Traffic stops continue to be a leading cause of injury and death to police officers in the United States. Over 110 officers were murdered in 2013 and an average of 60,000 are assaulted every year in the line of duty; many becoming permanently disabled. Unfortunately most of the officers who were feloniously killed or assaulted conducting traffic enforcement were making a so called “routine” stop for a minor infraction.
Remember: There's no such thing as routine!
If you research the cases where officers have been killed and assaulted, and I encourage you to do this, you will discover the vast majority of these incidents have occurred during the night or in low-light situations. The tactics you employ when stopping a motorist in the dark versus daylight should be different – allow me to explain.
Drive by a traffic stop at night and you will notice something different than you did a few years ago – your police cruisers’ overhead red and blue lights are BRIGHTER than ever! I commend the companies who developed and implemented LED technology because I believe they are saving officers lives by alerting motorists to our location. I would also suggest that the brightness of the lights have caused issues with motorist being “blinded” by the light and striking – or nearly striking – officers while they are conducting roadside stops.
While these state-of-the-art light bars are providing ample warning for motorists, they negatively affect us tactically when we stop violators. How many times have you pulled up behind a fellow officer at a traffic stop and said: “MAN! Those lights are bright” or “turn those lights off, I can’t see you!” To deal with this, and other nighttime issues, I encourage you to practice the following tactics that you can apply in the darkness.
Changing What You’ve Known
I can remember my academy instructors and FTO telling me to put all available lights on the violator’s vehicle, including: spotlights, take-down lights, and high beam headlights. Like most young police officers I followed their advice and didn’t think twice about it.
One night after making a traffic stop and arresting the driver, I was waiting on a tow truck to arrive and take the car to impound. Because I was in a less than desirable neighborhood, I turned off my red and blue lights because I was attracting some less than desirable spectators as well. When I shut off my red and blue lights I inadvertently left the takedown lights on. I glanced up at the violator’s vehicle and to my surprise I could see inside the car better without the red and blue lights flashing! By using just my takedowns and spotlight, and disabling the forward facing lights, I could actually see more of the interior of the violator’s vehicle.
(Remember: On highways and busy roads, ensure you keep your rear-facing lights activated to alert motorist of your location.)
This obviously went against everything I was taught, however the tactical benefits were amazing. After this life changing discovery I immediately called every officer to my stop and said…look at this! Contrary to what I wanted to believe, that I had actually discovered a great technique, my balloon was deflated when I was watching a reality TV show and saw officers in other parts of the country employing this tactic. Despite this, I make it a point to teach this technique to every police recruit and officer I come into contact with and commend those who already using it. Try it…. You’ll be amazed at the difference.
Flashlight Usage
There have been several excellent articles published that discuss the different types of flashlights and the pros and cons of each. I’ll keep this short – I’m not concerned with what light you carry, just carry one! I carry a small, but powerful, LED flashlight on my gun belt in addition to the LED permanently mounted to my sidearm. Before exiting your patrol car, or while standing at your driver’s door immediately upon exiting, have the flashlight out READY TO USE! The most important tip: don’t shine the flashlight at the violator while making your approach! WHAT?? Are you kidding me Sergeant? How am I supposed to see inside the car? As I mentioned in the last paragraph, configure your takedowns and spotlight accordingly and you will notice that you don’t need your flashlight while making your approach. You will obviously need it though once you get to the violator’s door.
As you exit your patrol car and make your approach, shine the flashlight behind you to alert oncoming traffic of your location; flashlights with the strobe feature work great! (If you make your approach on the passenger side, this tactic may be irrelevant). By not shining your flashlight at the violators vehicle, you are not “giving up your location” to the driver or occupants who may be plotting out an attack.
Passenger Side
I am a strong advocate for passenger side approaches. As we discuss during our Proverbial Box segment of Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar, most people get their education about law enforcement and law enforcement tactics by watching TV and movies. I believe over 95% of TV shows portray officers making traffic stops on the driver side, therefore we have a tactical advantage by approaching on the passenger side. What does this have to do with nighttime tactics?
You have to make a conscious decision on how you are going to make your passenger side approach. Option A: walk behind your vehicle and around to the passenger side of the violator’s vehicle or Option B: Cut between your front bumper and the rear bumper of the violator’s vehicle and make your approach.
These options have pros and cons and both should be practiced until you discover which tactic is comfortable for you. I personally like Option B. My problem with Option A is that my night vision is severely affected as I walk behind my patrol car and try to keep an eye on the violator. Option B initially ‘scares’ officers because walking between the bumper of the cruiser and the violator vehicle disrupts the wall of light. Additionally this tactic puts you at risk if your cruiser is struck from behind or the violator backs up. To overcome the wall of light issue here is what I recommend. (Again, before implementing this…Practice, Practice, Practice!)
When you exit your car have your flashlight ready in your non-weapon hand and begin your approach. Once you have reached your left front quarter panel, take notice of where your patrol car’s spotlight is shining and shine your flashlight beam in the same location. Once you have your flashlight beam and your squad car’s spotlight beam together, quickly transition to the passenger side. I know this goes against everything you have been taught, and that’s fine. You will discover that the majority of stopped motorists do not even notice you have switched to the passenger side. Once you have transitioned to the right rear quarter panel of the violator’s vehicle, take a moment to see if they notice your new location – chances are they haven’t.
PRACTICE
I can’t stress the importance of practicing these techniques before implementing them on the street. Get a patrol car and a partner and set up mock traffic stops in the department parking lot or another closed off location. Practice various lighting configurations, flashlight techniques, and patrol car positions, to determine which one gives you the best tactical advantage. Take it one step further by adding Simunition, airsoft, and other training aides.
As always, stay safe.
I can be reached at [email protected]