CPD Academy Practice Test

What is a key edged weapon countermeasure recommended during an encounter?

Recognize and avoid knife attack if possible, create distance minimum 30 feet and seek cover and/or concealment

Get your gun out (discharge gun if use of deadly force is reasonably necessary)

If unable to disengage or avoid the attack, as a last resort engage suspect with empty hand disarming techniques

Create distance minimum 30 feet and seek cover and/or concealment

The key idea is to put space and barriers between you and the blade. In an edged-weapon encounter, creating a minimum distance of 30 feet gives you the essential time to assess, reposition, and move out of the attack path, while seeking cover or concealment protects you and makes it harder for the attacker to reach you. This approach prioritizes avoidance and escape, which is the safest path given how quickly a blade can close distance. Engaging in empty-hand disarming is highly risky and often ineffective, and pulling a firearm depends on legal criteria and context rather than being the default response. So, the best countermeasure is to create distance of at least 30 feet and seek cover or concealment.