Elzetta Explains Flashlight Candela Vs. Lumens

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Randall

Elzetta Tactical Lighting’s Dave Barnett explains light measurement by candela in this video.  He contrasts that with the measurement of lumens, which is another term you will see when buying a tactical flashlight.  A little knowledge is power.

Dave is a solid guy and I have spoken to him many times at SHOT Show.  Their products have thoughtful design features.  We drove nails into a 2X4 with one of their Bravo models the first year I was at SHOT.  The flashlight still threw a perfect beam afterward and we were not the only ones to have beaten that particular sample! Continue reading →

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Dershowitz on Baltimore–Not What You’d Think

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Randall

Baltimore RioterThe following analysis of the Baltimore police arrests was made by liberal Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz on Newsmax TV shortly after Baltimore State Attorney Marylin Mosby made her announcement to charge the six officers with murder in Freddie Gray’s death.

“I understand why the Mayor and State Attorney want to prevent riots, but that’s not the job of the justice system. You cannot allow police officers or any other defendants to become scapegoats for crowds demanding a continuation of rioting.

“There’s no plausible, hypothetical, conceivable case for murder under the facts that we now know them. You might say that conceivably there’s a case for manslaughter. Nobody wanted this guy to die, nobody set out to kill him, and nobody intentionally murdered him.

Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Politics | 3 Comments

Adaptive Tactical’s NON-LITE Trainer Flashlight

Posted on May 2, 2015 by Randall

imageAdaptive Tactical has forty years of experience in firearms accessory design and polymer engineering.  They have lines of box and rotary magazines for Mossberg shotguns, Ruger 10/22 barrels and stocks, and M4-style furniture for Mossberg and Remington shotguns.  Another product from Adaptive Tactical is their NON-LITE training aid.

The NON-LITE is, shall we say, reminiscent of the Streamlight TRL weapon-mounted flashlight, but in solid polymer with no innards.  It protects your flashlight by acting as its stand-in during training evolutions so you don’t ding up the real deal.  Adaptive Tactical describes it this way: Continue reading →

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Swab-its Creates News Website

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Randall

Swab-its-News-LogoSuper Brush LLC manufactures the Swab-its® brand foam products, which are superior, lint-free swabs and applicators specifically tailored for precision gun cleaning.  I wrote about them here.  Swab-its now has its own website devoted to firearms articles, gun safety, shooting tips, and other useful information at www.swabitsnews.com.

Among the engaging articles in the inaugural edition are “Carry Concealed Tips” by gunwriter Jorge Amselle, “Succeeding with the Fundamentals” by shooting instructors Michelle and Chris Cerino, “Knife Sharpening” by outdoorsman Tom Claycomb III, and “To Magnify or Not to Magnify” by writer Sal Palma.

Mosey on over and check it out.  You might find an article about the history of Smith & Wesson Centennial Airweight Revolvers penned up by a writer familiar around here.

Swab-its LogoSuper Brush and Swab-its wanted to give something back to the shooting and outdoors communities that have supported their Made in the USA businesses.  There will be new articles every few weeks on the new site.  Enjoy!

Randall

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

Police and Modern Communication

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Randall

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Aaron over at BlueSheepdog.com just wrote about the changing perception of police officers in the last half century.  It is a nice read and made me think about how law enforcement influences its own public image.  Of late, it seems as if the mainstream media has focused on current uses of force and devoted much less airtime to the good work cops do every minute of every day in our communities.

In recent years, law enforcement agencies have gravitated to other strategies for positive public outreach.  Take the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, for example.  They employ five public information officers, two of whom focus specifically on their department’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.  Facebook and Twitter reach today’s younger mobile audiences.

At my department, a lieutenant draws the duty of administrating our Facebook page.  In CID, I have been tasked with having photos and copy available from my detectives’ significant activities and special details specifically for posting on the page.

In addition to Facebook and Twitter, Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Misc. | 2 Comments

NOPTIC Thermal Imaging System

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Randall

…and another thing!–I am jealous of the FLIR system on the orbiting police helicopter above!  It would be cool if I had a thermal imager in my cruiser to pick out bad guys hiding in the darkness like those rotorheads up in the chopper.  Well, someone has come up with just this idea.

I had not seen the NOPTIC, nighttime optical thermal imaging camera, until recently.  The NOPTIC camera mounts on the A-pillar spotlight of a police car and sends infrared imaging back to the in-car computer screen so the officer can see at night without the compromises of a visible light beam.

