Those of you who follow the news may have heard about the Newhall Shooting. The incident involved an unarmed man shooting four officers. This has prompted questions on how this incident will affect commercial firearms training and police tactics.
Changing CHP tactics
Changing CHP tactics at Newhall was one of the biggest events in the history of law enforcement. The incident killed four California Highway Patrol troopers and changed the way that officers were trained to handle firearms. Using the information from the event, reformers began to apply the lessons learned to improve officer safety.
The event, which took place in April 1970, is commonly referred to as the Newhall incident. It involved the murders of four California Highway Patrolmen and a hostage taker. The incident led to changes in the CHP’s procedures for high-risk stops, the training of officers and the standardization of equipment.
The incident began when two California Highway Patrol troopers stopped a pair of career criminals. The two men brandished their guns. The officers exchanged gunfire for a few seconds before the perpetrators fled. The next CHP vehicle arrived at the scene.
Two of the slain officers, Bobby Augusta Davis and Jack Twining, were picked up and given revolvers by the perpetrators. They both drew their guns, and one of them fired the first round.
Impact on commercial firearms training
Among the many innovations that resulted from the Newhall shooting is the development of the officer survival movement. It’s a movement that continues to influence law enforcement training around the world. It’s a movement that has trickled down to private citizens.
The Newhall gunfight changed the culture of the California Highway Patrol and inspired advances in equipment, training, and tactics. The incident was also cited as a motivating force behind changes in how high risk car stop procedures were handled.
The Newhall incident spawned several publications about the subject. These publications cite the Newhall shooting as a good example of what a small change in procedures can have on officer safety.
Some of the changes that came about after the shooting include the introduction of a new high-speed.38 Special JHP as a training weapon. The incident also prompted the CHP to require officers to purchase ammunition for private use. Previously, officers had to purchase ammunition for use on duty.
Loss of four officers
During the week of April 5th, 1970, four officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were killed in Newhall, California. It was the worst police massacre in the 80-year history of the CHP. The incident inspired reforms in equipment and training that affected law enforcement worldwide.
The incident prompted a number of changes to the CHP’s procedures. The agency worked closely with local law enforcement, as well as with law enforcement throughout the country. The CHP and Caltrans began to implement tougher procedures for pulling over cars and arresting high-risk suspects. These reforms led to a focus on officer safety worldwide.
The CHP officers who were killed were involved in an intense gunfight. Officers George Alleyn and James Pence died. The incident prompted a number of changes at the CHP, and a web page was set up to discuss the changes. The web page discusses how the incident changed the way CHP officers trained and worked.
The CHP was criticized for their policies and practices that sacrificed officer safety. Many unhappy citizens complained about CHP officers approaching suspicious vehicles.
Tactical analysis
Described as “a watershed event” and a “tactical analysis” of the 1970 Newhall shooting, this book is a fascinating study of the events leading up to and after the shooting, as well as “lessons learned” from the incident. It includes primary sources, interviews with actual participants, and detailed analysis of the tactics and procedures involved in the incident. It also offers a thorough examination of the ways in which modern self-defense training can be improved.
Written by Michael E. Wood, a lifelong shooter who is also a student of armed self-defense and a graduate of civilian self-defense training schools, this book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about the shooting or seeking to improve their own training. It includes detailed diagrams, first-release crime scene photographs, and insightful analysis of the events and methods used during the shooting. Newhall Shooting – A Tactical Analysis is the definitive account of the most deadly law enforcement shooting in the modern era.
