Tactical Tangents

Craig Douglas is a retired SWAT and undercover narcotics cop who started a company called Shivworks, specializing in close-range and entangled gunfighting and knife defense. His classes and training philosophies are legendary, and he joined us on the podcast to discuss some of those things. He also has courses dealing with solo building searches and fighting in a vehicle, which both present a pretty unique set of problems. Listen us to pick Craig's brain about pressure-testing tactics and techniques, edged weapons, de-escalation, and the right time to draw or use a gun. Be sure to check out Craig's open-enrollment classes, he travels all over! www.shivworks.com Entanglement Considerations Verbal Agility (Trigger Time TV) Managing a Stranger's Approach Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @TacTangents, or email us [email protected]. Now sponsored by Riton Optics! Use discount code TacTangents for 15% off, or contact them for deeper Military and Public Safety discounts. Be sure you let them know that we sent you in the comments field! Good gear, great prices, and a bulletproof lifetime warranty. www.ritonoptics.com

Whether you are organizing an air battle campaign or you are wrestling over a gun with a bad guy, there is a lot to be said about the element of time. Mike and Jim discuss how we have to account for the time variable in a conflict, and how staying disciplined, gaining initiative, and being patient are important factors to consider in terms of keeping up with the fight or shaping the outcome of any individual battle. We also took a few questions from the audience and talked briefly about the Southwest Airlines crisis that occurred recently. Starbucks Controversy Southwest Airlines radio traffic Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

We met with the commanders of the Air Unit and SWAT Team for the Bernalillo Co Sheriff in Albuquerque. This is a busy agency with a lot going on. We talk about leadership, career paths to special teams in law enforcement, discuss a police helicopter shot down, and cover practical tips to keep yourself and your stuff safe. Thanks to Undersheriff Koren, Lieutenant Blackmon, and Deputy Maggard for arranging this interview. Sign up for our new weekly bulletin for short emails (500 words) of tactical insight! newsletter.tacticaltangents.com Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com Episode Photo Credit BCSO Homepage

Doctor Tang is a trauma surgeon, professor of surgery, and the Director of Trauma at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson, AZ. Doctor Tang joins Mike and Jim to discuss things related not only to trauma and medicine, but also leadership, teaching, and working under pressure. Hear the Doc explain what he knows about certain prehospital practices and what we could do better as part of a larger trauma system. Are chest seals worth while? Should we transport people in the back of police cars? What are your odds of survival if you get shot? Hear the answers to these questions and more in this episode! Philadelphia PD transports patients with penetrating trauma: Link Be sure to check out the Southwest Regional Trauma Conference, link here Photo used with permission, Credit: Roni Ziemba, Ziemba Photographic Arts, http://ziembaphoto.com and on Facebook @ziembaphoto Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

We are just starting to comprehend the impact of information protection and cyber security on tactical reality. It turns out that you don't have to be a level 9 computer hacker ninja – you just have to manage your risk and actively work on your security. Self-awareness and layers will help you a lot. Alridge Ames Interview The Interrogator Protecting the Gift DEFCON 15 No Tech Hacking Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and now Instagram! @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

Language warning! In an earlier episode, we had our buddy Isaac on the show who was getting ready to start the police academy. Isaac graduated the academy and is now a sworn officer in the middle of field training, and he's checking in with us to share some lessons learned. He's going to talk to us about active shooter training and a shift in his thinking, away from gadgets and gear towards training and mindset (People, Ideas, Hardware--In that order!) and he'll tell us about some dumb rookie mistakes he's made. What challenges was he not expecting? What wasn't on the brochure? We'll also touch on the importance of being able to write a good report, which Jim talked about in this article. And of course, we still make fun of his mustache. Remember to subscribe for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month. You can find us on Facebook @tactangents, check out the website www.tacticaltangents.com, and if you need to reach us, send an email to [email protected]! Intro music credit bensound.com

A police officer on the east coast was fired for failing to shoot a suicidal person with a gun. We talk about applying critical thinking to discussions like this, because it's important that we consider the arguments of both sides to such a debate. We're going to talk about context in use of force, how lawsuits and litigation fit in to these sorts of discussions, and reconciling the fact that sometimes cops have to kill otherwise good people. Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

