The Case Head the Official Publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association P.O

TheThe CaseCase HeadHead The Official Publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association

CatastrophicCatastrophic Failure!Failure!

2011 FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE Harvard Sportsman’s Club September 27-29, 2011 © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 1 The Case Head The official publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association P.O. Box 253, Princeton, MA 01541-0253

MISSION STATEMENT The Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors' & Armorers' Association was formed to promote pro- fessionalism, continuing education, improvement in training methods and techniques of the proper law enforcement use of firearms in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Association strives to promote and foster mutual cooperation between instructors. Through discussion and a common interest in law enforcement firearms training, officer survival and tactical skills, MLEFIAA hopes to keep the members at the forefront of firearms training. Through our monthly meetings and annual training conference, we provide a means for the exchange of ideas and information regarding law enforcement firearms training, training methods, educational activities and new firearms technologies.

MLEFIAA currently has over 400 members. While mainly from Massachusetts, our membership extends interna- tionally to countries as far away as Sweden. The Association endeavors to secure new members from the law enforcement training community who are engaged in the field of firearms training, maintenance, education or related fields. Our goal is to continuously upgrade the level of firearms training of law enforcement personnel here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Membership is offered at two levels - Active & Associate. Active membership is open to all duly sworn law enforcement officers of any local, county, state, federal or specialized law enforcement agency within the Common- wealth of Massachusetts; whose official duties include the training of law enforcement personnel in the proper use of firearms; or whose duties involve the maintenance and repair of firearms for their respective agencies.

Associate membership is open to sworn law enforcement firearms instructors and armorers from agencies outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, non-sworn firearms instructors & armorers working within an agency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and representatives of private industry who are engaged in the design, development, manufacture, or training in firearms, ammunition and other related technologies designed for law enforcement use.

Complete details can be found at our website: www.MLEFIAA.org

Articles & Letters to the Editor Articles and letters should be no more than 1000 words in length and submitted in MS Word. Any photos should be in JPEG format. MLEFIAA encourages a healthy discussion of training issues but we require that you keep it level headed and respect opposing views. You do not have to agree, but we will not publish articles that are in- flammatory or otherwise do not uphold the reputation of this Association.

Copyright 2007 - 2011 Mass. Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association The Case Head is the official publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorer’s Association and is published quar- terly for the benefit of the membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the Editor and the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association. The articles, views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association, the Executive Board or it’s members. © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 2 In This Issue

Five Gunfights You Should Study To Better Prepare Your Agency Page 3

How Much Is “Enough Ammo”? Page 5

MPTC Will Debut Select Fire Instructor Program at MLEFIAA Conference Page 6

Active Shooter Update Page 7

Achieving Outcomes On The Street With Integrity, Building Loyalty and Mutual Trust Page 7

Patrol Rifle Necessities Page 9

Product Review TRAIN SAFE BARREL BLOCK Page 12

Catastrophic Pistol Failure Page 13

2011 Firearms Instructor Training & Development Conference September 27 - 29, 2011 Harvard Sportman’s Club, 250 Littleton County Road, Harvard, MA Vendor Expo Patrol Rifle Duty Pistol Point Shooting Back Up Gun MPTC Recertification New Training Standards Extreme Close Quarters LEOSA Certification Plain Clothes & Off Duty Combative Carbine Combat Shotgun Advanced Instructor Overview of START Ground Defense Action Shooting Skills One Hand Shooting MPTC Select Fire Conference registration is open to all bona fide law enforcement trainers. The fee has not increased from previous years - $195 for members and $255 for non-members. Discount overnight lodging is available 15 minutes from the range. www.mlefiaa.org/2011conference.html © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 3

