Police Survival in a Rural Area

By Ken Schwab

On the day of an officer's tragic death, no voice or whisper predicts what is to come. No premonition of impending doom. Just a day like any other day.

This book is designed to help officers recognize that day.

Officers who are working alone in an isolated area have little room for error. Some may be thrust into a life-or-death situation, likely when they least expect it. Then they're alone, fighting for their lives.

This book helps an officer get ready to take on that challenge.

On the day of an officer's tragic death, no voice or whisper predicts what is to come. No premonition of impending doom. Just a day like any other day.

This book is designed to help officers recognize that day.

Officers who are working alone in an isolated area have little room for error. Some may be thrust into a life-or-death situation, likely when they least expect it. Then they're alone, fighting for their lives.

This book helps an officer get ready to take on that challenge.

Officers who have not experienced a tragedy may find it easier to
discount proper survival tactics because it hasn't happened to anyone
they know.

But in departments where there have been deaths or injuries, officers have an edge to them because they can recall the circumstances of their colleagues' catastrophes. They can recite every detail of each untimely death or injury. When these officers encounter similar calls, they are painfully aware of what they need to do to stay alive. If an officer is killed in a rural community, that event will alter how law enforcement views future threats. It will be a wake-up call that no one wants.

In this book, officers will find effective concepts and strategies to help them survive a potential attack. They'll learn how to manage aggressive behavior, prepare mentally, recognize body language/red flags, see ambushes coming, other threats. They'll also learn the common themes that precede an attack. And they'll learn to perceive danger by trusting their intuition and constantly evaluating whether they should get help on the way, discovering proven communication tactics to de-escalate and stall until that help arrives. 

Much of this book can also be useful for officers in metropolitan areas who may find themselves alone during unexpected trouble.

 

Ken is a retired law enforcement veteran and author of Conquering the Ghosts: A Practical Guide for Those Challenged by Haunting Memories. He was a decorated state trooper/Field Training Officer, and was recognized as one of the top military police officers in the US Air Force.  
 
As a police chief, he's seen the negative ramifications that can arise from use of force encounters, and through this book, he aims to help officers not only survive physically, but also to keep their jobs. 



 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ken Schwab
• Release date: Mar 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9798985696950

Book preview

Introduction

I am distressed after witnessing police encounters captured on dashcams, body-worn, and civilian cameras. In those life-and-death situations, officers have exhibited exceptional responses, but some reveal problematic training methods and/or officer apathy. I want to make it clear that I am not judging the actions of these officers just for the sake of finding fault. Rather, I aim to prevent similar behavior from reoccurring. I am saddened to watch officers lose their lives in situations that might have been prevented. I often discuss these incidents with retired law enforcement friends and associates. The frustration of being unable to prevent the inevitable is palpable. Of course, even the best survival and field training won’t be effective if the officer’s head is not in the game. I hope to stop the next avoidable death, and this book is a way to get a critically important message out to those in the field. Hopefully, we can reduce the number of officers who lose their lives, causing devastation for their families, friends, communities, and coworkers.

Having retired from a career in law enforcement, I felt compelled to write this book for the reasons stated. While working in rural areas, I developed a curriculum for officers assigned to areas where backup isn’t available, specifically for the lone deputy, officer, and state trooper. My inspiration came about through necessity after being assigned to the Four Corners area of the Navajo reservation. As a highway patrol officer in Arizona, I was deputized in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and the Navajo Nation because, in this isolated area, agencies were spread thin. Depending on where I was in my assigned area, it would not be unusual to wait twenty to thirty minutes or longer for help. 

While on patrol there, I stopped a college student who shared that, in his criminal justice class, they had discussed my patrol area as being one of the most isolated for law enforcement officers who might need backup. I have no way of knowing if that’s true, but I felt his statement every time I went to work. There simply was no help nearby unless the Navajo police were on a call or were traveling through the area. I was alone. No matter what I encountered, I could not count on backup to be there promptly. After that experience, I realized that many officers in this country work alone, without the resources of a metropolitan department.

Early in my career, I attended the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Academy; attendance was a courtesy shown to selected US Air Force military police officers. That academy stressed police survival, defensive tactics, patrol procedures, and mental preparation. The special weapons and tactics (SWAT) team in the academy’s simulated city setting prepared us for ambushes and other potential high-risk events. All training was based on a large-city environment with multiple officers responding. Additional resources were available, such as air support, K-9, SWAT, and other specialty units. I gained valuable knowledge from the academy, which helped me understand how to handle potential threats faced by officers in large cities.

The state police academy I attended taught me what to expect as a highway patrol officer. The police survival training differed from that of Las Vegas Metro and was unique to officers working rural highways, often alone.

Later I would develop the police survival course this book is based on and teach it to law enforcement personnel. In doing so, I discovered that police survival training varied among states and individual departments. There is no standard curriculum related to survival training. In some states, an officer can work up to one year before attending the mandated state training, which means they are on their own unless given instruction by coworkers. I have met those who have had a great deal of survival training and others who know only the basics. I recognize that some of what I will share will be known to the reader, but others might find the information helpful. During my travels, the Law Enforcement Training Network (LETN) asked me to present my course to a nationwide audience. Hopefully, this book will make readers aware of potential dangers and how to avoid them.

As a police chief, I reviewed conduct related to the use of force and the lack of action needed to control a situation. Police survival is about staying physically safe. It can also be about surviving a career in law enforcement. I hope to provide information that will help you do both. You have chosen a profession that may well require a split-second decision that will affect not only others but also you and your family in ways that will last a lifetime. I respect your willingness to be there when called upon.

I will share several scenarios and offer suggestions and some ideas for the officer who works in a remote setting. Most law enforcement officers I’ve met are strong-willed and opinionated, just like me. I expect disagreements on some topics, and that’s OK. I am sharing my experiences and what has worked for me based on the particular areas I have worked, department, clientele, personal style, and training. 

Much of what I write about can also be useful for officers in metropolitan areas who may find themselves alone during unexpected trouble. I will not know the age, amount of training, or experience of the reader. My aim is to give advice that will help an officer stay safe, and I will do so succinctly. I want this book to be an easy read. The decision to implement any of my concepts is the responsibility of the individual officer. All department policies, as well as state and federal laws, should be followed.

Chapter 1

The Unique Dangers of Working in a Rural Area

When an officer is isolated, it’s possible there will be no one available and on scene to help. This situation is likely if an officer starts action without considering the consequences of not waiting for assistance. Besides the obvious challenges of limited backup, there are other dangers unique to the rural officer. Officers may work in an area where they know many of the locals. They are familiar with their names, relatives, and family histories. The citizens they serve are not an unknown element showing up on their beat. They are the people the officers and their families interact with daily.

This dynamic can sometimes cause officers to become lax and ignore their training, given their familiarity with the people they serve. It can also create complacency or hesitation to promptly use force when required. The risk of relaxing their survival skills is real in those circumstances as boredom can seep into daily work habits. We understand and accept that bad guys are a potential threat; but sometimes, good people and individuals known to an officer can do some terrible things. Understanding that bad guys-and sometimes, good people-can commit acts of violence, one must always be consistent and conduct acceptable patrol tactics. The way to do this is to always practice and maintain good habits. Regardless of any personal feelings on a particular day, officers should implement proper survival techniques when interacting with the public: searching and handcuffing properly, being aware of their surroundings, and practicing all the other skills learned through training and experience. This book