principles of illumination tool

Principles ofIllumination Tool

Deployment for the LawEnforcement Officer

Vaughn Baker

llibre_esp4.indd 29 3/11/08 11:13:13

About the Author:Founding member ofStrategos InternationalMr. Baker is currently the President of Strategos International. His law enfor-cement experiences include 15 years of patrol, investigations, and special operations assignments.

He has also served as a member of his agency’s SWAT team for over 12 years. He has trained thousands of law enfor-cement and military professionals from around the world over the past 15 years on various law enforcement, military and tactical related topics.

Awards and CommendationsCertificate of Commendation – For involvement in arresting a shooting suspect who ambushed his estrange girlfriend in a parking lot and shot her 5 times.

Meritorious Service Award – Respon-ding with SWAT to Raytown, MO where a suspect had stabbed mother in neck and then engaged responding EMS and police personnel with approxima-tely 150 rounds from high powered rifle and pinning road officers in a ditch. Team was engaged while in armored vehicle with rounds while rescuing LE personnel and surrounding neighbors from the area with armored vehicle.Edited by:

LEDWAVE & Strategos InternationalAuthor: Vaughn Baker

llibre_esp4.indd 2 3/11/08 11:12:45

IntroductIon

u.S. PoLIcE oFFIcErS KILLEd In tHE LInE oF dutY

WHY uSE LIGHtInG tooLS?Adaptation to darkness• Adaptation to light• “Normal vision” is 20/20 • What does 20/400 mean in practical terms?• Using light to navigate• Using light to locate• Using light to identify threats• Using light as a control tool - think nighttime vehicle stops• Using light as a communication tool• Improper use of lighting tools• Specific lighting principles• Low-light typically seen as a disadvantage• Chaos•

FLASHLIGHt tEcHnIQuESReality Dictates the Requirement to•

be Proficient with FlashlightsDevelopment of Flashlights and Flashlight/Gun Techniques• Hardware Considerations• Terminology Used in This Section• Basic Flashlight/Gun Techniques• A Warning About Hands-Together•

Flashlight/Gun TechniquesFBI Technique• Neck-Index Technique• Harries Technique• Rogers/SureFire Technique• Transitioning the Flashlight•

PRINCIPLES OF ILLUMINATION TOOLDEPLOYMENT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER 3

llibre_esp4.indd 3 3/11/08 11:12:45

For the purposes of this document it is as-sumed that all students (whether you are an experienced patrol officer or an experienced SWAT officer) that you have already received some exposure or training that relates to PROTOCOLS & TECHNIQUES for handling a variety of disturbances. I.E. (alarm calls, party armed calls, high risk warrant service, hos-tage scenarios, barricaded /armed gunman criteria)

For the most part, much of law enforcement training revolves around procedural or tech-nique based training. We are not going to take that approach today. We are going to expose you to a PRINCIPLE-BASED training concept as opposed to TECHNIQUE and PROTO-COL type training. The value of learning and applying principles that has been shown to work consistently in potentially high-risk envi-ronments or in an actual lethal force enga-

gement cannot be overstated. Since most of these engagements occur during the hours of darkness, Effective use of Professional Quality lighting tools is paramount when applying these principles.

FactsFlashlights are often under utilized and taken for granted in law enforcement.No matter where you work law enforcement is a 24 hour a day operationIn most locations criminal activity increa-ses after the sun goes down simply because criminals like to operate under the cloak of darknessEven during the day, building interiors present murky, poorly lit environments that can rob an officer of his/her ability to see clearlyMost officer-involved shootings occur within the first 2 minutes of the officer arriving on scene. Therefore he/she will not be dark

IntroductIon

llibre_esp4.indd 4 3/11/08 11:12:46

adapted yet.Reduced illumination situations tax human vision to the limit and place extremedemands on our ability to quickly evaluate visual cues. Because the physiological reality, we will need sound tactics and the proper tools to assist us in locating and identifying potential threats in a manner that is conduci-ve to our safety. It can be a matter of life and death.Benefits from a good lighting tool and increa-sed performance in low-light conditions:

Significant increase in public & officer safety•Significant decrease in agency liability •concerns.

What equipment is available to assist in diminished lighting conditions?A number of devices have been developed to assist in low-light environments, but most have limited utility for law enforcement use.

