NCJ Number
94037
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 51 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1984) Pages: 59-62
Date Published
1984
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the importance of assuring officer competency in survival techniques. Failure to implement new techniques and tactics can expose law enforcement agencies to civil liability.
Abstract
Preparedness for danger is a major concern of many police officers. Two areas central in causing injury and death have been unsafe tactics and techniques. Tactics generally refer to the officer's response to a situation. In the past, officers have had little tactical training and have seldom considered it of value. A certain amount of disdain for cover or backup has put some officers at a disadvantage against today's more sophisticated criminals. The result has been an increase in injuries to officers and innocent citizens. New tactical recommendations include an emphasis on planning, cover, and an adequate use of support personnel. The new techniques in firearms handling include an emphasis on speed, reloading from various positions, variable conditions, clearing malfunctions, and supports. It is the agency's duty, when exposing its employees and third parties to danger, to implement safety improvements. Failure to do so increases civil liability. Police managers will not succeed by simply showing that some training occurred and that some supervision existed. Preventive action programs are ideal for minimizing injury and civil liability. Preventive action includes implementation of written guidelines for action in various tactical situations, adequate training including the new higher standards of tactics and techniques, and provision of training time and equipment commitment needed to achieve the high standards. Additional preventive action includes supervision to ensure that the guidelines are implemented and supplementary training to maintain them and continued monitoring of the competency levels of the personnel.