What distance should you maintain from a knife-wielding suspect?

• A. 60 feet
• B. 5 feet
• C. 30 feet
• D. 10 feet

Answer: (C)

Maintaining a safe buffer helps you stay out of immediate reach while you assess, de-escalate, and respond. A 30‑foot gap gives you time to observe the suspect’s movements, issue clear commands, and move to cover or disengage if needed. It also reduces the chance of a sudden close-range lunge or swipe compromising your safety. Being much closer—5 or 10 feet—adds the risk that the knife could reach you before you can react. Being far away—60 feet—can make it harder to monitor the situation and control the encounter. So 30 feet is the practical, recommended distance in this scenario.