As of the writing of this article, there have been 10 police officers killed in the area I am calling the “Hurt Locker”. This is the roadside work zone. The “Hurt Locker” is the area on a vehicle stop that extends from approximately 50 feet in front of the suspect vehicle to approximately 100 feet behind the patrol unit. If you are going to be injured by a motorist that did not move over, this is where it will occur.
Over the last few months, I have traveled around the country presenting the seminar “End at Fault Law Enforcement Crashes”. I understand that is a bold title for a class, but I do understand the root causes of officers being hurt, or worse in the “Hurt Locker”
I have led class discussions on training versus conditioning. While conducting the session on working outside of the patrol unit, I will ask a young officer to stage their patrol unit with another vehicle as if they were on a regular traffic stop. Invariably, the officer positions the patrol unit too close to the suspect vehicle. At times they will angle the patrol unit to the left, park the patrol unit straight on offset to the left, straight on, no offset, and I had one patrol unit angled to the right with the wheels turned to the right.
Before I begin my explanation for what I believe provides the most protection, I will tell you I have been criticized for my tactics being out of date. I even had an officer send a video where the patrol unit was canted to the left, was struck in the rear by another vehicle and ultimately destroyed both vehicles and the two mannequins positioned to the driver side and to the passenger side. The problem with their argument is in every video example, the patrol unit was six to eight feet from the suspect vehicle.
Old school tactics used the patrol unit as protection. First, the patrol unit was to be positioned between a car length and a car length and a half from the suspect vehicle, not six to eight feet. The vehicle was to be positioned at an approximate 45-degree angle with the front wheels turned hard to the left. This positioning provides cover for the officer by placing the engine block and rims between the officer and the suspect vehicle. This also provides some protection in the event the patrol unit is struck from the rear. I understand the momentum factor of a vehicle striking the rear of the patrol unit and the initial push would be forward. After the initial impact, with the wheels turned hard left, the traction from the front wheels would push the patrol unit away from the violator car and those standing near the roadway. So, considering the other options: Positioned straight behind the suspect vehicle, off centered left, will place the patrol unit on or near the fog line. This provides no cover in the event of an ambush, if the patrol unit is struck from the rear, it will be pushed into the suspect vehicle and anyone standing near it. Positioning the patrol unit straight behind the suspect vehicle provides zero protection from vehicle crashes or ambush. Canting the patrol unit to the right with the wheels turned right, if struck from the rear, provides no cover nor protection to those standing on the roadside.
This is where training and conditioning collide. Training stresses positioning the patrol unit from a car length to a car length and a half, but what I have found during this demonstration for the class is the officer positions the patrol unit too close. This my friends is conditioning. The graphic I used for this article is a slide from my seminar. This graphic shows conditioning, with the patrol unit too close and not angled.
I read an article written by Master Sergeant Brent Massingill, Illinois State Patrol, that discussed the dangers from the roadside work zone. He discussed understanding the dangers posed by distracted, fatigued, and impaired driving, as real as being ambushed by a suspect on the side of the road. M.S. Massingill indicated the training for Illinois Troopers now places an emphasis on vehicle positioning and roadside safety.
Motorists passing a patrol unit on the roadside are required to move over or slow down. Of course, murder is still a violation of the law, but that does not seem to matter either.
Positioning of the patrol unit is only the first step to protecting yourself on the road.
Until next time, focus on your training to protect yourself. Please stay safe.
