Editor’s Note:This is a guest post from Ron Borsch. Ron’s bio is at the end of this article.
The “DAR” is not a typo for “Browning Automatic Rifle”. It is an unobtrusive ear witness to law enforcement situations that you are involved in, for example the officer involved shooting that is mentioned below. A DAR, or Digital Audio Recorder can and should be used as a backup verification tool. If you do not carry and use one now, perhaps you will reconsider.
Audio recorders have come a long way since I left uniform patrol in 1997. The size of my Mini-Cassette recorder was about as small as they could be made then, but the Digital Audio Recorders, (DAR), of today are dwarf cousins that work even better, and have numerous options that were not available in the past. Their size and “backup verifier” potential is good reason for law enforcement officers to carry them, especially if you are involved in a deadly force incident.
Compared to a pack of cigarettes, the DAR is thinner, narrower, and a little taller, (“printing” much less in a shirt pocket). Professional, motivated and proactive officers should not be without them. The reasons and need value for an audio recorder today are more important today than in the past. For example, an appropriate DAR with software will allow an important audio file to be downloaded to an agency or personal computer.
While the cutting edge technology today is in the personal Digital Video Cameras, the price range seems to be on the other side of an agency’s bean-counter-barrier, and certainly outside an individual officer’s budget. Not so for the Digital Audio Recorder, where some shopping around will find many models under a hundred dollars. Ask an officer who has one to show you his DAR features before you buy. And buy you should!
“Shots Fired”! The DAR as a verification tool
A Digital Audio Recorder can reduce your note taking and improve the accuracy of your reports. These are minor benefits compared to having audio of a hostile complainant or resisting offender as agency or court evidence. Perhaps the greatest benefit of a DAR would be in the chaotic moments of a serious use of force incident, especially one that could explode in controversy. The DAR is an independent and impartial audio witness that is more accurate and carries more weight than a human ear witness.
In our community, the most recent and best example of this was an April 8th 2010 police shooting and killing of a parishioner inside a religious facility. Imagine the potential storm of controversy here. Briefly, police were flagged down by people fleeing the facility. They explained that a man wielding a meat cleaver was inside with other parishioners. When officers entered, one officer found himself rather suddenly confronted by the offender, and ordered him at least twice, to drop the large blade. The offender, moving toward the officer, elevated by a few stair steps and distance of 8 to 11 feet did not, and was appropriately shot.
Most officers are quite aware of and have been trained on the Tueller 21 feet rule regarding how quickly an offender can cover the distance with a knife, gives an alert officer about a 50/50 chance of drawing and getting two shots off. Most professional trainers suggest this is still too close. A long club or long blade, as was the case here, also cries for more distance. The unusual offender-elevated factor, (potential leap and gravity), surprise and much too close distance, created a forced “me or him” choice for the officer. The offender made a bad choice, and the officer performed admirably.
The Investigative TV Reporter
Beside other relevant information, our agency gave the TV reporter an audio copy taken from one of the officer’s personal DAR. Although the investigative reporter was impressed by our agency’s openness and professionalism, (he said so), we had to wait and see just how well or not, the TV coverage will play. The reporter and film crew went to the shooting site and obtained appropriate video of the scene for the nightly news.
The Television Special Report, A Win-Win
The TV Investigative Report coverage turned out to be a best-case scenario for everyone. This hard working reporter and his staff put together a virtual video reenactment of the scene, (minus people), interspersed with narration by the reporter and appropriately timed police DAR clips. The viewing public saw the close quarters and heard an understandably excited officer challenging the armed offender, his gunshots following, and the calm, helpful voice of his back-up supervisor: “Cease-fire…. De-cock”. From the two-minute video clip, you should get the distinct impression that the officer’s decisive encounter was closer to two seconds!
Conclusion
The verification properties of a DAR, depending on the circumstances, could be worth its weight in gold. Previously acquiring his DAR, our supervisor here had begun the practice of appropriately activating it on most calls or activity that had the potential of developing into something. In this case the DAR was a silent “Backup verifier” for both the officer and his supervisor. The supervisor’s DAR certainly paid for itself on just this call, and surely has promise to be helpful to him again in the future. From everyday use as a pocket secretary to a worst-case scenario where a situation boils down to a single officer’s word against one or more less than truthful citizens, the DAR ear-witness tells the truth!
About the Author: Ron Borsch
Ron Borsch is a semi-retired police officer, manager and lead trainer for the non-profit, post-graduate SEALE Regional Police Training Academy in Bedford OH. For years, Ron has been one of the leading proponents of SOLO, “Single Officer Lifesaving Others”© as a countermeasure to the active killer committing rapid mass murder. His career includes decades of service on Patrol, agency Rangemaster, SWAT, (operator-trainer), Chief Defensive Tactics instructor, Staff Instructor for the Kent Martial Arts Club, and Monadnock International Instructor. He has presented before national and international audiences, and has shared much of his active killer research on multiple law enforcement web sites.
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