Protection Services Canada - Blogs - chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/ Discussion forum for Security Guards, Security Guard Services, Security Officers, Personal Protection, Body Guards, Law Enforcement, and Police. en Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:31 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.protectionservices.ca/images/misc/rss.jpg Protection Services Canada - Blogs - chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/ Rick Rescorla http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/rick-rescorla-72/ Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:29:40 GMT *The story:* On September 11, 2001, Rick Rescorla was the head of security for the Morgan Stanley financial offices based out of Tower 2 at the World Trade Center. He started his life as a member of the British Army in 1956 and was deployed during the Cypriot insurgency. Later he worked as a... The story:

On September 11, 2001, Rick Rescorla was the head of security for the Morgan Stanley financial offices based out of Tower 2 at the World Trade Center. He started his life as a member of the British Army in 1956 and was deployed during the Cypriot insurgency. Later he worked as a Police officer with the Northern Rhodesia Police and the London Metropolitan Police. In 1963 he was living in the United States where he enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 1965 he was involved in the famous Ia Drang Valley battle led by General Hal Moore. His picture can be found on the front cover of the book “We were soldiers once….and young”. During the battles Rescorla would sing “Men of Harlech” and other Cornish songs to keep his soldiers calm. During his service in Vietnam Rescorla was awarded a Silver star, a bronze star with oak leaf clusters and a purple heart.

Later in his life he began working security with the Dean Witter financial offices in Tower 2 of the WTC. In 1992 Rescorla approached the Port Authority which owned the WTC. He warned them that a terrorist could easily drive a truck bomb into the underground parking facility and that an explosion at a load bearing column could bring down the building. The Port Authority waved away his concerns and told him to worry about his own employees. On February 26th 1993 terrorists did indeed attack the facility by detonating a truck bomb in the underground parkade of the facility. Rescorla was instrumental in the evacuation and he was one of the last people to leave the WTC.

After the 1993 attack Rescorla felt that the terrorists would attack again to finish the job. He took the lessons he learnt from the attack and had generators and extractor fans installed in the stairwells. This was because the stairs had filled with smoke after the bombing and made it difficult for people to escape. He also had florescent tape placed on the stairs to assist people finding their way during an evacuation.

In 1997 Dean Witter merged with Morgan Stanley and Rescorla was made director of security. Rescorla advised the executives that the facility was still a target and that he felt that terrorists would likely steal a cargo plane in Africa, load it with explosives and fly it in to one of the towers. The executives told Rescorla that the lease was not up until 2005 and that they would look at moving location at that time. In response to this one of the policies that he instituted was mandatory evacuation drills for every one of the 2700 employees on all 20 floors that the company occupied in WTC 2 and all 1000 employees from WTC 5. These drills were performed every 3 months.

To see an interview with Rescorla taped in 1998 click here: The Voice of the Prophet | Rick Rescorla Memorial

On September 11th, 2001 at 8:46am Tower 1 was hit by AA flight 11. Rescorla (in Tower 2) began an evacuation of all Morgan Stanley employees despite advice from the building managers that they remain inside. Rescorla kept people calm by singing “God bless America”, “Men of Harlech” and other Cornish songs. The majority of the 2700 employees were out of tower 2 when UA flight 175 hit it. Rescorla remained in the building to assist other employees during the evacuation. A senior manager told Rescorla to evacuate to which he replied “As soon as I make sure everyone is out.”

Eyewitnesses claim that Rescorla was everywhere on 9/11. He was seen as high as the 72nd floor of tower 2. At one point he was outside and after realizing that 6 employees were unaccounted for he reentered the tower with one of his deputies. He was last seen on the 10th floor of Tower 2 heading up. At 09:59 Tower 2 collapsed and Rescorla was killed.

Personal comments from me:

Rick Rescorla led the warriors life and he died for a noble cause. He had to deal with a management group that didn’t give him all the resources he wanted to ensure their safety. Many of us work for agencies where we deal with the same things. We feel we aren’t given what we need and that security is secondary. As a result some of us with get into victim thinking. We get angry that the higher ups don’t appreciate what we do and aren’t listening. Rick Rescorla didn’t get into that victim thinking. If he had than things would have been much worse on 9/11. Instead he continued to do whatever he could to ensure the safety of the employees. Rather than sit back and complain he used whatever resources he had. He understood that he could still make a difference and he could still save lives. Of the 3700 Morgan Stanley employees located in Tower 2 and 5 only 8 died on 9/11. Rescorla and his deputy were among those 8. Morgan Stanley executives and employees credit Rescorla with saving their lives on that day.

Stay safe and never forget,

Chris ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/rick-rescorla-72/ The warrior within: Preserving the Peace http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/warrior-within-preserving-peace-65/ Sat, 21 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT In this article I will be discussing my views on what “our” role is. When I say “our”, I am referring to Police, Corrections, Peace Officers, Security and any other agency that has a stake in public safety. I believe that many of us start out with a serious misunderstanding about what our role is.... In this article I will be discussing my views on what “our” role is. When I say “our”, I am referring to Police, Corrections, Peace Officers, Security and any other agency that has a stake in public safety. I believe that many of us start out with a serious misunderstanding about what our role is.
I know that I did. It was only after reading the book “Unleashing the Power of Unconditional Respect: Transforming Law Enforcement and Police Training” by Charles Huth and Jack Colwell, that I developed a much greater understanding on what I believe our role to be.

Too many of our colleagues start their career assuming that their role is “law enforcement”. However, this is not the case. The true professional understands that our role is preserving the peace and ensuring public safety. Law enforcement is just a tool to aid us in that role. What does that mean? It means we need to focus more on ensuring that the peace is maintained as opposed to racking up the number of arrests we make or tickets we write. While tickets and arrests are important and they serve a purpose we need to should always be asking ourselves “is there another way?”.

It seems that people in our profession quickly forget the principles of policing that are attributed to Sir Robert Peel.

“1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.

3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.

7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.”
-Peels Principles of Policing (New Westminster Police Service British Columbia, Canada)


We quickly forget these principles and fall into a law enforcement mindset. In my opinion the law enforcement mindset is; upholding the letter of the law and ensuring strict obedience. Anyone who breaks the law is the “bad guy” and is clearly against us. They become “scumbags”, “shit heads”, “assholes” and other colourful terms. When we adopt this mindset we set ourselves apart from these people. Our world becomes us vs. them. We actually treat these people as less then human. Then a news story breaks and, rightly or wrongly, we are put in a negative light. So all of a sudden we lose the confidence of the public. Now the general public become “assholes” who don’t understand the job. The us vs. them attitude continues to grow. Our officers begin to dislike dealing with the public. We being to feel superior to the public and we forget that they are the ones who we serve.

In 1829 the first Joint Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Richard Mayne said, “The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime: the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends all the efforts of police must be directed. The protection of life and property, the preservation of public tranquillity, and the absence of crime, will alone prove whether those efforts have been successful and whether the objects for which the police were appointed have been attained.”

