NCJ Number
172696
Journal
Law Enforcement Trainer Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 1997 Pages: 38-40
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement agencies and police trainers need to share information and learn from past tragedies to prevent avoidable injuries and deaths from occurring during police training in the use of force.
Abstract
Some accidents are unavoidable, even though trainers care very much about police officers and their survival. The four main cause of accidents relate to technological advances, administrative hurdles, deviation from the training plan, and inadvertent actions by trainers. Technological advances have increased the realism and corresponding risks of scenario and tactical simulation training. The instructor needs to know how to use training equipment in a safe manner to enhance training while balancing safety and realistic training. Administrative hurdles include cutbacks in training resources or the elimination of needed training that is associated with injuries. In addition, trainers sometimes ignore safety protocols or inadvertently speak or act in ways that increase the risk to the student. The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers has established a column called Trainer's Safety Net to share information and provide a nonpunitive reporting system regarding training accidents. This article is the first in the series. Address from which to report an incident or obtain more information