Please read the entry right before this one first.
One of the worst ways to die on duty (well there is really never a good way) is by your own gun. I can think of only one other officer related death that is worse then having your gun taken away from you then used on you, it is the following (AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A police officer died early Sunday after she got out of her patrol car to chase a man on foot and was run over by her partner. Officer Amy Donovan was on patrol late Saturday when she and her partner, officer Adrian Valdovino, saw someone engaged in "suspicious activity," said Police Chief Stan Knee. Donovan jumped from the car to question the man, but he fled on foot. Valdovino put the car in reverse to try to stop the man and the car struck Donovan, the chief said.)
The primary reason for the stigma of getting killed with your own gun is that you brought and paid for the weapon that was used to kill you and further the murderer was able to take advantage of you and kill you. So on top of everything else you lost the physical altercation along with loosing your life. We spent hours in police academies training in firearms retention drills to prevent this from happening.
The death of this officer should be a wake up call for all of us. This is the time to make something positive out of the death of a good man.
Ask yourself these questions: 1. am I in good to excellent physical shape? If not get started getting back into shape. You must be ready for the fight because you never know when and where it will happen. 2. do I have the best equipment Right here right now? There is never a good reason to have a level one holster. Spend the money buy the best, it will save your life. Police officers are notoriously cheap, remember your life is priceless. In this officer shooting if he had a level 2 or 3 holster he probably would be alive. 3. How is my Officer safety and environmental awareness? Are you allowing the suspect access to your gun side? Are you going to calls before your backup gets there? Are you ready to combat any and all threats to your life? I bet if we asked this officer a week before he was killed what he thought his chances of getting disarmed and killed by a fat middle aged crazed woman, he probably would say that would be nearly impossible. Remember with firearms everyone is equal.
It is easy and I have fallen into this trap also, to become complacent when you have been there and done that...you have fought against the best and won...etc. It is hard to stay sharp and not find contempt for the job once a number of years go by with very little experience in true threats to your life.
BUT YOU HAVE TO PLAN FOR THE ONE IN A MILLION. IF IT NEVER COMES THEN YOU WIN, IF IT COMES THEN YOU ARE READY TO FIGHT BACK. IF YOU DON'T PLAN AND IT NEVER COMES YOU WIN, BUT IF IT FINALLY COMES AND YOU DON'T PLAN FOR IT THEN YOU DIE.
Be ready, be safe, be alive...you serve the public so that you can go home to your family.
Proverbs 20:18
Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
Proverbs 21:5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
