Whether you work for a small municipality or a large state agency somewhere along the way you received some defensive tactics training. Make no mistake that the #1 reason for that training like all other things related to use of force was to limit the liability of the agency. Not to protect the line officer.

They give you a set of tools to deal with problems. If you deviate from that and nobody cries foul then there is no problem. If you do deviate and someone makes a complaint, they will just sit back and say, “he/she was never taught that.” Notice that nowhere did I talk about what you were taught being intended to protect you.

How much DT training is based on a compliant subject? Most of it. After all you can’t get too out of control or someone will get hurt. Was there any kind of overall cross training between the DT and firearms staff? Did the DT guys ever talk about striking someone with your pistol? Did the firearms guys ever discuss having to strike someone with your open hand to give you time and distance to draw your pistol?

There are basically three types of police defensive tactics trainers:

Martial Arts guys- yeah, you know them. They have a black belt in (insert art). They either got it before or after they got on the job. Most of the time these guys are found in small agencies without a whole lot of accountability.

The bosses like them because they are into it and don’t require the agency to spend money to train them. I mean after all the police need to learn to fight so why not have what’s his name do it, he has a black belt after all.

Many times these guys will do anything they have to do to make their “art” fit police work. They are usually not gun guys. You may also hear them complain that while demonstrating the opponent did not “attack the right way.” There are a few things they just can’t get around though.

#1 No Martial Art teaches you to attack people, which is basically what an arrest is.

#2 No Martial Art teaches you to fight someone with the help of a buddy.

#3 Most techniques in Martial Arts end with the opponent laying flat on his back. Not on his stomach where you need him for cuffing.

#4 Most Martial Arts are not practiced in body armor and full gear.

#5 Most Martial Arts take time to become proficient in and the majority of cops are notoriously unmotivated and lazy when it comes to training.

#6 No traditional Martial Arts include carrying a handgun. As a matter of fact in most Martial Arts if you have a weapon your strong hand and foot are forward unlike wearing a sidearm.


The “Instructor” - you know him, he may or may not have had any Martial Arts training but the job sent him to whatever instructors course. Most of the time it was 1-2 weeks. Long enough to learn how to do it, not necessarily how or why it works, or even how to teach it but hey, he got a certification and the department paid good money for it.

You can usually spot these guys; they come back with a cool polo shirt or a nifty new pin for their uniform. They will go so far as to put in the proper position to start a technique. They will get really pissed off if you ask them why the technique works or what if it doesn’t work. If you ask them anything about how to retain your pistol if it is out of the holster their eyes will just glass over. They are usually not gun guys.


The last type is the guy you want. He has at least five years on the job. Chances are he was once or is currently a Martial Arts guy or an Instructor. Might be a firearms instructor by the departmental standards or just a decent shot. Most of the officers call him Tackleberry and say he is a little intense. But the same ones who say that don’t mind having him on a hot call.

He is an intense student of everything that has to do with humans and interpersonal conflict, psychology, anatomy, open hand, impact weapons, edged weapons and firearms. He sees things as they are and not how he wishes them to be. He realizes that just because he likes a technique for himself that does not mean that it will work for everyone.

He likes to make what I call Tactical Stew. He takes everything he has been involved in or exposed to and puts it in his tool-box, some of it as examples of what to do and some as examples of what not to do. He knows the benefits of hitting first and how to justify doing so in a report.

After reading about the last guy you might be saying to yourself, “that is all good and well but we don’t have anyone like that.”

Maybe you don’t right now but maybe the person who needs to work towards being that guy is the same one who looks back at you in the mirror. If not you, then who? Who will bring them home if not you?