Matthew Temkin
Member
I found this while cleaning out my attic. It is from the SEPT/OCTOBER issue of THE POLICE MARKSMAN, Officer Down column.
This colum reviews and reflects upon actual police combat situations and offer advice for future confrontations.
This was an incident where a wounded officer was able to return fire one handed with his .357 magnam revolver....and win, BTW.
"Despite a good deal of tratitional firearms training which stressed the Weaver stance and use of the sights, Trooper XXX fired one handed without using his sights. This is significant because it is so common. Case studies supported by observations of role play excercises, reveal that officers rarely use a two handed hold or aimed fire at close range.
Instinctively, they realize that speed, not pinpoint accuracy, is the key to survival at such times, and they fire as soon as they are able.
Likewise, they do not take the time to assume a proper stance, choosing instead to draw and fire as quickly as possible from whatever position they happen to be in at the time.
This indicates that their are limits to the old maxim that officers will do what they are trained to do under stress.
Experience shows that there is alot of truth in this idea, but it has it's limits when natural instincts come into play.
Generally when there is a conflict between training and instinct, instinct will win out. This is especially true when the stress is unexpected and it's effects tend to increase when there is lag between the time the technique is learned and the time it is employed on the street......................
........Training must be based upon an honest, realistic assessment of how humans instinctively react under the extreme stress of mortal combat.
The techniques taught must be consistant with, not contrary to, these instincts.
The greater the consistency, the greater the likelihood that they will be properly applied on the street..."
Couldn't have said it better myself, especially the last two paragraphs.
This colum reviews and reflects upon actual police combat situations and offer advice for future confrontations.
This was an incident where a wounded officer was able to return fire one handed with his .357 magnam revolver....and win, BTW.
"Despite a good deal of tratitional firearms training which stressed the Weaver stance and use of the sights, Trooper XXX fired one handed without using his sights. This is significant because it is so common. Case studies supported by observations of role play excercises, reveal that officers rarely use a two handed hold or aimed fire at close range.
Instinctively, they realize that speed, not pinpoint accuracy, is the key to survival at such times, and they fire as soon as they are able.
Likewise, they do not take the time to assume a proper stance, choosing instead to draw and fire as quickly as possible from whatever position they happen to be in at the time.
This indicates that their are limits to the old maxim that officers will do what they are trained to do under stress.
Experience shows that there is alot of truth in this idea, but it has it's limits when natural instincts come into play.
Generally when there is a conflict between training and instinct, instinct will win out. This is especially true when the stress is unexpected and it's effects tend to increase when there is lag between the time the technique is learned and the time it is employed on the street......................
........Training must be based upon an honest, realistic assessment of how humans instinctively react under the extreme stress of mortal combat.
The techniques taught must be consistant with, not contrary to, these instincts.
The greater the consistency, the greater the likelihood that they will be properly applied on the street..."
Couldn't have said it better myself, especially the last two paragraphs.
