The Art Of Verbal Judo

When the lights and sirens come on, police officers rarely feel like playing Mr. Nice Guy, but George Thompson says that's just wrong.

Thompson, who is also known as "Rhino," is an ex-cop who believes he can get almost anyone to do almost anything by talking to them. He teaches a

"I teach deflect and move," Thompson tells CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger. "So if you call me a name," I go 'Look, sir, I see that you're upset and I'm sorry you feel that way.'"

A theatrical, fast-talking sales job designed to convince people that they want to cooperate.

"You wouldn't hear an officer say, 'I'll kick your ass.' See, that's language that leads to conflict," says Thompson in his gravelly voice. "You'd hear the officer I teach say, 'Sir don't struggle, we don't want to hurt you.'"

In a nutshell, Rhino teaches it doesn't have to come to this if cops are clear about what they want, ignore insults and verbally push people to follow orders.

"I'm selling you compliance. Voluntary compliance," Thompson explains. Cops from all over the country want to learn it from Rhino.

Mike Lamb, a policeman in Asheville, N.C., admits, though, that Rhino's methods are far from ordinary. "It is tough to learn because it's not natural," Lamb says.

It's not that he looks for fights, but verbal judo, at first, didn't seem like quite enough for tough situations.

"Whenever somebody yells or curses at you, it's natural to want to yell and curse back," Lamb admits.

It may be natural, but Rhino says his way works better. "I am the only one in the country that teaches the art of (expletive)-- successful BS," Thompson claims.

Of course it probably helps if the officer looks like Rhino, whose shaved head and brawny frame make him a foreboding figure. But, he believes his technique will work for any cop who is willing to use a little shtick in place of a big stick.