During daylight tours of duty it is easy to get a false sense of security. We can be lulled into thinking that because the sun is up a false safety net is enveloping us. The thought seems to be as long as there is light and I can see, then I’ll be safe. Sadly, I have worked with officers that do not carry a light on day tours, but also night tours as well! We need to understand that low light conditions exist in the daytime, which brings me to my next topic.
In my last article, we began thinking about changing our tactics in low light conditions. In Part Two of this series, I would like to change our focus from walls of light to black holes. Black holes are basically where darkness lies behind an area that is lit, or a place where we can see with the naked eye. A good example is when we are driving on the road in daylight and go through a dark tunnel. It can be really hard to see in this situation. The human eye can take minutes to adjust to this new condition. Obviously, this is something we need to take into consideration while we are on patrol.
Imagine responding to a call on day shift where a man with a gun was spotted at the end of an alley way. If you were responding from a lit street and faced with a black hole like this one, the consequences could be dire. Using just a light in this situation might help, but it is possible that the bright light we are in could make it hard for us to see into the alley. A thermal imager would be an even better choice in this situation because light will not affect its visual quality. Just be sure, whatever technology you choose, that you are behind cover when you inspect a black hole.
Take a look at the photo at the photo at the upper right to see an example of black holes.
Black holes are something we need to be aware whether our shift is during the day or at night. They can be found in shadow areas such as near bushes or shaded trees or in homes and buildings where hallways and rooms may be. The examples of black holes are many and our tactics should include just as many options to deal with them. A thermal imager certainly gives us an added advantage when maneuvering through black holes.
In Part Three we look into more tactical approaches to Deceive in the Dark.
STAY SAFE!
