If you typically approach on the driver’s side during traffic stops, consider approaching on the passenger side instead. You might be surprised, and even saved, by what you see. Occupants in a car that’s been pulled over will likely look to their left expecting you to approach the driver directly. Your unanticipated approach from the opposite side will likely catch them by surprise and buy you a few golden moments to survey the interior without being noticed. In some cases, officers have spotted desperate drivers secreting weapons while watching their door mirror to time their approach.
When approaching a vehicle on a traffic stop, particularly one you may consider high-risk, push down on the trunk as you walk up from the rear. This can serve two purposes. First, it ensures that the trunk is closed should someone be secreted inside in position for attack. Second, it leaves your fingerprints clearly on the car should things spin bad and those prints prove helpful in a case against the occupants.
If you find a need to make stealth entry into a building or you need to stay quiet and unnoticed while moving into position, remember to ensure that your radio is turned down and loose keys that might rattle are secured. A quick radio blast or metallic jingling can blow your cover fast.
An early, easy-to-spot indicator that you may be dealing with a drug runner on a traffic stop can be the license plate. In an effort to be an inconspicuous as possible, some cross-country mules will carry a collection of state plates that they switch out at border crossings. As you approach a vehicle, look for signs that one plate may be stacked over another or signs of heavy use of the screws that hold the plate in place. If you spot anything that doesn’t look right with a plate, take note, take caution and be curious.
Will hiding behind an open car door protect you in a gun fight? Don’t count on it. If you find yourself forced to use your vehicle as cover, try to position yourself such that the engine block stands between you and your adversary.
Sufficient sleep can make a serious difference in your level of tactical awareness…and consistent shift changes can make regular sleep patterns a serious challenge. A few quick tips to help you sleep: When heading home from a night shift, wear dark sunglasses to help prevent sunlight from causing certain awakening body chemicals from kicking in. Try to follow a specific bedtime routine, regardless of the time of day you’re hitting the sack, that helps convince your body that it’s time to wind down. If you can’t sleep, get out of bed and leave the bedroom. The minute you start feeling tired again, get right back to bed.
