The Sisyphus Comments

Flashlights and Leisure Suits

Working the night shift can be dangerous to your health! No, I’m not talking about the recent report in the medical journal, The Lance, that links working the night shift to an increase in cancer incidents. Although I admit cancer is a little scary, I think the challenges of just doing police work in the dark is an even bigger concern. That’s why it’s critical that we train officers to properly deploy their flashlights and service weapons in a functional and tactical effective manner.

I remember standing on the firing line in the 70’s trying to coordinate holding my flashlight at arms length away from my body while firing my weapon with one hand. If I remember correctly, the idea behind this technique was that the movement of the flashlight would draw the subject’s attention away from the officer’s body. Of course, by the time I coordinated moving the flashlight to the side, turning it on and aiming my weapon, I would have been dead meat anyway. Although this technique may have worked on an open shooting range, it wasn’t really practical in close quarters. Of course, I won’t even go into the weapon retention issues or the problems with one-handed shooting. Suffice it to say, there are some things from the 70’s that are best forgotten, sort like those powder blue leisure suits.

Fortunately, an astute trainer named Mike Harries, developed a flashlight deployment technique that carries his moniker. With the Harries technique, the officer holds the flashlight in one hand while the other holds the handgun with the hands locked together, back to back. The great thing about this technique is that it can be easily used in conjunction with our big, multi-cell flashlights. I have also seen a variation of this technique where the officer hold the flashlight and his weapon in closed fists with the palms placed together. However, just like with Coca-Cola, I still prefer the original for its function – plus it looks really cool.

There is another technique that gained popularity with the introduction of the Mini-Mag flashlight. Here the officer holds his weapon in the normal two-hand manner but he puts his mini flashlight between the ring and middle finger of his weak hand. I know it sounds a little squirrelly but it works if you practice it.

In fact, practice is the key to using any of these flashlight deployment methods. Unfortunately, in the academy environment there just isn’t enough time to give this critical skill enough practice. In many academies, the deployment of the flashlight is usually limited to one or two stations during a mandated firearms course.

Let’s face it though, depending on the time of year, cops spend about 2/3 of their patrol time working in low light or dark conditions so they need to perfect the skills that help them function effectively under these conditions. These tactical flashlight deployment techniques improve weapons retention while enabling the officer to use his weak hand for support. In addition, they permit the officer to shine his flashlight and weapon where he is looking. However, if the officer has to fumble around with his flashlight while he tries to remember the technique, he might well just go stand under a street light and make it really easy on the bad guy. So take a few minutes each day to practice this critical survival skill either at home or on the range until the movement becomes instinctive. Practice as if your life depends on it – some night it may!