Current high quality, night vision equipment can be cost prohibitive and limits depthperception and as well as your peripheral vision.Tritium sights provide no means of threat identification.Laser aimers can be a good special purpose tool, (for example when wearing nightvision goggles or when firing behind a ballistic shield) but are usually slower thanconventional sights and provide no threat identification or supplemental illumination. A quality flashlight is an extremely useful for all around tool for both routine and high risk law enforcement operations.

5PRINCIPLES OF ILLUMINATION TOOLDEPLOYMENT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

llibre_esp4.indd 5 3/11/08 11:12:47

u.S. PoLIcE oFFIcErS KILLEd In tHE LInE oF dutY (National Averages are the same + or - 2-3%)

ProFilEMale Mid-career37 Years Old5’10”200 lbs

PrimAry FActorsrElAtEd to dEAthPoor TacticsOverconfidenceComplacency“Rushing in’How Does “Mid-career” relate to the primary factors

oFFicEr ProFilE:Profile: 93% Male,10 years of service - Mid career37 years old, 5’10”, 200 lbs

susPEct ProFilE:95% Male, 40% White40% Black, 20% Other

distAncEs:50.5% - 5 feet or less71% - 10 feet or less83% - 20 feet or less

shot PlAcEmEnt:48% were killed with head shots(roughly 1/3 of this total were shot in the back of the head)

AvErAgEEngAgEmEnt timE:2.5 Seconds

FrEquEncy oFnight trAining:Approx: 4.6 month interval

timE:35.0% - 6pm to Midnight 25.5% - Midnight to 6am(Therefore 60% of the deaths occurred during the hours ofdarkness-In some locations this percentage jumps to 80%)16.6% - 6am to Noon22.9% - Noon to 6pm39% - Lighting conditions were cited as a contributing factor

WEAPons usEd:- 94% - Killed with a Firearm- 67% - Handguns- 27% - Long guns- 6% - Edged weapons, bombs & other

llibre_esp4.indd 6 3/11/08 11:12:47


llibre_esp4.indd 7 3/11/08 11:12:48

Adaptation to darknessMoving from light to darkSlow AdaptationMay be temporarily blind but gradually reco-ver some vision25 Minutes - 80% Adaptation60 Minutes - 100% Adaptation

Adaptation to lightMoving from dark to lightFast Adaptation

“normal vision” is 20/20Visual acuity drops to the 20/400 - 20/800 range when your eyes are utilizing the Rods to create an image in Low-light Conditions.Even under the best moonlit conditions your vision will only be 20/180Most of your sensory information comes through your eyes.

What does 20/400 meanin practical terms?A person with 20/20 vision can be 400 feet from a sign and read it. A person with20/400 vision will have to move from 400 feet to 20 feet before they are able to read the sign.Target identification goes down significantly in low-light conditions.

using light to navigateYou do not need an excessive amount of light to navigate. But you need enough light to navigate near and around obstacles.You need light to avoid trip hazards and falling off elevated platforms and balconies.In LE it can be crucial to stay on your feet.You need enough light to close the gap with your partner (s) when tactically appro-aching threat areas.

WHY uSE LIGHtInG tooLS?

shown in the background of this page is the “lEdWAvE

Rescue Master 2.70” and the “lEdWAvE Raptor strobing

tactical operations light”

llibre_esp4.indd 8 3/11/08 11:12:49

using light to locateThreat(s) or Non-Threat(s)ObstaclesBooby Traps

using light to identify threatsGoing through the OODA CycleAdministering ChaosThe proper use of a lighting tool allows us in shoot / no-shoot scenarios to “Shoot what we know . . . not what we THINK WE KNOW”You cannot simply engage a black silhouet-te in a dynamic environment. Although a threat may have been in that location previously, the silhouette you now observe/ engaging might be your teammate or an innocent party.

using light as a control toolthink nighttime vehicle stopsLight technology has improved. Light energy itself can be used to force the opponent to turn, raise hands, or close the eyes. Since an estimated 80% of our sensory information is received through the eye, you are reducing your threats situational awareness. This gives you tremendous advantages.When deprived of good visual information, the brain has a difficult time maintaining the body’s balance.Because of the above light is also used as a “Force Multiplier”.Just like bugs, human beings are attracted to light. Using light to facilitate displacement allowing you to close on a subject is a way of controlling what the subject is seeing or what he thinks he is seeing.Powering with light while a partner closes and takes control of the subject is alsoeffective.