Colwell and Huth state that we have moved away from this mission and instead we have become a reactionary force. I believe that this transition has occurred because it is easier to be reactive then it is to be proactive. In a day an age when budgets are cut and staffing levels are short we cut down on proactive measures and instead focus on reacting. Everything boils down to getting stats to prove our worth. The more stats we have showing what we a dealing with the easier it is to demonstrate a need for departmental funding. The way we get the stats is by making arrests and writing tickets. All of a sudden the prevention of crime starts to take a backseat. These leads to further ingraining the law enforcement mindset in our officers.

When I worked for a small municipality just south of Calgary my supervisor said something that I didn’t fully understand. Our job, first and foremost was to educate the public. When he made traffic stops he educated people. He still wrote tickets, but I believe that he focused more on upholding the spirit of the law rather then the letter. Often the vehicles he stopped had committed several violations. It would have been easy for him to write a ticket for every offence but he didn’t. He might write one or two but he educated the driver on what was wrong. He made sure the driver knew that they were getting some breaks and he made sure they knew what those breaks were. He was well respected in that community and people would be thanking him after he had just handed them a ticket. He was the first member of any public safety organisation to actually teach me about discretion.

Many new officers have never been taught any discretion. Just because a trespasser is on your property you aren’t required to arrest them. It is certainly an option but it is not a requirement. Those who believe that our goal is law enforcement will focus on getting these arrests. Those who understand that law enforcement is just a tool to preserve the peace will make the arrest as a last option.

Stay safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/warrior-within-preserving-peace-65/ Emergency Management for Security http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/emergency-management-security-64/ Sun, 08 May 2011 18:00:00 GMT How prepared are you for an emergency or disaster at your work place? Do you truly understand your role during an incident? Are you knowledgeable enough to take over your supervisor’s role? Have you ever seen your site emergency response plan? Security personnel can encounter an emergency... How prepared are you for an emergency or disaster at your work place? Do you truly understand your role during an incident? Are you knowledgeable enough to take over your supervisor’s role? Have you ever seen your site emergency response plan?

Security personnel can encounter an emergency situation regardless of the site they work at. Fire and flood are the most common that your may come across however each site with have a unique array of hazards. By learning some of the basics of emergency management you will be better able to respond to an incident and you will be able to provide sound guidance to others.

Every province has an emergency management agency. Most agencies provide training to residents. A great place to start is by taking a Basic Emergency Management (BEM) course. These courses are often free and some are delivered by distance or online education. Alberta is currently reviewing their BEM but when it is finished it will be available for free online. Ontario and BC both offer BEM in a class room setting.

Once you have taken BEM I recommend the 100 level of Incident Command System (ICS) or Incident Management System (IMS). These programs are a nice introduction to the organisational structure that is utilised during an incident. Ontario and Alberta both offer these programs for free online.

Another class that I recommend is the awareness and basic levels of CBRN. These classes give you an introduction to symptoms of a CBRN incident and how to respond. The awareness and basic classes are available online for free at: Canadian Emergency Management College

Don’t wait for your agency to provide this training. Show your professionalism and take it yourself. I highly recommend that everyone in a security role completes these intro level classes. They can be done quickly and best of all they are usually free.

If you end up wanting to take more education in emergency management there are many great resources. Your provincial and municipal emergency management agencies will be excellent resources. Local emergency response agencies will also be able to provide guidance. Formal education can be taken at a number of facilities (I highly recommend the NAIT diploma program).

Below is a list of the provincial emergency management agencies (except Quebec):

Alberta: Alberta Emergency Management Agency
B.C: Emergency Management B.C.
Manitoba: Province of Manitoba | Intergovernmental Affairs | Emergency Measures Organization
New Brunswick: Emergency Measures Organization - New Brunswick
Newfoundland: Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador
NWT: :: GNWT - Municipal and Community Affairs - Territorial Emergency Management ::
Nova Scotia: emo.gov.ns.ca
Nunavut: Nunavut Emergency Management | Department of Community and Government Services
Ontario: Emergency Management Ontario::Home
PEI: Department of Justice and Public Safety: Emergency Measures Organization
Saskatchewan: SaskEMO - Corrections, Public Safety and Policing - Government of Saskatchewan
Yukon: Emergency Measures Organization - Department of Community Services- Government of Yukon

Stay safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/emergency-management-security-64/ Law Officer Magazine’s 2011 Trainer of the Year: Brian Willis http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/law-officer-magazine-s-2011-trainer-year-brian-willis-60/ Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:09:00 GMT Law Officer Magazine’s 2011 Trainer of the Year: Brian Willis Some of you may have noticed that a number of my recent articles had a link at the bottom with information about the Law Officer Magazine’s 2011 Trainer of the Year. This is an annual award that is designed to reward the actions of... Law Officer Magazine’s 2011 Trainer of the Year: Brian Willis

Some of you may have noticed that a number of my recent articles had a link at the bottom with information about the Law Officer Magazine’s 2011 Trainer of the Year. This is an annual award that is designed to reward the actions of the best trainers in North America. The award is handed out at the ILEETA conference.

If you have not already seen or heard, the winner of the 2011 award was Brian Willis.

For those of you that have not had the opportunity to meet Brian Willis you are truly missing out. I am fortunate enough to have met Brian back in 2006. Since then I have learnt a great deal from him and he is the reasons I began training other officers.

Brian is a retired Police Officer with the Calgary Police Service. He runs Winning Mind Training and Warrior Spirit Books. He is the Deputy Executive Director of ILEETA and one of the driving forces behind the “Below 100” program.

If you do not already you need to follow his blog: Excellence in Training

He has some excellent books for sale at low prices on this website: Books - Warrior Spirit Books

He provides some fantastic training through his company: Home Page

Finally he runs an annual “legacy of excellence” conference here in Calgary in which he brings in some of the top trainers from around the world. If you can only attend one conference a year I would strongly recommend this one:Verbal Trauma Control

I could write at great length about this exceptional man but instead I will encourage you to take a look at some of the links.

Congratulations to Brian. I can think of no one who better epitomises the award.

Stay Safe,

Chris ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/law-officer-magazine-s-2011-trainer-year-brian-willis-60/ Equipment maintenance http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/equipment-maintenance-59/ Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:44:47 GMT With today being the first day of daylight savings it is a good time to check and clean your equipment. Often we have all of our gear on our belt but for some of us we hardly use it. Without realising it your equipment can quickly break down and become useless. Now is a good time to throw some new... With today being the first day of daylight savings it is a good time to check and clean your equipment. Often we have all of our gear on our belt but for some of us we hardly use it. Without realising it your equipment can quickly break down and become useless. Now is a good time to throw some new batteries into the flashlight and take care of some other equipment.

Take your cuffs out of their pouch. Open them up and check them for rust. Push the single bar through the double bar a couple of times to make sure they are working nicely. I have heard that products such as powdered graphite work well on the ratchet. Also, make sure that the key and double locking mechanism both work.

If you carry a baton then extend it and shut it a couple of times. Unscrew the cap and clean any dirt out of the inside.

If you carry a fire arm make sure you unload it (including the chamber) and clean it. If your ammunition has been in the magazine for more then 6 months get some new ammo, go to the range and use your old ammo.

