Drug Deaths Decline in Florida

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Randall

pills

In September, the Florida Medical Examiners and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement disseminated the Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report for 2012.  The report identified 8,330 drug-caused and/or drug-related deaths in the 178,000 Floridians who died in 2012, as reported to the Office of Vital Statistics.

The report cited 17.7% fewer drug-caused deaths in 2012 verses 2011, a decrease of 2,090 persons.  Drug-related deaths, where at least one legal or illegal drug was present in the decedent’s body but was not necessarily the cause of death, dropped 9.9% to 4,944.  Oxycodone killed 41.1% fewer Floridians in 2012.  Deaths attributed to alprazolam, diazepam, hydrocodone, and methadone decreased as well.

Said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, “When I took office, there were more than 7 Floridians dying a day from prescription drug overdoses….of the top 100 oxycodone dispensers, these are doctors, 98 of them lived in Florida. Now we’re down to zero…There used to be pill mills on every corner and now they’re virtually gone.”

Under AG Bondi’s watch, seven regional Drug Enforcement Strike Forces had closed 254 clinics and arrested 76 doctors from Continue reading →

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In the SWAT Van

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Randall

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The guys were loading up the van for a full blown SWAT call a few weeks ago. I was
still a street supervisor and working the evening shift.  Thinking I might be of some use,
I hovered around the equipment room to help.  As we collected gas, less lethal, long
guns, tools, and the rest of the gear, I told each one of them to “Be careful,” or “Watch
your buddies.”  Just before the van was pulling out, I waved and told the last pair
aboard, “Have fun stormin’ the castle!”

Something special to me about serving on SWAT was the camaraderie and shared
experiences that unfolded under serious pressure.  For decades, I rode in the van while
en route to high risk situations.  It was the job of the senior shooters to keep the junior
guys from stressing out over all the things the could happen when we dumped out.  Thus, the van became a place of brutal humor.  Who the hell picks on Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, SWAT | 2 Comments

St. Petersburg Police to Test StarChase Pursuit System

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Randall

starchase-470About a year and a half ago, I wrote an article about the StarChase Pursuit Management System.  StarChase fires a GPS loaded projectile at a fleeing vehicle.  Once the projectile is attached, it allows the police to back off the pursuit and electronically follow the vehicle in hopes of a less volatile ending.

Assistant Chief Melanie Bevans has said that the St. Petersburg Police will be trying out the StarChase technology because, “This is something that we have found that we think will make (pursuits) just a little less dangerous.”  Police chases resulted in 17 crashes in 2012 for the St. Petersburg Police.  St. Pete will be the first police agency in Florida to evaluate StarChase.

StarChase Press Conference

Chief Bevan stated, “We’re in the evaluation stage.  We are willing at the police department to try something new.  If it works, we are willing to add a new and valuable tool to our tool chest.  If it doesn’t, then we go back and try something better.”

Randall

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Tampa Police Department’s Fallen Officers Memorial

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Randall

photo 4I was in downtown Tampa over the weekend and I just had to stop at the Tampa Police Department’s Fallen Officers Memorial in front of One Police Center at 411 N. Franklin Street.  I took a few quick photographs.

I am always humbled by the sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers.  I know a memorial is just a dedicated place, but I am proud that the memorial lives on in our hearts and remembrance.  I have a special feeling for this memorial and the one in St. Petersburg because I knew some of the men whose names are engraved on each plaque.

photo 1 photo 2 photo 3There are a total of 31 names inscribed in Tampa’s granite…

Randall

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Zebra F-701 Pen Review

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Randall

Zebra F-701Since moving to a plainclothes job, I started to re-examine my daily load out.  Seems it no longer qualifies as such.  The utility of a duty belt and cargo pockets has given way to the functionally spartan nature of dress shirts and slacks.  In both Patrol and CID, a writing instrument is required.  I decided I needed something less than a full blown “tactical pen,” but more than a plastic clicky pen.  Thus, I bought a Zebra F-701.

An Internet darling, the Zebra F-701 is a stainless steel barreled retractable ballpoint pen with a 0.7mm fine writing tip.  The pen’s overall length is 5 3/8″ and its weight is 1.1 ounce.  It features a steel pocket clip and a nice texture on the lower portion of the barrel for a non-slip grip when writing.

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Zebra’s F-701 looks like it belongs on some 1960-era rocket scientist’s drafting table.  The retro appearance comes from Continue reading →

Posted in Detectives, Misc., Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , | 2 Comments

K9 Hijinx

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Randall

RunningDogOkay, M@ reminded me of a story.  Back when I was in K9, when things were “in black and white” as a snarky friend once observed, a handler from a nearby agency told me about something that happened to him one night.