Five Gunfights You Should Study To Better Prepare Your Agency In the past 25 years, American New Hampshire troopers attempting to bring the fight to the agents. The law enforcement tactics, proce- to ticket him in the parking lot of a agents had fired .38 Special and 9mm dures, and policies have evolved LaPerle's IGA market in Colebrook. rounds from revolvers and semi-auto because of these horrific inci- Drega, who armed himself with an AR pistols, which lacked adequate stop- dents. -15 and ballistic vest, stole the ping power, FBI officials said afterward. Twenty-five years ago, eight FBI trooper's cruiser and drove to Co- Only Special Agent Edmundo Mireles agents pursuing two armed robbery lumbia, where he killed a judge and deployed a long gun—his Remington suspects attempted a felony stop that newspaper editor. He then crossed 870 pump-action shotgun. resulted in a hail of gunfire, four into Vermont, running a game warden One bullet, in particular, was singled deaths, and a reexamination of law off the road and firing on responding out as the "shot that failed." Fired by enforcement weaponry, duty ammuni- officers who located the stolen Special Agent Jerry Dove, this 9mm tion, body armor, and vehicle-stop cruiser. bullet struck Platt's right forearm, en- tactics. Two New Hampshire troopers and a tered his right ribcage, and stopped an The gear and training employed by U.S. Border Patrol agent with an inch from his heart. Platt survived to officers is much different today, partly M14 .308 rifle providing mutual aid fight for four more minutes, eventually as a result of the FBI Miami shoot- eventually stopped Drega by shooting killing agents Dove and Benjamin out. There have been other game- and killing him. The gunman had also Grogan. changing gunfights in the last quarter been struck in the vest with a rifled Matix had also apparently been taken century. The following article exam- shotgun slug. out of the fight early with a .38 Special ines each of them and how they Following the incident, rural agencies +P round fired by Special Agent changed your tactics, procedures, and began equipping their officers with Gordon McNeill from his S&W Model policies. patrol rifles, says Ayoob, who is also a 19 that struck Matix in the face and We've ranked each one in order reserve officer in New Hampshire. contused his brain. According to Dr. of importance (from fifth to first) and "Drega sold more police patrol rifles French Anderson's "Forensic Analysis settled on an even five just to simplify than the entire firearms industry sales of the April 11, 1986, FBI Firefight," matters. There are others, and there's force," says Ayoob. "It reminded the the wound "must have been devastat- no doubt a few readers will mention public that smalltown, rural depart- ing." After he lay unconscious for the Newhall incident in which four ments were just as likely to face this more than a minute, Matix became California Highway Patrol officers lost sort of thing as the municipal depart- alert, left his car, and joined Platt in their lives in a fierce gun battle on ments." agent Grogan's and agent Dove's vehi- April 6, 1970. But we wanted to stay FBI Miami Shootout - April 11, cle. within the past 25 years. (We encour- 1986: Pinecrest, Fla. Following the tragedy, the FBI phased age you to send us feedback about out revolvers and .38 Special ammuni- our choices.) tion. Agents were also eventually is- We spoke to police trainers, fire- sued H&K MP5 submachine guns for arms experts, and tactical instructors high-risk encounters. to help us spell out the lasting impacts "The FBI went looking for a pistol of these events on patrol officers. As round with deeper penetration," says noted by Massad Ayoob, director of Dave Spaulding, a retired Ohio police the Massad Ayoob Group, in addition lieutenant and pistol instructor. "It's to horrific circumstances, these inci- not important that you hit something, dents contain plenty of bravery by law it's important that you hit something enforcement officers. A close-quarters gun battle involving important." "One thing you take from all of eight FBI agents and two heavily The FBI's adoption of 10mm Auto to these is the tremendous courage of armed suspects during a felony stop in attain greater stopping power popular- cops fighting against the odds, for southern Miami, this incident led FBI ized the then-obscure round. The FBI their brothers and for the public they Firearms Training Unit Director John later switched to a subsonic load (the serve," Ayoob says. "It's inspiring." Hall to conclude that the carnage was "10mm FBI") to better tame the full- primarily "an ammo failure." powered 10mm that delivered about Carl Drega Rampage - Aug. 19, The FBI's after-action report solidified 38,000 pounds psi, says Ayoob, who's 1997: Bloomfield, Vt. Hall's belief, because it showed that written extensively about the incident. Recluse Carl Drega took his one-man Michael Platt and William Matix—an Later, the FBI switched to the .40- war with society across state lines on Army Ranger and Army MP of the caliber S&W that is now the most Aug. 19, 1997, launching a rampage 101st Airborne, respectively— prevalent duty ammo in law enforce- that started with the murder of two sustained fatal wounds yet continued ment. The .40-caliber provides similar © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 4 ballistics to a 10mm in a shorter cas- shootout," says retired LAPD Capt. ing. Greg Meyer, a member of the PO- Columbine High School Massacre LICE advisory board. "First, it is April 20, 1999: Littleton, Colo. essential these days to equip patrol The attack on Columbine High School officers with rifles. Incident after inci- on April 20, 1999, by Eric Harris and dent around the country proves this. Dylan Klebold with bombs and a small The North Hollywood officers did arsenal of shotguns and carbines was not have that resource until SWAT more of a failed bombing than a arrived on the scene in the final min- shooting incident, according to Dave utes of the shootout. Second, several Cullen, who wrote the bestseller of the nine heroes wounded were "Columbine." lywood bank robbers quickly realized detectives, male and female. Don't The shooting was bad enough. The that their 9mm pistols and shotguns overlook tactical training for your Columbine incident became one of were ineffective against the armored detectives." the most studied active-shooter mas- gunmen. Perceptive agencies also noticed a sacres in law enforcement and led to Officers responding to the Bank of rescue of a downed colleague by the popularization of IARD America branch along Laurel Canyon Officer Anthony Cabunoc and his (Immediate Action Rapid Deploy- Boulevard on Feb. 28, 1997, engaged partner with a police cruiser. "A lot ment) among tactical teams. During Larry Phillips, Jr. and Emil Matasare- more departments seem to model the Columbine massacre, Jefferson anu from the cover of a locksmith the excellent extrication work that County (Colo.) Sheriff's Office tactical shop across a four-lane thorough- was done there in the field, scooping officers followed a traditional strategy fare. Officers typically trained at 25 in and using vehicles as cover to pick of surrounding the building, setting up yards with 9mm handguns fired from up the wounded officers and evacu- a perimeter, and containing the dam- 70 yards, attempting to answer the ate them from the field of fire," says age. The results were catastrophic. military-style rifles—a full-auto Ro- Ayoob. "That was widely emulated." The IARD tactic (which was actually manian AIM AK-47 variant, Norinco Mumbai Attacks used by the LAPD prior to Colum- Type 56 S-1, semi-auto HK91, and Nov. 26, 2008: Mumbai, India bine) calls for a four-person team to modified Bushmaster XM15 E2S— Why would we make an incident that advance into the site of a shooting, used by the suspects, who had didn't even occur in the United optimally using a diamond-shaped loaded 3,300 rounds of ammo in box States our most influential gunfight in wedge, to stop the shooter as quickly and drum magazines in the trunk of the last 25 years? The reasons are as possible and save lives. Cullen has their white Chevy Celebrity. many, but here's a few. One, we face said the tactic, used at Virgina Tech, Nine officers were wounded, and the same enemy as the Indians, and "probably saved dozens of lives." one LAPD Crown Vic squad car was that enemy loves to copy successful The IARD tactic has evolved since hit at least 56 times during a gun operations. Two, America's cities Columbine because the four-officer battle that lasted 44 minutes. During and public gathering areas are ex- response has existed as a theoretical the blistering gunfight, 650 rounds tremely vulnerable to this kind of approach and has been rarely used in were fired at the suspects, who fired attack. Three, in India the military the field. 1,101 rounds at officers. responded, but Posse Comitatus will "It was all based around the four- With his troops outgunned, Lt. Nick not allow that here. You will have to officer cell," says Don Alwes, an active Zingo authorized officers to head to respond. That's why the 10 coordi- -shooter instructor with the National nearby BB & Sales Guns to acquire nated shooting and bombing attacks Tactical Officers Association (NTOA). rifles to match the ones fired by the by Islamist terrorists on a hotel, hos- "It could be a diamond, a T, or a Y. suspects. pital, rail terminus, and other popu- But none of those formations look Following the shootout, which was lated locations still keeps American like they're supposed to when you broadcast locally on live television, law enforcement tactics instructors start using them in the real world." law enforcement agencies began pro- awake at night. Regardless of formation, Alwes reiter- viding AR-type rifles to patrol offi- The attacks, which occurred over ates the idea that first-responding cers. In some cases, the rifles were four days, resulted in the killing of officers can't wait for SWAT to en- installed in cruisers. In the case of 164 people and the wounding of at gage an active killer. the Florida Highway Patrol, rifle least 308. The lone attacker captured training was provided and officers alive disclosed that the attackers bought their own rifles, says Ayoob. were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a North Hollywood Bank Robbery The LAPD also added ballistic Kevlar Pakistan-based militant organization. The attacks have triggered a rethink- Feb. 28, 1997: Los Angeles, Calif. plating inside the doors of its cruis- ing of terrorist response strategies The Los Angeles officers who found ers. by police, and the emphasis on lone- themselves under a barrage of heavy "Two important lessons come to mind from the North Hollywood machine-gun fire from the North Hol- Continued on next page Five gunfights

