Volume 9 Program 2 WEAPON RETENTION TRAINING DUTY SHEET AND LESSON PLAN Total Program Length 33:53 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. OFIN 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
WEAPON RETENTION (19:02) When maintaining control of your weapon, you have two choices. DO IT OR DON T. No matter the size, shape or gender of the suspect, if cornered, he/she can get desperate and will do anything including trying to get your gun. At least several officers are shot and killed with their own guns annually. Officer Herb Hood of the West Chester, OH has choreographed a simple weapon retention training technique to cause pain, damage, injury to the soft tissues and to the central nervous system of assailants. The technique involves all one s senses: saying it, seeing it, doing it trains by training muscle memory and learning bank. These strikes can be accomplished even with one s equipment on. When a suspect attempts to get an officer s weapon, immediately use a combat grip to keep the weapon in the holster. This is followed by strikes to the suspect using your fingers and thumb into the face and eye to drive the person s head back. The suspect will try to get the officer s hands off their face, their head still in a back position. Follow up with an elbow attack to their face, eye socket, nose, jaw and/or upper body. The elbow attack is very successful as the elbow is the second hardest part of the body as it is supported by the shoulder muscles, pecs, back and can generate a lot of force to crack the opponent. If the elbow attack does not work, slide down the body and knee them in the groin area. Depending on where the opponents hips are, you can strike them in the groin or lower abdominal. Knees deliver the strongest punch as they are supported by the glut muscles, hamstrings, hip flexores and quadriceps. Continue to go up and down the body. The multitasks make it difficult for the suspect to defend himself. The key issue is to avoid a tug-of-war. If the suspect is bigger, heavier, younger, stronger or on drugs and you attempt to withdraw, it becomes a tug-of-war. Our adrenal gland runs out in 30 seconds. We run out of oxygen in 30-45 seconds. The goal is to shut the central nervous system down and be able to get strikes on the target. The same techniques are used no matter what direction the attack is from. It becomes a dance. If the target pulls in one direction, take the slack out of the pull and go with the pull into his stride No matter the angles of the attack front, side or rear. The technique is universal in that the direction of the attack makes no difference and you don t have different sets of techniques depending on the direction of the attack. The main goal is to keep your gun in the holster even if you have to use two hands at first. Once that is accomplished, remember there are no rules to this fight. Attack order is based on the quickest transition. If the suspect grabs your gun, force your gun back in the holster using the combat grip. Go for the soft tissue. If facing the person the quickest transition is: eye, elbow, knee, knee, elbow, eye. If attacked from the side, move to the same side as your firearm, step forward to opponent and use same techniques.
If attacked from the rear nothing changes. Move hips out of the way so you can strike the opponent and strike with three elbow strikes in three different spots so the target can t counter, block or move out of the way of the attack. End the series with a hammer strike to the groin area then split. Reach into the groin area and pull up which will force the targets chin forward; use the elbows and slide up the body to the head. Do not step in the wrong direction or you will have nothing to strike. One or two knee strikes will force the person s head forward even if he has withdrawn. Repeat the procedure. No matter the opponent s height, a knee to the groin opens the opponent to attack. Always work in tandem with the target. Use your ground base, multi-joint weapons. It becomes a dance ; a mantra. Say Weapon Retention, use a combat grip to retain your weapon in the holster, eye, elbow, knee; knee, elbow, eye. The complete ritual dance of a front, side and rear attack is repetitive and can be learned quickly in about 45 minutes. It can be practiced after roll call for five minutes. It takes five seconds to complete each dance. All movements work in concert with each other. In training you may not wish to use your weapon, perhaps because of the integrity of the holster. You can use an empty holster, a set of keys, a pen; anything that would function in place of your gun. The technique pre-programs you to win. If attacked do absolutely anything to prevail. Rules go out the window, but training doesn t. Do what you need to do to save yourself; whatever you need to do to win. ALWAYS FIGHT TO WIN!!! LESSONS LEARNED! Your elbow is the second hardest part of your body.! Your knee is the hardest part of your body.! Avoid a tug-of-war.! Immediately use the combat grip to retain your weapon in your holster.! Attack soft tissue of eyes, face, groin.! Attack order is based on the quickest transition.! Work up and down the body.! Move in tandem with your attacker.! The same techniques are used in frontal, side and rear attacks.! The goal is to shut down the central nervous system of the attacker.! No matter the height, weight, strength, gender, age of the attacker (even if on drugs); if properly implemented, these techniques work to your advantage.! Multitasks make it difficult for the suspect to defend himself.! Repetitive, realistic practice will make the techniques second nature.