It seems that at this particular department, they found a novel use for the K9 teams.  During narcotic buys-busts, a handler and dog would be hidden in the trunk of the undercover car.  When the narc dicks up front had completed a drug deal, they would give a short honk on the horn and, Surprise!, the K9 team would pop out to apprehend any runners.  Sounds fun, right?

One muggy Florida night, the handler was sweating his (fill in the body part) off in the trunk.  Remember, dogs don’t cool by perspiring, they pant.  Anyway, blind and mostly deaf in the non-passenger compartment, the officer-half could hear a deal in progress.  The dog was just panting.

While the pharmaceutical negotiations were taking place, the UC car got made and a crowd gathered.  The handler could hear a commotion outside. Suddenly, a few Continue reading →

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Range Time!

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Randall

imageBlueSheepdog Richard and I went to the range yesterday to match fingers to triggers for some R&R.  I take any time I can to align the sights and press the bang switch. I brought my SCCY CPX-2 and a new Glock G27 Gen 4, which will be my carry gun in detectives.  Richard unpacked a Sig Sauer P290RS, a Bersa BP9CC, and, most intriguing, a Double Tap “two shooter” in .45 ACP/9mm.

The photo above, taken expertly by Richard, is of me touching off the ported DoubleTap in .45ACP.  Ouch.  One round was enough for me, I had to have my hand ready for duty the next night.  Richard, sans a glove, shot this little chupacabra a dozen more times in both .45 and 9mm.  Salute!

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All the other guns functioned well and it was loads of fun until the heavy rains intruded.  Time for lunch at Sonny’s!

Randall

Posted in Firearms, Off Duty | 1 Comment

Miami Gardens K9 Dies in Line of Duty

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Randall

imageMiami Gardens Police K9 Max lost his life following an accident while searching a building on September 12.  K9 Ofc. Chris Bezio was deploying Max through a window on a burglary call when broken glass fell on the dog.  K9 Max was rushed to the Hollywood Animal Hospital, but he died from complications of his injury.

K9 Max was a five year old German Shepherd Dog and had been partnered with Bezio for four years.  Max was a dual purpose K9, trained for patrol and as an explosives detector dog.  A funeral was held yesterday for the fallen dog.  Over a hundred officers and K9 teams were in attendance.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a total of 15 police service dogs have died in the line of duty in the U.S. thus far in 2013.

Police K9’s perform a unique function that saves lives.  This is a very sad incident.  Handlers and K9’s face danger every shift.  I am honored to have worked with them.

Randall

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So long, Tahoe!

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Randall

No, I’m not getting my Crown Vic back.  I am accepting an assignment in the Detective Bureau, overseeing Burglary/Pawn, Auto Theft, and Economic/Cyber Crimes.  It has been four years since I left DB for another stint on the street.  I will miss the K9 Unit, but this is an opportunity I did not think would come around.

Later in the week, I will hand over the keys and fobs for this 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) to another sergeant.  I hope she enjoys it as much as my aging back did.  The upright seating and roominess alleviated the need for NSAIDs for the little while that I had it.

I thought the platform was stable at speed, very maneuverable, and not as truck-like as I would have thought.  The 2 wheel drive PPV got at least one high rate “blue light special” run (you guess the speed) while I was at the helm.  I was impressed.

With the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor on the endangered soon-to-be-extinct species list, I think this police SUV will help pick up the slack.  With a generally comparable price and mileage, and a higher resale value than a Vic, it is a smart choice.  I think the larger truck is also safer for the officer/deputy.

So, just as the Chevy was winning me over with its talents, I will be relegated to a…Camry.  Dang it.

Randall

Posted in Detectives, Humor, Misc. | Tagged | 5 Comments

Snagmag–A Great Idea for Off Duty Magazine Carry

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Randall

I saw the Snagmag concealed magazine holster on the Internet and I thought, “Perfect!”  I pocket carry a semi-auto handgun while off duty on most days (wheel gun for the rest). Although I have a DeSantis Mag Packer to hold a spare magazine, it situates the mag very low in the pocket and does not allow for other items to reside within.  The clutter will ride atop the mag, making it problematic to extract.

The Snagmag is a simple thermoformed plastic holster that has a pocket clip to keep a spare magazine positioned near the mouth of the pocket.  This makes access to the bullet carrier convenient.  Keys and other detritus can now fall to the bottom of the pocket, out of Continue reading →

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They Stole my Crown Vic!

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Randall

My first Crown Vic K9 Car

Okay, “they” meaning my Administration.  I went to work last night and saw a set of keys and fobs on my desk to a brand new Chevrolet Tahoe.  An email instructed me to vacate the CVPI posthaste.  She had been reassigned.

I had been given my first Crown Victoria in 1990, when I went off to K9 school.  The previous handler had taken great care of the 1988 model and had even installed a cassette player!  I was thrilled, since I had no real love for the anemic Dodge Diplomat that had been my daily cruiser.

I have spent many an hour in Crown Vics over the years and I always felt at home.  The large sedan, V8, rear wheel drive configuration was stable at reasonable speeds.  We pursued suspects regularly back in the day and I had my share Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Street | 3 Comments

Eleven 10 Gear C.A.T. and SOF-T Tourniquet Holsters

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Randall

I saw one of our Street Crimes Unit guys wearing this Kydex holster on his duty belt.  It caught my eye, as I recognized the C.A.T. tourniquet it held.  I inquired where he had purchased it and he sent me a link to Eleven 10 Gear.  Eleven Ten makes self-aid/buddy-aid med gear designed for the Military, SWAT, and street LEO’s.  The company was founded by two operators, one a Recon Marine and the other a SWAT officer, so they have both arenas covered.  Eleven Ten’s gear is proudly Made in the USA.  Below is their description of the C.A.T. holster.

This small Kydex law enforcement / military tourniquet case can hold a C-A-T® Tourniquet. It can be mounted to your duty/patrol/pistol belt either vertically or horizontally, or you can utilize the MOLLE version and mount it to any MOLLE webbing. The case has a red cross patch to identify it as medical equipment and allows you to carry the life-saving equipment you need on your belt where it belongs. The strength and retention of Kydex allows the tourniquet to be Continue reading →

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Pennsylvania Capitol Police are Adopting the Tavor

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Randall

This is just in from IWI and the Pennsylvania State Capitol Police.

Harrisburg, PA (August, 2013) – IWI US, Inc., a subsidiary of Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), is proud to announce that the Pennsylvania State Capitol Police have chosen to carry the IWI US TAVOR® SAR. The Pennsylvania Capitol Police are a section of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. They provide law enforcement, security and parking enforcement services to the State Capitol Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and at state government buildings in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton.

“We are honored that the Pennsylvania State Capitol Police have chosen to be outfitted with the TAVOR® SAR,” Michael Kassnar, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at IWI US commented. “The State Capitol Police were looking for an extremely reliable rifle that was built specifically for close quarter battle and the design of the TAVOR® SAR bullpup was a perfect fit for their requirements.”

The TAVOR® SAR, specifically designed for the U.S. market, was developed in close cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Available in black and Flat Dark Earth, the TAVOR features fully ambidextrous controls with removable 16.5″ or 18″ chrome-lined barrels, a full-length top-mounted integral Picatinny rail and a short 45° rail for mounting accessories. Also available are a left-hand model with a 16.5″ barrel and an IDF model with an integral MEPRO-21 reflex sight. The TAVOR® SAR uses standard AR-15/M16 magazines and is easily field-stripped into sub-assemblies for routine maintenance.

I was able to shoot a Tavor at SHOT Show 2013 (see video here).  I thought it handled very well, indeed.

Randall

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

Back on the Street with the K9’s

Posted on August 24, 2013 by Randall

After a few weeks of getting reacquainted with the K9 Unit’s handlers and dogs, I am back in the swing. Cleaning up a year’s worth of administrative backlog, I un-assed myself from the desk and hit the street. Last night, I ran lights and siren to a foot chase involving one of the shift officers. He had interrupted a mobile check cashing scheme at a cash advance place. The felonious utterer took flight. The officer lost the bad guy in a…wait for it…mobile home park (Welcome to Florida).

The K9 had just deployed and I had a visual, so I exited the CVPI and tagged along. Sometimes a near zero time lapse can be more difficult than a track that has “settled down” for a few minutes. The dog team was still working out the start. The three of us area checked in the MHP east of a stockade fence which separated the park from a neighboring subdivision. Patrol had quickly locked down the area with a tight perimeter, so we were certain the runner was contained within a few blocks.

I have been out on K9 training nights for the last five weeks, trailing the dogs and handlers and also taking my turn as tracklayer. The dogs pay no attention to the added distraction Continue reading →

Posted in K9, Street | Tagged | 4 Comments

Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Randall

Let’s all keep a watch out for this crowdfunded officer safety hazard.  The TIHK, tiny inconspicuous handcuff key, is made for a person to evade being “illegally restrained in handcuffs.”  Here is their disclaimer: 

“The TIHK is to only be used to counter illegal detainment and in accordance with all local, state and federal laws by trained law enforcement, military and security professionals. Improper use by civilians is not endorsed or encouraged. Use of the product is at your own personal risk and discretion.”

It is a felony for a civilian to carry a concealed handcuff key in Florida under FSS 843.021, but my agency has seen an increase in the possession of such hidden keys.  The GIF below illustrates the result of a bad prisoner search (in my opinion).  Thus far, the TIHK effort has raised only $1705.00 toward the maker’s $20,000.00 goal.

Randall

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