Tactical considerations  for patrol officers

Special weapons and tactics are not just for SWAT teams--or at least they shouldn't be. All police officers can benefit from tactical training, and all police officers should be trained to effectively deploy tactical weapons and to use tactical equipment. SWAT teams utilize the fundamental concept of overwhelming the criminal opposition by the use of superior tactics, superior training, superior firepower and superior manpower. Patrol officers must also be given the opportunity to utilize tactical training and tactical equipment in the performance of their jobs.

Limiting special weapons and tactics to SWAT operations deprives patrol operations of certain advantages which should be employed to enhance public protection, officer safety and officer efficiency. This article will present some basic tactical options that should become standard operating procedure for all police officers and for all police departments.

First, all police officers should receive tactical training in order to heighten their awareness and perception of danger and in order to enhance their response to high-risk situations. By tactically training all patrol officers, a police department will create a more professional and efficient first response. This will enhance the safety of the public as well as the safety and effectiveness of all responding police officers. Basic SWAT tactics, such as requiring multiple officers to confront single suspect, should be standard operating procedure. Whenever possible, patrol officers should wait for back-up before engaging a suspect. The use of triangulation, cover and concealment are standard operating procedures for SWAT officers, and should be standard operating procedures for patrol officers. There is truly safety in numbers when encountering violent, mentally disturbed or desperate people.

Second, all police officers should utilize their tactical training in every way possible to improve their job performance. In order to properly utilize tactical training, officers must practice the techniques that they learn. This included range time to stay proficient with all firearms that may be used in the line of duty. Failure to practice will result in an inability to transition a technique from the classroom to the street. One basic skill that is essential for all police officers to master is drawing their duty weapon from their duty holster. As elementary as this may sound, no police officer should ever assume that a smooth and swift un-holstering of their weapon will naturally occur. This is especially true with the use of retention holsters. It is essential that officers practice drawing their empty duty weapon from its duty holster until they have mastered this skill. An armed encounter is the wrong time to find out that the retention screw on a holster is not properly adjusted.

Additionally, "officer down" drills are essential in order to protect our fellow officers. If an officer goes down in the line of duty, it is our responsibility and obligation to move that officer to a position of safety and obtain emergency medical assistance immediately. Officer rescue is something we hope is never needed, but at the same time, it is an operation that requires a tremendous amount of skill and practice. We owe it to ourselves and to each other as police officers, to be prepared to conduct an officer rescue.

Third, special tactical equipment should be made available to all patrol officers in order to enhance their safety and in order to enable them to respond appropriately to critical incidents. Tactical rifles, impact (less lethal) munitions, high-volume chemical agents, hard-core body armor, ballistic helmets and ballistic shields should be standard equipment in all patrol cars. The presence of this equipment provides patrol officers with a tactical alternative if one becomes necessary. One needs to look no further than the North Hollywood shootout to realize the immediate advantage of equipping patrol cars with tactical weapons and equipment. Chief James A. Wetzel of the South Russell Police Department has equipped all of his patrol cars with tactical rifles, as well as shotguns. Chief Wetzel explains the reason for doing this as follows: "In the ever-changing environment of the modern law enforcement officer, it is of paramount importance that the officer be provided with the most appropriate weapon for any given situation. Our patrol cars, therefore, have been equipped with both tactical rifles and shotguns so that each officer can determine the proper weapon to be used based upon the facts and circumstances in any given incident. This flexibility allows us to provide an increased level of security for both the officer and the community."

Chief Dale J. Struhar, Sr. of the Sagamore Hills Police Department has equipped the supervisor's patrol vehicle with a ballistic helmet, threat level 4-A hard-core body armor and a ballistic shield. As Chief Struhar says: "Tactical equipment is worthless if it is locked in the police station. When patrol officers need tactical equipment, they need it right now. By deploying the tactical equipment in a patrol vehicle, the equipment is on the street where it is needed, when it is needed."

While the trend in equipping patrol vehicles with tactical weapons and tactical equipment is new, there is no question that the advantages of keeping tactical equipment in patrol vehicles is becoming more and more obvious. The deployment of tactical equipment in patrol cars creates tactical options which permit police officers to utilize their training in order to more effectively handle high-risk situations. By equipping all patrol cars with tactical equipment, the need to provide each and every officer of the department with tactical equipment is eliminated. Because only approximately one-third of a police department is on-duty during any particular shift, less tactical equipment is needed in order to fully outfit an entire shift. The deployment of tactical equipment to patrol officers will reduce injury to police officers and will provide a more effective response to high-risk situations.

The concerns of some administrators that tactical equipment will be used inappropriately or at the wrong time can easily be eliminated by increasing officer training. A well-trained officer who is confident with his skill level is less likely to use excessive force in handling a situation than a poorly trained officer with concern about his ability to handle a high-risk incident. Additionally, a well-structured policy regarding the use of tactical weapons and tactical equipment will provide guidelines for all officers to follow and will eliminate guess work and uncertainty with reference to deployment and utilization of these items.  Remember, all police work involves the use of tactics.  Tactical training and equipment should not be reserved for SWAT officers.  Tactical training and equipment should be available to all police officers to enhance their overall performance levels and to maintain the level of superiority needed to effectively defeat the criminal element.

Fourth, all patrol officers must utilize basic tactical equipment and basic tactical principles every day.  All police officers should consider carrying a back-up weapon.  All patrol officers should also carry a knife, tactical baton, chemical agent, gloves and hinged handcuffs.  All patrol officers should wear body armor.

Patrol officers should choose footwear that enhances their ability to run, jump, kick and perform their duties.  Further, all police officers should have a handgun with tactical hand grips and night sights.  Finally, every officer should consider using a retention holster. It is the duty and responsibility of all police officers to maintain a high level of physical fitness, which will enable them to perform their duties properly.  An out-of-shape police officer cannot perform basic self-defense techniques.  If police officers cannot protect themselves, how will they protect the public?  The failure of a police department to require physical fitness standards not only jeopardizes the individual officer, it also jeopardizes the safety of other police officers and the public.

Furthermore, a police officer should not report for duty if illness or lack of sleep will in any way affect alertness or reaction time.  Likewise, no police officer should ever report for duty if under the influence of alcohol, drugs (prescription or over-the-counter) or any other substance that can affect or impair the ability to physically and mentally function. Common sense, intelligence, reason and logic are performance enhancers.  Enhanced performance provides police officers with tactical advantages.  Tactical advantages create alternatives for police officers, which translate into an increased likelihood of success.
Every police officer must understand that law enforcement is for thinking people.  All police officers must mentally rehearse scenarios so they can reduce the likelihood of being confronted with a situation which totally surprises them and for which they have no response.  This is not to say that police officers will never encounter a situation with which they are unfamiliar.  The point of rehearsing scenarios is to at least be aware of the fact that everything and anything can happen while on patrol, and that officers have no choice except to respond to every situation.  By reviewing tactical responses, police officers will be better prepared to handle each new situation which they encounter.

Police work is dangerous.  The goal of every police officer is to survive each and every encounter on the job.  In order to do this, police officers must create an edge which will give them an advantage over the criminal element.  Tactics must be used by police officers in every aspect of the job.  Tactical training and tactical equipment should be provided to every police officer in order to allow all police officers to perform their sworn duties in the most professional, efficient and effective manner possible.