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Copyright © 2018 by the Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officers’Education and Training Commission. All Rights Reserved.

Unknown Risk Vehicle Stops

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#1 GOAL: STAY SAFE! GO HOME.

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WHO CAN MAKE VEHICLE STOPS?

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WHY DO WE MAKE VEHICLE STOPS?

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COMMON DENOMINATOR

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A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR JOB

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UNKNOWN RISK VEHICLE STOPS

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UNKNOWN RISK VEHICLE STOPS

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1. Conduct all stops as if all actions are being videotaped and audiotaped

2. Be prepared for unusual situations by pre-planning

3. Handcuff, THEN Search

4. Use strong, simple verbal commands to gain compliance

5. Make sure that your cruiser is accessible - to gain access for additional weapon support; as a possible mode of escape

6. Stop only one vehicle at a time

7. Avoid “single officer tactics” – help each other! Use mutual aid!

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GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES

EVERY STOP is an “Unknown Risk Vehicle Stop!”

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• Your preparation

• The consistent and unrelenting practice of your craft

• Pre-Planning

• TRAINING

• Develop good habits

• Review In-car/body cam video

• Know yourself – what you can and canʼt do

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WHAT SHOULD BE ROUTINE?

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PRE-PATROL PREP:

Officer Appearance

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PRINCIPLES OF A VEHICLE STOP

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PRE-PATROL PREP: Patrol Car

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PRINCIPLES OF A VEHICLE STOP

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PRE-PATROL PREP: Patrol Car

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PRINCIPLES OF A VEHICLE STOP

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PRE-PATROL PREP: Patrol Car

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PRINCIPLES OF A VEHICLE STOP

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LAWFUL REASON FOR STOP

Reasonable Suspicion

Probable Cause

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LAWFUL REASON FOR STOP

Reasonable Suspicion

An officer’s articulable belief that criminal activity is afoot – a crime is about to be, is being, or has been committed.

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LAWFUL REASON FOR STOP

ProbableCause

Facts & circumstances which support a reasonable belief that a crime has been or is being committed, that the person being arrested committed the crime, and/or that a place contains specific items connected with a crime.

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Why notify dispatch of your intent to stop a vehicle?

When do you notify?

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NOTIFY DISPATCH

INFORMATION GIVEN TO DISPATCH:

• Location

• Registration

• Vehicle Identifiers: Make, Model, Color

• Number of Occupants

• Nature of Offense

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Safety of the motorist and the general public in the area

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Where is the ideal location?

Officer Safety is #1 PriorityConduct your business in a safe location

What locations would you avoid?

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• Placement of your patrol vehicle

• Prepare for driver reaction

• Tools for your safety

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THE STOP

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PATROL CAR POSITIONING

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• Put car in PARK

• Unlock all doors

• Remove seatbelt

• Roll at least one window down

• Turn on portable radio

• Have flashlight available (day or night)

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EXIT PATROL CAR

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MOST LIKELY TIME A CONFRONTATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN!

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INITIAL APPROACH

The “RIGHT WAY”to approach is the way that supports the officer’s safety and allows the officer to complete the task at hand.

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DRIVER’S SIDE APPROACH

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ADVANTAGES

• Most efficient way of contacting driver

• Need to escort or extract driver from vehicle

• Environmental/Situational hazards exist – it may be the only safe access

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DRIVER’S SIDE APPROACH

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DISADVANTAGES

• Most predictable approach

• Easy for driver to exit and make a direct assault

• Direct exposure to traffic

• Occupants of car can plan/anticipate what you’re going to do

• Blind spots inside vehicle

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DRIVER’S SIDE APPROACH

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PASSENGER’S SIDE APPROACH

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ADVANTAGES

• Element of surprise

• Better view of interior

• Less distractions

• Harder to acquire you as target

• Provides more concealment for officer

• Easier to get to cover/concealment

• Easier to avoid the vehicle if driver flees in it29

PASSENGER’S SIDE APPROACH

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DISADVANTAGES

• Not as easy to move back to your driver’s seat if you need to pursue

• Remember the start of the passenger approach is from the rear of your vehicle – do not walk between the two cars to get to your destination

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PASSENGER’S SIDE APPROACH

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INITIAL CONTACT

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• Watch the HANDS! BE VIGILANT

• Body bladed/ Hand in the area of your weapon

• Explain reason for stop

• Request credentials – they should hand cards out to you

• What do you see?