officer engagement during deadly as- vember of that year. locations are hit. Regardless of the saults. As with the attacks on Colum- "An active shooter situation is not a deployment strategy, officers who ar- bine and Virginia Tech, Mumbai also tactical team problem, it's a tactical rive first at the scene must now take taught officers they must engage ac- officer problem," says Alwes. "A tacti- matters into their own hands. tive killers to lessen the bloodshed, cal officer is anyone on duty." "If we know the killers are active, our according to Alwes. The NTOA and other trainers have first priority above all else is to get in In recent years, lone officers and part- begun teaching a tactical philosophy there and stop them," says Alwes. "We ners have engaged shooters at a nurs- known as Multiple-Assault Counter can't wait for SWAT. The officers at ing home in Carthage, N.C., in March Terrorism Action Capability the scene have to stop it." 2009, and at a military deployment (MACTAC) that allows more flexible center at Ford Hood, Texas, in No- officer deployment when multiple

I posed the following question to a How Much Is Enough Ammo? number of officers in a class I teach By Chief Jeff Chudwin about use of force and officer- From LAW OFFICER Magazine, involved shootings: If you believe Tuesday, November 16, 2010 you’ll need more ammo in a gun fight, Here’s an external vest carrier what should you do? Universally the with enough ammo pouches to last answer was, “Carry more.” It was should the action sustain itself. not, “Depend on your fellow officers Most gunfights are “come as you to resupply you with life-saving equip- are” events. There’s no way to fully ment.” The “carry more” was also predict what can happen and what accompanied by “carry a back-up fire- you’ll need to succeed. What we aggressed the officer. arm.” know for sure is that what you bring Alone and bleeding from a leg I fully agree with the view of these with you is all you’ll have to finish the wound, in the very first minutes of the experienced officers. We can’t expect fight. Nationwide, there have been battle, the officer expended all his that there will be any back-up in the incidents where criminals have armed ammo—37 rounds of .40 caliber from first moments or minutes of a life-or- themselves with multiple weapons and his Sig 229 duty pistol. The second death attack. It will always be a come- hundreds of rounds of ammunition. arriving officer attempted to resupply as-you-are event and you’re responsi- The focus of this article is our the first officer with a reload. The ble for yourself and those you are everyday capability to meet an ex- exchange of ammo failed because the sworn to protect. tended deadly force attack. At the weapon type was different. A third What can we do to meet the chal- most basic level, are we properly responding officer passed a shotgun lenge of having the ability to effec- equipped for a prolonged fight so we to the first, and the fight continued tively stay in a fight like the one can indeed overcome and win? Some until a fourth flanked the shooter’s above? may say this is too unlikely to be con- position. A combined counterattack First, accept the reality. If we carry cerned with, but I disagree. Since the killed the offender, who continued a firearm as more than an ornament Mumbai India attacks and other in- firing on the officers to his last mo- of office, we must believe that some- creased criminal violence, the ments. day, somewhere it will be needed. If “ordinary” course of police readiness Days later, I spoke with a this is true, how many rounds will it isn’t in sync with what we may soon neighboring chief who was consider- take to defeat the offenders bent on face. We’ve already faced these ing ordering all of his officers to carry your destruction? With the extraordi- events in cities large and small. the same type and caliber duty hand- nary threats we face, we must not One Example - gun should such an incident happen stake our lives on the wishful belief On a frigid December 2007 eve- again. My response to him was, “In all that the coming fight will be a fair one, ning in New Lenox, Ill., a suburb of our collective years of experience, in which we have the advantage. Plan south of Chicago, a gunman ambushed when had this previously happened?” for the extended fight. and wounded an officer during a By ordering all officers to use the Second, consider the gear you “routine” traffic stop. In the ensuing same duty handgun, were we solving a currently have attached to your body, battle, the officer courageously held likely problem or creating one? In my either on a duty belt, inside/outside the line and took the fight to the of- view, it’s the latter and standardizing vest carrier system, ankle holster and fender. The gunman was barricaded in what in many cases are improperly uniform pants BDU pockets. Does it his pickup truck parked directly be- fitted handguns, solves nothing. fit the plan? hind a high school that was hosting a Real Lessons Learned Third, ask yourself if you carry it swim meet. Had the officer not con- Let’s get to the core issue and the with you at all times. The answer tinued to fire on the shooter, he real lesson of these events. should be a resounding yes. could have run into the school or © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 6

Carry a Full Set . one on top of the other in minimal pouch for two 1911 mags, a two-cell Carrying one magazine—the one belt space. LED light, two set of pockets for pro- in your pistol—is simply not accept- For the patrol rifle, an extra maga- tective gloves, extra lightweight hand- able. At minimum, two additional zine should be attached to the rifle, cuffs, a rescue knife, a radio ear piece magazines should be standard carry. If and the method I prefer is the use of and accessories. you carry a 1911 or other “single a Redi-Mag. You can also use the new In Summary . stack” pistol, additional magazines Centermass Rifle Integrated Mag We can’t afford to learn the hard way. should be considered. There’s no Pouch that attaches to your duty belt. Let’s not find ourselves short of formula for total rounds carried. Recognizing that we only have so ammo or any piece of gear that his- That’s your decision. much belt space, many agencies have tory tells us we need. The officers of Add magazines to your carry gear authorized outside vest carriers with New Lenox taught us that attitude, via the use of a newly designed pouch, pouches. At my department, officers training and determination win the such as the Safariland model 775. This are allowed to design what they need, day. Let’s learn from them and from model offers dual or triple magazine and the carriers are custom-built by those officers around you who’ve capacity. We’ve been loaning these J&G Uniforms. The company’s carrier been in the fight. pouches to officers in our classes, and designs have a professional uniform People will say, “We can’t believe this the 775 has proven to be an excellent shirt appearance that also has a large happened here.” Remember: It will open-top design. For single-stack reflective “police” panel across the always happen “here.” And because mags, such as the 1911, you can also back for day and night identification. I there’s no predicting, it’s our duty to add a tandem pouch that looks like a set mine up to carry my radio, a 20- be ready. Part of that call is to bring folding knife pouch. It holds two mags, round P-Mag for my patrol rifle, a enough ammo.

