Category Archives: SWAT

TSSI TACOPS New Active Response Breacher’s Kit

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Randall

TSSI‘s Don Wright showed me their new TACOPS Active Response Breacher’s Kit.  It contains a very portable hammer, halogen tool, and bolt cutter, each of which can unfold and telescope to full size for added leverage.  The tools are carried in a rugged nylon sling bag so the officer or operator can quickly transition to a handgun or long rifle, if needed. This set of tools and bag was specifically designed for active shooter situations, where, with proper training, an officer can come on to a scene and have breaching capabilities that were formerly only available to a SWAT team.  The ARBK is small enough to ride unobtrusively in the … Continue reading →

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SWAT Round-Up 2013 Video Courtesy of Venture Ballistics

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Randall

http://cf.cdn.vid.ly/r1h8r2/mp4.mp4   Todd Garrett over at Venture Ballistic Composites sent me this cool video of the SWAT Round-Up 2013 competition.  It captures the events’ preparation and perspiration.  If you competed this year or visited the SRI, you might see yourself in the movie.  Check it out.  Thanks, Mr. Garrett! Randall

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Venture Ballistics Introduces New Active Shooter Shields

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Randall

In addition to watching last Tuesday’s event at SWAT Round-Up International 2013, I trolled the vendors’ show looking for new things.  I ran across Todd Garrett at the Venture Ballistic Composites booth.  Mr. Garrett chose to introduce their new line of Active Shooter shields at this year’s SRI. Named an AS-3 or AS-3A, Venture Ballistics’ new models are either NIJ Level III or IIIa.  They come in 16″ X 20″ (short) or 16″ X 28″ (regular).  These shields are very mobile and afford good coverage to the user’s torso.  The AS-3A short is specifically designed to give protection in or out of a vehicle.

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SWAT Round-Up International In Orlando This Week

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Randall

I am in Orlando this week for the Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit (FLEPRU) conference.  On my way over, I just had to stop at the Orange County Sheriff’s Sheriff’s Office Range for the annual SWAT Round-Up International.  I competed here in the 1990’s and again one last time in 2006. I visited the vendors and will post some photos of some cool stuff I saw.  In the meantime, I was able to see an old friend from my Academy days some 26 years ago.  He works out here and is doing well.

Posted in Detectives, SWAT | 3 Comments

In the SWAT Van

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Randall

The guys were loading up the van for a full blown SWAT call a few weeks ago. I was still a street supervisor and working the evening shift.  Thinking I might be of some use, I hovered around the equipment room to help.  As we collected gas, less lethal, long guns, tools, and the rest of the gear, I told each one of them to “Be careful,” or “Watch your buddies.”  Just before the van was pulling out, I waved and told the last pair aboard, “Have fun stormin’ the castle!” Something special to me about serving on SWAT was the camaraderie and shared experiences that unfolded under serious pressure.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, SWAT | 2 Comments

Cabela’s ColorPhase Camouflage Changes Hues

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Randall

Cabela’s ColorPhase camouflage changes from brown to green hues and back depending on the ambient air temperature outside.  In weather under 65°, the brown dominates the specially treated dyes in the fabric.  Above 65°, a green shift takes place.  In the video, you can see that only certain areas of the garment are treated with the rapid-change, temperature-activated dyes. I am sure this type of camo will be hot topic for the Military and, later, SWAT.  The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been investigating the color shifting abilities of marine squid for similar purposes.  ColorPhase is a step in that direction. Randall

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Combative Edge Knives M1 Fixed Blade

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Randall

I saw this new fixed blade on the Blade Show table at Combative Edge Knives.  Rob Walker told me that is a prototype for their newest knife, tentatively called the M1 Fixed Blade.  This is a hard-use knife made from Bohler-Uddeholm N690Co blade steel, HRC 58-60.  N690Co is a high carbon stainless steel which is reported to have excellent edge holding abilities and superior corrosion resistance.  The N690 will be DLC coated.  G-10 composite scales will be snugged down with titanium hardware.  A kydex sheath will be standard. Randall

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Schrade SCHF14 Fixed Blade Knife

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Randall

This striking knife from Schrade (Taylor Brands) is their SCHF14.  When I saw it at Blade Show, I joked to the rep that SCHF must stand for, I dunno, “Sh*t Can Hit the Fan?”  His face told me he was not amused.  Yeah, but I was. One of my first SWAT knives was a Navy Mk3 knife that weighed at lease 14 ounces with its plastic sheath.  It was a beast and guys quickly shed it from their belts for more manageable cutters.  I think the trend toward smaller blades has continued and this Schrade SCHF14 looked like one I would hang from some tactical nylon. The thing I really … Continue reading →

