A police officer’s ability to “watch the hands” is vital to officer safety and keeping fellow cops and the public safer. In this video, Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, provides relevant tips.
Wayne Parham, of POLICE Magazine, and Willis discuss the importance of law enforcement officers focusing on suspects' hands to ensure safety in various situations.
Willis advises maintaining distance and cover, using backup officers, and being aware of body mechanics that might indicate concealed weapons. He also highlights the significance of controlling hands to assess threats effectively.
In this video, you will also hear more about:
- How officers should maintain distance and cover when dealing with individuals who are reluctant to show their hands, to allow for better assessment and decision-making.
- How to incorporate techniques for monitoring hands during traffic stops, such as asking occupants to keep their hands visible, using lighting, and coordinating with backup officers.
- The challenges of managing multiple threats and the importance of maintaining visual control of hands to identify and neutralize threats.
- How hands in pockets or reluctance to show hands can be indicators of concealed weapons or other threats.
- How officers should look for body mechanics that seem unusual.
- The importance of maintaining distance and cover to assess hands and prevent potential threats.
This video was sponsored by Trijicon.