In the previous entry we talked about the need to incorporate failure drills with the CEW in training, and the issue of introducing CEW training earlier in recruit training programs to provide the opportunity for decision making training and the failure drills.
In a continuation of the discussion on failure drill training I highly recommend you find videos and press clippings of field deployments where the CEW did not stop the subject. Like all videos we must be aware of how we use the videos but the videos and press clippings can be valuable learning tools. Both videos of failures and press clippings help officers to understand that while a CEW is a valuable tool, it is not a magic tool that will work on everyone. Now let me clarify what I mean by failure. When I refer to failures in the field it includes incidents where:
- Both darts did not make proper contact with the subject.
- The subject’s clothing interfered with the current due to thickness or material.
- The subject was able to rip out of of the darts prior to it establishing control of them.
- The subject was unfazed by what appeared to be good probe deployment.
- Any other situation where the subject was not controlled by the deployment of the CEW.
The videos can be used to generate a discussion of options available to the officer when they CEW failed to stop the subject’s behavior. The videos should not be used simply as a tool to be critical of the officer in the video. If the officer’s actions or reactions are less desirable it is likely a reflection of their training, or lack their of. The basic scenario that occurs in the video can also be taken into the combatives room and officers can work through solving the challenge faced by the officer in the video. Videos and press clippings can be used to create scenarios for officers to allow them to learn to solve problems and transition to other force response options to control subjects.
On Friday we will discuss CEW exposures during training.
Take care.
Brian Willis
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