Following our recent series that shared foundational survival tips all officers – regardless of time on the job – should review and remember, readers from around the country wrote in to share their own. Here’s some of what we received:
Chief Patrick Finlon with the Cary (IL) PD writes:
Old school “Officer Down, Code Three” by Pierce Brooks common contributory procedural errors:
Failure to maintain proficiency and care of equipment, improper search and use of handcuffs, failure to position oneself properly, failure to watch suspects’ hands, failure to remain alert and awake, failure to wait for assistance and preoccupation and apathy.
They’re tried and true.
Major Troy Hanenkratt with the Independence (MO) PD writes:
It probably goes without saying but should be said anyways; If you are having an instructor grab ahold of your firearm to practice retaining as you suggest, (this is training and make sure the weapon has been downloaded or use a “redman” gun (#12 weapon retention).
Also, #14 practicing emotional survival; I would argue against the phrase don’t “use drugs or copious amounts of alcohol”. This gives the impression that some amount of drinking is ok. That can be a slippery slope which may start off as one drink and turn into the copious amounts of alcohol that you refer to.
Sgt. Jesus Rodriguez with Fayetteville, NC PD
Good read! I am a paranoid person by nature. As the article states, complacency is a killer. Not being aware of your surroundings can be fatal; not knowing what you are about to get into can also be deadly.
Remember that the 911 operator gets information from a source that is not verified or vetted; the person may be lying to get a police kill. 75% of the information given by dispatch is not accurate until you learn more from the reporting party. Especially during traffic stops. You do not know the state of mind of the driver, who the driver is, or what the driver has done minutes or hours before you stopped them.
Always question the why–why something happens and why the person does what they did without offending or insulting their intelligence. Learn human behavior as you progress through your career. That is what has kept me on my toes since I began my career in law enforcement.
EVOC Instructor Bill Garrett with the Allan Hancock College Law Enforcement Academy in Lompoc, CA, who also served as an officer with the Pismo Beach (CA) PD writes:
I would suggest adding a 15th item: ALWAYS drive like your life depends on it.
Law enforcement officers should develop and always use good driving habits so that when top notch driving skills are needed in something like a Code 3 response or a pursuit they are available to the officer. These habits include:
– Always using the shuffle steering technique to steer.
In addition to keeping a person’s hands and arms out of the air bag deployment zone the shuffle steering technique makes steering input smoother, and therefore safer and more efficient.
This technique feels foreign to a driver when it is first introduced; but, consistent practice both in an officer’s patrol car AND personal vehicle will soon produce great results and eliminate that feeling.
– Always maintain a high visual horizon.
Maintaining a high visual horizon includes more than just looking far down the road in front of the car. It also entails looking at and clearing intersections early, far in advance of actually reaching the intersection.
– Always maintain an adequate space cushion.
This includes maintaining space between the officer and car in front by observing the three-second rule AND ensuring space is available for evassive manuevers on each side of the car.
– Always drive with due regard, whether in your patrol car or personal vehicle, and whether or not you are driving Code 3.
This may entail yielding the right-of-way when legally the officer “owns” it. Always drive in such a manner that you are the reason a crash didn’t happen and not the cause of one.
– Always make big head turns when looking left and right, for example to clear an intersection.
In high stress situations an officer’s vision can be “tunneled” for a variety of reasons. In those situations an officer must employ big head turns to ensure the officer’s field of vision is wide enough to see approaching vehicles. If an officer hasn’t developed the habit of ALWAYS making big head turns it is likely the officer will not do it in those high stress situations and a crash can result.
– Always use the tactical seat belt technique to remove your seat belt at a safe time before you arrive at your destination.
While seat belt use is certainly recommended and encouraged to keep officers safe while driving; officers should remove a seat belt just prior to arriving at a dangerous situation. Officers who are seated in a patrol car, especially those whose seat belts are fastened, are extremely vulnerable to attacks from outside their vehicles and have limited options for fighting back if attacked.
