Queensland Police Union Journal

A Glock at a gunfight? Is it a spear or a dagger?
Conclusion
The patrol rifle enables officers
to engage threats at distances far
exceeding those of the handgun.
The availability of a patrol rifle (in
conjunction with effective tactics)
allows for an immediate response
to an incident, giving officers the
option of creating distance between
themselves and the threat, or
confronting a threat at the earliest
opportunity from a distance.
Other significant safety benefits
including improved stopping power,
reduced risk of over penetration, and
its adaptability to a range of tactical
situations cannot be discounted.
If responding to an incident involving
an armed offender, are our Glocks
alone enough? Are they a spear or a
dagger?
[While preparing this article, numerous
firearms-related incidents occurred,
such as the protracted siege in the
middle of the Queen Street Mall
involving an armed offender.
Also, eight officers recently confronted
a man armed with a rifle in Mango
Hill (on Brisbane’s northside) who
subsequently shot himself in the
driveway of his home.
Officers from South Brisbane District,
including the author, attended and
contained a scene in Upper Mt Gravatt,
where a male person had been shot
in the face with a rifle and the suspect
was contained in a nearby house.
Two individuals unexpectedly
surrendered and walked out the
front door, and a hasty arrest team
comprising the dog squad, TCS, and
generals officers were required to
affect the arrest.
During the arrest, police were informed
that an infant remained inside the
dwelling, and the author lead a search
team into the dwelling in order to
recover the child.
Within the same 24 hour period, two
further firearms incidents also occurred
in other police Districts.]
Matt Lewis is an OST Instructor in
the Metro South Region working out
of a Tactical Crime Unit. Matt has a
military background, having served
eight years with the 5th/7th Battalion
(Mechanised), Royal Australian
Regiment.
Matt deployed with the Battalion on
two peacemaking missions to East
Timor in 1999-2000 and 2002-2003.
Matt discharged from the army in
2003 and joined the Queensland
Police Service in 2005. He has been
an OST instructor since 2008.
Queensland Police Union Journal June 2013 39