PoliceMarksman SepOct2014

SEP-OCT 2014
Vol. 12, No. 5
POLICEMARKSMAN.COM
SINCE 1976
sighting in on
Attic Tactics
page 22
Pistol Wear PT-One holster
page 26
Q-Series Holster
page 30
COVER
STORY page 6
Glocks
Diminutive 42
bullseye
Active Shooter Response

page 14
Combat Application
Tourniquet (C.A.T.)
page 16
OFFICER DOWN page 34

bRIAN mcKennas
Ambiguous Deadly Force
Decisions Under Stress:
Josh Shemenskis Second Shooting
Sep-Oct 2014 I Vol. 12, No. 5

On the Cover
Photo courtesy of Steve Tracy
16
Combat Application Tourniquet

(C.A.T.)
Wear an $800 vest, carry a $900 AED, and have

a $25 C.A.T. ready to go!
By David Jones
03
Times have changed. Police work

has changed.
By Steve Tracy
20
By the police Marksman staff
feature
04
By Police Marksman Staff
feature
06
Glocks New Diminutive 42

Glocks .380 is a slim and concealable pocket
pistol.
22
FNS-40LS
FN-USAs long slide version of their standard

duty pistol performs perfectly.
26

A Return to the Basics.
How to breach hard-to-reach places
An improved bellyband-style holster system for

use while running.
By Warren Wilson
30
Q-Series Holster
A minimalist inside-the-waistband holster

design for appendix carry.
By Warren Wilson
By Steve Tracy
14
Attic Tactics
By Warren Wilson
By Steve Tracy
10
One-Handed Handgun
Shooting Drill
34
By Chief Mike Burg, Rittman, Ohio P.D.
Ambiguous Deadly Force Decisions

Under Stress: Josh Shemenskis
Second Shooting
By Brian MCKenna
45
2 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014
next issue of the police marksman

www.policemarksman.com
By steve tracy I Editorial director

steventracy@hendonpub.com
Times have changed.

Police work has changed.
clearly remember driving to work after the Columbine shooting occurred. Despite living several
states away from Colorado, a local radio show
host was blabbering on with his uneducated drivel
about how the cops should have handled things. Typical of such know-it-alls, he offered up plenty of ways
to tell us how to do our jobs, despite having no
personal knowledge to back up his ideas or citing
anyone with reasonable credentials to support his
crazy rant. I knew the broadcaster couldnt hear
me, but that didnt stop me from yelling at my cars
radio. I think most officers have had these one-sided
arguments with their own radios from time to time.
Incidents similar to Columbine occurred during previous

decades, but those shootings did not have the constant television news coverage that 1999 gave us. Video of students being
hustled out of the school and ambulances, fire trucks, and squad
cars surrounding the premise, made for engrossing images on
the screen. Everyone saw the news coverage and because of the
general publics misunderstanding of police procedure and policy, everyone had an opinion. Oftentimes we, the police, stand
fast with our way of doing things because our procedures have
stood the test of time and the trials of actuality.
But, Columbine was different. The heat came down on law enforcement and our own desire to do things right caused police departments nationwide to re-evaluate how our response could be improved.
There was a sea change that rolled through the United States
law enforcement community concerning how an active shooter
scenario would be tackled. Rapid response was the initial answer. In retrospect, our law enforcement community deserves
credit for how fast we evolved from the previous concept of
secure the perimeter and call for SWAT to patrol officers entering the scene almost immediately upon arrival and running
toward the sound of gunfire.
Of course, there was the typical cops dry humor with lines
like, Were all getting raises since they changed our job descriptions, right? But despite the joking, police officers throughout
the land took on the greater responsibility and the greater risk
to their own lives and began training to run toward the gunfire.
More risk, same pay, we said with a grin on our faces.
Active shooter response has continued to evolve to where a
single officer may be the only one to engage a threat. Time spent
waiting to confront an active shooter is time that lives are being
lost. Weve gone from waiting for SWAT to treating an active
shooter like a man with a gun call. It has turned into a man
with a gun who is actually shooting the gun at people call.
Looking at these kinds of incidents, including Columbine
and the most recent active shooter events, we see that the most
likely outcome of the police confronting a shooter is that the
shooter commits suicide or gives up. There is also the result
where the police shoot and kill the murderous offender.
It used to be that specialized police units like SWAT were
the ones patrol units called for help. They still are for barricaded
subjects and other situations, but more and more, patrol officers
are the ones taking on immediate life saving duties.
Theres a meme out there in cyberspace that shows Andy Griffiths
four-door cruiser with a red gumball light on top. Below that photo
is picture of a Lenco BearCat with POLICE emblazoned on its
side. The caption asks, When did we go from thisto this?
The answer would be another meme with a photo of Otis,
Mayberrys town drunk who would lock himself up in Andys
jail. Below that photo would be a picture taken from a news
helicopter of Columbine High School on that fateful day in
1999, or perhaps the Twin Towers burning, or a picture of riots
with Molotov cocktails being thrown. The caption would read,
When we went from thisto this.
Times have changed. Police work has changed. Weve changed. PM
Post your comments on this story
by visiting www.policemarksman.com
Steve tracy I Editorial Director
Steve Tracy is a 26-year police veteran with 24 years of experience as a firearms instructor. He is also an
instructor for tactical rifles, use of force, less-than-lethal force and scenario-based training. He can be
reached at steventracy@hendonpub.com.
Owning a handgun doesnt make you armed any more than owning a guitar
makes you a musician. Col. Jef Cooper
To post your comments on this story, please visit policemarksman.com
feature
Laser Ammo USA .380 SureStrike Cartridge
The SureStrike .380 Cartridge from Laser Ammo USA, Inc. allows users
to develop and maintain their shooting skills: practice stance, gun presentation, sight alignment, sight picture, breath control, trigger pull, and follow through all while saving money using dry-fire training techniques. The
SureStrike eliminates the need for a dedicated training firearm as it can be
loaded into the shooters firearm to perform any drill with immediate feedback that the shooter can see and hear!
The SureStrike .380 dry-fire training system fits directly in any 380 caliber firearms breech and unlike other laser cartridges that are activated by
vibration, is activated by the impact of the striker or firing pin to emit an
eye-safe laser pulse simulating the point of impact. This feature eliminates
the possibility of misfires and ensures more realistic training. A live round
cannot be loaded in the breech loading system, making it completely safe
while training. The SureStrike .380 cartridge works with any type of target: paper, reflective or interactive targets such as Laser Ammos LaserPET,
AIMWELLs and L.A.S.R. Software. The SureStrike cartridges can also be
programmed to work with a variety of firearms training simulators.
The heart of every SureStrike Cartridge is a computer microprocessor that
controls the laser beam, allowing the shooter a guaranteed 5,000+ shots and
offers multiple training pulses: Bore Sight Cap, Multi-Mode or both. The SureStrike System also contains sleeping mode for long-lasting training. Powered
by silver-oxide dry cell batteries, the laser emits an eye-safe class 3a beam. Another advantage is all your training will be lead-free. The .380 SureStrike Cartridge comes with three reflective targets, user guide, and battery pack.
www.laser-ammo.com
Ruger 9mm LCR
www.ruger.com
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. announced the 9mm LCR, the newest
variation of the revolutionary Lightweight Compact Revolver (LCR). The
newest LCR retains all the features of the critically acclaimed original LCR.
Its double-action-only trigger pull is uniquely engineered with a patented
Ruger friction-reducing cam-fire control system. The trigger pull force on
the LCR builds gradually and peaks later in the trigger stroke, resulting in
a trigger pull that feels much lighter than it actually is. This results in more
controllable double-action shooting, even among those who find traditional
double-action-only triggers difficult to operate. The LCR is elegantly designed with three main components: a polymer fire control housing, an
aerospace-grade, aluminum monolithic frame, and an extensively fluted
stainless-steel cylinder. When originally introduced, the Ruger LCR revolver
was one of the most significant new revolver designs in over a century and it
has since been awarded three patents.
In addition to 9mm, the LCR double-action-only model also is available
in .38 Spl. +P, .357 Mag., .22 WMR. and .22 LR. The exposed hammer
LCRx, which can be fired in double- or single-action modes, is available in
.38 Spl. +P. All LCR models feature replaceable ramp front sights with white
bar, and a fixed U-notch rear sight. Some models are available with Crimson Trace Lasergrips instead of the Hogue Tamer Monogrip, which
comes standard.
feature
SureFire Rechargeable Duty Light
SureFire, LLC released its latest rechargeable flashlight. The compact P1R
Peacekeeper is an everyday duty light with two useful output levels: 600 blinding
lumens on high, and 15 lumens of extended-runtime on low output for close-up
tasks. Its compact, knurled body also makes the P1R ideal for use with a handgun.
There is also a single-output Peacekeeper Tactical.
Both Peacekeeper models are powered by a readily available 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery thats easily charged using either an AC wall charger or a DC vehicle charger,
both included with the light. It can also be powered by two disposable 123A lithium batteries, if necessary, when there isnt the time or opportunity to charge between uses.
Weighing in at just over 6 ounces and measuring just over 5 inches in length,
the palm-sized P1R packs a lot of punch without being a burden to carry. Its MilSpec hard-anodized aluminum body is durable and lightweight and fits in many
standard flashlight holsters. O-ring and gasket seals keep out dust and moisture,
while a coated, tempered window maximizes light transmission and protects the
reflector and LED. Built for law enforcement, the rugged, dual-output Peacekeeper
delivers exceptional performance for both tactical and non-tactical applications.
There are two models. The P1R Peacekeeper features a dual-output click-type tailcap
switch. The first press or click provides 600 lumens of maximum output to meet most unforeseen emergencies; return to off and press or click a second time, within two seconds, to
produce a 15-lumen low-output beam for close-up work with extended runtime. The singleoutput Peacekeeper Tactical operates by pressing down on the tailcap switch for momentaryon activation, or rotating the tailcap clockwise for constant-on activation. Both versions have
an MSRP of $250 and come standard with an 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, AC
charger, and DC car charger.
www.surefire.com
Liberty Ammo .357 Magnum

Civil Defense Lineup
www.libertyammo.com
Liberty Ammunition announced the .357 Magnum as the newest

addition to its Civil Defense line of high-performance personal defense
ammunition. Known for its effective stopping power among handgun
cartridges, the .357 Magnum makes an excellent round for self-defense,
target shooting, or small- to medium-game hunting. Libertys high-performance ammunition delivers approximately twice the velocity, three
times the terminal effect, 16 percent less recoil, and considerably reduces
the weight of loaded weapons.
In testing at Libertys production facility, the Civil Defense .357 Magnum achieved velocities greater than 2,100 fps. This velocity is nearly
double that of standard .357 Magnum ammo. The Civil Defense line
of lead-free ammunition features nickel-plated, solid copper projectiles
and nickel-plated brass cases. Every round exceeds match-grade quality
in performance.
Libertys deep cavity, hollowpoint projectile, fragments in soft tissue, providing three times the terminal effects of traditional, lead-based
ammo in comparable calibers. Due to the patented, proprietary design of
the Civil Defense projectile and the lead-free component, Civil Defense
ammo is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 the weight, depending on caliber, of
traditional ammunition, thus significantly reducing the carry weight of
all weapon systems.
feature
Glocks New
Diminutive 42
Glocks .380 is a slim and
concealable pocket pistol.
SUMMARY
Glock introduces a .380 ACP and its
worth the wait. Slim, light, and easy
to shoot, the G42 is made in the USA
with all the attributes Glocks are known
for. Reliability, accuracy, and simplicity
are the hallmarks of Glock and theyre
present and accounted for in this new
pocket pistol for off-duty or backup
police use.
By Steve Tracy
MORE INFORMATION
www.glock.com
www.laserlyte.com
www.pearcegrip.com
www.hornady.com
www.truglo.com
Steve Tracy is a 26-year police veteran with 24 years of experience
as a firearms instructor. He is also an
instructor for tactical rifles, use of force,
less-than-lethal force and scenario-based
training. He can be reached at
steventracy@hendonpub.com.
The
G42 is a smart choice for off-duty or backup use, even if

an officer doesnt carry a full-size Glock on duty. But for those
who already pack a Glock, their new .380 retains the same
manual-of-arms.
olice officers who carry a

Glock pistol on their hip every
day seem to like them. A lot.
They really, really like them a whole
lot. Its not uncommon to talk with
a fellow officer and hear, I had one
of the first Glock 17 9mm pistols.
Then I bought a third gen and then
a .40 and Ive got a Glock 19 for
off-duty and a baby Glock for deep
concealment. Ive also got a G34
for competition.
Ive overheard some of them disparage

the .380 ACP cartridge and it made me
wonder if it was simply because Glock
didnt offer a .380 chambered pistol. At
the January 2014 SHOT Show range day,
R. Lee Ermey was shooting the brand-new
Glock Model 42 chambered for the .380
ACP. Ermey didnt miss the steel targets
he was shooting at and neither did I when
it was my turn. The G42 impressed and I
was eager to get my hands on one for an
extended trip to the range.
gun review: Glocks New Diminutive 42
The
Walther PPK is the closest in size to the G42 (clockwise

from upper left). The S&W 2-inch Snubnose revolver, and S&W
Bodyguard .380 compare in size to Glocks new .380 pistol.
About Time!
Glocks are popular because they have a reputation for reliability, accuracy, simplicity, and
value for your dollar. As other manufacturers
have brought forth tiny, polymer-frame .380
pistols, it would seem natural for Glock to bring
their own competition to the market. Presenting a .380 with the same attributes of their larger
guns would seem likely to be a winner.
The Walther PPK and S&W J-Frame are
the standards by which other off-duty compact
pistols are judged when it comes to size. The
Glock 42 compares very closely to the Walther
PPK. Overall length is 5.94 to 6.1-inch G42
vs. PPK. Height is 4.13 to 3.8 inches. The G42
is slightly smaller than the PPK in length and
height and its .94-inch width is thinner than
the PPKs 1-inch-thick grip. The sight radius
on the Glock is 4.92 inches, slightly longer
than the PPK pistols 4.2-inch radius.
The G42 is slightly smaller in all aspects than
the classic PPK. The real difference is in weight.
The polymer framed Glock weights just 13.76
ounces vs. the PPKs 22.4 ounces. Thats a big
difference when it comes to pocket carry.
The G42s magazine capacity is six rounds,
the same as the PPK. Its also the same as the

