Retrieving Dropped Items

It’s natural to want to immediately bend over to retrieve something that’s dropped to the ground, like a license or insurance paperwork, during a traffic stop. It’s equally natural to reflexively reach down to grab something that’s fallen out of the hand of (or been intentionally dropped by) someone you’ve stopped on an FI.

Allowing that tendency to dictate your movements during an encounter with someone who could potentially pose a threat to you can have serious consequences.

Bending over to retrieve a dropped item can expose the back of your head and neck, and can put you in a position of potentially-compromised balance, which can be extremely dangerous if traffic is zipping past you on the stop.

Depending on how you bend over, it can also divert your attention away from the subject you’ve engaged.

Make a conscious effort to practice resisting the immediacy of the “pursuit of falling objects” instinct and work instead to maintain focus on the individual you’ve encountered. Take a few moments to consider why the object has been dropped. Was it actually an accident or is he trying to lure you into bending over in front of him so he can hit you in the back of the head or kick you in the face or push you off balance so you stumble in to traffic?

Next, consider whether retrieving whatever has fallen is even necessary or worth it. If on a traffic stop, for example, you have all the paperwork you need to finish your business, and the likelihood that the piece of paper that fell to the ground is harmless and completely irrelevant to your work is high, skip it for now.

Finally, if you feel retrieval is necessary at that moment, consider exactly how you’re going to position yourself to safely pick it up. Don’t just rush in to bending down.

Watch the revers Headbutt

Remaining cognizant of your proximity to a suspect’s head when you’re standing in front of him (or her!) is obviously extremely important. Monitoring his level of ability to deliver a forward-thrusting headbutt is something which tends to be a regular part of tactical training.

Remember also, though, that it’s just as important to remain aware of your positioning when standing behind a suspect in regard to his ability to deliver a backwards-thrusting headbutt as well.

When standing behind a suspect, be sure you’re far enough away from the back of his head to avoid being smashed in the face should he suddenly thrust his head backwards. Also, be sure to practice countering takedown techniques that can be immediately utilized should he become combative like that while you’re behind that violator.

Lose your Sight, Lose the Fight

If you wear glasses or contact lenses at work, make sure you have a second pair of glasses readily available to you at all times. If your glasses become damaged or you lose a contact lens, you need to immediately get your sight back and a “back up” pair of glasses will make that happen. If you’re a day shifter and you wear prescription sunglasses, make sure you always have your “clear” glasses (and a flashlight) with you as well.

Dave Smith is an internationally known motivational speaker, writer and law enforcement trainer who has been an integral part of the Calibre Press family for over 20 years. As a career police officer, Dave held positions in patrol, training, narcotics, SWAT, and management. In 1980 he developed the popular "Buck Savage" survival series videos and was the lead instructor for the Calibre Press "Street Survival" seminar from 1983 to 1985.

He was a contributor to Calibre's popular "Tactical Edge" handbook and helped pave the way for what "Street Survival" is today. Dave joined the Law Enforcement Training Network in 1989 and was the general manager of Calibre Press until January of 2002. Now president of Dave Smith & Associates, a law enforcement & management consulting company based in Illinois, Dave has developed hundreds of programs across the spectrum of police & security training needs.

Dave is now the senior instructor for the Street Survival Seminar, the Director of Video Training for PoliceOne Video and author of the new book "In My Sights." His experiences as officer, trainer, manager, and police spouse lend a unique perspective to the "Street Survival" experience. Visit Dave's website at www.jdbucksavage.com.