More Tips For Cops…From Cops

Here’s some of what we received:

Lt. Larry Zimmerman, with the Ceredo (WV) PD wrote:

What is your life worth? Investing $500-$1000 a year to improve your skills is worth your life! Do not rely on your department to provide all of your training! Train on your own time and dime. The investment is worth it!

Major Kevin Savant with the Lafayette Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office responded:

Remember that there will always be more good in the world than evil, and as a law enforcement officer, it is your duty to keep it that way!

From Chief Patrick Finlon with the Cary (IL) PD:

Everything is cyclical – public sentiment, legislation, drug use, inter-agency interactions, etc. Don’t dwell on the current negative issues, but focus on the future and strive for improvement – personally and for your organization.

Trust but verify – I’ll attribute this to President Ronald Reagan.

Lt. Don Black, a retired Lieutenant from the Aurora (CO) PD commented:

Rule 22 (“Remember the golden rule of cuffing: cuff and then search”) is wrong and is getting officers killed. You should search first and then cuff. This shows that we haven’t learned much in law enforcement. Just like we are using the same tired tactics in crowd control that are getting us sued. Thousands of officers who learned Robert Koga’s system understood and used his system that taught searching first unless you were in a fight already or were doing a prone arrest with your gun in your hand. This guidance has saved countless officers.

There are multiple reasons to search first. First, in most systems, you generally cannot accomplish solid control with one hand and cuff with the other. Since a large percentage of resistances start when you go to cuff, it would be nice to know that he can’t easily grab a weapon. You always want to get your hand on the weapon before he does. If you are preoccupied with cuffing and he draws a weapon with one free hand, you are at a great disadvantage. This has caused many officer deaths, and the average department has just ignored it.

If you only search when you have cuffed, then you lose the ability to safely search when cuffing is not yet required. You end up doing silly little pat downs from the front that allow him to pull away and pull his gun. Action beats reaction. If I find the gun and get my hand on it before you decide to resist, then I have a better fighting chance. If I go to cuff and have not searched, and you begin to resist, I will be at a disadvantage. Ask yourself whether you would rather fight with someone who is unarmed or someone who is armed and may pull the weapon at any point. I can certainly agree that you have better control when the suspect is cuffed. Some systems brag about being able to get the suspect cuffed in two seconds. The time it takes for a suspect to draw a weapon is far less than two seconds. The time it will take you to draw your weapons is greater than the time it will take him to surprise you. Action beats reaction. I could go on.

However, I realize that most of this will be lost on those who are set in their ways or those who don’t know better and are not willing to really examine the subject. Study the shootings and you will find many cases where the suspect shot the officer while the officer was trying to cuff. I know that Koga’s system saved many lives.

Detective (ret.) Dana Orent with the Pasadena (CA) PD wrote:

1. Although difficult, try to have some friends who aren’t in LE.
   2. Most important, seek counseling/therapy etc. if you’re feeling too sad, too low, too depressed, too angry etc. (it’s not weak, it’s a sign of strength to understand when you need some help or guidance)

Officer Dan King (ret.) From the St. Paul (MN) PD responded:

These are awesome. As I read them, I thought, “Wait what about….?” And then it was there. I would just add, admit when you are wrong. It sucks to do it but it makes you a stronger person and officer. I have admitted mistakes to everyone including suspects in certain situations. Learn and move on.

Another tip is to tape a cuff key to the underside of your belt behind your back in case you ever get taken and cuffed.

Lastly, DON’T call out traffic stops after the car is stopped. You’re trapped in a bullet magnet. Anticipate your location a block or two ahead. The second your car goes into park, GET OUT. Even if you’re a block off, as long as backup can see your car from where you called it, you’re good. Be safe.

Finally, Capt. Ted Koehl who retired from the Gloucester Co. (VA) SO wrote:

Always do a debrief of every call whenever practical, by yourself, and with fellow officers on the call. What could have been done better? Weigh the pros and cons. Evaluate and always try to do better. It is part of practical practice.

Have more tips? Keep them coming! Visit Calibre Press to add your comments.