NCJ Number
180708
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 47 Issue: 12 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 65-67
Date Published
December 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement trainers are responsible for providing officers a means to safely take potentially violent individuals into custody without causing unreasonable harm to the suspect or themselves; this article explains the technique for doing this with the multiple-officer takedown.
Abstract
There are several ways of performing a multiple-officer takedown. Some trainers propose going for the suspect's legs first, followed by the arms. This would be accomplished by an officer tackling the suspect from the rear and then wrapping up both of the suspect's legs above and below the knees with the officer's arms and legs. Two or more officers would then apply control holds of some sort to the suspect's arms. Although this technique is effective, it has some disadvantages. It requires an officer to go to the ground with or even before the suspect. This can expose the officer to injury. Some trainers suggest reversing the process by first controlling the suspect's arms with arm bars, followed by a tackle to the suspect's legs. Another effective method for a multiple-officer takedown is to go to the suspect's head first. In this procedure, an officer will control the suspect's head by either a hair pull or a chin lock. Pinning the suspect's head to the officer's chest, the officer takes the suspect backwards to the ground. Once the suspect reaches the ground, other officers join in controlling the suspect. Whichever method is used, the officers must have training so that one officer does not counteract or interfere with what another officer is doing. Once the suspect is safely in custody, officers should check his condition and render medical aid as appropriate.