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Monthly Archives: February 2013
Blueguns by Ring’s Manufacturing
I was lucky to have a lengthy chat with John Ring, the owner of Blueguns, at SHOT Show. He is a very interesting gentleman with an equally engaging story about his Melbourne, Florida company. It seems that Mr. Ring was originally in the business of renting props to Hollywood. Ring and his associates began making rubber guns and other items for movies. As they progressed, the company began making the polyurethane blue guns that we now use in law enforcement training. Mr. Ring said 5 to 10% of their business is still on the big screen. In the photo at the top are four new blue guns for 2013: a … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Florida Companies
Tagged Blueguns, Movie Props, Ring's Manufacturing, Training Guns
1 Comment
U.S. Fire Arms ZiP Pistol–Part Deux
I wrote a quick article about the U.S. Fire Arms ZiP pistol back in December. I met with Chris from U.S. Fire Arms at SHOT Show and had a chance to examine and shoot the ZiP. The little gun, which loads .22 cal. long rifle ammunition from a Ruger rotary 10 round magazine, is made mainly for plinking. It was cool and not nearly as ungainly in the hand as it looks in photos. With your middle finger inserted in the hole below the trigger guard and using that for the base of your grip, the ZiP
Stay Safe
One of my guys was seriously injured and almost murdered and a second narrowly escaped with his life during an incident last night. Today was a long day as the investigation continued. I have been to the funerals of officers I have known. I literally cannot count on one hand the number of officers and deputies I consider friends who have been shot in the line of duty over the years. Most of us have suffered injuries. For all of you wearing a badge and gun to protect the public, mind your officer safety, switch on your situational awareness, and trust no one on the streets. Back up your buddies … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety
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U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Florida in K9 Records Case
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Florida Supreme Court in the 2006 K9 narcotics detector case of Florida vs. Harris. Siding with the trial court, the Supreme Court ruled that K9 training and testing documentation are sufficient trial evidence to support the probable cause of a drug dog’s alert. The Florida High Court had ruled that the State must provide “an exhaustive set of records, including a log of the dog’s field performance, to establish the dog’s reliability.” The Supremes disagreed and cited Illinois vs Gates 642 U.S. 213-239 (1983): “Finely tuned standards such as proof beyond a reasonable doubt or by a preponderance of the evidence have no … Continue reading
New Springfield Armory XD-S 9 Pistol
At last year’s SHOT Show, USPSA and IPSC championship shooter Rob Leatham showed me Springfield Armory’s new XD-S, a sub-compact single stack .45 ACP pistol. I shot one and I was impressed with it. For 2013, Mr. Leatham was running around at his normally frenetic pace giving media members a look and trigger time with SA’s new XD-S 9. Mr. Leatham told me the new 9mm semi-auto has the same basic dimensions as the .45 XD-S, except for cartridge capacity, which increases to 7+1 in 9mm. Springfield Armory’s XD and XD-M series have been very popular. The XD-S single stack guns, at only 0.9” in slide width, are just that … Continue reading
Florida International Drivers Permit Law Causes Stir
Our Dispatch Center was recently besieged with calls from upset Canadian citizens seeking information on how to obtain an “International Drivers License.” This rush was apparently was spurred by letters sent to the Canadians by their government urging them to apply for these licenses immediately based upon a new Florida law requiring all non U.S. residents to carry this new document when driving. The situation was made worse by the fact that no one in our Dispatch was clear about what the frantic Canadians were talking about. There is no such thing as an “International Drivers License.” The document in question is an International Driving Permit (IDP) that translates a … Continue reading
The Right K9 Tool for the Right Job
We responded to a bomb threat last week. Having an explosives detector dog at the scene reminded me of a call years ago when I was a K9 handler. It was the early 1990’s. I was working a dual-purpose Patrol and Narcotics K9 on the Midnight Shift. A woman called 911 to report that she was having a domestic with her boyfriend. During the argument, he threatened to blow her and her whole family up. Prior to our arrival, she told the dispatcher that he had left their…wait for it…mobile home with something under his shirt. Officers arrived on scene and she disgorged that he had previously served in the … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, K9
