The following was written by my friend, coach, and shooting team NCOIC, Master Sgt. Robert Kolesar, a decorated veteran of both the U.S. Army and Los Angeles Police Department.
During my time as both a cop and soldier, I was fortunate to know many men (and a few women) who experienced close-quarters combat or gunfights with armed criminals. Some were just lucky they survived; others trained constantly, were mentally tough and prepared daily for what they considered an inevitable encounter.
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The four men we’ll be looking at are all veterans of multiple shootings and firefights. They are, as best as I can describe them, modern samurai with rifles, shotguns and handguns. They didn’t count on luck — they trained, practiced and prevailed by constant repetition and careful preparation. Here are their stories, their fighting weapons and what they consider important from literally dozens of firefights. What you won’t be getting here are body counts or what it’s like to engage in a gunfight. These men are not about describing their shootings. But they’ve spent years training other cops and soldiers going in harm’s way on what works and how to survive and win. I’ve found their lessons and training are very similar and have relevance to a city cop on patrol, a citizen carrying lawfully concealed or a young Marine on his first combat deployment.
Patrolman Bill Allard (ret.), NYPD SOU, ESU
NY City Patrolman Bill Allard has been in more gunfights than any other policeman in NYPD history. He was one of the initial members of the NY SOU (Stake-Out Unit) in 1968 and left when the SOU was disbanded in 1973. After leaving the SOU, he continued working the streets of New York in ESU (Emergency Services Unit), Detective Investigations and Patrol, retiring in 1981. He still lives in NY and carries a handgun daily, usually a Kimber 1911 .45. Now 75, he’s finally enjoying retirement after a second career working as a firearms consultant and instructor.
Before, during and after his career as a cop, Bill was a fierce competitor in Precision Pistol (Bullseye). In 1982 he won the national civilian championship at Camp Perry, shooting the .22 and .45. Bill is adamant you must look at your front sight in a gunfight; his years of intensive bull’s-eye practice made focusing on the front sight part of his muscle memory, even under the stress of a shooting. The basics of bull’s-eye (intense focus on the front sight and absolute trigger control) were in his training regimen and carried over into deadly encounters. As the firearms instructor for the SOU, Bill mandated high marksmanship standards for anyone selected, and conducted frequent live-fire drills for the squad. He personally tested and chronographed the loads used by SOU for accuracy, velocity and terminal performance.
During the 5 years the NYPD SOU was active, SOU never lost an officer or a gunfight in dozens of armed confrontations.
SGM (Sergeant Major)Kyle Lamb (ret.), US Army 1st SFOD-D
SGM Kyle Lamb has been at the very “tip of the spear” in Desert Storm, Somalia and Iraq. His 21 years in the US Army reads like a Hollywood character in a movie script: 82nd Airborne Paratrooper, communications specialist in a Special Forces A-Team during “Desert Storm” and 15 years as a Delta team member. SGM Lamb was one of several Delta Soldiers heavily engaged in the fighting in Mogadishu after the downing of the Super 61 helo. He deployed five times to Iraq during the 2nd Gulf War, planning and participating in literally hundreds of direct-action missions. His advice on surviving in combat is simple: “bottom-up planning, combat marksmanship, thinking outside the box and medical training.” Something that needs to be mentioned is Delta’s usual mission, unlike a Ranger or Marine combat unit, is accomplished by stealth, not confrontation. But if it comes to a firefight, massive, overwhelming, targeted violence by experienced operators will almost always win.
Kyle has had extensive experience with the H&K 416 and MP-5 as well as the Colt M4. He preferred the M4 on combat deployments. “The M4 is a lightweight system highly reliable when lubed. It also has less recoil and is lighter than most piston systems.”
SGM Kyle Lamb kept his shooting skills at peak level between deployments by competing in 3-gun events. He told me competition increased his proficiency and pointed to areas where he could focus his future training on. He has used his competitive shooting experiences, proven in combat, to train fellow Delta teammates. Now retired, Kyle Lamb still offers training through his own school. Kyle is heavily involved with training US Army units for combat and police officers in street survival. His insights into practical marksmanship, coupled with his extensive combat time, give soldiers, cops and the civilians he’s trained a critical advantage not found anywhere else.
Police Officer III Scott Reitz (ret.), LAPD SWAT/METRO
I first met Scotty just before the ’84 Los Angeles Olympics. I was a probationary recruit still in the Academy; Scott was a veteran team member in SWAT, where he spent 10 years of his police career. During his time on LAPD SWAT he participated in hundreds of SWAT callouts and got into several full-on gun battles. When Scott wasn’t working, he was training with other SWAT members, working as an instructor at Gunsite (Jeff Cooper’s firearms training facility in Arizona) or doing physical training. Later in his career, he was the primary LAPD SWAT and Metropolitan Division firearms instructor.