The courts make the final judgement on use of force--but they rely heavily on the expert testimony of legends like Massad Ayoob. Mas is a champion shooter and long-time teacher in matters related to self-defense, police doctrine, and use of force. He joined Mike on the podcast to answer some questions from our audience. What are we lacking in training? What should a citizen look for in an self-defense attorney? What should we do about the inconsistencies in our statement compared to video recordings? Are defensive gun uses trending up or down? Check out this episode to hear it from an expert and 45-year veteran in the industry. Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TacTangents or on the web www.tacticaltangents.com Email us [email protected] Subscribe for new episodes on the 1st and 15th! Did you know we are starting a newsletter? Check it out at newsletter.tacticaltangents.com

Annette is a competitive shooter, private firearms instructor, attorney, author, blogger, and she was gracious enough to join Mike on the podcast for an interview. If you are just getting into shooting as a private citizen, listening to her talk about learning a new skill is worth your time. She and I talk about her progression from casual shooting to serious self-defense, and the value of steeping yourself in the competition shooting sports. She tells us what to look for in shooting instructors, some thoughts on carrying a concealed handgun, and ways to practice shooting at home "without the noise and recoil." (Hint: It has something to do with her book, The Dry Fire Primer!) Links related to the show: Annette's book, The Dry Fire Primer Annette's Facebook Page PHLster (Use discount code blastingbeauty10) Annette makes a reference to John and Melody's Class (and the podcast, Ballistic Radio) Annette's video on purse carry (she didn't love this question, thanks for being a good sport Annette!) For more on deliberate practice, check out Talent is Overrated Check out new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents, online at www.tacticaltangents.com, or email [email protected] Don't forget, we're starting a newsletter soon! It will be super short, useful bits of tactical insight that shouldn't take you longer than a couple of minutes to consume. No spam, no nonsense. Just wisdom. Sign up at newsletter.tacticaltangents.com

Communicating during a crisis is its own skill all by itself. We're going to talk about some principles that can help you get it right whether you use radios professionally in public safety, aviation, or the military--or if you are a private citizen trying to get that 911 call out in a hurry. Ideas in here to think about: "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate." Don't be "that guy" on the radio, take one step back from the crisis when you click that button. "Push to talk, not to think." -A friend we know. Finally, think about how communication strategies are also leadership strategies--Clear out some of that fog and friction, and bring calm to the chaos. Intro sound credit: SoundBible.com

Ambush is a term that we tend to overuse to mean any attack that catches us off guard. We are going to define the term ambush and, more importantly, define the counter-tactics to apply if you are ambushed. The important thing to realize is that the sooner you identify an imminent or in-progress ambush, the sooner you are able to effectively respond to it. So we have to make sure we aren't getting too wrapped in the semantics here, it only matters if your counter-tactics apply. We're going to look at a handful of civilian case studies and discuss what those ambush tactics and counter-tactics look like so you might be able to pick up on them if they are ever happening to you. Opening Story Links to Active Self Protection, thanks John! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zpA2IZNTRY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYIGWVdCZGM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRhzk8SYm-M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLmoERgcTx8 Clear and Present Danger Gift of Fear Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

Like many good ideas in the tactical community, "Slow is smooth, Smooth is Fast," is one of those that started out with strong roots and grew into something barely recognizable. We lose IQ points when the adrenaline hits--the emotional response that we experience under stress bypasses our ability to make rational decisions. We think that this phrase is best applied to our cognitive awareness and ability to take control of feeling overwhelmed, get a true sense of the problem at hand, reason with competing priorities, and bring calm to the chaos. It's a useful training tool, but it really doesn't have anything to do with "acting slow," it's about slowing our mind down enough to make sense of what's happening around us. Black Hawk Down Remember that we publish new episodes on the 1st and the 15th of every month! Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or email us at [email protected] www.tacticaltangents.com Intro music credit: Bensound.com

In the mid-nineties a Fedex employee facing termination attempted to hijack Fedex Flight 705 from Memphis to San Jose. His plan was to take over the plane and crash it into the Fedex headquarters, and he wanted to make it look like an accident. Armed with a hammer and a spear gun, he launched a surprise attack against the crew of three shortly after takeoff. This is one of many chilling examples of how workplace violence can turn really bad really fast. We discuss some of the warning signs and pre-assault indicators, strategies for intervening in a close-quarters attack, and some of the reasons checklists are such a big deal for pilots. Links from the show: Voice Recorder transcript Court Case Checklist Simulator example Example of all the stuff going on in the cockpit during normal takeoff/flight/landing 2015 intentional crash The Gift of Fear Mindhunter Columbine Ted Bundy New shows on the 1st and the 15th! www.tacticaltangents.com facebook.com/tactangents

