Monthly Archives: November 2014

The Costs of Police Body Cameras

What would happen if police departments declined to employ body cameras because of expense?  Not the cost of buying the actual equipment, but the cost of complying with public record requests.  An unforeseen result of Sunshine Laws can potentially immobilize state and municipal governments. Modern think is that officer-mounted cameras will prevent corruption and misconduct and, conversely, may also exonerate innocent cops.  If every police-to-citizen interaction is recorded, then nothing will be left unproven.  Problem solved!  Perhaps. An open public records request in Washington state may be a cautionary tale as to how future deployment of body cameras may cause their own demise.  A citizen in Poulsbo, WA made a … Continue reading

Posted in Misc., Technology | 4 Comments

Taurus Curve Gets Spanked by Gun Pundits Everywhere

You may have seen this on the Internet recently.  Taurus USA took the popular lightweight polymer .380 ACP carry pistol in a different direction by introducing “contour” to this familiar formula.  The electronic media descended upon the new Taurus Curve .380 autopistol and treated it like Theseus did the Cretan Bull at Marathon:  One bovine D.O.A. Keyboard pundits are calling this gun a publicity stunt, not a serious self defense firearm.  If you trawl the gunblogs, you will find both sarcasm and derision for this design. From the Curve’s wonky shape to a total lack of iron sights to its holster-less clip of death, not much good is being recorded … Continue reading

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Technology | Tagged | 2 Comments

Updated: Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Killed, Another Wounded

As the greater Tallahassee community healed after Thursday’s FSU school shooting, more tragedy struck.  Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher L. Smith, responding to a house fire, was ambushed and murdered as he arrived at the scene Saturday.  The suspect, Curtis Wade Holley, took the deputy’s gun and began firing it as he walked down the 3700 block of Caracas Court.  Deputy Colin Wulfekuhl was shot and wounded by the suspect. Tallahassee Police Department Officers Mark Lewis and Scott Angulo came on scene.  Ofc. Lewis tried to help Dep. Smith, but was fired upon by Holley.  Tallahassee Fire Department personnel were also shot at and least one fire engine was seen racing … Continue reading

Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street | 4 Comments

Shooting at FSU

I had something of an emotional reaction when I heard about the shooting at Florida State University this morning.  It was a tragedy in a place I once called home.  You see, I graduated from FSU in the mid-1980’s.  Strozier Library sits on Landis Green east of Landis and Deviney Residence Halls, where I lived for many years.  Strozier was my second home. After something as traumatic as a school shooting, we tend to hear people ask, “Why?”  They want a rational explanation in an attempt to seek closure.  My feeling is that the “why” is unimportant.  There is no rational explanation for violence targeting the innocent and defenseless.  “Why” … Continue reading

Posted in Misc. | 2 Comments

Photos from SWAT Round-Up International 2014

I took the day off and drove over to SWAT Round-Up International on Wednesday to check out the vendors and watch some of the competition.  The day’s event was the Officer Rescue.  I have competed in all five events over past years, so I enjoyed hanging around to watch others have the same fun! While I was at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Range, I hooked up with the guys from my SWAT team.  Our team did not compete this year.  As a matter of fact, we had not been on the field since 2006, which was the last time I competed.  Since we have so many FNG’s on the … Continue reading

Posted in SWAT | Tagged | 2 Comments

Coolest Vehicle at SWAT Round-Up 2014

As I was leaving the range at SWAT Round-Up International today, I saw this fully functional vintage operator delivery vehicle, a 1969 Dodge Barracuda.  It wore its original tactical OD green and black colors.  In its day, the convertible top allowed for high speed deployment of the “Special Weapons And Tactics” officers as the ‘Cuda roared up to the scene in a cloud of acrid, vision-obscuring tire smoke. At a venue where today’s armored vehicles are coated in metric tons of plate steel, yards of ballistic glass, and gallons of flat black paint, this vehicle stood out as an old school witness to how The Fuzz used to show up … Continue reading

Posted in Humor, SWAT, Technology | Tagged | 1 Comment

Veterans Day

I would like to thank all veterans of the United States Armed Services for your honorable commitment, dedication, and service to our Country on this Veterans Day.  Last weekend, my wife and I were able to attend the unveiling of veterans’ memorial in a local park.  There were hundreds in attendance, to include many of those who have served. It was sobering to listen to the guest speaker, a retired one-star General, as he relayed his thoughts on service and history.  I was proud that so many generations had assembled to show our thanks and respect to the assembled soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. In a moment that could not … Continue reading

Posted in Misc. | 4 Comments

Back in Uniform for a Shift

We had a minor supervisory crisis last Sunday night and I was asked to fill in for the Evening Shift.  Okay, I hadn’t been in a street uniform in over a year, but I offered to help out.  My equipment was mostly right where I had left it.  I would be the only sergeant for the shift, but, hey, I’ve been there many times before. Sunday afternoon arrived.  I had borrowed the keys to a fellow sergeant’s marked Chevy Tahoe.  When I parked at the PD, I loaded my equipment: admin files, statute book, traffic vest, spare flashlight, plate carrier with 2 rifle mags and med kit, AR-15, and shotgun. … Continue reading

Posted in Street | 2 Comments

New Rock Island Armory .22 TCM Pistols

Rock Island Armory, a division of Armscor, is releasing their new single stack .22 TCM caliber 1911-style pistols.  I shot the original version .22 TCM’s at SHOT just a few years ago.  I even got to interview the .22 TCM’s inventor, Fred Craig, out in the sand. Pushing a 40 grain bullet along over 2,000 fps, this pistol/caliber combination makes for a very accurate and flat-shooting gun.  At the outdoor range, I was able to make consistent hits on small steel at 50+ yards with a full-sized .22 TCM 1911.  I owed this to the crisp trigger and speedy arc-less round.  The new TCM pistols come with a 9mm conversion … Continue reading

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