FHP Trooper Jailed for Contempt of Court

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Randall

Trooper Costa

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper John Costa was sentenced to five days in jail and a $500.00 fine for contempt of court for failing to appear for a DUI trial in Volusia County on October 30.  Friday, Judge Belle Schumann made the contempt finding after Trooper Costa, who was aware of his subpoena, did not appear in court and would not answer phone calls or contacts at his front door by court liasons.

According to Judge Schumann, “The essential facts constituting the criminal contempt charged are that Trooper Costa was a critical state witness in this case, under valid subpoena for trial, with actual and constructive knowledge that the trial was supposed to take place on Tuesday, October 30th, 2012, and yet willfully refused to comply with the subpoena.”

Judge Schumann added, “Dangerous and guilty people go free if law enforcement officers willfully ignore their subpoenas.”

Trooper Costa arrested Stephanie Halcomb on December 3, 2011 for DUI.  After being stopped for driving over 90 mph on I-4, Halcomb failed field sobriety tests and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.192.  It was her second DUI in two years.

An FHP official stated that Costa, assigned to Troop D, has notified them that he Continue reading →

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New ArmaLaser TR1 Touch-Reflex Laser Sight Review

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Randall

Gainesville, FL-based ArmaLaser, Inc., is best known for their Small Block laser sighting system which features a “touch activated” switching system.  If you have not seen the video where they drop their gun-mounted laser 100 times from 10 feet onto concrete, I have included it below.  Yeah, the laser still worked.

A couple of months ago, I saw a gun magazine ad for a new ArmaLaser product in the works for the Kel-Tec P3AT/P32 series:  the TR1 Touch-Reflex Laser.  I liked its sleek look.  Although the Small Block has its own touch activated switch and rugged construction, I can’t seem to get past its chunky profile.  I’m shallow.

ArmaLaser’s new TR1 houses an industry-leading 5mW, 635 nm red laser in a durable DuPont Zytel frame.  The laser is the highest output available and brighter than most of their competitors’ offerings.  Zytel is the same sturdy material employed in the Kel-Tec’s polymer frame.

I bought an ArmaLaser TR1 from an on-line retailer as soon as I saw them available.  I paid fewer than a hundred bucks for the unit.  That is very inexpensive for a gun sight using Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

Mounting the TR1 to the Kel-Tec was easy.  The laser assembly sandwiches on to the gun’s lower receiver and trigger guard without modification to the pistol.  ArmaLaser thoughtfully includes a small screwdriver and Allen key to complete business.  I found the TR1 is designed to use Zytel’s stiffness and two small bolts to provide a snug fit between gun and laser that I have no doubt will survive reasonable knocks and keep the laser zeroed.

Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Thank You Veterans!

Posted on November 11, 2012 by Randall

ThinBlueFlorida would like to thank all the veterans of the United States Armed Services for your honorable commitment, dedication, and service to our Country on this Veterans Day.

Randall

 

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Lakewood, CO Blue-on-Blue is a Safety Reminder

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Randall

Ofc. James Davies

I read a CNN news report of a Blue-on-Blue shooting in Lakewood, CO yesterday where one officer accidentally killed another.  Lakewood officers had surrounded a house where shots were reportedly fired by a suspect.  After assisting in detaining three subjects on the front porch, Ofc. James Davies went to the backyard as a rear cover.  Another officer in an adjoining yard could see Davies through a fence, but in the dark did not visually identify him as a police officer.   After giving Davies commands to drop his gun, the other officer fired and killed Davies.

Ofc. Davies was in full uniform at the time of the shooting and apparently did not know that the other officer giving commands was addressing him.  It is a tragedy for the Lakewood community, Ofc. Davies’ family, and the officer who killed Davies.

Some years back on Midnight Shift, I responded to a violent domestic with a knife where multiple officer surrounded a duplex with little information other than the initial 911.  On our arrival, we did not know if the male suspect was still inside.  A buddy of mine at the other end of the duplex later told me he saw a dark figure sneaking around the east side of the building.  Knowing where each of us was, but unsure of the person’s identity, my buddy momentarily tracked the figure with the front sight of his pistol.  The figure moved into a lit area.  It was our Shift Lieutenant, who had not called on scene over the radio.

We suffer from a lack of real-time information at most critical scenes.  Because of this we have to rely on our own observations and training to be able to take decisive action in those circumstances.  Proper threat assessment is absolutely necessary before an officer Continue reading →

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NASGW Expo Coverage at GHG

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Randall

Richard from GunsHolstersandGear.com is over at the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers Expo and Meeting in Orlando.  The NASGW Expo is an exposition of hunting, sporting goods, and shooting sports equipment and accessories by wholesalers, manufacturers, and independent sales representatives.

Follow the coverage here:  GHG NASGW

Teaser of New Diamondback Firearms AR-15 Rifle

 

Randall

Posted in Media, Misc., SHOT Show | Tagged | 1 Comment

Most Important Thing I Did Today

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Randall

Protect Your Country.  Protect Your Freedom.  Protect Your Rights.

Randall

1:21 am: Well, that shit didn’t work… Sorry.

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Police Field Training and Natural Selection

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Randall

I am no longer an active Field Training Officer, but I am now in charge of them on my shift.  As an FTO supervisor, I had the duty this week of accepting the resignation of one of our recruit officers.  It’s part of our natural selection.

