offi cer down Overwhelming Physical Force: The Carl Everett/Linda Mason Incident By Brian MCKenna
HOW TO RETAIN YOUR WEAPON
WHEN CONVENTIONAL WEAPON RETENTION TECHNIQUES WON’T WORK
ith the continuing development and use of even better retention holsters, less attention is now being given to weapon retention training. Some agencies have abandoned it altogether, preferring to depend entirely upon high retention holsters to protect their offi cers against disarmings, and many offi cers have done the same. The problem with this trend is that it tends to encourage offi cers to focus too little attention on weapon retention as they grow to depend entirely upon the holster, and even the best retention holster can be defeated. In addition, it ignores the fact that a large percentage of disarmings occur after the offi cer has drawn his gun. T is is not to say that retention holsters should not be used. Ideally, offi cers should carry their duty guns in rugged, high-quality holsters that provide a good balance between speed and adequate weapon retention, train with the holster to a high level of profi - ciency, and supplement the security of the holster with the best available weapon reten- tion training.
W
On the other hand, even the best weapon retention techniques have their shortcomings. While they undoubtedly save lives, they tend to involve rather com- plex, perishable skills that must be applied on the street under exceedingly stressful conditions, sometimes many years after the training was received. To make mat- ters worse, most departments don’t have the time, money or other resources neces- sary to maintain their offi cers at the level of profi ciency needed to ensure that they can properly apply these techniques in real-world situations. Furthermore, weapon retention tech- niques require proper stance, balance, and room to maneuver in order to be eff ective, and it is unreasonable to expect that such ideal conditions will always be present on the street. In fact, disarmings often occur
under the following conditions: After the offi cer has been partially or fully disabled from wounds.
After the officer has become ex- hausted. Studies have shown that even individuals who are in top shape will become exhausted to the point of near incapacitation after 30-60 sec-
onds of simulated full-power, hand- to-hand combat.
During ground fi ghts, in which case the offi cer is unable to achieve proper stance, balance or maneuver room.
In confi ned spaces like vehicles, re- strooms, crowded rooms, behind counters, etc. Such spaces don’t give offi cers much room in which to move, and may not allow them to maintain proper stance and/or balance.
On rough, uneven and/or sloping ter- rain that interferes with the offi cer’s stance and balance.
Against multiple assailants pressing in on the offi cer from various angles, leaving the offi cer little or no room in which to maneuver and interfering with his stance and balance.
During struggles with attackers who are sweaty, wet, greasy, bloody, etc., making it very diffi cult to hold onto the suspect or gain the leverage needed to properly apply the technique.
T erefore, we need a simple, easily re- tained, easy-to-execute technique to fall back on in those situations in which conventional
72 The Police Marksman Summer 2015
www.policemarksman.com
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