DUTY SHEET AND LESSON PLAN

Transcription

1 Volume 9 Program 5 EDGED WEAPONS TRAINING/ PASSSENGER SIDE APPROACHES DUTY SHEET AND LESSON PLAN Total Program Length 41:34 IN THE LINE OF DUTY is produced exclusively as an interactive sharing resource for the law enforcement community. No commercial use or access to the public at large is permitted without the authorization of L.O.D., Inc. This program contains actual video of real police incidents with no reenactments or simulations. The program is protected by copyright. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited without authorization from L.O.D., Inc. The material included in this program is designed for informational purposes only. IN THE LINE OF DUTY makes representation regarding the effectiveness or appropriateness of any action or technique depicted herein. It is not intended to replace or supersede existing training policies or guidelines of individual law enforcement agencies. In the Line of Duty Training videos have received POST approval for continuing education credit for training in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

2 KNIFE FIGHT TRAINING (14:08) Most victims of knife attacks are unarmed and have had no training in edged weapon defense. The damage is done quickly. But cops are different. Right? Perhaps not, unless they have had the proper training in dealing with edged weapons attackers. Lt. Erwin Ballarta provided much insight on how to deal with a possible attacker in this program. The first error officers make, he says, is underestimating the attacker and overestimating their capabilities due to the tools they have available to use. They presume that they can handle the situation because they have a firearm, beanbags, baton, OC spray etc. Not always true. The officer must have had physical training in edged weapons plus preparation in merging physical and mental training. The normal reaction of an officer being attacked by an individual with a knife or edged weapon is very similar to the normal human reaction to stress. They will have a tendency to make mistakes in attempting to disarm the subject. First, never back off the subject by moving directly backward, says Lt. Ballarta. It is best to focus on moving off-line at an angle or, as the Lieutenant puts it, getting off the railroad track. When confronting the subject, make sure you protect your body s vital areas and that the inside of your hands and arms are not struck by the weapon. It is critical to remember that a knife attack is not one process, but two. The attacker will think about it first before he makes the actual physical attack. You need to be prepared to look for the signs of attack such as fidgeting, a sweaty brow or face or too much pent up energy on the part of the attacker. You can catch them in the thinking mode before the actual physical attack. If it escalates to the physical attack be prepared for a thrust and slash; a slash and thrust; thrush and slash repeatedly. Again be prepared to move offline. Never go one-on-one. Your tendency will be to grab to try to gain control. Do not do that. Focus on moving off-line ; get off the railroad track; move at an angle. When you have achieved the distance necessary, choose the right tool to take down the subject resorting lastly to lethal force. Train yourself to avoid common mistakes. NEVER expose the inside of your hands (or inside of your arms). Keep them up and facing you. Use a knee strike and follow immediately with a takedown to disarm the subject OR disengage and use the proper level of force. Learn the mentality of stun and move; move and stun; stun and move - never forgetting movement is your best escape route. Again, never move in a straight line; move offline. Lt. Ballarta teaches the commonality of movement edged weapons, firearms, hand-to-hand combat. Learn all the angles of attack. Practice them repeatedly.

