NCJ Number
177433
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 23 Issue: 5 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 38-41
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Because many deadly force confrontations occur at night, it is critical for police officers to be proficient in the use of firearms under dim or no-light conditions, and flashlight- assisted shooting techniques are described to facilitate target acquisition and identification.
Abstract
The use of handheld flashlights by police officers is common, and three of the most common flash-assisted shooting techniques include the Ayoob, Chapman, and Harries methods. The Ayoob method requires the police officer to hold the flashlight normally in the weak hand, hold the handgun in the strong hand, and simply bring the hands together until the bases of the two thumbs meet. This method angles the light sharply upward when the handgun is leveled on target. The Chapman method requires the police officer to hold the flashlight encircled in the thumb and index finger of the weak hand, with the lower three fingers extended and wrapped around the butt of the handgun and shooting hand. This method aligns the light beam and the handgun barrel for use at any reasonable distance. In the Harries method, the flashlight is held backhanded (reversed) in the weak hand, with the pinkie, ring, or second finger operating the switch. The gun hand is brought over the top of the flashlight and the backs of the wrists are brought together so the hands interlock at the wrist. This method can be used with light-recoiling semiautomatic rifles and perhaps shotguns. Tactical considerations that should be followed during flashlight operations are noted, and compact flashlights that can be attached to the weapon itself or independently hand-operated are briefly described. 3 photographs