9


PRINCIPLES OF ILLUMINATION TOOLDEPLOYMENT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

llibre_esp4.indd 9 3/11/08 11:12:51

using light as a communication tool• Communicate the Threat Location• Communicate the Direction of Movement

You can effectively communicate threat location and direction in a clear concise manner.Telling someone in a dark room, you have so-mething over here is non-specific, and addsunwelcome confusion. You may be operating in an environment where more than one offi-cer is searching with a flashlight. It looks like a scene out of the X-Files. One of the ways to stop the confusion when more than one light is being deployed is simply, and clearly state, Lights Out!All officers in the vicinity should immediately turn their lights off. The initiating officer blinkshis light on the area or person, and adds any necessary verbal clarification. This methodo-logy is amazingly effective in coordinating the team’s efforts, and potential firepower.

improper use of lighting toolsTelegraphing Location•The first obvious problem with using light, is that it telegraphs your location. It is es-sentially a bullet magnet. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand there is a human body associated with that light. Yet you must turn it on to observe and orient. (Identify) You are in a dilemma. To minimize the effects of telegraphing your location, you can do the following things:1- Constantly displace the location of your light, both vertically and horizontally.2- Constantly change the angle of your light.3- Constantly change the duration pulse of your light. Avoid leaving it on too longwhen searching for unknown threats. Avoid using rhythmic patterns.Self Blinding•Self blinding is caused by misdirecting your light onto light colored walls or shiny objects at close range. You can also blind your teammates or partners destroying their night vision.Failure to Recognize Backlighting•Backlighting your partner•When operating with two or more officers, one of the most common mistakes we en-counter is backlighting a team-member(s).

llibre_esp4.indd 10 3/11/08 11:12:52

That is shining a light directly onto a partner’s back, or simply turning on a light somewhere behind them when they are in a vulnerable position.This creates a clear and defined silhouette that is easily engaged by a committed threat.

specific lighting principlesRead” and “Recognize” the Lighting•Conditions•Bright•High-noonWell lit areaHigh level of detailMedium•Early morning or late evening, enough light to distinguish shapes, texture and color ofobjects with noticeable shadow areasThreat ID is impaired.

LowFull Moon, Stars, minimal ambientWeak artificial sources such as distant street light.Emission of light from another roomShapes only.Distance judgment and Threat ID is seve-rely impaired.No-Light•Unequal Lighting Conditions•BacklightingBlinding Front LightInadequate lightCornering Techniques•To be taught, demonstrated, and practiced during the practical exercises. Start cornering as soon as possible or practical.Generally move to the lowest level of light•Move quickly when moving from a well lit

Why lEd high precision illumination in a knife?1 - you can see in the darkness where and how

you cut2 - it’s safer in order to not cut yourself or someo-

ne else in a low light environment.3 - you’ve got a great knife but also a great poc-

ket light!!



llibre_esp4.indd 11 3/11/08 11:12:52

stainless steel watch and band with black ion/pvd plating. this watch is very useful for using as a navigation light source or a map reading light source.

50 meters water resistant - Brightest led light ever offered in a watch. - scratch resistant crys-tal - luminous numbers - carbon fiber dial - quartz movement2 year warranty - 2 lEvEls outPut - low light constant (5 seconds) - high light momentary

area to a low-light area.Short burst of Light and then MovePainting a path prior to movingRandom Heights when using light sourceIntermittent use of light “Movement wi-thout observation equals Death”“• See” from the opposite perspectiveView your self as an opponent wouldJust because you cannot see forward, does not mean the opposite is true. An opponent might be able to see enough to engage as he or she is facing you from the area you see as dark“Power” with the Light/Light and•

Move - “Two Sides of the Same Coin”When a threat or suspect is located “power” with light and do not “power down” light until suspect is taken into custody.Avoid target fixation when threat is locatedLight and move to avoid telegraphing your location (discussed above)

Disorient through Oscillation and/or Stro-•bing LightA rapid oscillation of a light across the eyes can be extremely debilitating, it effects:BalanceDepth perceptionPeripheral visionAlign 3 Things:•WeaponsEyesLightCarry more than one light•No matter how reliable your light is, if it is manmade . . . it will fail when you need it the most. “Two is one and one is none” theory.

llibre_esp4.indd 12 3/11/08 11:12:54

low-light typically seen as a disadvantageMore options at our disposal.Darkness can facilitate movements not possible in well-lit conditions.Low-light offers its own stealth and concealment.Intense bright lights have a greater effect on threats when the ambient light levels are low.When your eyes are dark-adapted they are 100 thousand times more sensitive to light.It is painful to gaze into a brilliant light. Use this to your advantage against threats.Recalling the concepts of chaos, low-light environments allow you to project an extremely difficult to read light signature.

