P1 First Person: What are you training for?

By Rick Randolph
Police1 Member

Cops belts are filled with awesome tools and weapons. I don’t know that actual statistics are available, but I have got to believe that pepper spray, batons, Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) and handcuffs have saved the lives of countless suspects and cops.

These tools are, however, just tools. And like a hammer isn’t effective at loosening a bolt, ECDs such as TASERs may not always be the right, most effective or even the safest option for controlling a bad guy. Often times we get focused on that “one” weapon.

Last year a law enforcement administrator from a major California county was discussing new case law regarding ECDs. He was quoted as saying, “without them, officers are faced with going hands on or using significant, or even deadly force.”

ECDs are one tool for one type of problem. “Hands on” is another tool. It is not an either or situation like many cops see it. While sometimes there are multiple ways to solve a problem, each specific scenario has a best choice. That “best choice” considers size, age, abilities, and whatnot.

Nonetheless, training day after training day, I see and hear the same comments. Officers don’t want to train in hand to hand tactics. They are just going to use ECDs and batons on everyone.

The last I checked, we all chose this profession. I have heard of neither indentured servitude nor a law enforcement draft. We were not conscripted but instead picked this for any of an array of reasons with, I hope, at least a rudimentary understanding of the dangers involved. If you didn’t know, this job can be dangerous and you might have to get your hands dirty once in a while.

“The first and foremost reason to train is to protect yourself,” Tony Blauer, founder and CEO of Blauer Tactical Systems and creator of the SPEAR System, told me.

“If that is your core belief, then how could you ever give a poor showing or lack of energy? Training to ‘protect yourself’ changes the onus from ‘What’s the minimum standard?’ or ‘Is my agency paying?’ to ‘What if?’ or ‘How do I explain to my spouse or kids that I didn’t bother training and won’t be coming home tonight?’”

For more than three decades Blauer has been coaching law enforcement, military and civilians on the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of combatives. His niche has been developing the emotional/psychological tool box.

“You train for yourself and your family... if you are given a one minute drill; I want to see you practicing for 60 seconds. Every time you waste a second, you are stealing time. You are stealing from yourself,” Blauer said.

There is a maxim at Blauer Tactical Systems: “Just because you are present doesn’t mean you have any presence.”

We all have seen this to varying degrees when we are working. Two separate cops can show up to the same scene — both wearing the same uniform, carrying the same weapons. One of those cops immediately brings stability to the situation; the other creates additional tension and chaos.

The reason is the reaction by the suspects/citizens to the officer’s presence. That reaction is based on their perception and that perception is based on the perceived confidence of the cop. Just as we read the people we come in contact with every day for clues — are they lying? Can I get them to tell me more? — bad guys read us too.

The longer they have been bad guys, the better they are at it. Real bad guys, the ones we are most worried about feed off a lack of perceived confidence.

Blauer teaches that true tactical presence is the result of diligent preparation. He argues that confidence comes from ‘competence’, and that is preparation across all levels of force. When verbal skills are the appropriate level of force, a cop has to be skilled in them or he may escalate to a higher level. If he or she is not comfortable or capable with “hard hands” skills, they may rely on an ECD, even when it is ineffective or the wrong tool for the job. As Bruce Lee said, they only have one weapon.

Most cops only train a select portion of their arsenal. This limits their ability to respond effectively across the entire use of force spectrum.

Let’s face it, if you are in a dangerous street fight and really getting whooped and need to shoot him or her to protect yourself, do it. I am just arguing that we shouldn’t NOT train hand-to-hand skills because we always have a gun or ECD when we need it.

That’s irresponsible, unsafe and lazy.

I am not saying cops should be thinking about perception either. I am a big believer that your primary job is to go home safe. But going home safe means going home to our families whole — both mentally and physically — not angry and stressed over media stories, public outrage, internal investigations or civil or criminal trials.

Blauer talks about capacity versus potential. He teaches that potential is important – it helps you visualize and plan training — but when the fight is on, all you have is your capacity. If you are tired, out of shape, untrained or injured — that’s what you take to the fight. Fight accordingly. Win based on the current capacity. He also teaches that when you train, train toward your potential.

“The average officer only trains a select portion of their arsenal,” Blauer said. “This limits their ability to respond effectively, using what’s appropriate, through the entire use of force spectrum.”

Gun guys like to shoot. DT guys like to fight. Others like to use their charm and verbal skills to talk folks into handcuffs. All are important skills. The point is this:

Train them all. Train to be that back-up officer you want to show up to your fight. Train for your families and children and for the families and children of the partners you work with. Train for mine. If your agency is not providing adequate, realistic or appropriate training, do it yourself. Grab an overtime shift. Grab two and pay your own way. Several years ago no one could squeeze an extra $100 a month out of their budgets. Today, everyone has a smart phone for Facebook status updates and check-ins. We find ways to fund what is important to us.

Instead of finding excuses not to train — I’m too fat, too old, it’s too expensive, I’ll just shoot, TASER or baton them — find reasons to train. If you can’t find a reason check that smart phone. Most of us have pictures of our reasons right there.

I have photos of my wife and kids saved in there. Today, I am training for them. And I am training for the reasons saved in your phone too.

Rick Randolph is a full-time police officer and defensive tactics instructor in Northern California. He is a Blauer Tactical Systems S.P.E.A.R. System & Personal Defense Readiness (PDR) Coach and a member of their Mobile Training Team (MTT). Rick retired from professional MMA after 20 fights. He won titles in three different weight classes. He is a high school wrestling coach and has trained in Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, kickboxing and Krav Maga. Currently, he is a CrossFit and CrossFit Kids coach atCrossFit Anywhere in Northern California and is the founding member of CrossFit RPD, a non-profit law enforcement affiliate where he trains kids and police officers.