3 In any edged weapon attack, disengage and gain distance. Do not expose your firearm. Keep it close to your body. Simply, do not expose anything you can t afford to lose. Continue to stun and move; stun and move. A knife or any edged weapon is not a firearm. A firearm may occasionally jam. Remember always---edged weapons do NOT jam. They can continue to cause you harm until the subject is subdued---or you are seriously injured or killed. If you get cut and see the blood---remember the common reaction can be---panic. Bottom line for most human beings, cops included, the sight of blood typically causes panic. It is a physiological reaction. To avoid bloodshed to yourself or the subject (who may decide to cut themselves) PRACTICE!. But you must remember practice in this area will not make your actions perfect; but it will help you save your life and/or the lives of others who may be threatened. The procedures shown in this training segment need first to be learned, then practiced and rehearsed; rehearse and practice time and again and taught by a qualified instructor Lt. Erwin Ballarta: Erwin.Ballarta@txdps.state.tx.us or emb@myway.com TASER AND KNIFE ATTACKS (8:06) Very often, an officer confronted suddenly by an edged weapon has no choice but to use lethal force. The officer needs something available that will give him the edge. One of the most exciting tools law enforcement officers have found in years is the TASER which is proving to be effective in all areas. It disables the non-compliant subject by causing a loss of muscle control as a result of a short 50-thousand volt electrical impulse burst of five seconds. The charged TASER prongs are tethered by wires to the gun itself and effective from zero to 21 feet. If the subject continues to resist, the bursts are repeated until the subject complies. If the first burst does not get response to the verbal commands, a second or third burst may be necessary. Roughly 12% of TASER cases involve knives. The TASER gives a chance to preempt the situation before escalation and bring it under control. It is important to note that the officer has the advantage by not having to get in close, but can stay out on edge of that 21 foot range. However, lethal force backup is key and critical whenever the TASER is/may be deployed. Lethal force backup should always be available in confrontations. Officers involved need to determine who will use the TASER and who will use lethal force. Communication is vital and should be practiced so there is no mistaking who has what job. In using the TASER on a subject with an edged weapon, the best shot is always to make sure you can put the probe on upper and lower torso so that way muscle contractions attack the whole body so the subject had no movement; or a rear attack where the subject has bigger muscles and it locks them like a stiff board

4 We recommend you visit the TASER website at taser.com for additional information. ON KNIFE ATTACKS (4:17) The question of Have you ever been in a knife fight? was posed to the Blotter readers on our web site Some of those responses are included in Volume 9, Program 5 on Edged Weapons. All the responses are available on the Blotter Archives through the Web Based Police Training link of our website: LESSONS LEARNED! Never underestimate your attacker.! Never overestimate your own capabilities and presume because you have a firearm, baton, TASER, OC spray etc. that these tools will be enough to handle the situation.! Realize you must have a merger of physical and mental preparation as well as physical training.! Never forget your best escape route and defense is to focus on moving offline in a continuous attack. Never just move directly backward. Stun and move.move and stun.! Always protect the vital areas of your body and make sure your hands or the inside of your arms are not stuck/struck by the weapon.! Look for the signs of an attack such as a sweaty brow, fidgeting, extreme anger, etc.! Do not go on one-on-one during an edged weapon attack. Move off-line and use the right tools/tactics to subdue the subject! Never forget that an edged weapon is a weapon that can strike you again and again.! The attacker does two things BEFORE attacking. He thinks about it in his mind and then makes the actual physical attack. If possible, catch him while he is in the thinking mode.! Train yourself to avoid the common reaction to grab for the edged weapon/knife.! Never expose the inside of your hands; this will make it impossible for you to use the hand to use other tools to take the subject down. Keep your hands up with the inside facing you. Use your knee to strike the subject in the groin area if you are in close to your attacker.! Do not forget an edged weapon attacker has two movements never just one - thrust and slash; then, slash and thrust. Disengage and gain distance.! Never forget an edged weapon is always a dangerous, potentially lethal weapon. Unlike a firearm, an edged weapon does not jam and can continue to wound or kill you.! TASER use may be your best initial weapon if the distance provides the opportunity.! Train, rehearse and practice and do it as if your life depended on it.

