Training at Distance for Countering an Ambush
As mentioned in our Police Memorial Week article, ambushes are a common way of attacking officers. A number of these occur when officers have just arrived on the scene. These scenes involve calls for service [...]
Review – Beyond The Muzzle
I’m part of a team that teaches instructor-level classes to law enforcement officers in California. Depending on the subject, these courses range from two to four days in length. While we keep the students very [...]
Peace Officer Memorial Week and Last Year’s Losses
Every May, memorial ceremonies are held throughout the country for officers we have lost in the line of duty over the past year at the local, state, and national levels. The biggest ceremony is in [...]
Start of Watch – Briefing
briefing noun brief·ing ˈbrē-fiŋ Synonyms of briefing : an act or instance of giving precise instructions or essential information Briefing is the foundation for a street cop's workday, like a good breakfast. My focus is [...]
Carrying? When Impaired?
When do you carry? When don't you? What is impaired? Throughout the training community, regardless of where one gets their paycheck, there is a tremendous emphasis on shooting, followed by how to do so quickly. [...]
Familiarity Breeds Contempt — We Must Do Better
I stopped at my local gun store recently to check what they had in inventory. There was a newly released pistol underneath the glass; the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted to handle [...]
Tactical — Not A Dirty Word
The word "tactical" has been co-opted by the sales industry and has largely lost its meaning. Tactical is not just a word you attach to something to sell; its meaning has driven success for as [...]
The Creeper In The Woods — A Lesson In Situational Awareness
After a recent run in the woods, I got to practice my self-defense skills. Here is what happened. Pulling into the parking lot, I looked around and noticed a man by himself. He was moving [...]
From One To The Next — Some Handheld Light Techniques
We are far more likely to use and need a hand-held flashlight than we are a pistol-mounted light. Never mind lights mounted on shotguns and carbines. Those are for another discussion. Before we get into [...]
Tactical Anatomy
In recent years, tactical anatomy has had a renaissance. Some instructors are again emphasizing it while integrating it into their coursework. Others (like this author) make it a primary focus. What we have lacked is [...]
Pepper & Sticks
Change "The only thing cops hate more than change is the way things are." I don't know where to attribute that quote because I've heard it so much over the years. We tend to complain [...]
Giving Commands
Recently, body-worn camera (BWC) footage from a police department on the West Coast was sent to me. While the sender wanted to discuss something else, the commands given were of interest to me. Or, I [...]
Stop The Bleed And More Medical Considerations
May is National Stop the Bleed Month. The goal of that program is to get as many people as possible, regardless of where their paycheck comes from, trained to stop death from hemorrhaging (bleeding) caused [...]
K9 First Aid: Stop The Bleed
In emergencies with a K9, knowing how to stop the dog's bleeding can be the difference between life and death. Whether you're a K9 handler, their partner, a pet owner, or you work around with [...]
Emergency Dental First Aid Kit
Suffering a dental injury is always stressful and often very painful. Having it happen during a crisis takes it to a whole other level. Being prepared for these events provides you with options and buys [...]
TacMed Solutions 5th Gen SOF® Tourniquet
Current medical protocol considers the tourniquet an initial lifesaving intervention to control massive hemorrhage from an extremity. Tourniquets are the standard of care due to their ease of use, rapid application, and complete stoppage of [...]
Solidifying Your Trigger Press
Dry practice is regularly discussed as “a way” to significantly improve one’s shooting. Those who advocate for it are right. Additionally, several people view your live fire work as validation of what you have been [...]
Firearms Transition Training
A recent project I worked on made me think about what firearms transition training is, or what it should be. Transition firearms training occurs when an agency or organization moves to a new or different [...]
Trends in Police Training – Part 3
Here are parts One and Two covering the Law Enforcement Education Program presentation at this year's SHOT Show. Good Enough? How good do you have to be? No one will argue that you should not [...]
Familiarity Breeds Contempt — We Must Do Better
I stopped at my local gun store recently to check what they had in inventory. There was a newly released pistol underneath the glass; the guy behind the counter asked if I wanted to handle [...]