DPSST Tactical Village
I arrive at the mock Rogue River Bar. It could very well be your average motorcycle enthusiast bar, complete with pool tables, fridge and beer taps. It’s all part of “Tactical Village” – a sprawling complex with faux buildings, roadways, cars, buses and the typical neighborhood debris you’d find in any urban environment. This area was also referred to as Scenario Village which as the name implies is for various training scenarios to simulate real-world incidents.
Tactical supervisor Capt. Ed Thompson provided instruction as he led the group of exercises. Today the press participants would be acting as a police officer in various situations. We were briefed on gun safety, shooting and while the Glock’s only fired paint-pellet bullets they did have enough velocity to sting and leave substantial marks.
Demonstration by Lt. Daryl Tate (L) and Officer Jason Brown (R)
I’ve experienced confusion at motorcycle rallies when ask to respond to conflicting instructions from multiple law enforcement officials, but nothing prepared me for my first “routine” patrol stop. The patrol car radio blasted a somewhat inaudible message about the ’96 Dodge Stratus with Idaho plates that I had pulled over for a traffic violation was involved in an arm robbery – I cautiously exited the patrol car collecting my thoughts as a rather large man (~300 pounds) exits the Dodge on the driver side – I shout out to stay in the automobile, the man doesn’t comply – I shout again for the man to stop, but he continues to walk toward me and the patrol car with one hand in a back pocket – I notice he has an angry and aggressive physical demeanor. Now I’m using all the techniques from earlier in the day… defining the threat (Intent; Means; Opportunity) when at about 20 feet from the police car I see the man pull a gun. My first thought was WTF? this can’t be happening. In addition I had tunnel vision and didn’t see his partner exit the scene…I was so focused on that gun. Having no police gun/holster experience didn’t help and my attempt to pull my firearm was delayed by safety snaps — Gunshots sounded. The officer (me) was hit by 4 paint ball pellets. No blood was spilled, but I was dead in less than 20 seconds! It was about that time when one of the instructors stated “experience is the knowledge you needed 1 minute ago”… a bit flipant, but I’ve got to give ‘em that one.
Officer Jason Brown (L) Explains Scenario in Tactical Village
For several hours we responded to chaotic, dangerous or unpredictable situations in an effort to serve others. The exercises really hit home and made me re-think law enforcement’s role and the second guessing of intentions. With sincere respect to families of people shot by police, including Aaron Campbell’s, what most people killed by police have in common is that they were running from the law, threatening to harm someone or failing to obey police commands. That doesn’t mean they deserve to be shot, but it does complicate an officer’s job and forces the type of split-second decisions police make. I believe Capt. Rau stated during training that “Nobody wins these situations, you survive them.” We continued into the afternoon with the academy’s interactive video training program called MYLO (Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives) which used a Glock laser firearm vs. paint-pellets. It’s a computerized model capable of running hundreds of scenario’s ranging from domestic disturbance to school shootings. The situations are intense and life like even if displayed on a video screen.
Tactical Village
At the end of the day I was tired from the adrenaline rush and participating in a number of these scenarios (I was hit so many times I looked like a member in the Blue Man Group!). Near the end of the day we received an overview from Michael Slauson (Sr. Assistant Attorney General, Oregon DOJ) on SB 111 (2007) and requirements for each county (36 in total) to have a deadly force plan which outlines a number of minimum requirements around police officer mental health and making information available to the public. In all there were more than 25 people involved in delivering this training. Unfortunately the mainstream media/press turnout was dismal. Why? Fox News (TV12), Albany, Corvallis (Gazettetimes.com) and a local neighborhood paper called The Skanner participated. While the small class size made for high-quality individual training the absence and the opportunity for the mainstream press to help influence perceptions was a disappointment.
After all the scenarios I wasn’t so sure who would want to be a police officer? Why would anyone be willing to serve, given the beatings the bureau gets from a rush-to-judgment public and the second-guessing of officers. Instead of officer retraining, maybe we should talk about citizen retraining, so critics will at least wait until they have all the facts of a case before calling in the high-profile, paid-to-incite activists.
Part 1 is HERE.
Tactical Village photo courtesy of Gazettetimes.com, other photos taken by author on scene.