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Ontario Knife Company Wyvern Crash Axe

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Randall

A Wyvern is a two-legged winged mythical beast resembling a dragon.  Wings and claws seem especially appropriate for this U.S.A.F.-inspired tool. New for 2013 is a military grade axe from the Ontario Knife Company called the Wyvern Crash Axe.  Robb Cass, OKS’s Director of Special Projects, told me that U.S.A.F. Pararescue Jumpers wanted an aircraft breaching and rescue tool for their load-out.  OKC came up with this variation on their SPAX axe that has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. Okay, we get the curved axe face for cutting.  On the backside of that is a pick for punching holes.  Once an aircraft skin is pierced, the other end … Continue reading →

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Atlas Devices Lightweight Tactical Ladder

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Randall

Cool looking ladder.  The Atlas Devices vendor was busy showing it to a guy in khaki pants and a polo shirt.  His name badge read only USSOCOM.  No name.  No branch.  No unit.  A real Operator.  With a U.S. government line of credit. I wanted to see the ladder, but the free market kinda had the floor.  I came back to Atlas’ SOFIC booth an hour later.  My audience was granted at that point. This lightweight tactical ladder articulated out to 10′.  It weighed a mere 12 lbs.  It was obviously strong, as the vendor extended it fully, propped each end onto a Pelican case, then stood in its middle … Continue reading →

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New Gerber Downrange Tomahawk

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Randall

New for 2013, Gerber’s Made in the USA Downrange Tomahawk.  I took a couple of quick photos of the Tomahawk and their new Rescue Axe at SOFIC.  The Downrange Tomahawk sports an axe face with a hammer head at its rear.  The handle is full tang and has a pry bar at the lower end.  Finger grooves in the head of the axe allow the user to get leverage to force the pry bar into jambs and seams. The steel for the Downrange Tomahawk is 420HC.  It is blackened with KG Gun Kote.  Desert Tan G-10 handle scales are bolted on.  The Tomahawk is 19.27″ overall and weighs in at … Continue reading →

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NavElite Trekker H Wrist Worn Compass Review

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Randall

I remember a hostage rescue simulation, calendars past, that involved a rural house surrounded by very heavy woods.  I was an ATL then.  A sniper and I were tasked by the team leader with clandestinely scouting the location, staging the outer perimeter, and finding the best ingress to the target for the assault element.  We kind of got disorie…un-uhhh…lost.  Thankfully, it was just a training scenario.  NavElite currently produces a compass that I would certainly recommend to active guys in SWAT. Wearing a wrist-mounted direction finder that has backlighting can be a huge advantage in tactical operations.  Yeah, you could fool around with a flashlight and hand held lensatic compass, … Continue reading →

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AG’s Office Announces State Officers of the Year

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Randall

Press release from the Attorney General’s Office: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today named St. Petersburg Police Department Sergeant Karl Lounge and St. Petersburg Police Department Officer Douglas Weaver the Attorney General’s 2012 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Sergeant Lounge and Officer Weaver were joined by seven fellow officers from around the state at a ceremony recognizing them for their dedication to law enforcement and public safety. “Each nominee is a hero who selflessly serves their communities,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I am proud to name Sergeant Lounge and Officer Weaver as the 2012 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Their courage in the face of danger and … Continue reading →

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TrackingPoint Update from SHOT Show 2013

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Randall

I was able to see the TrackingPoint Precision Guided Firearm in action firsthand at the SHOT Show Media Day. On the long range, I watched as a novice shooter got behind the Surgeon rifle and Networked Tracking Scope, then hit a 962 yard shot on his first attempt…uh, Wow! TrackingPoint had an iPad streaming live video next to the .338 Lapua rifle. Bystanders were able to watch on the screen as the shooter “tagged” the distant piece of steel and then let the microprocessors work the dope. The Guided Trigger will only allow a shot to be fired when the scope and tagged target are optically aligned. The rifle operator … Continue reading →

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TrackingPoint to Introduce Precision Guided Rifle Scopes

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Randall

The Consumer Electronics Show, one of Las Vegas’ biggest conventions, is happening this week.  At 140,000 attendees, CES is twice the size of the SHOT Show.  For all the myriad gadgets and electronic toys being shown at CES, I thought this was one interesting bit of technology with future law enforcement potential. TrackingPoint, Inc. builds precision rifles in Austin, TX.  Their latest advance is the patent-pending Intelligent Digital Tracking Scope, a kind of Heads-Up Display for a rifle.  This advanced scope calculates a firing solution for the shooter, as it takes into account wind speed and direction, humidity, ballistic drop, parallax, incline and cant of the weapon, and other factors.  … Continue reading →

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