Deadly Error #5: Missing The Danger Signs

This deadly error is so intertwined with other issues like doing bad searches and being too close to people.  Distance is definitely your friend as it allows more vision.  When I think of missing danger signs, I immediately think of pre-attack indicators.

Look at this video.  The focus is on the weight shift, but note the move to the bladed stance. When this footwork changes, they are going to punch you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJfsdBn7UYE&list=PLAfVoQqk4oOG5VTYDgtxR7eehoRYeln2_&index=2

Here is another video.  These indicators can be this deliberate and slow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62vzwRYrop4&list=PLAfVoQqk4oOG5VTYDgtxR7eehoRYeln2_&index=1

About the best trainer out there for pre-attack cues is Tony Blauer.  His classes are a little expensive, but they are worth their weight in gold on learning something that will save your life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeJQDlzC1Wg

Here is a pretty good video that mentions a lot of what Blauer teaches.  He begins with demonstrating the "Frankenstein" walk.  A normal walking gait has the hands/shoulders moving opposite of the legs/feet.  When the bad guy is getting ready to attack you, he walks like Frankenstein.  It will be that obvious.  All of his cues are typical of what you will see.  As he cautions at the end, look for multiple indicators at once. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBoYhgz0hes

Another good training video which is a little more polished and quicker:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aa7r7Da8Nw

If you want to learn more, find a good bouncer in your area.  These guys have learned the hard way when an attack is getting ready to happen.  They learn to watch for these indicators between patrons which makes it easier to intercept the attack and get the aggressor out the door.  Remember, most gun grabs today do not begin with a direct attack on your gun/holster.  They begin with a blitzing physical attack.  They want to overwhelm you to unconsciousness or worse THEN they take your gun a lot more easily.  Note this attack many of you have seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnUYKFU0OqM

He tried to get the gun out of the holster at the end, but either had second thoughts or quickly decided he couldn't work the holster.  Yes this offender did get a 60 year prison sentence and the officer did recover, but it was painful and long.  Remember our goal is not just to survive, but to WIN.  This offender is STILL in prison:
http://offender.tdcj.texas.gov/OffenderSearch/offenderDetail.action?sid=03666223

There are other danger signs that can be missed.  These by supervisors.  In a case from 2005, Brian Nichols was on trial for rape.  During the trial he was caught repeatedly trying to sneak shanks in to the court room.  Hey, everyone!  This guy wants to escape!  Maybe we need to keep searching him and guard him with at least two officers!  But no.  Only a single female officer guarded the guy.  He overpowered her and took her gun.  He committed several murders including the presiding judge, the court reporter, and a federal agent.  Three people who would still be alive had these danger signs been heeded.
http://murderpedia.org/male.N/n/nichols-brian-gene.htm

Be safe out there!

Deadly Error #4: Relaxing Too Soon

Over 20 years ago, a couple of co-workers answered an early morning alarm call at a local restaurant. The alarm there was a frequent false-alarm call for our department back then. Dozens of times over many months the midnight shift had answered this call. Every time it was false. Even the numerous times responding officers found an unsecured door, the alarm must have been caused by some other means because it was later confirmed there was no attempt at a break-in and the premises was empty. So many false alarms....

Well you can guess what happened one night. Officers checking the restaurant after an alarm call found an open door. While checking the inside they were surprised when a man jumped up from behind the bar and yelled, "Don't shoot you got me!" It would be hard to tell who was more surprised. The offender or the officer. Had he had violence on his mind, he could have jumped up with a gun and started shooting. He would have had the drop on them and that is a recipe for disaster...

Relaxing too soon. Just another alarm....it goes off all the time....probably nothing....how many times have we heard or said those words? Past results of calls do not guarantee future results on those same calls. At least in the incident with my co-workers, it involved two officers checking the alarm call. This wasn't the case here:
http://thecolletonian.com/celebration-of-life-service-held-for-fallen-officer/

Tiny Smoaks, SC with a population of under 200 in August, 2008, a Deputy Dennis Compton answered a home alarm call only to be confronted by two offenders.  Little did he know those two were on a crime spree of home break-ins stealing guns and other items.  One of the offenders fired as did the deputy, but the deputy was killed.  He was later found by the homeowner who returned to the home because the alarm company called him.  He discovered the deputy shot to death in the carport.  He used the deputy's walkie-talkie to call for help.  The offenders were later caught and agreed to a plead deal to avoid the death penalty.  Both blamed the other for shooting the deputy, but under felony murder both received life sentences.

