The world of firearms, training and law enforcement is plagued by persistent myths that refuse to die. Like stubborn weeds, these misconceptions briefly fade from view only to resurface with a vengeance, spreading across forums, social media, and comment threads. Let’s unpack a few of the most enduring falsehoods.
The Newhall shooting on April 6, 1970, where four California Highway Patrol officers were killed during a traffic stop, has been burned into law enforcement memory for over 50 years. It’s cited in academy classrooms, training seminars and officer survival courses nationwide. But over time, myths about what happened that night have taken on a life of their own — clouding the real lessons with half-truths and misconceptions.
Understanding the facts isn’t just an exercise in setting the record straight. It’s a necessary act of respect for the fallen officers — and a critical step toward better training, smarter tactics and safer outcomes today.
Addressing myths about the Newhall shooting
In his excellent book, “Newhall Shooting: A Tactical Analysis,” Mike Wood single-handedly dispelled some of the most pervasive myths about that horrific murder. Here are a few of those myths:
Myth: Officers died due to lack of felony stop training
It was widely believed that the CHP officers involved in the Newhall incident were inadequately trained or completely untrained in “felony stop” procedures, leading to their deaths. Actually, CHP had some pretty decent training for the time, but the officers did not use what they were taught. Wood posits that the officers did not apply that training because they weren’t afforded enough repetitions to solidify the skill set.
Myth: Officers died with brass in their pockets
A persistent legend states that Officer James Pence was found dead with spent revolver brass in his pockets or his hands, implying that he was ejecting spent brass into his hands during the gunfight, as they were forced to do during firearms training, causing a “training scar” and costing him critical time. Many academies still teach this.
Wood proved through photographs and reports that Pence properly ejected his spent brass on the ground and was attempting to reload during the gunfight when he was outflanked and killed. The real problem was that Pence was grievously injured while attempting to fully reload his revolver from a dump pouch and fighting an experienced and unfortunately prepared killer.
Myth: The incident was solely a result of officer error
Some narratives pinned the tragedy entirely on the officers’ tactical errors or lack of preparedness, ignoring the context of the criminals’ actions and readiness.
Wood’s analysis emphasizes that the criminals, Twining and Davis, were hardened, experienced and heavily armed, with a predisposition to kill. The officers were at a disadvantage from the start, as the criminals acted decisively before the officers could fully process the threat. This challenges the oversimplified blame placed on the officers and highlights the complexity of the encounter.
Wood’s book uses primary sources, including case files and interviews with officers involved, to separate fact from fiction. The book also underscores the importance of learning from such incidents without diminishing the officers’ bravery or sacrifice.
| RELATED: Lessons from the Newhall gunfight
Embrace both ignorance and learning
Ignorance is nothing to be ashamed of. It is universal, often tinged with Dunning-Kruger bias. Myths like these persist because we ignore our history, fueling preventable tragedies. The fault lies not just with administrators, officers, or trainers but in law enforcement’s collective resistance to change. Progress requires the humility to face our failures, the courage to learn from the past, and the resolve to adapt. Only by embracing this challenge can we honor the fallen and safeguard the future.
Roll call discussion questions
Use these questions to spark a quick discussion during your next roll call:
- How many reps does it really take to make a skill automatic under stress?
- Why do myths like “brass in the pocket” stick around so long in law enforcement?
- How can we learn from past mistakes without unfairly blaming officers who were overwhelmed by circumstances?
- Are there tactics or habits we teach today that could turn out to be wrong?
- If a critical incident happened today, how confident are you in your ability to execute under pressure?
What do you think? 📧💬 Join the conversation! Drop a note to editor@police1.com.
