Author Archives: Randall

Texas Teen Has Deputy’s Back

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Randall

This photo and the text below were posted to Harris County, TX Sheriff’s Deputy Tommi Kelley’s Facebook page. Tommi Jones Kelley Ok, so EARLY this morning I was pumping gas in my patrol car (reason I look like a Hot Mess!)…& add it was pouring rain… When this teenager I’ve never met before is standing right behind me & says, “ma’am, do u mind if I stand here behind you while u get ur gas?” My initial response was “and why?”… His reply, “to make sure You stay safe!” Finished pumping my gas & he was still standing there, in the rain 😕. He then just walked off & started … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Safety, Street | Leave a comment

Arby’s Employee Refuses to a Serve Officer

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Randall

How would you feel if you were refused service at a restaurant solely because of how you looked? Apparently Sgt. Jennifer Martin of the Pembroke Pines Police Department knows the feeling.  An employee at an Arby’s declined to serve the uniformed officer. Although the store manager provided her the food, he laughed about it and said his worker could decline to serve her.  Sgt. Martin asked for a refund.  Arby’s corporate issued an apology.  Dade County PBA called for a chain boycott and the employees’ termination. Pembroke Pines Chief Dan Giustino said, “I am offended and appalled that an individual within our community would treat a police officer in such a … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., Street | 2 Comments

K9 Dog Finds Child Porn

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Randall

Animal conquers the electronic!  A K9 dog was responsible for taking down former Subway spokesman and future prisoner Jared Fogle. When authorities served a federal search warrant on Fogle’s residence last month, they were unable to find key evidence in a hand search by agents.  The dog saved the day. Search warrants allow the named law enforcement officers to examine any location which might contain the evidence specified in the affidavit.  In child pornography investigations, evidence can be secreted on devices as large as a server or as small as a micro SD card, which means it could be hidden in an infinite number of

Posted in K9, Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Odortec’s Skunk for Crowd Control

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Randall

How would you fancy someone “taking a chunk of rotting corpse from a stagnant sewer, placing it in a blender and spraying the filthy liquid in your face.”  Skunk brand crowd control liquid, made by Odortec Ltd., delivers that vile scenario, according to one Reuters reporter.  Sounds like The Running Dead. We all know that dispersing unruly masses with smoke, CS, or OC can be effective if the crowd is given lawful orders, clear instructions, and viable escape routes.  Skunk is marketed as a “non-lethal malodorant” that comes with a strong incentive to flee from your own gag reflex. Skunk’s formula is water-based, eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-flammable, and made from food-grade … Continue reading →

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Some Things I know from Street Patrol

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Randall

Some things I know from street patrol: I’ve learned at least three ways to disable a GILLIG transit bus. 1203 on a tanker placard means gasoline–much danger. Blue street reflectors indicate fire hydrants.  Don’t park near them at a structure fire. When running lights and siren, use the inside or outside lanes at intersections for easier maneuvering. If you are directing traffic, stand in the debris field in the center of the intersection.  It’s safer. Your patrol car is like Wonder Woman’s invisible jet–everyone can see what happens inside. Head wounds bleed profusely and are not necessarily life threatening…but bleeding from the ears is

Posted in Humor, Street | 2 Comments

Viral Photo Sends the Right Message

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Randall

This photo appeared yesterday on the Facebook page of the Trinity, TX Police Department.  Chief Steven Jones and Officer Donald Givens are throwing a little solidarity.  It was featured on Fox and Friends and has since been shared all around the Internet.  As a profession, we are experiencing some tough times.  We need to stand together, stay safe, and get the job done each day. Randall

Posted in Misc. | 1 Comment

Cops to Assist Drug Dealers–For Free!

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Randall

McIntosh County, GA Sheriff Stephen Jessup is offering his department’s services to help drug dealers remove their rivals.  Why should a dope peddler risk those pesky, inconvenient shootouts to solidify their market share?  Hire the cops to take out your trash! MCSO hasn’t had any bites, yet, but I’m sure some of the more thoughtful dealers out there will give this generous offer serious consideration. Randall P.S.  For added fun, let the kids play this like a Mad Lib by inserting wacky words.  “My drug dealing competition is (noun) _a giraffe! _  

Posted in Humor, Politics | Leave a comment

Smith & Wesson Centennial Revolvers Revisited

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Randall

Does the pervasive plastic pistol have you feeling a bit listless and melancholy lately?  Striker-fired boredom setting in?  Well, perk up your life with a Smith & Wesson Centennial revolver!  Sometimes going “retro” can get you caught in a new frame of mind that will liven your dreary modern existence. The quintessential J-frame revolver by Smith & Wesson has been around since its birth in 1950 as the Chief’s Special or, later, the Model 36.  Designed as a small, concealable handgun with moderate power from its .38 S&W Special chambering, the platform has morphed into many versions during its 60-plus years. In Smith & Wesson-ese, the “Centennial” model, introduced in … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

