Tip On Becoming A Harder Target

Submitted by: John D. Williams

"Be a hero, but not by yourself. Call for backup." This was one of the many excellent reminders in an email recently distributed by our friend John D. Williams of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. "Possess a survivor mentality," wrote Williams. "Mentally prepare yourself to expect the unexpected, be alert and prepared to fight and survive, and always be vigilant." With his permission, we reprint the entirety of his email here for PoliceOne Members who may not have seen the original circulation last week. Thanks John... Maintain Situational Awareness Attacks in Hemet included booby-trapping LE offices and placing an explosive device under an officer's car A) Vehicle (personal or agency vehicle) B) Office C) Residence Consider your Wardrobe A) Wear body armor on duty, whenever feasible B) Be vigilant when wearing clothing identifying self as LE when off-duty (gang conference shirts, agency polos, hats, etc) Be Predictable to Your Colleagues but Not to the Bad Guys A) Call in location B) Vary your routine — routes, timesd and exits When Approaching a Suspect A) Maintain professionalism and be respectful B) Look for concealed weapons — An FBI study found that cop attackers most often hid their guns on their person in the front waistband, either groin area or in the small of the back. C) Watch their hands — the same study found that offenders avoid using holsters and frequently touch a concealed gun with hands or arms “to assure themselves.” Such gestures are most noticeable when offenders change body positions, sitting, standing or exiting a vehicle. Watch for Attack Indicators A) Fake 911 calls to gauge police response (part of the Hutaree militia group’s plan of attack) B) Pre-attack surveillance and counter-surveillance C) Odd behavior or clothing on scene (i.e.: wearing a long coat on a hot summer day) D) Out-of-place vehicles If You Suspect that You Are Being Followed A) On foot, use store front windows (reflection) to look behind you and across the street. Also, “J-walk” across the street and see who else “J-walks” after you, in front or behind you. You can also drop a random piece of paper, if they pick it up, you are being followed. B) In a vehicle, make two right turns and a U-turn, if still behind you, you are being followed. C) If you suspect you are being followed, report it immediately and drive to a police station. DO NOT GO HOME! Maintain a Low Profile A) Shun unnecessary publicity B) Avoid public confrontations and disputes C) Keep personal/agency information secure and avoid divulging info on social media sites (i.e.: Facebook) D) Remove LE indicators from POV (stickers, visible LE equipment) Stay Informed of Trends A) Area familiarity B) Anticipate that some gangs commemorate significant dates (White gangs may commemorate Adolf Hitler’s birthday on 4/20 or his date of death on 4/30. C) Some gangs celebrate their “Hood Day” on a date coinciding with their street or gang names. i.e.: 6/10 for the Rollin’ 60’s. D) Some Hispanic gangs with the number “13” in their names, such as MS-13 and Florencia-13, celebrate “Hood Day” on Friday the 13th, the next of which occurs in August 2010.) E) Look for graffiti (OnMay 20th, graffiti attributed to the Florencia-13 Gang in South Gate, California was found in an area served by an injunction. The word “COPKILLA” had the word “COP” crossed out. F) Intelligence bulletins