In this way, the officer can protect his whole head and torso with one hand, keeping the strong hand free, to use against another assailant, or to protect or grab his firearm. Whether vertical, horizontal, hooking, or coming up as an uppercut, fisted techniques tend to prevail. The fact is that palm strikes are safer for officers to use in combat. Full extension of the hand is the palm strike position. Having your hands open will make the strike to appear a push to the untrained eye.
Palm strikes go over better than punches on the evening news.
The purpose of the weak arm tucking under the strong side, the officer was told, was for developing torque so he'd get maximum power in his baton strike. The person who taught this technique in the police academy was a martial artist. A well trained martial artist. With absolutely no street experience whatsoever. In this case, Martial Arts instructors are changing from techniques which require a great amount of follow through to techniques which are quick and sharp, keeping the strong elbow passing close to the firearm frequently.