MPTC Will Debut Select Fire Weapon Instructor Program At Conference The MPTC Select Fire Instructor pro- and/or shopping malls in a Beslan style gram has been in development for almost attack is a likely scenario. a year and is scheduled to make its debut Like the Patrol Rifle, the Select Fire at the MLEFIAA Instructor Development weapon is a force multiplier. The shoul- Conference in September. der fired weapon is inherently more accu- The select fire weapon has been used rate and capable of engaging threats at by law enforcement since the Prohibition greater distances than handguns. The use Era. As criminal elements adopted more of a weapon capable of full-auto or select powerful weapons such as the Thompson fire is a viable tool in certain law enforce- submachine gun and Browning Automatic ment applications. Rifles stolen from National Guard armor- The purpose of training MPTC fire- ies, law enforcement acquired and used arms instructors at the Select Fire level is similar weapons to remain on par. With not to train them as tactical select fire the cultural climate change following the firearms operator/instructors but rather Second World War, American law en- as firearms instructors who can train, forcement rarely used full auto weapons. coach, evaluate and qualify individual offi- While many had them left over from ear- cers who are assigned or issued select fire lier years, the police shotgun was the pri- weapons by their department or tactical mary shoulder fired weapon in urban and agency. This program uses a standardized suburban departments. qualification course of fire and has the Rural agencies seemed to use more candidate demonstrate the ability to safely conventional rifles such as the Winchester were fired before police stopped the ram- handle a select fire weapon, successfully Model 94. Ironically, things were far dif- page. resolve typical malfunctions, transition to ferent in Europe. There, the shotgun was ● Terrorist Threat in Post 9/11 USA – their duty pistol as needed and demon- almost unheard of with law enforcement The threat of terrorism in the United strate the ability to transition from full and the submachine gun was the primary States is ever present today. While 9/11 auto/burst fire to semi-auto or safe condi- tool of the national police forces. focused our attention on this threat, in tions using the selector lever on their Two factors have greatly influenced fact we have been a target since the select fire weapon. the favorable reception that select fire 1980’s. Whether from domestic based The MPTC Select Fire Instructor weapons are enjoying with police agencies groups or Al-Qaeda, the American public Training Program is not a stand-alone today – has not seen the last of attacks within our program. It builds on the sequential and ● North Hollywood Shootout – In Feb- borders. These operations will likely be progressive blocks of training instruction ruary 1997 Bank of America robbery in directed at targets which will result in the covered previously in the Pistol, Shotgun Los Angeles where two gunmen with full most shock value. Based on what the rest and Patrol Rifle portions of the MPTC auto weapons engaged up to 300 police of the world has experienced, suicide Firearms Instructor Course. officers for almost three quarters of an attacks by terrorists armed with assault hour. During this time about 2000 rounds rifles or full auto weapons against schools © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 7

Active Shooter Update

From Force Science News out special training for such a situa- He characterizes waiting as Update on "rapid mass murder" tion. The remainder (22%) were ini- "tombstone caution," the penalty for and single-officer response tiated by 2 officers; which "is paid by innocents, killed or Trainer Ron Borsch, an early advocate • The vast majority of successful law wounded." of immediate entry into active-killer enforcement aborts (78%) were He estimates that 4 officers making scenes by the first responding officer, achieved with handguns only. "This is entry SOLO ("Single Officer Lifesav- reports the latest statistics in support not to diminish the importance and ing Others") as they arrive at an ac- of his tactical position. As we've growing issuance of patrol rifles," tive shooter location and hunting in a noted previously Borsch, manager and Borsch says. "It's merely an empow- "multi-tiered, multi-directional fash- lead trainer at the Southeast Area ering fact that law enforcement can ion" can cover a large facility at least Law Enforcement (SEALE) regional in- and has won against superior weap- 4 times faster than 4 officers in a service academy in Bedford, OH, ons used by the offender." traditional formation. "That means tracks the circumstances surrounding (Borsch feels these statistics would that 4 SOLO officers will be poten- active-killer incidents via an ongoing likely hold true for active-killer inci- tially 4 times faster in locating the Internet research project. He focuses dents as a whole. He does not in- active killer," he says. particularly on "rapid mass murder" clude in his tally terrorist attacks, "Agencies pressed for training dollars episodes in which 4 or more slayings barricade/hostage-takings, or domes- and time should invest their precious have occurred during the same event tic violence in private dwellings.) training money and time in the docu- and in the same location (schools, "None of the reality-proven suc- mented-successful single-officer ap- work sites, churches, malls, and other cesses against rapid mass murderers proach. Those that suggest there public places) within the same time resembled the multiple-officer for- could be a 'blue-on-blue' friendly fire frame (20 minutes or less). In this mations commonly taught in conven- problem because of lone officers category, which Borsch believes offers tional training circles," Borsch points acting independently miss the point. the truest profile of mass killers and out. "Clearly, rapid aggressive action The real friendly fire challenge will be their deadly mission, he has analyzed by a single actor has been and is now to avoid shooting panicked inno- nearly 40 cases in the U.S. and abroad, the most effective countermeasure cents, not conspicuously uniformed he tells Force Science News. These are for the active killer." fellow officers. his findings regarding responder effec- Law enforcement, Borsch argues, is "Handicapped by time and distance, tiveness: in a race with the rapid mass mur- law enforcement has, at best, a per- • About 70% of these killing sprees derer who "wants to build his body ishable opportunity to intervene in a were "aborted" (ended) by third-party count before cops arrive." Starting rapid mass-murder scenario. Unlike intervention, without which the death first, he may have an edge of 5 min- the myriad of calls where we have toll undoubtedly would have been utes or more before police are even been trained to wait for backup, a higher. notified. With the right opportunity shooting in a public place is quite • Of the total aborts, two-thirds were and determination, "history has different. by armed or unarmed civilians, initially proven that he can deliver murder "Most calls where we correctly use taking action alone the overwhelming and attempted murder as fast as backup do not commonly result in majority of the time; once every 3 to 8 seconds," Borsch murder. But with an active killer, the • Of the remaining one-third of suc- says. outcome of waiting instead of show- cessful aborts, credited to law en- "Unfortunately, conventional training, ing the courage to enter alone imme- forcement, 67% were initiated by a such as waiting for backup and trying diately is likely to be not only mur- single officer; to organize a multi-officer 'posse der but multiples of murder. This • Only 1 resolution initially involved as formation' team for entry and loca- goes against our mission of stopping many as 3 officers. In that instance, tion, gets in the way of successfully the killing. In these situations speed they responded in plainclothes with- stopping the killing," Borsch asserts. has been proven to be a lifesaver."