Ruger LCP and the S&W Bodyguard. Both of
those pistols are smaller overall in every dimension than the new Glock .380 pistol. However,
theyre both double action only, hammer fired
guns. Glock retains their striker-fired trigger
with its relatively short pull in the G42.
The G42 functions just like previous larger
iterations in bigger calibers. This is advantageous for those who already carry a Glock
pistol. Its why police officers own several. The
training and manual of arms is consistent with
the G42. The rectangular magazine release
button is reversible for left-handed shooters.
It drops empty magazines free as long as you
dont have large hands that interfere with gravitys desire to pull the empty mag to the ground.
My big hand prevented the magazine from falling free every time, a common problem that
exists when I handle smaller handguns. I have
to shake the gun to rattle the magazine away
from the meat of my palm.
The G42 thankfully did away with frontstrap finger grooves. Standard Glock pistol
finger grooves dont line up with my big
mitts. Instead, they dig into the center of my
The
Model 42 field strips just

like its larger brethren.
fingers during recoil. My personal G23 had

them removed by Cold Bore Custom. The
G42 felt just about perfect in my hands. The
Rough Textured Frame (RTF)s square raised
stippling is not overly aggressive.
Standard Glock Features
A fellow competitive shooter purchased a G42

and loaned it for testing. He added a set of
Tru-Glo TFO green sights. These steel sights
combine Tritium with fiber optic tubes for
outstanding sight visibility in darkness, low
light, or bright light. The G42 comes with
Glocks standard polymer white outline rear
and white-dot front sights. He also added a
Pearce Grip polymer extension in place of the
factory magazine bottom. This piece adds a
little more grip area to the length of the pistol,
a greatly appreciated addition for those with
large hands.
The trigger pull on the G42 measured 6
pounds, 3 ounces on a Lyman digital-trigger pull
gauge. For an off-duty pocket pistol, this is an acceptable weight and it felt identical to other fullsize Glock pistols. There is considerable take-up
as your index finger presses the trigger and disengages the Safe-Action tab in the middle. This
feature
prevents the gun from firing unless the trigger
is deliberately pulled. Careful dry fire confirmed
no over travel once the striker was released.
Glock kept their G42 as similar to their extensive line of larger caliber pistols as possible.
There is no additional manual safety added
to this .380 handgun. It functions the same
as all other Glocks. Despite the Safe-Action
trigger, I would not drop this pistol in my
front right pocket without a pocket holster to
cover the trigger. I would certainly never, ever
carry keys, a mini-penlight, or even coins in
the same pocket as this pistol. Many have seen
the video where a police officers stray plastic
jacket tightening device worked its way into
the trigger guard of a duty Glock pistol and
it went off. Even coins in your pocket could
wedge their way via Mr. Murphys laws and
cause a negligent discharge. Choose a good
pocket holster for pocket carry of the G42.
The large extractor is moved slightly to the
right when a cartridge is loaded and is designed
to act as a loaded chamber indicator. Seeing
or feeling it tactilely is possible, but the difference between loaded and unloaded is not very
much. A press check is preferable and there is
enough space to the right rear of the chamber
to see a loaded round through the ejection port.
The overall look and feel of the G42 is
smooth. Nothing protrudes to catch on clothing and the slide stop (which does function as
a release as well, no matter if the magazine is
loaded or not) and magazine release are positioned tight in with the frame. The grip tang
extends well so as to prevent slide bite (the Walther PPK was notorious for causing bleeding
railroad tracks on the web of shooters hands
until recent versions extended it). Retracting
the slide requires little force, despite the captured multiple spring recoil guide. Slide serrations are not very deep, but they still work fine.
The G42s barrel is 3.25 inches in length and
features Glocks hexagonal rifling (this means
you should only shoot jacketed bullets, not
pure lead bullets to prevent leading in the
bore, which could build up and cause problems). The Glocks barrel length will offer a bit
more velocity, with excellent carry rounds like
Hornadys Critical Defense, than the Ruger or
S&W pistols with their shorter 2.75-inch barrels. The tradeoff is measured in carry size. The
Ruger and S&W fit in my outside vest carriers
breast pocket. The G42 is too big to fit.
The
.380 is Made in the USA.
The
Glock 42 is slightly thinner than the classic Walther PPK.
Range Testing
Loading the G42 magazine with six rounds was

not difficult and the sixth round was pressed
in as easily as the first. The magazine is stan-
dard Glock, being made of polymer with a

steel inner sleeve. Chambering a round and
then topping off the magazine functioned every
time, making the G42 a seven-shot carry gun.
gun review: Glocks New Diminutive 42
Six-round
magazine drops free when the release button is

pushed, as long as your hands arent too big to interfere with it
falling free.
Laserlytes
red laser for the G42 attaches quick and easy at the
front of the trigger guard. Ambidextrous controls turn the sighting
device on with ease.
Under the mild kick of the short recoil

operated, locked breech barrel system, the
gun performed without fail with six makes
of ammunition (three hollowpoint and three
full metal jacket). Due to the tilting barrel

action instead of the Walthers fixed barrel,
the G42s felt recoil was seriously mild. Since
there is much more grip area compared to
smaller .380 pistols, its easier to hold on to

and shoot well.
The Pearce Grip extended magazine bottom helped greatly with holding the grip.
The lack of finger grooves, like original Gen
1 full-size Glocks, was very comfortable. The
TruGlo sights shine like beacons no matter
whether theyre in sunlight, indoor light, low
light, or complete darkness. Theyre also big
and easy to see and line up.
The trigger guard is shaped just like Glocks
full-size pistols and its large enough to accommodate a gloved hand. The trigger on the
new Glock .380 feels and shoots better than
the number that came up on the electronic
scale. The reset is very good and the break is
crisp. I recently fired a Bersa Thunderer .380
with a lightweight alloy frame weighing 5.3
ounces more than the G42. The fixed barrel,
lightweight Thunderer was brutal to shoot
compared to the PPK (where the steel frame
helps tame recoil) and its recent memory
made the Glock .380 feel almost soft.
Made in the USA
Gallery of Guns (www.galleryofguns.com)

lists the MSRP of the G42 at $480. However, Ray OHerron Company (an Illinois
police supplier: www.oherron.com) has it in
their current catalog with a law enforcement
price on department letterhead at $319. For
this price, the new .380 is competitive with
other pistols firing the same cartridge.
The left side of the G42s matte black slide
bears three very important letters: USA. The
newest Glock is made at the Austrian manufacturers Smyrna, Ga. factory right here in
the United States. On their website, Glock
states, years of requestsprompted extensive
research and development to bring the Glock
customer the G42.
Law enforcement officers are definitely
a large part of Glocks customer base. The
G42 is a smart choice that Glock fans have
wanted for a long time as an off-duty or
backup gun. Whether you carry a Glock on
your duty belt or not, the new .380 is an accurate and reliable pistol. PM
feature
FNS-40LS
FNS-40LS
FN-USAs long slide version

of their standard duty
pistol performs perfectly.
By Steve Tracy
SUMMARY
The FNS-40LS is another excellent
option for todays law enforcement
officers. The .40 S&W caliber polymer
pistol is striker fired and totally
ambidextrous. It comes with all the
features a police officer desires with the
added benefit of superb shoot-ability.
MORE INFORMATION
www.fnhusa.com
Steve Tracy is a 26-year police veteran with 24 years of experience
as a firearms instructor. He is also an
instructor for tactical rifles, use of force,
less-than-lethal force and scenario-based
training. He can be reached at
steventracy@hendonpub.com.
The
FNS field strips safely. With the

magazine removed and the slide initially
locked to the rear, the takedown lever
is rotated down. Then the slide is eased
forward and the trigger pulled on the empty
chamber. The slide then eases forward off
the frame.
The
right side of the

FNS displays its fully
ambidextrous magazine
release button and slide
stop/release.
gun review: FNS-40LS
he Baltimore County, Md. Police

Department ordered 1,920 FNS40LS pistols for duty carry
by their officers. Theyre a large
department and thats a whole lot
of duty pistols. So what were the
factors that guided their decision?
It would seem the answer is that the
FNS line of polymer frame, striker
fired pistols comes equipped with
every feature law enforcement
deems necessary. Right out of
the box.
All the Features

the Police Need
There is a trend toward firearms manufacturers offering 5-inch barrel semi-automatic pistols in addition to their standard
length guns with 4- to 4.5-inch barrels. A
longer sight radius equals a firearm that is
inherently easier to shoot accurately. That
has to be a plus in police work where an officers life, or someone the officer is sworn
to protect, is on the line.
The FNS long slide is available in either 9mm or .40 S&W chambering and
the test pistol had the .40 caliber hole at
the end of the barrel, since its the most
popular police pistol cartridge today. The
long slide version weighs 29.7 ounces unloaded, which is 2.2 ounces more than the
4-inch barrel pistol. That small amount
of extra weight at the muzzle helps with
recoil management.
Sights are the Warren/Sevigny dovetailed steel sights with either white dots or
optional tritium night sights. The rear sight
is serrated and sits as far to the rear of the
slide as possible. The Warren/Sevigny rear
sight features a v-shape at the bottom of the
notch. This makes it easier to see the front
white dot or tritium insert quickly. It was
found to work very well.
The slide is matte-black stainless steel
and the barrel is hammer forged steel. Front
cocking serrations are part of the slide and
the extractor has a red painted section that
protrudes out to the right when the chamber is loaded. The red portion tells you that
your FNS is loaded and the extractor can
be felt with your fingers in the dark.
Loaded
chamber indicator is the extractor, which shows red

when a round is in the pipe.
Totally Ambidextrous
The steel-magazine release button and

slide stop/release are mirror imaged on
both sides of the pistols polymer frame.
The FNS caters to left-handed officers who
no longer have to make due with features
intended only for right-handed shooters.
The frame is sharply checkered for a secure
purchase under any conditions, but its not
to the point where chafing occurs to your
hands when firing the pistol for long hours
during training. Two interchangeable backstraps are included in the heavy-duty plastic
carrying case with each FNS pistol. One is
flat and one is arched. The flat backstrap
caused the FNS-40LS to point very naturally in my big hands. There is also a built-in
lanyard hole at the rear of the grip. The grip
tang extends fully to the rear to prevent any
slide bite on the shooters gripping hand.
Three 14-round steel magazines come
with each pistol. The thick plastic bottoms
prevent damage when dropped free and
can be quickly removed by pressing a small
tab if the magazines need to be cleaned.
The front of the magazine base extends forward to provide your strong hand with a
secure grip. There is also an undercut where
the large trigger guard (which easily accommodates gloved hands) meets the frame to
allow a high grip on the pistol.
A Picatinny rail mounts lights and lasers,
and there is some checkering on the front
of the trigger guard for an offhand index
finger if one chooses to utilize that style of
two-handed grip.
Field stripping the FNS is simple. With
an unloaded pistol, the slide is locked to
the rear before the takedown lever on the
left side is rotated downward. Then the
slide is eased forward until it reaches its
closed position, at which time the trigger is
pulled. Then the slide will ease forward off
the frame. The captive steel guide and recoil spring can be lifted out and the barrel
removed. The steel chassis can be cleaned
without removal from the polymer frame.
Reassembly is accomplished by reversing
these steps, leaving out the need to do anything further with the trigger.
feature
FNS-40LS
Rounds Downrange
The
FNS-40 Long Slide is the issued duty pistol for the Baltimore
County, Md. Police Department.
The trigger pull on the FNS-40LS averaged

