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Category Archives: Officer Safety
SWAT Officers Inhale Fentanyl
Hartford, Conn. Police Department’s Emergency Response Team members serving a search warrant were exposed to heroin and fentanyl when a distraction device apparently dispersed the powder into the air of the residence on entry. Eleven officers were treated at a local hospital. Over 50,000 bags of fentanyl-laced heroin were found in the house. Fentanyl is 40 to 50 times more potent than street heroin and can kill through ingestion, inhalation, or even skin exposure. The Hartford officers immediately reported dizziness, nausea, and vomiting after securing the suspects. Team members were held overnight at the hospital for observation. All were subsequently released for duty. This is yet another example of the … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, SWAT
4 Comments
Baton Rouge Police Murders
Three Baton Rouge area police officers were murdered in an ambush this morning. At this time, at least three other officers have been wounded, one black male suspect is dead, while two suspects are at large. The last fallen Dallas police officer had just been laid to rest this weekend and now more LE families have been tragically struck. My agency worked this week to prep for a BLM rally in a local park. A large thunderstorm quashed the protest, but it was a good practice run for our newer officers, who have not yet had to stand a line. Still, it added to the workload for all of us … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street
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Felon Fires Shots at Indianapolis Officer’s Home
For those of you with take home police cars, be aware of an incident at 0230 hrs this morning. A purported Black Lives Matter supporter fired 17 9mm bullets at the home and police cruiser of an Indianapolis Metro officer. Fortunately, the LEO and his family were unharmed. The suspect, who was wearing a shirt that said “F*#k the Police” and “Black Lives Matter,” shouted that he hated the police. The officer had previously arrested the suspect, who did two stints in prison, for a firearms charge. With violence escalating against law enforcement, we need to be vigilant and protect our families. If that means forgoing an assigned police car … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, Politics
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Dallas Ambush Shootings
In the past 24 hours, there have been ambush shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas, Valdosta, Georgia, and Ballwin, Missouri. Five officers are dead and at least 9 are wounded. Some in the law enforcement community are in shock, others are very angry. Family, friends, and concerned citizens have been reaching out to those in our profession with support. Food arrived at our station today, donated by sympathetic locals in appreciation for what we do. A retired officer called and asked that we be careful out on the street. My cousin, an officer in New Jersey, Facebooked me a “watch your back” message. The conversation as my guys arrived … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street
12 Comments
Magnetactical Belt Clip Lends a Hand
Updated: Devin sent me a slightly redesigned version of the Magnetactical belt clip, so I am re-posting this article. Here is a photo of the old and new style. The newer belt clip has a squared-off upper and lower edge, which will grip items better than the rounded type. I like it. Devin Stutz is a sort of modern day Geomancer, one who divines things from the very properties of the Earth. Bear with me. While at his police range sessions, Stutz pondered how to improve his one-handed and support-handed reloads and manipulations for the pistol. As if drawn to a solution with his “boots in the dirt,” Stutz came … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Officer Safety, Tactics, Technology
1 Comment
Florida Deputy Indicted for Manslaughter
Broward Sheriff’s Deputy Peter Peraza was indicted Friday by a grand jury for manslaughter in an on duty shooting. He is the first Florida law enforcement officer to be indicted by a grand jury since 1991 for an officer-involved shooting. In July of 2013, Dep. Peraza responded with other deputies to reports of an armed suspect walking in an apartment complex. The suspect refused to drop his rifle and did not comply with the deputies’ commands. Deputies stated that the suspect pointed his rifle toward them. He was shot and killed by Peraza, who fired three bullets. It was found that the suspect’s weapon was an unloaded air rifle. The … Continue reading
Posted in Legal, Officer Safety, Street
2 Comments
“Enough is Enough!”