• Advise the offender what you want them to do while they wait

• Return to car – maintaining vigilance32

INITIAL CONTACT

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• Before exiting your car – check for hazards

• BE VIGILANT – approach with caution

• Be prepared – body bladed, hand near weapon, prepare to move to cover/concealment

• WATCH HANDS!

• Be professional – address driver’s concerns, issue summons/warning

• Return to your car – still be vigilant

• Assist the operator to re-enter traffic

• REMEMBER: It ain’t over, til it’s over.

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RE-APPROACH

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DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO GET AWAY

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LET THEM GO!!!

• Do NOT reach in or grab anything within the vehicle

• Plenty of opportunities to catch them at a later/safer time

YOU ARE IN CONTROL!35

DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO GET AWAY

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“Anytime two or more people are in proximity to each other, communication is occurring and body language is a functioning force. We are in a perpetual state of communication.”

Glennon

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COMMUNICATION

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• An “exchange of information”

• Effective communication = Success

• An essential skill for police officers

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COMMUNICATION

BASIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

• Asking questions

• Active listening

• Showing courtesy & empathy

• Understanding body language

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WHAT ARE YOU COMMUNICATING?

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What messages are you conveying?

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MESSAGES CONVEYED

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“Every person, regardless of level of intelligence or socioeconomic status, NEEDS to feel significant – that he or she has a level of WORTH and VALUE, and is recognized as being IMPORTANT when interacting with fellow beings.”

Glennon

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INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE

The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have done to you.”

Matthew 7:12

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WHAT IS YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION?

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What are questions designed to do?

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QUESTIONS

• Take control

• Distract

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If you think they’re lying – you’re probably right. Something isn’t making sense to your Spidey senses – you’re probably right!

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COMMUNICATING DECEIT

• FACE TOUCHING

• EYE CONTACT (or lack thereof)

• GROOMING

• LOCKING DOWN

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• DRAMA QUEEN

• BEFORE OR AFTER

• FAILURE TO ANSWER THE ACTUAL QUESTION ASKED

• CHANGING THE SUBJECT

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MORE DECEITFULNESS

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• Stalling Techniques or Hesitations

• Religious & Family Affirmations

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THE LIES KEEP COMING

CATCH PHRASES:

• To be totally honest…

• Why would I lie…

• I’m trying to be truthful…

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“People that are preparing to attack you, will show you clues.  The ability to recognize those clues, process that information, and react to it, in what could be milliseconds may mean whether you go home or not that day.”Glennon

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PRE-ATTACK COMMUNICATION

• Officer is often attacked by someone standing right in front of him/her

• Attacker has told the officer that he/she is going to attack

oVerballyoNon-verbally

PAY ATTENTION!

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SCANNING

• Bad guy starts to “scan” the area as you approach, looking past you, and behind you

• What is the bad guy looking for?

