No,you might object, an AD isn’t as bad as a “moving shooter” scenario, like the recent Trolley Mall incident in Salt Lake City, or, it’s not as horrific as the negligent death of a child. But consider this: Those nightmares are the result of actions by other people; the death, destruction and collateral damages cannot be laid at your feet. You’re the one acting to mitigate them. An AD, on the other hand, is “your baby” entirely, and you’re forced to admit paternity. That makes it worse by an order of magnitude.
For almost four years one of my unpleasant duties was to analyze all ADs suffered onduty and off by personnel of my agency. They weren’t epidemic, but a life was lost, bystanders wounded, marriages ended, friendships fractured and an array of property was destroyed in ways that were ridiculously tragicomic.
Generally, agencies take the wrong approach to ADs, thinking they can “punish them out of existence.” That’s not going to happen. The best thing you can do is “train them down” to a minimum, and act to minimize collateral damage.
This column is not about products — but the recent development of Safe Direction Ballistic Containment Systems absolutely demands more attention than a “New Gear Review” blurb on a back page. Get this: Every person who possesses a handgun should own and religiously use a ballistic backdrop each and every time they possibly can when clearing or charging that weapon. That said, Safe Direction products are the most appropriate, portable and affordable ballistic containment systems I have found for general use — period.
