Force Science News #62: New Findings from FBI About Cop Attackers & Their Weapons at Force Science News

Force Science News #62: New Findings from FBI About Cop Attackers & Their Weapons at Force Science News: "most would-be cop killers:

–show signs of being armed that officers miss;

–have more experience using deadly force in “street combat” than their intended victims;

–practice with firearms more often and shoot more accurately;

–have no hesitation whatsoever about pulling the trigger. “If you hesitate,” one told the study’s researchers, “you’re dead. You have the instinct or you don’t. If you don’t, you’re in trouble on the street….”"

"none of the firearms in the study was obtained from gun shows. What was available “was the overriding factor in weapon choice,” the report says. Only 1 offender hand-picked a particular gun"

"More than 80% “regularly practiced with handguns, averaging 23 practice sessions a year,” "

"victim officers in the study averaged just 14 hours of sidearm training and 2.5 qualifications per year. Only 6 of the 50 officers reported practicing regularly with handguns apart from what their department required, and that was mostly in competitive shooting. Overall, the offenders practiced more often than the officers they assaulted"

"fired 12 rounds at an officer, striking him 3 times. The officer fired 7 rounds, all misses."

"Nearly 70% of assailants were successful in [delivering at least some rounds on target] with handguns, compared to about 40% of the victim officers" "offenders might have had an advantage because in all but 3 cases they fired first"

"Because they eschew holsters, offenders reported frequently touching a concealed gun with hands or arms “to assure themselves that it is still hidden, secure and accessible” and hasn’t shifted. Such gestures are especially noticeable “whenever individuals change body positions, such as standing, sitting or exiting a vehicle.” If they run, they may need to keep a constant grip on a hidden gun to control it.

Just as cops generally blade their body to make their sidearm less accessible, armed criminals “do the same in encounters with LEOs to ensure concealment and easy access.” "