Your skills are an important part of your everyday performance.
“What skills?” you might ask.
Your ability to operate your cruiser at higher speeds, for one, right? How about your proficiency with your empty hand techniques? What about your ability to get cuffs on quickly and properly (cuff behind back!). The use of your OC, baton, TASER — are you comfortable deploying these items and knowing when and how to use them?
What about your decision-making skills that affect your safety? Do you vest up each tour? Do you have your seatbelt on when driving to a call or all the time?
The items you carry on your duty belt, they are tools not skills.
The skill you need to use them and use them properly is up to you.
If you are not training and using these tools often, your skills may not be as good as you would think.
Get to the range, open that baton, know how to control your prisoner, practice cuffing uncooperative subjects.
Training should never give way to, “I think I know how to use my tools.” It should always be I’m proficient with everything I carry and will use each tool accordingly.
Stay safe, be tactical, and stay skilled.