chaosCHAOS? - Is it a good or bad element to have in the environment?Human beings generally do not function well in chaotic environments. Many training environments and pro-grams reflect this. They are orderly, sequentially laid out, with most of the significant stress removed. The reality of any physical conflict is that there is a strong element of chaos.Chaos is just part of the environment. We want to be the “PURVEYORS OF CHAOS”, not just respond negatively to it.We must have the ability to operate in a sequential AND in a chaotic environmentEXAMPLE: Lights off and move in a predictable manner with flashlight . . . then movecorrectly with flashlight, being unpredictable, changing positions, etc.Proper use of a quality lighting tool can be a very effec-tive strategy in creating chaos.



llibre_esp4.indd 13 3/11/08 11:12:55

FLASHLIGHt tEcHnIQuES

reality dictates the requirementto be Proficient with FlashlightsBy a substantial percentage, most officer-involved shootings occur during the hours from sunset to sunrise, when ambient light is either greatly reduced from normal daytime levels (even when artificial lighting is available) or is virtually nonexistent. Such low-light shootings undoubtedly comprise the majority of non-law enforce-ment (“citizen”) shootings.The obvious reason for this fact: Perpetrators of street crime are more active after sundown. Because most shootings occur in low-light conditions, it is not merely desirable for all officers to become proficient at shoo-ting with the aid of flashlights, it is a critical part of their overall skill set and should not be relegated to a one-time, check the box training approach.Being skilled and comfortable at simultaneously opera-ting a firearm and a flashlight enables one to:

1. focus on safely performing the job at hand, rather than becoming distracted by equipment issues and/or dangerous tactical errors.2. maintain the proper mindset - confident, contro-lling, dominating any actual or potential threat.

llibre_esp4.indd 14 3/11/08 11:12:57

development of Flashlights andFlashlight/gun techniquesThe first flashlight/gun techniques were designed around “regular” flashlights whose design had remained basically un-changed for half a century. Such lights had thin metal or plastic bodies, held a couple of C or D cells, and used a comparatively weak bulb.Flashlights for Law Enforcement and outdoor use were gradually improved, becoming more rugged, reliable and te-chnologically sophisticated. Long, heavy flashlights became standard. Law Enforce-ment tools because, in addition to being comparatively powerful, they could also be used as a weapon or restraint device. Their common use by LEO’s encouraged the development of flashlight/gun techniques. Flashlight design continued to evolve.

Bulb/battery technology and ergonomic considerations resulted in more powerful beams from “regular” sized lights. Over time, the beams became more powerful from ever smaller flashlights .These small handheld lights, whose bodies are an inch or less in diameter (called small flashlights in this section) are now universally accepted by Law Enforcement officers, specialized military units, and outdoorsmen. Although many flashlight/gun techniques that were developed for large flashlights worked equally well with the new small flashlights, some did not, resulting in modifications of the original techniques or the creation of new techni-ques.

“XP100 turbo lEd” light. if you want a flamethrower for a wide variety of lighting techniques and applications this is it. Welcome to the most powerful lEd tacticalflashlight ever!! 3 X 2nd generation lEds (total 10.5Watt!!!) n a triple lEd reflector specially designed that produces 350 astonishing lumens but also features ledwave’s revolutio-nary rechargeable system that you charge just like your mobile phone. (fast charge 3-4 hours -li-ion rechargeable pack regulated with charge – discharge ic control.

15


PRINCIPLES OF ILLUMINATION TOOLDEPLOYMENT FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

llibre_esp4.indd 15 3/11/08 11:12:58

hardware considerationsIn many self-defense, crime interdiction, or combat conditions occurring in low-light conditions, any flashlight may prove better than no flashlight. Furthermore, a less-thanideal flashlight may be used in many of the techniques described on the following pages.However, because of the potential deadly situations in which flashlight/gun techni-ques are employed, it is imperative to use quality flashlights with the proper features and capabilities.They are as follows:

Rugged: • This applies to all flashlight com-ponents: body, reflector, bulb, and switch. If dropping or banging the light puts it out of order, it is not suitable for LEO or combat use.Water Resistant• : The light may be carried and/or used in the rain. It must not be susceptible to either water infiltration or corrosion from dampness.Bright• : The light will be used to clearly iden-tify and classify threats and/or to tempo-rarily incapacitate an assailant. Traditional 2-D cell flashlights using traditional bulbs, are inadequate sources of light. We suggest a minimum of 60 lumens for an adequate light source. Momentary On/Off Switch• : Frequently, proper use of flashlights in LEO or com-

bat situations requires activating them for a brief moment, sometimes literally a fraction of a second. Ideally this acti-vation should be possible with just the thumb or a single finger.

