Defensive Tactics
Retired Lt. Dan Marcou was sitting at a picnic table eating a chili dog with his grandkids when a lone officer started pursuing a suspect on foot; the officer radioed for assistance, but Marcou ran to help
Right now, a very dangerous person is preparing for the day they meet you. Are you preparing for them?
A technique gives you the solution to one problem; a principle gives you the skills to solve any problem
Resist the adage, “I’ll request backup if I need it,” because by the time you need it, backup will likely arrive too late
Relying on striking as a default or even the primary empty-hand tool for officers is problematic
Having a toolbox filled with effective tools to instantly stop and/or discourage resistance can de-escalate many a situation
Learning to apply this hold short of pressure also means it can be used as a tactically superior escort hold
These techniques can’t be learned through casual viewing or assimilation. They can only be learned and maintained through repetition
“I could see the grip of a pistol in his waistband and saw he was reaching for it with his right hand while backing away from us.”
There are real dangers when we fail to regularly evaluate our training programs
Researchers are investigating the full spectrum of injuries that officers sustain while interacting, arresting, detaining, or pursuing suspects
I found this technique very effective during one-on-one physical struggles to handcuff
From sandbags to massage balls, there’s a lot of gear to improve both performance and safety for DT instructors
Does your department keep a list of possible projects for grant-funding opportunities?
For more than two decades, Police1 has delivered training content for LEOs. We asked our long-time columnists to discuss how police training has evolved during that time
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Any impact used to thwart a suspect from taking your firearm must be done with all the power you can muster
It is imperative that officers who find themselves the victim of such an assault be able to escape quickly
The defensive move to counter the front kick not only turns the tables on your attacker, but it also upends the table on him
Police1 readers share alternative techniques to the ‘Big Ben’ option
Polis Solutions has launched two national surveys funded by the U.S. Department of Justice BJA to help improve defensive tactics training
There is one escape from the headlock that recognizes the danger of the hold
You are looking down the muzzle of a semi-automatic pistol held by a man at point-blank range, what will you do next?
As a police officer, martial artist and defensive tactics instructor, I have never learned, taught, or used what I would call a “chokehold”
There are systemic problems in policing that we fail to address at our peril
A suspect landing on his back puts most officers in an awkward position for controlling that suspect
Follow these 5 steps to protect against being disarmed by a suspect
The one or two-handed front strangle is a common murderous assault launched by aggressors
A one-time expense can enable scores of students to be trained in a technique or philosophy for years to come
Social distancing not only prevents transmission of disease, but it also maintains a recommended reactionary gap for officers
An officer must react quickly to break free from this incapacitating hold
Here’s the potential threat cops face when dealing with a subject trained in this fighting style, as well as the upside—and possible downside—of cops participating in this training
