LEO Near Miss
Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Near Miss is a voluntary, non-disciplinary officer safety initiative that allows law enforcement personnel to read about and anonymously share stories of close calls or “near misses,” which provide lessons learned that can protect fellow officers in similar situations. If you would like to share your near-miss story to improve the safety of your fellow officers, visit LEOnearmiss.org.
“I could see the grip of a pistol in his waistband and saw he was reaching for it with his right hand while backing away from us.”
If a prisoner is transitioned from one officer to the next, it’s always appropriate to re-search the prisoner
‘From the sound of the bullets passing by my head, I would say I was inches from injury or death that evening.’
After learning he is being admitted to a psych facility, a psychiatric patient launches a violent attack on two officers
Officers have no idea what they will find when they respond to a call from a man asking that an officer be sent to shoot and kill him
Officer fitness, defensive tactics training and communication prevented tragedy during the takedown of an armed suspect
This near miss reminds officers to be cautious with preconceived notions about the conduct or intentions of a suspect
When hospital staff request an officer uncuff a violent suspect, the officer finds himself in a fight for his life
Complacency combined with assumptions can prove dangerous for officers
Never let a suspect’s diminished ability cause you to deviate from sound tactical principles
When contact with a suspect is likely, use high-risk tactics, even if no suspect is located after an initial search
An officer survives a near miss after a suspect escapes custody and is found with a firearm
Surviving a collision while driving over 100 mph and not wearing a seat belt was a safety wake-up call for this officer
Never assume that because you know a person, they will not be aggressive toward you
Do not treat subjects with a mental delay or handicap any differently in a call for service where they appear to be suspect
Voluntary, non-disciplinary officer safety initiative allows law enforcement personnel to read about and anonymously share stories of close calls
Officers often share their near misses with their close friends, but rarely are these stories, and the lessons learned from them, shared with officers across the country