Little consolation for those left behind.  Maybe back-up wasn't available.  Maybe it wouldn't have helped at all.  What I do know, like the call with my coworkers, just because every other call has been fine, it in no way means the next one will be.  Complacency makes one relax too soon and then bad things happen.  Noted trainer Tony Blauer calls this the "Theory of Presumed Compliance."  Everyone else complies, so will this guy.  Wrong.  It also manifests itself in officers having an inflated opinion of their position.  In other words, people will obey just because I wear a uniform and carry a badge.  Wrong.  The obvious danger is in under-reaction.  This syndrome can also cause an over-reaction to an offender's resistance.  This can lead to either a sustained complaint, lawsuit damages, or a civil rights violation.  Don't take resistance to personally, especially non-deadly resistance.  This attitude of "how dare they" run or "how dare they" fight gets cops in trouble.  Do your job right.

Regardless of why you presume compliance, it is dangerous.  It makes you relax way to soon.  If you couple this with a bad search of an offender and you can have deadly results.  Just look at Deputy William Giacomo from my backyard of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department.  He arrested a DUI on the early morning of September 11, 2000.  The offender hadn't really given him any problems.  Everything was fine.  Until he pulled a concealed handgun from his boot when Giacomo's back was turned and shot him.

More recently, we saw another example of this in West Virginia when WV State Troopers Marshall Bailey and Eric Workman were killed in their cruiser by an offender they arrested in a stolen car on August 28, 2012.  That offender pulled a concealed handgun after being handcuffed in the front and shot and killed both troopers.

I mention these cases of fallen officers not to criticize or to demean their service.  Instead, I hope we can learn from them.  I think all fallen officers would want us to learn from them.  It only takes one mistake at the right time to be fatal.  We have to walk that fine line where we protect ourselves and the public while still respecting the rights of those we deal with.  It can be done!  Presumed compliance makes you relax too soon!  The Below 100 program tells us "Complacency Kills!"

Be Safe!

Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Ultimate Field Training Officer

May the Fourth…..in pop culture it’s called Star Wars day.  Even the casual fan knows the main characters.  Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2, and of course Obi-Wan Kenobi.  The Jedi Knights.  As Wikipedia puts it, they were “an order of warrior monks who serve as ‘the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy’ and embrace the mystical Force.”  Except for the whole monk part, who else does this sound like?  I know many critics look down at the word warrior nowadays, but I maintain that is about a narrow definition of that word.  It seems that most want to point only to the bad examples of warriors and can not seem to locate the good ones at all.  What they refuse to look for is that most warrior systems developed sets of honor codes and codes of conduct.

French literature historian Leon Gautier summarized what he called the “ancient code of chivalry” based upon his reading of history.  Among his “ten commandments” of chivalry are:

• Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them
• Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born
• Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word
• Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone
• Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy
• Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God

The Japanese code of Bushido recognized that the violent world in which the warriors lived must be augmented with being educated and devoted.  Wikipedia mentions one writer describing practitioners of Bushido as endorsing “reckless bravery, fierce family pride, and selfless, at times senseless devotion of master and man.”  Among the virtues of Bushido are benevolence, respect, honor, self-control, and wisdom.   The concept of Bushido was one of many influences George Lucas drew from in creating his mythical Jedi.

The Jedi had structure.  There were the Initiates, those learning the basics.  Then came Padawans or Apprentices.  Once that was completed they were official Jedi Knights.  But there was one still higher level; the Jedi Master.  This was Obi-Wan Kenobi.  When first introduced, he appeared to be a strange old man wearing a hooded robe.  We knew he was much more, though.  Luke Skywalker was taken under his wing because the “Force” was strong within him.  Thus, the adventure began.  Throughout that movie one saw Obi-Wan mentoring young Luke by teaching, preaching, and setting the example.  He could also see things others could not.  An expert fighter, Obi-Wan could have very easily killed the Storm Troopers when stopped in the scene before meeting Han Solo.  Instead, he used his mind control to talk their way past.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIzAaY2Jm-s

Obi-Wan was not afraid of the fight either as seen by him seeking out Darth Vader.  This fight revealed Obi-Wan was also Vader’s teacher and this student had went over to the “dark side” of the Force.  In the prequel movies we see many examples of Obi-Wan as the warrior mentor to a young Anakin Skywalker.  In the Episode II: Attack of the Clones movie we see a teen Anakin portrayed as arrogant and straining at Obi-Wan’s leash.  This sounds a lot like young officers going through Field Training.  It sounds a lot like a younger version of me when I began my career.  Police departments across the country have adopted some version of field training.  A sort of mentoring by a senior and experienced officers that occurs after the police academy.  It is a structured process where the rookie officer is taught  to use the knowledge gained in the academy and apply it for real on patrol.  In most cases, the process begins by simply observing the training officer who in the next phase steps back allowing the rookie to take the lead.  It is a transition process where the rookie gradually does more and more thus gaining confidence in their abilities.  Many such programs are 16 weeks in length which is often as long or nearly as long as most police academies are.  

I have met many police officers from all over the country.  Much like military veterans speak of their Drill Instructor, I have often heard officers speak of their training officer in reverential tones.  Almost “god-like” describes the awe many have had towards this person.  The amount of knowledge gained from years of service is hard to comprehend for a rookie.  But so was Luke Skywalker’s light saber training while having his eyes covered.  He was successful at that under the watchful yet patient eye of Obi-Wan.  Helping transform the rookie or Padawans in to Jedi Knighthood that is a full police officer is a sacred duty but is only successful when there is desire to be taught.  Let’s not forget Obi-Wan’s failing student:  Darth Vader.  Every training officer has had failures.  Officers who either washed out or those who were marginal enough to pass but did not exactly set the world on fire with their abilities.  The goal for every training officer is turn out a Luke Skywalker and NOT a Darth Vader.

So for you FTOs out there.  Become someone’s Obi-Wan.  Know your stuff and learn how to teach it to others.  You have knowledge of the “Force” that is police work.  We know it is part psychologist, part sociologist, part warrior, part peacemaker, part guardian, part priest, and so many more things.  The trick is getting all this knowledge into the heads of these new officers.  This may not be quick or easy.  Every generation is different and a little lack of understanding comes with them.    The good training officer can’t stop trying to find ways to communicate with and inspire these young Jedis.

As for you rookies...the Padawans.  You don’t know everything.  The first thing you need to learn is how to talk to people.  Watch your FTO and the other good experienced officers deal with people.  Watch how they quickly diffuse anger and how they calm even the most volatile situations.  Watch how they turn a driver stopped for a traffic infraction from hostility to thanking them after getting a ticket.  Is that Jedi mind tricks?  Sometimes it may seem like it.  But trust me, that type of talking to people is key if you want to be a good police officer.  This same skill will also make you a good interviewer, interrogator, and investigator.

Along with the soft skills, you must learn the hard skills.  You’ll learn how to reflexively look down every alley you drive by.  You’ll learn to check out the parking lots beside the highway even while going 50 mph.  You’ll learn traffic stops, safe approaches to domestic disturbances, building searches, and much much more.  Every day is a training day, so keep your head in the game.  Be Luke Skywalker.  Be that enthusiastic learner that thirsts for knowledge.  Don’t forget that your learning can not stop with field training.  Make every day you pin on the badge a learning day.  You must do your own reading and research outside of what formal in-service you may receive from your agency.  This keeps you current with trends and will keep you from being surprised on the job.  This will keep you from the Dark Side!

Both the Obi-Wans and Padawans will have to work together.  You only have to look as far as the national headlines to realize this career of ours is not getting any easier.  As I wind down my career, I wonder what the future holds.  Looking back at the changes, I am not particularly optimistic for these young officers coming on the job now.  Regardless, their journey has to start with being trained correctly on the first day and every day.  It takes some good trainers to do this.  Like Leia said, “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope!”