Surviving an Armed Attack: Catch, Control and Neutralize

Virtually all officers have received training about how to react to an edged weapon assault. A majority of the training involves disengaging, by shoving off of the suspect so you can draw your gun and fire. This is easier said than done. What happens when the attacker is much larger and stronger than you and you cannot physically push him away? You might try to push off and move yourself back to gain distance. What happens when you have no room to move? What if you are sitting in your squad car when an attacker lunges at you? What if you are in some other confined space? What will stop the attacker from stabbing and slashing you repeatedly?

The vast majority of armed attacks against police officers are up close and personal. Only the suspect knows when the attack is coming, so you are already at a major disadvantage. Just like a sucker punch, the armed assault will catch you off guard and many times distracted. This is by design, as the suspect can purposely throw off suspicion by appearing compliant at first. When the attack comes, your brain may not register that a weapon is involved. You see a punch coming and do not realize there is a knife until you are cut. Your reactions to the weapon need to be instinctual and swift, just like your reaction to a ball thrown at your face. If you have to stop and think about catching the ball, you will be hit before you decide on a course of action.

In order to survive an armed attack, you must master these three concepts:
1. Catch
2. Control
3. Neutralize

This is part 1 in a 4 part series called Surviving an Armed Attack: Catch, Control, and Neutralize.

• Part 1: Surviving an Armed Attack: Catch, Control, and Neutralize
• Part 2: Surviving an Armed Attack: Catch
• Part 3: Surviving an Armed Attack: Control
• Part 4: Surviving an Armed Attack: Neutralize

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