community interactions. Those of you who are old enough to know who the fictional LAPD detective sergeant Joe Friday is, know his signature line, “just the facts,” made for great television, but would be utterly ineffective in today’s policing. When officers are genuinely curious, not just checking boxes, they listen more attentively, respond more intelligently, and build better rapport. They demonstrate a genuine interest in what is being said, learning what the issue is, and why it matters.
People can tell the difference between a cop who’s just “doing the job” and one who’s engaged. Curiosity helps us dig deeper with victims, witnesses, and even suspects. It opens doors, breaks down barriers, and builds trust.
A Word of Caution: Channel Curiosity with Discipline
While curiosity is powerful, it must be paired with emotional discipline and sound tactics. An overly curious officer who gets too caught up in the weeds chasing a hunch can easily lose situational awareness and miss threats they would otherwise recognize. Curiosity should never override officer safety; it should enhance it.
Final Thoughts: The Curious Warrior
Situational awareness keeps your eyes open. Curiosity keeps your mind open. Together, they form the foundation of a tactically intelligent officer, one who sees the scene for what it is and also for what it could become. Curiosity ensures you don’t miss the subtle cues, and situational awareness helps you act appropriately when they emerge. So I challenge you to train both, and sharpen both. If you’re a trainer, leader, or line officer reading this, challenge yourself and your team: Don’t just look, actually see. Don’t just listen, actually hear. Always be aware, always be curious, and please always endeavor to be safe!