Using a passive IR camera, the NOPTIC unit allows an officer to stealthily locate suspects at an officer safety advantage.  As you can see from the videos, you find them before they even know they are under observation. Continue reading →

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QALO Thin Blue Line Ring Series

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Randall

QaloQALO Rings, about which I have previously written, has a new line of wedding rings that honor police officers and firefighters.  The Thin Blue Line and Thin Red Line rings allow you to show commitment to your profession while protecting the hands that hold your spouses tight.  Yes, they make them for both men and women.

QALO, pronounced Kay-Lo, will donate 20% of the proceeds from the sales of these rings to care for the families of fallen officers through the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.  A similar fund will distribute the 20% to families of fallen firefighters through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Firefighter Wife.  Says QALO:

“QALO’s new Thin Line collection offers law enforcement officers and firefighters the ability to casually show their support to their professional communities while safely wearing their wedding rings. The Thin Blue Line and Thin Red Line rings are constructed with the same high quality medical grade silicone as all of the other QALO rings. It provides a safe, functional alternative to the traditional metal wedding bands because of its pliability. The rings are predominately black in color with a thin blue or red line running around the center of it.

Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., Officer Safety, Street | Tagged | 5 Comments

Graphic Dash Video Shows Cruiser Hit Active Shooter

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Randall

On February 19, 2015, a wanted felon in Marana, Ariz. stole a rifle from a Walmart and strode down the street firing bullets.  Officer Michael Rapiejko saw an opportunity to end the incident before the suspect made it to commercial businesses and a busy roadway. This video is graphic, but illustrates the split-second decisions officers have to make while on the job.

Ofc. Rapiejko was praised for his decisive action by Marana Chief Terry Rozema, who credited the officer with saving citizens and the suspect’s life.  This felon spent only two days in the hospital before his transfer to jail.  He was wanted in connection with three incidents in Tucson:  a robbery, a burglary/arson, and a home invasion/auto theft.

Just this morning, a couple of detectives and I were talking about two instances here in Florida where officers we know were forced to strike suspects with their police cars during deadly force encounters.  Later today, this popped up after the video was released by MPD. Weird, sobering coincidence.

Randall

Posted in Media, Officer Safety | Leave a comment

Civilian Version of the FN M249 SAW?

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Randall

semi-automatic-m249s-fn-minimiHow much is that SAW-y in the window?  FN Herstal USA will be producing a civilian version of the U.S. Military’s M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), according to news from the NRA Annual Meeting 2015.  Also in the works from FN are two Military Collector versions of the M-4 and M16.  Here is the presser:

(McLean, VA – April 10, 2015) FNH USA is excited to announce that three new products, including a brand-new product line, will be making their first appearance on the FNH USA Booth #2324 at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville, TN. Expected to be released in the Fall of 2015 are the mil-spec FN M249S™, a semi-automatic version of the U.S. Military’s M249 SAW light machinegun and two new additions to the company’s modern sporting rifle line, the FN 15™ M4 and M16 Military Collector Series. Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms | Tagged , | 5 Comments

New Remington RM380 Pocket Pistol

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Randall

Remington RM380 left sideYet another new handgun officially launching at the NRA Annual Meeting 2015 is the Remington Arms‘ RM380.  This .380 ACP caliber hammer-fired DAO sub-sub-compact pistol has an aluminum frame with a fiberglass reinforced nylon grip overlay.  It will have a 6+1 capacity and a weight of 12.2 ounces.  The new gun will ship from Remington’s Huntville, Ala. plant with extended grip and flush grip magazines that will release from ambidextrous buttons.

Much like the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, with which it will directly compete, the hammer-fired locked breech RM380 has a multiple-strike capability for stubborn Continue reading →

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New Heckler & Koch P30SK Pistol

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Randall

imageHeckler & Koch announced a SubKompact version of their popular P30 pistol at this week’s NRA Annual Meeting.  The new double-stack 9mm handgun is designated the P30SK.  SK, get it?

P30SK has dimensions similar to a Glock 26/27.  The HK is 6.42 inches in length, 4.57 inches high, and 1.37 inches wide.  Bullets are launched from a 3.27 inch barrel.  Weight is tallied as 23.99 ounces.