Therefore:1- A flashlight with only a “twist” on/off

mechanism is unacceptably slow to operate.

2- A flashlight with a slide-on/off switch (most of which are not waterproof) is undesirable, since a positive and rapid on/off cycle is possible only with a thumb.

3- A flashlight whose momentary switch is integral with its regular on/off switch is undesirable, since accidental activa-tion of the regular switch at the wrong moment could prove disastrous.Note: It is possible to mitigate this factor by placing the activating fingertip or thumb tip at the perimeter of the on/off button, making it difficult (even virtually impossible) to fully depress the button and lock it on.

4- A separate momentary switch, opera-ble with one finger or one thumb while holding the flashlight in its normal grip, is by far the best.

5- Preferably weapons mountable for multi-purpose application and equip-ment compatibility.

llibre_esp4.indd 16 3/11/08 11:12:59

terminology used in this sectionLow-light conditions can include diminished interior lighting (such as in a darkened building or tunnel), or any outdoor loca-tion in heavy shadow (such as in a narrow alley or under a pier) or the complete lack of direct sunlight occurring after sundown. Flashlight/gun technique includes all techniques for simulta-neously using an illumination tool (handheld or weapon-moun-ted) and a firearm (handgun or long gun). Flashlight includes any handheld, battery-powered illumination device. Sword grip refers to holding the flashlight as one would a sword handle, with the lens end of the flashlight on the thumb side of the hand, as though the flashlight beam were replacing the sword blade.

ICE-PICK GRIP refers to holding the flashlight as one would an ice pick, with the lens end of the flashlight on the side of the hand opposite the thumb, as though the flashlight beam were replacing the ice pick’s pointed shaft. Hands-together techni-que refers to any flashlight/gun technique in which the flashlight hand or wrist touches the gun hand or wrist, and an attempt is made to keep them together via pressure or by interlocking wrists or fingers. This is in contrast to hands-apart techniques (FBI and Neck-Index) in which no attempt is made to keep the hands together. Sympathetic contraction is the term we will use to describe two related physiological phenomena that often oc-cur under stress or startle conditions. First, is the contraction of all digits on one hand even though the intention was to contract

Want a very high quality lighting tool at an economical pri-ce? the Z-1 is the light for you. this Xenon bulb light produ-ces an impressive 65 lumens of light output from in a pre-focues beam.this light can be utilized for both tactical applications and personal carry as well. it produces the equivalent light output of a 6-7 “d” cell flashlight.



llibre_esp4.indd 17 3/11/08 11:12:59

selected digits.Second, is the tendency of both hands (and/or their fingers) to perform similar actions even though the intention was to perform the action with one hand (or the fingers of one hand). This second phenomenon, technically called interlimb interaction, is more apt to occur under startle or stress conditions, and by having hands in close proximity to one another. Hand confusion refers to the physiological phenomenon in which the wrong hand is activated in a situation where each hand was “assigned” a separate task (such as left hand operates flashlight switch, right hand operates handgun trigger). This phenome-non is also more apt to occur under startle or stress conditions, and by having hands in close proximity to one another. Beam/grip displacement refers to two things that can occur when an officer employing a hands-together flashlight/gun technique fires his weapon, which then recoils.First, the aim of the flashlight beam can be jostled and even significantly redirected off-target by gun recoil.

Second, the position of the gun and flas-hlight hands can be altered by the recoil, requiring complete re-application of the flashlight/gun technique. All hands-toge-ther techniques suffer to some degree from beam/grip displacement. The extent of the displacement will vary according to the size and the strength of the user’s hands, size of flashlight, caliber of handgun, skill in applying technique, and the particular flashlight/gun technique used.