Achieving Outcomes on the Street with Integrity, Building Loyalty and Mutual Trust

By Fred Leland what organizations are all about. Trust when they trust those in their charge. “If your boss demands loyalty, give must be created and nurture by leaders At the tactical level is where most prob- him integrity. But if he demands through developing people within an lems law enforcement deals with nor- integrity, give him loyalty.” ~COL organization. As a leader you have a mally dominate the outcomes, therefore, JOHN BOYD responsibility for the people that work the attributes of skill, morale, discipline, As I see it, anyone in a leadership position with you and under your charge. Yes, the unit cohesion influenced by leadership assumes the responsibility of TRUST. I leader must get the job done. Getting the come into play. Skill must be an individual know that’s a pretty BOLD statement. But job done entails people executing initia- attribute, but it is officers working to- I feel it is true and stand by it. Trust is tive. People are willing take initiative gether solving problems however big or © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 8

Achieving Outcomes on the Street (continued) small a team or unit, that really matters. truth must be sought by individuals and bine firmness, compassion, and under- What counts then is not personal skill but groups working coactively. When work- standing in dealing with subordinates who the skill effectively applied by the team as ing coactively there will be discussions have to make tough decisions required in a whole and that depends on competent and debates maybe even knock down, policing. This allows insight into your leaders who know how to influence those dragged out disputes on the appropriate motivations as a leader. Are you in in their charge. This is done through cre- strategies and methods in implement charge to enforce a zero defects mental- ating and nurturing a culture of mutual them. In this fast paced and at times dan- ity or are you there to help those in your trust bound by integrity that leads to loyal gerous world we must understand no charge learn, unlearn and relearn, remov- “doers” on the street. one possesses all the answers and even ing the walls that separate people and Integrity is a concept of consistency of collectively we will still face uncertainty. ideas? actions, values, methods, measures, princi- Trust between you and those you work Over time integrity turns to trust and ples, expectations and outcomes. In ethics, with are where loyalty forms. Trust and that trust when created and nurtured integrity is regarded as the quality of hav- Loyalty are closely related when based turns into loyalty, a loyalty that that ing an intuitive sense of honesty and truth- on integrity, allowing the powerful effect forms a cohesive unity amongst members fulness in regard to the motivations for of mutual trust to take hold. A feeling of of the organization. In contrast if you one's actions. Integrity, standing alone and buy in to the agencies vision takes hold have a lack of integrity, it will lead to being constant on a subject where we and unity forms, building a high level of disloyalty and hence distrust and the truly do not have all the facts and details individual morale, discipline within the negative effect on execution and the due to our failure to dig and learn to the agency and unit cohesion on the front- outcomes you desire. Doing what’s right fullest possible extent about the subject, line. Street officers are then willing to is integrity. Doing the right thing for the methods or tactics we are so constantly exercise initiative and solve problems. right reasons is loyalty strengthened by using to reach our endgame is also detri- Loyalty and integrity working their magic integrity. Very powerful attributes that mental to the outcomes we seek. and combining intersecting ideas across affect all we do. The attributes of loyalty and integrity are the spectrum bring much more effective Integrity and loyalty are attributes we huge in the realm of leadership. They al- results because they let reason trump must nurture with strength of character ways have been and will always be critical hierarchy. Integrity and loyalty combine to keep us in check. We need to stop to the functioning of any organization. But to nurture true creative abilities and jumping to conclusions, passing the buck, the key in creating and nurturing effective- harness insight, innovation and initiative grabbing the credit, throwing our weight ness in an organization is in the synergistic in any culture, most especially in law or egos around and stepping on others affects loyalty and integrity has on one enforcement and security where sensing who challenge our thoughts. Instead let’s another and the culture of an organiza- the climate and probing the environment believe in ourselves and in others for the tion. are so important to quality execution in right reasons. Imagine the impact this Integrity is the meat in the meal of master- rapidly changing conditions. This leads to has on our abilities to truly make a differ- ing ourselves as leaders and truly develop- commitment and accountability. ence in the complex and even sometimes ing our strategies for successful opera- For example: the Full Spectrum Policing chaotic problems we must solve such as, tions. No matter what organization or philosophy strives to take the initiative in workplace violence, terrorism, ongoing cause or person you believe in or how the cognitive (moral and mental) and deadly action (active shootings), police deeply you believe, means nothing without physical domains of conflict and violence officer ambushes, officer safety, domestic asking or being asked the tough questions and asserts the critical importance of violence, bullying and airline security, in our approach to getting things done in a tempo and surprise to gain the initiative social problems, family related problems way we can all be proud of when reach and compromise criminal intent and co- etc, etc, etc. I know it sound too damn whatever goals we have set our minds to hesion. Allowing us to not only solve simple doesn’t it, almost a Pollyanna view achieving. Integrity must be based in crimes in their aftermath but also pre- of solving the world’s problems? Maybe truth! vent crime from occurring. Can this type so but I firmly believe the answer does lie Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a of philosophy be implemented without squarely in walking our talk with integrity person, country, group, or cause. Being integrity and loyalty? I think not. Trans- that leads to what I will call “true loyalty” loyal to a person, country, group or cause parency throughout an organization and or faithfulness to the cause whatever that is obviously an important part of any cul- the community we serve, in what and cause may be for all the right reasons. ture, but if blinded by falsehoods, self- how we operate is crucial in accomplish- None of us are perfect and quite frankly deceptions, fear, peer-pressure and/or ing this goal as well. Mutual trust must be taking a stand of loyalty steadied on the the acceptance of the status quo, blind there. foundation of integrity for many of us loyalty can be detrimental to the success Mutual trust is formed through integrity takes a leap of courage, a leap well of any vision or intent those who are the in how we lead and police. We exercise, worth taking if we truly wish to get the subject to blind loyalty may have aspira- create and nurture an atmosphere if best out of ourselves and others we tions for. This is where integrity and its mutual trust by engaging and interacting work with. Can it possibly cost you power make its effects on outcomes of with those in our charge. We learn more something? Sure it can. But it’s the price any cause, known. about what makes them tick, and what we sometimes must pay for getting things Loyalty is the seasoning on the meat; you motivates them. We gain insight into done. If every person walked their talk, can know those things that just put the right their strengths and weaknesses. In turn you imagine how it would be? touch, the right flavor to why we seek our they learn the same about leaders and goals and make it all worthwhile. Our how we deal with problems and whether cause must be based in truth, and that or not the leader has the ability to com- © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 9 Patrol Rifle Necessities By Abner Miranda like Swiss Army Knives with all the From Law Officer Magazine 7/23/10 cheap crap available on the AR market. This would make for an ineffective gun/officer combo that could prove deadly when that weapon had to be deployed. The simple fix is to restrict the “add on” list to lights and optics from a recognized group of manufacturers. Now let's look at the other end of the spectrum on this all-or-nothing mentality. The current standard of training is to issue an officer an AR- 15. We then ask him to become pro- ficient with the weapon. Things like shoot-or-no-shoot drills and mag changes are fairly simple and easily mastered. Now, ask that officer to quickly acquire a target standing between and just downrange from two no-shoot targets. Before he does, create com- Keep it simple, but a light and an optic erational necessity, not a luxury. Nei- bat conditions by ramping his heart have a place on any AR. Photo Courtesy ther party wants to meet in the mid- rate up with a quick sprint