American COP Magazine

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Sinister Manipulations - SemiAuto Shotguns

1 week ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... This is the second part of a series on left-handed manipulations of various firearms. Previously, I covered semi-automatic pistols; this article will look at semi-automatic shotguns. While there are some left-handed shotgun designs (I have a couple of them), there are some benefits to the far more commonly encountered right-hand designs for us lefties. The easiest to adapt and use is Mossberg’s receiver-mounted safety.
Start of Watch - Briefing

2 weeks ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... briefingnounbrief·ing ˈbrē-fiŋ Synonyms of briefing : an act or instance of giving precise instructions or essential informationBriefing is the foundation for a street cop’s workday, like a good breakfast. My focus is on briefing for a patrol shift, rather than any of the pre-event, pre-operational sessions that happen. Because it is so foundational to a street cop’s workday, I have some pretty clear memories about certain ones over the years.
Random Reviews - Books To Targets

3 weeks ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus

From time to time, I have a number of things worth discussing here too short for an entire post. I’ve combined the following “reviews” to help shed light on useful items and ideas I’ve discovered. 5.11 Tactical shouldn’t be unfamiliar to anyone in this space. As mentioned before, I have been around long enough to wear canvas 5.11 trousers made by the outdoor clothing company Royal Robbins.
Carrying? When Impaired?

1 month ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... When do you carry? When don’t you? What is impaired? Throughout the training community, regardless of where one gets their paycheck, there is a tremendous emphasis on shooting, followed by how to do so quickly. Accuracy concerns follow that to various degrees. Interestingly, in the research I look at, there is a consensus that “we” collectively overemphasize shooting speed—a speed that is driven by an auditory stimulus rather than a visual one.
Math On The Range

1 month ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... Fun and math are two words that rarely intersect in my world. However, you need to step out of your comfort zone and try something different. Before I retired, one of my guys frequently talked about his PRS (Precision Rifle Shooting) hobby. While it was an interesting conversation over coffee, it was not my world. Fast-forward a few years, and I live in a far more firearms-friendly place with a wider variety of ranges.
Thoughts On The Effective Police Firearms Instructor - Part 1

1 month ago | americancop.com | John Hearne |Erick Gelhaus |Kevin McPherson |Eugene Nielsen

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... Contrary to popular opinion, attending a one- or two-week-long class does not and cannot make you an effective police firearms instructor (PFI). Sadly, such courses tend to give a false sense of competence as to the attendee’s skill. At best these classes certify someone to conduct qualifications in a mostly safe manner.
First Impressions - Aimpoint's COA and Glock's A-Cut - American Cop

1 month ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus |John Hearne |Kevin McPherson |Eugene Nielsen

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... For as long as we’ve been mounting miniaturized optics on pistol slides, there have been debates over the mounting footprints. Several designs have come and gone, while a few have established themselves across multiple manufacturers. Many have voiced a hope that the firearms and optics industries would unite and standardize on just a few footprints, paving the way for a more streamlined and efficient future.
Training With The Unit4

1 month ago | americancop.com | Erick Gelhaus |Seth Thompson |Kevin McPherson |John Hearne

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... Regardless of what research you look at regarding training related to deadly force, there is at least a nodding agreement on one thing –practitioners need scenario-based decision-making training. This training, often referred to as Force-on-Force, is at least as important as working on your skills mechanically with our tools. The most recent study I’ve read on deadly force decision-making, which references the need for this training, is dated February 28, 2025.
Revolvers For Modern Cops

1 month ago | americancop.com | Seth Thompson |Erick Gelhaus |Kevin McPherson |John Hearne

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... Some people say there is a “Revolver Renaissance” going on in the shooting world. At the very least, it may be a “Revolver Revival,” with a variety of new guns, ammo, holsters, and support gear. Though the day of full-size service six-guns has passed for the police, small revolvers are still great companions on the mean streets. When I began police work in 1995, the full-size wheel gun was on its way out of uniformed patrol work.
The Certainty Principle

1 month ago | americancop.com | Dave Bahde |Erick Gelhaus |Kevin McPherson |John Hearne

(No Ratings Yet)Loading... One of the most common questions I get is about the difference between training for law enforcement and competition. Trainers and “experts” often cause confusion and uncertainty for many. Years ago, I developed the “certainty principle.” I’m not sure where or who it came from, so I probably stole it. It is the determining factor in the techniques I teach. The central idea is that what you do must increase the certainty the technique will work on the first attempt.