The Cop’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

By Thomas Maddox

This guide provides information to adapt real-world restriction with a suggested zombie apocalypse. Debate always proceeds on the likelihood of a zombie incident. The idea is not to prepare for when it will happen but will you be prepared if it does happen. The idea is to make you prepared to survive. Officer Keith Harris provides perspective from being in law enforcement for over 25 years, avid survivalist, hunter, and firearms instructor. Officer Thomas Maddox provides over 20 years of combined military, law enforcement, private sector experience, combined with a Masters level education (MBA). The combination of perspectives will provide a well-rounded, real-world, and tactical guidance for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Each chapter examines specific aspects connecting these paradigms to make you a well-rounded individual capable of surviving the zombie apocalypse. The primary rule of survival and self-preservation is to have a plan. Without a plan, confusion and terror result in bad decisions and death. Concepts in the guide provide a variety of information for you to gain an advantage in the advent of a zombie apocalypse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Maddox
• Release date: Jun 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9780463914595

Thomas Maddox

Officer Keith Harris provides perspective from being in law enforcement for over 25 years, avid survivalist, hunter, and firearms instructor. Officer Thomas Maddox provides over 20 years of combined military, law enforcement, and private sector experience, and Masters level education (MBA).

Book preview

The Cop’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse

Thomas Maddox and Keith Harris

ISBN 978-1-62209-977-1

Copyright 2013 Thomas Maddox

Smashwords Edition

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Prologue

Zombies

Chapter 1: Warrior mentality

Breakdown on how to develop the mentality

Chapter 2: Trusting others

Trusting and building a group

Close friends/family

Judging others

When to break ties

Chapter 3:

Death Adjustment

Death Adjustment in general

Death Adjustment of loved ones

Chapter 4:

Skills

Useful Acronyms

Tactics

Situational awareness

Critical thinking

Practice, practice, practice

Tactical Skills

Physical conditioning

Firearms

Bows and crossbows

Melee Weapon Training

Daily skills

Hunting

Fishing

Scavenging

Expertise skills

Making ethanol or Methanol

Making Soap

Knot tying and braiding

Medical skills

Mechanic

Construction

Food and water consumption

Disinfecting water

Fire starting

Team Tactics

Team Tactics MACTAC

Team Tactics Fireteam formations

Team Tactics Mobile Field Force

Team tactics building searches

Chapter 5 items

Bug out bag

What to put in the bug out bag

Weapons

Firearms

Handguns

Rifle

Shotgun

Heavy weapons

Black powder

Uncommon firearms

Holsters

Bandolier or Bandoleer

Sighting (scopes, laser, lights)

Ammunition

Shotgun specialty ammunition

Other projectile weapons

Common Melee weapons

Edged weapons

Axes

Knives

Machetes

Spears

Swords

Two-handed or One-handed styles

Types of Steel

Blunt weapons

Axe handles

Maces and Mourning star

Batons

Alternate Weapons

Martial arts weapons

Multipurpose Shovel

Nail gun

Chain saw

Fire

Acid

Explosives

Types of explosives

Gunpowder

Dynamite

Nitroglycerin

TNT

Plastic

Dumb weapons

Electronic control device (ECD)

