I was recently in New York City, putting countless miles on my boots as I strode the sidewalks talking with cops during the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. The sun was out a lot of the time, and I was reminded of something on the subject of your positioning relative to the sun... your shadow can beat you to the corner of a building!
When the sun is at your back, you’ll cast a shadow ahead of you, announcing your arrival to the person lurking just around the corner. Should you find yourself approaching a building corner around which a suspect may be lying in wait, or if you’re approaching a suspect on the ground who could be watching your shadow, keep in mind how he or she may be reading your approach.
Although control of your positioning relative to the sun may be impossible in some situations, keeping in mind where your shadow is cast, and move to an alternative angle whenever it’s safe and possible to do so — can give you an important tactical advantage.
