NCJ Number
206343
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 28 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 56-59
Date Published
June 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article offers advice about how to survive a knife attack.
Abstract
Officers often find themselves in situations in which knife attacks may occur; within close proximity to an unknown individual with unknown intent. As such, it is important to learn how to successfully defend against such attacks. Three main elements are the focus of the lesson: the perpetrator, method of attack, and defense against the attack. Different types of perpetrators with different motives are considered, including the “stone-cold killer” who will kill any officer without hesitation to avoid going back to prison. This type of perpetrator is likely to attack with an ambush or surprise strategy. After discussing other types of likely perpetrators, such as opportunity attackers and mentally disturbed attackers, the author discusses the dynamics of the three types of attack scenarios: the stab, the slash, and the slash and stab. Stabbing attacks are more frequent among ex-cons and among perpetrators who intend to kill. Slashing attacks, on the other hand, are almost defensive moves that are usually not intended to kill; they can be just as deadly as stabbings, however. The slash and stab attack is the most deadly, but also the least likely attack to be encountered. Three rules are described that should come into play when an officer is under any kind of attack: (1) present the least vulnerable target; (2) stop the offensive capability of the attacker as soon as possible; and (3) gain control of the attacker. These three rules are applied to a knife attack. The first element is the officer’s reaction to the attack; the second is the protective phase; and the third is to take control of the attacker as soon as possible. The author suggests that when overwhelmed by a knife attack, an officer can move backward and drop to the ground to stop the forward momentum of the attacker and gain control over the situation. By remembering the three basic rules when under attack, officers will be able to successfully thwart deadly attacks.