In 1983, Dennis Tueller penned an article for SWAT magazine called "How Close is Too Close?" In that publication, he suggested that being within 21 feet of a suspect armed with a knife was the "danger zone." Tueller's thinking was this: MythBusters recently ran an episode where they "test" bringing a knife to a gunfight, or some such nonsense. Here is their recreation … [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...]
There I was, minding my own business…
Bluesheepdog has been emphasizing officer safety issues since its inception. Recently articles, videos, and stories from other sources have emphasized the dangerous job law enforcement has especially in the difficult times we live in now. Richard has posted the FBI research findings from interviews with prisoners who have felonious assaulted and killed officers. Videos have … [Read more...]
Kentucky v. King: Supreme Court on Exigent Circumstances
Note: The information provided here is from a former police officer and is not legal advice. You should not rely on anything here to make any cases. Contact your department's legal representative for legal advice. On May 16, 2011, the United States Supreme Court officially ruled on an exigent circumstances case brought forth in Kentucky v. King. The Court held that, “The … [Read more...]
NRA’s Law Enforcement Activities Division
There was a time, not too long ago, that most police officers were hunters and NRA members. As the country has become more urbanized, there have been fewer officers that have been involved in hunting and the shooting sports. And while the National Rifle Association membership numbers have been climbing, it seems that fewer officers in my region have been actively … [Read more...]
Field Training Officer Burnout: A Real Problem in Many Agencies
Field Training and Evaluation Programs (FTEP) are the foundations that police agencies use to build quality, career police officers. When a recruit officer is teamed up with motivated, knowledgeable field training officers, that recruit stands a very good chance of becoming a motivated, knowledgeable officer also. The often overlooked benefit of a quality FTEP program is 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...]
Is the Use of Light a Use of Force?
Several years ago, I read an article called "Use of Force and High Intensity Tactical Police Flashlights: Policy Concerns." Since then I have seen it re-printed in various other locations. In the article, R. Paul McCauley, Ph.D., a criminology professor at a university in Pennsylvania, opines that: I don't know what background, if any, McCauley has in modern police … [Read more...]
Roadside Safety: Danger From Passing Vehicles
Making a so-called routine traffic stop poses a lot of potential hazards for a police officer. Officers rarely know the occupants of the vehicle, or what danger they may pose. So, academies and department in-services teach their officers safety and survival skills to give the officer the best possible advantage when dealing with a threat from inside that car. However, not … [Read more...]
Car 54…Where Are You?: Update Your Dispatchers on Your Location
I know... it seems like a no-brainer. When you get out of the patrol car, let your dispatchers know where you are. Recruit officers have this drilled into their heads by their FTOs, and we know it makes sense. After all, you never know what may happen at any given moment, and in the middle of a fight is not a good time to start trying to give dispatch you location. However, … [Read more...]