Developing the habit of always wearing a seat belt while driving – and supplementing that habit by always tactically removing the seat belt at a time that is safe to do so before arriving at a destination – are two key ways to improve officer safety.
– Always watch your speed.
Speed is the number one cause of injuries and death in automobile crashes. Slowing your speed can dramatically improve your ability to survive a crash and lesson injuries.
– Always wear your vest on duty.
A vest can protect you from injuries from gunfire; and it can also help to protect you from or reduce injuries related to impacts during a crash.
I have emphasized the word “always” in my response because for the most part these safe driving habits should not only be practiced on duty, but in an officer’s personal vehicle as well. When an officer is driving their personal vehicle they are literally training themselves for driving their patrol cars. Each time a habit like those listed above is not used when an officer is driving their personal vehicle it is a training opportunity lost.
Sr. Instructor Roy Adams (ret.) formerly with the Firearms Training Unit of the Rochester (NY) PD writes:
All these are very true. Sometimes forgotten, which is when officers get hurt. As an FTO and Sr. Firearms Instructor, for over 30 years it was our job to reinforce some tactical discipline on the street cops. Nothing more dangerous than a 3-year rookie cowboy who thinks they invented police work.
It’s a dangerous job out there, but not working as a team will get you killed !
Det. John D. Borges (ret.) formerly with the Huntington Beach (CA) PD writes:
Many years ago I read an article by the famous Olympic diver Greg Louganis. That article dovetails into this months section. He spoke of “mental rehearsal” a technique he used on a regular bases. By thinking up situations and rehearsing mentally how I would handle them helped me immensely and I did not hesitate to mention this to my trainees. Greg’s article pointed out that experts have said that mental rehearsal has value and is almost as good as going through the physical exercise. Retired now, but work a part time security job and still use it.
Det. Jose Rogers (ret.) with the NYPD/Cape Coral (NY) PD writes:
When we first practiced car stops in the NYPD police academy one of the very first scenarios I observed was a car stop where a female was frantic in the back seat of a car as she got out her blouse was ripped and she came out saying she had been assaulted and needed help.
As she pleaded for help, she was able to get behind both officers as they officers concentrated on the vehicle and driver. After she was behind the officers she pulled out a cap gun and BAM, BAM ! “You’re both dead,” she said. Scenario Over!
Lesson learned everything is not always as it seems. She had ripped her own blouse and pretended to be a victim. Don’t let ANYONE get behind you Woman, Young, Old, Nobody !!!! I never forgot that.
By God’s grace I survived relatively unscathed 27 years on the job and now 22 years and counting in retirement. I pray that every officer goes home safely every day.
Lt. Glenn Marin (ret.), LAPD writes:
Repeated contacts with people produce a brain pattern recognition phenomenon. Most people we contact are relatively peaceful and follow, within averages, a pattern of behavior and response. Pay attention to any “brain message” that is recognizing behavior that is out of the norm. People who are a threat will act differently than the average peaceful person. Hunches or instinct feelings are the brains way of recognizing an out of norm behavior. In any contact, be very sensitive to such feelings.
Dr. Joel Shults who retired as Chief of Police from a Colorado agency comments:
Plan when you can – which is more often than you think. Include a plan for tactical disengagement and redeployment. Always be spotting safe spaces, i.e. cover.
Capt. Kerry Clark (ret.), Baton Rouge (LA) PD writes:
Officer Down, Officer Down!!! This is a bad situation obviously. What is also not so obvious to responding officers is “where is the threat”. The urge to rush straight in to the downed officer is strong but can also be deadly. Survey from distance and cover first. Treat it like an active shooter response. Find and eliminate the threat first making the scene safe or at least providing intelligence for a protected advance. Find the man with the rifle hiding nearby first so that we do not add to the casualty count. Don’t be a second, or third blue canary!
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