• An escape

• Friends (his and yours)

• Witnesses

• Weapons

• Is this good for you? NO! What do you do? 47

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A CLUE…

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TARGET GLANCE

• Bad guy has a pre-occupation (staring or repeatedly glancing) with a particular area of your body/weapons

CLENCHING

• Bad guy tightens fists or clenches teeth

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MORE CLUES…

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THE FIGHTING STANCE

• Almost always a precursor to an attack. Bad guy drops one leg back, blades body, clenches fists, nostrils flaring, grimacing face, and a verbal warning or threat

HESITATION

• When the bad guy is so deep in thought –concentrating on his escape/assault that he doesn’t answer your questions

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CLUES GALORE

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• Furrowed brow

• Pursed or tightly closed lips

• Hidden hands

• Mouth breathing

• Face touching

• Failure to comply

• Spitting

• The “FELONY STRETCH” & obligatory yawn…50

MORE CLUES

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• Foot on brake

• Driver takes longer than normal to stop

• Furtive movements

• Shoulders dipping down or shrugging up – hiding something

• Leaning outside of the window

• Failure to open the glove box

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INTERPRETING CLUES

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AGGRESSIVE PERSONS

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• Pre-plan – what would you do if attacked?

• Use de-escalation techniques (Verbal Judo)

• Create distance & use a barrier

• Give clear, simple commands

• If offender keeps coming – move, create more distance

• Be prepared to use the appropriate force to stop the attack – Follow Through!

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AGGRESSIVE PERSONS

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• Your vehicle stop must be based on probable cause or reasonable suspicion

• Make sure your orders are valid

• Clearly articulate what you want someone to do

• Orders ignored require immediate follow-up that includes consequences

• Without consequences – police look weak, indecisive, and apprehensive about taking action

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ORDERS ARE ORDERS

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Prepare for the encounter!

• Train

• Educate yourself

• Know what works for you

• Have a plan

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PREPARING FOR THE ENCOUNTER

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Your body To the suspectTo the sceneTo your partnerTo cover/concealment

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TACTICAL POSITIONING

Good tactical positioning

Survival based priorities

Think your way through!

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USE EASY – GO TO TACTICS

• Easily learned

• Easily recalled in stressful situations

• Easily works along with your body as it experiences the physiological effects of stress in imminent danger

TECHNIQUES

• Simple & Few

• Based on large, gross motor skills (whole-body movements) which are enhanced in a real fight

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BEST PRACTICES

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HAMMER STRIKES

ELBOW STRIKES

KNEE STRIKES

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THREE SIMPLE STRIKES

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HAMMER STRIKES

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THREE SIMPLE STRIKES

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ELBOW STRIKES• One of the strongest parts of the body

• Acts as a durable blunt instrument

• Should be used in multiple strikes

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THREE SIMPLE STRIKES

Vertical Horizontal

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KNEE STRIKES

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THREE SIMPLE STRIKES

• Distraction to gain control 

• End a physical confrontation

• Generally striking in the legs, stomach, bladder

• Use spearing action, lift foot behind and in line with the knee

• Hold onto subject - pull toward your knee for maximum effect

• Quick movement - hold hit for a moment before putting foot down

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• The propensity for a sudden attack and/or ambush to occur at the onset of a vehicle stop is a real threat

• Officers must plan and prepare for the SUDDEN ATTACK

• Understanding the capabilities and limitation of your vehicle as cover is paramount

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Fighting from and around the vehicle

SUDDEN ATTACK/AMBUSH

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When Confronted with the Sudden Attack/Ambush

1. If vehicle is mobile: • Drive through/away from it

• Get to a better position

2. What if you can’t?

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Fighting from and around the vehicle

SUDDEN ATTACK/AMBUSH

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DEFINITIONS

Cover - gives protection from bullets, fragments or exploding rounds, flame, nuclear effects, and biological and chemical agents

Concealment - is anything that hides you from enemy observation; does not protect you from enemy fire

Obstacle - any item or thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress

Terrain - physical features of a tract of land

Vehicle - a device or structure for transporting persons or things. Tactically, this is only the case when it’s moving. If the vehicle is static, it is an Obstacle and may be either Cover or Concealment

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Suppress - forcibly put an end to

Move - go in a specified direction or manner; change position

Plan - an intention or decision about what one is going to do

PRINCIPLES OF SURVIVING THE AMBUSH/ATTACK

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SHOOTING THROUGH A FRONT WINDSHIELD

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PROS & CONS Immediate Threat: No time to move

Secondary effects• Blowback • Smoke/Gas from weapon system• Noise• Distorts vision• Effectiveness of round diminishes• Accountability of rounds• Actor is moving?

