Ive been asked by Jeff Mullins and a few others to sahe sme thoughts on vehicle stops. In spite of the fact that I wrote the 1st two officer survival columns in law enforcement magazines I neither consider myself nor have any desire to be identified as an expert. I was simply a street cop in Detroit who was doing his best to make home to his wife&kids every night. I was ambushed by elements of the Black Pnther Party the second nght out of the academy. It tught me an extremely vluable lesson as me I had never met were doing the darnest t shoot me and I was doing my best to do the same to total strangers. Any cop who thinks anything is routine is preparing to get hurt. The worst fight I go into in 20yrs of being a copper was on a run, Miscellenous accident, a car can handle. I quickly realized that if I list the fight I would die! Coppers need to prepare for the traffic stop from Hell. I never made a traffic stop with either my duty weapon held down behind my leg or my hand wrpped around a .38 snub in my right rear pocket, Carry a second gun and make it part of the our response routine. Cops have been killed reloading their duty weapon and when they were undressed at the morgue a 5 shot .38 was found in an ankle holster. If you dont train with it ut might as well be home in your gun safe. Lsten to your gut. As a Mormon I know it is actually the Holy Ghost, but whatever you call it, it will never led you astray. Get in the habit of crefully watching people ALL THE TIME. I took a pile of guns off people who saw me, and gave me the Holy crap, its the cops! look. Be deeply concerned about peoplle who seem overly intereested r toally disinterested in what youre doing. Don;t be stupid! Just because a driver peel off in front of his buddies does not mean you need to stop him in enemy territory where it if turns into a fight hell have more allies than you will. Follow him a couple of blocks and then pull im or her over. Always carry at least two guns AND two flashlights. Technology has given us very bright flash lights in a very small packages. I currently carry a flashlight that is less than 3 long and is dramatically brighter than the Kel Lite I carried. Pocket holsters allow officers to have almost instant access to a gun while appearing relatively unconcerned. I carry a 2nd gun daily even though I retired 25 yrs ago this month. When I was in the Tac Unit I was the passanger officer I stood their with a 12 gauge shotgun. In the daytime I would stand behind my openn door but at night I would stand in plain view of the occupants. It solved a lot of problems and let people know we were as serious as an open grave. Seach thoroughly. Find a gun? Keep going! I once took 3 guns off a guy and wondered if we were related. We always handcuffed people with their hands behind their backs. Ill be 72 next month but if you handcuff me with them in front I can kill you quite easily. When we got into the lockup we would search him or her again. Yes I searched females! Te first dead cop I ever saw had felt sorry for the arresstees gril friend and gave her a ride to the station so she could call someone for a ride. She repayed his kindness but shooting him in the back of the head. Carry pepper spray and or a Taser? They are onlly to be used against people who dont have have a weapon! And remember, nothng is 100%.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:59:17 +0000
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