Basic Flashlight/gun techniquesThe proper techniques of moving room to room, clearing rooms, use of cover, confu-sing, disabling, and dominating opponents with light, avoiding self-illumination, etc., are outside the scope of this particular section. They are best understood and retained through handson, live instruc-tion. Nevertheless, the basic methods of actually holding the gun and flashlight for concerted use can easily be grasped through the following descriptions, aided by photographs. We have included most of the primary recognized techniques. Their strong and weak points are noted in the curriculum.Some techniques were initially developed or introduced for use with large flashlights and other methods were developed with smaller flashlights in mind. A well-trained shooter should be at least familiar with all of these techniques. Depending on the circumstances, each one can have its pla-ce. The best way to grasp the positive and negative attributes of each technique is to try it at night or in dark conditions with both large and small flashlights, while shooting live ammunition. Keep in mind that while a “static test” of the technique (above) is certainly useful, the true value and applicability of each technique cannot be completely understood and evaluated until it is used under conditions closely approxi-mating an actual search, house clearing, SWAT, or combat conditions. Under such conditions, the effects of stress, fatigue, corners, obstacles, and flashlight features will all have significant impact on what you actually select and employ.

llibre_esp4.indd 18 3/11/08 11:13:00

A Warning About handstogether Flashlight/gun techniquesWhen a flashlight is activated in a low -light situation there is an almost irresis-tible urge -made stronger under stressful conditions - to move the brightest part of the beam so that it shines on the percei-ved point of danger or into a potential assailant’s face. But in all hands-together techniques, because the user’s hands are locked or pressed together,redirecting the beam also redirects the barrel of the gun. At a few yards distan-ce even a moderate adjustment of the flashlight beam can turn a perfect center-of-mass aim into a complete miss. Taking one’s eyes off the assailant to re-align the gun is dangerous, and may well move the flashlight’s central bright spot off the target again, starting the processover. Thus, it is imperative to be aware of this phenomenon and train accordingly.

Two ways simplify this training:1- When directing your locked-together flas-

hlight and gun hands toward a potential target, or when sweeping them during a search, remember that the gun hand is the master hand. It’s the driver, and the flashlight hand is “along for the ride”, so to speak.

2- Adopt the mentality that, when the flas-hlight is activated, what you see is what you get. That is, be prepared to shoot with whatever part of the beam happens to be on the target.Don’t get in the habit of trying to achieve a perfect “spotlight” view of the target every time you switch on the light. Instead, pay attention to where the gun is aiming. In a situation where a split-second could mean the difference between life and death, gun alignment matters most.

rechargeable and compact, antiroll system, 100% tailcap tactical switch features a revolutionary rechar-geable system that makes very easy to charge it, just like mobile phone. Produces a smooth, brilliant, pre-focused, tactical level beam almost double bright than a giant 5-d-cell flashlight - bright enough to tempora-rily blind and disorient a person by impairing his night-adapted vision and fits all ledwave accesories for all type of weapons. small size, light weight, and astonis-hing high output make it a perfect for law enforcement and military use, specially on those who do not want to spend their money on expensive lithium batteries an-ymore. to charge your light you only need to plug-in the jack from the A/c regulated adaptor into the body of the light. Probably the most powerful rechargeable light on its size available worldwide. A remote tape switch is also available that converts this light to a we-apon mounted light as well.


llibre_esp4.indd 19 3/11/08 11:13:01

FBi techniqueDescription•

The flashlight is held in a sword or an ice pick grip, with arm extended well away from the body (and extended upward if desired), with lens of flashlight held slightly in front of body to avoid illuminating the user. Weapon is held in any position desired, out of contact with flashlight hand or arm.

Historia de la técnica•This is probably the oldest formally taught flashlight/gun technique. This technique was originally emphasized as a way to prevent the user’s flashlight from “mar-king” his exact position when activated. By moving the light away from the user’s body, an assailant who simply shot at the light source would be less likely to automatically hit the user. Some disparage this technique as outmoded. Advocates of specific hands-together techniques generally express this view. All techniques listed in this curriculum

have their own positive attributes as well as obvious deficiencies. The fact is, a relaxed, movement oriented, unstructured version of the FBI technique, employed with proper cover, is extremely useful in room-clearing tactics and in dynamic firefight situations.

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:Works with small or large flashlights.•No beam/grip displacement upon dis-•charge of weapon.Separation of hands reduces chance •of sympathetic contraction and hand confusion.Enables searching with flashlight inde-•pendent of aiming weapon.Peripheral light can illuminate front and •rear sights of weapon if desired.Allows minimal exposure of user’s body •during room clearing or firing around obstacles.Original purpose of masking precise •location of shooter still valid, though

the XP-1 tropper shown in the back-ground of this page is a very versatile illumination tool that produces over 85 lumens of lEd light.similar to our Z-1 but with lEd 2nd generation technology. Anti-roll sys-temProducing a smooth, brilliant, pre-focused, tactical-level beam almost double bright than a giant 5-d-cell flashlight-bright enough to temporarily blind and disorient a person by impai-ring his night-adapted vision and fits all ledwave accesories for all type of weapons.