Expandable straight baton

Pepper Spray/Tear Gas

Poison and blow guns

Slingshots and slings

Throwing stars

Improving or altering weapons

Weapon damage

Equipment

CDC Emergency kit

Cops guide emergency kit

A break out of equipment

Body Armor

Camouflage

Chain with lock

Duct Tape

Entertainment items

Fire making items

Flashlight

Gun cleaning kit and sharpening stone

Hard currency such as gold or silver

Maps and compass

Medical kits

Multipurpose tool

Noise suppressors (Silencers) and flash suppressors

Plastic sheeting

Sanitation/personal hygiene items and bleach

Sewing kit, carabineer clips, wire

Ziploc bags

Storing supplies

Location, location, location

Epidemic versus pandemic

Terrain

Climates

Cold climates

Location of structures

Inner city

Suburbs

Urban structures

Apartment Buildings

Banks

Jails or prisons

Underground locations

Universities and colleges

Rural locations

Fortifying locations

Traps

Snare trap

Bow traps

Pit trap

Deadfall trap

Changing locations

Bunkering in or bugging out

Scavenging

Scavenging Firearms

Scavenging Food and water

Scavenging Gasoline or other fuels

Scavenging other items and locations

Automobile dealerships

Auto repair stores

Banks

Beauty supply stores

Business offices

Casinos and Hotels

Daycare facilities

Florist shops

Hardware stores

Libraries and bookstores

Medical facilities

Museums

Nursing homes

Pawn Shops

Restaurants

Restaurant supply stores

Storage facilities

Universities

Veterinary clinics

Other specialty stores

Foraging in the wild

Chapter 6 Vehicles

Amphibious vehicles

Armored car

Bicycles

Buses

Electric vehicles

Fuel efficient vehicles

Global Expedition Vehicles

Motorcycles

Pickup trucks

Skateboards, skates, rollerblades, Segway, water skis, etc.

Sports, muscle or high performance cars

Sports utility vehicles

Tanks

Tractor-trailers

Vans

Air vehicles

Airplanes

Helicopters

Hot air balloons

Water vehicles

Boats

Canoe and Kayak

Cruise Ships

Jet Ski

Submarine

Chapter 7 Animals

Dogs

Pack animals

Other animals

Chapter 8

Rebuilding society

Conclusion

References

Prologue

This guide provides information to adapt real-world constraints in a possible zombie apocalypse. Debate always proceeds on the likelihood of a zombie incident. The idea is not to prepare for when it will happen but will you be prepared if it does happen. Notable studies on the zombie condition included articles published in the Canadian Journal of Philosophy, the Sun, New York Daily News, Harvard Psychiatrist Dr. Scholzman, Foreign Policy, and others. The guide is in the advent of a zombie apocalypse. What is different in this guide from other guides is the true lack of real-world tactical experience we have seen with other authors. They forget basics such as skill, weights, tactics, and mentality. Certain aspects, such as the warrior mentality, require hard choices in a grueling time. The idea is to make you prepared to survive. Officer Keith Harris provides perspective from being in law enforcement for over 25 years, avid survivalist, hunter, and firearms instructor. Officer Thomas Maddox provides over 20 years of combined military, law enforcement, and private sector experience, and Masters level education (MBA). The combination of perspectives will provide a well-rounded, real-world, and tactical guidance for surviving the zombie apocalypse. Each chapter will examine specific aspects connecting these aspects to make you a well-rounded individual capable of surviving the zombie apocalypse. The first three chapters address the mental requirements for surviving in a zombie apocalypse. The following chapters will discuss pros and cons of various aspects of necessity in a societal collapse. Some information for the guide has been compiled from other sources. The lists of sources are in the reference section. The primary rule of survival and self-preservation is to have a plan. Without a plan, confusion and terror result in bad decisions and death.

It should be noted many first responders probably will be among the first victims of the zombie apocalypse. This is because first responders must follow societal rules until it becomes clear and convincing that the zombie apocalypse has occurred. First responders are police fire, emergency medical technicians, and emergency room personnel. Later, this will involve military personnel. The zombie apocalypse may come in stages, depending on the cause of the situation. No one can predict the future; this book gives an idea of what to do to survive if the improbable happens.

The Zombie Apocalypse carries some connotation. First, different types of zombies have been suggested in books, television shows, and movies. The most common is the slow brainless zombie in shows, such as The Walking Dead, Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead and others. The second type contradicts the slow moving zombie in movies such as 28 days and 28 weeks later. In being well-rounded the zombies discussed in this guide will have normal movement capacity. By this, they will be able to walk normally and jogging but lack of motor skills prevents them from running full sprint. Because much of the proposed literature suggests the Cerebellum and the Basal Ganglia (Schlozman, 2009) does not function ideally in a zombie, and subsequently coordination would be affected. This should reduce the ability of a zombie to run.

Another aspect is can zombie survive with no air such as underwater. Given the nature of being the undead for this guide water hazards are more a distraction than a barrier. Zombies will not walk off a cliff and water may operate as a similar aspect. If the zombie goes into the water they will continue to move until they can find a way out of the water. However, pressure differences in deep water may likely kill a zombie from crushing. Physiology develops into another condition. Although a zombie will not die from a gunshot wound to the chest, arms, or legs, basic physiology allows certain truths to remain. A zombie missing a leg will move much slower and may not be able to stand. Alternatively, a zombie missing arms will not be able to grab you. In this aspect, there may be times when dismantling a zombie may be more beneficial. (Plus you can make zombie jokes. What do you call a zombie with no arms and no legs in the water? Bob). For example, when we start talking about fortifications, a pile of zombie torsos may offer some concealment. Again what is done in a zombie apocalypse is not something most people will think about in civilized times. The zombie apocalypse is not civilized, at least until conditions occur to offer some civilization. That does not mean we become animals. As higher reasoning being our mentality is what will keep us alive. The change is acceptable normal for moral and social values. What conditions and mentality must we adapt to survive?

If thou openest not the gate to let me enter, I will break the door, I will wrench the lock, I will smash the door-posts, I will force the doors. I will bring up the dead to eat the living. And the dead will outnumber the living. The Epic of Gilgamesh

Zombies

To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy (Sun Tzu, The Art of War). The idea is not to become a zombie but know what are the strengths and limitations of zombies. Again, this book establishes some conditions given as estimations from previously recognized ideas of the nature of zombies. Sloth and Wong (2007) offer alternatives to the common idea, including brain parasites, neurotoxins, neuro-genisis and Nanobots. While these are not as common the idea is still functionally the same. Reanimated flesh with a desire to kill living humans and consume flesh.

The following gives some ideas on dominant cause of the zombie condition. This idea is the most scientifically explained one I have found. The zombie condition stems from two different ideas of zombies with a common cause. The cause is some manner of virus. Dr. Steven Schlozman (2009) has even written a simulated medical report on the zombie condition termed Ataxic Neurodegenerative Satiety Deficiency Syndrome, or ANSD. This gives rise to one type of zombie induced through a medical syndrome. The other type reanimates dead or decaying flesh through a virus or otherworldly method. This enables the dead to rise. The core condition produces a zombie with limited motor functions and no higher level reasoning ability. The zombie can be killed only through massive brain trauma. The brain is the only organ functioning and only in the Amygdale region. The Amygdale region is the primitive part of the brain. Zombies do not feel pain. The receptors for pain are not functioning in a zombie. Zombies are only driven by a need to feed on fresh meat. This is why zombies do not attack each other. The smell of decaying flesh allows them to function as groups since they have a common identity. Living beings are different by the smell. These zombies are generally slower moving within different degrees. In a second zombie type condition the rage syndrome is produced. The zombie are driven be intense rage. This condition produces a fast moving zombie that is more akin to someone on a combination of methamphetamine and phencyclidine (PCP) with psychopathic tendencies. They are not reanimated flesh but still living humans. In either case the zombie epidemic is carrier through saliva and blood. Zombies infect others through bites. Once the virus enters the bloodstream the person becomes infected and eventually will turn into a zombie. The time for infection to onset of condition varies. Another aspect is the virus will kill the host in the first scenario then reanimate the host. An interesting twist identified in the Walking Dead series is people already are infected with the virus and when they die will reanimate as zombies unless brain trauma is accomplished.

Hunger is a driving force in any zombie scenario. The zombie is motivated by a desire for food. Dr. Schlozman suggested a likely explanation for the increased hunger in zombies. Zombies do not have a properly functioning ventromedial hypothalamus: the region of the brain that lets you know if you have eaten enough. The zombie remains perpetually hungry. The strength level of the zombie is not superhuman but does not have the same restrictions as a young child. A child uses all his or her strength when they are angry, hungry, or just performing motor actions. There is no reduction or percentage of strength used. In this, zombie may appear superhuman in strength. Additionally, zombies do not register pain. Pain compliance is not an option when dealing with zombies. Furthermore, bite strength is increased in zombies since they operate under full strength and do not feel pain. The zombie will break teeth and possible their jaw on hard surfaces trying to bit you. They must be killed or will continue to advance towards their intended target; You.