What I remember clearly about Scott Reitz was his incredible appetite for training. His marksmanship skills are exceptional with rifle, pistol, shotgun or sub-gun. If there’s ammo available, Scott will shoot it — but it’ll be done in a live-fire scenario or drill designed to increase skill, speed or accuracy. The neat thing about him is his knowledge as a trainer was available to all LAPD units, not just METRO or SWAT. He worked with every copper who asked, including probationary cops like me, dispensing life-saving tips and marksmanship techniques. Much later in my career, I had the honor and pleasure of working with him as a tactics and firearms trainer, where I saw his abilities as marksman and instructor close-up.
When not training, Scott is a physical fitness fanatic. He works out with the same intensity he has when he’s shooting. Fitness was always mentioned and stressed by him when he trained other LAPD officers. Fit cops shoot better, think more clearly and have the will, stamina and strength to survive and win. Scott Reitz is still training other cops, as well as civilians and military, in retirement. He’s an author and an internationally recognized instructor of law enforcement officers and military professionals.
Detective III John Helms (ret.), LAPD SWAT, SIS
In a department full of urban warriors, John Helms is a legend. His entire 35-plus years on the LAPD have been spent on the streets of Los Angeles. His time “on the job” includes 8 years in SWAT and over 20 years in SIS (Special Investigations Section), the LAPD’s go-to unit when dealing with the City of Angel’s most violent felons. John has been in numerous toe-to-toe gunfights as a SWAT cop and SIS detective; one shooting resulted in his being decorated with the Department’s Medal of Valor for heroic actions during a violent hostage rescue.
Not surprisingly, John likes the 1911 as a fighting pistol, but is also aware of its limitations. As much as he likes the 1911 (John told me shooting one was “like shaking hands with an old trusted friend”), he thinks it’s a training-intensive weapon and isn’t the best solution for many people. Proper employment during high-stress incidents mandates extensive, repetitive training. Detective Helms mentioned some shooters are all about the weapon — and that’s a serious mistake. To him, the handgun is a small part of fighting and winning. Helms cautioned me about picking a “favorite” tool (firearm): “you must train and excel with whatever you’re issued.” It is, after all, just a tool. The individual involved in the struggle is the irreplaceable item that wins the fight.
John started his police career with S&W revolvers and understands their role in defensive shootings well. In 1984, while assigned to SWAT, he partnered up with Larry Mudgett (also LAPD SWAT) and taught the November ’84 LAPD recruit class Cooper’s modern technique of the pistol. It was a groundbreaking experiment, resulting in later modifications on how the LAPD trained and qualified with handguns. During his time in SIS as both worker bee and field supervisor, Helms was the primary tactical firearms instructor, overseeing the development of arrest tactics and marksmanship techniques unique to the SIS. He had the same job in SWAT (tactical firearms instructor), and was instrumental in developing CQB and hostage rescue training for what many consider the finest (and oldest) SWAT unit in the US.
Lessons Learned
What I keyed on during my interviews with these four gentlemen were that the similar points and lessons stressed not only staying alive, but to win the gunfight. I don’t think there’s anything new here. What came across was applying marksmanship basics and training constantly works better than the latest gun or tactical technique. Detailed planning of your operation, training as a team and repetition of training wins firefights and street confrontations. For the citizen, meaningful practice, knowing the law, when and when not to engage and what you’ll do after the shooting are what’s important.
Training
Training is critical. Train hard and train often. Shoot as much as you can afford to, and shoot competitively. Even if it’s just shooting against your range partner, compete. Flawless performance under stress is what you’re after. Col. Charles Askins, who was no stranger to a gunfight, told me he experienced far more stress during the National Matches than in any gunfight. Competitive practice also gives you a yardstick to measure your performance by.
Gunfight vet Col. Charles Askins with some of his trophies.
Work on the basics; sight alignment and trigger control have won more gunfights than point shooting at sinister-looking targets or a roadhouse spin. The basics of marksmanship, though boring, apply in all shooting scenarios. Practice the basics over and over. Advanced drills and tactics come later after you’ve learned to shoot. Excellent marksmanship skills build confidence.
Work out as much as you shoot. Lift weights, run, and be physical whenever you can. Being fit and strong will improve your marksmanship and give you the determination to fight and win. John Helms is a serious student of the martial arts. It’s another survival skill that complements his marksmanship training.
“Don’t have a preferred weapon. Learn to excel and win with whatever you have.” John emphasized this several times when I spoke with him. Be comfortable with whatever you bring to the fight; don’t fall into the “I must have my favorite 9mm or .45,” or whatever else you carry. The weapon is only a tool, whether it’s a pistol, shotgun or police baton. Be familiar with whatever you have available. Have a plan, train as a team and refine your training based on feedback from team members. Then train some more.
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All worth following. Excellent advice!