POLICE OFFICERS FORCED INTO USING THEIR WEAPONS FOR SELF-DEFENSE MUST BE ABLE TO ACT QUICKLY WITHOUT PANICKING. SINCE OFFICERS IN A DEADLY SITUATION WILL INSTINCTIVELY USE WHATEVER TECHNIQUES THEY HAVE ACQUIRED, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY CONSTANTLY TRAIN TO SHOOT UNDER A VARIETY OF WEATHER AND LIGHTING CONDITIONS, AT A NUMBER OF TARGETS, AND FROM BEHIND DIFFERENT COVERS. TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF BEING WOUNDED OR KILLED, OFFICERS SHOULD ALWAYS APPROACH AN ARMED SUSPECT FROM A DISTANCE WITH THEIR GUNS DRAWN, KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE SUSPECTS' HANDS, KEEP THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE ON THEIR SIDE, GET AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT'S LOCATION, CAREFULLY APPROACH OBSTRUCTIONS OR DARK LOCATIONS, USE LIGHTS, WHEN POSSIBLE, TO INTERFERE WITH THE SUSPECT'S VISION, USE VERBAL CHALLENGES TO ALLOW TIME TO MOVE FOR COVER, AND KEEPING THE TARGET WITHIN RANGE. TECHNIQUES ARE SHOWN FOR APPROACHING AND SHOOTING AT A TARGET INSIDE A BUILDING, OUT IN THE OPEN, IN A VEHICLE, AND IN A BARRICADE. EXAMPLES OF SHOOTING FROM BEHIND RIGHT-HAND AND LEFT-HAND BARRICADES, RICOCHET SHOOTING, SHOOTING UNDER VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS, SHOOTING USING THE POLICE CAR FOR COVER, AND LOADING THE GUN WHILE UNDERFIRE ARE PRESENTED. POLICE ARE ADVISED TO HAVE A PLAN, SEEK COVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, KEEP THEIR GUARD UP, AND REMAIN CALM. (DAG)