Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
By now we've all seen the news about the terrorist attack in Mumbai. As much as I hate to sound like a broken record there are a few things we - the law enforcement professionals of the United States and
every citizen who refuses to be a willing victim - need to learn.
1) TEN terrorists killed over 300 people. 10... 300. ONE AK-47 with a full magazine has enough bullets to kill 30 people. Most of the time I'd expect bad guys to carry more than one magazine load of ammo (history shows that they do). So the fact that they managed so few deaths (isn't that a screwed up way to look at it?) is an indicator of their discipline of fire. They were reportedly firing "from the hip". When the time comes that we have to face them on our home turf we need to remember that "spray and pray" isn't acceptable, efficient, effective or professional. Concentrate on shot placement as much as you can while staying alive.
2) 60 hours long. Once you're in the fight how long will you be there? Your "go bag", "bug out bag", etc should be stocked with
at a minimum a day's worth of food, water, etc. If you're on a close perimeter position and there is no relief available, well, guess what? You're STUCK there. Abandoning your position is unacceptable. Be prepared. (The Boy Scouts have had it figured out for years)
3) Reports indicate that some of the armed police wouldn't fire back. A trained police officer trained and equipped with a loaded weapon is absolutely useless if he doesn't possess the will to
use it. Am I being critical? Hell, yes! Is it justified? Maybe, maybe not. I wasn't there and freely admit that I shouldn't stand in judgment. That said, if you find yourself in a place and time where bad guys are shooting at innocent people and you pull your gun and take cover and then take no action at all you are as much good as the unarmed innocent being killed.
PROTECT and serve, remember? Sometimes the "protect" part means doing harm to a bad guy. If you're incapable, um, perhaps you've pursued the wrong line of work?
4) Management of the Taj Mahal hotel admitted that they had warning and that they "temporarily increased security after being warned of a possible terrorist attack". Now I know that increases in security have a dollar amount attached and that such an increase in security can't be maintained indefinitely. The same management spokesman seemed surprised that the terrorists didn't come through the entrance that had a metal detector but instead through a back entrance. Um, DUH! We have GOT to accept that while terrorists may be evil and deserving of the most efficient death we can deliver, they aren't STUPID.
5) I say again: Law Enforcement Professionals in any and every uniform (even if the uniform is plain clothes) is our first line of defense against a terrorist attack in this country. The police officer or deputy will be the first to respond and the first to engage the terrorists (unless an armed citizen has the guts to do so before the police arrive). Are you prepared? Do you have a weapon that is reasonable to take into such a fight? Or are you facing an AK-47 with your handgun? Do you have plates to pull on? Is your Go Bag packed, maintained and ready? Do you have a first-aid / trauma pack (blow out kit) on you, in your bag or at least ready to grab when you go?
I repeat: carry, carry, carry. If you are a law enforcement professional or a retired officer who meets the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act requirements, CARRY YOUR GUN. Don't get caught without the necessary tools to defend yourself and your loved ones. Remember the oath you took and remember this: just because you're retired or off-duty doesn't mean your oath went away.
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