Thursday, May 6, 2010

The one-rep equipment check

Before every officer goes on duty they should check their equipment to make sure that it is in proper working order. When you do this, do it in the manner that you will use it. For instance, when checking your handcuffs, practice the proper way to remove the cuffs from your duty belt, the proper way to hold the cuffs and simulate handcuffing a subject. If you carry a baton, practice properly drawing the baton, striking with it and smoothly re-holstering it.

Each one of these acts only takes only a few seconds, costs zero dollars, helps you retain your muscle memory, and gets you mentally prepared for the start of your shift. During a five-day workweek, you will have performed five repetitions with each piece of your equipment. In a month you will have performed more than 20 repetitions, and by the end of the year you will have completed hundreds of repetitions. When practicing, don’t forget to mentally review your department’s policy on using each piece of equipment.

No comments:

Post a Comment