TRAINING STATION
Products, Services, Classes and Seminars for On The Job
What’s your excuse for not training?
We all say it: “Yeah, I’m going to do it; I’ll start next
week/next month/whenever.” This frequently applies
to diet and exercise, but how many of us say it when it
comes to firearms training? “If I only had the time”/“If
I only had a place”/“Ammunition is too expensive.” I
can think of as many excuses for not training as I can
for not exercising. The big difference in law enforceJAN
ment is that while not keeping fit or eating well may
WRIGHT
lead to health damage in the long term, lack of
firearms training can do it in an instant.
So, what is the answer? In a perfect world, which we all know does
not exist in law enforcement, the department or agency would consistently train officers to be at their peak ability level, or better yet,
encourage increasing skill levels well beyond what is mandatory to
pass semi-annual qualifications. Training time would be paid for
and ammunition would be included. We know that is probably not
going to happen. So what do we do?
The easiest way to start is to go to a private range. RTSP offers an
impressive (half price) discount to law enforcement officers. Officers
should frequent the range as much as they possibly can, and
training with fellow officers can be fun and build camaraderie.
When shooting at a private range, do not just shoot the HQC
qualifying course. That is for qualification, not training. Instead,
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Five tips to keep you safe behind the wheel
In 2014 there were 124 police officers killed. And
while 47 were killed by gunfire, 51 were killed in
vehicle-related incidents.
BILL FEARON
TRAINING
ADVISER
We spend a lot of our training time dealing with
critical situations such as domestic violence,
armed suspects and active shooters; yet there is
very little training time spent behind the wheel. In
fact, most of our driving time is spent on duty and
in real life experiences.
Police officers spend a vast amount of their time
behind the wheel or in traffic-related incidents such as motor
vehicle accidents, traffic violations, general patrol duties, motor
vehicle pursuits or answering calls. Unfortunately, our life in a
patrol car has us pushing the limits of our driving capabilities and
the limits of the vehicle itself.
2.
Check traffic. Make sure that when you have to get out of
your vehicle for any reason that you check traffic. “Bumpers
kill just like bullets” is a line that I will never forget from my
academy experience. When stopping a violator, make sure
that you make a passenger side approach whenever possible,
and if it is not possible, then create an alley with your vehicle
to keep you safer.
3.
Make sure that the scene is safe. At any accident or roadway
incident we need to first secure the scene so that there is no
In order to stay safe behind the wheel, police officers need to
stay focused and stay aware of their surroundings. Situational
awareness is just as important behind the wheel as it is during
street encounters. The following five tips can help you behind the
wheel and while out of the car:
1.
Buckle up. Seatbelts save lives. We preach it and we should
practice it. Today’s vehicles are made with a crumple zone
that folds around the driver compartment. The seatbelt will
lock you into the seat to leave you room to live during an accident.
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