In a rear mount scenario, how should an officer protect themselves?

In a rear mount scenario, keeping hands around the head is an important protective measure for an officer. This position helps guard against potential strikes or grabs by an opponent, particularly in a situation where being mounted from behind may expose vital areas such as the head and neck. By positioning hands around the head, the officer creates a barrier that can help absorb and deflect blows while also preparing to transition into defensive or escape maneuvers.

Maintaining this defensive posture allows for increased situational awareness and readiness to react to the attacker’s movements. The other options, while they may seem plausible in different contexts, do not offer the same level of protection or strategic readiness that the hands-around-the-head position does in a rear mount scenario.