Burbank Puts Officers on the Defensive

From the pregnant mother who is about to deliver a new life to the armed gang member aiming to take one away, police officers must be ready for almost every eventuality.

But how an officer reacts to danger at the critical moment and what transpires as a result of their actions may come down to one overriding factor long emphasized by enforcement experts: training.

“Training should prepare officers to carry out their duty safely and effectively,” said Burbank Police Det. Bryan Arnspiger, head of the department’s defensive training program. “It’s probably the single most important factor for the officer’s survival.”

Every February for two months, Arnspiger and half a dozen fellow Burbank police instructors put 200 uniformed officers, airport police and park rangers through the paces of the department’s Integrated Use of Force Training System.

Trainees review defensive tactics, such as how to wield a baton and when to shoot.

But what appears to make Burbank different from others is the ability to borrow successful techniques from other agencies.

“We mix the best of all the systems,” Arnspiger said. “We in Burbank pride ourselves for having some of the best defense tactics training anywhere, if not the best.”

Among them is the trendy Israeli self-defense system, Krav Maga; speed cuffing; practice on moving targets on shooting ranges, and confrontational simulation.

That combination has gained the attention of about 36 municipal police departments as well as officials of four federal agencies. It also was featured in a story on police training in the FBI’s law enforcement bulletin in 1996, Arnspiger said.

Confrontation simulation, a technique developed by the Oregon State Police, exposes officers to stressful situations and forces them to make choices--ranging from a benign verbal command to weapon selection.

“How do you react when you go to the store with your wife and are confronted with an armed robber?” Arnspiger asked.

The emphasis is on creating the worst possible scenarios to prepare the officers for anything. Decisions are critiqued by fellow officers as well as trainers.

Another part of the Burbank training experience involves Krav Maga, an increasingly popular Israeli defense system that employs simple, but highly aggressive steps that give officers confidence when situations are most dangerous.

Burbank Officer Mark Yamaguchi was making a routine traffic stop when he noticed a suspicious package in the back seat. In the next instant, the driver reached behind the seat and pulled out a pistol.

Instead of stepping back, Yamaguchi used his Krav Maga training to deliver a forearm to the man’s chin--single-handedly disarming the man and removing him from the car before backup arrived.

Other training includes baton techniques taught by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and “simunitions,” in which officers fire at pop-up targets with ammunition that leaves a red smear where a bullet would have hit.

“On the beat, police officers face innumerable hazards for which defense training can be invaluable,” Arnspiger said.

“This enhances our police, especially our ability to serve the public with confidence.”