Editor’s Note: PoliceOne “First Person” essays are the place where P1 Members and Columnists candidly share their own unique view of the world. This is a platform from which our members 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. This week’s feature is from P1 Member Mark Hillis, an Officer from “a very small town” in Tennessee. Want to share your own perspective with other P1 Members? Send us an e-mail with your story.
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By Mark Hillis
Police Officer
I recently read the article about Policing rural America by Pat Novesky and thought I’d add some things I’ve learned over the years. First, a little about me: I’ve been a Tennessee cop since 1990, having started my career at the McMinnville (Tenn.) Police Department in January and graduating the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in August of that year. I went to the Warren County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Department in 1993 and returned to McMinnville PD in 2005. I currently work in a very small town in one of the smallest (in terms of population) counties in Tennessee. In my career, I’ve been a patrol shift sergeant, field training officer, tactical team member and co-commander, police sniper, armorer, and firearms instructor.
Why have I bucked the trend of going from small departments to larger ones? Simple: I work in my home county with hopes of making it a better place.
Neither my department nor the Sheriff’s is a 24/7 operation. My department has three officers — two patrolmen and one SRO. The other patrolman and myself? We work alone. Our only backup is the Sheriff’s Deputies, or maybe a highway patrolman (any of which may not be on duty and have to be called out). Methamphetamine and marijuana are both produced here. We have a major highway that links the Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, with Chattanooga (and all parts south) passing through our town.
During all these years of working with backup a long ways off (or nonexistent), I’ve learned a lot of things about survival. Some are the tactics mentioned in Pat’s article. Here are some of things that I try to always use.
1. Always wear your vest.
2. Carry a backup weapon on you and readily accessible by you.
3. At night, blind them.
a. Use all your lights to your advantage.
b. Circle behind your unit and approach the passenger side.
4. Take your time. You miss stuff (evidence, warning signs, etc.) when you rush.
5. Take charge of the situation. Be assertive. You can let the suspect know that you are in charge without being an asshole and pissing them off. Unfortunately, a lot of officers never learn how to do this.
6. Don’t get sucked into arguments. It can distract you from a pending attack.
7. Bluff them about their chances of success.
8. Talk. It is easier than fighting.
9. Don’t hesitate to use force when it is necessary.
10. Carry reloads for your handgun on you (believe it or not, I’ve seen cops that don’t) because you may have to sustain a firefight with multiple suspects.
11. Have a handgun that is accessible while you are seated in your unit. If you can’t draw the handgun that is on your body, have another handgun that you can reach easily.
12. Carry a long gun. At least a shotgun with sights and slugs but a rifle caliber, magazine fed rifle is better. This is a requirement in rural areas where engagements may be at greater ranges than handgun or buckshot. In addition to the previous long guns, a scoped rifle may also be carried.
13. Use night sights and/or lasers. They give you an advantage that may save your life.
14. Train, even if it’s at your own expense.
15. Always remember that nothing is routine and IT CAN HAPPEN HERE. Mayberry is a fantasy that doesn’t exist.