If you carry any knives then open them up, take a tissue and carefully clean any dust off.

If you wear a vest then take out the panels or Kevlar. Wash the vest carrier and wipe down the panels and Kevlar. The carrier, panels and Kevlar should have instructions on how to care for them. At the bottom of my Body Armour article you can find a guide on how to care for your vests. The article is here: Body Armour - Blogs - Protection Services Canada

I have found that if you treat your equipment with care then it won’t fail you when you need it the most.

Stay Safe,

Chris

P.S. Law Officer magazine is holding their annual Trainer of the Year. Between now and March 18th nominate an eligible Law Enforcement trainer at 2011 Trainer of the Year - Training - LawOfficer.com

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/equipment-maintenance-59/ The warrior: Part 1 http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/warrior-part-1-57/ Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:00:00 GMT In September 2010 I had the pleasure of hearing Charles "Chip" Huth and Jack Colwell speak at the annual Legacy of Excellence conference here in Calgary, Alberta. Their presentation touched on some amazing points and for me it was one of the highlights of the conference. In future articles I hope to discuss some of the learning points that they brought up but for now I will share one of their blog posts. Their blog (which is well worth a read) can be found here: Unleashing Respect

Chip Weighs in on the "Warrior" Discussion

"Every so often, I find myself speaking to someone who questions what it truly means to be a Warrior. I am sure there are many different images that come to mind when you hear someone referred to in that light. Is the running back who rushes for 1000 yards in a single season a Warrior? How about the Heavy Weight Boxing Champion who wins most of his bouts by knockout, or the MMA fighter who is undefeated?

"Bushido" means "way of the warrior," and the word "Samurai" literally means "one who serves." On the surface at least, a solider or police officer must surely qualify for the title. Does graduating the police academy or completing basic training make one a Warrior? Perhaps....

Let's consider this from another perspective: Trained mechanics know how to change the oil in a car. I know how to change the oil in a car. Does that qualify me to call myself a mechanic? Certainly not. I am missing practically all of the other skills necessary to deserve that title. Using that logic, is it possible that one can fight and even serve others, without being a Warrior? I offer that someone can be an extremely skilled fighter or a selfless public servant without being a Warrior. So, what then is the difference?

Physical competence is very important. I think a Warrior must be skilled in combat and properly conditioned. She must be able to protect others and have the confidence to face deadly threats. The Warrior doesn't have to fight, but she must be prepared to do so if the need arises. I think a Warrior must have mental clarity. He must know what he can do and be astutely aware of his limitations and options. The Warrior understands that battles are won or lost in the preparation. A Warrior should have a spiritual certainty that permits him to lay down his life in the service of others. These things are all critical to Warriorship, but they are not unique to the Warriors among us. There is another, invaluable ingredient.

The true Warrior understands that the most important battle to be fought is an internal one, and the foe is extremely formidable. The Warrior's battle is the battle against his own fears, biases, prejudices and loyalties that prevent him from acting for what is right. It is a battle against self. A Warrior respects the humanity of all persons and, as a result, respects their adversarial potential as well as their individual rights. The Warrior is tactically and interpersonally effective. The ideal balance of compassion, love, virtue and viciousness. A Warrior faces ALL her fears, both internal and external.

The path of the Warrior is not for the feint of heart. Some of the attributes appear soft on the surface, but nothing could be further from the truth. Many people are at war with the notion of valuing the humanity of others. I was for a long time, and I continue to struggle with it everyday. The battlefield is in our hearts and minds, and the true Warrior exists for the fight...."

I look forward to any discussion that this creates.

Stay safe,

Chris

P.S. Law Officer magazine is holding their annual Trainer of the Year. Between now and March 18th nominate an eligible Law Enforcement trainer at 2011 Trainer of the Year - Training - LawOfficer.com

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/warrior-part-1-57/ Environmental Awareness http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/environmental-awareness-56/ Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:27:19 GMT He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious. - Sun Tzu Environmental awareness is something that we talk about during combative programs but I think we are only skimming the surface. I think it goes far beyond just making sure a subject can’t see your reflection while...
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.
- Sun Tzu

Environmental awareness is something that we talk about during combative programs but I think we are only skimming the surface. I think it goes far beyond just making sure a subject can’t see your reflection while you approach for handcuffing or if you approach from the left or the right. Determining when you have an interaction and how much backup is just as important.

I was recently watching a video by Kevin Dillon. An example of environmental awareness that he gave was a lone officer stopping a car and 4 guys getting out and turning toward the officer. His recommendation was to disengage, call for backup and then re-engage. I have used this tactic myself several times. One thing I have noticed is that often we will try and fight force on force. We are always taught that our two options are penetrate or disengage but how often do we actually end up disengaging? I think part of the reason is that we don’t like to lose. The thing is that by disengaging we haven’t lost. We have just taken a step back. Now we can get a whole lot more people that look just like us and when we are ready we can penetrate. If given the option I would much prefer to take a step back and get some back up rather then get in a fight and spend however long without backup. This isn’t always a possibility but if the opportunity presents itself then why not take it.

During combative programs we learn to perform a technique a certain way, however when we leave the training room we find that the environment doesn’t always afford us the opportunity to perform the technique the way we learnt. I will use the escort position as an example as most people should be familiar with it. I was always taught how to establish an escort from the rear. While this is preferred it’s not always possible. At the hospitals we often need to get an escort position on a subject who is backed up against a wall. The subject wouldn’t be fighting but could be confused or just verbally non-complaint. This posed a problem because while it would be ideal to get them into an escort position we couldn’t get behind them. The two trainers for the department took a look and figured out how to get the escort position when approaching from the front. It takes about a minute to demonstrate it because the steps are the same as the rear approach.

I have noticed that when training is different from the streets then people will ignore their training. The thing is that many of the techniques work great but we need to modify them for our environment. At my agency we teach PPCT. I like PPCT and I think it is a great way for officer to be introduced to combative skills. A lot of our officers had to be dragged to the class because they thought it didn’t apply to them. I could see their concern too. Everything is one officer, one subject and always ends in an arrest. Back when I was an officer the training guys took a look at it and realised that with some minor additions they could make it more relevant. They added a few small techniques (like the front escort) and made it more relevant to the front line. One example was by adding two man takedowns. The training guys realised that an armbar takedown is great until you have an officer on each side trying it. They knew the environment we worked in and they added a section on 2 man takedowns. Since then our officers have performed dozens of 2 man takedowns…all because someone took the time to look at our environment and figure out what worked.

One thing that is vital is to describe your environment in your report. If you were alone on a cold night at a construction site isn’t that important? Or maybe you find yourself in the position that a friend of mine found himself in, fighting a guy on a boat in the middle of a lake. Our environment will often dictate the amount of force we use. If you find yourself fighting on a boat then you are going to need a lot of force (I imagine). Without a doubt someone will claim you were excessive. The best way to protect yourself is by describing everything in your report. My friend knows this and, while I never read his report, I bet he was able to describe it perfectly.

