The most important tip Burkett has for police officers is just as applicable to those civilians who carry a gun for self-defense, and that's dry-fire draws out of their unloaded duty rigs.

"If every officer did this, it would improve his survivability on the street," Burkett explains. "Every time they put their guns on, whether it's at home or at work (after making doubly sure the gun is unloaded, of course), they should do 20 dry-fire draws out of their rigs.

"It brings them back to the fact they have a gun on, and it beats a cup of coffee in the morning to wake you up. At the end of the month that's 500 draws. Just that familiarization alone is something they can do to help keep them alive."