The SubKompact can have a DA/SA trigger or HK’s Law Enforcement Modification (LEM) DAO “light strike V1” trigger at a light 5.4 ounce pull.  The DA/SA is available with and without the ambidextrous safety/decocking levers.  Dual slide releases are worn by all versions. Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

BLACKHAWK! Debuts New A.R.C. IWB Holster

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Randall

Blackhawk ARC IWBBLACKHAWK! has a new appendix carry holster debuting at the NRA Annual Meeting, which begins tomorrow.  Here are the details:

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – April 8, 2015 – BLACKHAWK!® announces its new Appendix Reversible Carry (A.R.C.) Inside the Waistband (IWB) Holster for civilian and law enforcement concealed carry. The holster’s design offers concealed carry users and professional operators who prefer the appendix carry position with a versatile and comfortable holster in one model. The new holster will debut at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, April 10 to 12 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Comfort is a top priority for someone who uses an appendix carry holster,” said Liam Yarbrough, BLACKHAWK! product manager for holsters. “The A.R.C. IWB Holster’s design gives the best fit for each individual. This gives our customers a variety of options with just one holster.”

The A.R.C. IWB Holster is designed to be as comfortable as it is versatile. The Urban Grey holster body is constructed of a soft, yet durable, injection-molded polymer material for all-day comfort. The fully reversible and ambidextrous holster accommodates left- and right-handed users and is packaged with two cant and ride height adjustment belt clips for 1.5- and 1.75-inch belts. Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms | Leave a comment

Ocala Officer Killed in Training Accident

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Randall
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Ofc. Forsyth, Photo OPD

Ocala Police Officer Jared Forsyth, 33, was accidentally shot at the Lowell Correctional Institution range in Marion County this afternoon.  He was rushed to the Ocala Regional Medical Center, but he succumbed to his wound after being rushed into surgery.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the training accident.  Ofc. Forsyth had been with OPD since April 16, 2012.  No further details were released at this time.

Ocala Police Department will announce service arrangements.  This is very sad.

Randall

Posted in Officer Down | Leave a comment

Flakka–A Deadly New Designer Drug Rises in Florida

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Randall

imageSouth Florida is experiencing a spike in violent and unpredictable behaviors exhibited by people using the relatively new synthetic designer drug known as flakka.  A “bath salt”-style mixture, flakka can be smoked, vaped, snorted, injected, or swallowed.  It is classified as a synthetic cathinone under the chemical name alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or alpha-PVP.

Flakka, known as “gravel” in other parts of the country because of its coarse crystalline appearance, is highly addictive and can cause dangerous psychotic episodes.  It costs about one quarter that of methamphetamine, but seems to have worse short term effects on its users.

Since the beginning of this year, a naked and armed flakka user held police at bay from a rooftop; another one desperately tried to kick in the doors of the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department because he was severely paranoid; a third attempted to scale the fence at Continue reading →

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Wives Behind the Badge–Florida Auxiliary

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Randall

Wives Behind the Badge Florida2014Wives Behind the Badge is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in California in 2008.   They provide resources and emotional support to law enforcement families and serve as a positive voice for law enforcement in the community.  Florida has recently opened a chapter of WBTB.

A sample of Wives Behind the Badge programs includes:

  • Online support forums for LEO wives.
  • Families Behind the Badge:  designed to extend the same support offered the main Wives Behind the Badge forums to family members of law enforcement officers.  All family members are welcome – parent, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc.
  • HALOS:   (Helping Aid Lost Officers’ Survivors) offers sympathy and support in the event of a line of duty or off duty law enforcement officer.  A beautiful condolence card is sent to each family with the contact information for an Angel (volunteer) who is ready to help with any support needed.  Angels are then available to assist the department and surviving families with any needs they have.
  • Blue Line Kids:  a forums section on the Wives Behind the Badge forums, where kids safely gather to meet other kids living the same lives as police kids.
  • Scholarship Program:  one for LEO kids, one for LEO spouses.
  • Auxiliary Committees in 48 states.
  • Special series focused on what it means and what it feels like to marry into the LEO business, stressors, worries, etc.  Examples are “Going Through the Emotions,” “Life Behind the Badge,” and “The Police Wife Life.”

The Florida Auxiliary WBTB Chapter was recently formed and they are taking on their first fundraiser, which is a Virtual 5k.  This event is being held Continue reading →

Posted in Florida Companies, Misc., Officer Down | Leave a comment