Yesterday, we had the privilege of bringing the Officer Down 2012 seminar to the NRA HQ in Fairfax, Virginia. This was a great class with a state-of-the-art training facility. Forty-five agencies were represented from eight states, including officers and Federal agents from DC, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Florida, New York, West Virginia and Texas who came out just for the seminar.
What a privilege to have the opportunity to get the message out about the research that has been done to the law enforcement officers who really need it. As usual, I learned a good deal of additional information about the details of some of these cases from my students. One of them wanted me to know that K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki did not have his K-9 partner at his side at the time he was shot and killed in Lower Burrell, PA. Thus, like K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz, the K-9 was not actually present at the handler's side at the time of the shooting.
Another student asked: Why didn't Officer Yaslowitz take his K-9 into the attic with him during the search for suspect Hydra Lacy? My opinion was that perhaps the opening was not very accessible because the officers had used a makeshift ladder to climb up into the opening that didn't accommodate the K-9. The student told me that, in his department, they have been training their folks to lift and take the K-9 with them into confined spaces in these kinds of situations. They hoist those tough (and probably heavy) Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds right up and into spaces like these to prevent similar outcomes! That's great news. It means that the lessons of Officer Yaslowitz's experience are now immortal.
Another student pointed out that few officers learn to shoot from inside their squad cars. Several officers were killed while still seated. Perhaps this is a training need that we should incorporate into our programs. Some officers may not have been adequately trained in the use of the felony stop in high-risk situations, and in shooting from the seated position in particular. One student pointed out that FLETC does teach this skill on the Federal side. For local and state officers, another student recommended the Sig Sauer Academy course called Bullets and Vehicles. It looks like an awesome course! Check it out at:
http://www.sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ShowCourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=92
I want to thank the NRA for their generous cost-free venue and their continuing support of law enforcement. They treated us and the attendees like VIPs. Dave Gledhill and his folks are the best in the biz.
What a privilege to have the opportunity to get the message out about the research that has been done to the law enforcement officers who really need it. As usual, I learned a good deal of additional information about the details of some of these cases from my students. One of them wanted me to know that K-9 Officer Derek Kotecki did not have his K-9 partner at his side at the time he was shot and killed in Lower Burrell, PA. Thus, like K-9 Officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz, the K-9 was not actually present at the handler's side at the time of the shooting.
Another student asked: Why didn't Officer Yaslowitz take his K-9 into the attic with him during the search for suspect Hydra Lacy? My opinion was that perhaps the opening was not very accessible because the officers had used a makeshift ladder to climb up into the opening that didn't accommodate the K-9. The student told me that, in his department, they have been training their folks to lift and take the K-9 with them into confined spaces in these kinds of situations. They hoist those tough (and probably heavy) Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds right up and into spaces like these to prevent similar outcomes! That's great news. It means that the lessons of Officer Yaslowitz's experience are now immortal.
Another student pointed out that few officers learn to shoot from inside their squad cars. Several officers were killed while still seated. Perhaps this is a training need that we should incorporate into our programs. Some officers may not have been adequately trained in the use of the felony stop in high-risk situations, and in shooting from the seated position in particular. One student pointed out that FLETC does teach this skill on the Federal side. For local and state officers, another student recommended the Sig Sauer Academy course called Bullets and Vehicles. It looks like an awesome course! Check it out at:
http://www.sigsaueracademy.com/Courses/ShowCourseDetails.aspx?CourseID=92
I want to thank the NRA for their generous cost-free venue and their continuing support of law enforcement. They treated us and the attendees like VIPs. Dave Gledhill and his folks are the best in the biz.
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