NCJ Number
207384
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 73 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 14-21
Date Published
October 2004
Length
8 pages
Annotation
After discussing the myth of the "one-shot drop" (incapacitating or killing a person with one shot), this article presents data on law enforcement officers feloniously killed in the line of duty with firearms for 1993-2002 and offenders justifiably killed or committed suicide for 1991-2000, followed by recommendations for police firearms and survival training.
Abstract
Although the "one-shot drop" is a popular scenario in the movies, it does not happen in real-life unless that one shot disrupts the brain or severs the upper spinal column. In using their firearms, therefore, police officers must never assume that one shot will be sufficient to defeat an offender intent on killing an officer. Also, officers must be instructed in what to expect if they are shot or severely injured during a violent confrontation with an offender. This includes establishing a survival mind-set and becoming familiar with practical measures for countering reactions to extreme stress. Such training will enable an officer to survive rather than succumb to an otherwise treatable and survivable injury. In addition, survival training should impart information about how authorized weapons and ammunition likely will perform under varying conditions, including when bullets are fired through various types of materials and at various distances. Further, comprehensive firearms training programs should include instruction and courses of fire that emphasize marksmanship, position shooting, the placement of multiple shots, and deadly force encounters under various circumstances. 2 tables and 6 notes