Boyd used to walk people through a thought experiment in which he wanted people to use their imagination to "create a new reality," to illustate the creative nature of our minds. In a tactical sense, we can take lessons learned from several different places and apply those principles to whatever realm is important to us. At Tactical Tangents, we are always trying to find a balance among law enforcement, military, and concealed-carry topics—but it's important to consider that we can all find value in the lessons learned in each of those fields. In this episode, we discuss two controversial police shootings (Philando Castile and Daniel Shaver) and the binary terms that people tend to use to describe these sorts of incidents: Justified, or not. Murder, or self-defense. Good shoot, or Bad Shoot. Sometimes, it's somewhere in between. Think of it like a critical thinking exercise—understand the complexities of human behavior and decision making. No two tactical encounters look exactly the same—but sometimes they rhyme. Find the similarities and differences, build a snowmobile. Links: Jim's advice for traffic stops: http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/how-to-handle-a-traffic-stop/ Albuquerque LT shoots his own guy: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/albuquerque-police-release-video-showing-officer-shooting-undercover-cop-n549461 C-5 animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeEMiW1vMvU Another example of wrong engine shut-down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdSS1hel2z4 Graham vs. Connor full text: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/490/386/ Daniel Shaver (Mesa shooting, with video): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/daniel-shaver-shooting-ex-arizona-police-officer-not-guilty-murder-n827641 Philando Castile (overview with video): http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/philando-castile/ Brian Willis TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwC-RHsC6gw Subscribe to the podcast for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tactangents or check out our website at www.tacticaltangents.com. We'd love to hear your thoughts or feedback, please email us at [email protected]! Intro music credit bensound.com

John Boyd was the guy behind the OODA loop, the F-15, the F-16. He and his group of reformers were also largely responsible for the A-10, the Warfighting manual for the USMC, and some of the planning of Desert Storm. Boyd said, "War is ever changing, and men are ever fallible-Teach men to think!" He was also, in a lot of ways, the inspiration for the Tactical Tangents project. Hear about the guerilla reform movement he led against the bureaucracy that is the US Department of Defense and how his work affected tactics, leadership, decision making, and the Art of War. 57:09 New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Please leave us feedback, reviews, like/share/subscribe! Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @TacTangents Links: The Book The Pentagon Wars by James Burton (Book) (Video) Intro Music credit--Bensound.com

In episode 6 we discuss a couple of road rage incidents that escalated to the point someone got hurt or killed, and one that was handled pretty well by a guy in Indiana. These stories are important because most of us tend to feel pretty tough behind the wheel of our car. The distance and physical barrier that our cars put between us and other drivers make us feel like we aren't in much danger, but that can be a false sense of security. We also touch a little bit on what de-escalation techniques *should* look like, a concept called situational leadership, and how MRAPs (big armored trucks) hurt our counter-insurgency efforts overseas (much like in the case of road rage-think about the ways physical barriers and distance dehumanize our troops). As always, thanks for listening! Please like our page on Facebook, subscribe to the podcast, and share with your friends! If you've left us a review or feedback, we appreciate it! Look forward to new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month. www.tacticaltangents.com/podcast www.facebook.com/tactangents Twitter @TacTangents Links from today's episode: http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/restraint/ The Indiana Guy, our favorite (ALSO: should be available with this episode as bonus content) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYhVE0lt0bI) Colorado incident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHVJygPStlI Colorado news article: http://www.koaa.com/story/35677176/suspect-arrested-for-assault-after-road-rage-incident-caught-on-camera Colorado road rage tips: http://www.krdo.com/news/woman-speaks-out-police-issue-tips-following-violent-road-rage-incident-caught-on-camera/540260450 Mr. Walker and Mr. Wheeler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-c5jlk48s Intro music credit Bensound.com

Strong Language Warning--probably don't play this out loud at work or around your kids! Full disclosure, we actually recorded this episode a little while back when our buddy Isaac was getting ready for the police academy. We wanted to take advantage of the Q and A opportunity before he kicked off his career. We have some follow-up recordings in the works with Isaac so you can check in and see how he's doing if you're interested. We talk about Isaac's stupid mustache, how defensive tactics apply to different martial arts (and vice versa), the academic nature of the police academy, and what not to do at parties. We also touch briefly on donuts, and I gotta be honest (this is Mike typing), I went back to the place we criticized (unnamed of course) and they redeemed themselves--they're actually pretty good. Now that's two donut eating sessions I gotta work off, so I'm gonna go swing a kettlebell for an hour... New episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Be sure to subscribe/like/share if you like what we're doing. If you have questions about the academy please find us on Facebook and interact with us, we'd love to hear your thoughts! www.tacticaltangents.com www.facebook.com/tactangents Twitter @TacTangents Intro music credit--Bensound.com

