NCJ Number
192506
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2001 Pages: 71-74
Date Published
December 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on police ground fighting methods.
Abstract
While the officer must abide by a rigid set of policies and laws in ground fighting, the suspect does not. Officers are not being successfully trained in martial arts but instead rely on submission holds and esoteric positions. Officers should be trained in simpler and more applicable methods of suspect control and officer defense. There are several aspects of ground fighting commonly offered by police trainers that may cause injury and sometimes death to an officer in the street. One example is the “guard” position. The officer, on his back, maneuvers the suspect between his legs and wraps his legs around the suspect’s mid-section, therefore “controlling” the suspect. Easily achieved targeting options against the officer’s eyes, groin, legs, throat, head, and face make this a very dangerous proposition. Another example is for the officer to immediately get to his back in order to effectively defend on the ground. Many officers make the mistake of trying to get back on their feet immediately after disengaging from a suspect. Most cannot safely return to their feet fast enough to prevent the suspect from physically re-engaging. A key component in every police ground fight is weapon retention. Rules to live by are to remain engaged while winning and disengage when losing, the safest ground defensive position for an officer is on his back, target seek using personal weapons, and transition to reasonable police weapons. Also important is if pinned and unable to move, rest, wait, and prepare. Never wrestle with suspects. By remaining within this simple idea of ground fighting, the officer will more safely conclude an incident that ends up on the ground.