Editor’s Note: This week’s PoliceOne First Person essay is from PoliceOne Members Kevin Jeffries and Lance Nickell, who have authored a four-part series addressing the most critical element of officer safety: the need to think first! We will roll out this series every other week beginning today, so check back for parts two, three, and four throughout October and into early November. In PoliceOne “First Person” essays, our Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which individual officers can share their own personal insights on issues confronting cops today, as well as opinions, observations, and advice on living life behind the thin blue line. If you want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members, simply send us an e-mail with your story.
By Kevin Jeffries (with Lance Nickell)
Legendary Alabama Football Coach Bear Bryant said, “The will to win compares little with the will to prepare to win.” This axiom can relate to many worthy pursuits, including the topic of this article: the knowledge and mental preparation necessary for officer safety. Over the years, I have instructed thousands of officers in physical skills involving a wide range of defensive tactics techniques and safety-related tools such as OC spray, impact weapons, TASERs and firearms. I will always be an advocate for agencies to provide training on physical skills and safety-related tools to protect their officers. However, all officers should understand that, regardless of the types of training afforded you, your age or fitness level, officer safety begins with the mind. The focus of this article will be on what you should know, and how you can mentally prepare to be safe on the job.
All probation officers have not been created equal. In fact, we come in a variety of shapes, sizes, ages, levels of physical conditioning, and levels of coordination. For reasons of officer safety and general health, we should exercise and maintain a high level of personal fitness. But is officer safety only for those who are physically fit or young? Absolutely not. Officer safety is critical for everyone, and it begins with the mind…we need to think first.
Not all probationers/parolees are interested in doing us harm. However, you should understand there is a certain percentage of probationers/parolees, who, given the right circumstance, could become assaultive. The problem is that we do not know which probationers/parolees we should be concerned about. You should not trust risk instruments to give you an indication of your safety with an offender. They are not validated with our safety in mind. There was a case in which a deputy sheriff was murdered by a misdemeanant probationer with no priors. With no priors and a misdemeanor conviction, I cannot imagine this probationer scoring highly on any risk instrument. We need to exercise caution with all probationers/parolees and not just offenders, but all people with whom we come in contact while performing our job duties.
Situational awareness is merely being diligently alert to the possible threats that are within our immediate environment. The benefit of situational awareness is that it leads to fast and effective decision-making. Officers must train themselves to be situationally aware. In order to increase your situational awareness, start by using the initials of situational awareness to remind you of two important habits as you are performing your job duties. The “S”, from the word situational, will remind you to Scan the area and persons for possible weapons. The “A”, from the word awareness, will remind you to Assess the demeanor of your probationer and others in the area. If we can identify a weapon and/or a hostile attitude, we can enhance our safety by — at minimum — removing ourselves from the possible danger and addressing concerns in the relative safety of our office.
The first and most obvious place to scan for weapons is the subject’s hands. Officers should become very comfortable saying “let me see your hands.” Business with probationers/parolees should never be conducted with their hands in their pockets, behind their backs, or under a table or desk while seated. Also remember to at least initially see open palms, because if all that is seen are the backs of the hands, something could be concealed.
I like to use “the power of the first visit” to discuss safety issues like seeing their hands. Usually, the first visit is a time that you can count on having the offender’s attention. Take advantage of this time to discuss safety issues. By doing this, you will be less likely to have to address this in the field. If you are uncomfortable asking the offender to show his or her hands because of fear he or she may be holding a weapon, then terminate the contact immediately. You don’t need to deal with this at that time, and your safety is always the primary concern.
It is important for officer safety that officers are able to identify possible emerging threats. Therefore, officers should be trained on how to recognize the traits of an armed subject and how subjects typically conceal firearms. Pinizzotto, Davis, and Miller (2006) published a study on this very topic. The authors advise officers to study their own carrying habits and movements as well as that of their peers, as they could expect that non-law enforcement persons may have similar movements and habits that could cue an officer to be cautious of them. Also, notice that clothing is appropriate to the season and pay particular attention to any bulges in that clothing. The authors point out that none of the armed concealed persons in their study used a holster (even though all firearms were carried on the waistline).
As a result, the majority of those subjects reported frequently touching the firearm with their hand or arm to assure themselves that the firearm remained secure, accessible and hidden. Those touches could indicate to an observant officer that the person may be armed.
Those probationers/parolees who are interested in carrying a weapon likely understand that knives are easier to conceal than a firearm and less likely to have a substantial consequence. Therefore, officers should understand that, common in all stores that sell pocket knives, are folding knives that can be — with a little dexterity — quickly opened with one hand. Even more concerning are spring-assist knives that, with no dexterity, open quickly. This knife has another feature: a small clip that enables the user to clip the knife to the inside of the user’s pocket. This feature keeps the knife immediately at the user’s disposal at all times. These knives should be taken seriously because they can, with one hand, go from the pocket to open in just over one second. So as you “Scan” the probationer/parolee or collateral for weapons, be on the lookout for small one to two-inch metal clips outside of their pockets.
