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Article #6: Battlefield New York City

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






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