Officer Safety and Survival 1 Flashcards

When approaching a building on a call, an officer should avoid walking directly in front of doors and windows. This practice is known as:

Answer: Avoiding the fatal funnel

The 'fatal funnel' refers to doorways and windows through which an officer is silhouetted and exposed to attack. Avoiding the fatal funnel means approaching from the side and minimizing time spent in these vulnerable openings.

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between cover and concealment?

Answer: Concealment hides you from view; cover provides physical protection from ballistic threats

Concealment (e.g., bushes, shadows) hides an officer from sight but does not stop bullets. Cover (e.g., a vehicle engine block, a concrete wall) provides physical protection from ballistic threats. Understanding the difference is critical to survival.

During a foot pursuit, an officer's PRIMARY safety concern should be:

Answer: Maintaining radio contact and being aware of surroundings at all times

During a foot pursuit, officers can become tunnel-visioned on the suspect and lose situational awareness. Maintaining radio contact and awareness of surroundings prevents officers from being led into ambushes or hazardous terrain.

The 'contact and cover' tactic requires two officers where:

Answer: The contact officer handles the subject while the cover officer watches for threats and maintains overwatch

In contact and cover, the contact officer interacts with the subject (questioning, searching, arresting), while the cover officer focuses on the environment and potential threats. This division of roles prevents the contact officer from being distracted by their interaction.

An officer notices a subject keeping one hand hidden, making furtive movements, and asking unexpected questions about the officer's shift schedule. These are best classified as:

Answer: Pre-attack indicators warranting heightened alertness and repositioning

Hidden hands, furtive movements, and unusual questions about an officer's routine are recognized pre-attack indicators. Recognizing these cues early allows the officer to create distance, call for backup, and take a tactically advantageous position.

When an officer must use a flashlight during a nighttime encounter with a potentially armed subject, the SAFEST technique is to:

Answer: Hold the flashlight away from the body so that if a subject shoots at the light, rounds miss the officer

Holding the flashlight away from the body (e.g., the Harries or FBI technique) ensures that an assailant who fires at the light source does not strike the officer. A light held at center mass makes the officer an easy target.