Not 'Dis or 'Dat, But D.A.A.T

During Tuesday’s Citizen's Police Academy class, we got into some hard-hitting stuff.

It was the first class so far preceded by a disclaimer stating the content we were about to see included nudity, profanity and violence. The intense topic of discussion was also preceded by an anticipatory apology from Detective Christopher Cybell if he happened to drop a few swears – he’s used to training police officers.

Tuesday was the night we tackled the subject of Defense And Arrest Tactics (DAAT) used by police officers to bring criminals into custody. It’s perhaps the most important training officers receive, and proper training could mean the difference between life and death in the field.

So far in 2011, 127 officers have been killed in the line of duty across the nation. Of those, 49 were killed by gunfire. In 2008, more than 8,000 officers were attacked by some other means while on the job, and 2,244 were attacked with some sort of firearm.

It’s an alarming statistic, and during class we saw actual footage of some of these attacks on officers that have occurred around the nation. Within seconds, a typical traffic stop can escalate into a deadly shootout. However, most of these incidents occur because of a small mistake in controlling a situation by the officer.

It’s Cybell’s job to prepare officers to properly approach each and every incident they arrive at in a thorough and deliberate manner. Every action is practiced from how to draw their gun, to which hand to handcuff first. Simply handcuffing the wrong hand first could give a criminal an opening to grab their gun and open fire.

And the Wisconsin DAAT guidelines outline a strict sequence of elevated defense and arrest tactics that become more physical as the situation escalates. Police are taught to always use force one step above the suspect they are approaching. They must always justify the force used during an incident. Officers are trained to avoid using excessive force, even in the midst of a highly intense situation.

And if a situation escalates  to gunfire, which is the worst day of an officers life, the Falls police officers are some of the most highly trained marksmen in the area. The police department is privileged to have its own firing range on Mill Road, and officers routinely hit the range for target practice.

Each officer is armed and trained to use a .45 caliber, semi-automatic Glock 21 loaded with 13 rounds of hollow-point shells. The bullets are meant to break on impact, and expand the size of an entry wound.

In a situation that involves a bit more muscle, officers are also trained to use a .223 caliber, semi-automatic Colt rifle, which is a version of the military M-16. The rifle has a range of about 300 to 400 yards, and the bullets are designed to tumble once they strike a target. That means a bullet could enter the abdomen, and exit the arm.

But surprisingly, the most important aspect of defense training is communication. Speaking with potentially dangerous criminals in an effective way is key to police defense tactics throughout the spectrum of severity. Even during hand-to-hand combat with a criminal, speaking is important for an officer regulate breathing.

Although we didn’t engage in any hand-to-hand combat with fellow classmates Tuesday, we will get a chance to test our marksmanship at the range during our next class. We received a primer on the Glock 21, and some range safety.

So in the meantime, I’m going to practice controlling my startle response, and pay close attention to my autogenic breathing. And next week, we’ll find out if your Patch editor is a shooting ace, or incapable of hitting the broadside of a barn.