FBI: 72 police officers killed in the line of duty 2012, up from 56

72 fatalities occurred while an officer was making an arrest

54,774 officers were assaulted while in the line of duty

Author: Odhinn Kohout

  

 

In line of duty service deaths continue to rise at an alarming rate and the latest FBI stats are pin pointing a specific area of concern and that is when an Officer is making an arrest.

Officers killed on duty rose 11% in 2011 

http://www.inquisitr.com/173445/line-of-duty-police-officer-deaths-increase-by-13-in-2011/

And a grim 37% in 2010

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-12-28-policedeaths28_ST_N.htm

Budgetary cuts will always target training first in an effort to trim the fat but when we look at these stats it would suggest that providing effective training for law enforcement personnel is a crucial component. As Instructors one of ways in which we can help is too make sure that we addressing concerns from our front line Officers and providing solutions. Too often the delivery of a defensives tactics program overrides the content. Time constraints are something that we struggle with in each of our classes but have you taken some time lately to evaluate and scrutinize what you are teaching to your students.

·        . Is it effective

·        . Relevant to the Officers duties 

·         .Does it take into consideration feedback from your Officers in terms of what they are encountering on the road

·         .Is it litigation based OR officer safety orientated

·         .When is the last time you overhauled your program

·         .Is the current program well received by your Officers

·         .Can extra time be added to the program to cover new areas of concern (have you asked management?)

For the training our company provides in private courses to the Military/Police community it is constantly in a state of perpetual change and evolution because…that is what my students want. We have a policy in place called “check your ego at the door.” This applies to the Instructor Cadre as well and you will never see any of us arguing with our students insisting that OUR WAY is the best and only way to get from A-B. We don’t have a hidden agenda we just want to provide the best training possible in order to maximize Officer Safety.

One feedback tool that has worked well for us is something that you can add yourself that the end of your next class. We call it a “Mandatory Debrief.” Assemble your students and go around the class asking each Officer what they liked and didn’t like about your training. You will need to toughen up and not take things personally because remember “you asked.” Don’t jump down a student’s throat if he is giving you his opinion and it does not line up with your own.

Most Military/Police Agencies defensive tactics programs change very little over the years and appear to be set in stone, for whatever reason that is. The onus is us as Instructors to encourage and present change that will satisfy both departmental needs as well as the concerns of our Officers.

 Keep yourself safe, and watch your partners back tonight on duty.