across the Todd Bailey dle. But, as luck would have it, things This is an excellent article which range. Now you've created a prob- are slowly changing for the better. lem. Unless that officer has an optic appeared about a year ago in Law It wasn't until attending my first tacti- Officer Magazine - Editor on his gun he'll be hard pressed to cal rifle school that I learned that accomplish that drill without winging ambi parts are an operational neces- Many years ago, I worked for an one of the no-shoot targets. sity for all shooters. So, what does Give an officer a weapon capable of agency that issued us M4s but didn't this have to do with optics? A lot. allow the use of optics of any kind. blowing holes through cars, then A closed mindset restricts the end refuse him the one tool that makes Now, granted, even just 10 years ago user from setting up their rifle as optics were a bit clunky and over- that weapon as accurate as it can be they must. “Here’s your rifle; you and you've just delivered your agency priced, so agencies tended to steer can't add to or detract from it” is clear of them. This is no longer the to the opposition. highly dangerous statement. Quite They Always Have a Lawyer case: Optics are now very small, su- often the folks making decisions for per rugged and affordable to all. It's a foregone conclusion that mod- the entire agency are being pres- ern law enforcement agencies must, So why are we still seeing agencies sured from the accounting side of that refuse to allow their use? Igno- to some degree, make policy based the house and are being told “this is on liability issues. Just as it's a liability rance is one reason. Bean counting is what you have to work with and another. And of course there's the to not have AR-15s issued agency that's it.” So what happens is that wide, it's a bigger liability to not have good old, “I want uniformity among agencies, most often, choose a gun the ranks” mentality. OK, let's have optics issued with those rifles. Look based on the lowest bidder, then at it this way: How big of a liability that conversation. adopt policies that restrict anything It Starts With Ambi Parts do you think it is to issue a duty pis- from being added to it. tol without night sights? That's pretty Ambi parts on guns have been a big It's that “you can't add anything to point of contention for years. The bad, huh? Without those night sights your gun” mentality that's the prob- the pistol isn't as accurate as it can simple answer as to why they're such lem here. Rolling the optics into the a sticking issue is that ambi parts al- be in a high stress situation. To issue anything category makes it impossi- a duty rifle without optics is equally most always require some level of ble for officers to be as accurate as disassembly to install. This creates the as bad. they can be. The first time that an officer deploys potential of damaging the weapon, so, I recognize that it's important to yes, it's a valid issue. his AR-15 and misses, God be with restrict what you can and can't do you. Any attorney worth his salts will Further, most righties see ambi parts with an issued weapon at the officer as a luxury for lefties at their expense. quickly find at least one officer in level. If officers were given free run your agency that'll roll over on the We lefties—that's correct, I'm a of their guns, they'd make them look southpaw—see ambi parts as an op- brass and say, “I fought for optics but © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 10 was turned down.” Then they'll quickly with an optic on your AR agency here in Hamilton County, spend an hour discussing the ways than without. For the same reason Tenn. He recently shared with me that this tragedy could've been that your optic, when running, helps his excitement that his agency was avoided if you had optics. Trust me, you acquire your target quickly, it issuing AR-15s agency-wide. The I've been on the witness stand be- does the same thing when off. Mind agency heads bought them, trained fore. you, the result is a bit sloppier, but their armorers and issued them all If you've been issued an AR, thank still valid. under 60 days. That's impressive. your lucky stars that at least your The confining borders of your given Because the choice of optics is much command staff cares enough to drag optic create a CQC visual zone that more diverse than the choice of your agency out of the dark ages and draws your eyes into it. This is actu- lights, and time was of the essence, get you the tools that'll help you ally an accurate enough technique to they chose to issue the guns with a survive the inevitable. I work for hit out to 50 yards. Trust me on this: light and get optics later. They went Signal Mountain Police Department I do it all the time when teaching with the SureFire M500A, which is, in Tennessee. Although my town, for new shooters. In fact, I want you to in my view, up at the top of the food the most part, is a quiet, well be- fold down your rear BUIS and do chain when you're talking illumina- haved place, we still have AR-15s in this with only your front sight up and tion tools. The rifles were finished our cars so as to be able to deal with your optic turned off. Coincidentally, off with night sights, and an A2 carry anything untoward that might arise. that may be all you have to work handle. These guns are issued to the individ- with should things progress quickly The reason I mention all of this is ual officer and not the car—that enough. because his agency clearly sees the needs no explanation. We carry Back To Black value of going back to black. In a Smith & Wesson M&P-15 ARs with Back to black: This is a phrase that I CQC environment, aiming is almost EOTech 512 optics. Even though I came up with to go back to the an afterthought. If you've ever done have an excellent optic on my AR, I roots of the “black rifle.” Iron sights any building clearing, you know that don’t fall into the lull of false security will never fail you, which is why I unless you're dealing with hostages in in trusting an electronic device. harp on the subject of training with the mix, you're mostly sweeping a Train For Failure them constantly. room for threats that need to be One of the drills that we practice One of the drills that's a good stopped. You move with a purpose with our ARs is an optics failure. No combo of target acquisition and stop- and take action immediately upon matter how rugged you may believe page drills follows. Stand at the ready identifying the threat. The beauty of your optics are, they can fail you. with your target at the 25 yard line. having a great light on your gun is Recently, we discovered that our When your range buddy (never that you've just killed two birds with foam-lined cases were turning our shoot alone) says “go,” rack your one stone. If you have to choose optics on and draining the batteries. I gun, and bring it up. With the optics between optics or a light, and you happened upon this first because I'm turned off, and only your front BUIS only have time or money to get fanatical about maintenance on my up, you should still be able to get a one—buy the light! duty weapons. I popped open my solid lock on the center mass of your Buy the Light rifle case six weeks after the initial target. Squeeze off a few rounds, One of the first things I do when issuance of the weapon and pressed switch to “safe,” let it hang on the teaching a new shooter is slap a light the “on” button on my EOTech, only sling, then do it again. If your range on an unloaded gun and take them to find that it didn't activate. It turns buddy has done their job, they'll have into a darkened room. I then say, “If out that the foam that enveloped my hidden a few inert rounds in your the light is on the gun and you see AR had made its way around the round count. When you pull the the beam on the target, where do edge of the optic and the rocking of trigger and get a click, don't just you think the bullet is going to hit?” the vehicle was turning the optic on stare at the gun. Tap, rack and bang Point and shoot becomes so “duh” in every day. This could have been one applies to rifles too. this environment that it's like having of those things that I discovered on a By looking through the optic you can a wide laser beam coming out of the call where the AR needed to come actually center the front sight inside front of your gun. out. I remedied the problem by cut- of the parameters of the reticle. If By installing a strong light on your ting a larger swath of foam out of the the front sight is right of center, left patrol rifle you have in essence cre- case from around the optic. Problem of center or top to bottom, your aim ated a target designator for low light solved. is off. Make your correction and pull deployment. The M500A qualifies as The optics failure drill that I train on the trigger. If you didn't hit center “strong light” trust me, don't stare is very simple. Pop up your “back-up mass, it's your range buddy's job to right into the beam. At 225 lumens, iron sights” or BUIS and co-witness smack the back of your head because it can overpower closed eyelids and right through the optic. What you this stuff isn't rocket science. cause an almost physical reaction in find is that acquiring your BUIS pic- Own the Night your adversary. I’ve seen people ture is actually accomplished more I have a friend who works for a local physically cower when hit with the © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 11

