The Effectiveness of Weaponless Defensive Tactics Training: A View of Police Officers

• In Event: Law Enforcement Academy Training

Abstract

Law enforcement officers use weaponless defensive tactics to both defend themselves and protect others. Weaponless defensive tactics consists of officers using hands, feet, and other parts of their bodies to strike, escort, or grab control of subjects. Weaponless defensive tactics training also includes handcuffing techniques and strategies officers use to make arrest and detain subjects. In the State of Alabama, the Alabama Peace Officers Training and Standard commission (APOSTC) replaced the Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT) with the Strategic Striking and Grappling Techniques (SSGT) as the mandated defensive tactics training by January 1, 2014. No studies have examined which defensive technique is more effective. An interview study will be conducted with forty to fifty police officers from six different police departments in central Alabama in order to identify their opinions about the two defensive tactics trainings such as their practical uses of weaponless defensive tactics, and their preference and satisfaction with the trainings. The outcome and policy implications will be discussed.

Authors

• Tonikos Vandiber, University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Hyeyoung Lim, University of Alabama at Birmingham