Tagged K9 Explosives Detector Dog, K9 Police Dog, Narcotics Detector Dog, Police K9
2 Comments
N8² Tactical’s Professional Series Holsters
N8² Tactical makes holsters in North Carolina. At SHOT Show 2013, I asked Nate Beard about their name. Nate Beard and Nate Johnson formed the company. “Nate Squared,” get it? I asked Mr. Beard what was new and he showed me their improved Professional IWB concealed carry holster. From the N8² Tactical website: The Nate Squared Tactical Professional holster is the ultimate IWB (inside-the-waistband) holster. It has all the comfort of our Original design, but comes with the following additional features: ADJUSTABLE CANT TUCKABLE EXCELLENT POSITIVE RETENTION The holster is made of polycarbonate, which is an extremely durable thermoplastic. Common uses range from cd’s & dvd’s to bullet resistant glass. We … Continue reading
AG’s Office Announces State Officers of the Year
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
Posted in Media, Officer Down, Politics, SWAT
Tagged Attorney General Pam Bondi, Florida Attorney General, St. Petersburg Police
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New Crimson Trace Products for 2013
One of the first booths we hit at SHOT Show 2013 Media Day at the Range was Crimson Trace Corporation. CTC’s Media Relations Manager Iain Harrison showed us a few of their new-for-2013 products. It was so cold, my pen did not write, but the lasers fired up just fine. Green laser! There I said it. Crimson Trace, ironically, is now in the green laser business. Several models are now available, with more variation in the manufacturing pipeline. CTC’s green lasers will come in trigger guard, rail-mounted, backstrap-mounted, and grip replacement systems. Mr. Harrison showed us a currently available CMR-203, which fits pistols wearing M1913/Picatinny or Weaver rails. Ours was … Continue reading
Spyderco NLEOMF Commemorative Knife
Spyderco’s OpFocus division shows this knife in its 2013 catalogue: “In the year 2000, the United States Congress and President Bill Clinton authorized the establishment of a National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. The goal of this museum is to tell the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research and education. Designed as a natural extension of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, it will be the largest and most comprehensive museum to honor the duty and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. Building and exhibit designs for the museum are currently in progress and countless artifacts are being collected and catalogued to document the contributions and … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, Officer Down
Tagged NLEOMF, NLEOMF Knife, NLEOMF Museum, OpFocus, Spyderco, Spyderco Delica
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Leon County Sheriff’s Office K9 Koda Slain
In an attempt to apprehend fleeing murder suspect Carlos Cespedes, Leon County Sheriff’s Office K9 Koda was shot and killed in the line of duty on 2/1/2013. LCSO PIO Lt. James McQuaig reported that Deputy Ron McMullen, his partner K9 Koda, and Deputy Tyler Epstein confronted the suspect at the end of a vehicle pursuit. Cespedes fired his gun at the deputies and K9 Koda was hit by a single bullet. Dep’s McMullen and Epstein returned fire and the suspect was hit. He is in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. The deputies were uninjured. Cespedes had active warrants from the Tallahassee Police for first degree murder, … Continue reading
New Ruger LC380 Review
Sturm, Ruger & Co. trucked out their new LC380 to SHOT Show Media Day. Since Ruger’s designated patch of real estate was at the very north end of the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club, we did not get to them until late in the afternoon. Some vendors were already packing up, what with the still chill temperatures and lashing wind. Aaron and I were hanging tough. When we stepped up to the table of guns, I bluntly asked the Ruger rep what they were thinking by making the LC380. I had an answer in mind, but I wanted to see what he would articulate. He told us that their thought … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged .380 ACP, .380 Handgun, Concealed Carry, concealed carry gun, Ruger LC380, SHOT Show, SHOT Show 2013, Sturm Ruger
8 Comments