James Gilkerson: Moment gunman opened fire with AK47 and was shot by police during routine traffic stop | Mail Online
I think this is why at 64 I am not a LEO
Maxwell
I think this is why at 64 I am not a LEO
Maxwell
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Join the contest SubscribeI think the training in this scenario needs to include use of the 4000 pound Crown Vic missile. Ive seen more than a few training videos of the guy exiting the car in full fight mode and the first reaction should be engage gas and smear everything exiting the stopped car with the cruiser.
I think the training in this scenario needs to include use of the 2500 pound Crown Vic missile. Ive seen more than a few training videos of the guy exiting the car in full fight mode and the first reaction should be engage gas and smear everything exiting the stopped car with the cruiser.
The reaction time foot to gas pedal has to be better than hand to holster to sight picture. Besides you should see how accurate I am with a Crown Vic - it stays between the marked lanes the entire time I drive it. The firearm - add adrenaline, a sphincter making diamonds and a little bit of hyperventalation I'm not so sure the equal height, equal light thing is going to be all there.
The public would be horrified by such training. I hope I have the werewithal to remember its an option. Deadly force is deadly force whether it be from a gun or a cruiser. Id rather explain why I trashed my car than have a coworker wake my family up.
These guys seem to have done a good job in an oh crap moment.
I think I'll pass on using a Crown Vic to close the gap (1-2 car lengths MAX) with a guy firing an AK, hell bent on wanting suicide by cop. Not sure you could even incapacitate the threat in that short a distance, much less ensure he won't move. Move to cover and return accurate fire should be trained moreso than the absolute craptastic (but Certification required) way just about every agency does quals (static slow fire shooting at a static target).
OK, let's say that the officer behind the wheel decides to accelerate the cruiser towards the gunman. There is about 30 feet between the car and the gunman; assume that the cruiser accelerates at 0.5g, so it takes approximately two seconds to cover the distance and is traveling at 20 MPH at the end of this distance. What happens if the gunman takes that two-second window of opportunity to simply sidestep, lets the car pass him by, and lights up the car broadside as it passes by? What is the officer's response once he misses and overshoots? It would seem that his options would not be all that great.
I don't think the car is that good of a weapon either. From 20 ft it is just not going to accelerate that much or hit you very hard, and will give you time to move out of the way pretty easily.
Have you ever seen anyone hit by a slow moving vehicle? We had an incident earlier this year outside our local bar - mom got in an SUV drunk, son stood in front of the car to prevent mom from leaving, mom pushes accelerator and threw the son over the car and he landed head first on the pavement. Vehicles can be quite devastating even at low speeds.
On the other half I have worked other pedestrian related accidents where the pedestrian bounces up and walks away without a scratch so I do see some validity in your point.
I don't know if using a vehicle would be appropriate in this particular incident. The report I read stated the female officer was at the front passenger side ready to approach the vehicle. Without knowing her exact position, using the vehicle possibly could have injured the female officer or left her in a compromised position. I do however see the value in training to use the vehicle if situation permits.