llibre_esp4.indd 20 3/11/08 11:13:03

limited by ambient conditions such as reflective walls.Transitions well to the “Neck-Index” •Technique.If a smaller flashlight is being used, this •technique can be used with light weight shoulder-fired weapons and transitions well to shoulder-fired weapon technique.Supports the principle of “Light and •Move” and can be extremely deceptive if utilized properly.Easy to use Bilaterally.•

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES:User must shoot one-handed.•Can be difficult to maintain alignment.•Fatiguing if performed steadily for more •than a few moments, especially with large flashlights.Difficult to use with injured hand or arm.•Precise, instant alignment of flashlight •beam with target requires practice. Neck-Index Technique



llibre_esp4.indd 21 3/11/08 11:13:04

neck-index techniqueDescription•

The flashlight is held in an ice-pick grip. Thumb or any finger placed on the on/off (or momentary) switch. For large flas-hlights, the flashlight body is rested on the shoulder, indexed against the base of the neck. For small flashlights, the body of the flashlight (or the fist holding it) is held indexed against the jaw/neck juncture just below the ear, so that it moves in conjunction with user’s head yet blocks little peripheral vision. Weapon is held in any position desired, out of contact with flashlight hand or arm.

History•The first published description of this technique appeared in a June 1994 Hand-guns Magazine article by Brian Puckett, and therefore it is sometimes called the “Puckett Technique”. However, Ken Good and Dave Maynard of Combative Concepts Inc. taught the small flashlight version of this technique about two years prior to the ‘94 article. Puckett and Good now use the term “neck-index technique”. While

it was common for police officers to hold large flashlights in a similar manner during casual use or during extended searches, this technique (1) utilized the ergonomic, tactical, and even psychological benefits provided by this common, comfortable grip, and (2) broke from the long trend of hands-together flashlight/gun techni-ques. The goal of hands-together techni-ques is to steady the shooting hand and/or keep the flashlight beam constantly aligned with the gun barrel. Good and Maynard’s dynamic combat techniques did not require this, and Puckett questio-ned the overall desirability of it. To quote from the latter’s original article:“No standard gun/flashlight technique provides a firm, two-hand hold on the weapon.Instead of attempting to dodge this fact through complex, unnatural or unsuitable approximations of a two-hand hold - ma-king the cure worse than the disease - the better course is to accept the one-han-dedness of the weapon hold. Do not make it a liability, make the best of it.”

llibre_esp4.indd 22 3/11/08 11:13:05

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:Clear illumination of sights and the target •simultaneously.Natural transition from FBI technique.•Works with small or large flashlights.•For large flashlights, weight is borne al-•most entirely by the user’s body, enabling extended use.No beam/grip displacement upon dis-•charge of weapon.Separation of hands reduces chance •of sympathetic contraction and hand confusion.Enables searching with flashlight inde-•pendent of aiming weapon.Flashlight is held in “cocked” position for •defensive purposes if required.Usable with injured hand or arm, as it vir-•tually duplicates natural “flipper” position of wounded limb.

Supports an aligned body position for •movement in any direction.For ambidextrous operators - excellent •for lateral movement.Can be easily transitioned to light forward, •weapon back for weapon retention in closequarters.Supports “Power with Light” Principle.•Easy to use Bilaterally.•

NEGATIVES ATTRIBUTES:User must shoot one-handed.•Can create excess “splash” of light off rear •of weapon if not familiar with technique.Light is located near the head - All •threat(s) need to be accounted for.Use of this technique with larger flas-•hlights can easily lead to a strike to an incoming threat’s head/face if deployed in a less-lethal situation. The flashlight is naturally poised to strike.

compact enough to fit into the palm of your hand and lightweight enough to clip onto the bill of your ballcap the XP-11 shown in the background of this page is an amazing lighting tool. the XP-11 is the personal the light with most advantages on the XP series.Amazingly compact,and extremely bright. you get a 65 lumens concentrated spot and a wide corona in a 2nd gen. lEd. this light can sight a person or animal at up to 80 meters.its design is compact, handy and agres-sive.



llibre_esp4.indd 23 3/11/08 11:13:07

harries techniqueDescription•

The flashlight is held in an ice-pick grip (lens on side opposite the thumb). Thumb or anyfinger operates on/off (or momentary) switch. Wrists nest together and backs of hands are firmly pressed together to create stabilizing isometric tension. For large flashlights, body of flashlight may be rested on weapon hand’s forearm.

