Many have seen the movie “Heat” with Al Pacino as Commander of an elite police squad and Robert De Niro as the leader of an elite group of thieves. The climax was a showdown between the two near the ILS landing light system at an airport. Pacino got the drop on DeNiro when DeNiro’s presence was revealed by a light casting his shadow.
The same thing can happen in daylight.
Doing an outdoor search with the sun at your back, your shadow will reach a corner of a fence or building before you do. When you approach a suspect laying on the ground in the same manner, they know you are there by your shadow. In training I’ve illustrated this by playing the suspect and attacking the officer approaching to handcuff and search me.
Another point:
When searching from a bright, open area to one that is in shadow, such as walking into a tree-covered backyard or entering a darkened bar from the bright outdoors, close one eye before entering that area. It won’t take as long for your eyes to adjust between the light and shadow, but that few seconds can be critical.
While it is impossible to always element your shadow during a search or while approaching a suspect, some quick tips and observations will lessen the chances and enhance your safety.
1. Stop and observe before rushing to do a search or an arrest.
2. Know the position of the sun and the direction it casts your shadow.
3. If possible, blend in with other objects’ shadows (trees, cars, dumpsters, etc) to reduce your visibilty.
4. If having to search a large area involving both bright and shaded areas, it may be wise to start in the shaded areas and work your way into the lighted areas. This way you avoid the temporary vision problems that surface when doing it in reverse.
Remember too, that shadows can be your friend as well. They can provide great concealment when you have to hide from a potential opponent, giving you that needed advantage to control a situation or a person.
Using these simple tips will help you be more observant of daytime light management. Try it out and develop your own techniques. It just may mean the difference between a successful arrest, a fleeing suspect, or worse.