Tips and Tricks
Use a real line for the 9-step walk and turn. Parking lots have painted straight lines for stalls, and roadsides have painted white fog lines. Whatever you find, it's much better to have a real line for SFST evaluations and for court purposes. Take a picture to show the judge, if you can. (Photo iStockPhoto)
Tips for Alcohol Enforcement Officers
Put these in your Labor Day duty arsenal
- 2009 Sept 4
Safety Tips and Tricks
Tips for Alcohol Enforcement Officers
Safe traffic tactics that will increase your chances for success in court and enhance officer safety.
Drive to Survive: Winter Driving
The safest way to handle snow and ice is to not drive in it. However, for law enforcement officers, this is not an option.
Low Light Threat Management
Is it conceivable that one may attempt to merely activate the light and unintentionally fire the gun? In the perfect storm of stress and confusion, the answer, unfortunately, is yes.
Tactical Ops: Terror, Again
There's a time to talk and a time to fight. Administrators and street officers must know the difference.
Drive to Survive: Roadway Safety
On average, one officer is killed each month while standing in the roadway, and countless others are injured.
Tactics: Tactics for Traffic Management
I see more Oakleys on the faces of traffic officers than I do whistles. Whistles are great attention getters especially for smaller-statured officers.
Hiring Tip: Why be interested in new hiring & promotional processes?
New recruits with high scores on a valid hiring exam perform much better in training academies and on the job as a trained officer.
DRIVE TO SURVIVE: Tire Deflation Deployment
Knowing how long it takes to deploy the device and obtain cover/concealment will help the officer choose a location well ahead of the suspect.
Tactics: Tactics for Survival Writing
It isn't enough that you were right in your force applications on the street; you have to explain why you were right.
DRIVETOSURVIVE: Night Driving
For law enforcement, driving at night is a necessity. Although it is more dangerous, you can take steps to lessen the risk associated with it.
Carry Two Wallets
Carry two wallets while off duty, one containing all your civilian things and one with your badge and police ID. There may come a time when you have to throw a wallet out and you don't want that big piece of tin clunking down in front of a crackhead with a gun.
Rotating Ammo
Rotating your ammunition and magazines gives your springs a chance to rest. And when the springs do give out, it's cheaper to replace the springs than to replace the magazines.
Safety Tip: Transporting Arrestees
Every month we hear of an arrestee or prisoner somewhere who managed to get their cuffed arms to the front and assaulted an officer, sometimes with tragic results.
Safety Tip: Check the Chamber
If you’ve been on the job for any time, you probably know someone who’s been out on duty and discovered their gun wasn’t loaded.
Safety Tip: Move Closer to the Target
Why? Because most gunfights occur at pretty close distances, maybe 10 feet apart.
Safety Tip: Enhance Your Range Training
Next time you’re practicing on the range, here’s a way to greatly enhance the survival usefulness of that training at no additional cost and with no additional time.
Safety Tip: Simulated-Weapon Safety
Airsoft guns. Airsoft guns and projectiles are inexpensive, and since they are non-marking rounds, there’s no requirement for a special training facility.
Safety Tip: Avoiding Negligent Discharges
There’s an old saying that goes “There are two kinds of shooters—those who have had negligent discharges, and those who will.”
Featured Columnist
Reload Strips
It’s almost universal that an officer carries two reloads on the uniform. Most officers will have spare ammo in their briefcase, jump bag and, if they have a take-home car, in the trunk.In Memoriam
Arrests in Killing of Las Vegas Officer
"His death is considered to be in the line of duty, since he pulled his weapon," Officer Barbara Morgan said.Bullethead
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