Jacob Harlow has 14 years of regulation enforcement and firefighting expertise below his belt and has been an ExpertVoice member for greater than 12 of these years. He’s saved lives all through his profession, having taken half battling chemical fires, aiding in swift water rescues and extra.
Jacob sat down with ExpertVoice to share insights from his profession, advocate gear and provide his finest recommendation to newcomers within the tactical house. Right here’s what he needed to say.
What’s your present job?
I at the moment work close to Columbia, SC as a Lieutenant in Admin and Particular Operations on the police pressure. I’m chargeable for division coaching, emergency preparedness, division accreditation and data.
Why did you select this profession?
Service — nearly all of my household is both navy, regulation enforcement or in schooling. I made a decision on regulation enforcement in my highschool years, and it was reaffirmed by 9/11.
What does your day-to-day appear like in your job?
It varies significantly. This week I helped my new coaching sergeant run his first quarterly division coaching. It was firearms and room-clearing based mostly, and I taught nearly all of it. Different days I could also be instructing lively shooter or first support, doing menace assessments for areas, constructing lesson plans, updating our accreditation requirements, updating emergency preparedness gadgets, and many others.
Let’s stroll by means of gear you depend on daily. If you’re constructing your equipment, what’s in it?
A traditional workplace day consists of a division polo, Vertx or another khaki tactical pants, and a pair of Merrells. I’ve a Kershaw open-assisted knife and my Glock 17 with a Streamlight TLR1 on it. It’s in a Safariland holster.
My lively shooter/fast response equipment gadgets encompass my FN patrol rifle — it has a Trijicon 1×4 optic on it and Streamlight gentle. I’ve a Shellback plate service with stage 4 plates and primary equipment on it (patches, journal holders, pens, first support, and many others). It has a North American Rescue bleed out equipment on it as nicely …. Mechanix gloves and Walker razor ear safety end out the primary gadgets of the lively shooter equipment.
I’ve a number of pair of sun shades for work as nicely, both Costa or Oakley. I’ve a pair of Brooks trainers that I put on after I work out. They’re actually comfy and maintain up nicely.
What would you say to somebody simply getting began within the tactical trade?
Areas of significance in no explicit order that may take you far.
- “Purchase as soon as, cry as soon as.” Get monetary savings up and buy a top quality product. Though it may cost a little a very good bit extra, it’ll final and serve you nicely throughout these loopy occasions. That cheaper product will break a number of occasions and you’ll find yourself spending extra anyway.
- “Much less speaking, extra listening.” There are at all times those that got here earlier than you and discovered the onerous means, study what they’ve to show you. You’ll by no means know all of it, by no means cease studying.
- “It’s not about you.” There are going to be occasions that actually suck, embrace it. There’s somebody on the market proper now, having a more durable time than you might be so push by means of your trial. If in case you have a household, don’t neglect them.
- “Do the fitting factor, as a result of it’s the fitting factor.” You’ll have multiple alternative to take a shortcut or do one thing questionable, both you will have integrity, otherwise you don’t.
- “Be an instance.” It is a deeds not phrases kind factor. Convey up youthful guys, be a optimistic instance in your teammates and group. Do it by means of deeds. Keep humble.
Might you share a few time the place you felt such as you made a distinction in your job?
“I’ve been concerned with a big chemical fireplace, practice derailment, giant amount of SWAT crew makes use of, swift water deployment and rescues, life-saving occasions, officer concerned shootings, an officer’s homicide, different homicide scenes, instructing hundreds of group members and officers over time, taught first support that was then used to avoid wasting a number of lives, and lots of different vital occasions. I must say all of these are essential and I made a tangible distinction. Nonetheless, there’s one I’m fairly happy with.
Years in the past, I coached a younger man in highschool soccer as a part-time job along with working as a police officer. This younger man ended up coming to work for us, particularly me as I used to be a front-line supervisor on the time. I’ve watched him develop, study new issues, save lives and general change into a very good man. He’s now a shift supervisor and a productive officer. This occurred over an eight-year interval, so this was a longer-term funding and good end result. It makes you proud to see the hassle you place into somebody — even over a very long time — work out nicely. I’m joyful for him and his household.”
Impressed by Jacob’s story? Be part of ExpertVoice and construct your profile to share your story and find out about different consultants.