want large jagged areas of coverage (continued from previous page) Patrol Rifle Necessities within center mass.” Brilliant—nay, beam of a tac light. If the bad guy’s without “aiming.” Please understand genius, I say! What a concept! Shoot- hands are busy trying to shield their that I'm not condoning the “pray-and- ing to survive instead of score. Target eyes, they won’t be busy attacking spray” technique. I'm just saying that shooting for score is exactly that: you—buy the light! in CQC you should not be aiming— shooting for score. You're a cop, train Here’s a great learning drill for you: there's no time. Remember: Your goal like you mean it. There's a reason that Take your unloaded rifle, and using in such an environment is not sight modern LE weapons carry round your tac light, clear your darkened alignment and trigger squeeze and all counts in the double digits. Use them. house. In every room pick a human that crap that we had drummed into Bullets are cheap compared to the sized object to be your target. What us umpteen years ago. This is threat value of your life. you find is that you don't even have to ID, shoot the threat to the ground, Author’s note: Many thanks to Sure- aim; the light is aiming for you. and move to the next threat. Don't Fire for providing me with this great Furthermore, when you put your eyes over think it. M500A for the article. Thanks also to behind the sights you get a front-sight I had an excellent academy, firearms Hornady for the training ammo that picture that’s so perfect, you just can't instructor many moons ago named makes this sort of high round count train- miss. Trust me: I've been doing this Lance Biddle. Mr. Biddle changed a lot ing even possible. And lastly, to you my for a long time. You'd be surprised of my thinking for the better. He told fellow officers, thanks for training and how fast you can put seven shots into me several times, “I don't want to see doing your part to keep our nation safe. a target from across a ten foot room all your shots in a perfect little hole; I See you on the streets

NomineesNominees WantedWanted forfor thethe JamesJames F.F. RingRing OutstandingOutstanding FirearmsFirearms InstructorInstructor ofof thethe YearYear AwardAward

