What should an officer do if the suspect has them in the top guard position?

When a suspect has an officer in the top guard position, the most effective action for the officer to take is to escape, strike, or pass guard. This response is based on principles of defensive tactics and grappling, where maintaining control and reducing vulnerability is crucial.

In the top guard position, the suspect has a strategic advantage, potentially controlling the officer's movements and limiting their options for defense. Therefore, the officer must focus on regaining the upper hand by either escaping the position or transitioning to a more advantageous position. Striking the suspect can also serve as a distraction or a means of creating space to execute an escape or pass guard effectively.

Options that involve solely waiting for backup or challenging the suspect verbally may not effectively address the immediate physical threat posed by the suspect in the top guard position. Drawing a sidearm in a close, grappling scenario is not advisable, as it could lead to complications and increase the risk to the officer, as they may not have the needed space or control to safely draw their weapon.

Thus, the most tactical and effective response in this situation is to escape, strike, or pass guard, which aligns with the goals of defensive tactics to regain control and mitigate any threats.