Articles - Training & Careers

Everyone is well aware that humans are visual creatures. It is far and away our most dominant sense and that is one of the reasons I get so frustrated that we have so many distracters in our modern patrol vehicles.

What happens if a suspect has closed in on you to a point where you do not have time to clear a handgun jam, replace an ECD cartridge, or re-holster a canister of OC spray? Training to use your force option tools as impact weapons may help prepare you for such an encounter and could help stop or slow an assault against you.

In-progress calls evolve within a framework of controlled chaos. You can help improve your management of the situation by remembering the ABCs of in-progress calls: Assess the situation, Basics rule the day, and Contain it or lose it.

Code three is lights and siren, and man is it fun. You are lord of the road, racing here and there to accidents, crimes in progress, officer needs assistance, and whatever crisis needs a uniformed hero ASAP.

Experience teaches that there is nothing routine about what we do once we hit the streets. Traffic stops are no exception. A traffic stop generally has two threat levels; you are either at risk or at high risk.

Some trainers say it takes 5,000 reps or five years to master a weapon or a skill, but that doesn't match the research. The research says we don't know how many reps or how long it will take YOU to master a skill.

As street cops we can break down three major areas in which we use some type of stance: field interviewing, fighting (obtaining control), and shooting. Many police academies and law enforcement agencies have a variation for each of the three areas described. My question is why?

A go bag is usually filled with loaded magazines, water, and snacks. It's a stop-gap to keep you functioning while away from your patrol car and main resources for a few hours.

A police K-9 isn't a simple weapon used to attack suspects. At least not anymore. Temperament, sensory ability, and certain natural drives are just some of the considerations. Not just any dog has what it takes to work in law enforcement.

Det. Brian Logan of the Newark (N.J.) PD works the night shift verifying tips in a Crime Stoppers van so he can spend his afternoons coaching his local high school football team.