History•This technique is named after Michael Ha-rries, a pioneer of modern practical combatshooting. Developed in the early 1970s for use with large flashlights, this technique iswidely used and is well-suited to small and larger flashlights.

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:Works with small or large flashlights.•Enables steadier, two-hand support of •weapon prior to shooting.Flashlight body (larger flashlights) can •sometimes be rested on weapon hand’s forearm, enabling extended use.

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES:Works only with side-switch flashlights.•Difficult to perform for those with small •hands or with a heavy flashlight.User may suffer beam/grip displace-•ment during discharge of weapon.Fatiguing if performed steadily for more •than a few moments, especially with large flashlights.Proximity of hands increases chance •of sympathetic contraction and hand confusion.Weapon can bang into flashlight during •hasty execution.Difficult to use with injured hand or arm.•Attempted alignment of flashlight beam •with target can alter alignment of we-apon with target, and vice versa.Light is located center of mass, if un-•seen threats engage the light your body is directly in the line of fire.

llibre_esp4.indd 24 3/11/08 11:13:07

rogers/sureFire techniqueDescription•

A small flashlight is held between forefinger and middle finger in a “syringe” grip, that is,with these fingers gripping the body of the flashlight (and in front of the integral rubber ring, if the flashlight has one). The lens of the light faces outward, and the protruding momentary switch rests against the middle or lower part of the thumb. The flashlight is activated by squeezing it between fingers and thumb. The weapon hand is brought together with the flashlight hand, as though performing a normal two-hand hold, and the lower fingers of the flashlight hand are wrapped around the gripping fingers of the weapon hand. Isometric tension is applied with the arms to steady the weapon.Note: Some people find that wrapping just the bottom two fingers (ring and little) of the flashlight hand around the gun-gripping fingers improves alignment of flashlight beam with gun barrel. However, quickly assuming this particular grip requi-res more practice.

History•Named for former FBI agent William Rogers. Andy Stanford writes that Ro-gers developed the technique around the original Laser Products 6P flashlight, which had neither a gripping ring nor a protruding momentary switch.

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES:Keeps flashlight beam well aligned with •gun barrel.Enables steadier, two-hand support of •weapon prior to shooting.Little beam/grip displacement if properly •executed.Efficient draw when carried with the •SureFire proprietary holsters and other flashlightholsters designed to carry the flashlight lens down.

NEGATIVES ATTRIBUTES:Works well only with small flashlights with •end-mounted momentary switches.Proximity of hands increases chance •of sympathetic contraction and hand confusion.Difficult to use with injured hand or arm.•Attempted alignment of flashlight beam •with target can alter alignment of we-apon with target (& vice versa).Light is located center of mass. If unseen •threat(s) engage the light, your body is directly in the line of fire.Accidental release of the magazine du-•ring recoil due to close proximity of the fingers/flashlight.



llibre_esp4.indd 25 3/11/08 11:13:08

transitioning the Flashlight

The Bilateral TransferAs described by Ernest G. Langdon, 2-time IDPA national champion, shooting instructor and ad-junct staff member of Strategos International.This technique is the same from either side.Start by rotating the index finger around the flashlight so that the flashlight is held by the remaining three fingers. The web of the hand between the index finger and the thumb should now be exposed.Note: The trigger finger is straight before the technique is started.The grip on the pistol is relaxed slightly to expo-se the back-strap area of the pistol. Note that the thumb is still around the grip maintaining control of the pistol.

The flashlight hand now is inserted in the expo-sed back-strap area. Using the web of the hand and pinching with the thumb, control of the pistol is taken by the flashlight hand.Now that control of the pistol has been trans-ferred to the other hand, the grip that was on the pistol can be released and that hand moved to a position just below, and in front of, the flashlight.Now the three fingers that are holding the flashlight are relaxed allowing the other hand to take control of the light. The transfer is now complete.This technique is easy to commit to the sub-conscious, once mastered.

llibre_esp4.indd 26 3/11/08 11:13:10

llibre_esp4.indd 27 3/11/08 11:13:11

llibre_esp4.indd 28 3/11/08 11:13:12

principles of illumination tool

Documents

law enforcement training

law enforcement officer

various law enforcement

light normal vision

experienced swat officer

years of patrol

law enforcement experiences

thousands of law enforcement