Stay safe,

Chris

P.S. Law Officer magazine is holding their annual Trainer of the Year. Between now and March 18th nominate an eligible Law Enforcement trainer at 2011 Trainer of the Year - Training - LawOfficer.com

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/environmental-awareness-56/ The media, major incidents and you. http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/media-major-incidents-you-53/ Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:52:39 GMT
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power.”
- Malcolm X

Some of you may have heard that my agency made headline news in Alberta due to an incident that occurred late last year. I don't know how much play the headline got out east. It must have gotten some because we did receive at least one phone call from an Ottawa based radio station. Before I continue with the article I should tell you all that I was not involved in the incident nor will I discuss it in this article. That is not my place and would probably lead to my termination.

The increased attention we received as a result of that incident, and the attack articles that I read, made me think back to some of my trainers who have given helpful information on how officers should cope with the media after critical incidents. Thankfully most of the suggestions also work in the case of security officers, so I decided to share some of the ideas.

I am writing this article because I believe that an officers mental and emotional health is just as important as their physical health. I am concerned that our officers emotional wellbeing is often overlooked, especially when they are involved in a critical incident and have their actions questioned on the 6 o'clock news.

If you find yourself involved in an incident that receives media attention, do your best to avoid reading or watching the news. Whilst this is easier said then done, the media will undoubtedly get information wrong or they with come right out and attack the officer. I have read plenty of media accounts of officer-involved incidents. Very rarely do they come out in favour of the officer’s actions. As an officer, having your actions judged or questioned by people who have no idea what your job involves can be heart breaking. It can also lead to you questioning your own response. This negative media can destroy an officer’s morale, or, as I have seen in the l last week, destroy the morale of an entire team of officers.

I personally don't like the fact that the media always portray the subject as the victim while the officers are the "bad guys"; this is rarely the case. In critical incidents I believe that the officer is the actual victim.

Another reason to avoid reading media accounts is that often they will talk with witnesses or family members about the subjects personality. Without fail these witnesses will describe the subject as someone who is peaceful, committed to their family and turning their life around. This can cause the victim officer to regret their actions and further shake their confidence.

My personal recommendation is to distance yourself as much as possible from the news accounts.

If you find yourself as the officer involved in an incident that is getting media attention then make sure you find activities to relieve your stress. Set time aside for socializing with friends, family and coworkers. If any of those people want to talk about the incident just let them know that you are not going to discuss it. If they care about you then they won't push the subject.

If you know an officer that has been involved in an incident do not question them about what happened. Often they can’t talk about it for legal reasons. Some officers might not want to repeatedly explain and justify their actions, Others do not want to relive the experience. Instead just ask the officer if they need anything.

If you work at a location where an incident has occurred it is important to continue business as usual. You will get lots of questions about it (I have been getting dozens while I walk around). I suggest informing people that you will not be discussing it. All last week I used the excuse that the subject was awaiting trial and that I would not be divulging any information pertaining to the investigation. Long words make you sound official and the average member of the public tends not to ask too many follow up questions.

An important thing to remember is that often decisions about the incident are made by officials much higher on the pay scale. Often high profile cases are settled by other means. Sometimes it is dropped in an attempt to get rid of the headline, other times the department will pay off the complainant to drop it. Whatever happens it is unfortunately out of your hands. One thing that should be remembered is that management have their own reasons for what they decide. Regardless of what happens it should never be viewed as an admission of guilt.

Finally make sure you have a support network set up before an incident. Make sure you have friends, family and coworkers that you can trust to open up to. You shouldn't be expected to deal with everything yourself. If you need someone to talk to send me a PM and I will get in touch with you.

Stay safe,

Chris

P.S. Law Officer magazine is holding their annual Trainer of the Year. Between now and March 18th nominate an eligible Law Enforcement trainer at 2011 Trainer of the Year - Training - LawOfficer.com

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/media-major-incidents-you-53/ Routine and Complacency http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/routine-complacency-45/ Sun, 30 Jan 2011 05:41:08 GMT “Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy.” -Henri de Lubac A few nights ago I was on one of those shifts we have all been involved in. You know the time paradox ones where no matter what, time just seems to drag and drag and drag…So I started to catch up on some...
“Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy.”
-Henri de Lubac

A few nights ago I was on one of those shifts we have all been involved in. You know the time paradox ones where no matter what, time just seems to drag and drag and drag…So I started to catch up on some training articles. I came upon one of Dave “Buck Save” Smith’s articles about routine. I know that everyone here has heard that they should avoid routine and that routine kills. Well this is true, but for some reason we still find ourselves locked into them.

Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to find out what works and just go with that. It’s easy to fall into a routine, especially in a security or Law Enforcement role, and thus before we know it, we are already in one. The thing is, routine isn’t always a terrible thing. In the short time that I worked as a Municipal Peace Officer I quickly developed my own when I worked day shifts. The town I worked in had one school, and so everyday at 7:30, 11:30 and 15:20, I would set up with the laser and monitor speeders. It was a good way to increase my rapport with the staff and a few of the kids who then used to have bike races and see who could go the fastest. Another good routine to develop is a workout routine. Creating a daily workout schedule is something that each of us should strive for.

Unfortunately not all routines are good. One day I was learning the job that our mobile response officers perform when we stopped off at a health clinic that was closed for the night. When we walked into the building we passed a conference room. My training officer (T.O) looked in and moved on. I looked in and just stopped. I then called my T.O. over and asked him if the ceiling normally looked like that. To his surprise half of the ceiling tiles had come down. Upon closer inspection we discovered that a sprinkler pipe had burst. We joked about it at the time but I realise now that my T.O. was in a routine. He had stopped at that clinic hundreds of times. He had never found anything wrong in the building so he didn’t expect to see anything wrong when we walked through. My T.O. wasn’t lazy, instead he is a great officer and continues to do well in our agency. However he had become complacent and his mindset entering the building was “nothing is wrong here”.

My T.O. isn’t the only one who has made that mistake. I once responded to a call that a man in the hospital was carrying what appeared to be a gun case. The dispatcher also mentioned that some of the staff thought it might be an instrument case. My mindset at the time was “nothing ever happens here…it will just be an instrument case.” Imagine my surprise when my partner and I (after making a god-awful approach) opened the case and discovered a 12 gauge shotgun. After the puckering sensation had faded I realised that my entire mindset had set me up for failure and that it was dumb luck that the male didn’t have any bad intentions.

You may not realise it, but we all become complacent and fall into a routine at one time or another. A few years ago, once of the work-habits I fell into was to always do my patrols at the start of my rotation. At my site we have divided the day into blocks of time that we refer to as a rotation. During each rotation we are each responsible for a certain section of the building. I always used to perform my patrols at the very start before heading back to the office. I never perform patrols on the same floor more then once per rotation. While I have altered the routes that I use for these patrols, that is usually the extent of the changes I make. If I had noticed this back when I did regular patrols I would have made a greater effort to mix it up. There was no reason why I couldn’t perform 2 or 3 patrols of a floor…lord knows I had enough free time during my shift. Additionally there was no reason for me to do the patrols at the start of the rotation. I could easily mix it up.

My challenge to all of you is this. Take a look at the time you spend at work. What routines have you developed over the years and are they good or bad? If they are bad how can you change them?

