Premeditatio Malorum (or the Premeditation of Evils) is a Stoic practice of envisioning worst-case scenarios. Stoics used it to prep for the worst, imagining life without their possessions, and thinking about how they’d handle it. As a young Officer, I did this naturally without knowing the fancy name for it. I was reading a book on how to “visualize success” and tried to put it into practice. I had the tendency to dwell on the negative in those days. Instead of visualizing success, I visualized everything going wrong on a call, then would play “If-Then” scenarios in my mind. It was a negative outlook, but in this case, it actually helped me out quite a bit. 

• If they pull a gun, Then I will seek cover and return fire
• If they complain about me, Then I’ll tell the Sgt what actually happened.
• If I don’t write down their name before I leave, Then I’ll run the tag on the car parked out front. 
• If I don’t know how to handle the call, Then I’ll call that Sr Officer who does
• If they run, Then I’ll set a perimeter on the radio.

I later learned that I was actually employing Premeditatio Malorum. As a Field Training Officer, I passed down the technique of Premeditation of Evils to my trainees. Before we hit the scene on low-priority calls, I’d have them stop the car and list out all the things they were worried might go wrong. Sometimes it took a little pushing and prodding, but eventually, they’d get into the game and start coming up with creative ways things could turn bad. I made it fun, by playing a game of seeing who could come up with the most disastrous scenarios. It was a drill that prepared them for anything that could happen on the job. A round of the Premeditatio Malorum Game might go a little something like this: 

Me– Go!

Trainee– They could shoot at the car when we pull up. 

Me– You could get bit by their pet rat. 

Trainee– I could get stumped by the call. It could be something I’ve never done. 

Me– You could forget to put the car in park and crash into the house. 

Trainee-The address could be hard to find. 

Me- You might not know which criminal charges apply to the case. 

Trainee– There could be a hostage situation. 

Me-They could be watching Porn at a high volume when we walk in. 

Trainee- I could get ambushed. 

Me- You could take crappy notes and struggle to write the report. 

Trainee- They might find out that I’m a rookie. (huge fear for some)

Me- You might fart during the interview. 

Trainee- I might forget to do something like read Miranda or notify a supervisor. 

Me- You might not be confident and they will laugh at you. 

Trainee-I might say the wrong thing on the radio. 

Me-They might answer the door naked, and there is no good naked at work. 

Trainee-They might be those cop filming people trying to set me up. 

Me-You might be walking up and someone has a heart attack. 

When I was training Officers, the Premeditatio Malorum game was a lifesaver. After a few rounds of the game, my trainees were better prepared for anything that could happen on the job. Playing the game often sparked questions in their mind, like “What do I do if they come to the door naked?” It wasn’t just helpful in getting trainees up to speed, it could be applied to other scenarios too.

In our proactive detail briefings, I make sure to practice Premeditatio Malorum. I ask the team, “What’s something we haven’t planned for?” This usually gets them thinking and helps them take ownership of the plan, making us a more prepared unit.

Every time I conduct a training or class, I play the Premeditatio Malorum game in my own head. I consider all the ways tech could fail, student behaviors that might go South, location issues, weather problems, scheduling conflicts, and equipment malfunctions. I prepare for anything that could go wrong. 

I once had a backup ready when I anticipated an equipment issue. When the worst happened, I was back on track in 60 seconds flat. I don’t remember what topic I was teaching that day, but the feedback on my class was AWESOME, with senior and seasoned officers giving me some of the best comments of my teaching career. 

Sometimes, people learn more from your example than your words. Premeditatio Malorum sets you up to be an outstanding example when it matters most. Hopefully, you’ll give it a try and it helps you get ready for the worst. 

For more ways to apply Stoic philosophy to modern policing head over to StreetStoic.com. My content is always free, and you don’t need to sign up for anything. 

Be Safe out there 

-Sgt Steve  

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