| What can we learn from the tragic deaths of two | | | | training for auxiliary officers. While many view close |
| young volunteer police officers? | | | | combat training only useful for military personnel, many |
| It is not easy to be emergency services anywhere, but | | | | of the tactics were indeed developed for law |
| in New York City it takes a special breed. | | | | enforcement activities. |
| In the past few months, lone police officers have had | | | | Even in medieval Japan, the samurai who practiced |
| to deal with shootouts, stabbings, riots, and unruly | | | | Jujutsu spent much of their time performing law |
| protesters. While events like these are all in the line of | | | | enforcement duties. They understood not every |
| duty in New York City, they shockingly routine. | | | | situation could be settled with swords when dealing |
| What should never be part of the routine though is the | | | | with a hostile population, and Jujutsu was effective |
| deaths of police officers. On the evening of March 15, | | | | even against an armored opponent. |
| 2007, the city lost two of its bravest in a hale of | | | | Another great contributor to police close combat |
| gunfire. | | | | training was William E. Fairbairn. A British police officer |
| That night they proved they had courage, but lacked | | | | in the Shanghai Municipal Police (SMP), Fairbairn |
| training. | | | | worked his way up from patrolmen to commissioner |
| Buried with full honors, the greatest tribute to their | | | | during the city's most violent period. |
| courage can be improved close combat training. | | | | Having fought in over six-hundred street fights and |
| Nobody is exactly sure what David Garvin's motivation | | | | receiving his black belt in Judo at the Kodokan, |
| was for the brutal shooting that started the killing spree, | | | | Fairbairn went on to write the close combat classic |
| but it is clear he was ready for a fight. He was | | | | Defendu to help police officers. Meant for self-defense |
| carrying two semiautomatic firearms and over one | | | | it concentrated on disarming and restraining opponents, |
| hundred rounds of ammunition. | | | | but allowed for lethal force when necessary. |
| Unfortunately auxiliary officers Nicholas Todd Pekearo, | | | | The New York City police department has to adapt its |
| 28, and Eugene Marshalik, 19, who were first to | | | | auxiliary program or events like what happened March |
| respond, were only armed with radios. When they | | | | 15, 2007 will inevitably happen again. |
| ordered Garvin to drop his bag he complied, but then | | | | Garvin had already killed one unarmed man by the |
| realized they were unarmed and took off. | | | | time he encountered the officers, so in his mind the |
| The officers gave chase, but Garvin turned on them | | | | only option left was to fight. If the auxiliary officers had |
| and shot Marshalik in the back of the head and shot | | | | been taught even the most basic of close combat |
| Pekearo repeatedly after diving behind a car for | | | | methods they could have overtaken the killer when |
| cover. Armed police officers arrived quickly and | | | | they first confronted the criminal. |
| engaged Garvin who died trying to make a stand in a | | | | The 4,500 brave men and women that serve as |
| store. As with any in the line of duty deaths questions | | | | auxiliary police officers in New York City deserve |
| are raised about what could have been done to | | | | better then to be cut down in the street. Regardless of |
| prevent such a tragedy. | | | | whether police personnel are volunteer or paid they |
| Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly spoke well of the | | | | must be given the same training because they share |
| fallen officers and promised he would reexamine the | | | | the danger. |