It is part and parcel for our profession that we, as officers and deputies, regularly interact with the local animals. Not always the human kind. Whether dealing with a cow on the freeway or a bear in a neighborhood, law enforcement officers face deadly encounters with animals that we are not necessarily trained or equipped to handle. Having worked in Florida, I am … [Read more...]
Citizens Deserve Better Trained Police Officers
I read a story last week about an East Dublin, Georgia police officer who shot and killed a man on a traffic stop. Without even touching the circumstances of the shooting, there was a serious training issue in the 2010 case. The officer had not been through state-mandated use of force training in the prior year, and because of that did not have the legal power … [Read more...]
Police Tactics Used Against the Police
As I was reading another officer down article the other day, it struck me that our own tactics are the very ones being used so effectively against us. When I went to SWAT school in the late 80’s, most police teams visually resembled the British 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS). You know, black BDU’s, black balaclava hoods, black nylon load-bearing vests, black … [Read more...]
Minimize Your Risk in an Ambush
On Saturday, May 29, 2011, there were two separate criminal ambushes on law enforcement officers with different situations and results. In San Antonio, TX, Bexar County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kenneth Vann was responding to an accidental shooting call across town. While enroute to the call, he stopped in traffic at an intersection and was fired upon by the occupant(s) of … [Read more...]
Another Law Enforcement Training Death
In what has become an unbelievably hard circumstance to realize, another police officer has lost his life during a firearms training exercise. On September 15, 2010, St. Joseph, Missouri police officer Dan DeKraai was killed in the line of duty while attending force-on-force training for the Department’s SWAT Team. At the time of his death Officer DeKraai was a four year … [Read more...]
Berghuis v. Thompkins: Supreme Court Clarifies “Right to Remain Silent”
The US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) published its opinion in Berghuis v. Thompkins on Tuesday, stating that invoking the right to remain silent requires the suspect to make an actual announcement that he does not want to speak to the police. The right to remain silent is a major portion of the Miranda decision, as is the right to counsel. The court, clarifying the silence … [Read more...]
Medical Training and Trauma Kits
Ever thought about what you would do if you are shot? Stabbed? Ever considered what you would do if help was a long way off? If you work in a rural area, you may have considered that EMS may take 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or even longer to get to you. If you work in an urban area, those time delays may not seem possible, but they are. Consider the … [Read more...]
Combat Verbalization: Police Officers Should Train to Verbalize During Combat
An interesting thing happened the other day. I was acting as cover officer on a call regarding a drunk vagrant. In addition to the me and the other officer, two firefighter-EMTs and two paramedics were on scene. The paramedics had already made the decision to involuntarily transport the vagrant to a nearby hospital due to mental and medical reasons. As everyone else was … [Read more...]
In The Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob
In the Gravest Extreme by Massad Ayoob was a phenomenal book written by police training expert Massad Ayoob. Although the book is now out of print, the tome still holds many valuable lessons. Ayoob wrote this book as an introduction to the defensive use of firearms way back in 1980. Ayoob discusses the legal implications and practical aspects of owning and using a firearm … [Read more...]
Locked Doors and Lockdowns: Police Officer’s Response to Active Shooters
Spree killers - more often, but less accurately, called active shooters - are a real threat that police officers train to confront. Active shooter incidents have occurred at shopping malls, office buildings, and other locations, but one of the scariest locations is at a school. Many police departments have trained in, or at least familiarized their officers with, … [Read more...]