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SHOOTING THROUGH A FRONT WINDSHIELD

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ENGAGING TARGET – 8 FEET

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ENGAGING TARGET – 25 FEET

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PORTING THE WINDOW

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• Firing in rapid succession creates a clean hole for the round to exit

• Increases accuracy

• Mitigates the effect of the windshield

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AVOID STATIC OR FLAT RANGE TACTICS AND MINDSET

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• In real life, even untrained people will instinctively MOVE

• Each time the actor changes position, officer will be engaging a clean piece of glass

• Secondary effects of the glass become enhanced

AVOID STATIC OR FLAT RANGE TACTICS AND MINDSET

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ASSAILANT’S ROUNDS

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GET OFF THE X

When the gunfight occurs:

• Get your gun out and feet moving. A moving target is harder to hit than a stationary target

• Every time you change the dynamic, you force the actor to process more and different information

• Forcing the actor’s OODA loop to reset/restart

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SUDDEN ATTACK

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EVALUATE SITUATION – CHANGE POSITION

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GENERAL PRINCIPLES: • Seatbelt off • Weapon system out• Open the door & pin it with

your foot• Suppress the threat• Move to a better position• Make a plan

FRONTAL ASSAULT BAIL OUT

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Because we are behind the vehicle, does that mean we have “Cover?” NO!

Cover is relative to the actor’s:

• Type of weapon

• Level of violence

• Number of rounds

• Distance

• Actor Accuracy

THE VEHICLE AS COVER

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• More density the better - wheels and engine block

• Be cautious of your situational awareness

• Avoid ground fighting

Be Prepared to Abandon the VehiclePlan / Move to Better Cover

THE VEHICLE AS COVER

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POSTS/PILLARS

• Minimal density – due to size, cannot be considered cover

• Can stop a round, BUT don’t treat them as cover

• Not rooted in any sound tactical or combat experience

DOORS

• Barrier – look for more density

• “Better than nothing,” but don’t stay here

Bullets generally don’t come at you in 1s or 2s, but by the MAGAZINE!

THE VEHICLE AS COVER

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• Avoid thinking the vehicle is a place to stand and “slug” it out

• Use the best cover on the vehicle and plan to move to a better position

• Disrupt your adversary’s thinking - Suppress and MOVE

• Fire and Maneuver

• When Moving to a Better Piece of Covero Get There! Be Explosive, Be Fast

o Run Backwards? Walk Backwards?

THE VEHICLE AS COVER

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FRONT DOOR – 9MM

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DRIVER’S SIDE DOOR – 5.56MM RIFLE

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SHOOTING THROUGH 2 DOORS – 5.56MM ROUND

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SHOOTING THROUGH 2 DOORS – 9MM ROUND

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• Use a principle-based approach

• Practice situational awareness and reading the situation

• Get off the “X” - “Suppress, Move, Plan”

• Don’t be afraid to abandon the vehicle

• Outmaneuver your adversary

• Plan for the most dangerous adversary; you can always scale back

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Increase your mobility –Exit as soon as the vehicle is stopped!

SUMMARY

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SUPPRESS, MOVE, PLAN – DALLAS PD

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PREPARE FOR THE TRAINED FOE

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What has your experience taught you?

What training have you been able to take advantage of?

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HOW DO YOU REACT?

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WHAT NOW?89

PRACTICE SOUND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS

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• Be comfortable with the tactics & techniques that you use

• Use the “go to” techniques that are tried and true for YOU

• Be aware of new ideas

• Make sure you have secondary, even tertiary, choices available in your tool box

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ESTABLISH CONSISTENCY

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ESTABLISH CONSISTENCY

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