VOLUME 1 PROGRAM 4 Trooper Coates Shooting DUTY SHEET & LESSON PLAN Total Program Length 32:00 IN THE LINE OF DUTY is produced exclusively as an interactive sharing resource for the law enforcement community. No commercial use or access to the public at large is permitted without the authorization of L.O.D., Inc. This program contains actual video of real police incidents with no reenactments or simulations. The program is protected by copyright. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited without authorization from L.O.D., Inc. The material included in this program is designed for informational purposes only. IN THE LINE OF DUTY makes no representation regarding the effectiveness or appropriateness of any action or technique depicted herein. It is not intended to replace or supersede existing training policies or guidelines of individual law enforcement agencies.
Synopsis of Incident THE INCIDENT (14:30) This edition of IN THE LINE OF DUTY is a detailed study of the shooting death of South Carolina State Trooper Mark Coates in November, 1992. The incident was captured entirely on Trooper Coates cruiser camera, and has become one of the most powerful law enforcement incidents ever recorded on video. The Incident covers the initial low-risk traffic stop Trooper Coates made along I-95 near the South Carolina-Georgia border, shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, November 20, 1992. After writing motorist Richard Blackburn a warning for a minor traffic infraction, Trooper Coates asked Blackburn if he could conduct a search of his vehicle. Until this point, Blackburn had appeared to be calm and cooperative, and he hesitantly agreed to the search. However, he seemed extremely ill-at-ease when the Trooper asked if he could do a patdown, and he erupted when Trooper Coates started the procedure. Though short in stature, the 300-pound Blackburn pushed the 6 0 Coates to the ground. Then, pulling a derringer from his left pocket, Blackburn fired once, striking Coates in the upper-right shoulder of his bullet-proof vest. The Trooper, managing to kick Blackburn away, fired all six rounds from his.357 at Blackburn. Five of them hit Blackburn at center mass. Still, Blackburn was able to fire one last round at Coates. It went through the Trooper s arm, between the panels of his vest, passed through his ribs, and fatally struck him in the aorta. The unfortunate and tragic incident is summarized by Trooper Coates back-up officers, fellow members of the South Carolina Highway Patrol s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team. THE AFTERMATH (7:12) Although mortally wounded, Trooper Coates has screamed into his radio for help. He does not, however, provide the dispatcher with his location. Fellow members of the ACE Team, upon hearing Coates cries for help, race to the scene. Two units had passed Coates shortly before the shooting, but had continued on when the stop appeared to be very low-risk and routine. Upon arriving at the shooting scene, back-up Trooper William Jake Jacobs, Jr. finds two truck drivers who have stopped after seeing the shooting take place. One of the truckers has brought his.380 with him, thinking he can render assistance to the fallen trooper. However, because Trooper Jacobs has arrived at the scene without any background information, he inadvertently passes the prone Blackburn and, in his anxiety, draws his weapon on the two truck drivers. The ensuing efforts to provide aid to the fallen Coates and to unravel the chaos of this ill-fated incident provide crucial lessons and training elements in the areas of communication, defensive tactics, medical aid and more. The Aftermath and The Incident are supported by the vivid recollections of fellow ACE Unit members, who offered their insight and feedback despite the fact that this incident continues to weigh heavily on their minds.
EPILOG: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (3:37) The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) has made numerous procedural changes in the wake of the shooting death of Trooper Coates on November 20, 1992. This summary of changes is for your discussion and interaction, to be used as a means of sharing information with fellow peace officers. 1. The SCHP has mandated its troopers to wear body armor; no exceptions. 2. The SCHP has further developed written policy that all stops made by members of its ACE Unit have a back-up, or cover, officer. 3. All traffic stops are to be communicated to dispatch including the time, location, type/make of vehicle, and as best as possible, a description of the motorist(s). 4. The SCHP has switched from.357 revolvers to Glock.40-caliber sidearms. 5. Rather than shoot for center mass in a deadly force situation, the SCHP now trains its troopers to place two shots to the upper torso and two shots to the head. For further consideration, IN THE LINE OF DUTY s technical advisor, Sgt. Rich Simpher of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, offers the following input: RADIO COMMUNICATIONS Even under very stressful situations, basic information must be given. This information must be stated in a clear and audible manner. We must practice and maintain the presence of mind to make our requests clear and informative, i.e. Where are you? What do you need? PATROL ISSUES Every peace officer must realize the importance of informing the dispatcher on every stop. Again, the minimum information should include the location, reason for the stop, vehicle description and subject pedigree. By doing so, you are provided with a lifeline in the event that assistance is necessary. It also lets all other officers and agencies monitoring the radio know that you are conducting a stop. Officers must also be taught, and constantly reminded, that NOW is the time to go by and make sure your fellow officer is safe. This means not just driving by, but pulling in, getting out of your vehicle and actually covering the officer. Having two officers on any scene will, more often than not, deter most subjects from attempting an assault. FIREARMS ISSUES In deadly force situation, training should emphasize the importance of shot placement. The round must strike the subject in a vital area in order to stop the aggressive behavior. Practice at the range should begin with basic marksmanship skills, bringing the weapon to eye level and using the sights. When refined, the next steps should include the universal cover mode; verbal commands; and multiple shot placement in the upper chest and head area (tactical center mass). Range safety, is, of course, the primary issue at all times. But range masters must devise innovative ways to train under as close to street-like conditions as possible, so that officers are prepared for the endless possibilities of the street. Officers under stress will react as trained. Therefore, training is key.
