The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) recently published "30 Guiding Principles" the organization feels every American law enforcement agency should adopt to better handle the extremely controversial aspects of police use of force. We will closely examine the 30 Guiding Principles presented by PERF. Some are very good recommendations, but others appear horribly … [Read more...]
Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast
If you have been on the job for more than 5 years then you have likely heard the tactical training concept, slow is smooth and smooth is fast. I've been on our SWAT team for nearly 13 years, and I heard this saying early on in my training experience. I want to take a moment to break down the concept of the mantra; the good, the bad, and the ugly! I think there are a few … [Read more...]
The Trick to Training Cops
Two of the most common questions I get from officers around the country are: “How did you get started in training?” and “What is your advice for me (someone interested in training)?” Answering the first one is simple and it’s probably the same answer used by many instructors: “I kind of just fell into it.” My first ‘gig’ was assisting a PPCT Instructor Trainer friend … [Read more...]
Problem Solving in the Aftermath of Disaster
In 1989, I found myself staring down the throat of Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 hurricane which frequently gusted up to Category 5 status. My career had spanned a broad range of law enforcement experiences, but I quickly discovered how naïve I really was. The lessons learned didn’t come easy, but they proved invaluable in 1992 when I was dispatched to assist the Homestead (FL) … [Read more...]
Executive Leadership in Training
“No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair” - General George S. Patton Jr. Leadership in a law enforcement organization is every bit as important as it is in the military. Men and women in both organizations are asked to do hard things that most people shrink away from. A leader can motivate his or her people to act without hesitation in the face of grave … [Read more...]
PoliceOne.com’s Online Academy
During the past 40 years, video-based training for law enforcement has greatly evolved. Old videos were dry and boring – a “just the facts” presentation. In the ’80s, this began to change. J.D. “Buck” Savage was a fictional cop created by officer and trainer Dave Smith. The Buck Savage series of videos were humorous demonstrations of what not to do as a cop. No one who … [Read more...]
Death Notification: The Toughest Job in Law Enforcement
A 30-year-old man was killed in a traffic collision on his way home from work. It's 2:00 a.m, and you have been assigned to tell the man's wife this bad news. How do you prepare yourself? What will you say? How will you act? Does your agency have a death notification policy and procedure? Have you had refresher training to help you do your best? Are you prepared to deliver news … [Read more...]
StressVest: Next Step in Force on Force Training
StressVest Inc. is looking to revolutionize force-on-force training for law enforcement officers by eliminating many of the traditional problems associated with Simunitions, paintball and airsoft training. The StressVest concept is simple, but the execution would appear to be a real work of technological art. … [Read more...]
Officer Stabbed, Suspect Shot: Chase Video
In October, Lafayette, Indiana police officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit of a subject who was reported to have just committed a battery, burglary and arson. After a chase of approximately seven minutes, the subject left the roadway and got stuck, unable to flee any farther in the car. Here's what then happened in the next few seconds: … [Read more...]
Taser X2 Training – Follow-Up
In April, I wrote an article about the new Taser X2 and some of its proposed advances over Taser’s X26. I received a department-issued X2 yesterday and took the required block of Taser X2 training. I have a few thoughts. The X2 is slightly larger than the X26. From their spec sheet, the X2 is ½” longer, 1” taller, and ½” wider than an X26. It also weighs twice as much. … [Read more...]