It sounds like you were enlightened to the challenges faced by those who serve and protect. I wish more folks would take the time and learn what is involved.
It speaks highly of you that you went into it with an open mind and reported it objectively.
Good job here Mac.
Where to start.
First, let’s be clear. Being a cop is not all that dangerous. In fact, it’s not even in the top ten most dangerous jobs in the country. I respect most officers for the job they do but I’m really getting sick of the “police worship” they seem to desire.
When it comes to the use of deadly force, they, like us, really can only use it in self-defense or defense of another. If I use deadly force to defend myself I will most like be placed under arrest immediately and my life will become hell from that point forward. That hell will be initially fueled by law enforcement and our legal system and later by the families of the person who tried to kill me.
If a police officer uses deadly force to defend himself, he’ll be given a two week vacation and it will be investigated by his friends in blue. His life goes on, usually without involving a bankruptcy due to legal bills.
It seems to me that if they’re getting all this special training that they shouldn’t be cut ANY slack if they use deadly force inappropriately. If they use deadly force inappropriately then their life should become a living hell, their career ruined and a felony conviction delivered. Same as would happen to a regular citizen who hasn’t had all that special training.
I have watched with concern for many years what I see as the militarization of some of our police forces. They are no longer the “men in blue” but instead wear black, hide their faces, and in general are starting to behave more like an occupying military force than an organization of public servants. News accounts of “bad cops” used to be few and far between, now they are commonplace. They no longer “protect and serve” but instead choose to “command and control”. This command and control posture begins, I believe, at the academies where it’s ingrained into the recruit that they are “in charge” of the civilian population and that we sheep must follow every order they give. They’re encouraged to scream and yell obscenities to establish a “bad ass” persona to be able to command and control all civilians.
If the police really want to change the way civilians view them, they have to change first. They need to take off the black Gestapo uniforms, put on the blue uniforms and drop the command and control posturing. The whole system needs to be overhauled. Today, a police officer’s career depends on negative contact with the public. If they don’t make enough arrests or write enough tickets then they’re not going to get the raises and promotions they want. Being nice and treating civilians with respect doesn’t advance their career.
Re: If a police officer uses deadly force to defend himself, he’ll be given a two week vacation and it will be investigated by his friends in blue. His life goes on, usually without involving a bankruptcy due to legal bills.
Really….wow….
You are so far out in left field you need a MAP to get back to reality… Somebody get this person a MAP!
Really? So give me a MAP.
When an officer shoots someone, is he not immediately put on two weeks “paid administrative leave”?
Who investigates whether or not lethal force was justified? A group of civilians or a group of other police officers?
Has any police officer had to file bankruptcy because he couldn’t pay the legal bills accrued to defend himself in court after an on duty shooting?
So who needs the reality check?
If you’re a retired cop then maybe you spent so much time behind the badge that you have no idea what the civlian side of that badge looks like.
nwlibertarian,
You seem to have some real issues with law enforcement.
I don’t mean to dismiss them, but the purpose of mac’s report was more to give non LE folks a look at that side of the badge with regards to the use of letal force.
Just as you believe they have no idea what the civilian side of the badge looks like, I think most of us have no idea what it’s like on their side.
The use of lethal force is deadly serious stuff. There’s no “do over” once the trigger is pulled. While you may think that “life goes on” for the officer involved, I seriously doubt that’s the case. I think that for most, taking a humal life, even a low life scumbag, would be a heavy burden to carry around.
Here is your MAP along with your CHECK.
Yes, the officer is taken off the street during the investigation. It’s hardly a vacation as you state. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Getting involved in an on-duty or off duty shooting is nothing to take lightly. Some cases can take years to resolve. The police department conducts an investigation to determine if the shooting was within policy and to see if any criminal violations occurred. His firearm is confiscated.
Did the officer utilize verbal commands? Was the officer in the right location? Did the officer exercise proper tactics? What information did the officer have at the time of each stage of the incident? Were the officer’s actions before, during and after the shooting appropriate? Where were the witnesses if any? What did they see and hear? Was this a suicide by cop? The questions are endless.
