Intimidation factor

By Officer Cody Weiser, Austin TX P.D.

We've all heard the old story of the officer who walks into the barroom fight, racks a round into his shotgun, and instantly gets the full attention of everyone in the room. It's a classic and an excellent example of an intimidation factor that has been ingrained in people's minds. People associate the sound of a pump shotgun with deadly and extreme firepower and therefore give it the respect it deserves. I've been told countless stories from veteran officers about how they used the intimidation factor of a shotgun to defuse a situation and actually prevented the use of force by officers who may have had to go hands-on or even further.

Today's police officers are much different. You will rarely see an officer exit his or her patrol unit with shotgun in hand. Although still utilized as a standard weapon, the 12 gauge rarely sees action in any form these days. Most would see its use as an "intimidator" in today's police world as over-kill and inappropriate. The one factor that has not changed is the officer's need to be able to de-escalate a situation before physical or deadly force must be used. Today's criminals have been desensitized to the power and effectiveness of a sidearm. Television, video games, and media have made shootings seem insignificant and have tattooed on people's minds that there is little or no threat to having a gun pointed at them.

A new "attention getter" has emerged in the law enforcement world - one that rivals the power of the pump 12 gauge. I'd like to introduce you to the laser dot!

As a beat cop working the street, I gained two new and extremely useful tools that have been my "intimidators" over the last few years. One being my Taser, equipped with a laser aiming system and the other being my Crimson Trace lasergrips that fit my Glock duty weapon. Both served as de-escalators in situations where I am positive that physical or deadly force would have been used had the situation not immediately been diffused.

During a family violence call where two brothers had been in a physical disturbance, my partner and I found ourselves separated by about 60 feet each dealing with one half of the situation. I was on a second story porch trying to talk to one brother who was furious and desperately wanting to get back down the stairs to avenge the injuries he had sustained. My partner was at the bottom of the stairs with the aggressor who was equally intent on getting back into the fight, but was even more determined not to go to jail. Our plan was to get the victim to wait inside while we both secured the suspect. However as often in policing, the subjects weren't following the script. As I watched my partner grab for his handcuffs, the suspect took one step back and assumed a standard fighting position. We both immediately knew what was about to happen, and I drew my taser from its holster and activated the laser dot. I aimed down the stairs and placed the red dot center mass on the suspect. The suspect quickly glanced at his chest then immediately fell to a seated position with his hands up and was cuffed without incident. We later discussed the situation, and were both convinced that the suspect knew the red dot meant business and through mental conditioning associated seriousness and pain with what was now glowing on his chest. His quickness to react and surrender proved that he realized the bright shining dot was the last warning before something serious took place. I sat back and was amazed at how a little red dot the size of a pin-point had prevented a fight, possible injury, and hours upon hours of paperwork.

A similar scenario unfolded during a traffic stop where a gun was seen by the lead officer. As backup officer, I was responsible for the three subjects in the backseat of the car. I gave basic verbal commands for the three to keep their hands up, but due to their inability to speak English and my very limited Spanish-speaking ability, that was as far as the conversation went. As I held the three at gun point, I slowly moved the laser dot across the chest of each passenger. I slowly went back and forth from left to right then back again. Every time the laser dot would hit a new chest, that subject would quickly look down then back up, sit up straighter, and plead something in Spanish. They knew that the laser dot meant business, and it was obvious their comfort level dropped when it was their chest hosting the glowing crimson mark. After the call, I again realized the effect of my lasergrips. That red dot had worked both as an interpreter and a warning. It said what I could not say and let each subject know how serious I was.

The laser dot has definitely taken its place in the law enforcement world as an aiming device, but I believe it is much more than that. It has forged itself in people's minds as a very serious warning of force - a warning in all languages that is crystal clear. The laser dot is the 12 gauge of the 21st century. It gets immediate attention and respect from anyone and everyone wearing it. It is the new "INTIMIDATOR!"