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey is not afraid to give an opinion. I think his observations have gone viral because they make us reflect on America and safety. Gun sales in Florida have risen since the San Bernardino Islamic terrorist attack. FDLE reports firearms purchase background checks were up 73% last Saturday and 86% Sunday, compared to the same dates a year ago. People do not feel safe. Randall
Posted in Concealed Carry, Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety, Politics, Tactics
5 Comments
Terrorists and Cops Part Two
Two weeks ago, I wrote about terrorism migrating to our shores in the aftermath of the Paris attacks. Then came the ISIS-inspired San Bernardino massacre. Sadly, a homegrown extremist shooting occurred sooner than anyone thought would. Local, state, and federal agencies responded swiftly to contain and extinguish the threat in SoCal. One of my colleagues complained Thursday that many departments have a “it won’t happen here” attitude toward agency preparedness. He suggested more active shooter, tactical combat casualty care, and improvised explosive device training for all officers. I would listen to him. He has experience as a U.S. Army explosive ordinance disposal technician and combat medic. Yeah, he’s seen the … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety, Protective Armor, Street, SWAT, Tactics
1 Comment
Chicago PD Murder Charges
I have watched Chicago PD’s officer-involved shooting video from October 2014. A few things come to mind about the totality of the circumstances. Officers are responding to a commercial burglary call where a suspect was detained by a citizen, but is now on foot in the urban area. The suspect is armed with a knife. He is now evading police on the street. The suspect sprinted through a fast food restaurant parking lot, stabbed the front tire of a police car, and damaged the windshield of another. If you forward to 4:53 in the video time (not the PD time stamp), you get to the perspective of a cruiser entering … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, Legal, Media, Misc., Officer Safety, SWAT, Tactics
4 Comments
Florida Open Carry Bills in the Legislature
Imagine you are working road patrol in your uniform and marked squad car at the scene of an urban disturbance when you see a man walking up behind you on a crowded sidewalk. As he moves closer, you see he has a 9mm handgun in plain view, tucked into his waistband over his shirt. You make eye contact, but, despite your unease, you cannot stop and ask him about the pistol because that would be against the law. Does this make sense? Under 2015 Senate Bill 300, and its companion, House Bill 163, open carry of firearms would be legal in Florida if the person possesses a state-issued concealed carry … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Legal, Media, Officer Safety
Tagged CCW, Kahr Arms, RDR Holsters
17 Comments
Terrorists and Cops
As extremist violence proliferates around the globe, it will be local law enforcement who directly confronts the threat in this country. The coordinated attacks on civilians in Paris last Friday by eight terrorists wielding AK-47’s and suicide bombs could well have been perpetrated in any of our cities right here in the USA. Are you prepared to be the badge on ground zero when it goes down? While law enforcement has been criticized for “militarization,” those same armored vehicles, tactical equipment, and rifles, are exactly what we need to counter threats like
Posted in Officer Safety, Street, SWAT, Tactics
7 Comments
Next Generation CAT Tourniquet
North American Rescue is updating their popular Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT). The graphic above displays the new features. A strengthened windlass rod, clip, and strap address the issue of high torque when the unit is applied correctly. As we found during TCCC training earlier in the year, dual routing of the strap through the buckle is better, but a little difficult with one hand since the strap has trouble sliding. The new single routed buckle with teeth should help preloading and administering the CAT in all conditions. No word on release date or price yet. Randall
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street, SWAT, Uncategorized
Tagged CAT tourniquet, North American Rescue
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Police Body Cameras Gaining Ground
From the recent TASER International Axon body camera sales I have attached below, you can deduce that the new fiscal year has begun and that many agencies are following through with police body cam purchases. While some local, state, and federal jurisdictions are wrestling with the seemingly mutually exclusive issues of police transparency and citizens’ privacy rights, other departments are moving forward, no doubt some under urgent public pressure. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office’s request appears to make it the largest Florida department to pen a substantial purchase order. As for other major agencies, where cost can be a prohibitive factor, Miami-Dade Police have $5 million earmarked for future body … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, Taser, Technology
Tagged police body cameras, TASER Axon camera, TASER International
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Boydd’s Pat-Down Props
Boydd’s Products, Inc. will sell you a bag of “gold” that can help you with your trolls. Boydd’s Pat-Down Props are injection-molded, non-functioning replica weapons and contraband used for realistic search training. Raise your hand if your agency trains with crappy BB guns and busted knives with taped blades. Yeah, it happens. Used by the FBI Academy, DEA Academy, FLETC, Dept. of Homeland Security, U.S. Probation and Parole, all major branches of the U.S. Military, and hundreds of state and local agencies, Pat-Down Props are safe, cost effective, and highly useful. A Single Pack of Pat-Down Props arrives in a carry bag that contains 16
Posted in Concealed Carry, Officer Safety, Tactics
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Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Down
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bill Myers was murdered on a domestic violence injunction call this morning. After serving the injunction, Dep. Myers was shot and killed from behind by the suspect. The press release below is from OCSO’s public information officer. A longtime veteran of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office who rejoined the agency to serve part-time after retiring in 2013 has died at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center following an early morning shooting in Shalimar. Sixty-four year old Deputy Myers retired from the OCSO in November 2013 after nearly 25 years with the agency. He was re-hired on a part-time basis in January of this year to assist … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety
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