NCJ Number
194294
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 50-53
Date Published
March 2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews today's law enforcement defensive tactics training.
Abstract
Instead of teaching recruits and officers hundreds of techniques, many defensive tactics programs are focusing on a few simple techniques, training those to competency, then teaching situational variations. There is a significant trend in law enforcement toward more realistic training, where officers can apply skills, strategies, and techniques in a situation corresponding to the real thing. Participants wear a Weapons Defense Suit, which allows them to kick, punch, and strike; it allows for complete use-of-force training. In keeping with the trend toward realism, more defensive tactics programs are teaching ground fighting. When an officer goes to the ground, he must rely on leg or arm strength. If the officer is not in shape, that can be very fatiguing. The article cautions that officers must stay in shape. "If they have muscle fatigue and fatigue in 35 seconds of a 45 second fight, the bad guy has 10 seconds left to kill them."