For Safety Reasons, Street Cops Need to Be Able to Fight Empty-handed
Most "defensive tactics" training given to law enforcement today has three characteristics:
1. It is focused on non-harmful arrest/control/restraint techniques
2. It is fairly effective against a non-resistant subject, not so much against one offering even mild resistance, nor against multiple subjects
3. It fails to adequately prepare officers to fight for their lives when necessary
A street cop, in order to be maximally effective at preventing harm to himself, his fellow officers and the citizens he is sworn to protect and serve, must be well trained to FIGHT all-out, unarmed and with all available tools. This fact is not often understood, as it seems to fly against the politically correct ideal of a kinder, gentler law enforcement officer who uses technology rather than get down and dirty with suspects. Ironically, the lack of moral will to teach cops effective unarmed close quarters combat leads to GREATER potential for badly injured and killed suspects and citizens.
A cop who is not confident in his ability to handle himself physically against determined attackers is MORE likely to try to resort to higher levels of force (i.e. firearms) in questionable circumstances than is one who knows he can protect himself physically should a situation suddenly go wrong. Cops who are undertrained and lack confidence in their abilities often revert to verbal abuse and disrespect (usually driven by fear). This leads to civilian complaints, lawsuits and mandatory programs that teach emotional sensitivity and cultural awareness. This results in an even more frustrated, rather than more confident and capable, officer--a vicious cycle!
"Controlling" Techniques Are Not Enough
A cop trained only in benign arrest and control techniques and the use of tools (taser, pepper spray, firearm) cannot confidently go to contact with a suspect to effect an arrest or modify behavior because he instinctively knows that in close quarters, the suspect could turn the tables on him in a flash and his only possible response would be to somehow create enough distance and time to access a tool. This lack of confidence in physical self-preservation ability leads to premature and/or unnecessary deployment of tools, and even worse, desperate (as opposed to appropriate and well trained) attempts to deploy such tools mid-fight, which create ideal conditions for wild shots and disarmed officers.
The solution is to train cops in the relatively simple skills and tactics of all-out unarmed combat, as exemplified by the training programs formulated during World War II by such men as William Fairbairn and Rex Applegate, with some enhancements based on a street cop's specific needs and the greater amount of training time available to him. A street cop who has been trained to, when necessary, apply the principles of combative balance, fright reaction, weight dropping, efficient striking to the most effective anatomical targets in chaotic circumstances, disengagement- and destruction-based ground fighting and a general "Attack The Attacker" mindset (to quote Brad Steiner), is a cop who can dominate a close quarters situation instantly should a suspect suddenly become aggressive. The confidence such a cop exudes will often deter a suspect from trying anything funny. And should a suspect still decide to take it there, even with a concealed weapon, the well trained officer will be able to immediately escalate to the appropriate level of force without the potentially lethal delay of deploying tools. This officer will also be far better able to create the time and space necessary to safely deploy a firearm or other tool should it become necessary, with far less risk of being disarmed or disrupted.
Live Chitrol of Police by aakhTHUU
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8070721
Most "defensive tactics" training given to law enforcement today has three characteristics:
1. It is focused on non-harmful arrest/control/restraint techniques
2. It is fairly effective against a non-resistant subject, not so much against one offering even mild resistance, nor against multiple subjects
3. It fails to adequately prepare officers to fight for their lives when necessary
A street cop, in order to be maximally effective at preventing harm to himself, his fellow officers and the citizens he is sworn to protect and serve, must be well trained to FIGHT all-out, unarmed and with all available tools. This fact is not often understood, as it seems to fly against the politically correct ideal of a kinder, gentler law enforcement officer who uses technology rather than get down and dirty with suspects. Ironically, the lack of moral will to teach cops effective unarmed close quarters combat leads to GREATER potential for badly injured and killed suspects and citizens.
A cop who is not confident in his ability to handle himself physically against determined attackers is MORE likely to try to resort to higher levels of force (i.e. firearms) in questionable circumstances than is one who knows he can protect himself physically should a situation suddenly go wrong. Cops who are undertrained and lack confidence in their abilities often revert to verbal abuse and disrespect (usually driven by fear). This leads to civilian complaints, lawsuits and mandatory programs that teach emotional sensitivity and cultural awareness. This results in an even more frustrated, rather than more confident and capable, officer--a vicious cycle!
"Controlling" Techniques Are Not Enough
A cop trained only in benign arrest and control techniques and the use of tools (taser, pepper spray, firearm) cannot confidently go to contact with a suspect to effect an arrest or modify behavior because he instinctively knows that in close quarters, the suspect could turn the tables on him in a flash and his only possible response would be to somehow create enough distance and time to access a tool. This lack of confidence in physical self-preservation ability leads to premature and/or unnecessary deployment of tools, and even worse, desperate (as opposed to appropriate and well trained) attempts to deploy such tools mid-fight, which create ideal conditions for wild shots and disarmed officers.
The solution is to train cops in the relatively simple skills and tactics of all-out unarmed combat, as exemplified by the training programs formulated during World War II by such men as William Fairbairn and Rex Applegate, with some enhancements based on a street cop's specific needs and the greater amount of training time available to him. A street cop who has been trained to, when necessary, apply the principles of combative balance, fright reaction, weight dropping, efficient striking to the most effective anatomical targets in chaotic circumstances, disengagement- and destruction-based ground fighting and a general "Attack The Attacker" mindset (to quote Brad Steiner), is a cop who can dominate a close quarters situation instantly should a suspect suddenly become aggressive. The confidence such a cop exudes will often deter a suspect from trying anything funny. And should a suspect still decide to take it there, even with a concealed weapon, the well trained officer will be able to immediately escalate to the appropriate level of force without the potentially lethal delay of deploying tools. This officer will also be far better able to create the time and space necessary to safely deploy a firearm or other tool should it become necessary, with far less risk of being disarmed or disrupted.
Live Chitrol of Police by aakhTHUU
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8070721