Stay Safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/routine-complacency-45/ Mindset part 3: The power of performance enhancement imagery and self talk. http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-3-power-performance-enhancement-imagery-self-talk-50/ Mon, 24 Jan 2011 02:06:51 GMT
“You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.”
- Michael Phelps

“The only place he could be sure of privacy was his own mind. So that’s where he practiced. Draw. Cock the hammer on the upswing. Sight the heart. Squeeze the trigger…there was an advantage to this. His mind was a portable room, he could practice anywhere he was, anytime.”
- Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsouka

In my last few articles I have discussed quite a bit about the mindset that law enforcement and security professionals need to perform their job. In this article I am going to discuss how to use your sub-conscious to prepare yourself for the job.

Performance enhancement imagery goes by dozens of different names. Essentially, they boil down to this: You imagine doing something. It’s basically just using your imagination, and as everyone has an imagination, everyone can do it. You have probably used performance enhancement imagery multiple times over the years but never known it.

Research studies into the effects of imagery date back prior to World War 2. These studies predominantly focus on the effects on athletes. However, in 2002, a research study was conducted at the Ontario Police College to determine the effects of imagery. Half of a recruit class conducted imagery while the other half did not. The effects of the imagery sessions were measured during one of the final scenarios. In the scenario it was noted that officers who had participated in the imagery sessions were less likely to display anxiety and had a higher hit ratio with their firearm.

I use imagery all the time. Before I started doing more teaching I rarely had the opportunity to practice my skills with a partner. Instead I often closed my eyes and imagined the techniques. I could create my own training room in my imagination and I could practice the skills anytime and anywhere. When I got back into teaching I noticed that my skills where good despite not having physically performed most of them for almost 2 years. The reason for this is that the sub-conscious cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is perceived. This is how pornography works. Your conscious mind knows that it isn’t real but your sub-conscious doesn’t, therefore your body begins to respond to it. If the people making pornography use these techniques why don’t we use the same principles for improving our own abilities?

In addition to technique improvement, imagery can also be used to condition your response to a situation. When-then thinking is some of the best imagery that you can do. I would often sit at one of our security posts and imagine dozens of different scenarios. I would then imagine what my response would be to that scenario. For the short time I did traffic enforcement I would imagine different vehicle stops and how I needed to respond. I would imagine making stops and immediately taking fire. I would imagine dozens of different outcomes. Sometimes I imagined gunning the gas and getting the hell out of dodge. Other times I would imagine grabbing some of the shotgun shells (while most Peace Officers conducting traffic stops are unarmed I would have had a shotgun in the trunk for animal control) from the drivers side door panel and hitting the trunk release. I imagined crouching and moving to the trunk while calmly radioing for backup, grabbing the shotgun, racking a shell, acquiring a sight picture and firing on my attacker. The possibilities are endless and by mentally preparing yourself for some of the most common scenarios your mind is creating files that it will fall back to in the event something similar happens.

Imagery can be conducted anywhere and anytime. I have done imagery sessions with a group, one on one and by myself. I usually begin by creating a positive expectation. Listing the benefits and assuring people that it isn’t a trick is usually a good start. People are more likely to buy into an idea if they know it will benefit them in the long run. Getting buy in from people in security and law enforcement is usually pretty difficult because generally we are sceptical people. This isn’t a bad thing as it keeps us safe but it makes the buy in process all the more important.

I find that the easiest way to get people to use their imagination is to relax and close their eyes. When we close our eyes we dramatically reduce the number of potential distractions. It allows our imagination to work easier and create more realistic thoughts.

Always imagine yourself succeeding. No matter what you imagine, whether it’s you performing a technique or being in a fight. Always imagine succeeding. If students are having problems with a technique I often get them to imagine themselves performing it correctly. Sometimes I have them describe the actions and what they feel and look like. Often the student can imagine themselves performing the technique and can describe the look and feel of the technique. I then get them to perform the technique and tell me how it is different from their imagination. Most of the time the students were able to correct themselves without too much assistance from instructors. This not only frees up the instructors but it also improves the ability for the student to retain the knowledge.

While it is vital to always imagine yourself winning it is also a good idea to imagine yourself being wounded, finishing the fight and performing self-aid. Imagining getting injured is realistic because it could happen. The most important thing is to imagine fighting through the injury, winning the fight and then helping yourself.

Another method of improving your mindset is by positive self talk. During the Calibre Press street survival seminars every attendee is given a credit card size plastic card with some short positive phrases on one side. The staff encourages the officers to keep the card somewhere that they will see it everyday. I carry mine with my CPO ID card. I will often read it and the Warrior Creed that I also carry at work. The card keeps me in a positive state of mind and reminds me that, when I am in a fight I should never give up. I have created my own version of this card for all of you. It is a draft copy and I anticipate making changes in the future based on user feedback. I took the basic fundamentals of the street survival card and altered it for a security audience. The card comes in two parts. The idea is that you can print it off, fill in the blank, laminate it and carry it with you. It should be a little smaller then a credit card. This will allow you to have it near your One side has positive affirmations on it. The other has says “I WILL WIN BECAUSE…” Underneath there is a large blank section. I want you list as many reasons as possible as to why you need to win in a fight. Do you have loved ones at home who depend on you? Write it down. Do you have a favourite place, hobby or activity that you enjoy? Write it down. It may seem weird but I have heard from officers involved in life and death fights who remembered what they wrote and decided today wasn’t their day to die.

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8u...thkey=CKHDjuUH


Stay Safe,

Chris


*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-3-power-performance-enhancement-imagery-self-talk-50/ Lethal force, violent encounters and security http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/lethal-force-violent-encounters-security-49/ Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:50:41 GMT
"The most important thing is to set aside our denial so we can prevent violence from happening,"
Dave Grossman

In my last article, I discussed the mindset that officers need to have during a violent confrontation. When I have discussed this with people before some of them have approached me and said, “that’s great but I am just a security guard.”

I know several security professionals that buy into that attitude. I also know some law enforcement officers that have the same attitude. Often this attitude is caused by fellow officers or leadership. I frequently hear “this is a quiet site, nothing ever happens here.” This immediately begins the officer on a denial mindset. All you need to do is add “yet” to the end of that quote and you will start to see a mindset shift.

I am sure that the two security guards at the Wal-Mart in the Marcus Young case never planned on being involved in a life and death fight but I bet they accepted the fact that it could happen. As a result of that one of them disarmed the attacker and attempted to make a contact head shot. This is impressive because most law enforcement officers don’t take contact shots when they have the chance. That security officer clearly had the mindset that he would win that fight.

Someone on this site (I tried to find who so I could give the credit but I can’t find it) has this quote in their signature. “You do not rise to the occasion, rather you sink to your level of training.” This is completely true and the same can be said for your mindset. When you are in a fight you do not develop a whole new mindset, rather you resort back to what you have always used. If your mindset since starting your career has been “nothing is ever going to happen” and one day you find yourself in a fight then you may find yourself in a less desirable position. Tony Blauer said it best with this quote, “If you face just one opponent, and you doubt yourself, then you are outnumbered.” If, on the other hand, you have constantly prepared yourself physically and you accept that it could happen to you, then you are in a much more desirable position to fight. In a fight you will be more likely to immediately react rather then spend valuable time asking yourself ‘why is this happening.” If you can tell yourself “not only can it be me, it will be me and I will be prepared for the fight” then you are already ahead of the game. If you can mentally prepare your responses to the attack then you are a much harder target.