G2 Research R.I.P. Expanding Bullets

Posted on July 13, 2015 by Randall

Bullet technology is becoming more inventive with each primer strike.  These new projectiles from G2 Research may be more art than science, but they definitely push the marketing envelope.  The press release I received in my Inbox proclaimed, “Flying Hole Saw Defense Round.”  Uh-huh. G2’s www.G2Rammo.com Radically Invasive Projectile (R.I.P.) means just that, RIP!  In fact, firing this bullet downrange is like firing a hole saw at a target. The key to the R.I.P. round’s devastating effect is its exclusive bullet construction that causes the round to fragment into several separate controlled copper fragments thus causing more bleeding, trauma and pain all designed to stop an attacker quickly. The fragments … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Off Duty, Technology | Leave a comment

Hydrapak’s Durable First Wave Tactical Reservoir

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Randall

I hate hydration bladders.  There I’ve said it.  You know you do, too.  Not that they aren’t a great way to haul around water when tucked inside a useful shoulder-mounted system.  It’s just that they are fragile, difficult to fill, and such a pain in the ass to properly clean and dry.  Who wants a mouth full of germy algae?  But I think you are going to really like the Hydrapak First Wave Tactical Reservoir. Time and again, I’ve watched water pouring down a SWAT guy’s back and legs after something punctured his hydration bladder.  Yeah, in training it is comical, but on a live call-out, it is serious.  Other … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical, Misc., SWAT, Tactical Bags | Leave a comment

Bounce Imaging Tactical Camera

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Randall

This thing is cool.  The Bounce Image Tactical Throwable Camera would be a nice device for a team to use.  It uses white or near-infrared (850nm wavelength) LED’s to light up the area while it snaps panoramic still photos that can be immediately accessed via an Android or iOS phone.  The 360 degree photo array, from six monochrome cameras, updates once per second.  The unit will run on its internal batteries for 30 minutes at full flash intensity.  It is MIL-STD 810 drop-tested for durability.  The model used in the video, the Explorer Tactical Edition, costs about $2,500.00. Don’t diss the questionable tactics in the video, they’re only for demonstration … Continue reading →

Posted in SWAT, Tactics, Technology | 4 Comments

Fox Knives at BLADE Show

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Randall

Fox Knives had some knives on hand at BLADE Show 2015 that actually debuted at the IWA Show in Nuremburg back in March, but these were new to U.S. buyers.  I liked them for military and law enforcement use.  The first was the PM-3.  It is a no-nonsense lockback folder that is marketed for police and rescue work. The PM-3’s blade is made of Bohler-Udeholm N690Co stainless steel, which is comparable to 440C but has a little cobalt added for a little better edge holding.  It measures 3.15″ in length and is Cerakoted.  The blunt clip-point blade has large thumb studs that would work well with gloved hands. The handle … Continue reading →

Posted in Knives | Tagged , | 1 Comment

How Criminals Defeat Keyless Entry Systems

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Randall

We had experienced some curious auto thefts where a suspect was seen pointing something at a victim’s car, then opening the door and driving away.  The owner’s keys were still inside the house.  We had it all on surveillance video and it was puzzling.  This type of theft occurs by a relay attack. Passive Keyless Entry Systems are the latest technology that let drivers walk up to their car and open the doors or trunk without pushing a button or touching a key.  As long as the fob is in your pocket or purse, you are hands-free to get into the vehicle.  Once inside the car, the driver uses a … Continue reading →

Posted in Detectives, Street, Technology | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

New Florida Transient Occupant Law

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Randall

The text is a bit lengthy, but I have pasted in the new Florida State Statute 82.045, which allows a law enforcement officer to remove transient occupants from a home at the owner’s request.  This has been gray area for the police when confronted with ejecting an unwanted guest from a dwelling where they had taken up temporary residence.  Generally, it has been practice to treat as a civil matter and tell the homeowner that they must start a lengthy eviction procedure to remove the persona non grata. The statute addresses factors a LEO may use to determine if a subject is a transient occupant, procedures for their removal, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal, Street | 3 Comments

Schenk Knives at BLADE Show

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Randall

One of the first booths I happened upon at BLADE Show 2015 was being shared by Fox Knives with a fledgling company, Schenk Knives.  Zane Schenk, CEO, designer, maker, and all around nice guy showed me their Made in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA products.  He said he likes to think they manufacture custom knives, affordable to the general public. Schenk uses three main steels in their full-tang fixed blade creations:  51200 bearing steel, Bohler-Uddenholm ELMAX, and lightning strike damascus, which is a blend of 1095 and 15N20.  Schenk knife models can be had in any of the three, partnered with a stonewashed, Cerakote, or combination Cerakote-satin finish, as in the knife … Continue reading →

Posted in Knives | Tagged , , | 1 Comment