Officermotions

Low Ready

Description

The officer was instructed to hold the weapon at a Classical Low Ready position, arms extended in front of the body at a 45-degree angle, two-handed grip. The officer was instructed to, at the sound of a buzzer, raise the weapon, get a sight picture and pull the trigger as quickly as they could. The distance from officer to target was 15 feet.

The officers were then asked to repeat the same test as above, but to not acquire a sight picture and immediately pull the trigger when the weapon was raised to the discharge level.

Times

Tactical Low Ready

Description

The officer was instructed to hold the weapon at a Tactical Low Ready position, arms extended in front of the body at a 45-degree angle, two-handed grip. The officer was instructed to, at the sound of a buzzer, raise the weapon, get a sight picture and pull the trigger as quickly as they could. The distance from officer to target was 15 feet.

Times

Hollywood Highguard

Description

This position is not a trained position in any academy or department that I am aware of. It seems to have evolved from Hollywood, and may be the clearest illustration in law enforcement of the power of visual modeling. Even though it is not trained it is a position that is used, often unconsciously and automatically, and so it is important to define the time parameters of this motion.

The officers were asked to place the weapon in the Hollywood High guard position with the trigger finger on the frame. The officer was instructed to, at the sound of a buzzer, point the weapon, get a sight picture and pull the trigger as quickly as they could. The distance from officer to target was 15 feet.

The officers were asked to repeat the same test as above, but to not acquire a sight picture and immediately pull the trigger when the weapon was dropped or driven to the discharge level.

The reader will note that a time to an unsighted shot from this position is approximately the same as an unsighted shot from a low ready position. However the time to acquire a sight picture from this position is twice as long as from the low ready position.

Times

Close Ready

Description

The Close Ready position depicted here is sometimes used while doing building searches. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from Close Ready position, get the weapon to an arm extended on target position, acquire a sight picture and fire one round.

Times

Belt Tuck

Description

The Belt Tuck position depicted here is sometimes used while doing building searches. It was more commonly taught in the 1980's. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from close ready position, get the weapon to an arm extended on target position, acquire a sight picture and fire one round.

Times

Bootleg Position

Description

The Bootleg Position is the name I have given this weapon placement position. Officers will, for a variety or reasons, pull their weapon from their holster and place it behind their strong thigh so it is not readily visible, but it is readily available. Because it is used by street officers the movement of the weapon from behind the thigh to the common firing positions was measured. The officers were instructed to place the weapon in position behind the thigh and when a buzzer went off, to as quickly as they could, raise the weapon to an extended arm, firing position, get a sight picture and fire one round.

Times

Close Contact

Description

The officer was instructed to hold the weapon at a Tactical Low Ready position, arms extended in front of the body at a 45-degree angle, two-handed grip. The officer was instructed to, at the sound of a buzzer, raise the weapon, get a sight picture and pull the trigger as quickly as they could. The distance from officer to target was 15 feet.

Times

Raise the weapon from Bootleg Position, aquire sight

picture, fire one round

Port

Description

The Port osition is one of three positions officers use to carry their shotgun. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from "port" position, get the weapon on target, acquire a quick sight picture and fire one round.

Times

Low Ready

Description

The Low Ready position is another position officers carry a shotgun in. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from low ready position, get the weapon on target, acquire a quick sight picture and fire one round.

Times

High Ready

Description

The High Ready position may be the most popular carry method for the shotgun. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from high ready position, get the weapon on target, acquire a quick sight picture and fire one round.

Times

From Holster

Description

Officers use a variety of levels of on duty and off duty holsters. I tested the time to draw and fire one round from each of these levels of holsters. Officers will also unsnap their holster, allegedly making the weapon more accessible. The time to draw from the four levels of holsters in an unsnapped condition was also measured. The officers were asked to place their hand near the holster for a start position. The measurement for this motion was the time it took the officer, in a reaction response, to move from a weapon in holster position, draw, get the weapon on target, acquire a sight picture and fire one round

In the research related to the combat tuck position, the officers were tested using the same holsters and under the same instructions, except the weapon discharge occurred in the close contact position.