LESSON PLAN COURSE SYNOPSIS: This course looks at the issue of expecting and being prepared for the unexpected. Video footage from the cruiser cam of South Carolina Trooper Mark Coates will be viewed for discussion. Officer safety issues will be discussed as well as concerns about officer s perceptions of routine. TIME: COURSE OBJECTIVES: Obj. A Obj. B Obj. C Obj. D 1 Hour Upon completion of this course, officers should be able to: Articulate under what circumstances back-up should be requested. Discuss positioning of officer-to-suspect during the pat- down procedure. Name characteristics of a stop that may lull officers into a false sense of security. List the behaviors of the suspect in the video that should raise an officer s suspicion during a stop. INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LESSON PLAN/LAB GUIDE Obj. A (Show Video up to Epilog Questions ) Obj. B I. Using Back-Up A. Back-Up is not just for high-risk stops. B. Call for Back-Up before making searches and wait for Back-Up to arrive before beginning the search. C. Use your Back-Up as a cover officer to watch your suspects, not as another person to assist you with the search. II. Relative Positioning A. Maintain the six (6) -foot reactionary gap. B. Have suspects keep their hands where you can see them at all times. C. Close contact (search/cuff) should be performed from a II 1/2 or III position (behind the suspect).
INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LESSON PLAN/LAB GUIDE (CONT D) Obj. C III. Behaviors that lead to a False Sense of Security. A. Cooperative does not always mean harmless. Cooperation may be what the suspect is doing to buy time to formulate a plan. B. Courteous or cunning suspects may be that way up until a point when they begin to feel threatened---and at that point they can become dangerous. Obj. D (Review Lessons Learned on video) IV. Suspicious Behaviors A. Suspect following officer back to his/her patrol car. B. Suspect s slight delay in answering officer s request to search the vehicle. C. Suspect s apprehension about allowing officer to pat him/her down. V. Lessons Learned A. Never let your guard down! Nothing should ever be simply be considered routine. B. If a vehicle needs to be searched, it s always best to do so with another officer present. C. If, for some reason, there is no back-up unit available and a search is necessary, make sure the subject is contained legally. D. If you anticipate an arrest, call for back-up (if you haven t done so already). E. You must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with a violent confrontation at all times. F. Someone must be designated to take charge at a scene. G. When making an arrest, handcuff all subjects as quickly as possible. Always carry an extra pair of cuffs, either on your person or readilyaccessible in your vehicle. H. Carry latex gloves with you at all times. I. Make sure your verbal commands are loud, clear and distinct. J. Never hang anything around your firearm that could later interfere when you need to use it. K. Watch deadly hands at all times. L. Pat down subject(s) as if you will find contraband. M. Be sure your radio transmissions are clear and informative, even under the most stressful situations.
INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LESSON PLAN/GUIDE (CONT D) N. Keep in mind that in deadly force situations, shot placement is critical. O. On every stop, information the dispatcher of: * Your Location * Your Reason for the Stop * The Vehicle s Description * The Subject s Pedigree P. Take all training seriously, including: * Handgun Retention/Take-Aways * Speed Cuffing * Defensive Tactics such as kicking, punching and maintaining control. * Firearms Training VI. Epilog Questions 1. Are you able to communicate your location in a clear, concise and informative manner, even in the most tense situations? 2. Would you have been wearing your body armor on a seemingly ordinary nighttime traffic stop, such as the one you have just viewed? 3. Have you ever failed to call for back-up and later wished you had? If so,why didn t you? 4. Are you prepared, should a routine traffic stop go bad? 5. Were you ever involved with a perpetrator/subject who transformed from a Dr. Jekyll to a Mr. Hyde? What was your reaction? Do you feel you handled the situation appropriately? 6. Have you ever been overpowered by a perpetrator/subject much shorter in stature or less physically fit than yourself? If so, how would you handle it differently in the future? 7. A perpetrator s/subject s tone of voice may give you reason for concern. What other actions/characteristics might you find suspect? 8. In your opinion, does a sloppily dressed person sound warning bells in your mind during a stop? What is your procedure for dealing with an individual whose clothing could conceal a weapon? 9. If you had arrived on this scene as a back-up officer with no background information, would your actions have been similar to Trooper Jacobs? Why/why not?
INSTRUCTOR S NOTES LESSON PLAN/LAB GUIDE (CONT D) SOURCE DOCUMENTS 1. IN THE LINE OF DUTY VIDEO VOLUME 1, PROGRAM 4 2. IN THE LINE OF DUTY DUTY SHEET VOLUME 1, PROGRAM 4 10. Do you have a tactical approach to handcuffing several possible suspects/perpetrators? 11. Based on Richard Blackburn s actions and demeanor, would you have called for back-up prior to a patdown? What do you believe the outcome of this incident would have been if Trooper Coates had, in fact, called for back-up? 12. At what point would you have called for back-up in this incident? Be realistic, and be specific. 13. What current policies do you believe might be beneficial in averting incidents of this nature? Are there any policies that should be changed or added? 14. Consider your ability to administer medical aid, such as CPR. Do you need to brush up on these skills or are you comfortable with your current level of performance?