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Counter-Ambush Tactics for Patrol Officers

NCJ Number
206793
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 52 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 98-100,102,104,105
Author(s)
Andre Belotto
Date Published
June 2004
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examined ways patrol officers could use counter-ambush tactics to help protect themselves in the field.
Abstract
According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR), ambush is a significant factor with regard to officers killed in the line of duty. In 2000, the data showed that 39 of the 51 victims were assigned to vehicle patrol. This article focuses on two important factors with regard to counter-ambush tactics: complacency will eventually kill or injure an officer; and every call, every stop involves at least one firearm. In an urban environment, residence and business locations have one thing in common: a kill zone. The kill zone is the angle of view available to a suspect, based on his position inside the house or business, to shoot at an approaching officer. Unless officers drive or walk into the kill zone, they won’t know their predicament until such a time as when they are being shot at. Depending on the suspect’s shooting ability, it could be too late. Every call requires officers to go into the kill zone. This article gives officers situational examples of tactics to use to stay out of the kill zone long enough to allow them an advance warning of the suspect’s intentions, therefore allowing officers a chance to respond. Suspects intent on injuring or killing officers need only watch "realistic" police shows to learn tactics utilized by the police. It is therefore very important for officers working the streets of the Nation's cities, roads, and highways to be very alert and remain unpredictable, and do the unexpected on every call and on every stop.