NCJ Number
77031
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 50 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 12-15
Date Published
1981
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Defensive Combat Course for close range revolver combat offered at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy is described.
Abstract
While most firearms training is strictly offensive with little or no stress involved, this course requires officers to develop tactics and quick reactions in returning fire and to scramble for available cover while experiencing the stress of a shooting situation. Blanks are used in speically prepared revolvers so that officers may experience the shock of being hit while attempting to maintain enough composure to react in an effective manner. The training situations were designed using data from actual shooting cases involving Ohio State troopers. These data show that most officers were assaulted with handguns at very close range. Since officers are most likely to confront persons who have been drinking, most of the simulated situations -- such as stopping a motor vehicle -- are constructed to include this variable. Despite the extreme caution practiced by the students, instructors have developed simple but effective tactics which, in some cases, have allowed them to fire six shots before the students have drawn their guns. Most students show improvement by the second or third practice situation. A multiple target night firing course supplements this training by teaching officers to fire at targets without seeing their own revolvers. Both courses teach officers to draw and fire accurately without taking time to worry about sight alignment, grip, breath control, or stance. A case study involving drunken, armed men in a motor vehicle is accompanied by photographs.