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Overwhelming Physical Force: The Carl Everett/Linda Mason Incident


because it will probably be much easier to reach than your primary weapon, as long as it is carried in the right location. Since you will probably have to draw while lying on your back or side, often while kicking to fend off your attacker, the best carry loca- tion is on your concealed body armor (sew VelcroTM


patches inside of the button fl aps


of all your shirts and then leave the zippers down to facilitate quick access to the gun), or, if wearing external armor, under the vest or in a low-profi le holster attached to it. (Ankle holsters are not recommended, be- cause they are highly vulnerable to disarm- ings and hard for you to reach while lying on the ground and kicking your assailant.) After you draw, keep the gun tucked in close to your torso while you choose your target; then bring it into position and fi re as quickly as possible so your assailant(s) won’t have time to grab it. If you don’t have a backup gun, you will


have to use your duty weapon. Try to roll or otherwise maneuver your gun side away from your adversary before drawing; then pick your target and try to draw without being seen, perhaps using movement of your feet or non-gun hand to screen your actions. As soon as you complete your draw, get on target and fi re as quickly as possible. Return to Question 3


OC Spray T is case clearly demonstrates that OC is not infallible. T is is not to say that it should be abandoned. To the contrary, a recent study concluded that it has a suc- cess rate of just under 75 percent, which compares favorably to other force options, and in many cases it can be a viable tool for quickly bringing resistive off enders under control. Still, it can be dangerous to expect 100 percent reliability from OC spray, or from any other weapon for that matter. In- stead, view it more as a distraction device to buy you time to increase your reactionary gap, move to a more advantageous position, shift to a higher force level, or, if necessary, make a tactical withdrawal. Also, since OC is generally more likely to be eff ective when employed unexpectedly, avoid displaying


it, issuing a verbal warning or otherwise telegraphing its use before employing it whenever possible. Most importantly, keep in mind that, like any other control option, its eff ectiveness is likely to be signifi cantly reduced when dealing with highly aggres- sive, adrenalin-pumped individuals like Roper and Choi. It is a valuable tool when used properly, but always be ready to shift to another force option if it fails. Return to Question 4


Weapon Retention Roper’s failed attempt to disarm Offi cer Ev- erett highlights the importance of a prop- erly designed, well-constructed security holster. Although it is important to keep in mind that no holster can replace mental awareness and profi ciency in weapon reten- tion techniques, a sturdy security holster can be a life saver when, like Everett, you are unable to defend your weapon against a disarming attempt. It is also important to note that this disarming attempt took place late in the struggle when Everett was no longer physi- cally able to profi ciently execute any con- ventional weapon retention techniques. Unfortunately, disarmings seldom begin with a direct attack on the weapon, but later after the offi cer has become distracted, disoriented, or injured. For this reason, an offi cer’s weapon retention inventory should include options for a last-ditch eff ort to retain control of his weapon, and those options should be simple to learn, easy to retain, and easy to execute. T e simplest, most eff ective option is to hold tightly onto your gun—whether in your hand or still holstered—and then counterattack. Attack key targets that will cause your opponent to instinctively react to protect them, such as the eyes, throat or groin, and then follow up with another and another until you regain control of your weapon. An eye is often the best target to attack fi rst, because it is fragile, usually easy to reach, and an organ that we instinctively defend without conscious thought. Don’t just poke him in the eye. Smash the tip of your thumb into it, and dig in as hard as


you can in order to get him to instinctively defend it so you can follow through by at- tacking another key target. T ere is a lot more to be said about this topic, but since Offi cer Everett was saved by his holster from having to execute any coun- termeasures to defeat Roper’s eff orts to disarm him, the place to discuss this topic in depth is not here. However, due to its importance to offi cer safety, it is addressed in detail in a sepa- rate article in this issue of T e Police Marks- man. Click here to read the article. Return to Question 5


Issuing a False Warning Offi cer Everett threatened to shoot Roper even though he wasn’t sure if he would be able to follow through with the threat if the man called his bluff , or if he should even try. Was this a wise decision? All things con- sidered, it most likely was. His holster was badly damaged, leading him to reasonably believe that he might not be able to draw from it. Even from a fully functional holster, there was a good chance that he would not have had time to draw and fi re before Roper reached him. Had he only had time to draw but no time to fi re, or had he failed to inca- pacitate Roper with his fi rst shot or two (not an unlikely possibility considering Roper’s size, strength and determination), he would have found himself holding an unholstered fi rearm within easy reach of an aggressive, physically superior foe, unquestionably mak- ing the situation many times worse than it already was. Moreover, there were also bystanders to be considered. Besides the six offi cers in the hall- way, there were probably guests in the nearby rooms as well. Gunfi re would have created a distinct threat to these bystanders, a threat far exceeding the benefi ts to be gained, espe- cially in light of the other risks that drawing his weapon would have entailed. Under the circumstances, this was one of those very rare instances when it was a good idea to issue a verbal warning with no intention of carrying it out if pressed to do so. When coupled with a highly convincing acting job, it was a bluff well worth trying, and it worked. Return to Question 6


70 The Police Marksman Summer 2015


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