NCJ Number
66168
Journal
Trooper Volume: 4 Issue: 5 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 63-65,67
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
'HOME PRACTICE' TECHNIQUES, IN WHICH TWO TO FOUR OFFICERS PARTICIPATE AFTER WORK HOURS AND PRACTICE 'SITUATIONAL DOMINANCE' TACTICS, ARE POSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FORMAL POLICE SURVIVAL TRAINING.
Abstract
IF POSSIBLE, PARTNERS SHOULD ROTATE FREQUENTLY IN HOME PRACTICE SESSIONS BECAUSE AFTER A NUMBER OF PRACTICE RUNS, THE TACTICS OF AN UNCHANGING PARTNER ARE ANTICIPATED, WHICH BREEDS OVERCONFIDENCE IN STREET SITUATIONS WITH DANGEROUS CRIMINALS. IN AN INFORMAL THREE-MAN TRAINING TEAM, ONE TEAM MEMBER PLAYS THE POLICEMAN, ONE IS THE 'BAD GUY' AND THE THIRD IS THE JUDGE. THE BAD GUY, PERHAPS AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE JUDGE, GOES AHEAD AND SETS UP A DEATHTRAP. THEN THE POLICEMAN WALKS IN AND ATTEMPTS TO ACHIEVE 'SITUATIONAL DOMINANCE,' OR TACTICAL ADVANTAGES IN MANAGING A DANGEROUS SITUATION, WHICH COULD BE A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP, A RESPONSE TO AN ARMED BURGLARY IN PROGRESS, OR A DOMESTIC DISPUTE; THIS IS ALL THE POLICEMAN IS TOLD AS HE STEPS INTO HIS ROLE TO ACT OUT THE DEADLY PLAY AND 'LEARN HIS LINES' IN PREPARATION FOR THE REAL THING. BECAUSE OF THE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL FOR LETHAL ACCIDENTS, TOY GUNS AND NOT REAL FIREARMS SHOULD BE USED IN INFORMAL SURVIVAL TRAINING. FOUR SURVIVAL GAMES THAT FELLOW OFFICERS CAN PLAY ON THEIR OWN TIME ARE 'UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE,' 'CAR STOP,' 'HIDE AND GO SEEK,' AND 'WHO'S THAT IN THE CLOSET?' CORRECT APPROACHES TO HANDLING EACH SITUATION TO ACHIEVE SITUATIONAL DOMINANCE ARE DESCRIBED. (DEG)