Helping cops stay alive

Shooting Industry, June, 2007 by Massad Ayoob

In August 2006, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published a report, "Violent Encounters: A Study of Felonious Assaults on Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers." The study covered 43 surviving criminals convicted of violent attacks, and the 50 officers these men viciously assaulted. The report provides an excellent perspective from both sides of some 40 fights in which assailants attempted to kill or maim cops.

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The study has been the topic of much discussion at police academies and at in-service law enforcement training, and on Internet forums dedicated to both law enforcement and firearms. Some of the points emphasized in the study:

Many of the perpetrators practiced intensively on their own with their guns, usually focusing on quick and surreptitious draws and point shooting. Many carried backup weapons. A relatively huge number had been in shooting incidents before, often as organized or quasi-organized "gangbangers," and virtually all indicated a willingness to kill without remorse or hesitation if they thought it would further their goals.

In the 40 incidents studied, there were a number of cases where equipment made a difference. This is where you come in. You may not be a "cop shop," but most dedicated police equipment stores have a limited inventory of weapons. In addition, you probably have more hardware options in stock, or a phone call away, than most of the shops that make most of their income selling uniforms, roof lights, duty footwear and so on.