The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Off Duty: Are You Ready To Fight For Your Gun?

Off Duty: Ready To Fight For Your Gun?

March 20, 2018 by Mark Miller Leave a Comment

When you’re off-duty, you need to think through your actions and consider the impact of not having normal police equipment available. The lack of a radio, Taser, or handcuffs reduces options. In a dangerous situation caught on video, an off-duty Albuquerque, New Mexico police officer fights a suspect in a gas station parking lot. Headed home from a day of training, the officer found himself in a fight for his gun.

According to an Albuquerque Police statement, the man in the video, Dino Bailey, was threatening to kill a security guard at Bluewater Apartments, located next to the gas station where the video was filmed. An off-duty SWAT officer, Stephen Arias, was heading home when he heard the radio call describing a man with a gun. Officer Arias arrived at the gas station and confronted Bailey, who ran to a red car. This is where the video starts.

Without his patrol gear and its array of less-lethal options, he was at a disadvantage. In the police world, there is a gulf between what is taught in firearms training and arrest techniques, also known as defensive tactics. This officer did well, but was uncomfortable fighting and placing handcuffs while holding a rifle.

In firearms training, the solution to every problem is ballistic. Defensive tactics training is more nuanced, but the guns are rubber and quickly disappear into holsters when performing subject-control techniques. The real world is less predictable and may careen between lethal force and handcuffing. Many officers have never trained to cuff a suspect while holding a rifle.

While well-trained for a SWAT team encounter, he appeared to be inventing techniques on the fly, and his single-point sling did not help him transition to handcuffs. He got back up and the situation turned out well, but he found himself in a position that he had not anticipated.

I applaud him for taking action when it would have been easy to stand by. If the suspect had been armed, a mass shooting may have been avoided. Some things that were overlooked in the heat of the moment: police markings, handcuffs, and less-lethal options. This video could have just as easily been a car jacking as an arrest. Imagine another officer responding to a man with a gun and seeing the action on the video. What would his assumptions be?

It is never ideal to confront a potentially armed suspect by yourself, particularly off-duty. Doing this while armed with only a patrol rifle reduced his options further. That said, there are occasions where there is no other choice and a suspect must be confronted due to immediate danger to the public which can be mitigated by prompt action. This officer clearly felt this was the case and jumped in with what he had at hand at the end of a training day.

If possible, wait for on-duty officers to arrive. If you must take action, take that action, but be aware of the disadvantages of that and what the risks are if things don’t go as you had expected. Have an exit strategy if things don’t go as planned:

  • Make sure you are marked as a law enforcement officer.
  • Call 911 or dispatch and let them know an off-duty cop is responding.
  • Consider the impact of your limited equipment.
  • Shout “Police” so witnesses calling 911 describe you as a cop.
  • Be prepared to physically subdue the suspect if he/she does not comply and lethal force is not justified.

This has a happy ending. Officer Arias was able to fight Bailey off, and when Bailey ran, they caught him as backup arrived. Even though lethal force could have been used in the struggle as Bailey tried to grab the gun, he instead ended up in jail with minor cuts, and Arias avoided a murder investigation and the inevitable allegations of racial profiling and excessive force.

The law requires that law enforcement use of force be reasonable and necessary. Officers must to train to fight with a gun in their hands. The SPEAR system has some great techniques for this. Most times, violent, immediate action can bridge the gap until backup arrives. In the modern world, the fight with the suspect is only the beginning. We have to posture to win in the press and the courtroom also.

(Featured Image Courtesy: KRQE)

Share This

Filed Under: How To Tagged With: arms guide, fight for your gun, mark miller, off duty weapon retention, TAG, thearmsguide

About the Author

Avatar

Mark Miller is a Green Beret who served in Afghanistan and a number of other live fire locations. He's a poet-warrior in the classic sense, a casual hero and a student of science.

See All Mark Miller Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

My current non-firearm everyday carry
EDC

My current non-firearm everyday carry

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

AR Build Kits under $300
Firearms Technology

Peak AR: Davidson Defense AR Build Kits under $300

Firearms

Covert Operations Case - Keep Your SMG Discreet

SEAL CQBR
Rifle

The M4A1 and CQBR/Mk 18 5.56x45mm

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Firearms

Covert Operations Case – Keep Your SMG Discreet

February 26, 2021 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

KA-BAR LDK – Slash, Stab, and Escape

February 22, 2021 Leave a Comment

Firearms

The Flash 5 From Tactaload – Best Shotgun Stock

February 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

Firearms

The Romeo5XDR – Budget Blasting Red Dot

February 1, 2021 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers