Tip: Deployment tactics for 'DD' accuracy

The more force options you have, the more training you need to ensure proficiency. The purpose of a distractionary device (or "flash bang") is to create a "pause in combat." This pause can be both mental and physical, creating a mental fog, vision impairment and, for a moment, loss of motor skills.

Remember, in order to get the maximum effect from a distractionary device you need the element of surprise and accuracy.

Here, RedMan Training Division director Dave Young gives you a training exercise to keep you up to speed:

1. Have the officer stand behind cover position:

While wearing a protective mask
On command remove DD from pouch
Select target area
- Shallow in room is 0-5 feet from entrance
- Deep in room is –5 feet from back of room
- On target is 0-5 feet from inmate
Just before throwing have officer make safe as team enters room to secure threat
Goal is have officer make device safe (either by replacing safety pin inside fuze, taping lever to body or throwing it in a designate "bang out" area – which is a safe place designate for the DD to go in case of an emergency

2. Have the officer stand behind cover position:

While wearing a protective mask
On command remove DD from pouch
Select target area –
- Shallow in room is 0-5 feet from entrance
- Deep in room is –5 feet from back of room
- On target is 0-5 feet from inmate
Goal is have officer throw accurately 4-5 to designate target

3. Have the officer stand behind cover position;

While wearing a protective mask
On command remove DD from pouch
With the target moving throughout the room have the officer select target area
Then deploy on THEIR command
- Shallow in room is 0-5 feet from entrance
- Deep in room is –5 feet from back of room
- On target is 0-5 feet from inmate
Goal is have officer throw accurately 4-5 to designate target

About the author

Dave Young is the Founder and Director of ARMA, now part of the PoliceOne Training Network. He is also the Chairman of PoliceOne.com Advisory Board, and a training advisor for CorrectionsOne.com. Dave graduated from his first law enforcement academy in 1985, and now has over 25 years of combined civilian and military law enforcement and training experience. He was a sworn corrections and law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and has served as a gate sentry, patrol officer, watch commander, investigator, Special Reaction Team (SRT) member, leader and commander in the United States Marine Corps.

Dave has participated in and trained both military and law enforcement personnel in crowd management operations throughout the world. Dave is recognized as one of the nation's leading defensive tactics instructors specializing in crowd management, chemical and specialty impact munitions, protocol and selection of gear and munitions, ground defense tactics, and water - based defensive tactics.

He has hosted television shows for National Geographic TV Channel on Non Lethal Weapons and the host of Crash Test Human series. He is a former staff noncommissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, a member of the Police Magazine advisory board, and a technical advisory board member for Force Science Research Center. Dave is an active member of the American Society for Law Enforcement Training (ASLET), International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA).

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