other police officers in fencing

[jgallagher038]

Just seeing if i am the only one of my job that does fencing. I can't belive that no other cops fence. i was thinking, " do we have enough for a web site or yahoo groub"?

Any other cops drop me a line, and remember be careful and wear your vest.

Jim

[Zilverzmurfen]

I suspect there's at least one more police officer on the forum...

(It's just a guess though. And no, it's not me!)

[oiuyt]

Phil Daly (owner/operator of Proprintwear) is an obvious example (presumably not on f.net, although I could be mistaken) that springs to mind.

-B :)

[schlager7]

I'm not in law enforcement, but there is a police officer on the north side of Houston (in Kingwood) who runs a club of his own. His son, in fact, recently got his A05 in epee, IIRC.

[ReverseLunge]

I'm a cop too. I'm with the Fashion Police.

[Purple Fencer]

There are a few guys from the L.A. Sheriff's Department who compete in the San Bernardino Division.

[InweCiryatan]

I'm not a cop, Oma (my grandma) would kill me! She made me promise I would never put myself in that kind of danger, because she wouldn't be able to 'sleep at night.'

Does fencing help your self-defence? Unless you carry a sharp sabre around with you, I'm guessing it's just for fun and exercise.

[veeco]

At least one good epeeist in France (made top 8 in our last national tournament) is a cop. The night before the tournament, he apparently was out on duty until 6am.

[Agent_V]

several-time olympic and world champion women's foilist Valentina Vezzali works as a police officer, though I have doubts that she works full-time during heavy training periods...

[Mr Epee]

several-time olympic and world champion women's foilist Valentina Vezzali works as a police officer, though I have doubts that she works full-time during heavy training periods...

Actually, a few years back almost the entire Italian National Team were reportedly police officers... and somehow attached to the Military, as well.

And No they did not really work there.

It was pretty much a getting paid for training gig though, but on the upside they were able to send some pretty interesting people to the World Military Games.

[edew]

Most of the Italian national team fencers are members of the Carabinieri (sp?), the quasi-military/police organization.

[daveappr]

there's a fella in the members list called copfencer- it's a safe bet he's one

[Cipher]

I'm not a cop yet, but I'm just waiting for the department to do another round of hiring. I'm more or less a sure thing to get hired, all things considered. So, not yet, but eventually I will join you as a cop fencer.

[mrbiggs]

Just seeing if i am the only one of my job that does fencing. I can't belive that no other cops fence. i was thinking, " do we have enough for a web site or yahoo groub"?

Any other cops drop me a line, and remember be careful and wear your vest.

Jim

One of my coaches (kind of helps out, isn't really a full time coach) is a police officer.

[Basquet]

Jim Gallagher, do you happen to be very tall and fence epee out of FAP in Philly?

[Inquartata]

Does fencing help your self-defence?

If you carry a baton, yes.

[Fencergrl]

There's a guy in my club (on the Westcoast of Canada) that's a cop.

[copfencer]

Actually, I've found that fencing DOES help with police work as my Brother in Arms can probably attest. Makes you face an opponent and maintain a cool, calculating approach. The drilling on fundementals is similar to firearms training where you can't duplicate the stress of a gunfight, but you can create muscle memory and controlled instinctive reaction. Surprisingly helpful.

[Mauler]

Among the programs I ran in my old Division was an afterschool fencing program for (not-so-metro) city kids sponsored by the local Police Deparment. Our contact was one of the PD's senior detectives, who was also a fencer. We had quite a few police officers who also developed an interest by that exposure, and at least one of them is now a lifer... as well as a very capable instructor.

Mental preparation and "the attitude" is a very important part of a police officer's everyday tool. Fencing, just as many other martial arts, provides for a foundation for developing such mental fortitude.

Interestingly enough, first time I have ever handled a firearm (9mm Beretta), I was instructed in the "proper, textbook" method of firing it -- weight distribution, muscle relaxation, aim, etc. I followed the instruction and emptied my first clip, only to find every single slug missing the target. The background was sand of hot desert summer, so I couldn't even get a visual feedback on how horribly I was missing.

I asked the instructor if I can try something... "my way." It was a slow day at the range, and we weren't in a hurry. I assumed a comfortable fencing stance. I "felt my finger to the target" as I would in fencing, with no visual aiming.

Every single shot connected, except for the second one because I didn't time the rechambering correctly. They all landed in a small cluster in part of the target I "reached for." I called the shots in the next two clips and every single slug landed within a small cluster where I called it. The instructor was flabbergasted because he has never seen anyone do something like that in their first try. He asked me how I did it.

"Fencing," was my reply.

[ET1(SS)]

I am a retired MP [Military Police], and I fence. I started fencing in 1983 while in college.

I retired in 2001.

I did not always have the opportunity to fence, depending on my duty station and shift-work, but I tried. My last tour which included Italy and Kosovo, I was just worked too hard. So I went 3 years without fencing, but I am back at it again now.

:-)

I find that it does give an officer much better instincts. The whole muscle-reflex action of parrying anything coming at you fast, has helped me many times.

But also the confidence, is great. I know that with one finger alone I can drop most men, and I dont need to use my PR-24 baton.