5 pounds, 10 ounces, which is just about
perfect for a combat pistol. The polymer
two-part trigger pivots at its halfway point.
The handgun cannot fire unless the trigger is purposefully pressed. This is the only
safety on the test pistol, although a version
is available with a 1911-style ambidextrous
thumb safety. Making the trigger even better
was the fact that once it broke, there was no
further over-travel. Trigger reset was also
very good and followup shots were fast.
The FNS-40LS was found to work with an
Uncle Mikes size 25 Pro-3 security duty holster listed for the Glock 21 and S&W M&P.
The overall dimensions of the FNS-40LS are
very similar to the S&W M&P Professional.
Drawing and firing from the holster was
natural and the FNS came to point at the target
quickly. Some pistols point high in the hand
and some point low. The FNS-40LS aligned
its sights almost all by itself. Less time spent
searching for your front sight means rounds
on target faster. The excellent sights, ergonomics, and quality trigger combined to cause one
ragged hole in the center of the target with this
duty pistol.
Prior to test firing, the FNS-40LS was
cleaned and lubricated before Hornady
TAP, Critical Duty, and FTX, Winchester
Ranger and Black Talon, Speer Gold Dot,
and American Eagle ball ammo were fired
through its bore. The FNS-40LS never encountered a jam or misfire with these various types of .40 caliber ammunition.
Several officers tried the FNS and all came
away impressed. Its balance, sights, and trigger pull were mentioned as the guns positive attributes. Its overall ergonomics were
praised and left-handers appreciated its controls, as did those who train to shoot with
both strong and weak hands.
A Duty Gun for All Officers
Unique
rear sight has a V notch at the bottom, making it easier to

see the front sights big white dot.
After handling and shooting the FNS-40LS, its

no wonder Baltimore Countys finest selected
FNH-USAs outstanding duty pistol made at
their Columbia, S.C. facility. Each of their officers can be handed a case containing his/her
pistol, three magazines, and user-swapped
backstraps to customize the gun to his/her own
gun review: FNS-40LS
Seven
different types of ammo

in both hollowpoint and FMJ
cycled without fail through the
FNS-40LS.
hands. Regardless of which hand an officer

uses to shoot with, the FNS-40LS will work
for them. The longer slide should make hitting
center mass less difficult due to the longer sight
radius and the quality Warren/Sevigny sights.
The superb trigger works in conjunction with
the excellent ergonomics and makes the FNS40LS a pleasure to shoot. PM
feature
Active
Shooter
Response
SUMMARY
Officers have to meet the threats of the times
and go home safely at the end of the day. A
return to the basics of active shooter response
is a lot to think about and train on, but it will
help to keep us and those we serve alive.
Patrol officers are being trained to engage the
threat of an active shooter immediately upon
arrival on scene. These are the points
to remember.
A Return to the Basics
By Chief Mike Burg, Rittman, Ohio Police Department
Bullseye: Active Shooter Response
n light of all of the attention

being brought up about armed
police officers in schools (and
just about every place else), we need
to look closely at our firearms
training. Perhaps we need to revisit
some basics and a few moderately
advanced tactics and techniques
for the patrol officer. I refer to
the patrol officer because lets not
forget that the active shooter is a
patrol problem, not a SWAT problem.
Let me preface the remainder of this article
by stating up front that I am a proponent of
patrol officers responding to active shooters and
going directly to the threat. Unfortunately, we
do not have the luxury of time when responding to these calls. Wasted time means a higher
body count. We know that backup is on the
way, but it may be a few minutes away and
thats too long. In many American cities, there
are only one or two officers on duty at a time.
How Prepared Are You?
Lets first look at the long gun you have

available to you on patrol (and you should
have at least one). Shotgun or patrol rifle,
both are well suited for their respective roles.
Some of you may have a shotgun, some a
rifle, and ideally a lot of you will have both.
Which will you take with you to an active shooter call? Why? Prior to answering
that question, you need to ask yourself:
How familiar am I with this weapon?
How proficient am I with this weapon?
Do I know the capabilities and limitations of this weapon?
Obviously, if you only have one long gun
in the patrol unit, then your options are limited and youll have to take what is available.
That being the case, its up to you to be familiar with the weapon, be proficient with
the weapon, and know its capabilities.
Use a Long Gun

for an Active Shooter
We take a long gun with us to an active shooter

call first and foremost for its additional and
(hopefully) overwhelming firepower to stop the
incident from progressing further. Second, for
officer safety, confronting a person with a long
gun when you only have a handgun means that
you have to be well within range of his long
gun. This puts you more on the defensive than

the offensive. I am a big fan of my pistol, yet
all of our patrol cars are equipped with both
a shotgun and a patrol rifle. I am capable with
both long guns, but admittedly, I prefer my pistol. Would I go into an active shooter incident
with my pistol only? Absolutely not!
Target Identification
Once inside the area the active shooter controls,

how well honed are your target identification
and target acquisition skills? How about multiple targets? Dont become fixated on just one
target, remember to keep your eyes moving.
Target identification may be especially difficult if youre in a place such as a mall where
attempting to get to the threat is similar to a
salmon swimming upstream. Youre trying to
get in while hordes of people are trying to get
out. Are you going to take the time and attempt to get a description of the shooter from
the wave of humanity that youre facing or
are you just going to try to move directly to
the threat? How good is the description you
are likely to receive from a hysterical person
who wants nothing more than to get to safety?
Engaging the Threat
You reach what you perceive to be the threat,

but could he/she be an off-duty officer from
another jurisdiction taking action, or perhaps
a citizen with a CCW permit? This is where
verbal commands come in; they must be issued
rapidly to determine the status of what you see
before you. Obviously, there may be factors
that indicate to you that this is the threatthings
like the use of a long gun. Most off-duty officers
and CCW permit holders dont go to the mall
with a shotgun or rifle! Speed is of the upmost
urgency to prevent further casualties. Dont forget the possibility of multiple threats. Its not
always the lone gunman or lone wolf acting alone; sometimes there are others working
together. Dont become so fixated on a single
threat that you stopped that you fail to scan
the area for additional threats. That being said,
conversely, dont become so preoccupied with
scanning for additional threats that you fail to
recognize that the person you just stopped is
down, but not out, and is still a potential threat.
When responding to an active shooter in
a building, such as a school, how are your
hallway tactics? Dont let your long guns
muzzle flag your presence by announcing

your arrival too early. This is where you must
combine both speed and stealth. Get to the
threat as quickly as possible, but do it in such
a manner that you dont telegraph your approach. Keep in mind the basics of building
searches and cover versus concealment.
Dont forget or neglect your duty pistol.
Remember that your long gun is a machine,
and machines can break when we need them
the most. Therefore, you also need to practice transition drills, switching from your
long gun to your pistol in a rapid manner.
Give some thought to self-rescue. Officers
have gone down in an area active shooters control and have been forced to secure themselves
in place. If youve been wounded and help cant
get to you, you need to be able to help yourself.
You can render aid to yourself as long as you
have the tools on your person. A very small go
bag clipped to the sling of your patrol rifle can
contain two spare rifle magazines and self-rescue items. A C.A.T. tourniquet, several large
gauze pads, some Kling to hold them in place,
a packet of Quick-Clot, and a Bloodstopper
bandage are excellent items to have with you,
for your own use or for others. Dont make
your active shooter response bag too big or you
may decide not to take it when you may need it
the most. If the bag is too big, it may limit your
movement and mobility as well.
Lastly, give some thought to preplanning.
Think like an active shooter would. Walk
through your schools, houses of worship, businesses and large factoriesany targets you can
think of. Get to know the interiors and look for
places of cover and concealment. This kind of
preparation can provide you with an advantage
in the event you need to respond there.
We have to change to meet the threats
of the times and go home safely at the end
of the day. This return to the basics of active shooter response is a lot to think about
and train on, but it will help to keep us and
those we serve alive. PM
Mike Burg is a 37-year veteran of the
Rittman, Ohio Police Department; a graduate
of the FBI National Academy; former SWAT
team leader; and an author.
feature

(C.A.T.)
Combat
Application
Tourniquet
(C.A.T. )
SUMMARY
Law enforcement officers, like their
military counterparts, operate in a
higher risk environment than most
civilian occupations. One of these
elevated risk factors is exposure to
gunfire. Today, most departments
recognize this threat and issue body
armor to minimize the risk to their
officers torso areas. An area often
neglected is an officers extremities
(arms and legs). A $25 Combat
Application Tourniquet on each
officers person makes sense to address
blood loss that can cause death.
MORE INFORMATION
www.1110gear.com
www.combattourniquet.com
David Jones is a retired Special
Agent with the Department of
Defense and is currently serving as the
Emergency Manager/Police Officer at the
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Police Department. He can be reached at
djones1560@gmail.com.
Wear an $800 vest, carry a $900 AED,

and have a $25 C.A.T. ready to go!
By David Jones
The
C.A.T. can be carried on your duty belt, attached to your

outer vest cover, clipped to your rifles sling, etc.
t wasnt very long ago that we

were taught to use a tourniquet
only as a last resort in order to
stop blood loss from an extremity
wound. The fear was that the
tourniquet would cause irreparable
damage to the limb. New evidence
from recent military operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well
as civilian bloodless extremity
surgeries, has proven otherwise. The
new theory is that it can take longer
than two hours before a tourniquet
can cause damage beyond repair. The
vast majority of people in the United
States can be transported to medical
facilities within two hours but
can bleed to death from a severed
arterial in just a few minutes.
Extremity blood loss is the number
one cause of most preventable
death that can be addressed at the
self-aid level.
Bullseye: Combat Application Tourniquet (C.A.T.)
Tourniquets
are designed for single-hand operation by the

wounded officer himself.
Officers
may be pinned down and must rely on their own ability

to stem the flow of blood from an extremity.
Law enforcement officers, like their

military counterparts, operate in a higher
risk environment than most civilian occupations. One of these elevated risk factors is exposure to gunfire. Today, most
departments recognize this threat and issue
body armor to minimize the risk to their
officers torso area. An area often neglected
is an officers extremities (arms and legs).
The blood lost from a bullet wound to the
chest is the same blood lost from a severed

femoral artery. Dead is dead!
As police trainers and firearms instructors, we know that a greater than average
number of officers are hit in the extremities. This is in part due to target fixation by
the suspect focusing on the officers weapon
(shooting where you look) as well as hitting portions of the officer that are exposed
from behind cover. This was demonstrated
during the infamous 1986 Miami shootout

when three of the eight FBI agents involved
were each struck in the arm. This is why
agencies train for weak hand shooting now.
While direct pressure is usually the first
method applied to stop bleeding, it is not
effective in the middle of a gun battle. An
officer needs his hands free to operate his
weapons platform (to avoid getting shot
again). The officer may be pinned down
behind cover for some time as medical assistance will not respond until the scene is
secure. A self-applied tourniquet will keep
vital blood pumping to his/her brain and
prevent him/her from losing consciousness
(a bad thing in a gun fight).
The practice of front-line law enforcement officers employing tourniquets has
been gaining significant traction in recent
years. It has been endorsed by the American College of Surgeons and the FBI after a
joint study following the Newtown School
shooting. It has also been endorsed by the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). One of the most
significant endorsements for front-line police officers to carry tourniquets was from
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis
at the 2013 International Association of
the Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference.
Chief Davis said, The use of tourniquets
is extremely important in our business. We
have equipped all Boston Police officers
with them. This was immediately after the
Boston Marathon Bombing, which resulted
in the amputated legs of several victims.
The tourniquet of choice for many law
enforcement agencies is the Combat Application Tourniquet (C.A.T.). The C.A.T.
is a small, lightweight, one-handed tourniquet that completely occludes arterial
blood flow in an extremity. This is the standard tourniquet issued to individual U.S.
military personnel. Just as with any other
pieces of duty gear, the C.A.T. must be
readily accessible by the officer with either
hand without looking. When the officer
needs it, he really needs it! Many officers
carry the C.A.T. in a pants cargo pocket
while others keep one attached to their
body armor inside their uniform shirts.
Many tactical officers like to keep one on
their turn-out gear. Some officers are now
wearing them directly on their duty belt in
feature

(C.A.T.)
Tourniquets
may save victims lives in active shooter situations

when immediate medical attention is not available due to an
unsecured scene.
Applying
the fight.
a C.A.T. yourself allows a cover officer to stay in
a kydex or nylon pouch, such as the ones

offered by 1110gear.com. Having a tourniquet on every officers person is essential,
especially while on foot patrol or conducting traffic stops. Having one in the trunk of
your vehicle while you are pinned down by
hostile fire inside a school or shopping mall
is a bad idea.
Since 2006, all U.S. military personnel
who have deployed to hostile locations

have been trained on the use of the C.A.T.
Since many law enforcement officers also
serve in the National Guard and military
Reserves and a high number of veterans
transition into police work, the use of the
tourniquet is becoming significantly more
common. As the tourniquet would likely
be employed during firearms related activi-
ties, training should be incorporated to get

officers thinking about how and when they
would apply it. Common thinking would
place it along the lines of the tactical reload
(lull in shooting and have a solid piece of
cover). Another scenario would place it in
the active shooter realm where an officer is
down (wounded) and protocol dictates that
additional officers proceed to the active
shooter, leaving the downed officer behind.
The tourniquet would allow the downed
officer the ability to render aid to himself.
Officers should practice placing the
tourniquet on both the upper and lower
extremity. This is why it is essential that a
single-hand application tourniquet such as
the C.A.T. be used. It is surprising how
quickly a tourniquet can be applied with
minimal practice if carried in a dedicated
location. This method has been attributed
to saving thousands of U.S. soldiers lives
during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In
addition to preventing loss of life to blood
loss, it also allows the officer to stay in the
fight and potentially win the battle (stopping the bad guy from harming others).
In todays post 9/11 world where active shootings and terrorist bombings are
a real threat and the myths of tourniquets
causing limb damage have been disproven,
many departments and individual officers
are starting to carry them. An officer wears
an $800 vest that needs to be replaced every
five years and carries a $900 AED in his
patrol car. Having a $25 C.A.T. on his
person (that does not have an expiration
date) just makes sense. As law enforcement
trainers, it is our responsibility to ensure the
officers know how to use the tools available
to Shoot, Move, Communicate and Survive. Just as we incorporate the ballistic
vest into firearms training (transition from
the Weaver stance to the modified Isosceles
to project the vest toward the enemy), we
should incorporate the tourniquet into tactical training.
Tourniquets save lives! Lets make sure
the officers who carry them know how to
use them when seconds count. PM
READ! TRAIN! WIN!

Brian McKennas
Bullseye: Shooting glasses Magnified and Prescription
Winning Edge Training!

