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Yearly Archives: 2012
Proposed Indiana Castle Doctrine Allows for Killing Police Officers
Updated 3/23/2012: It was signed into law by Gov. Daniels. Updated 3/9/2012: SB 1 was passed by the Senate and the House and will be sent to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. See the end of the article for further. If you have not been following the legal machinations in the State of Indiana over Castle Doctrine, you need to read the appalling proposed “legislation” that is Indiana Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) 2012. This bill passed the Indiana House 74-24 in a vote last week and was returned to the Indiana Senate with amendments. Sections (h)(i),(j), SB-1 from the Indiana General Assembly: (h) A person is justified in using reasonable … Continue reading
Posted in Legal, Officer Safety
Tagged Castle Doctrine, Indiana General Assembly, Indiana Senate, Officer Safety, Senate SB 1
17 Comments
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Police Training
We sometimes focus too much on technology and equipment in the law enforcement profession. Real officer safety starts in the brain. In the wake of a critical incident earlier last year, my department decided to send a group of officers to Crisis Intervention Team training. In a nutshell, the forty-hour CIT training block provides a unique insight into mental illness and how law enforcement can more effectively deal with those in crisis. After taking the CIT course, I can attest to its resolute commitment to officer safety. From the outset, the instructors stressed that officer safety is of primary importance in dealing with mentally ill persons, and this course was … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, Street
Tagged CIT, CIT training, Crisis Intervention Team, Memphis Model, mental health, police training
1 Comment
Hazard4 Launch-Pad Carrier for IPad Review
I think it may appear that I have a nylon fetish. No, not that one. I’m talking about ballistic nylon, found in gear bags, backpacks, equipment pouches, accessory holders, and gun holsters. Last year, I cracked open my black nylon tri-fold badge wallet and bought an IPad2, which now needed something nylon-y to put it in. I have so many black nylon pouches in my black nylon gear bag that I can’t find anything in the dark. Thusly I thought I should get an IPad carrier of a different color. I picked out a coyote tan Launch-Pad case from Hazard4. Hazard4 is an offspring of Civilian Lab, LLC, that designs … Continue reading
Posted in Misc., Tactical Bags
Tagged gear bag, Hazard4, IPad, IPad2, Launch-Pad, tablet, tactical nylon
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Update to LAPD Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 Review
I wrote a review for BlueSheepdog.com of the new LAPD-approved Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 pistol in September of last year. I thought I would give you an update as to my continuing experience with the gun. This being Florida, I would say that firearm choices for concealed carry are sometimes dictated by the hot weather clothing. For many of us, it is difficult to conceal even a medium-sized pistol or revolver when the temperatures soar into the high 90’s with the oppressive humidity. Shorts and a t-shirt only help with the heat a little. The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, which was officially approved for on duty back-up and … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty
Tagged .380 ACP, Bodyguard 380, Pistol, Review, Smith & Wesson, Update
106 Comments
Miami SWAT Officer Cleared in Shooting; State Attorney Questions Policy
It was New Year’s Eve 2011 and Ofc. Maurice Sodre was part of a mobile nine-man Miami Police Department SWAT team detailed to assist MPD road units with shots fired calls or other emergencies based upon the holiday. At approximately 0145 hrs on 1/1/2011, the detail, driving in two black unmarked Ford Excursion SUV’s, responded to the area of 1st Place and 15 Street in Overtown for a report of shots fired. As they approached the area, the officers saw four males at the intersection, one of whom began to walk, and then run, northbound. The male, Lynn Weatherspoon, was ordered to stop by several of the responding SWAT members. … Continue reading
Posted in Legal, SWAT
Tagged Miami Police Department, New Year's Eve, Ofc. Maurice Sodre, State Attorney, SWAT Shooting
1 Comment
Supreme Court: Miranda Not Required for Prisoners
On 2/21/2012, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case of Howes, Warden vs. Fields, No. 10-680. This case addresses the issue of police questioning of a prisoner without giving Miranda Warnings. The High Court held that Miranda protections do not apply to prisoners, as long as certain circumstances are present. What is interesting about the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel J. Alito, and joined by Justices Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Kagans, is the reasoning the Court used in overturning the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit assertion that the interview of prisoner Randall Fields by sheriff’s deputies was a custodial interrogation. Although it is … Continue reading
Posted in Legal
Tagged Howes vs. Fields, Interrogation, Miranda, Prisoner, U. S. Supreme Court
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Ofc. David Crawford Murdered A Year Ago Today
One year ago today, St. Petersburg Police Ofc. David S. Crawford was murdered in the line of duty by Nicholas Lindsey. St. Petersburg Police was still reeling from the murders of Sgt. Tom Baitinger and K9 Ofc. Jeffrey Yaslowitz, less than a month earlier. To say our local law enforcement community was crushed would be a severe understatement. Many of the officers and deputies involved in the manhunt for Lindsey were also involved in the response and investigation of the previous officers’ killings. My department had a large class of rookies in field training. I guess it didn’t hurt for the sober realities of this profession to hit them early. … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street
Tagged Ofc. David Crawford, Officer Down, St. Petersburg Police
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What Do You Carry In Your SWAT Gear?