Some years ago, as a new probation officer, I was shown the Calibre Press training film “Surviving Edged Weapons.” The next day, I decided to conduct a pat-down search of all of the offenders reporting for office visits. Out of 29 pat-down searches, I discovered 5 with pocket knives. All of them had the same response: “I need it for work.” While this may be true, we can agree that offenders with knives in their possession pose a safety risk.
A look at law enforcement officer statistics reveals that, on average, between three and four officers are attacked with edged weapons every day (Thompson and Mesloh, 2006). Unfortunately, there is no national consortium for tracking probation/parole officer safety statistics. However, during my career, I am aware of incidents where officers have been confronted and cut with edged weapons. The reality is quite stark. We need to have situational awareness and be on guard for all weapons.
Situational awareness may be hindered by advancing technology. When on duty, officers need to “be there”, in the moment, paying attention to their surroundings. Texting, cellular phone conversations, and listening to iPods lessens your ability to perceive danger and respond accordingly. It also sends a message to those intending harm that you are vulnerable. Technology should be enjoyed where it is safe to do so, which does not include on-duty activities.
A great way to double your situational awareness is to work with an observant partner, thus having someone to assist with scanning the environment and assessing demeanors of those present. With a partner, officers are 70 percent less likely to be assaulted; and with two other officers, 90 percent less likely to be assaulted (Thornton, R., 2003).
Increased situational awareness alone may not be the source of the reduced likelihood of being assaulted. Officers who work together are recognized as having a special relationship and are seen as protectors — one for the other. So while one officer may be seen as vulnerable, two officers are not.
Check back in two weeks for our next installment, ‘Understanding the OODA Loop.’
About the Authors
Kevin Jeffries is currently employed by the Arizona Supreme Court in the Education Services Division as the Probation Safety Specialist. Kevin is considered a Subject Matter Expert in Defensive Tactics, Firearms and Use-of-Force. Prior to his employment at AOC he was a unit supervisor with the Ohio Adult Parole Authority (APA) supervising the Mahoning County Probation Unit. While with the APA he was an Unarmed Self-Defense Instructor, Field Tactics Instructor and Chairman of the Akron Regional Training Advisory Council.
Kevin is a Lead Firearms and Lead Defensive Tactics instructor for the Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts and was instrumental in developing both the firearms and defensive tactics curriculum. Kevin has presented Officer Safety trainings for the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) and is a guest columnist for APPA’s Perspectives Magazine. Kevin also instructs on a national level as an adjunct faculty member for the Community Corrections Institute. He holds certifications as a Simunitions instructor, TASER instructor, NRA Tactical Firearms Instructor, NRA Handgun Instructor, and Glock Armorer.
Kevin received his Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement Administration from Youngstown State University and his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at Western International University.
Lance Nickell is the Lead Firearms Instructor and Range Master for the Maricopa County Probation Department and develops curriculum and policy for his department’s officer safety related topics. In his 17 years as a Probation Officer, he has had numerous assignments including the Sex Offender Unit, Fugitive Location Unit, and Staff Development and Training. Lance assisted in establishing and currently manages his department’s firearms training programs and leads the department’s 20 firearms instructors.
Lance is also a Lead Firearms Instructor and Use of Force subject matter expert for the Arizona State Supreme Court. He has been recognized twice by this court as the Firearms Instructor of the Year. He has presented nationally for both the American Probation and Parole Association and the National Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology. As an avid shooter, Lance has won numerous Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the Arizona Police Games and continues competing at area matches.
References
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Kenagy, J., (2010). Acting your way to a new way of thinking. For Your Advantage, retrieved 3.16.11 from http://kenagyassociates.com/resources.writing.php
Petrowski, T. D., (2002, November). Use of force policies and training, a reasoned approach (Part 2). The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 71 (11), 24-32.
Pinizzotto, A., Davis, E., and Miller, C., (2006). “Dead Right” Recognizing Traits of Armed Individuals. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, retrieved 3.18.11 from http://www2.fbi.gov/filelink.html?file=/publications/leb/2006/mar06leb.pdf
Prymer v. Ogden, 29 F.3d 1208 (7th Cir 1994).
Thompson, L. and Mesloh, C., (2006). Edged weapons: traditional and emerging threats to law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Bulletin, retrieved 12.21.10 from http://www2.fbi.gov/filelink.html?file=/publications/leb/2006/mar06leb.pdf
Thornton, Robert L.,(2003). New Approaches to Staff Safety, 2d ed. Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections.
Wardlaw v. Pickett, 1 F.3d 1297, 1299 (1993).
