Mastery of defensive tactics involves the ability to effectively apply a specific technique in an uncontrolled environment regardless of the variations presented to the individual. Outcome-based evaluation requires the identification of key skills and concepts within any domain performed. The criteria would allow for the recruit to make a mistake within any given problem, and correct the error with additional or different efforts, just like in the field. A comprehensive, outcome-based approach to academy evaluation is presently being explored in Michigan. The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) currently has a committee of police defensive tactics instructors working to revamp the State’s old method of evaluating a student’s “technique” in favor of outcome-based evaluations. The committee is developing statewide standards for the evaluation of police recruit defensive tactics in academies. They are creating conceptual testing criteria for the recruit dealing with a more realistic type of evaluation, based on real world requirements in 12 skill domains within the defensive tactics knowledge block. They are hoping to have the new system in place by late 2001. An evaluation process should be adopted that recognizes the reality of an officer’s physical struggle as a chaotic, desperate encounter with an outcome that can go either way. By basing the evaluation criteria on more realistic tenets of the outcome of the recruit’s efforts at controlling a suspect, a more realistic picture of problem solving capabilities by the recruit can be observed. The days of technical examinations where failure is defined as not remembering a technique or failing to follow a specific sequence of a defined technique seem to be numbered.