QUESTIONS (1:16) 1. When is the last time you did any serious weapons retention training? 2. Do you feel short, repetitive training such as that being done by the West Chester police can be effective? If not, why not? 3. Did Officer Hood s contention that this training can be effective for much smaller officers make sense? 4. Did the training on both front and rear assaults seem to hold up in your opinion? 5. Have you ever had a suspect attempt to gain control of your weapon? 6. How did you respond and what was the outcome? 7. Did your training kick in? 8. If you have ever had a suspect try to gain control of your weapon, have you shared the experience with other officers? Especially, younger officers with less time on the street? 9. What sorts of weapons retention training do you believe can be effective? 10. Are you prepared to use any necessary physical means and/or tools to keep a subject from gaining control of your sidearm.up to and including causing permanent and serious injury to the subject? BACKUP Incident at White Castle (2:13) Cincinnati officers received a disturbance call and were confronted with a 350 pound suspect who battled police from the onset. It took six officers and three pair of handcuffs to get the suspect under control. Then he was dead. Learn about Line of Duty s new, important Special Issue training program Training the Trainer (2:05) Firearms trainer, Bill Burnett, with 25 years experience, believes in interactivity with his students. He fires them up; walks them through it. The next time, they are ready. If you embarrass the trainee, you have lost control. Avoid embarrass-ing the trainees. Do not be their friend; be their instructor. Learn about our new program: Training the Firearms Trainer. Fast Break (1:22) Corrections officers return all padded parcels to the sender. They are not allowed at Folsom prison as illegal substances may be hidden in the air bubbles of the parcel. Polaroid photographs are allowed in the visiting area, but if taken from the facility, they are not allowed back in. The latest in our ongoing series for jailers and corrections officers.
Concealed and Carried Weapons (2:48) It doesn t matter who, what, when you stop; you never know what the stop is going to turn out to be. The stop could be a suburban housewife or a convicted felon. More states are passing concealed and carried weapons laws. Always be aware of possible concealed weapons. Be more on your guard about how to approach, look at hands, and take the time necessary to thoroughly search properly. If possible, have backup. Make this your daily commitment for your safety. Technical Advisor Richard Simpher elaborates with an important safety check. Donuts (1:58) Are you the stereotype of a cop who stops for donuts every morning (or as one of our readers puts it), a glazed bagel? Input from the donut addicts. Don and I welcome your feedback. We invite you to bookmark our website at: www.lineofduty.com 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 1-800-462-5232
VOLUME 9, PROGRAM 2 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 a simple, quick training technique to fight a suspect who is attempting to gain access to your weapon. One hour Upon completion of this course, officers should be able to: Retain their weapon Be fluid in fight movements Train muscles to respond on command Practice the technique in a short period of time Know the techniques to use from a frontal attack Know the techniques to use from a side attack Know the techniques to use from a rear attack Realize goal is to shut down the target s central nervous system Work in concert with their training partner and discuss how these techniques equip them to better stave off an attacker attempting to obtain their weapon. INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LAB GUIDE Obj. A Retain their weapon 1. Immediately apply the combat grip 2. Prevent weapon being pulled from your holster 3. If weapon partially out of the holster, push it back in 4. Be prepared to attack the target
Obj. B Obj. C Obj. D Obj. E Obj. F Obj. G Be fluid in fight movements 1. Stagnant movements are short-lived 2. Work in tandem with your opponent 3. Learn the dance so it becomes second nature 4. Follow the movements: eye, elbow, groin down and up the body. Train muscles to respond on command 1. The learning bank will retain movements and send commands to your muscles 2. The movements will become second nature to the the muscles 3. Mentally speaking, the words Weapon Retention should trigger all movements 4. Do all possible to shut down the target s central nervous system Practice the technique in a short period of time 1. Initial first training of all movements no matter where the attack comes from, will take no longer than 45 minutes 2. Each series of movements take five seconds 3. Five minutes after Roll Call will keep you fresh in the techniques Know the techniques to use from a frontal attack 1. Apply combat grip 2. Go for the soft tissues on the face, in the eyes to drive the target s face back 3. Elbow attack to the face 4. Knee the groin 5. Continue in reverse order Know the techniques to use from a side attack 1. Apply combat grip 2. Move to same side as your firearm 3. Step forward to your target 4. Use the same techniques as in a frontal attack Know the techniques to use from a rear attack 1. Apply combat grip 2. Move hips to sidearm side so you are able to strike the target 3. Do not step in the wrong direction 4. Apply three elbow strikes in different spots 5. End the series with a hammer strike to the groin 6. Split up the target s body to the chin so as to elbow the chin
Obj. H Obj. I The Goal is to shut down the target s central nervous system 1. If attacked, do anything to prevail 2. Fighting rules do not count; training does 3. Learn the dance technique so it can be performed in a fluid motion 4. Always fight to win Work in concert with training partner and discuss how these techniques equip officers to better stave off an attacker attempting to obtain the officer s weapon 1. Realistic, repetitive practice even in short bursts makes for better preparedness 2. Switch training partners; don t be come accustomed to the same person 3. Realize these techniques work no matter the size, gender, weight, strength, age of the attacker 4. The direction of the attack does not count. The technique works the same