Police Tips

The PoliceOne Law Enforcement and Police Tips section provides insight from PoliceOne columnists and members on the things Police Officers can do to increase safety and enhance productivity.

The tips and resources here�ranging from innovations in defensive tactics to new concealment techniques to off duty survival and dozens of other matters critical to law enforcement officers�are updated regularly. Every day, Officers on the streets encounter new information that can help fellow officers, so we encourage you to submit your tips. Help us to help Police Officers better serve and protect our communities.

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Full list of recent and archived Police Tips

Seven keys for successful tactical leadership: A leader should have the vision to see beyond the current dilemmas they are faced with, and the strength of character to stay the course as they command in the face of adverse conditions. ...
Maintain your control hold on a subject wearing a seatbelt: When removing a person who is wearing a seatbelt from a vehicle, remember to go over the top of the belt.
Anatomy of the bait question in interviews: The bait question is a non-accusatory question in which the possible existence of incriminating evidence is implied for the purpose of enticing the subject to change or consider changing his original statements.
Side-mounted lights in low-light and no-light traffic stops: As officers, we are taught to disguise our approach to a stopped vehicle of a traffic offender or criminally suspicious vehicle by not allowing our cruiser doors to slam or close loudly. However, with the addition of mirror-mounted lights, the opening of the cruiser door can be given away by the light from the mirror lights passing across the offender's vehicle and back again.
Shooting and moving: Avoid being a stationary target: In this tactical video tip, law enforcement firearms instructor Cathy Schroeder discusses a drill that police officers can do to get in the habit of moving after shooting. In this way, ...
Planning for the unexpected while on patrol: Just because you've never seen a train on a stretch of tracks doesn't mean there never will be one. Assistant Chief (ret.) Dale Ferranto says officers should plan for all contingencies.
The "ready round" � What to say to a survivor: �I give a damn about you, and I�m glad you�re okay.� Calling this the �ready round,� Lt. Col. Dave Grossman says this is the one that�s �in the chamber ready to go when you do not know what to say or do.�
Knife defense training: Encountering a rear attack: In this tactical training tip, police trainer Brian Hoffner from Hoffners Training Academy gives some tips and tricks for using your knife as a defense during an attack from behind. Using a ...
Drill that helps you keep your eyes on the suspect: Have you ever watched a professional carpenter working? That guy (or gal as the case may be) can, while hanging from a ladder or sprawled across a roof, find every tool on their belt and replace it. Without looking. Every single time they need to. Accessing our tools quickly � and without looking � is even more important for police officers than it is for carpenters.
Writing reports in the rain: Most of us have had issues with writing information in the rain while on duty. For me it seems like this is primarily on accidents. For about ten dollars, you can get what is called a "dive slate."
Training with dumbbell hammer curls: In this installment of the "Saving Gary" tactical tip series, police trainer James Di Naso demonstrates an easy adjustment while lifting dumbbells to avoid elbow ...
Guidelines for improving your report writing: P1 Contributor John Bowden provides helpful guidelines that can improve your reports. For example: reports should be written in chronological order, using the names of people instead of addressing them as victim, witness, and suspect.
Dealing with digital distractions: Distractions while driving are a huge issue for all drivers but for law enforcement in particular there are activities that simply must be done while driving a vehicle. Talking on a radio, looking for suspects, or reading a monitor may all be activities required of an officer sitting behind the wheel of a car.
Trust your instincts when dealing with suspects: When something just doesn’t feel right — when it just doesn’t smell like it should — it’s time to heighten your awareness and start attending to those ...
Talking while engaging a threat: Betsy Brantner Smith talks to Team One Network Trainer Gary Monreal about talking while engaging. Monreal explains that officers who verbalize what they're doing while they shoot end up ...
Turn up the heat: When searching a vehicle you suspect might be hiding drugs or other contraband, be sure to turn on the air system and check all the vents. If they’re unobstructed, air will flow ...
Four exercises that can enhance night vision: Related Articles: Protecting your night visionGood night vision plays a crucial role in officer safety. One of the best ways to enhance it is to improve the circulation in your eyes. Here ...
Tricep pushdowns: In this installment of the "Saving Gary" tactical tip series, police trainer James Di Naso demonstrates best practices for a single joint exercise called a tricep pushdown that ...
Don't forget the airbags: If you�re conducting a vehicle search and your K-9 alerts on the glove compartment area, don�t forget that the contraband you�re looking for could be concealed within the airbag compartment or in the heater core ...
Deadline looms for comments on 700MHz waiver requests: In mid-August 2009 the FCC issued a �call for comments� about the dozen public safety entities that are petitioning the FCC for permission to build their own regional wireless broadband networks in 700 MHz. The opportunity for you to submit your comments on this matter to the FCC will terminate on October 16, 2009.