Monthly Archives: March 2013

Surviving to Twenty-Five

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Randall

Several months ago, I crested the 25-year mark as a sworn police officer.  More recently, I turned 50.  I had some thoughts about surviving a law enforcement career for a quarter of a century that I would like to share. I will get this one out of the way right off.  Continue your officer safety training and mindset throughout your whole career, regardless of your job description.  Everything else on which I will comment has no bearing if you do not live to fight another day.  Always be aware of your surroundings and think tactically on and off duty.  What would I do if X, Y, or Z happened right … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Medical, Misc., Off Duty, Officer Safety | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

SCOTUS Rules K9 Sniff of Home is an Illegal Search

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Randall

In a move I think we all saw coming, the Supreme Court of the United States held that a K9 sniff to the exterior of a house constitutes a warrantless search and as such is a violation of the Fourth Amendment in Joelis Jardines v. State of Florida (SC08-2101).  As I had written in my earlier article, the interesting argument posed by the State of Florida in this case was that the sniff of the K9 dog detects only illegal substances, not the legal activities of an ordinary citizen.  It also does not “illuminate” the residence to public examination, as would a search of the residence. SCOTUS addressed the State’s … Continue reading →

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

Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Shotgun Review

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Randall

Finally!  I waited two whole years from SHOT Show 2011 to SHOT 2013 to fire a Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun.  I really wanted to mount it on my shoulder to check out its maneuverability for room clearing.  I wanted to test its ergonomics and controls.  Mostly, I wanted to stack up with the boys and run a shoot house while wielding this particular shorty shotty.  Well, at least I did get to fire the doggone thing. Cocoa, Florida’s Kel-Tec CNC debuted the KSG (Kel-Tec Shotgun) to the press two years ago.  Since then, the KSG’s have been a little hard to come by–much like the KT RFB, which the KSG … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Florida Companies, SHOT Show | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

OIS

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Randall

I was the supervisor on scene when a gunfight broke out between the suspect and an officer at a wanted subject call two nights ago.  All the officers reacted appropriately and the incident eventually came to a successful conclusion.  I was proud of our troops and of the troops from the two assisting agencies that responded to help. Following the volley of gunshots (and after ducking), I had been moving some of our guys around on the perimeter, adjusting fields of fire, when I asked one of the officers to take up a position further east.  He was proned out behind a tree with his AR.  As he went to … Continue reading →

Posted in K9, Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street, Tactics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

1st District Court of Appeals Rules on Facebook Threats

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Randall

This week, the 1st District Court of Appeal, State of Florida, upheld a trial court ruling that a defendant who posted, on his own personal Facebook page, a tirade of profanity and promises to hurt a relative violated Florida Statute 836.10, Written Treats to Kill or Do Bodily Harm, a second degree felony. O’Leary v. State, Slip Op. No. 1D12-0975 (Fla. 1st DCA, 2013). Timothy Ryan O’Leary wrote the anti-gay diatribe, aimed at one of his relatives and her same-sex partner, on his Facebook page. Because O’Leary is Facebook friends with his cousin Michael and Michael is also related to the threatened relative, it broke the law, even though the threatened … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

T.U.C.Rig — Tactical Under Carry for Equipment

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Randall

A West Central Florida police officer/SWAT member has come up with a simple carry method for ancillary equipment with external clips or sheaths.  She calls it the T.U.C.Rig for Tactical Under Carry Rig.  Consisting of a nylon strap, single buckle, and hook and loop closure, it can secure items that have clips, such as knives and flashlights.  It can also be threaded through pouches with belt loops or MOLLE attachments.  The T.U.C.Rig mounts on the ankle, arm, or even on body armor vest straps. For the last two months, I have been using the T.U.C.Rig to tote my C.A.T. Tourniquet while on shift.  I attach the hook and loop of … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Florida Companies, Knives, Medical, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

VHS, the YouTube of Yesterday

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Randall

Back in 1987 (the year I was sworn in), sending out a hundred training tapes on VHS was the equivalent of something going viral today.  A traffic stop in Los Angeles that year prompted this sarcastic training tape. According to lore, the LA Police Department sent out a roll call safety brief stating that gang members may be using former LA County Sheriff’s Department Chevrolet Malibu’s for criminal activities.  LAPD Harbor Division cops end up stopping a “suspicious” unmarked Chevy Malibu on felony traffic.  The Malibu contains–two sworn LASD deputies!  Despite being in full uniform, the deputies are taken down at gunpoint by the PD officers and detained until an … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

RDR Holsters Micro Carry Review

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Randall

RDR (Rounds Down Range) Holsters is a Hollywood, FL company making Kydex™ holsters and accessory carriers for most major brands of concealed carry handguns.  One of our longtime readers here at ThinBlueFlorida, M@ (Matt–get it?), met me at SHOT Show out on the main floor.  Funny, we both traveled all the way from Florida just to meet in Nevada.  M@, who works for RDR, brought me a RDR Micro Carry holster for my Kahr PM9. Founded by two brothers, RDR is visibly represented by owner Jeff Wilber.  Mr. Wilber is very active in the firearms industry.  In January 2013, it was announced that Mr. Wilber would be the new Sales … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Florida Companies, Off Duty, SHOT Show | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What You Don’t Know…

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Randall

The weather was beautiful, so my wife and I took a walk to get out of the house.  Along the journey, we headed down the sidewalk near a set of waterfront condos.  There was a sheriff’s office cruiser parked parallel to our path.  As we went by the driver’s side of the patrol car, my wife and I waved to the deputy sheriff.  She was young and appeared to be talking on her cell phone–no problem there, she was stationary.  That would pass muster under our General Orders.  She smiled and nodded back to us–good public relations for Starman. I could not help but feel uneasy as I was strolling … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Armored Mobility Inc. Rapid Response Carrier and SAPI3 Plate Review

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Randall

My agency responded to an active shooter in the workplace last week.  Shots were fired.  Hundreds of workers, fearing the worst, hid in their offices.  There were gunfire injuries to a civilian.  Our PD response was swift and decisive.  The shooter was arrested.  Afterward, some of my co-workers expressed a desire to upgrade their patrol load out to include a critical incident vest.  I could not help but give them my opinion on the importance of armor and ammo. I currently have an Armored Mobility Inc. (AMI) Rapid Response Carrier with two AMI SAPI3 plates in the CVPI trunk while on duty.  Armor–check.  Multiple AR-15  and Sig magazines.  Ammo–check. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Safety, Protective Armor, SHOT Show, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Sergeant Murdered

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Randall

Yesterday morning, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Gary Morales was shot to death on a traffic stop in Fort Pierce.  Sgt. Morales was in his patrol vehicle when suspect Eriese Alphonso Tisdale exited the stopped car and shot Morales.  Morales later died at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center. According to SLCSO, the suspect is in custody and is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault on an officer/firefighter/EMT, fleeing and eluding and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon. Sgt. Morales was a former U.S. Air Force K9 handler.  A 13 year veteran of the SLCSO, he had served as an SRO, SWAT Sniper Team Leader, and Special Investigations … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Down | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Sergeant Murdered