In many encounters between an officer and an offender, the officer does not know the potential dangerousness of the offender or how the offender's perceptions of the officer may lead to an attack on the officer. The circumstances of the encounter can influence both the officer's and offender's perceptions of the other's threat to his/her safety. Although an officer may not have sufficient information about an offender to assess his/her dangerousness, particularly in a traffic stop, the officer's projection of alertness, vigilance, and professionalism can communicate to the offender that the officer is capable of countering any aggressive action by the offender. The officer is thus managing the perceptions of the offender in a way that increases officer safety. Training must continually teach officers, especially veteran officers who may become overconfident, that vigilance, attentiveness, and mental preparation are the key to appropriate defensive actions as circumstances change. Field training officers can help recruits project the proper image as they observe new officers' interactions with the public. First-line supervisors should monitor officers continually in order to ensure they are complying with departmental safety policies and practices. Managers must ensure that written polices and directives clearly describe safety policies.