Based upon extensive research by Brian McKenna, author of The Police Marksmans
popular Officer Down column, Winning Edge Training uses the lessons learned from officerinvolved shootings to teach officers how to lawfully control violent encounters with minimal
risk to themselves and others. We at Winning Edge Training believe that an officers
greatest duty is to protect the public, and we provide the mental tools and tactical options
needed to safely do so with the appropriate level of force.
LEARN HOW TO:
Officer Down! Lessons from the Streets
Meet and Defeat just about any threat, even if wounded
Establish control & discourage resistance by suspects
Fulfill your duty to yourself, your family, your fellow officers,

and the citizens you are sworn to protectagainst all odds!
How to make every incident an important learning experience
How to improve performance when learning/ practicing

firearms and other officer safety skills
Counter close-quarters armed attacks
Detect and respond to ambushes
And much more
No one can evaluate a deadly police encounter

better than Brian McKenna. His reputation is
legendary, and his credibility is such that
officers value his critiques. So do I. Trainers
will find even greater value after reading the
last chapter on how to use the book for training
purposes. This book will keep officers alive.
Ed Nowicki, Executive Director ILEETA (ret.)
Lessons Learned from Real
Cops as told by a Cops Cop
This book, next to your body
armor, might be the cheapest
and most valuable insurance
you ever buy.
- Chuck Soltys
The ILEETA Review
Winning Edge Training & The book Officer Down! Lessons from the Streets
The edge you need to win on the street!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: www.we-training.com or call 314-921-6977
19 The Police Marksman May-Jun 2014
Course of Fire
One-Handed Handgun
Shooting Drill
Course of Fire:
One-Handed
Handgun
Shooting Drill
Required Items and Materials:
1. Silhouette targets with 8 -inch x 14-inch centermass or similar

2. Pen and notebook
3. Chair to simulate squad car drivers seat
4. Officers need three magazines and duty belt/holster
5. Total of 50 rounds
Instructional Goal:
The goal of this course is to perform real-world scenarios on the range

for close-quarters duty pistol engagements.
Instructional Objectives:
This drill will affirm an officers ability to draw and fire their duty pistol
one and two handed at close quarters distances common when speaking
with a subject or needing to fire from within a squad car.
Lesson Plan:
1. Introduction
a. Introduce self
B. State your qualifications
C. Explain course of fire as described in Body
2. Explain why close quarters shooting is important.
a. Officers may have to shoot quickly from very close quarters.
B. Extreme close distance (1 yard) may require officer to shove
a. Course of Fire on the range

1. At 1 yard line, upon the command of, GUN! officer
shoves target with support hand, takes one step left or right
while drawing, and fires 3 rounds center mass with strong
hand only. Repeat three times for a total of 9 rounds fired.
2. At 3 yard line, officer stands with pen/paper and takes notes
given by Range Officer. Upon command of, GUN! officer drops pen/paper, takes one step left or right while drawing, and fires 3 rounds center mass from two-hand hold.
Repeat four times for a total of 12 rounds fired.
3. At 7 yard line, facing target, upon the command of, GUN!
officer takes one step left or right while drawing and fires 2
rounds center mass and 1 round to the head (drug/armor
drill). Repeat three times for a total of 9 rounds fired.
4. At 7 yard line, officer starts seated in chair facing left of target.
Upon command of, GUN! officer draws and fires 2 rounds
strong hand only, pointing at target to the right (simulation
of firing out passenger side car window for a right-handed
officer). Repeat three times for a total of 6 rounds fired.
5. At 7 yard line, officer starts seated in chair facing target.
Upon command of, GUN! officer draws and fires 2
rounds from a two-hand hold (simulation of firing through
windshield). Repeat four times for a total of 8 rounds.
6. At 7 yard line, officer starts seated in chair facing right
of target. Upon command of, GUN! officer draws and
fires 2 rounds strong hand only, pointing at target to the
left (simulation of firing out driver side car window for a
right-handed officer). Repeat three times for a total of 6
rounds fired.
B. Scoring is Pass/Fail, percentage of hits in the center mass area

(usually 7075%)
Conclusion
A. Questions
B. Thanks PM

The Police Marksmans goal is to make your job both safer

and easier by providing you with uptodate topics by
LE professionals you can really use. For an e-mail notification
when new issues are available, please subscribe today.
policemarksman.com
policemarksman.com 21
subject wth one hand while drawing with the strong hand
(to knock away a weapon).
C. The need to draw and fire while engaged in common tasks
(note taking) requires dropping items and moving off line
left or right while drawing.
D. Firing from a seated position (in a squad car or possibly
other situations) may require one hand firing. Care must
be taken when firing across the body (right hand shooter
fi ring to the left) to keep the non-dominant hand/arm/
shoulder out of the way.
E. Number of rounds fired will be two to three at close quarters to immediately stop the threat (subject drawing a handgun). Command to fire is, GUN! to simulate a sudden
confrontation with an armed assailant (as oppossed to commands of, Up or Go or Fire or a beep/whistle.
Body:
Course of Fire: One-Handed Handgun Shooting Drill
Each issue of The Police Marksman will feature a Course of Fire that police officers can use for their own
departments training. Training courses can be shared and used as is or you may wish to modify them as
needed. If you have a firearms course that has worked well with your own departments range training, send it to
us and well pay you $50 if its chosen to be shared here. Try to keep the round count at a single box of 50
rounds for pistol courses as we know todays ammo budgets are challenging. Courses with movement, cover,
shields, low light, etc. are beneficial to all police officers, so follow the standard instructional format like
this issues course and e-mail it to us at steventracy@hendonpub.com.
since 1976
Attic Tactics
By Warren Wilson
SUMMARY
Hard-to-reach places like attics require
their own set of tactics. Gathering intel is
the first step before actually attempting
to penetrate into an attic for a suspect
who is possibly armed. Several concepts
and techniques are better than just
climbing blindly into the void.
MORE INFORMATION
www.salientmfg.com
www.asp-usa.com
Warren Wilson is a Lieutenant
with the Enid Police Department
inOklahoma. He is a former SWAT team
member/leader and has been in law
enforcement for 17 years.
I
The author urges
slow and deliberate

movements when
clearing an attic.
Attic
Tactics
How to breach
hard-to-reach
places
d always thought SWAT guys wore

helmets for protection against
glancing bullet impacts and blunt
force trauma. It turns out helmets have
another use: to protect against falling
light fixtures. My team was recently
assigned to make our way to an attic
entrance and begin negotiations with a
reportedly shotgun-wielding suspect. We
were able to do just that and we took the
suspect into custody without incident.
But it was after the suspect was in custody
that the sky fell.
Theres a tactical principle known as plus
one. It reasons that cops should always assume there is one more suspect, in addition to
any who are located, and that we should keep
searching until every possible hiding spot has
been checked. We needed to clear the attic and
secure any weapons that may be found. And by
we I mean a few of our younger, more svelte
SWAT team members who, unlike me, have
more agility than a garbage truck. In doing so,
one of our guys missed a rafter and stepped
through the ceiling directly above me. It was
an uncomfortable reminder of the lack of ballistic protection that would have been afforded
to us by the ceiling materials. If the suspect
had started firing downward, team members
would have been left to depend on their perwww.policemarksman.com
sighting in on: Attic Tactics
The
least anticipated step in the process is The Prairie Dog.
cult for a twitchy suspect to remain quiet in that

environment for any length of time.
Also, consider the call that led officers to the
location in the first place. If theres reliable information indicating the presence of an armed
suspect, there is no sense in entering until all
available resources are in place, if even then.
Time is on the side of the patient crime fighter
at that point. On the other hand, if the originating call is just an alarm or open door, the attic
will probably have to be cleared by whomever
is available. If thats the case and if the resources
are sufficient, post an officer at the attic entry
point while the rest of the residence is cleared.
Then use all of the available manpower and
equipment to focus on that one area. Its too
difficult and important of a task to approach
haphazardly. Also, dont neglect verbal commands before proceeding. In most police officers experiences, suspects rarely respond to
pretty please. However, they occasionally
surrender (or at least respond) upon the threat
of Ill release the dog or tear gas.
Breaching
Salient
offers a folding tactical mirror for about $30 which can

easily fit in a patrol officers duty kit.
sonal protective equipment (body armor and

brain buckets) to avoid superfluous perforation.
The dozen of us had equipment consisting of
bunkers (ballistic shields), level IVA entry vests,
multiple illumination tools, and a tactical mirror to enhance our safety. Thankfully, that callout ended only with conversation.
An attic is among the most difficult and
dangerous environments an officer may have to
clear. Joe or Jane Street Cop, who must handle
this task with only a few officers and no heavy
armor or specialized equipment, has an even
more difficult task. Having been a small-town
cop in the beginning of my career, I was forced
into performing that duty alone or with only

one backup officer on more than one occasion.
It is not a recommended activity. If it must be
done without heavy support, there are a few
steps the patrol officer can take to enhance his/
her safety during these searches.
Stop, Look, and Listen = Intel
Before even starting an attic search, conduct a

quick threat assessment. Whats the probability
that there is a threat up there? Thats the primary
factor in determining your approach. Look for
disturbed areas in the dust around the attic entry
point. Take a few moments and listen. Its diffi-
Obviously, if the attic is just a doorway at the top

of a set of stairs, it can be approached like most
other fatal funnels. However, many attics have
ladders or rickety stairs that pull down to provide
access while others are simply a hole in the ceiling.
To breach the entry point, you have to make a
hole. This may mean pulling the ladder or stairs
down by a cord or it may mean using a broom
you find in the corner to push the plywood cover
out of the way. If this is one of those houses where
its difficult to find a broom (or other cleaning
utensils, for that matter), improvise.
Illumination
After gaining access to the attic, the next step is

illuminating the area. One method is to carefully
place flashlights just past the entrance port pointing in several different directions and then using
a mirror to visually clear the space. That technique has its shortcomings, since it requires a lot
of flashlights that may not be available to officers
at the time. It also requires a live good guy to
repeatedly reach into the port and place the flashlights. We all know being in the same place more
than once is bad when theres someone on the
other side of a soft barrier with bad intentions.
A young team member came up with a
simple, but surprisingly effective method. He
always carries glow sticks on his entry vest.
Attic Tactics
junction with a decent flashlight to visually clear most of an attic.

The mirror is used to see and to reflect light in the same direction
simultaneously. One might think there would be a glare in the
mirror caused by the light, but there wont be with a good quality product. Of course, rarely does the average patrolman have
access to a 6-foot-long SWAT mirror. Still, theres no excuse to
skip this critical step. Salient makes a very serviceable telescopic
mirror for about $30.00. This particular mirror folds down to 8
inches and expands to about 30 inches. They work well and mine
is responsible for spotting at least one felon in an attic before an
officer had to cross that perilous plane. Also, Asp makes a mirror
accessory for one of their expandable batons and it costs less than
$20.00. Telescopic mirrors have a myriad of other uses, so worthy
consideration toward making the investment.
Electronic Pole Cameras
Throwing them into the corners of the attic will backlight potential suspects and
objects. This is done from the relative safety of the floor below without crossing
the entry point with any important stuff like arms or craniums. It works well for
dark, relatively uncluttered attics. Glow sticks are cheap and can be kept in the
patrolmans emergency kit for just such an occasion.
Pole cameras are an even safer option to look into places of danger
like an attic. Obviously theyre more expensive than homemade devices, but they offer professional abilities and results. The camera is
guided over the edge and a remote viewer gives officers a first-hand
look of the cameras perspective. Infrared capability further probes
into the depths of the dark unknown. Without a light to give away
an officers presence, stealth tactics are maintained. If the desire is
to make the hidden subject aware that officers know his location, a
powerful light can be attached to a standard pole camera.
Tacviews pole camera was first developed by Sgt. George T.
Gilmer, (Ret.) and is in wide use by SWAT and tactical teams
throughout the United States. It is a worthwhile device that every
major SWAT team should have in its arsenal of options. Smaller
teams should consider one as well.
Reflections
K-9 Deployment
With practice, an officer can use the mirror to see

and reflect light into obscure areas.
Just like a room entry, officers must clear as much as they can from outside
before making entry. With practice, the telescopic mirror can be used in con-
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There is a narrow set of circumstances where a K-9 can be of use

for this task. Some dogs can navigate those rickety pull-down steps
and some cant. Even the most talented of police pups will find
challenge in negotiating a ladder, though. There is a technique
known as the Shield Lift whereby several SWAT team members
use a bunker to raise a police dog up to where he can enter the
attic prior to officers. Here again, your average patrolman usually
wont have access to a shield. He/she may not even have access to
a K-9. Another challenge in using this technique is getting the dog
and/or suspect down after the search is complete. Still, if one does
have the benefit of a dog and the means to deploy it, insert here.
The Prairie Dog
The final and least anticipated step is actually entering the attic.
Have you ever seen a relaxed prairie dog? No? Well, theres a reason
for that. Hawks and coyotes play a real-life game of Whack-A-Mole
for their supper. The pasture pooch has learned that situational
awareness equals survival. Cops have similarly opportunistic predators. Feel free to be nervous and go slowly. Entering a doorway is
best accomplished with two officers simultaneously. This tactic alwww.policemarksman.com
sighting in on: Attic Tactics
Using a tactical mirror to visually clear an attic space is a

crucial step.
lows them to cover 360 degrees of the room as quickly as possible while
scanning for threats. An attic completely negates that technique. Theres
no way to get two people up into this kind of environment quickly. In
fact, theres no way to get one person up there quickly. Not even the most
youthful and agile of officers can do it. With my bodys ever-expanding
heartland, its definitely not an option. What to do?
Here is one technique: As the officer moves up the ladder, he/she must
slowly turn while elevating his/her pistols sight plains a little at a time
like the threads of a screw. After that level is cleared, move to the next
rung up and repeat. After reaching the surface, be aware that many attics
dont have finished floors. Theres a possibility that an officer will be able
to completely clear the area visually without the need to actually walk
around up there. If not, he/she must continue upward until finding some
kind of footing. Hold the area until the second officer can make his/her
way up. Finish clearing any previously unobservable areas as usual, without putting your foot through the plasterboard.
investigators were processing the scene, a

suspect literally came out of the wall. Hed
been hiding in the attic and had slid down
between the studs and the plasterboard of
two interior walls. Who would have thought
to look there? Try as we might, sometimes,
life just drops a ceiling fixture on us.
If theres a lesson to be learned here, its the
value of redundancy when it comes to officer
safety. One might look at this plan and think
its more redundant than a penguin wearing a
tuxedo. That may be true, but all it takes is a
little extra time. Weve all heard the expression,
Time is money. In this setting, time is cheap
and expediency is expensive. PM
Striking Gold
Now, what to do if you locate a suspect prior to completely making

