will Your Weapon Be Hot When It's Cold?

Submitted by: Charles Remsberg

With the exceptional snow and cold that have gripped much of the nation this winter, have you seized the opportunity to weather-test your weapons? One group of officers who undertook cold-weather, urban rifle training in the Midwest recently ran into some disturbing surprises when they practiced courses of fire in sub-freezing temperatures and biting wind with four inches of snow on the ground. Two of their M1 carbines were plagued with short-cycles and sluggish operation. A Sig Sauer 556, normally extremely reliable, also started to short-cycle. Diagnosis: stiffened grease, because of the cold. When the trainees and instructors removed as much grease and oil as they could, the guns began to run normally. “Grease is notorious for getting stiff and causing problems in cold environments,” says veteran firearms trainer John Farnam of Defensive Training International. “In cold weather, I recommend a dry-lube or Gibbs Brand Lubricant. “Balky guns, heavy clothing, general discomfort all conspire to generate unwanted surprises during cold weather. It’s vital to test your gear — and yourself — in a wide spectrum of conditions and circumstances, not just in pleasant and comfortable surroundings.”

Muscle strength versus body mechanics

Captain Greg Brown

Too often I witness our officers concentrating on body size instead of body mechanics. Strength is one of many valuable tools, however we need to remember that is it just one of many tools. Attempts to use muscle alone may get you in a position you don’t care to be in. We have our entire body weight — and all its mechanics — to work at our demand. Learning mechanics such as foot positioning, hand positioning, body angles — and how to make then all work in any direction you move — is key in any law enforcement environment. I've seen a small 175-pound man Judo throw a 285-pound man over his shoulders. This was certainly not strength alone. When you understand body movement and body mechanics you will be able to redefine your true strength at maximum potential using less energy than muscle alone. This fact alone may save your life when adrenaline is high and time is everything!

Peeking Around Corner During House Clear

Sgt. Tom Lahey Denver Police Department, Colorado

If you need to do a "quick peek" around a corner and don't have a mirror, have your partner provide high cover for you, get down on your knees and do the quick peek from a low level. Nearly all of the time, if a bad guy is waiting for you, he will be focused at the chest level or head waiting for you to come around the corner. They are not expecting someone to peek around the corner at ground level. Remember to always have a high cover officer in case the bad guy happens to be approaching that corner while you're doing your "quick peek."

An officer's discretion: To pursue or not pursue?

Submitted by:
Lt. Dan Marcou

In the 1970s there was a young recruit who experienced and survived his first “high speed chase.” After booking the formerly fleeing felon (FFF) he thought back on the experience and recognized his life or career could have ended any number of times during the pursuit. The rookie sought out a seasoned veteran and asked, “Is there ever a time when an officer should break off a pursuit if it gets too dangerous?”
The response from the veteran was, “Son, you chase them until their wheels fall off and if their wheels fall off and they keep going then you chase them until your wheels fall off. If word gets out you don’t pursue, no one will stop and everyone will run.”
Times have changed. Since those bygone days, litigation has caused anti-pursuit policies to be written all over the nation. Some of the policies make it clear for the officer in pursuit—they outline in so many words, “If they flee you shall not pursue!”
Other policies make it less clear and allow for a certain number of officers to pursue under certain conditions and when certain circumstances exist. How does the veteran field training officer answer the rookie, who says, “I’m confused. When is it time to pursue and when is it time to terminate the pursuit?”
If the policy states terminate all pursuits the FTO could say, “Son the policy says terminate all pursuits so, ‘when they run, the pursuit is done’.”
If the commander orders the pursuit terminated the veteran officer could say, “It’s simple: when the commander says terminate, you terminate.”
“If policies leave some discretion to the officer,” a veteran field training officer once told his young charges, “when they run, ask this question: ‘Am I chasing them because they are dangerous or are they dangerous because I am chasing them?’ If you’re chasing them because they are dangerous then you may decide to continue the pursuit with due care. If they are dangerous because you are chasing them then your life and career are not worth risking on this one. Terminate the pursuit.”

Always carry your knife off duty

Submitted by:
Matthew Collier

I know everyone carries a gun off duty, every time they leave the house, like they should, right? In a perfect world it would be that way, but too often we fall short of perfection and go out like the rest of the ‘sheep’ without our off duty gun and reload. In these (hopefully rare) cases, do you at least have your knife? Your gun and knife should be a pair on duty and off but it is hard to go to the beach or swimming pool with 1911 in your swim trunks. Gives a lot of credibility to the old saying “is there a gun in your pocket or you just happy to see me?”
Even the smallest micro gun is no fun in a pocket while in the water, not to mention what water does to guns and bullets or the fact that you’re taking a chance of losing it doesn't leave a taking gun always an option. Just because you had to temporarily leave your gun behind doesn't mean you should go totally unarmed. With the wide array of affordable tactical folding knives available today you should at least always have your knife. Syderco, Benchmade, SOG, Kersaw, Gerber and many, many more all make reliable clip style folders that won't break the bank.
Hopefully you already have one or two for duty. These "tools/weapons" are easy to conceal, and can go anywhere, even swimming. With a quick rinse after and maybe a drop of oil they can even stay clipped to your pocket or waist line while in the ocean. You may still feel like a sheep but at least you will be a sheep with sharp teeth. Don't forget the training and practice that will allow you turn that tool into a weapon.

Watch females and juveniles during gang contacts

During contact with groups of gang members some officers may have a tendency to focus all their attention on the biggest and baddest looking males in the crowd while disregarding females and juveniles who might be there. Streetwise gang members have been known to predict this kind of behavior and have females and juveniles carry their weapons solely because they think officers may pay less attention to them.
When it comes to juveniles, it’s also important to remember that although seemingly less physically threatening, they may be highly motivated to attack you in the interest of gaining higher status and more respect from the group.
Disregarding the threat potential of those you might consider lower risk could be a potentially deadly mistake. Don’t do it.

Don't Over Look The Trunk

When you’re approaching a stopped vehicle, your attention is obviously heavily focused on the interior of the car looking for things like suspicious movement and taking a mental head count of occupants. One place you definitely shouldn’t overlook, however, is the trunk. If you’re dealing with someone who has planned ahead for the possibility that he’ll be stopped and he’s dedicated to getting away at any cost, you could suddenly be faced with someone who’s planted in the trunk, lying in wait to launch a surprise attack when you approach.

Keep an eye out for signs that the trunk may be open a crack and continue to glance at it looking for even the slightest movement. Start looking right away, beginning at the point you pull behind the vehicle. When you get to the trunk, push on it to make sure it’s closed. If it’s not, remember this tip and be ready to kick your officer survival efforts into overdrive.