5 QUESTIONS (2:14) 1. Have you ever been in a confrontation with a subject brandishing a knife or edged weapon? What was your response? Have you shared that information with other officers? 2. Do you believe a skilled knife or edged wielder is equally as dangerous as a subject with a gun? Why? Why not? 3. When is the last time you had any serious training or updated training in knife or edged weapon defense? 4. Have you practiced knife or edged weapon scenarios either in your mind or in actuality since that last training? 5. Did Lt. Ballarta make a valid point regarding protection of your hands and arms if attacked by a knife wielder? 1. The Lieutenant felt strongly that backing away at an angle from a knife assault was much more favorable defensively than backing away directly. Do you agree? Disagree? 2. He also stated that, unlike a gun which can carry a finite number of bullets, a knife or edged weapon can be used again and again and never run out. If you agree with that comment, what does it tell you about the damage a skilled knife attacker can mete out? 8. What objects are you aware of that can and have been used as edged weapons in the past? 1. Does the TASER seem to be a viable less lethal tool for potentially thwarting at least some knife or edged weapon assaults? Why? 2. Would there ever be an occasion when you d use a TASER on a subject with a knife or edged weapon---if you did not have a lethal force back-up? If so, what would that occasion be? 3. One of Lt. Ballarta s first comments about police officers and subjects with knives or edged weapons was that an officers biggest problem can be overconfidence. Did that make sense to you? Why? Why not? BACKUP Passenger Side Approaches (2:34) An unknown risk, daytime stop of a female driver would have cost Utah Trooper Mike Holt, his life if he had not determined many years ago to do passenger side approaches only. A semi-truck sideswiped the driver side of the vehicle the trooper had stopped, knocking the trooper away from the passenger side of the vehicle. He was not killed nor injured because he chose the passenger side approach. The Utah Highway Patrol currently trains all its officers to use this approach. Discuss the pluses of passenger side and driver side approaches and consider if this segment had any impact on how you will approach traffic stops in the future.

6 MISSED GUN DURING PATDOWN (2:04) It is imperative never to be deviated from a thorough pat down no matter the age, sex or clothing of a subject as shown in the pat down of a young man wearing baggy pants. A cursory pat down by Cincinnati officers missed the gun secreted between his legs in the pants which led to a shoot out in which, amazingly, no one was wounded. The results could have been vastly different for the subject and the officers involved. Your department may wish to check out the FriskerPro to assist in pat downs. It is a metal detector that an officer literally wears on his/her hand. It keeps hands and fingers free to search the subject using academy approved techniques. You can learn more about the FriskerPro on our website TWO MINUTE WARNING (2:11) In the Line of Duty have had requests for shorter training videos. This sample of a Two-Minute Warning deals with a power outage during which officers were called for a suspected warehouse burglary. The officers are faced with nothing but darkness except the light of their flashlights. The officers consider three options of procedure. A. Call for additional; assistance; perhaps a K9 unit also. B. Respond on the quiet and, perhaps, park at a distance from the scene. C. Cover the exits and entrances; do not go in until other units have arrived to assist and set up a perimeter. Most officers say respond with option B first, followed by A & C. It was suggested more light could be used to illuminate the building by using the lights of the cruiser. However, this was discounted as the officers were not sure if, in fact, the building was being burglarized nor if it was how many subjects were involved. Key was the fact that the cruiser lights would alert the burglars. There are 33 Two Minute Warnings available on either VHS or CD-Rom; check out the Two Minute Warning flier included with this month s program or, again, visit us at duty.com; our entire video/cd library is available through the Shop Here for Your Video and CD Training needs link on the homepage. THIEVING BIRD (1:45) It is an unusual (very smart) bird that decides to feather its nest with coins rather than twigs and leaves, but that is what this little birdie did. How did the bird come by this wealth of goodies? Like anyone, it visited it s closest ATM! A fun caper pulled off by a sparrow (we think)!.