entry? The tendency seems to be to go up and get them. Thats what cops
do. We catch bad guys. Then, theres that whole discretion/valor thing
that tends to get lost on the bravado brigade. The wise thing to do is to
cover the attic entrance and call for more resources. A barricaded subject
is a tactical team problem. Obviously, not every department has a SWAT
team in-house. However, it is likely most departments have access to
tactical support in some manner, if even that means waiting for one of
the state law enforcement agencies teams. Hopefully, all departments
already have a protocol in place to cover such a situation. It not, theres
no time like the present to develop one. How long will it take for them
to respond? In this instance, it doesnt matter. Wait.
Redundancy
My department trains with an excellent team from another jurisdiction. A few years ago, they were asked to search a residence for suspects
on behalf of a smaller agency. Of course, they obliged and after a
careful and deliberate operation, declared the residence all clear. As
By Warren Wilson
SUMMARY
The constant motion that comes
with running makes carrying a
concealed handgun challenging.
The Pistol Wear PT-One holster
system solves this challenge
by comfortably carrying and
concealing a handgun while
exercising. Officers who run no
longer need to be unarmed.
MORE INFORMATION
www.pistolwear.com
The
Pistol Wear PT-One

is a solution for runners
who want to carry a
pistol with them during
their road work.
Pistol R
Wear PT-One
holster
unning is a great way to relieve stress,

lengthen ones lifespan, and improve overall
quality of life. A lot of cops run on their
off time for exactly those reasons. Of course,
The Police Marksman isnt a fitness magazine as
it is primarily intended for the law enforcement firearm enthusiast. That said, cops who
take an active interest in officer safety are
generally involved in both fitness training
and firearms training. Certain exercise routines can even improve shooting skills and
the ability to win a confrontation. Regular
cardio workouts are helpful in this regard.
An improved bellyband-style
holster system for use
while running.
Most cops who run enjoy their road work with

nothing more dangerous than a pained expression for
defense. Its hard to blame them considering how difficult it is to find a decent way to comfortably conceal
even the smallest pistol when out for a jog. I have experimented with pocket holsters, fanny packs, and traditional
bellybands over the years with only marginal success. These
options did not enhance the exercise experience. In fact, they
sighting in on: Pistol Wear PT-One
are downright uncomfortable and thoroughly detract from the catharsis of a long,
cleansing run.
Even cops who are self-defense oriented
have given up finding an effective yet comfortable carry mode and usually just end
up going without. Ive had dogs charge me
while running and a gun may have been
necessary for defense. I have also been spotted by a regular customer as he drove by
as I ran on the street. He drastically slowed
and gave me quite a look when he recognized me. I couldnt decide if he was making a decision or if he was just surprised
to see me. Thankfully, he just moved on.
He probably saw my ber-cool fanny
pack and figured I either had a gun within
easy reach or maybe he thought Id just
suffered enough.
What is truly alarming, though, is the
advanced level to which cops are being
stalked and targeted these days. Ambushes
on uniformed officers are up dramatically.
We are seeing reports from around the
country of officers homes being surveilled
and attacked. Is it really a stretch of logic
to reason that a determined villain might
make an attempt on an off-duty officer
during their regular running routine? It
would not be unreasonable for a criminal
to assume the cop in question would have
no means of protection, considering how
difficult it is to pack a pistol on the run.
However, there may be a carry solution out
there that actually works.
The PT-One can easily carry a medium-size double stack pistol such as this
M&P40c along with a spare magazine and wallet.
Pistol Wear, LLC
Pistol Wear, LLC is a relatively small, but

growing company. They are aggressively
addressing the concealed carry needs of
runners. Their PT-One model could be
thought of as a highly improved bellyband style holster. It was designed from
the ground up for running. It has room
for a small- or medium-size semi-auto pistol and more. I use this unit with a Smith
and Wesson M&P40c, an extra magazine
and my cop wallet, which contains all
of my law enforcement identification and
nothing else.
A medium-size revolver or pistol all but disappears under a light exercise shirt
with the aid of the PT-One.
I bought my PT-One for around $50.00 a

few years ago. It has logged lots of miles since
then. Its been a great solution during almost
any weather conditions or with any attire.
When properly adjusted, the PT-One and
all of its contents are soon forgotten and the
runner is able to focus on the workout and

not on emergency equipment. The PT-One
was inspired by exactly this market need.
There just werent any good options out
there and Pistol Wear set out to fix that. It
should be noted that Pistol Wear, LLC offers
a law enforcement and military discount

and I think that says something about the
company and its priorities.
Features
Officer James found her long rural runs more comforting when carrying a pistol.
Even on officers with exceptionally small frames, a PT-One can conceal an
effective pistol.
The PT-One was designed with a slight

cant instead of the vertical orientation
common in bellyband holsters, along with
a stiffer construction for the pistol compartment. This allows the pistol to ride
comfortably and be less likely to poke into
the wearers abdomen. These holsters completely cover the pistol to keep the grips,
safeties and sights from gouging into the
skin. One would think the complete covering of the gun would slow the draw stroke,
but it really doesnt. Its certainly not as
fast as drawing from a belt holster, but its
not bad at all. The construction material
of the PT-One allows the skin to breathe
while still blocking sweat from absorbing
into the pistol/magazine compartment. The
PT-One doesnt come in different sizes, but
is instead advertised to fit up to a 40-inch
waist. Pistol Wear offers 10-inch or 20-inch
extensions sold separately. The holster is
fastened with three sturdy snaps.
One of the best things about this design is that it is not as dependent upon
the wearers choice of clothing as are some
other designs. Sweatpants, exercise pants,
or shorts and a loose-fitting shirt will readily conceal a small- to medium-size handgun. On a recent family hiking trip, my
wife commandeered my PT-One and was
pleasantly surprised. She hid it under a regular T-shirt and there was no way to tell she
had a 3-inch-barreled .357 Magnum on her
person. It has a perspiration blocker that
actually works.
I dont want to be uncouth, but Ive
rarely washed my PT-One and my bride
did not express any unpleasantness when
she borrowed it. These holsters are hand
washable for those who still have concerns.
Keep in mind that this holster is worn directly against your skin. That keeps the pistol from slinging around during exercise.
Pistol Wear recently introduced the PT-2,
which is a little smaller and is intended
for smaller handguns. It does not have the
sighting in on: Pistol Wear PT-One
frame, a single stack gun or small wheel gun

might be a better option for reasons of both
weight and concealability. When she tried
my Ruger LCR, both issues were resolved.
The lightweight, polymer-frame Ruger revolver was much more concealable and no
longer caused any holster slippage.
I had James demonstrate drawing the
LCR from the PT-One several times. She
averaged about 1.5 seconds from the command to draw until getting on target at 7
yards. As stated above, the PT-One covers
almost the entire gun for the comfort of
the carrier. Its still relatively easy to draw
because the gun holds the holster open just
enough for the hand to slide onto the grip.
With practice, one can routinely accomplish a surprisingly speedy presentation.
The Solution
Officer James had no difficulty accessing a pistol from the PT-One at will.
built-in extra magazine pouch and costs a

little less than the PT-One.
The Test
I enlisted the help of Officer Michele James

for a two-week experiment. I wanted to
give the PT-One a real test. Officer James
averages about 20 miles of road work per
week and had, coincidentally, been looking
for a carry solution while running. I asked
her to evaluate the holster for comfort, concealment, and ease of draw. Based on these
factors, I wanted to know if Pistol Wear
had created the long-term solution for
her and maybe for fellow officers with the
same dilemma.
Michele carried a Smith & Wesson
M&P40c in the PT-One, which is a relatively heavy pistol for this role. The M&P
Shield, for example, might be a slightly better choice. She said the extra weight caused
her a little trouble with stamina at first. I

became less sympathetic when she told me
that she started becoming fatigued after her
fifth mile. I start getting tired after driving
five miles. She was talking about running.
Officer James also experienced some holster slippage after several miles even when
the PT-One was adjusted to its smallest point. I dont have that problem with
mine, but it took several runs for me to
find just the right adjustment for my body.
Still, James said it was only a minor and
infrequent inconvenience during her longer
runs. She expressed some concerns about
concealment until she started wearing
larger shirts than she was used to. I could
just barely see a pistol bulge here and there
when the wind was blowing directly on
the holster. It would be indiscernible for
someone who didnt already know it was
there. Granted, with Officer James small
Officer James told me she will keep using

the PT-One, but might consider carrying
a smaller handgun for her future runs. It
did not occur to me when I loaned her
the M&Pc for this article that she is about
half my size. Those extra ounces of steel
and polymer have a much greater effect
when your body is used to carrying 100
fewer pounds.
Dont let me mislead you, but while Michele may be on the smallish side as far as
cops go, she is a trained law enforcement
officer and a mixed martial arts practitioner, so shes tougher than woodpecker lips.
If the hapless thug were to unwisely choose
this particular victim, lets just say, well,
some redness may occur. Humans became
a lot better off after learning to use tools
and Im comforted to know that my friend
now has one more tool in her toolbox to
help keep her safe. All of you runners out
there should consider doing the same and
look into the PT-One holster. PM
Warren Wilson is a Lieutenant with the Enid
Police Department in Oklahoma. He is a former
SWAT team member/leader and has been in law
By Warren Wilson
SUMMARY
Appendix carry inside the waistband isnt for
everyone. But the new Q-Series holster system
works very well for officers looking to conceal
their handgun in this manner. The holster can
be utilized in other positions as well.
MORE INFORMATION
www.qseriesllc.com/
www.triplenickel.org/the-triple-nickel-course/
The Stealth can also serve as a traditional IWB holster
for a full-size pistol like this Glock 10mm.
Q-Series
Holster
A minimalist inside-the-waistband
holster design for appendix carry
admit to never having given

appendix carry (where the pistol is carried at approximately
the two-oclock position for a right
hander) a lot of serious consideration. Inside-the-waistband (IWB)
carry has been popular for decades,
but with this mode of concealment,
the pistol is most commonly worn
just behind the hip. Thats how I have
carried for years.
However, Ive noticed a lot of cops the

last few years wearing their duty holsters
more forward than the standard threeoclock or four-oclock positions. When
questioned about their decision, they each
said they were simply more comfortable
drawing their pistol from the appendix
carry position. Around the same time, Gary
Quesenberry started posting some hints on
Q-Series holsters are minimalist designs, which aid in concealment.
his social media page indicating that he was

involved in the introduction of a new holster
system for concealed carry. Gary is a firearms
instructor for the Department of Homeland
Security and a U.S. Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm. You may also have seen
him competing on The History Channels
television shows Top Shot and Top Shot:
All Stars.
Like a lot of us, Gary Q struggled with
finding just the right concealed carry solution; especially for appendix IWB, since
that was his chosen concealed carry position. He tried a lot of different options and
just ended up with a box of holsters in his
closet. Anyone who doesnt have a box of
lonely, unused holsters tucked away somewhere is either new to concealed carry or
just got lucky and found the perfect holster design early on. Unable to find exactly
what he was looking for, Gary decided to
design an alternative himself. After years
of research, he came up with the Q-Series
Holsters. Maybe it was time for me to open
my mind as well concerning the viability of

Appendix-Inside-the-Waistband (AIWB)
as a carry option.
I was able to obtain one of the Q-Series
Stealth holsters for review and upon first
observation, it is obviously made of quality
material. The single piece of molded kydex,
steel clip, and even the screws are topshelf. The holster is labeled as being fitted
for Glocks in 10mm, .45ACP, .40 caliber,
9mm and .357 Sig. This system really does
fit all Glocks except the .380 caliber model
42. Q-Series Holsters offers a Stealth model
made specifically for the little G42. I tried
the test model with a Glock Model 20 (fullsize 10mm), and Glock Models 22, 23 and
27 (full-size, compact and subcompact .40
calibers) and it fit each of them equally well.
The Stealth is so versatile because its design
attaches only to the trigger guard of the pistol and not the slide. Glock pistols are close
enough to being uniform in that area of the
trigger guard and frame to allow for a good
fit on most of the production models.
Carry
The Q-Series Stealth is a minimalist tuckable design. After the holster and firearm
are positioned IWB, your cover garment
can be tucked in front of the holster, leaving only the belt clip exposed. The holster
can also be worn at positions other than
the appendix mode. In fact, Q-Series Holsters, LLC only advises against carrying in
the six-oclock position (small of the back)
because doing so can cause a serious spinal
injury as a result of a fall.
The Stealth has a reversible belt clip,
making it fully ambidextrous. It can even
be used without a belt if your trousers have
a strong waistband or drawstring. For those
who dont like the clip, it can be removed
and a Para-Cord attached with one end in
the screw hole and the other to the wearers
belt. Q-Series is starting to include the
Para-Cord with the Stealth holsters. Upon
the draw, the Para-Cord holds onto the
holster and allows the gun to draw free.
Re-holstering is accomplished quickly by
The Draw Stroke
With a reasonably stiff waistband or drawstring, the Q-Series Stealth can
comfortably carry a Baby Glock
The draw stroke took me a little getting

used to, partially because of the necessary
location of the clip and partially because
of my extremely long fingers. With practice, the gun started coming out of the
holster quickly, really quickly. Because of
the extra length in grip, the mid-size guns
are easier to draw from the Stealth than the
baby Glocks, but that could be said about
all holsters due to the guns shorter grips.
There is a video of Quesenberry attempting the 5x5x5 or Triple Nickel drill with
a Glock Model 32 drawn from his Stealth
holster. The video links are on the Q-Series
Web page. Its impressive to see the drill
successfully completed with a full-size gun
drawn from duty gear. Its quite something
else to see Gary do it with a mid-size .357
Sig from a Stealth holster in the AIWB position. The demonstration not only shows
how quickly a pistol can be drawn from the
Q-Series rig, but also shows that consistent
re-holstering is possible with practice.
A Gun Guy
This quote from Gary Quesenberry sums

up his enterprises mission, During the designing process, I kept three guiding principles in mind: If a holster isnt comfortable,
no one will wear it. If its too expensive, no
one will buy it, and if it doesnt work, itll
just get thrown into a box with all of your
other lackluster gear. He told The Police
Marksman that Q-Series is planning to
introduce holsters to fit more guns in the
near future. Im excited about the Q-Series
and look forward to see what they come up
with next. PM
The author easily conceals a Glock Model 23 AIWB with a Stealth while wearing
exercise shorts.
simply grasping the holster and pressing it

onto the pistols frame. The pistol and holster are then simply placed back inside your
waistband at the chosen position.
I wanted to know if the Stealth could be
pressed into service in a more traditional
IWB role. I carried my Glock model 20 in
the Stealth at the four-oclock position with

and without a belt for a few days. It worked
surprisingly well. In fact, the only time I
cussed the holster was when I was trying
to remove it from my beltless trousers at
the end of the day. The clip held on like a
politician to an ill-gotten office.
Warren Wilson is a Lieutenant with the Enid

