Department of Research and Sponsored Projects, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, Utah, United States of America
Research Article
Startle Response and Firearm Draw Performance in Law Enforcement Officers during a Lethal Force Simulated Domestic Assault
Author(s): Michael A Kantor*, Dane E. Bartz, William J. Lewinski and Robert W. Pettitt
In situations where Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) must deploy their weapon, their ability to react and respond
quickly is crucial. Prior research suggested that the controlled and predictable environments for training LEOs alter
performance during a dynamic scenario. The present study evaluated the Startle Response (SR) and Firearm Draw
Performance (FDP) of LEOs in response to a simulated unanticipated threat of lethal force with a firearm during a
simulated domestic assault call. Twenty-two active duty LEOs (Age=34 ± 7 years; Body Mass=92 ± 12 kg; Height=181
± 9 cm) engaged in a training scenario of a home visit as a follow up to a domestic violence call. An experimental
trial resulted in a firearm ambush from distance of 6 m in the simulated home. LEOs were video-recorded and joint
kinematics was measured using wearable sensors. A control .. View more»