(NSFW Language) Body-cam videos of Officer Involved Shootings give us a unique first-person perspective into deadly force encounters. There are lots of Active Self Protection lessons to be learned here. Could you have solved the firearm malfunction that quickly?

Details on the incident from local news here: http://get-asp.com/ch4v

What can officer involved shootings teach non-LEO?

1. All those skills you see in defensive shooting courses and hear about on YouTube from reputable instructors…they’re useful. This officer had to use a lot of them. He had to use cover, issue verbal commands, make a lethal force decision, shoot while moving, move around obstacles, get to cover, and clear a malfunction. That’s a LOT to have happen in a defensive shooting, but remember that you’re preparing for the worst day of your life. Prepare accordingly.

2. The video footage from the body cam allows us a unique first-person view of a deadly force encounter. Put yourself in the officer’s shoes and ask yourself if you had the spiritual fitness to pull the trigger to protect yourself. Ask if you have the emotional fitness to stay in the fight. Do you have the skills to perform the firearms manipulations?

3. Speaking of emotional fitness, there are some more significant lessons on emotional fitness here. First, the cursing and loud yelling are designed to intimidate the officer. Can you emotionally withstand someone being loud and abrasive and derogatory? Second, when your blaster pukes do you have the emotional fitness to stay in the fight, clear the malfunction, and get back to dealing with threats?

4. A firearm is only ever to be used as a tool of last resort. This officer did everything in his power to keep this conflict from ending as it did, and for that I commend him. Use verbal commands whenever possible to end a conflict.

5. The officer had his finger on the trigger during the malfunction clear, and while we can certainly understand that in the moment, we can’t condone or excuse it. Train and practice so much that your finger instinctively moves high on the frame of the gun when you’re not on target so that you don’t have a chance of a negligent discharge.

Attitude. Skills. Plan.