Developing a scenario-based training program: giving officers a tactical advantage

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,The, Oct, 2005 by Michael D. Lynch

The nighttime darkness splinters with the rhythmic pulsing of red and blue strobe lights. The cruiser's spotlights focus on the passenger compartment of a vehicle with three occupants. The driver watches the officer from the side mirror as he exits the patrol unit, but the passengers' furtive movements cause the officer to pause. Having radioed his location to the dispatcher, he now requests any available backup and takes a new position, using his cruiser as cover. The officer tells the driver to turn off the ignition and drop the keys out of the driver's side window. He complies. The officer then instructs him to stick both of his hands out of the window, open the door from the outside latch, and exit the vehicle. The driver, approximately 6' 4" in height and weighing nearly 300 pounds, obeys. The officer orders him to raise his hands above his head, which he does, but his jacket conceals his midsection. Next, the officer tells the driver to unzip his jacket with his left hand. As the driver does so, the officer notices the front passenger door starting to open and commands the passenger to close it and remain in the vehicle. The passenger complies. The officer unsnaps his holster and instructs the driver to slowly turn until he tells him to stop. The driver makes one complete revolution. Then, the officer directs him to use his left hand to lift the jacket away from his body and to continue to turn until ordered to stop. The driver obeys. The officer commands him to repeat the procedure with his right hand, which he does. The officer tells the driver to keep his hands in the air, to turn and face away from him, and to walk slowly backward toward the sound of his voice. Again, the driver obeys. At this point, the officer realizes that the driver has complied with all of his requests but has not said a word. The officer instructs him to stop and get down on his knees. The driver states that he has bad knees and will not comply. At this time, both doors of the vehicle suddenly open and the two passengers begin to exit the vehicle. The officer immediately changes his position, draws his service weapon, and orders all three men to keep their hands visible and get on the ground face down. The two passengers begin to comply, but the driver turns suddenly and confronts the officer with a knife drawn from his jacket sleeve. But, to his surprise, he finds that the officer is no longer where he thought he was standing. The cruiser's lights still illuminate all three subjects, but the officer has tactically disengaged into the refuge of the darkness. The officer orders the driver to drop the knife, but he refuses and moves menacingly toward the direction of the officer's voice. The officer fires three shots, fatally wounding him in the chest, and commands the two passengers to remain motionless on the ground. Moments later, backup officers arrive and take the two subjects into custody without further incident.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A search, incidental to arrest, results in removing several weapons from the passengers and the driver. The officers seize a large sum of money and a vast amount of various controlled substances from the vehicle. An interview with the two passengers discloses the plot. While complying with the officer's orders, the driver would try to narrow the distance between them. When he got as close as he could, he would signal the passengers to get out of the vehicle by responding verbally to the officer. The plan was simple: minimize the distance, distract the officer, and then kill him.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

This deadly charade plays almost nightly on the streets of America. In this case, the officer was lucky. But, can law enforcement officers always rely on luck to be with them to ensure their safe return home at the end of each shift? The question is not rhetorical. Rather, it reveals an abundantly clear need: officers must prepare for life-threatening events. That preparation involves scenario-based training because, as experienced officers know, the one with the best plan, along with a survival mind-set and a strong will to succeed, usually wins.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT

The world has changed dramatically since September 11, 2001. Now, more than ever, Americans have to consider the mind-set of the adversaries who have breached this nation's borders. What are their ideologies? What are they trying to accomplish? What are their motivations? What are they willing to risk or sacrifice? Are this country's law enforcement organizations willing to meet that level of risk or sacrifice to stop them? The view of law enforcement must change. The profession now must become more insightful, intuitive, and proactive in not only enforcing laws but also in preventing major critical events. This will require using all of the training, knowledge, skills, and abilities that it has acquired, as well as developing new strategies and techniques.

Scenario-based training is an amalgamation of knowledge and skills-based training. It incorporates psychomotor coordination and reinforces a survival mind-set in the student. Just as new officers cannot learn how to use a firearm in a classroom setting without practical shooting exercises on the range, they also cannot know how to handle a hostile, fast-paced situation without training in a realistic, dynamic setting.