If an officer is on his back, things have gone horribly wrong. Whether this occurred due to the officer losing his balance, the suspect tackling the officer, or the suspect connecting with a solid punch that knocks the officer to the ground, the officer needs to immediately transition from his back to a more dominant position. This is where the Talon by Active Control Tactics, Inc. comes in handy.
Officer Ross Torquato, a martial artist and defensive tactics instructor recognized that ground fighting was a skill requiring considerably more time and energy to attain proficiency in than most officers are willing to devote. Torquato reasoned that even officers skilled in ground fighting would be hindered by their duty belt, ballistic vest and other equipment, which significantly restricts their mobility. His desire to provide officers with a tool to help level the playing field during a ground fight was the impetus for the development of the Talon.
What is the Talon?
The Talon is a handheld controlling device reminiscent of a Kubaton or a Yawara stick. It is made of a plastic polymer and weighs only one ounce. Since the Talon has no moving parts, there is no chance of it malfunctioning when deployed. The Talon was designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and comes with a retention clip similar to what you would find on a tactical folding knife.
The Talon extends beyond the top and bottom of your fist and has a nodule that protrudes forward between the knuckles of your clinched fist. The Talon's unique shape enables officers to push, squeeze, or rub it into nerve centers/pressure points as well as strike effectively from any conceivable angle. The Talon doesn't require the officer to learn a myriad of new techniques. Instead, the Talon serves to intensify the effect of techniques an officer already knows.
Carrying the Talon
The Talon is typically carried clipped to the lapel of your shirt. This affords you better access to the Talon during ground fighting applications, since you may not be able access gear from your duty belt. Should you attempt to draw an item from your duty belt when the suspect is on top of you, your arm could be pinned by the suspect's leg. This not only nullifies the use of that arm but also exposes your head to strikes.
Conversely, reaching for the Talon clipped to your lapel when combined with tucking your chin to your chest could help shield your head from strikes. Another advantage of the lapel carry is that is allows you access to the Talon with either hand. When you consider that one hand may be trapped or busy retaining your firearm in its holster, the benefit of ambidextrous deployment is readily apparent.
Using the Talon
The Talon has wide variety of uses, including as a means of augmenting pressure point applications or joint manipulation-based control holds. In these circumstances, the Talon provides an additional pain stimulus which can prompt a suspect to comply. Yet, the Talon has a relatively low chance of causing significant injury when used in this manner.
Striking with the Talon usually involves short, rapid blows delivered from the ground or from a clinched position. When targeting non vital areas, these blows would likely constitute an intermediate force response, similar to the use of baton strikes, pepper spray, or an application of an electronic control device. However, delivering full force strikes, especially involving full hip rotation from a standing position, could be construed as deadly force, even when delivered to non-vital target areas. This is due to the likelihood of puncturing the skin and/or causing significant injury.
The Talon is a valuable tool from a firearm retention standpoint. Whether standing or on the ground, it can be drawn with your non-dominant hand and used to hook, rake, press, or strike an attacker. If targeting non-vital areas is ineffective or not feasible, you can escalate to a deadly force response by striking the eyes, throat, etc. to maintain possession of their firearm. Merely holding the Talon in your hand will intensify any strike that you employ. As such, the Talon can empower an officer to turn the tables on a larger or more skilled suspect.
Talon vs. folding knife
Many officers carry a tactical folding knife in the pocket of their ballistic vest or in a pant pocket. The rationale is that the officer can access the knife with their non-dominant hand during firearm retention, when their dominant hand is injured, or when their dominant hand is pinned by the suspect.
What officers fail to consider is that opening a folding blade knife under stress is easier said than done. Assuming the officer was well-versed enough to successfully deploy a knife, the officer is pretty much limited to a lethal force response. The Talon, on the other hand, affords the officer less-lethal options such as delivering short range strikes to the suspect's torso or limbs to thwart his attack.
Bloodborne pathogens are another concern, particularly when the suspect is on top of you. A knife is likely to create a wound that produces major blood loss. If the suspect is on top of you, there's a good chance that blood will flow from the suspect onto you, possibly exposing you to whatever diseases the suspect has, including HIV and hepatitis. Since the Talon does not have a point or sharp edge, striking with the Talon is not likely to produce as much blood flow as cutting a suspect with a knife.
While tools can't replace tactics, the Talon could save the day when combined with sound tactics and a warrior's mentality. With a retail price of only $21.95, the Talon is affordable enough for every officer to carry.
In speaking to Torquato, he described the Talon as a "weapon of opportunity." He developed a chart to illustrate how the use of the Talon fits into a typical use of force matrix. As with any new piece of equipment, make sure that carrying the Talon is not a violation of department policy or state law.
Torquato offers a Talon training DVD on his web site. In addition, he provides end-user and instructor certification training courses. For more information or to order the Talon, visit his web site (see below).
Always have a plan B and never give up!
