(Ed. note – This is the second in a multi-part series on flashlight tactics. Click here to see part I on flashlight tactics and here for part II on flashlight tactics.)

LIGHTS OUT! TECHNIQUES FOR DARKNESS

There are times when remaining in near darkness is actually a great advantage to officers. Here are a few situations where being in near darkness is actually a benefit:

• Maintaining a perimeter position.
• Moving through open areas that offer little cover and are exposed to the suspect.
• Crossing fatal funnels.
• Moving through fatal funnels.
• Hiding from your supervisor … uh, wait, different article!

When on perimeter duty for trying to lock down a fleeing criminal it could definitely be advantageous to remain in near darkness and allow our sense of hearing or smell to assist us. Standing around with a light on full-time may be beneficial if we are absolutely certain the perimeter was set up in time. In that case the light should lock the suspect down, or at least identify his flight path. If we aren’t sure, or we’re dealing with a known armed suspect, then setting up a perimeter in darkness may be more appropriate.

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(Ed. note – This is the second in a multi-part series on flashlight tactics. Click here to see part I on flashlight tactics.)

USING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY (ON/OFF MODE)

The intermittent use of light is one of the most advantageous methods of flashlight use for law enforcement, but also one of the most misunderstood and misused methods. With this technique, officers should only be turning their flashlights on for a brief lighting, or making rapid on/off switches of their flashlight. Here are some examples where intermittent light is needed:

• Initial lighting for areas of concern to the officer.
• Lighting an area that the officer is preparing to move into.
• Communicating to other officers areas they should focus on, or to communicate the direction of travel for officers.
• Relighting an area after making a movement in total darkness.
• Making quick peek observations into unknown areas.
• Engaging a hostage taker during an emergency action movement.

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(Ed. note – This is the first in a multi-part series on flashlight tactics.)

There have been tremendous advances in flashlight technology over that last decade, and law enforcement has greatly benefited from the many new features that can be found on relatively inexpensive flashlights. Along with those advances have come new techniques for using an old familiar friend.

Manufacturers like Streamlight, Surefire, Blackhawk, Maglite, Insight, and others have started making smaller, lighter flashlights with incredibly higher light output. These new lights are much smaller, usually only 4-5 inches long and about 1-inch in and no bigger than the average person’s palm. Instead of heavy D-cell batteries, cops went to AA and the new CR123 batteries. And the newer lights introduced a thumb-activated on/off switch on the tail cap.

Advancements in bulb technology has led in the direction of LED or similar bulbs that create even higher light output, with the benefit of longer lasting run time. With the LED advancement, flashlights have added different light settings including high output, low output, and even strobe and dimming functions on some lights.

In this article I hope to explore some of the benefits of the smaller “tactical” flashlights, and combine that with some low-light techniques that every patrol officer should be familiar with to succeed in the dark.

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