So how can we get rid of the denial and accept that we will be involved in a fight. Well the easiest way is to look for examples. Many of the members on this site post in the “stories in the news” and often some of these articles are about guards being attacked. Another way is to google some simple terms. Enter “Security guard killed” and it brings up hundreds of stories. Don’t just look for stories with a bad outcome though. Look for the ones with the officer winning the fight.

Many people in our profession want all the latest toys and gadgets. They think that by carrying a baton, OC, TASER or other tools then they will be a better officer. While this may sometimes be the case, the tool itself is useless until it is put in the hands of a truly prepared officer. I believe that it is not the equipment that makes an officer. It is their mindset. A good officer constantly asks themselves “Whats Important Now?” They do not shift blame and instead spend time preparing themselves for the fight that will one day come. They refuse to buy into the belief that “it can’t happen here” or “I don’t get involved”. They set aside their denial and they constantly seek to improve themselves.

Stay Safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/lethal-force-violent-encounters-security-49/ Mindset part 2. Combat and lethal force. http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-2-combat-lethal-force-47/ Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:57:24 GMT
"This is the law: The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental."
- John Steinbeck

As I mentioned in my previous article I want to discuss the officer’s mindset for violent attacks, including lethal force situations. It is common for security and law enforcement professionals to receive training in technique but I believe that it is the mindset that allows the officer to perform the skills needed to protect themselves. I could spend 2 weeks with someone teaching methods to fight, but if they do not have the mindset that they will need to fight then all they have learnt is how to perform an action. They have not learnt to protect themselves because they are in denial.

The mindset that we must build into our officers is simple. Chief Jeff Chudwin described it best when he said “Not only can I be in a lethal force encounter. I will be in a lethal force encounter and I will WIN.” That last part is the most important. I see a lot of trainers scare their students into believing that they will be in a lethal force fight. The problem comes when they do not then follow up and teach the officers that they can and will win that fight. I believe that if you think you are going to lose a fight then you already have. The only way to win a fight is to stay in it and keep trying at 100%. I once saw a video that was taken during training performed by one of the larger security companies in Western Canada. The company had just taken over a huge provincial contract and was providing some sort of combatives training (I wouldn’t consider it training but that’s just my opinion) to its staff. On the first day of combatives class the students were going through scenarios. 2 “officers” approached a “suspect” who appeared intoxicated. The officers were speaking with the suspect when suddenly the suspect drew a knife and made a slashing motion at the officers. The scenario was immediately ended because one of the officers threw her hands in the air and loudly declared “and we are all dead”. Now I first heard about this event when I was at ILEETA and then a week later I saw the video. I am, and continue to be appalled on a number of levels at the lack of training that occurred. I could write a whole article on the gaps in that training but for the purposes of this article my main concern was the fact that the officers were shown that they may face lethal force altercations but no attempt was made to show them how to overcome it. They were not shown how to win the fight. The instructor never stood up and said “actually just because you are cut doesn’t mean your dead…NOW GET BACK IN THE FIGHT AND FINISH IT!” As leaders we must all realise that what we say and do can profoundly alter someone’s mindset. Even if you are just a front line officer and you are not involved in training, new officers will look to you for guidance and if you are able to tell them these things then you can improve their mindset.

The reason that we need to get our officers to accept this mindset is also described by Chief Chudwin. He says “The officers’ most basic sworn duty is to protect life. If they are unwilling, or incapable, the mission is over before it begins.” It is important to note that Chief Chudwin is referring to Police and Peace Officers, and that security professionals are not held to the same standard. That being said at the very least we must prepare our security professionals to lawfully protect their own life. If they are unwilling or incapable then perhaps they should find a new line of work.

This mindset can be built into people, however some will never learn it or they will refuse to accept it. Some people are simply incapable of performing the actions that are required to save their own life or someone else’s life. These people are not bad people and we should not be disrespectful to them. They are the sheep that Col. Dave Grossman refers to when he classifies people as sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. They are kind and gentle sheep who are misguided in their belief that they can play the role of a sheepdog. They have the best of intentions but they do not understand that the wolf can and will attempt to kill them if given the opportunity. They will be able to fill other roles in our society but they cannot operate as a sheepdog.

The officer’s mindset in a violent situation needs to be focused on how they can win the fight. They need to know that they have what it takes and that they will win no matter what they face. Just because the officer is shot or stabbed does not mean that they will die. Actually, with the advances in modern technology if you are alive to know that you have been injured and you maintain a positive mindset, you will prevail. The reason I pick those officers for the Lessons Learned articles (more to come by the way) is because they were the victim of a violent assault, they were badly injured, they got back in the fight and won. They are alive today because they accepted that they may be involved in a violent assault and they took steps to ensure that they won the fight. They refused to be a victim.

When I say that officers need to know that they may need to protect their own life with deadly force I don’t mean the “whatever it takes mentality” that I mentioned in the previous article. We need to spend time describing and performing the actions. Officers need to imagine driving their thumb into an attacker’s eye and performing an eye gouge. They need to understand that punches and elbow strikes to the throat may be what it takes. When I teach how to disarm an armed attacker I don’t just say “then follow up with whatever is needed”. I make the officers go through the motion of actually delivering strikes that, if delivered at 100% speed and power, would be deadly. One of my proudest moments as an instructor was when I was in a FIST suit and had a recruit delivering strikes to my face shield with the butt of a weapon that I had stuck in his face moments before.

I am fortunate that my agency understands that this mindset is required and allows the instructors to teach it, however not all agencies are like that. That is why it is important for the officers to develop the mindset that they will not be a victim of a violent assault.

A great example of the mindset that I am referring to is seen in the video about Lance Thomas.


Mr. Thomas has the mentality of the Sheepdog. He does not go out and look for a fight. If he did then that would make him a wolf. Instead he only uses force when he needs to. When he uses force he uses as much as is necessary to protect himself, his staff and his customers. By starting at an appropriate level of force he does not waste energy on ineffective techniques. He has mentally prepared himself for the fight. He has rehearsed his actions in his mind so much that during a fight he is able to make a very calm call for help and that he will continue to fight even when he is injured.

Before I finish take a look at this. It is called “One Warrior’s Creed” and it was created by Assistant Police Chief Randy Watt. Chief Watt works for the Ogden Police department and he is reserve Special Forces officer. He has seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have a copy of the creed that I carry with me everyday. I read it every now and then to remind myself of what my commitments are.