In 2010, MLEFIAA began an annual practice of acknowledging outstanding achievements in firearms training here in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The inspiration for this award was Inspector Jim Ring (Concord PD) who, as the MPTC Statewide Coordinator for Firearms Training, set the playing field for the much needed overhaul of the firearms training curriculum and worked closely with the MLEFIAA E-Board to bring the Association and MPTC closer together. Jim was a life member holding membership #40. Just before Jim passed away in 2010, the MLEFIAA Executive Board approached him to see if he would support an award given in his honor. He agreed however his deteriorating health and untimely passing prevented him from making the presentation. The James F. Ring Outstanding Instructor Award acknowledges a MLEFIAA instructor whose efforts have made a significant impact in advancing the state of firearms training in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Sgt. Bill Leanos was selected to be the first recipient of this prestigious award for his efforts in carrying out the goals set by his predecessor. The time has come to select the 2011 recipient and the Awards Committee needs your help. If you know an instructor who has gone above and beyond to improve firearms training here in the Commonwealth, please send a short note identifying the instructor and why you believe they are deserving of the award to 3VP Bill Peterson ([email protected]). © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 12

live rounds from being chambered and it signed for a pistol with a tactical light it by Todd Bailey Product Review also serves as a visual “flag” at the muzzle probably has a muzzle insert to stabilize the indicating the weapon is safe for training. pistol if the light is not mounted. This will TRAIN SAFE barrel inserts The barrel blocks are a bright orange poly- interfere with the Train Safe barrel block Earlier this year I attended the ven- mer which are manufactured to fit a specific and make it impossible to completely hol- dor’s expo at the ILEETA Conference. As firearm. This is NOT a “one size fits all” ster the pistol. Shortening the barrel block usual, there was a lot of great gear on half assed product. defeats the purpose of being able to visually display there and I felt like a kid in the Unlike solid plastic “firearm simulators”, see that it is in place so that is not a solu- candy store. One item caught my eye the Train Safe barrel block allows you per- tion. That was the only drawback to this because it was simple and inexpensive form magazine change and dry fire drills. product that I could find. which is a requirement for today’s instruc- Because the barrel and chamber are Train Safe makes barrel blocks in 9mm, tor on a tight budget. blocked, there is no chance of introducing a .357 SIG, .40 S&W, .45 ACP and .45 GAP Train Safe LLC manufactures barrel live round into the weapon. Your officers for the major service pistol models. The inserts to disable your service pistol from can train with their duty pistol with a sig- insert is designed to extend slightly from chambering or firing live ammo. A good nificant reduction in the likelihood of an the muzzle to provide the visual indicator firearms instructor will have their officers unintentional discharge. that it is in place. The cost is about $5 per training with their weapons out in realistic To test the manufacturer’s claims, I unit which makes it a significant savings scenarios. Most of the time we want to tried to introduce a live round into the over other products. run the initial drills with no live ammo for pistol with the Train Safe barrel block in John also gave me a version designed for obvious safety reasons. Using Blue or Red place. The live round was stripped off the a 5.56mm patrol rifle which I have been guns is a solution but an expensive one follower but dead ended against the barrel using extensively during training. The fiber considering the average handgun simulator block. It is impossible for a round to be optic like rod can be cut to length to fit costs almost fifty dollars. chambered with this in place. Even if an your particular patrol rifle or carbine. Invented by John Carlin, a police fire- officer mistakenly brings a magazine with The Train Safe barrel block is a rugged arms instructor with many years of ex- live rounds into the training area, they can- product which should be in your gear bag perience, Train Safe barrel blocks are a not be chambered. and it’s not a bad idea for every officer to fool proof economic solution to this prob- To return the weapon to firing condi- be issued one. lem. It takes about 30 seconds to install tion, it must be field stripped, remove the For more information or to order on the barrel block. After removing the barrel and remove the barrel block. Reas- line, check out their website magazine and insuring the weapon is semble the weapon and you are good to www.trainsafe.us. You can also contact unloaded, field strip the pistol as if for go. This takes less than a minute including Train Safe at [email protected] or call cleaning. Insert the barrel block. Reas- the function check. them at 507-467-2526. semble the pistol. The block prevents any If you are using a Safariland holster de- © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 13

Catastrophic Pistol Failure by Todd Bailey MLEFIAA member Greg Newman being blown clear of the trigger group. load would normally be associated with shared his story and the photos in this You can also see that the magazine base this however the barrel showed no article. Greg is a IPSC shooter and place was blown off as the gases vented signs of bulging nor was there a ring in had just purchased a Bar-Sto barrel for downwards through the magazine tube. it. Instead of burning at the usual rate, his Glock 21. The ammo was .45ACP The cartridge case remained in the the charge may have “detonated” caus- reloads using a bullet weight and pow- chamber however the lower portion ing a sharper pressure spike. I cannot der charge that he has used for some shows signs of bursting under the high find much information on this although time with no problems. Greg states pressure. The upper portion of the I remember reading an article several he uses a progressive reloading press barrel hood remained locked up in the years ago which stated an under charge so a double charge is highly unlikely. ejection port of the slide. Several longi- is far more dangerous than an over Fortunately Greg was not seriously tudinal fractures are found extending charge and would likely “blow up” the injured during the incident. As you forward from the chamber area almost pistol rather than be a squib load. can see from the photos, an over pres- to the muzzle. The extractor appears The purpose of this article is not to sure event occurred and the lower to have remained in place. It is un- point fingers at anyone or any com- portion of the chamber failed causing known whether the firing pin safety and pany’s product. Steel can have flaws the gases to vent downward into the firing pin were removed after the event which are not apparent to the naked trigger group and magazine. As a re- or as part of the failure. eye. Use care when shooting reloaded sult, there was significant damage to The force of the failure caused the ammo. Be aware that even factory the barrel and slide which was bulged slide to disengage from the front rails. ammo can have defects. Wear the out on the right side near the ejection The recoil spring remained in place but required personal protective equip- port (the weakest side). The trigger the guide rod appears to have broken ment when on the range and be aware group was damaged and the trigger about 0.5 inches from the muzzle end. of any anomalies in your weapon which was blown down and out of the frame. Greg reports the most likely cause may be an indicator that something is Greg’s suffered a laceration of his of this failure was an insufficient powder wrong and bears checking. trigger finger caused by the trigger charge in the last round fired. A squib © 2011 MLEFIAA Page 14

Catastrophic Pistol Failure Photos courtesy of Greg Newman The official publication of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors & Armorers Association P.O. Box 253, Princeton, MA 01541-0253

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