Winning Mind Training

  • Home
  • About
    • About Winning Mind
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Courses Listing / Calendar
    • Training Schedule
    • Course Descriptions
      • Dare To Be Great Leadership: Strategies to Help Build and Sustain a Culture of Leading, Learning and Excellence
      • Dare to Be Great: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Leading
      • Dare To Be Great Leadership 2.0: Continuing the Journey of Building a Culture of Leading, Learning and Excellence
      • Dare To Be Great Leadership: Strategies to Help Build and Sustain a Culture of Leading, Learning and Excellence
      • Excellence In Training
      • Performance Enhancement Imagery
      • PPCT Threat Pattern Recognition Use of Force Instructor Course
      • Ground Fighting and A.C.E. Edged Weapons Defense Instructor Course
      • Lessons From Life’s Most Powerful Question
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

November 12, 2013 By Brian Willis

Excellence in Training – Setting Officers Up to Die?

I read a newspaper article recently about a law enforcement agency that had finally received the budget money and city council approval to outfit their officers with CEWs (Tasers). I applaud the efforts of the Chief and those in the agency who obviously fought a long hard battle to make this happen. I was frustrated however, to read this statement by the Chief in the article:

“He (the Chief) says officers will be trained to use a Taser only in times when they would reach for their firearm, and not when they’re in a lesser situation such as an argument.”

While I agree that we should likely not be using CEWs to manage ‘arguments’, I am concerned that this statement, and the underlying beliefs, will get officers injured and possibly killed. A CEW is a valuable intermediate force response option. It is not meant, and should not be trained or promised, as a replacement to deadly force. If the totality of circumstances warrant getting your gun out, then get your gun out. To leave your gun in your holster and transition to an intermediate weapon that has a limited range and the potential to fail is a less desirable response to a deadly threat. Yes, there may be times where it is appropriate to have an officer who has a CEW out while others have their firearms drawn. The keys are distance, shielding, lethal overwatch and an understanding of time and distance and action / reaction times.

We need to stop selling city councils and the public the lie that CEWs will reduce the use of deadly force. They have been shown to reduce injuries to both officers and subjects, but if a subject is a deadly threat and needs to be shot, they should not be shot with a CEW.

As trainers you need to educate your officers, your management personnel and the public about the realities of use of force.

Take care.

Brian Willis

Trainer, thought leader, author and a man with many questions

At Winning Mind Training we are driven by our dedication to inspiring the pursuit of personal excellence and our belief that every law enforcement officer deserves to experience awesome training.

If you like the Excellence in Training philosophy make sure you attend the comprehensive and one of a kind Excellence in Training Course. Check out our website at www.brianw260.sg-host.com for a list of upcoming dates and locations for the Excellence in Training Course.

To book Brian to speak at your event or to your officers contact him at winningmind@mac.com.

Filed Under: Blog

Subscribe To Our Blog

Sign up to the Winning Mind Training blog to receive new articles, tips and posts directly to your email inbox.

Excellence In Training Blog

  • Are you intentional and deliberate about this? January 24, 2023
  • Working through the dissonance; uncomfortable, but necessary. January 17, 2023
  • Do you think of yourself as a coach? January 10, 2023
  • Are you reaching up, down and across? January 2, 2023
  • The third element of evidence based – research informed. December 27, 2022

Contact Winning Mind Training

Address:
246 Stewart Green S.W., Suite #2486
Calgary AB. Canada. T3H 3C8

Phone: 403-279-5954

Email: winningmind@mac.com

Connect With Us

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Winning Mind Training is a proud member of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. To get more information and to find out how you can become a member of the Chamber of Commerce go to www.calgarychamber.com

Events

  • Lessons From Life's Most Powerful Question - Closed Workshop
    • Thursday, Feb 02, 2023
  • Dare To Be Great Leadership: Strategies to Build and Sustain a Culture of Leading, Learning and Excellence - Madison, WI
    • Monday, Feb 06, 2023 - Tuesday, Feb 07, 2023
    • Madison
  • Excellence in Training Course - Madison, WI
    • Wednesday, Feb 08, 2023 - Friday, Feb 10, 2023
    • Madison
  • Copyright © 2023 · Winning Mind Training