A model to assess one's ability to apprehend and restrain a resisting suspect in police work

The purpose of this study was to develop a test model that could be used to predict the ability to apprehend and restrain resisting suspects in police work. Five experts in the martial arts and in personal defense tactics agreed on a competitive task that would measure those physical qualities involved in making an arrest but would require minimal skill. Subjects were college-aged males (n = 32) and females (n = 12). The criterion task was competition between individuals who attempted to push or pull each other out of a 5-ft circle. A step-wise multiple regression analysis revealed that five variables were sufficient to predict performance. It was concluded that the model is appropriate for developing a criterion-related validity test for screening job applicants in police work where apprehending and restraining resisting suspects are important.