Police Body Cameras Gaining Ground

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Randall

taser_body_cam_front_1_low_res_largeFrom 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 cams.  Broward Sheriff Scott Israel has said his office lacks the funding, but he will ask for additional money from his county commission.

Tampa Police have finished a trial program, and have expressed Continue reading →

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News Misinterprets Suspect, Streetwise Readers Split Sides

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Randall
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(Hint, there was no canis familiaris–Randall)

I almost tumbled off my sectional when I read this journalistic misfire on a television station’s news website.  Apparently, something has gone horribly wrong in the Mainstream Media.

Cooper then ran from the scene to a nearby church, where the pastor found him hiding in a bathroom, deputies said.

Cooper was taken into custody without further incident.

Deputies said Cooper, who smelled of alcohol and marijuana, asked who was chasing him and said “you slow as [expletive].”

Cooper then said he wasn’t driving the car, according to the report. “My dog was driving that car,” he reportedly said. “I ran ‘cause I wanted to. You ain’t gonna find no drugs or guns on me.”

I regularly groan at misspellings, poor grammar, and nonsensical headlines in the paper, but, seriously, writing an article about a supposed four-legged accomplice when the bad guy clearly meant “his dawg,” y’all?  Too funny.

Come on, even Cooper would have a laugh at the amateurishness of this article.

Randall

Continue reading →

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Blue Lives Matter Billboards

Posted on October 11, 2015 by Randall

imageBaton Rouge, Louisiana’s Lamar Advertising Company has donated 302 digital billboards with a Blue Lives Matter graphic and #thankublu Instagram link to promote support for law enforcement.  Conceived by Memphis branding agency Tactical Magic, the billboards first appeared in that city, but Lamar has expanded their exposure nationwide.

Tactical Magic creative director Trace Hallowell said a citizen approached him about honoring those who serve in local law enforcement.  The original Tactical Magic billboards, which went up in June showed support for the Memphis PD. Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Misc., Politics | Leave a comment

Active Shooter Survival Tips

Posted on October 1, 2015 by Randall

imageThere was an absolutely tragic Active Shooter incident at Umpqua Community College in Oregon today.  Reports at this time say that at least 10 have been murdered and 7 wounded in the on-campus attack.  The shooter is apparently dead.

I have a daughter in college and I do not know if she has ever received training for such an occurrence at her school.  I decided to send her an email containing some tips for surviving an active shooter event.  Most of the information below comes from the Department of Homeland Security.  It is meant as a guide and is not a guarantee of an positive outcome.

As police officers, we train for and respond to critical incidents in real life.  Despite our experience, we cannot always be there for the safety of our own sons and daughters, but we can make them aware of techniques to increase their own chances for survival until our Brothers and Sisters in Blue arrive on scene.

Randall

 

HOW TO RESPOND WHEN AN ACTIVE SHOOTER IS IN YOUR VICINITY

Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life.

  1. Evacuate (RUN)

If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises.  Be sure to:

  • Have an escape route and plan in mind
  • Evacuate regardless of whether others agree to follow
  • Leave your belongings behind
  • Help others escape, if possible
  • Prevent individuals from entering an area where the active shooter may be
  • Keep your hands visible
  • Follow the instructions of any police officers
  • Do not attempt to move wounded people
  • Call 911 when you are safe

2.  Hide out (HIDE)

If evacuation is not possible, find a place to Continue reading →

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Boydd’s Pat-Down Props

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Randall

imageBoydd’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 Continue reading →

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Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputy Down

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Randall
Deputy Bill Myers

Deputy Bill Myers

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 with Civil Process.

Investigators say Myers had just finished serving a domestic violence injunction to 33- year old Joel Dixon Smith of Navarre at Cotton and Gates Law Firm on Plew Avenue around 8:20 a.m. Deputy Myers was walking outside when he was shot multiple times in the back, including a gunshot wound to the rear of his head.

Continue reading →

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Florida’s New Revenge Porn Statute

Posted on September 17, 2015 by Randall

imageFlorida’s Revenge Porn statute, formally known as Sexual Cyberharassment, will take effect on October 1, 2015.  FSS 784.049 begins with the Legislature’s rationale for the law, that people have a right to privacy for explicit sexual images of themselves taken consensually.  It recognizes the harm that can come if the images are made public through the Internet.

Following requisite legal definitions, the law makes it a first degree, probable cause misdemeanor to willfully and maliciously sexually cyberharass another person.  It is a third degree felony for a previously convicted sexual cyberharasser to commit a second or subsequent incident.

The statute goes on to outline a victim’s right to receive injunctive relief, monetary damage awards of $5,000 or more in actual damages, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. The final provisions Continue reading →

Posted in Legal | 1 Comment

9/11 Back-Up Gun

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Randall

imageThis is NYPD Ofc. Walter Weaver’s Smith & Wesson model 640 back-up firearm that was uncovered in the rubble of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terror attacks.  Ofc. Weaver was last seen on the sixth floor of the North Tower on that day helping survivors. The NRA Museums’ Facebook page displayed this photo montage today.  Ofc. Weaver’s service and sacrifice are not forgotten.

Randall

Posted in Firearms, Misc. | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

9/11 Today

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Randall

American-Flag-2048x1536-iPad-wallpaper_1I attended a 9/11 remembrance at our City Hall today.  The Police/Fire honor guard looked sharp.  Some dignitaries spoke and one of our chaplains led an appropriate prayer.  The moment of silence was the most emotional time of the ceremony.  Reflected in others’ faces was the sadness of lives lost, respect for those who served and gave all, and patriotic pride for a country that came together during tragedy.  God bless America.

