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Edged Weapons: Traditional and Emerging Threats to Law Enforcement

NCJ Number
213404
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 75 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 14-19
Author(s)
L. Frank Thompson; Charlie Mesloh Ph.D.
Date Published
March 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines issues involving the threat of edged-weapons to law enforcement and a framework for the training of law enforcement on the threat of edged weapon encounters.
Abstract
Because law enforcement encounters tend to take place face-to-face, giving a subject an advantage in an edged-weapon encounter, police officers need to be aware of the presence of knives and other edged weapons in order to reduce the delay in their reaction time. In addition, with proper training, officers can substantially reduce their exposure to an edged weapon attack. All edged weapons must be identified as threats and neutralized before reaching the intended target. By examining some of the issues involved with edged-weapon attacks, officers can garner a framework for future training and awareness. This article examines the scope of the problem, the threats posed to law enforcement, and recommendations in the development of edged-weapon training.