#2A - How to Spot Armed Suspects
Most police officers who get shot are caught by surprise – but does that have to be?
Most officers who get shot are caught by surprise – but does that have to be? If you know how to read subtle cues that indicate concealed carry, you may be able to anticipate that you’re dealing with an armed subject and gain a preventive edge of timing and positioning?
Sgt. Jeffrey Kleinsmith, the US Secret Service uniformed division, shared techniques used by agents who protect the president to spot gun-toters before they strike. “This training works great on the street,” Kleinsmith said.
As part of a multi-agency gun recovery unit that patrolled tough neighborhoods of Washington, DC, he used these observation methods to help detect more than 300 hidden firearms on suspects in the first six months of his assignment, resulting in a 15% decrease in violent crimes in the targeted areas. Early discovery is critical, he stressed, because if you wait until you actually see a weapon you may be too far behind the reactionary curve to thwart an attack…