Scott W. Wagner - Own the Night: Selection and Use of Tactical Lights and Laser Sights

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2009 Krause Publications, Inc.,
a subsidiary of F+W Media, Inc.

Published by

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All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009923232

ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-0371-8
ISBN-10: 1-4402-0371-7
eISBN: 978-1-44022-460-7

Designed by Tom Nelsen
Edited by Corrina Peterson

Printed in China

Dedication

For Rosemarie

The one constant in my life, whose unwavering faith in my ability to complete this book kept me motivated and focused, and whose photographic skills and keen eye provided the visual documentation so critical for a work such as this.

About the Author

Scott Wagner is Commander of the Columbus State Community College Police Academy and 727 Counter Terror Training Unit (www.cscc.edu/cttu) and a member of the National Tactical Officers Association (NOTA); the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers; and International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Mr. Wagner is also active in the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Ohio Tactical Officers Association, and serves as area Representative to the Law Enforcement Alliance of America. He has written more than 30 articles that have appeared in Guns and Weapons for Law Enforcement, Combat Handguns, The Police Marksman, Tactical Gear Magazine, Police and Security News, the LEAA Advocate Magazines, Gun Digest, 2009 Glock Annual, and Tactical Weapons for Military and Police.

CONTENTS

Chapter 7: Rifle Mounted Light Tactics & Principles

Chapter 9: Laser Uses, Tactics, & Deployment

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Streamlight www.streamlight.com

Surefire www.surefire.com

Pentagonlight (no longer in business)

Blackhawk www.blackhawk.com

Laserlyte www.laserlyte.com

Insight Technology www.insighttechnology.com

First Light USA www.first-light-usa.com

Crimson Trace Corporation www.crimsontrace.com

Tactical Link www.tacticallink.com

Midwest Industries www.midwestindustriesinc.com

Inova www.inovalight.com

Beretta USA www.berettausa.com

XS Sight Systems www.xssights.com

Kimber USA www.kimberamerica.com

Ruger www.ruger-firearms.com

KEL-TEC www.kel-tec-cnc.com

Sun Devil Manufacuring www.sundevilmfg.com

Nightforce www.nightforceoptics.com

T his book is dedicated to all the law enforcement, military and lawfully armed civilian defensive and offensive firearms users to whom it is hoped that the ideas and concepts presented within will help them survive any deadly force situations they encounter, and allow them to truly Own the Night.

The author would like to thank the members of the 727 Counter Terror Training Unit (www.cscc.edu/cttu) Instructional Team who provided additional tactical insight and the donation of time required for much of the photographic documentation contained in Own the Night. In particular, the author is grateful to Sgt. John Groom, Officer Tim Halbakken, Officer Dustin Mowery, Officer Sean Lingofelter, and Officer John Holloway. Additionally, the author wishes to thank (but cannot name) two other team members who are active in the U.S. Army Special Forces for their training and advice.

In addition, the author gives special thanks to Sheriff Rocky Nelson, Chief Deputy Tom Morgan, of the Union County Ohio Sheriffs Office who gave me permission as a Deputy Sheriff and SRT Team Member, to write this book, as well as Sgt. Lyle Herman for agreeing to demonstrate for photographic documentation of the patrol techniques described in own the night.

Finally, the author wishes to acknowledge the equipment manufactures listed on the left, who provided their excellent products for testing and review and the additional photography of use in the field.

INTRODUCTION

2:30 a.m.

Honey, I hear something, go check it out.

I grab my handgun and tactical light and go
to check outside...

Dominate your area of responsibility.
Move through the darkness, in control of it,
choosing the time and direction of illumination.
Own the night.

I n 29 years of law enforcement experience, Ive observed an explosion in equipment and technological breakthroughs. Some of these breakthroughs have benefited law enforcement officers and civilians, while others have proven to be of little advantage, and sometimes have been downright dangerous to the user.

One of the more recent of the latter that comes to mind was a security holster that required the users fingerprint be read each time the weapon was removed from the holster. Although there was much media hype about this holster and how wonderful it was in allegedly enhancing the safety of the officer it thankfully died a quiet death. No one stopped to consider what would happen to the fingerprint reader if the officer fell in the mud and got it on the holster, if the reader was covered in snow or ice, or if the officers hands became dirty, greasy, or bloody before trying to draw the weapon.