I was rummaging through my very old SWAT ballistic vest the other day in the garage. Some odds and ends in the main MOLLE pouch included: A Gerber Multi-Plier, Benchmade A.F.O. autofolder, two AR-15 mags, two Sig .40 cal. mags, flex cuffs, Streamlight Stinger, two spare TASER cartridges, ballistic glasses, ear protection, Nomex gloves, Nomex balaclava, latex gloves, window punch/seat belt cutter, lensatic compass, AA Mini-Maglite with red lens, notepad and pen, about 50′ of black paracord, spare flashbang pin, chalk, and a black Sharpie marker. Most of this gear, or older stuff just like it, had been my standard load-out for over twenty years of tactical operations. Though I … Continue reading
Clay County Deputy is First Florida Officer Killed in 2012
Clay County Sheriff’s Detective David White was shot and killed Thursday during the investigation of a methamphetamine lab at a residence in Middleburg, FL. Detective Matt Hanlin was wounded by gunfire in the same raid. He is in serious but stable condition. Detectives went to the single family dwelling in the 4800 Block of Alligator Boulevard on a tip of a meth lab. The house was vacant, had a power cord running to it from a neighboring house, and was believed to be occupied by squatters. The homeowner, Terrance Smith, gave deputies permission to go and enter the house. Nine deputies arrived at the house. White and Hanlin were at … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety
Tagged Clay County FL Sheriff's Office, Det. David White, Officer Down
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New SRM Arms Model 1216 Shotgun Shipping
The new SRM Arms model 1216 12 gauge shotgun is shipping. GSA Direct’s Sam Hoge sent me this video of the SRM in action. The SRM 1216 is a totally new design with features not found on any other scattergun. I was able to handle a 1216 on the SHOT Show floor last month. The toggle for rotating the magazine is large and easy to use. This shows in the video, as you can see how fast the “drum” is turned to access each successive tube of ammo. It would warm my heart to have all these shotshells on tap in a critical incident. According to SRM Arms, the 1216 … Continue reading
Review of the New Kahr Arms CM40
I had the pleasure to shoot the new Kahr Arms CM40 at SHOT Show 2012 Media Day at the Range. The CM40 is the .40 cal. version of Kahr’s sub-compact polymer framed pistol. At an MSRP of $517.00, the CM40’s price point is over $250.00 less than a comparable Kahr PM40. I think the new gun is a winner for powerful concealed carry. Kahr’s new CM series differs from the PM series in that the barrel on the CM has conventional rifling and not the match grade polygonal rifled barrel of a PM. In addition, to save on cost the CM series has simple engraving on the slide, a pinned … Continue reading
Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, SHOT Show
Tagged Kahr Arms, Kahr CM40, Kahr PM9, Review, SHOT Show
6 Comments
Police Profiling for Officer Safety
I was driving to work last night in my personal car. My route takes me through a relatively rundown section of the city where I work. I always tend to scan around as I drive, which sometimes prompts my wife to say, “Stop patrolling!” On this night, I saw some people walking around and from the anonymity of my own car, I thought about the nature of my observations as a citizen verses those of a law enforcement officer. A red light stopped me at a cross street. A young black male was walking up to the intersection. I gave him the once over: baggy black basketball shorts, loose black … Continue reading
Wife of Murdered Tampa Cop Faces Killer
Yesterday in sentencing phase of the murder trial of Tampa, Florida Police Corporal Mike Roberts, his wife delivered a statement to the Court, which was directed squarely at his killer, Humberto Delgado, Jr. The following is the transcript of Cindy Roberts’ words to the man who murdered her husband: “Your honor, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to address the court. During my victim’s impact testimony the defense team was able to censor my statement and I did not feel that that followed the spirit of what the victim’s impact statement was supposed to provide. “But mostly, I want to speak to you [addressing Delgado]. You, the … Continue reading
Posted in Legal
Tagged Cindy Roberts, cop killer, Corporal Mike Roberts, Humberto Delgado, Jr., Tampa Police
2 Comments
Florida Police Cadet Still Missing, Presumed Dead
On March 13, 2011, the Pinellas County, Florida Sheriff’s Office began investigating the disappearance of Pinellas County Police Academy Cadet Kelly Rothwell. Rothwell, 35, has not been found. In a press release on June 14, 2011, PCSO named Rothwell’s boyfriend, David R. Perry, as a suspect in her disappearance. Rothwell was last seen on March 12, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. when she left a Clearwater restaurant to go home and break up with Perry. Her green 2007 Subaru Outback was found two miles south of her Indian Rocks Beach residence the next day. Friends and family have not heard from her since. Rothwell did not attend class on March 14 … Continue reading
Posted in Legal
Tagged David Perry, Kelly Rothwell, Missing, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Police Cadet
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