“If today is to be THE DAY, so be it. If you seek to do battle with me this day you will receive the best that I am capable of giving. It may not be enough, but it will be everything that I have to give and it will be impressive, for I have constantly prepared myself for this day. I have trained, drilled, and rehearsed my actions so that I might have the best chance of defeating you. I have kept myself in peak physical condition, schooled myself in the martial skills and have become proficient in the application of combat tactics. You may defeat me, but you will pay a severe price and will be lucky to escape with your life. You may kill me, but I am willing to die if necessary. I do not fear Death, for I have been close enough to it on enough occasions that it no longer concerns me. But I do fear the loss of my Honor and would rather die fighting than to have said that I was without Courage. So I WILL FIGHT YOU, no matter how insurmountable it may seem, and to the death if need be, in order that it may never be said of me that I was not a Warrior.”



Stay safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-2-combat-lethal-force-47/ Mindset Part 1. http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-1-46/ Mon, 27 Dec 2010 04:57:12 GMT “All things are ready, if our minds be so.” - Henry V, William Shakespeare Something that you may have noticed in the “Lessons Learned” articles that I have posted is that the officers often talk about their mindset. Before I immersed myself in the training environment I hardly heard...
“All things are ready, if our minds be so.”
- Henry V, William Shakespeare

Something that you may have noticed in the “Lessons Learned” articles that I have posted is that the officers often talk about their mindset. Before I immersed myself in the training environment I hardly heard anyone talk about an officer’s mindset. This is unfortunate because mindset will determine how the officer behaves at work. Anyone can be trained to perform a takedown but if the officer has the proper mindset then they will perform the takedown when it is appropriate. Thankfully the topic of officer mindset is beginning to take a more recognized place in law enforcement training.

Personally I believe that developing the officer’s mindset should be one of the main focuses during ongoing training and education. During combatives training for security it is very uncommon for the instructor to spend much time discussing deadly force. Most of the time officers say that you need to do “whatever it takes” to survive. The problem is most people coming to work for us don’t know what it takes. I remember when I started out I gave this generic answer and the instructor was not pleased. He asked me what it will take and I found it hard to answer. At the time I had never really thought about what it would take. Had the instructor not pushed us all then we would still not have the mindset to save ourselves in a deadly force fight. New officers will probably not have the mindset for regular force on fore situations let alone lethal force. This in a major training gap and one that I feel needs to be addressed. In my next article I will discuss my opinions on mindset as it relates to combat and lethal force training but for now let’s just deal with the day to day mindset of officers.

How often have you sat in training and been told that “this is dry material but we need to get through it”. I guarantee that immediately upon saying that most of the class mentally switches off. No one pays attention and important details get missed. The instructor has altered the mindset for every student and now it will be much harder to get them to pay attention. Also how many times do you hear from co-workers that “sometimes the bad guys need a little extra pain…buts it’s okay because I can justify my way out of it”. I have heard variations of that one so many times, usually when someone is gloating about excessive force. I have even heard instructors say things along the same lines. This begs the question, what mindset are they giving to their student? For the officer saying that what is their mindset and how can we change it?

When I was teaching a class in August my training partner and I would discuss mindset as much as possible. We talk about what your mindset needs to be when you get to work. We try and impress upon officers that when you arrive at work you need to put aside your personal life. We talk about having a cue for you to mentally switch between your work mindset and your personal life. For my co-instructor it was the sound of his car door closing. He knows that when he heard that door close then he was at work and he needed to leave his personal life at the car. For me it is putting on my duty belt. Once my belt is on then I am focused on work and any problems at home can wait. Many officers use their vest or some other cue that tells them that its time to use their work mindset and leave everything else behind.

Often an officer’s mindset will determine who they believe is a threat and who isn’t. I believe that through this mindset it is common for officers to limit who they perceive as a threat. Time after time I have seen videos where officers are attacked by subjects who do not fall into the stereotypical category of a criminal. I often wonder if the officer failed to perceive the attacker as a threat due to their mindset?

Now in a moment I am going to ask you to close your eyes. When you do that I want you to focus on your breathing and slowly take deep, relaxing breaths. Just focus on your breathing and become deeper and deeper relaxed. Once you are relaxed I want you to begin to imagine what criminal who is attempting to take your life looks like. Imagine how old they are, what race they are and what they are wearing. Once you have imagined what the criminal looks like open your eyes and continue reading.

Go ahead and do that now.



While this doesn’t translate perfectly in this manner hopefully everyone could imagine someone. When my co-instructor does this in class he asks the students questions before he allows them to open their eyes. He asks them about if the criminal is male, female, youth, senior, early 20’s, what their race is, what the criminal was wearing, etc. etc. The majority of people imagine a male between the age of 18 and 25. Often the male is an ethnic minority and usually dressed like scum. My partner and I then discuss the fact that law enforcement officers are frequently the victims of attacks by seniors, minors, females, people is business suits etc. etc. We try to point out that just because someone doesn’t fall into your stereotypical view of a criminal doesn’t mean that they aren’t. The hope is that the sooner we can break these preconceived notions, the safer our officers will be. One of the sayings I have heard down in the US is “In God we trust…everyone else needs to show me their hands.” To me this sums it up nicely. Another common one is “Treat everyone with respect but have a plan to kill them.”

I am not trying to make everyone super paranoid and hyper vigilant. Rather we need to understand that if we are going to be attacked, and in our profession that is a very real possibility, then we need to be aware that the attack can come from anyone…not just the stereotypical bad guy.

Begin to pay attention to your day to day mindset. How can you improve your mindset to enhance your safety?

Stay Safe,

Chris

*Please note that the opinions reflected in these articles are mine and mine alone. They are based upon my education, training and experience. They in no way reflect the opinions of my agency, ProtectionServices.ca or the site administrator. Always consult with your agency instructor and check your policy prior to attempting any new procedures or techniques.* ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/mindset-part-1-46/ Emergency Car Kits. http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/emergency-car-kits-44/ Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:41:26 GMT This article will be a little different from the usual. In addition to Law enforcement one of my passions is Emergency Management. In an attempt to bridge the two and learn some lessons from the recent tragic death of Neeland Rumble here are some suggestions for car emergency kits. Emergency kits... This article will be a little different from the usual. In addition to Law enforcement one of my passions is Emergency Management. In an attempt to bridge the two and learn some lessons from the recent tragic death of Neeland Rumble here are some suggestions for car emergency kits. Emergency kits are very easy to put together. Some stores, such as Canadian Tire and Costco, sell pre-packaged emergency kits or you can put your own together. In either case here are a few things to make sure that you have in your car emergency kit.

Food: Energy bars are great for this. I have several energy pars and some chocolate bars in my kit.

Water: The main problem with water is that the bottles often freeze over and make it impossible to drink from. I have several 500 ml bottles in my kit. Additionally when I go for a drive I usually bring two extra bottles with me. This ensures that there is always drinking water available in the car. One option is to put a little bit of vodka in the water. I have never done this but I have been told that it works.

Blanket: Great for keeping warm. I have found that foil blankets are the best for keeping you warm.

Radio and flashlight: The problem with a radio and flashlight is that often the batteries will corrode over time. I prefer having a wind up flashlight and radio. This reduces the need for spare batteries in your kit. Other options are solar radios and kinetic flashlights.

Shovel: In my kit I have a collapsible shovel.

Road flares: Another option is collapsible traffic cones. These cones can be purchased online and come with the option of a built in flashing led.

