Hands-on learning: Put your hands behind your back

From Sept. 1

This is an ongoing story as I shadow the 19th BLETP class during their MARCs training. You can start here.

VASSALBORO – Most of us have routines in our lives – get up, get dressed, get going. Once you’re at work there are more routines. In police work, often time that involves handcuffing. The instructors went over how to hold the handcuffs, how to carry them, and how to ensure that they go on as quickly and easily as possible.

Differences come into play when handcuffing a subject and will vary depending on whether that person is being compliant (following the officer’s every order) or being non-compliant (this is a range between just not following orders to actively struggling and fighting).

First Tpr. Scott Hamilton and the other instructors went over what orders to issue and how to say them to avoid confusing the subject being arrested.

Almost as important as putting handcuffs on is taking them off. Cadets were told to give clear instructions that explained what they planed to do (remove a handcuff) and what they wanted the subject to do (place that hand on their head and look away).

They also practiced how to manipulate people to get them on their feet and lead them away using wrist locks and arm bar techniques.