Police Department in Oklahoma. He is a former
SWAT team member/leader and has been in law
Ambiguous Deadly Force Decisions Under Stress:

By Brian MCKenna
SUMMARY
Some officers go through their entire
careers never experiencing a deadly
force encounter. Officer Josh Shemenski
survived two separate incidents within
18 months of each other where he was
compelled to shoot through his windshield.
Making an ambiguous deadly force
decision under stress takes preparation,
information and training.
MORE INFORMATION
www.WinningEdgeTraining.com
Ambiguous Deadly
Force Decisions
Under Stress:
Josh Shemenskis
Second Shooting
officer down: Ambiguous Deadly Force Decisions Under Stress: Josh Shemenskis Second Shooting
As unpleasant as it may be to critique the actions of fellow officers who

have been injured or killed in the line of duty, it is even more distasteful
to see their blood shed in vain, to deny others the lessons we can learn
from their sacrifices. The purpose of this column is not to criticize, but
to learn from the mistakes and triumphs of those who have faced lethal
violence firsthand. With this in mind, this column is dedicated to the
officers whose stories are told here, and to all our fellow officers who
have been killed and injured in unselfish service to their communities.
DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT
he headlights of the 4X4 pickup

truck behind him filled his
rearview mirror as Deputy Josh
Shemenski, a 27-year-old, four-year
veteran of the sheriffs department,
tried to locate 7825 Hickory Mill
Court. Shemenski, his girlfriend
Amber beside him as a ride-along,
couldnt help being annoyed by
the big pickup riding his bumper,
but he was also uneasily curious
about why someone would tailgate a
marked squad car down a deserted
residential street in the middle of the
night. He was en route to an unknown
disturbance call in a remote gated
community located in a sector of
the county he seldom patrolled. He
wasnt exactly sure where Hickory
Mill Court intersected the road
ahead of him or how much farther
he would have to go once he found
it. The tailgating pickup truck was
an added distraction he didnt need
right now, but it would be unsafe to
ignore it. He kept a wary eye on the
vehicle as he continued to look for
the intersection.
He didnt have to go far. There was an
intersecting street up ahead on his right and
as he drew closer, his headlights illuminated
the name Hickory Mill on its street sign.
As Shemenski made the turn, the pickup
followed, its grille and headlights engulfing his rearview mirror in glittering chrome
and bright light. Shemenski kept going,
not knowing where the road ended and still
naggingly distracted by the pickup. The

road made a sweeping curve to the right
into what Shemenski believed to be the beginning of a straightaway eventually leading
to a cul-de-sac beyond. But he was dividing
his attention between the road ahead and
the pickup behind, and as he came out of
the curve, he was surprised to see that the
road ended abruptly at the cul-de-sac. At
almost the same instant, he spotted a group
of people arguing in the front yard of a
house on the far left side of the cul-de-sac.
Suddenly, the shadowy figure of a man
carrying a long dark object broke away from
the small crowd and ran from left to right,
apparently heading for the other side of the
court. As the man came into the beams of
the patrol cars headlights, Shemenski could
clearly see the object he was carrying. It was a
long gun, its chunky form immediately identifying it as a shotgun. The man stopped and
started to pivot toward Shemenskis cruiser,
swinging the deadly muzzle of the shotgun
up into firing position as he turned.
Here we go again! Shemenski thought.
The suddenly deadly confrontation was
ominously reminiscent of another shooting
he had been involved in just 18 months earlier (see Officer Down: Vehicle Ambush!
in the Jul/Aug 2014 issue of The Police
Marksman) and his response was the same.
Without conscious thought, he drew his .40
caliber Glock and thrust it into firing position with his forearm resting against the
steering wheel and the guns muzzle nearly
touching the windshield. The draw had been
flawless and lightning fast, but the shotgun
was already pointing directly at him. Sh-
emenski fired two quick shots through the

windshield, filling the cruiser with blasts of
light and sound as the slugs crashed through
the windshield on their way toward their target. Instantly, the man threw his hands into
the air, sending the shotgun flying as he fell
to the ground. The shotgun landed at his feet
a split second later, but he didnt make any
effort to reach for it.
The man now lying still and silent in
the yard was a 26-year-old veteran with no
prior arrests named Michael Rusk. The unknown disturbance that led to the shooting
had been a family related incident in which
Rusk had told family members he intended
to commit suicide. By sheer coincidence, he
had grabbed the shotgun and run away just
as Shemenski entered the cul-de-sac, apparently with the intent to shoot himself.
Shemenski didnt know all this of course,
but with Rusk down and apparently out of
the fight, he slammed the gear shift lever
into reverse and sped backward to the
mouth of the cul-de-sac just as the pickup
truck roared past him on his left. As Shemenski jumped from his cruiser, the pickup
came to a hard stop just yards from Rusk,
who was now rising to his feet. Shemenski
kept advancing, moving over to the right of
the pickup truck with most of his attention
still focused on the man who had just tried
to kill him. To Shemenskis relief, Rusks
hands were empty and hanging loosely at
his sides, but the deputy now had the truck
on his left to worry about. Then things got
more complicated and dangerous. An older
man on his hands and knees suddenly came
into view from in front of the pickup, scurried over to the shotgun laying in the yard,
and picked it up!
Shemenski instantly dropped the muzzle
of the Glock down toward this new target
as his finger slipped into the trigger guard.
But just as the deputys mind started to
tell him it was time to pull the trigger, the
older man threw the shotgun into the air.
Inexplicably, the weapon flew end-overend for several yards before landing muzzle
down and becoming stuck straight up in
the ground.
Stay right where you are and dont
move! Shemenski commanded, and then
Figure 1: Deputy Shemenski spots Rusk running with shotgun, Rusk turns to attack
him, and Shemenski opens fire, downing Rusk. As Shemenski approaches
Rusk, Rusks father picks up shotgun and is almost shot by Shemenski.
Dri
7.
ay
ew
Driv
vew
2.
1.
2. Rusk stops, turns and points shotgun at

Shemenski.
8.
ew
Sid
k
wal
alk
3.
Side
ewa
6.
Driv
1. Rusk runs from group with shotgun.
ay
3. Shemenski returns fire; prompting Rusk

to fall; then backs away.
4. Shemenski exits his cruiser.
5. Shemenski approaches Rusk.
5.
Cul-De-Sac
6. Rusks father stops his truck and exits.

7. Mr. Rusk picks up and throws shotgun.
Driveway
8. Shemenski spots Mr. Rusk, turns to

shoot him, but withholds fire.
Key:
= Officer
Deputy
Shemenski
4.
= Offender
Offender
Rusk
turned back toward Michael Rusk, who

was still standing with his hands limp at
his sides.
Get your hands up! he shouted.
Rusk just looked at him. Shemenski repeated the command, I said, Get your
hands up!
With a casualness that bordered on boredom, Rusk slowly lifted his hands into the
air. The man no longer appeared to be a
direct threat, but he was just a couple of
seconds away from the shotgun and Shemenski knew there would only be one way to
stop him if he made a dash for it. He hated
the idea of shooting anyone in the back,
but he felt he would have no other choice.
To make matters worse, he realized he had
inadvertently gotten too close to the man.
With only about 10 feet separating them,
he was acutely aware that he wouldnt have
= Father
Michael
Rusks Father
time to secure his Glock in his holster if
Rusk suddenly rushed him. If Rusk had any
sense at all, he would realize Shemenskis
vulnerability to a disarming, and for Shemenski to assume otherwise would be dangerously foolish. Despite his concerns about
the probable legal consequences of shooting
any unarmed man, he feared he would be
forced to shoot. Still, his only other alternative would be to put himself at grave risk
of being disarmed. It was a tough position
to be in.
Get down on the ground! Shemenski
shouted.
Rusk just stood there without saying a
word, apparently oblivious to Shemenskis
command.
Get down on your belly! Shemenski
repeated, Do it now!
Though not openly hostile, Rusk didnt
seem to be taking the situation very seriously. Half-heartedly, he sluggishly lowered

himself to the ground, but then sat down,
drew his knees up toward his chest, and
rested his forearms across them.
Prone out, damn it! Shemenski commanded again, Get down on your stomach.
Again, Rusk only half complied. Slowly,
he leaned back onto the ground and then
spread his arms out to his sides as if on a
cross. But Shemenski persisted and after
several more commands, the man finally
rolled over onto his stomach.
With his adversary now under a reasonable degree of control, Shemenski tried to
call for backup before approaching him, but
he couldnt get through to the dispatcher on
his portable radio. Frustrated, he moved forward, cuffed the man, patted him down for
weapons, and checked him for wounds. Are
you hit anywhere? he asked.
No. I dont think so, Rusk answered in
an apathetic tone of voice.
Any injuries at all?
Nope. Im fine.
What the hell were you thinking?
Whyd you do it?
Just drunk, I guess, Rusk answered in a
voice absent of any hint of hostility or regret,

I wanted to die.
THE AFTERMATH
Shemenski later determined that the older

man in the pickup truck was Rusks father.
He had been summoned to the scene to by
his sons family to help calm him, and had
fallen in behind Shemenskis cruiser by sheer
coincidence. Later, when he witnessed the
shooting, he had understandably believed
that his son had been shot and feared Shemenski would shoot him again if he reached
for the shotgun. Reacting out of fear for his
sons life that overrode his good sense, he
had thoughtlessly intervened to disarm him.
It had nearly gotten him shot, but the instinct to protect our children can trump even
our survival instinct.
Rusk was later convicted of brandishing a
firearm and assaulting an officer, and given a
suspended sentence with five years probation.
Several months after the shooting, Deputy
Shemenski stopped Rusk for a minor traffic violation. Though Shemenski didnt recognize the man at first, Rusk immediately
recognized him and struck up a cordial conversation in which he said he was an Iraqi war
veteran suffering from PTSD. He confirmed
that he had intended to commit suicide that
night, and indicated that he fully understood
why Shemenski had fired at him. When Shemenski asked him why he had gone down so
hard despite not having taken any rounds, he
explained that that he had felt a bullet whiz
past his head, jerked back out of the way and
lost his balance. Shemenskis near miss had
been a lucky break for both him and Rusk.
Rusk had been saved from taking his own life,
and Shemenski had been saved from the pain
of having to take the life of a veteran suffering from an unfortunate consequence of his
service to his country.
DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
What is especially remarkable about this

shooting is the fact that it was the second
time Deputy Shemenski had been compelled
to shoot through his windshield (see Officer Down: Vehicle Ambush! in our Jul/Aug
2014 issue). Few officers are ever put into

that position, yet it happened to Shemenski
twice in 18 months. This once again proves
that anything can happen in police work,
and dramatically highlights the importance
of practicing this vital shooting technique.
However, the topic of shooting through
windshields was already discussed in detail
in our analysis of Deputy Shemenskis first
shooting. Therefore, we will use this opportunity to examine another crucial learning
point related to this casethe importance
of mental flexibility, especially as it pertains
to making ambiguous deadly force decisions
under stress. Its often hard enough to make
correct use-of-force decisions in the heat of
a violent encounter, but its even tougher
when the circumstances suddenly change.
And when the changing circumstances demand a quick life-or-death decision about
an ambiguous deadly force encounter, our
mental flexibility can be stressed to the limit
of human capabilities. Therefore, it is very
important to do as much as we can to improve our mental flexibility.
The following analysis will address this
point in greater detail, as well as a number of
other crucial lessons from this incidentlessons that can save lives. Before you read the
analysis, however, please review the following discussion questions and work through
your own answers.
Stay safe.
ANALYSIS
Distractions and Focus
As in his first shooting, Deputy Shemenski

was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of a man wielding a shotgun as he arrived on the scene, though not to as great an
extent and for different reasons. In the first
shooting, he had fallen into the common
trap of focusing so much on apprehending a
fleeing offender that he was distracted from
thinking about officer safety, but this time
he was distracted by two separate matters,
neither of which is very common to police
work. The first was the more common of the
twohe was having trouble finding his destination. Since he didnt patrol that particu-
lar beat very often and had seldom responded

to any calls in that particular subdivision,
he wasnt as sure of where he was going as
he would otherwise have been. Then, as he
drove down the unfamiliar streets trying to
determine exactly where to make his next
turn, he was further sidetracked by a much
less common distractionthe pickup truck
riding his bumper. With his attention now
split between these two distractions, he came
out of the curve to suddenly find the disturbance rapidly unfolding into an armed confrontation directly in front of him. It took a
few milliseconds for his brain to make sense
out of all that was happening, and by then
it was too late to weigh his various options
before engaging Rusk.
While things like confusion about the
exact location of a call or a tailgater may not
appear to be especially relevant to your safety
upon arrival on the scene, this case shows
how dangerous any distraction can be. Focus
is essential to proper mental preparation and
threat assessment, and even a minor distraction can lead to surprise, a missed danger
sign, hesitation, or other dangerous delay
in responding to an attack. Fortunately,
Deputy Shemenski was sharp enough to
overcome these distractions and aggressively
counterattack before Rusk could open fire,
but there is a lesson here for all of us: Always
do your best to eliminate distractions and
stay focused on safety as your first priority.
Psych yourself up to be ready for anything,
no matter how routine the situation may appear to be.
Deputy Shemenskis lack of familiarity
with the subdivision also highlights the importance of becoming familiar with not only
your own beat, but every other beat you may
be required to patrol. This is particularly difficult to do in agencies like sheriffs departments in large rural counties with too few
patrol deputies to provide adequate coverage. Deputies in these venues are often assigned to cover beats other than their own,
and the beats often cover expansive areas
with numerous remote locations that are seldom patrolled. While it may not always be
possible to become thoroughly familiar with
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Deputy Shemenski was distracted as he approached and arrived on the