Break down of the 1997 North Hollywood Shootout. 20 years ago this year, two dudes brought the LAPD and a few assisting agencies to their knees during a bank robbery that turned into an epic gunfight. Amazingly, the only two fatalities that day were the bad guys, but there were about 20 others wounded (civilian and police). Some of the big take aways have to do with the proliferation of long guns and armored vehicles in law enforcement, shooting "two the body, one to the head," and how we apply the concept of shooting at the center of whatever mass is available. We also talk briefly about how this event might have been charactized as an active shooter in the early stages and how we might have handled this differently today. If you know about or were involved with an incident that you think had worthwhile lessons learned, let us know! Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite app to get new episodes on the 1st and 15th of every month! Thank you for your feedback, likes/shares/reviews. Find us on Facebook @TacTangents or www.tacticaltangents.com Show Links: News helicopter raw video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZg4mcYkIwU Police audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5mkd6r9Kww Fox News report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E4_wDQFky0 Self inflicts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzjsQ-cxHBU Nat geo documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q44yGYlUoQQ 44 min film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wty8VSi4Fs0 LA police commission use of force report: http://documents.latimes.com/north-hollywood-shootout-use-force-report/ Intro music credit Bensound.com

Mike and Jim talk about ways they learned and apply the fundamentals to shooting practice, specifically trying to bridge the gap from "beginner," to "decent," to "good." We talk about ways to balance speed and accuracy, and some things to think about when you are trying to diagnose a problem or isolate certain variables to improve your ability to shoot. We talk about adding stress/pressure to our drills, how important it is to have a good coach or at least use slow motion video to carefully watch for mistakes, the benefits of dry fire, etc. Some firearms fundamentals flip on like a switch of a lightbulb, but sometimes you have to make incremental improvements until those individual elements compound on to each other and you really start to notice a difference. Finally, we want you to realize that anyone can become a "good" shooter, so you have to get it out of your head that some people have an innate gift or talent and you don't. We talk about a few books in the episode, here are the links: Talent Code Talent is Overrated The Art of Learning Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe. Intro music credit Bensound.com

One of the themes we discussed in our last episode was that just because something is technically legal, or not against the rules, that doesn't necessarily make it a good idea. We build on that theme today and discuss how we use rules and guidelines to manage risk and shape our decisions. We talk about the risks associated with car chases, the 21-foot rule, and how some parents worry more about having a gun in the house than a pool in their backyard. We also share one of our guiding principles from Col. John Boyd about training and risk management: People, Ideas, and THEN Hardware, in that order! Links: Boyd, The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War - http://amzn.to/2xJPW4y The Signal and the Noise - http://amzn.to/2xN7fUi The Unthinkable - http://amzn.to/2xN7PB8 Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision - http://amzn.to/2yNEdCt Jim's article on Lessons Learned from Tactical Aviation - http://www.tacticaltangents.com/articles/aviationlessons/ (also available on Facebook here) Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe. Intro music credit Bensound.com

In our inaugural episode, we delve into the notorious Utah nurse incident where a nurse was seemingly "arrested" for her refusal to perform a blood draw, a case that ignited intense scrutiny over the law enforcement officer's actions. This incident serves as a poignant example of how individuals can become entangled in the intricate web of legal analysis when examining the decisions made by law enforcement officials. While it's true that there are occasions where one might succeed in contesting a specific legal battle, it's crucial to recognize that these tactical decisions often carry profound and far-reaching strategic implications. Teaching people the art of critical thinking and fostering sound judgment is an intricate task, as these skills are essential for navigating the complex terrain of ethical and legal dilemmas. Our primary objective in this podcast series is to provide valuable insights and guidance to enhance your decision-making capabilities, ultimately expediting the learning curve. We aim to empower you with the tools and knowledge necessary to make informed and ethical choices, particularly in situations where the consequences extend beyond the immediate context and resonate in broader societal and ethical dimensions. Join us as we explore the intricate interplay between critical thinking, judgment, and decision-making in the complex world we inhabit. Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group. Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe. Intro music credit Bensound.com