7 Don and I welcome your feedback. We invite you to bookmark our website at: which is updated seven days a week with vital law enforcement news and information Sincerely and in Officer Safety, Ron Barber and Don Marsh, Executive Producers IN THE LINE OF DUTY For more information on the TASER, contact TASER International at their website by at sales@taser.com or by fax at

8 VOLUME 9, PROGRAM 5 LESSON PLAN SYNOPSIS: TIME: OBJECTIVES: Obj. A Obj. B Obj. C Obj. D Obj. E Obj. F Obj. G Obj. H Obj. I This program features training techniques to help officers defend themselves from a knife/edged weapon assault. This type of assault is just as dangerous, perhaps more so, than facing a suspect with a gun.. One hour Upon completion of this course, officers should be able to: Realize the mental mistakes that can be made when attacked by the subject. Learn the body movements to use to best protect you from the subject Know the signs (body language) of a possible attack Know the parts of your body that need the most protection Understand exactly the procedure the attacker must use to make the attack successful and how quickly it CAN be successful Know the procedures to use when you are in close to the attacker and how critical it is to place distance between yourself and the attacker Understand the angles of attack and the angles of defense Realize the importance of backup in a confrontation with a subject wielding an edged weapon Discuss the capabilities of the TASER in dealing with a subject

9 INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LAB GUIDE Obj. A Obj. B Realize the mental mistakes that can be made when attacked by the subject. 1. Underestimating your attacker 2. Overestimating your capabilities 3. Presuming that your tools and equipment will be enough to handle the situation 4. Avoid the common reaction to grab for the knife/edged weapon 5. Do not go one-on-one 6. Prepare with physical training and a merging of physical and mental preparation Learn the body movements to use to best protect yourself from the subject 1. Never directly back up in a straight line from your attacker 2. Your best defense is to focus on moving offline in a continuous attack. Get off the railroad track 3. Stun and move; move and stun repeatedly Obj. C Obj. D Obj. E Know the signs (body language) of a possible attack 1. The subject may be fidgety 2. The subject may have a sweaty forehead of face 3. The subject may show extreme signs of anger or agitation Know the parts of your body that need the most protection 1. Protect the vital areas of your body 2. Do not allow the inside of your hands to be struck /stuck by the weapon 3. Do not allow the inside of your arms to be stuck/struck by the weapon 4. If these areas are not protected, you may be injured quickly and seriously rendering you unable to use the tools available to subdue the subject Understand exactly the procedure the attacker must use to make the attack successful and how quickly it CAN be successful 1. The subject does two things prior to the attack 2. He thinks about it in his mind 3. He makes the actual physical attack 4. Subdue/take down the subject during the thinking mode

10 Obj. F Obj. G Obj. H Obj. I Know the procedures to use when you are in close to the attacker and how critical it is to place distance between yourself and the attacker 1. If you are close-in use your knee to strike the subject in the groin area 2. Keep your hands up with the inside facing you to stave off wounds that would prevent you from using your tools to take the subject down 3. Disengage and gain distance between yourself and the attacker 4. Distance allows the opportunity to take options to subdue/ take down the attacker Understand the angles of attack and the angles of defense 1. The best angle, if you are using a TASER, is to strike on the upper and lower torso so muscle contractions attack the whole body. 2. In a rear attack the subject has bigger muscles and it will lock them like a stiff board 3. Remember an edged weapon can strike you again and again 4. Do not forget an edged weapon attacker has two movements thrust and slash; slash and thrust 5. Again, distance is the best defense and the best escape route. Disengage and gain distance Realize the importance of backup in a confrontation with a subject wielding an edged weapon 1. Never forget an edged weapon is always dangerous, potentially lethal weapon 2. Unlike a firearm, an edged weapon does not jam 3. An edged weapon can continue to wound or kill you 4. Determine with other officers who will use the TASER and who will use lethal force, if necessary Discuss the capabilities of the TASER in dealing with a subject 1. The TASER can be used from zero to 21 feet 2. You do not have to be close into the subject for it to be effective. You can stay on the 21 foot perimeter 3. It may be your best initial weapon if distance provides the opportunity 4. If the first burst of five seconds does not subdue the subject a second or third burst may be necessary 5. Always, if possible, have lethal weapon backup when confronting an attacker TRAIN, REHEARSE AND PRACTICE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!!!