scene of the disturbance. How can such distractions affect officer safety?
What can be done to alleviate this problem?
Click here for analysis
2. A vehicle following close behind an officer is suspicious enough to raise some
serious concerns, especially when there is little or no other traffic in the area.
What options are there for dealing with this problem?
3. Deputy Shemenski had experienced another shooting 18 months earlier that
was very similar to this one. In what ways might that earlier incident have affected the way he responded to this one?
4. Mr. Rusk put himself at grave risk by grabbing his sons shotgun, but fortunately Shemenski was mentally flexible enough to withhold fire, thereby
preventing a tragedy. How important is mental flexibility to our safety and the
safety of others? What can we do to improve our mental flexibility?
5. When he suddenly realized how vulnerable he would be if Rusk tried to grab
the shotgun or decided to charge him, Deputy Shemenski had to make a
quick decision about how he would respond if either of these two ambiguous
threats materialized. What can we do to improve our chances of making the
right decision in this kind of difficult use-of-force situation?
6. In what ways did Deputy Shemenskis attitude and actions exemplify winning
mindset and warrior spirit?
every street and location in the county, it is

important to become as familiar with them
as possible. In addition, GPSor detailed
up-to-date maps where GPS isnt availableshould be used any time there is any
doubt about the location of a call. The time
saved by not having to stop to get your bearings will usually more than make up for the
time spent entering the address into the GPS
or locating it on a map. More importantly,
it will enable you to focus all your attention

on your approach and arrival on the scene.
Return to Question 1
Inadequate Information
Deputy Shemenskis arrival on the scene

was made more dangerous by a lack of
information about what was happening
there. If the call had been dispatched as a
domestic rather than general disturbance,
or if Deputy Shemenski had found

out that it was by asking for more information, he probably would have
responded to the scene more slowly
and with his headlights off for a
lower profile approach. This would
have enabled him to gather more
information, and probably to spot
Rusk with the shotgun, before being
drawn into the midst of the dangerously escalating situation.
Information is power. The more
you have, the better you can assess
the possible danger and plan your
response accordingly. Whenever
possible, the time to start gathering
information is before you arrive on
the scene and the dispatcher is usually
the key to doing so. Unfortunately,
most departments put a low priority
on training dispatchers for their key
role in officer safety, and many put
too little emphasis on officer safety
when developing dispatching procedures. Dispatching isnt an easy job,
and we cant expect our dispatchers
to do it well without adequate procedures and training. Officer safety
and the safety of the public should be
the top priority. On the other hand,
our safety and the safety of those we
serve is ultimately our responsibility.
Dont hesitate to ask the dispatcher
for more information if you need it.
Vehicle Following
an Officer
Fortunately, Mr. Rusk had no hostile

intensions toward Deputy Shemenski, but his actions in following the
deputy highlight something that
should be of concern to us all. A
vehicle following close behind an officer is suspicious enough to raise some serious concerns, especially when there is little
or no other traffic in the area. The driver
could prove to be someone following the
officer by pure coincidence, or as in this
case, someone heading to the same location as the officer with benign intentions.
But he could also be someone intending to
interfere with the officer, a predator with a
grudge against cops looking for a fight, or

even a terrorist following the officer into an
awaiting ambush.
Absent any overt danger signs, this kind
of situation doesnt necessarily call for a
high-profile response, but it does require
a response of some kind. If nothing else,
it should raise your awareness level and
prompt you to carefully scan for additional
danger signs. Beyond that, the following
options should be considered in light of the
particular circumstances:
Call for backup to stop the vehicle.
This isnt always possible, especially in remote areas, and it may also be inadvisable
when you are en route to a call that cannot
be delayed. However, when possible, it is
generally the safest option.
Stop and let the vehicle pass, and then
stop it if the circumstances will allow. This
is the simplest solution, but it also has the
serious shortcoming of making you vulnerable to gunfire from the vehicle as it passes.
Therefore, it is best done when you can
turn into a parking lot, driveway or side
street first, and then stay low in your seat
with your foot on the brake and transmission still in gear as the vehicle passes. This
will make you a smaller target and enable
you to immediately accelerate and maneuver out of the hot zone if you come under
fire. It also requires some thoughtful preplanning and a careful choice of where to
pull over.
Speed up and see if the motorist continues to follow. If so, try to pull farther
ahead of him and then find a parking lot,
intersection or other wide spot in the road
where you can suddenly turn around, exit
your cruiser, and confront him from behind cover. In most cases, this will call for
confronting the motorist at gunpoint, but
in some situations, taking cover with your
gun at your side may suffice. Also, consider
using roadside cover if possible to guard
against being struck if the motorist tries to
run you down or crash into your vehicle. In
addition, many roadside objects are superior to car bodies as cover. Again, preplanning and careful selection of the pull-over
spot are essential here.
Experience
As was the case in his earlier shooting, Deputy

Shemenski immediately responded to Rusks
attack with an aggressive counterattack, but
more quickly and with greater accuracy than
before. While other factors probably contributed to his success, his experience in the
first attack deserves a good deal of the credit.
Our subconscious mind largely controls our
response to danger, at least initially, and it
is uniquely suited to that task because it detects, processes, and acts on visual and other
input much more quickly than the conscious
mind does. It takes in an incredible amount
of data, sorts through it, assesses it, and then
decides how to respond to it, all at lightning
speed. The reason it can do this so quickly is
because it doesnt take the time to mull over
all the data and carefully consider various options before making a decision like the conscious mind does. Instead, it searches through
its memory banks at hyper-speed, finds the
memory of a previous event that is very similar to the one currently confronting it, and
uses that event as a pattern for its response.
If it cant find the memory of an appropriate
event to use as a guide, it either reverts to its
instincts or hesitates while trying to figure out
what to do next. In Shemenskis case, however,
his earlier shooting provided his subconscious
mind with a highly appropriate memory of a
very similar threat and an effective means for
countering it. The result was an incredibly short
lag time, followed by a remarkably smooth and
rapid draw from behind the wheel, and
though not accurate enough to score a hitfar
more accurate gunfire than before.
Since the vast majority of officers are never
involved in even one shooting, let alone two
that are as similar to one another as Shemenskis, we cant count on real-life experience to
provide us with the memories we need to deal
with every threat we may encounter on the
street. Fortunately, our amazing brains also
have an answer to that problem: As illogical as
it may sound, the subconscious mind doesnt
know the difference between the memory of a
real event and one that is simulated. Nor does
it know the difference between the memory
of a real event and one that is only imagined.
Therefore, our memory files dont have to be
filled with memories of real-life experiences in
order to be effective in preparing us for reallife threats. We can use imagined or simulated
events to create the memories instead. Thats
why realistic mental imagery exercises and scenario-based training are such outstanding ways
to train for real-life lethal encounters.
Moreover, our subconscious minds dont
have to find a memory of a past incident that
parallels a current threat exactly in order to
come up with an effective way to deal with it.
As can be seen from facts in this case, the closer
the memory parallels the current threat the better, but it doesnt have to be an exact match.
Also, the larger the number of similar memories
on filewhether based upon real, imagined or
simulated past eventsthe greater becomes
the brains ability to quickly recognize, assess
and respond to an ever wider variety of similar
threats. Thus, the more we use mental imagery and participate in scenario-based training,
the shorter becomes our reaction time and the
better we become at responding to dangerous
situations. Take advantage of as much scenariobased training as you can and use mental imagery to gain further experience in responding
to violent encounters.
Mental Flexibility
Though it is easy to understand why Rusks

father intervened in the shooting, there can
be no question that it was a very dangerous
thing to do. Fortunately, he didnt add to his
mistake by holding onto the shotgun too long
or moving its muzzle toward Deputy Shemenski, but his actions nevertheless put him at
great risk. Shemenski was already under a lot
of pressure as he approached Michael Rusk,
and Mr. Rusks sudden appearance out of the
corner of his eye startled and confused him.
Then, before Shemenski could fully comprehend what was going on, Mr. Rusk picked up
the shotgun. It was a dangerous action that
could have led to tragedy. If Mr. Rusk had
hesitated before pitching the shotgun, for instance, Shemenski might have finished telling
himself to pull the trigger before he realized
what was actually happening. In that case,
there wouldnt have been time to change his
mind and then stop his trigger pull before he
shot Mr. Rusk. It takes time to detect changes
in circumstances, decide what to do about
them, and then change our actions accordingly. It may not take more than a few milliseconds, but milliseconds mean everything
in a gunfight. When milliseconds count so
much and things are changing fast, mental
flexibility can make the difference between
life and death. Nevertheless, people under
stress sometimes do reckless things that appear threatening to us, and there is seldom
anything we can do to prevent it. But there is
something we can do to improve our chances
of making the right decision when that happenswe can take action to improve our
mental flexibility:
Mental Flexibility Training
Like any other skill, mental flexibility can be

significantly improved with practice. Because
of its realism and capacity to produce stress in
trainees, scenario-based training that throws
crucial unexpected changes into the mix is the
best tool for developing this vital mental skill.
However, it is very important to construct the
scenarios in a way that doesnt discourage the
trainees. This is not to say that every scenario
should be easy or that no trainee should ever
be allowed to fail a scenario. To the contrary,
training needs to be challenging, and failure can
be a valuable learning experience that highlights
mistakes and emphasizes the need to improve.
But the ultimate goal should be to create a
learning experience that enables every trainee
to leave with a positive attitude and increased
confidence. The key is to make the scenarios
increasingly more challenging, offer constructive feedback, and, as much as possible, gear the
pace to each individual trainee.
It is also important to construct scenarios
that do more than just test the trainees observation skills. While it is necessary to present
scenarios that require the trainees to distinguish between a gun and a cell phone, for
example, more advanced scenarios should require trainees to identify and respond appropriately to pre-assault indicators, behavioral
characteristics of armed individuals, and the
body mechanics associated with threatening
and non-threatening behaviors, like differentiating between how the hand is held when
reaching for a gun as opposed to reaching for
a wallet. Since these cues often precede the
actual observation of the assailants weapon,
an officer who accurately identifies them will

have more time to make a decision, which
improves his chances of making the right one.
Mental imagery can be used in lieu of scenario-based training if necessary, but only to a
limited degree. This is because there is no way
to create unexpected changes in a mental imagery exercise. Nevertheless, it is possible to
consider various key crucial decisions before
they occur on the street. For example, imagine the circumstances in which you would
have to make the transition from your firearm
to your baton, or from your ECD to your
firearm, or in which it would be inadvisable
to shoot someone holding a gun. Consider
the body language associated with handling
a firearm with the intent to shoot someone
in contrast to body language associated with
the intent not to shoot. Think not only about
pre-assault indicators, but also about indicators that someone is calming down. Think
about these matters, and then use mental
imagery to place yourself into scenarios in
which you have to deal with them. While not
as effective as scenario-based training, mental
imagery can supplement it, and can also be
used as a reasonable alternative to it when it
isnt otherwise available.
Observation Skills
Mental flexibility can also be enhanced by

improving your observation skills. Even
though we like to think of ourselves as trained
observers, the truth is that few of us have
ever been taught how to be better observers.
Such training has traditionally been severely
lacking or non-existent in law enforcement,
but that has been changing in recent years.
Training is now available that expands the
ability to see and accurately process more
of our surroundings, even when engaged in
focused activities like approaching a downed
assailant. Although the eyes capture images of
everything within their field of view just as a
camera does with everything in its viewfinder,
they dont actually see anything. Rather, the
images are sent to the brain, which then interprets them. However, since the brain can only
process a small amount of visual input at a
time, it misses much of what the eyes pick up,
especially when focused on something that it
perceives as very important.
To overcome this problem, the aforementioned training consists of a series of various

visual exercises that train the brain to process
more of this visual input, and to do it with
greater recall and clarity. Originally developed in World War II to train combat pilots
to distinguish between friendly and hostile
aircraft, these exercises have recently been
adopted and modified for use by law enforcement. Since then, they have proven to be very
effective in increasing the ability to perceive
and process visual input, thereby improving
threat identification and mental flexibility.
However, since the skills thus developed are
perishable ones, significant long-term retention of them requires a commitment to practice the exercises frequently (at least twice a
week for no less than 15 minutes per session)
for several months, and then to continue
with regular maintenance exercises thereafter.
Nevertheless, the benefits can be very impressive. Officers who are committed to keeping
themselves and others safe will do well to take
the training (available through Observation
On Demand, LLC and Snipercraft, Inc. ) and
follow through with the required practice.
Stress Reduction
Stress clouds thinking, inhibits good decision making, and can lead to rigid thinking
and mental tunnel vision. That being the
case, one of the best ways to improve mental flexibility is to reduce stress, and one of
the best ways to reduce stress is with combat
breathing (see Sidebar 2). Combat breathing
requires concentration and is best learned
while seated or reclining in a quiet, low-light
environment. But it doesnt take much practice to master it, and once mastered, it can
be done anywhere with little effort, including while responding to potentially dangerous situations or any time you feel uneasy or
anxious during a call or street contact. Just
three breathing cycles will release stress, clear
thinking, and improve observation skills,
and even one or two cycles will help calm
you when there isnt time for three.
More important, however, is the fact that
combat breathing can be made into a habit
that will enable you to use it in a wide variety of situations with little conscious effort.
Simply choose a trigger word seldom used in
SIDEBAR 2: COMBAT BREATHING
Combat breathing (also referred to as deep breathing, autogenic breathing,