Zombies have a primary weapon, their bite. The human bite is capable of producing a maximum bite force or pressure of over 250 pounds, understanding the average bite pressure attained by humans is 100 – 150 pounds of force. Zombie will be in the upper range of the bite force. In addition to the damage cause by the bite and ripping flesh the other main concern is the transmission of the zombie virus. Zombie bites will function as a feeding mechanism for the zombie. They want fresh flesh.

Zombies never get tired. You cannot out run them on the hopes they get tired. Alternately, they may forget about you if the distance and space between you, and the zombies becomes far enough or if they become distracted. Distraction can come from loud noises, explosions, other targets, or barriers. Barriers should not be such in design allowing zombies to see through, such as a chain link fence. The idea formulates form the police or military concepts of cover or concealment. Concealment hides you from view and cover protects from threats. In law enforcement cover is preferred because bullets pass through concealment. In the zombie apocalypse, concealment may be preferred in some instances. Each aspect will be situational, and they will be discussed in later chapters.

Another challenge during the apocalypse is the zombie horde. The zombie horde occurs when zombies form groups. These situations change the dynamics of survival. Single zombies may not be a challenge to dispatch but large groups are another matter altogether. Just as water can cause a dam to break with enough pressure, hordes of zombies can decimate structures and fortifications. The section on the bug out bag addresses the condition of when to move. As in many movies and books these hordes can occur in a short period of time. Whether it is food, or conditions that attract these hordes, to survive you need to know what to do when it happens. Moving is also complicated by something rarely ever addressed in zombie lore; encumbrance. How much can you effectively carry and still relocate. In the weapons and equipment section various items will be listed with weights. A fifty caliber rifle may sound like a good idea but the weight of carrying this item and the ammunition associated with this caliber may cause it to be a prohibited weapon when on the move. Vehicles and pack animals may offset this problem to some extent. Again each aspect will be discussed in terms of both pros and cons. The first step is to adapt your mentality to survive in such harsh conditions. We term this the warrior mentality.

Chapter 1:

Warrior mentality

As stated by Carlos Castaneda the warrior mentality is the basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything either as a blessing or a curse. The idea is doing what it takes to survive. That does not mean stepping on everyone else to succeed. There are times when a team is much stronger than a group of individuals. The warrior mentality means knowing when to do what - without hesitation or remorse. The idea is to act. The act does not have to be selfish, instead it should calculate for true benefits. The will to survive is the basis for the warrior mentality. This does not mean you have to be cruel or vicious but you have to do what it takes to survive. This may mean something simple like eating bugs or more intense like killing someone that may jeopardize your position. The warrior mentality can be developed. Just like the idea of leadership there exists an paradigm. Leaders are born and not made or leaders are made through hard work. Each idea comes with the own sets of beliefs. In the warrior mentality there is some reliance of both. Some people will gravitate toward the warrior mentality. The lines of what is acceptable will be a personnel choice. Each of us must choose the line that defines what we view as acceptable.

Remember in a zombie apocalypse zombies are not the only threat. The idea of kill or be killed may extend to the living. There is a saying in corrections – just because a person goes to prison does not mean he or she stops being a predator. People may become reduced to savage identities either out of fear or greed. The idea becomes I will survive by all means. Alternatively, there may be lines that you are not willing to cross. Make your peace and know what your lines are. If it came to shooting a person in the leg so that the zombies eat them instead of you (as demonstrated in a walking dead episode), will you be willing to do it. Or will you stand by them and take your chances. It takes much more than the knowledge and skills to survive the zombie apocalypse.

Occasionally, some individuals with little or no training have survived life-threatening circumstances. Some people with survival training have not used their expertise and died. A crucial component in any survival situation is the proper mental attitude.

Grossman (1995) stated "most citizens are kind,