Jumper cable and tow cables: It still baffles me how few people actually carry jumper cables with them.
First aid kit.

Extra clothing is also recommended for your car emergency kit. I have a spare fleece and a pair of old snow boots.

I also recommend having a seat belt cutter and window punch. Many places sell a cutter/punch combo that clip onto your key chain. This makes it very easy to carry around and always have one with you.

Emergency kits take up very little room, don’t weigh much and can prove vital in the event of break downs or extreme weather. One great way of putting the kits together is to purchase the pieces bit by bit. I bought a pre-packed kit and then added something new to it every week until I was happy with it. This spreads the cost out making it easier on the wallet.

Stay Safe,

Chris ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/emergency-car-kits-44/ Lessons Learned. Marcus Young http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/lessons-learned-marcus-young-39/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 03:06:05 GMT A number of years ago I heard about the incident that Officer Marcus Young was involved in. Since then I have heard him speak about his incident several times. The incident he was involved in is quite remarkable and holds many learning opportunities. *The Incident* On March 7th 2003 Officer... A number of years ago I heard about the incident that Officer Marcus Young was involved in. Since then I have heard him speak about his incident several times. The incident he was involved in is quite remarkable and holds many learning opportunities.

The Incident

On March 7th 2003 Officer Young was working an overtime shift. He was a sergeant with the Ukiah Police Department. On that night Officer Young had a 17 year old uniformed Police Cadet with him named Julian Covella. Together they two of them responded to a shoplifting call from a nearby Wal-Mart. The Security Guards for Wal-Mart had an 18 year old female in custody. Her name was Monica Winnie. The Security Guards (a husband and wife team) informed Officer Young that a male accomplice was waiting outside the store. The accomplice was 35 year old Neal Beckman. He was Winnie’s boyfriend.

Officer Young took custody of Winnie and escorted her to his patrol car. He asked the security guards to identify the boyfriend to him. When asked, Winnie informed Young that Beckman did not have any weapons and there was no need for him to be concerned. Young was placing Winnie in the rear of his vehicle when Beckman arrived. Beckman was a skinhead and had horns tattooed on his forehead. As Beckman approached Young asked him to remove his hands from his jacket. Beckman informed Young that he had a knife before removing his left hand from his pocket. Young closed the distance and took control of Beckman’s left arm. Beckman then pulled a 5 shot revolver from his right pocket. The two of them were now in a life and death fight.

The first round hit Young in the left cheek and exited the back of his neck. Four more rounds then hit Young. Two to his left front and rear torso, one to his mid back (which fractured his scapula) and one to his right bicep. His right humerus was shattered and paralised. His left hand was ripped apart between the middle and index finger. He was losing blood from the gunshot wound to the face…He never stopped fighting.

The male security guard dove on Beckman and wrestled the gun away from him. The guard then put the barrel of the gun to Beckman’s head and pulled the trigger, hoping to make a contact shot and end the fight. Unfortunately the five shot revolver was empty. Beckman then took his knife and brutally stabbed the guard in the chest and shoulder. The guard dragged himself off to the side and with the help of the other guard (his wife) administered first aid to himself.

Beckman then entered the patrol car. He did not intend to free his girlfriend. He was attempting to release the assault rifle or shotgun that Young had. Young mentions that at this point he was kneeling in the parking lot. His backside was on his heels. He mentions that he looked down and his badge was covered in his own blood. The security guard lay bleeding to death not far away. Due to his injuries he could not pull his sidearm out of the holster. He called for the police cadet to come to his side. Young then told the cadet to remove the sidearm from the holster and place it in his left hand. Covella did so and Young took careful aim. He fired two rounds into the door of his patrol car (a firearms instructor had long ago told him that car doors don’t stop bullets). Unfortunately both rounds hit the strongest section of the car door and did not enter the vehicle. The shooting caused Beckman to look up at Young. Young took careful aim and fired two rounds. The first round hit Beckman dead centre on his forehead, travelled between the skin and his skull before exiting the back of his head. The round never entered Beckman’s skull and would not have been fatal, however it did throw Beckman back. The second round then hit Beckman in the backside before travelling through the length of his body hitting most of the major organs. Beckman died instantly. Young then ordered Covella to make the officer down call and summon help.

Emergency crews arrived and immediately took the downed security guard to the Hospital. He was the most critically injured of the pair and was close to dying. Young was taken several minutes later. Beckman was the only one to die that day. Both Young and the guard survived.

Lessons Learned

In his presentations Young mentions many lessons that he learnt from the incident. He also mentions how it reinforced some of the things he already did. Finally I have picked up many lessons from listening to Young speak about his life and death struggle. Below are some of the lessons.

Before beginning your shift, mentally prepare yourself with a goal of returning home, regardless of the circumstances. Although shot five times, I continued fighting until I stopped the suspect. Never give up the fight.
Mental preparation cannot be ignored. I plan on writing an article on the subject in the near future but when/then thinking is some of the most important preparation that you can do. Imagine yourself involved in a life and death fight. No matter what happens always imagine yourself winning. Imagine yourself as the arresting officer and being attacked. Also imagine yourself as the security guard coming the an officers aide. Finally imagine youself being injured, either finishing the fight or retreating before applying self aid. Imagine all three seperatley and together.

No other units were available that night, so I neglected to call for assistance before confronting the second suspect. The security guard and police cadet came to my assistance. Never underestimate the value of brave citizens around you.
Most of the time we do not consider using citizens to assist us. Sometimes citizens are unwilling to assist or would rather stand and yell at us. But don’t count everyone out. If you are in a fight and you need help there is nothing wrong with calling out. If nothing happens then you are no worse off.

I would have been at a greater advantage by having the suspect turn around before asking him to remove his hands from his jacket pockets.
This is something that gets brought up a lot whenever I attend training. There are many different schools of thought on the matter. One of the main trains of thought is that when you tell someone to take their hands out of their pocket and they do it then your brain is telling you that that person complied. However they might be pulling a weapon. I am not going to say that one way is right and the other is wrong. But decide for yourself how you plan to tell people to remove hands from their pockets.

Train yourself regularly to exceed agency targets or qualifications. Without practice, your skills will diminish over time. In high-stress situations, you will likely use skills most familiar to you.
This cannot be hammered in enough. Training a few days a year (if you are lucky enough to work for an organization that requires annual training) is insufficient. Make training a regular part of your life. Train with imagination and emotion to make it real for you. Do not simply go through the motions. Imagine you are doing the skills for real every time you train.

Deep breathing can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and calm you down.
Deep breathing is going by lots of names now. Tactical breathing, combat breathing, autogenic breathing…the list goes on and on. However it has been shown that by taking in an breath for the count of 4, holding for the count of 4, breathing out for the count of 4 and holding for the count of 4 can dramatically reduce your heart rate. Before Officer Young fired his sidearm he performed this deep breathing. It allowed him to focus on the target and place the shots. Personally I find that when you are out of breath doing the 4 count can be too difficult. In that event I just start at 2 and work my way up to 4.



Stay Safe

Chris ]]> chutchinson http://www.protectionservices.ca/blogs/chutchinson/lessons-learned-marcus-young-39/