Randall

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Texas Teen Has Deputy’s Back

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Randall

imageThis photo and the text below were posted to Harris County, TX Sheriff’s Deputy Tommi Kelley’s Facebook page.

Tommi Jones Kelley
Ok, so EARLY this morning I was pumping gas in my patrol car (reason I look like a Hot Mess!)…& add it was pouring rain…
When this teenager I’ve never met before is standing right behind me & says, “ma’am, do u mind if I stand here behind you while u get ur gas?”
My initial response was “and why?”…
His reply, “to make sure You stay safe!”
Finished pumping my gas & he was still standing there, in the rain 😕.
He then just walked off & started to get into the passenger side of a car & I asked the driver if she was his Mom & indeed she was. I told her she has an amazing son & she said he wanted to make sure no one hurt me.
Yes, I’m the one with the gun on my hip while he stood there empty handed, but he for sure had my “6” while my back was turned.

With all the terror going on nationwide, this reassured me there are still some pretty awesome individuals out there!
Thank you for ur concern Mckinley Zoellner.

One of Kelley’s co-workers, Harris SO Deputy Darren Goforth, was murdered a week and a half ago while pumping gas.  Texas is leading the nation with ten law enforcement fatalities so far this year.  It is a tough time for Lone Star LEO’s.

Reading Deputy Kelley’s post really made me smile, especially after all the flak we have been enduring in the Media.  Good people like McKinley are out there.  It is important to be reminded that these are the folks we are sworn to protect and serve.

Randall

Posted in Officer Safety, Street | Leave a comment

Arby’s Employee Refuses to a Serve Officer

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Randall
Ofc. J. Martin

Sgt. J. Martin

How would you feel if you were refused service at a restaurant solely because of how you looked? Apparently Sgt. Jennifer Martin of the Pembroke Pines Police Department knows the feeling.  An employee at an Arby’s declined to serve the uniformed officer.

Although the store manager provided her the food, he laughed about it and said his worker could decline to serve her.  Sgt. Martin asked for a refund.  Arby’s corporate issued an apology.  Dade County PBA called for a chain boycott and the employees’ termination.

Pembroke Pines Chief Dan Giustino said, “I am offended and appalled that an individual within our community would treat a police officer in such a manner.  It is unacceptable.”

While the incident is disappointing, it is not surprising considering the chilly climate toward law enforcement officers in the Mainstream Media.  For a refreshing counterpoint, check out Tim’s post on Gun Nuts Media titled, The Police Aren’t the Bad Guys.

Imagine what would happen if we based police service delivery on personal preferences…but, then, people expect us to be professionals.  Hey, if I were treated like this, I’d certainly wield my discretionary spending elsewhere.

Randall

Update:  Arby’s fired the manager and suspended the employee for two days.

photo:  Linkedin

Posted in Misc., Street | 2 Comments

K9 Dog Finds Child Porn

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Randall

imageAnimal conquers the electronic!  A K9 dog was responsible for taking down former Subway spokesman and future prisoner Jared Fogle. When authorities served a federal search warrant on Fogle’s residence last month, they were unable to find key evidence in a hand search by agents.  The dog saved the day.

Search warrants allow the named law enforcement officers to examine any location which might contain the evidence specified in the affidavit.  In child pornography investigations, evidence can be secreted on devices as large as a server or as small as a micro SD card, which means it could be hidden in an infinite number of Continue reading →

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Odortec’s Skunk for Crowd Control

Posted on August 23, 2015 by Randall

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How would you fancy someone “taking a chunk of rotting corpse from a stagnant sewer, placing it in a blender and spraying the filthy liquid in your face.”  Skunk brand crowd control liquid, made by Odortec Ltd., delivers that vile scenario, according to one Reuters reporter.  Sounds like The Running Dead.

We all know that dispersing unruly masses with smoke, CS, or OC can be effective if the crowd is given lawful orders, clear instructions, and viable escape routes.  Skunk is marketed as a “non-lethal malodorant” that comes with a strong incentive to flee from your own gag reflex.

Skunk’s formula is water-based, eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-flammable, and made from food-grade ingredients.  But don’t think it comes without a noxious parting gift. Unless you possess Odortec’s proprietary Continue reading →

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Some Things I know from Street Patrol

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Randall

K9ChaseSome things I know from street patrol:

I’ve learned at least three ways to disable a GILLIG transit bus.

1203 on a tanker placard means gasoline–much danger.

Blue street reflectors indicate fire hydrants.  Don’t park near them at a structure fire.

When running lights and siren, use the inside or outside lanes at intersections for easier maneuvering.

If you are directing traffic, stand in the debris field in the center of the intersection.  It’s safer.

Your patrol car is like Wonder Woman’s invisible jet–everyone can see what happens inside.

Head wounds bleed profusely and are not necessarily life threatening…but bleeding from the ears is Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Street | 2 Comments

Viral Photo Sends the Right Message

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Randall

His Life MattersThis photo appeared yesterday on the Facebook page of the Trinity, TX Police Department.  Chief Steven Jones and Officer Donald Givens are throwing a little solidarity.  It was featured on Fox and Friends and has since been shared all around the Internet.  As a profession, we are experiencing some tough times.  We need to stand together, stay safe, and get the job done each day.

Randall

Posted in Misc. | 1 Comment