| While some see Driving While Illegal (DWI) as | | | | When an officer approaches a vehicle he |
| another issue in the illegal immigration | | | | doesn't know what he's going to encounter, |
| debate, for police officers around the | | | | and if the situation doesn't quickly come |
| country it is just another potential danger. | | | | under his control it can be deadly. In 2006 |
| Every time a police officer gets out of a | | | | alone 15 officers died from being hit by cars |
| cruiser for a routine traffic stop, he or she | | | | and another 45 died in auto accidents, |
| isn't safe until it is over. | | | | according to the National Law Enforcement |
| | | | Officers Memorial Fund. An officer is all |
| The Town of Framingham, Massachusetts, | | | | alone and even if help is minutes away a lot |
| located twenty miles west of Boston, was | | | | can happen, and weapons can quickly become |
| recently in the news when a local paper | | | | irrelevant. Officers need an advantage in a |
| profiled an illegal immigrant who says he | | | | close quarters combat (CQC) situation, and |
| lives in fear of being pulled over by police | | | | combat martial arts can give them that |
| and the ensuing possibility of deportation. | | | | advantage. |
| Sure he's in the country illegally, employed | | | | |
| illegally, and driving with an expired | | | | Being a police officer has to be one of the |
| foreign driver's license, but he was painted | | | | hardest jobs in the world. For the men and |
| as the victim. Millions of illegal immigrants | | | | women who put on the uniform it is a daily |
| take to the roads every day, which is | | | | struggle; they have to be both a friendly |
| dangerous enough; to make matters worse, | | | | public servant and a vigilant warrior, and |
| there are also violent criminals within the | | | | for all those who praise them there are many |
| subculture. A traffic stop puts officers in a | | | | relentless critics. For police officers it is |
| dangerous close combat situation, and only | | | | about enforcing the law and protecting the |
| real combat self defense can protect them. | | | | community, and the best way to do that is to |
| | | | use self defense training that lets them take |
| Police officers represent the state, and | | | | a suspect down quickly. If an experienced |
| illegal immigrants have already shown they | | | | officer sees a situation beginning to |
| have no respect for our government or laws. | | | | deteriorate, he or she needs self defense |
| Combine this disrespect with the fear of | | | | training to take control of the situation |
| being deported and a traffic stop could turn | | | | quickly and effectively. Police officers |
| into a volatile situation. While traffic | | | | don't have the option to run away like |
| stops have always been dangerous, the illegal | | | | civilians, and giving the bad guys the first |
| immigrant issue provides us a chance to | | | | shot isn't an alternative either. A traffic |
| review tactics and training for full time and | | | | stop is just another dangerous part of a |
| auxiliary police officers. Proactive self | | | | cop's routine; with the right training, |
| defense is the best way to prevent injuries | | | | though, they can all make it home at the end |
| and the escalation of violence. | | | | of their shifts. |
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