The case is also referred to the prosecutor’s office. The DA or State’s Attorney also conducts an investigation to see if any criminal charges are warranted. The case may end up in federal court. Some police agencies have a civilian review board to determine if the shooting was justified or if criminal charges are warranted. Others also hold a coroner’s inquest. Departments usually refer their officers for mandatory counseling. This all starts during his two week ‘vacation’.
Then you have the officers’ self doubts, survivor’s guilt – alternating between I’m glad to be alive and why him and not me? He replays the incident in his mind over and over, sometimes nightmares follow.
It ain’t no walk in the park.
I was ‘behind the badge’ as you say for 28 years. Lost a few friends over during that time who didn’t have to worry about shooting review boards. They ended up dead cuz the bad guy shot first or shot better. Maybe their hesitation was caused by what you read above.
Might as well continue:
And heaven help him if the cop is white and the suspect is black. Now you have a whole new can of worms to worry about. Maybe some civil unrest. Riots even.
Now an investigation needs to be done in order to see whether this shooting had to do with race. Guys like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton weigh in and trumpet their conclusions before the investigation is even completed. Monday morning quarterbacks come out of the woodwork.
Ya think there might be some hesitation in the mind of the average cop? Believe me, there is.
Two week ‘vacation’… right…..
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14361484?source=rss_emailed
Since you’re retired you probably have time to read the whole article but the key quote from the cop is:
“Sounds like you had someone practicing their 2nd amendment rights last night!” Tuason wrote. “Should’ve pulled the AR out and prone them all out! And if one of them makes a furtive movement … 2 weeks off!!!”
Did this involve an actual shooting? I read the article and saw no mention of it. Maybe I missed something – me being older and retired and all….
It appears that the only thing at issue in this incident is his First Amendment Rights to free speech. Whether he abused that right is for you and I to decide.
I went ahead and added a quote here too. Here it is:
“Tuason didn’t return a phone message seeking comment Monday. But East Palo Alto police Capt. Carl Estelle said the department’s professional standards division is looking into the Facebook remarks to see if they violate any rules or policies.
“We have to be careful because they’re on his own personal private Web page,” Estelle said. “We have to be careful not to violate his First Amendment rights.”
“In no way are his personal comments reflective of any policies or procedures here at the department, nor does he speak for the police department,” Estelle said.”
I was just conveying what a civilian sees as a cops attitude toward shooting someone. Basically, he (officer Tuason) viewed it as getting “two weeks off”.
Add to that, he was talking about someone who was committing no crime, just walking around with a gun on his hip, which is just as legal as walking around with a cell phone on your belt. No crime, no reason to “prone him out”.
Again, just conveying the civilian side of the badge.
You saw one cop’s attitude/gallows humor – which apparently didn’t escape the scrutiny of his superiors.
Had YOU posted the same comment, nothing would be done.
I don’t give a damn about his superiors. I’m talking about the attitude he displayed toward the civilian population.
He’s a cop, he was identified as a cop on FB.
The people reading his posts knew he was a cop.
He was communicating to a civilian population.
He knew he was talking to civilians, not other officers.
What he conveyed to the civlian readers of his posts was “I’m a cop, I can shoot a civilian and get two weeks off for the action”.
Maybe he was trying to be humorous but as another poster said, lethal force is serious. It’s not something to make humorous comments about. If you’re telling me that cops make jokes about killing perps in the privacy of the police station then maybe we have more to worry about than even I think we have.
Yes, he was one individual but IMHO there are far too many of these “one individuals” lately.
As to what would happen if I posted the same thing, a lot would happen. How many citizens have had their home invaded by SWAT teams because they posted something on line that pointed toward a possible violent act? Maybe some kid posts something on facebook, making a “joke” about shooting someone. I don’t think the authorities would view it as a joke anymore than I view officer Tuason’s comments as a joke.
The difference is I don’t get to send a SWAT team to take Tuason down. Tuason will get a private reprimand and he probably will be careful what he posts on line from now on but he won’t get slammed to the floor and cuffed in the middle of the night by a masked, heavily armed SWAT team.
The cop goofed that is a no brainer. Lesson is: Ya gotta watch what you say, or post.
Joke or not, some will take it the wrong way, ergo this exchange.
Words are like a bullet. Once they leave the barrel (or keyboard) it’s too late.
Time to enjoy the rest of my day.