etc.), is controlled cyclic breathing that lowers blood pressure and stress
levels, and reduces the negative effects of adrenaline. Each cycle contains
four steps, as follows:
Step 1: Inhale deeply through the nose to a count of four, filling the lungs
completely from the bottom up.
Step 2: Hold to a count of four.
Step 3: Exhale slowly through the mouth to a count of four, emptying the lungs
completely from top to bottom.
Step 4: Hold to a count of four.
Repeat the cycle at least three more times.
Three cycles will achieve full results, but fewer can be used when there isnt
time for three. The number count for each step can be varied somewhat, as long
as it is kept constant throughout the process. The key is to breathe in a methodical, controlled manner while completely filling and emptying lungs with each
cycle. Elite warriors, athletes, martial artists, and other top performers have been
using this technique for centuries as a proven method of controlling the negative
effects of stress and improving performance under pressure.
Another way to reduce stress is through the use of proper approach, positioning, use of cover, and other sound tactics. Besides achieving a tactical advantage over your opponent, proper tactics give you a greater sense of control
and confidence in your ability to handle the situation safely, which substantially
reduces stress. In addition, they give you a little more time to assess possible
danger signs before reacting to them, which further improves mental flexibility.
Finally, confidence in your training and capabilities also creates a greater
sense of control, and the greater your sense of control, the less stress you experience. Fear of something you cannot control creates panic and/or rushed,
fear-induced decisions. By contrast, fear tempered by a feeling of control is a
powerful motivator that clarifies focus and inspires determination and a winning
attitude. But confidence must be based upon competency; otherwise, it is nothing more than a dangerously false sense of security. This is another reason why
good training is so important. Besides developing the skills we need to win, it
builds a realistic sense of self-confidence that reduces fear and stress, which in
turn further improves performance, decision-making under pressure, and mental
flexibility. Train hard, and train often.
common speech (e.g. aardvark, plutonium, etc.) or a trigger action (e.g.,

tapping your foot, touching your
thumb and ring finger together, etc.),
and repeat it over and over again as
you practice combat breathing. This
will eventually train the subconscious
mind to associate the trigger word/action with the act of combat breathing
to the point that it will automatically
initiate the process anytime you activate the trigger. Job-related triggers
can also be used, such as the sound
of a siren, for example. By practicing
combat breathing while listening to
a recording of a siren, you can create
a subconscious trigger that starts the
process every time you activate your
siren to respond to a hot call or engage
in a pursuit, both of which require
that you keep stress under control.
Another useful trigger to consider
developing is the act of taking hold
of your radio mic, which can subconsciously activate combat breathing
every time you use your radio.
Ambiguous Deadly Force

Decisions under Stress
Deputy Shemenskis decision not to

shoot Mr. Rusk was based upon his
ability to quickly and accurately observe and identify the potential threat
he faced. This was a critical decision
requiring mental flexibility, but moments later he found himself in another
situation that highlighted the need for a
much greater level of mental flexibility.
When he suddenly realized how vulnerable he would be if Rusk tried to grab
the shotgun or decided to charge him,
he had to make a quick decision about
how he would respond if either of those
threats materialized.
Fortunately, he didnt have to execute either decision, because doing
so would likely have led to serious
consequences. While most of us in
law enforcement would agree that either action on the part of Rusk would
have posed a serious threat to Shemenskis life, the use of deadly force
Tell Us About It!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Police Marksman intends to run an Officer Down

article every few months. In order to obtain incidents
that provide clear and relevant case studies, we would
like to draw from our largest available resourceyou,
the reader. If you have, or can obtain, factual information on actual incidents you think we can use, please
contact Brian at:
7412 Lynn Grove Ct.
Hazelwood, MO 63042
E-mail: pmbrianod@charter.net
Tel. 314/921-6977 (call collect)
Cell: 314/941-2651
would probably have been misunderstood by

the media and public, and hard to explain in
court. In fact, depending upon how his decision was articulated and the perspective of the
judge or jury deciding the case, its possible
that it would have been seen as not being a serious enough threat to justify the use of deadly
force, especially in some of the more liberal
parts of the country. This is not to say that
Deputy Shemenskis decision was the wrong
one, because there would have been good reason to fear for his life if Rusk had gone for
the shotgun or charged him. But the point
here is that the situation fell into one of those
grey areas in which the need for deadly force
is ambiguous. Most deadly force decisions
are relatively simple to make (e.g., an armed
perpetrator points a gun at you; so you shoot
him), but not always. In this case, Shemenski
came uncomfortably close to having to make
one of those but not always decisions.
The reason why this kind of decision requires even more mental flexibility than Shemenskis earlier decision not to shoot Mr.
Rusk is that it involves more than just correctly observing and identifying a potential
threat. In addition, it involves making a crucial judgment about an ambiguous legal issue
Brian McKenna is a retired lieutenant from the Hazelwood (Mo.)

Police Department, where he served in patrol, traffic, mobile reserve
and training. He is a 32-year police veteran, with a strong background
as a police trainer at both the recruit and in-service levels, and served
his department as lead firearms instructor as well as in various other
training functions. He is a state certified police instructor, a certified
force science analyst, and holds a Masters Degree in human
resource development. Brian is a member of ILEETA and IALEFI, writes
extensively on officer safety topics, and trains police officers nationwide
in winning mindset and other topics related to officer safety. His book,
Officer Down: Lessons from the Streets, is based on this column
and is only available for purchase on his website. Contact him at
pmbrianod@charter.net or visit his website at www.we-training.com.
that would be difficult to make under even

the most favorable circumstances. Worse, the
observations and other factors that go into
making that judgment are often dangerously
incomplete and/or rapidly changing. In such
high-stress situations with lives on the line,
its easy to make a mistake that can have farreaching consequences for everyone involved.
So, what can we do about this problem?
First, as with any other decision requiring
mental flexibility under stress, the ability
to make appropriate decisions in ambiguous deadly force situations can be improved
through stress reduction, increased confidence, enhanced observation skills, and
proper training.
Among these, training is the most important, but it must go far beyond the training
required to develop any other kind of mental
flexibility. The training should begin with the
establishment of a solid foundation of knowledge regarding department policy, statutory
law, and case law related to police use of
force. Well thought-out classroom lectures
that encourage questions and discussion can
be used to build this foundation, but this is
just the beginning. The goal is to develop an
understanding of use-of-force law that is suf-
ficiently in-depth to enable officers to respond

appropriately to a wide range of tough, real
world situations, and this cannot be achieved
with classroom lectures alone. Much more is
needed. Case studies about actual incidents
involving questionable use of force, followed
by in-depth classroom discussions about why
the officers actions were justified or unjustified, are one very effective way to do this. Another is to thoroughly study and discuss key
court decisions regarding use of force, starting
with the two landmark U.S. Supreme Court
decisions, Tennessee v Garner and Graham v
Connor. This encourages deep thought and
helps officers gain a better understanding of
the way the courts view and analyze use of
force by police.
Finally, this knowledge should be honed to
a fine edge through the use of scenario-based
training that requires officers to make tough
use-of-force decisions. Scenarios that challenge observation skills (e.g., distinguishing
between a cell phone and a handgun) arent
good enough. Trainees should also be put
into tough situations in which they must
make increasingly more challenging shoot/
dont shoot decisions under stress. They will
no doubt make some mistakes, but the time
to learn from such mistakes is during training, not on the street when lives are at stake.
(See the Reluctance to Shoot section of the
analysis in Officer Down: Slowly Developing Threats in our May/June 2014 issue for
a more detailed discussion of this training.)
Ride-Alongs
Some law enforcement agencies allow their officers spouses, children, girl/boyfriends, etc.,
to participate in their ride-along programs.
By increasing our loved ones understanding
and appreciation for what we do, these programs can improve our family relationships
and solidify our all-important support system.
However, they can also put our loved ones in
danger and make the job more dangerous for
us as well. In a violent encounter, it is only
natural to want to protect someone we care
about, which can distract us from staying focused on our most important goalneutralizing the threat, or, as in this case, establishing
and maintaining control of the situation after
the threat has been neutralized.
Deputy Shemenski later commented that
his natural course of action in a case like this
one would have been to stop immediately
after Rusk went down, exit his vehicle, hold
the man at gunpoint and call for backup, but
he chose to create distance between him and
Rusk instead. Then he dangerously advanced
across open ground toward Rusk, who was
down but not yet secured and still within easy
reach of the shotgun. Though not aware of it
at the time, he now believes his actions were
motivated by a subconscious concern for Ambers safety. Considering the importance of
staying focused on dealing with any threat we
encounter, ride-alongs by family members,
girl/boyfriends, and others close to the officer should not be permitted. However, loved
ones may be allowed to ride along with other
officers, preferably those on another shift or
in a different district.
Winning Mindset
Besides the factors already mentioned, there

is another reason why Deputy Shemenski
responded to Rusks attack so quickly. After
his first shooting, he had vowed to never be
caught in such a vulnerable position again,
and had striven hard to live up to that promise. As a result, though distracted as he rolled
up on the scene, he wasnt surprised when
Rusk turned on him with the shotgun. In
fact, he had almost expected it to happen,
and was thus able to respond to it very
quickly. His earlier shooting had taught him
that some individuals who have no fear of
killing and will stop at nothing to get what
they want. All officers are aware of this fact
at the intellectual level, but many dont really believe it in their innermost being. In
fact, when asked about the emotions they
experienced when attacked, police officers
who have been involved in lethal confrontations almost universally say their first emotion was not anger or fear, but surprise! This
is understandable when we consider that the
vast majority of the people who resist arrest
are simply trying to escape. While they often
put up a tough struggle, they are not willing
to engage an officer in lethal combat. But
on rare occasions, we come across individuals who dont care, and even some who have
literally made it a life goal to kill a cop. Winners accept this harsh reality, and plan ahead
to deal with it. When considering the possibility of engaging in a lethal encounter, they
dont think about if it happens, but when
it happens and what they will do about it.
They dont look forward to violence, but
they fully accept that it comes with the job
and are committed to being ready when
it does.
Deputy Shemenski also made a practice
of using mental imagery to help prepare
him for violent resistance, not so much in
the more formal sense of getting into a state
of deep relaxation and carefully rehearsing
violent encounters in detail, but more as an
informal What if game. Like most winners, he was in the habit of thinking about
various threats he may face and planning
ahead how to deal with them, which in
turn helped him respond more quickly to
Rusks attack. Finally, Shemenski possesses
a natural aggressiveness that enabled him to
immediately take the fight to his adversary.
Fighting back is the most important element
in winning, and in this case it paid off even
before Rusk could fire a shot.
SUMMARY
Always do your best to eliminate dis-
tractions and stay focused on safety as

your first priority. Psych yourself up to
be ready for anything, no matter how
routine the situation may appear to be.
If a motorist is following close behind
you, your options for dealing with him
are: 1) call for backup to stop him; 2)
let him pass and then stop him; or 3)
speed up to see if he follows, and if
so, increase your distance, find a place
to turn around and confront him
at gunpoint.
Since we cant depend upon actual experience to prepare us for the threats we
may encounter on the street, we must
gain experience through mental imagery
and training. Take advantage of as much
scenario-based training as you can and use
mental imagery to gain further experience in responding to violent encounters
Mental flexibility is crucial to preventing and winning violent encounters, but
it can also be crucial to avoiding tragic
outcomes from foolish mistakes made
by citizens under stress. Ways to improve this essential mental skill include:
1) scenario-based training geared specifically to that purpose; 2) mental imagery;
3) training geared to improving observation skills; and 4) stress reduction.
The ability to make appropriate decisions
in ambiguous deadly-force situations can
be improved through stress reduction,
increased self-confidence, enhanced observation skills, and most importantly,
training. This training should include
well thought-out classroom presentation, case studies, careful study of key
court decisions regarding use of force,
and scenario-based training that requires
officers to make increasingly more challenging shoot/dont shoot decisions.
Be ready to deal with the lethal violence
by accepting that it can happen, planning
ahead for it, and always standing ready to
fight back no matter what. PM
.

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SEP-OCT 2014

Vol. 12, No. 5

Pistol Wear PT-One holster

Active Shooter Response

OFFICER DOWN page 34

Josh Shemenskis Second Shooting

Sep-Oct 2014 I Vol. 12, No. 5

Combat Application Tourniquet

Wear an $800 vest, carry a $900 AED, and have

Times have changed. Police work

By the police Marksman staff

By Police Marksman Staff

Glocks New Diminutive 42

FN-USAs long slide version of their standard

Active Shooter Response

How to breach hard-to-reach places

Pistol Wear PT-One holster

An improved bellyband-style holster system for

A minimalist inside-the-waistband holster

By Chief Mike Burg, Rittman, Ohio P.D.

Ambiguous Deadly Force Decisions

next issue of the police marksman

By steve tracy I Editorial director

Times have changed.

Incidents similar to Columbine occurred during previous

Steve tracy I Editorial Director

To post your comments on this story, please visit policemarksman.com

3 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014

Ruger 9mm LCR

4 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014

Liberty Ammo .357 Magnum

5 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014

Liberty Ammunition announced the .357 Magnum as the newest

Glocks New Diminutive 42

G42 is a smart choice for off-duty or backup use, even if

6 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014

olice officers who carry a

Ive overheard some of them disparage

gun review: Glocks New Diminutive 42

Walther PPK is the closest in size to the G42 (clockwise

the same as the PPK. Its also the same as the

Model 42 field strips just

fingers during recoil. My personal G23 had

Standard Glock Features

A fellow competitive shooter purchased a G42

Glocks New Diminutive 42

.380 is Made in the USA.

Glock 42 is slightly thinner than the classic Walther PPK.

Loading the G42 magazine with six rounds was

dard Glock, being made of polymer with a

gun review: Glocks New Diminutive 42

magazine drops free when the release button is

Under the mild kick of the short recoil

full metal jacket). Due to the tilting barrel

smaller .380 pistols, its easier to hold on to

Made in the USA

Gallery of Guns (www.galleryofguns.com)

FN-USAs long slide version

FNS field strips safely. With the

right side of the

10 The Police Marksman Sep-Oct 2014

gun review: FNS-40LS

he Baltimore County, Md. Police