the required skills allows proper reaction to a stressful situation.
INSPIRED TRAINING PRODUCES EFFECTIVE MOTOR OFFICERS
continued from page 21
3. REPETITION – Proper reaction to a stressful situation is usually the result of repetitive practice of the required skills. In fact, some studies identify several hundred repetitions as necessary. Remember: practice becomes permanent and you will react the way you train. If you do not practice braking there is a strong chance that you will not successfully decel- erate during a threatening encounter. If you apply the front brake fi rst with four fi ngers every time you stop, then you will perform this important technique in critical situations, when it’s most needed. 4. REALISM – To understand the concept of stress and abil- ity to react, offi cers must have their heart rate elevated. This realism can be achieved while conducting the Evasive Maneu- ver, whereby the student reacts to the threat (i.e. instructor or modifi ed gate) with one of three choices: counter-steer to the left, counter-steer to the right, or via emergency braking. The particular exercise provides realism and stress. It is one of the best accident avoidance exercises. Similarly offi cers should train in low-light or darkness, as well as in the rain. 5. REVIEW – Instructors must provide immediate feedback to students during basic, in-service and advanced courses. Likewise, instructors must be able to accept review. 6. RESPONSIBILITY – Remember you chose to be a Motor- cycle Offi cer. If your agency does not provide the training that is required for you to survive, then you must pursue such training yourself. Every duty day you can go into an open parking lot and practice slow-controlled maneuvers, braking and countersteering.
22 THE MOTOR OFFICER™ | SPRING 2012
Training must be relevant in order to prepare the Motor Offi cer for duty.
Finally, remember that if training isn’t documented, it never happened. Therefore, make sure an attendance roster is kept along with an authorized lesson plan listing the daily activities. If there were any unusual occurrences (i.e. offi cer performance, weather) then those items should be listed.
JIM POLAN IS A 30-YEAR VETERAN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A RETIRED CAPTAIN WITH THE CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A RETIRED CAPTAIN WITH THE SEMINOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA