Lessons: Christopher Dorner Final Contact (Audio)

This link (Police Audio) is from the final contact and confrontation with Christopher Dorner. Take the time to listen to it. There are several takeaways that both operator and team leader can take from it. In the middle of the chaos, we are tasked with assessing the initial contact, reacting to it, reassessing, and acting, until we can put an end the threat. In other words, it is what we know to be the Col. Boyd's OODA loop in action (Observe-Orient-Decide-Act). Taking fire, officers getting shot, being pinned down, all create a great amount of stress in us. If we are unable to control the effects of these stressors, they can negatively affect our ability to effectively act in ending a deadly situation. The audio demonstrates that the officers on scene that day, observed what they were faced with (a known suspect with deadly intent, tools for a confrontation, and his being in the general area). They oriented their response (moved to set up roadblocks, set up talk-around channels etc.). They made a decision to press towards locating the suspect and on contact they acted. In the heat of the battle, the loop again began (they started air support, they returned fire, there was a request for armored vehicle extraction, and they set up blocking positions and ultimately prevailed in the situation).  Great lessons for everyone from our newest officer, up the chain to our leadership and also for our dispatchers.  Great response.   Stay safe. . . . . . .