For the last twenty-plus years, I have been involved in this drill in one capacity or another.  We hire a nice kid, see him/her through the Academy, mold them further during department familiarization, then introduce them to the real job in a field training car.  Percentages vary class by class, but generally anywhere from 10-50% of our recruits do not make it to being solo police officers.

This recruit’s job performance was clearly substandard in many areas.  In a conference room, we talked to him at length about Daily Observation Reports, Standard Evaluation Guidelines, Officer Safety, Investigative Techniques, Report Writing, and even Punctuality.  Along with me, a lieutenant and captain were present in the room.  Long ago, I had been one of the LT’s training officers and he had, in turn, trained the Cap.

Like many rookies, this one had problems multitasking under “stress.”  It would lead him to “blanking out” on calls and being unable to think about what to do next.  Bad during normal service delivery, deadly in a critical situation.

Unfortunately for him (or maybe fortunately), this recruit had not even been under serious stress on the street to this point in his training.  Vapor locking during a routine traffic stop and freezing up at the question of “why did you pull me over, officer?” is a sure sign that Continue reading →

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Tampa PD Makes a Music Video

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Randall

I’m too old to get the reference, but here’s Tampa PD’s video of Call Me Maybe.  Everyone is a good sport, including Chief Castor.

Randall

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Testing National Police Ammunition’s Simulated Duty Round

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Randall

National Police Ammunition is an ATF licensed South Florida manufacturer of law enforcement ammunition.  NPA specializes in lead-free, frangible ammo and has developed the SDR, or Simulated Duty Round, for police applications.

The SDR is designed to mimic the performance of police duty rounds and be an accurate, reliable, and cost effective alternative.  NPA lists some of the following advantages:

• Proprietary loading techniques prevents projectiles breaking when chambered which is common with frangible ammunition
• Power factor equivalency “Felt” recoil
• Line of Sight = Point of Impact
• Fully Frangible non jacketed projectile
• Reduced ricochet
• Available with lead-free, heavy metal free primers (standard primers also available)
• Superior composition materials generate less carbon residue in the weapon’s bore.
• SDR proprietary mixture of powder creates consistent cycling of the weapon.

I had an opportunity to test three boxes of NPA’s Simulated Duty Rounds at recent practice and qualifications days on the range.  NPA’s Vice President Adam Oliver sent me ammunition in .380 ACP, .40 cal. S&W, and .223 Remington.

I shot the State Qualification course with the .40 cal. SDR’s in my issued Sig Sauer P226R.  The 40 round course of fire is shot between 3 and 15 yards.  There is a mandatory reload midway through the drill.  The targets are timed to turn, so there is some urgency at points in the qual.  I hit my blue B21E target in the 5 zone (C.O.M. and into the head) with all 40 SDR bullets.  There were no malfunctions or misfires with the ammo.

I really could not tell I wasn’t shooting our 155 grain Speer Lawman TMJ practice ammunition.  Subjectively, I think the NPA SDR is slightly lighter in recoil than my everyday carry 155 grain Speer Gold Dot Hollowpoints.  The SDR in .40 has a 105 grain bullet weight, but launches it at 1420 fps at the muzzle.  The GDHP leaves the gun at 1200 fps.  Still, the difference in felt recoil to me was negligible.

My department mandates shooting the same State Qualification with any handgun carried either as a secondary weapon or an off-duty weapon.  I had already qualled with my S&W Bodyguard 380, so I brought my trusty Kel-Tec P3AT out to the range.

Shooting the course with a P3AT or Ruger LCP can be a challenge because of their small Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Florida Companies, Street, SWAT | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Election Hype Driving the Gun and Accessory Market

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Randall

In late October 2008, things were looking a little bleak for my political party.  It seemed that there was a darkening cloud on the horizon that ultimately spurred me into action.  I ran right out and bought an AR-15.

I found a great deal on a new Rock River Arms LAR-15.  It was less than $900.00, out the door.  I was issued a RRA LAR-15 at work and I had been happy with that gun for the previous five years of service.  I co-witnessed an old EOTech Holosight with a new Yankee Hill Machine flip-up rear sight on the top rail of my new rifle.  A sling was affixed and the gun was all set.  Some extra Teflon-coated magazines came a little later.

Though I had an AR-15 and an MP-5 during duty hours, I needed to own a tactical rifle.  Another Assault Weapons Ban?  Oh hell no.  I shot SWAT qualification with that new AR and have put quite a few rounds through it since.  Buyer’s remorse?  Never!

Well, here we are again.  The 2012 election is teetering.  The President’s statements about a return of the AWB have again surfaced.  Scare tactics?  Foreboding reality?  Doesn’t matter.  I checked out the gun locker.  Hmmm.  Any last minute requirements?

Not having unlimited funds, I try to strike a balance between what I want and what I actually need.  I spied a serious equipment gap.  With Speed, Aggression, and Surprise, I approached the laptop and fired off an order. Continue reading →

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

FDLE and AG Announce Decline in Prescription Drug Deaths

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Randall

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Attorney General’s Office have announced the first prescription drug death decline in ten years.  I reported in March 2012 about AG Pam Bondi’s efforts to curb prescription drug deaths through the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.  The FDLE, DEA, and local law enforcement have all collaborated to shut down pill mills, prosecute doctors abusing their authority, pulling the licenses of drug distributors and pharmacies who violate the law, and arresting abusers who violate the law.  Here is the press release from the AG’s Office:

For the first time in nearly a decade, prescription drug-related deaths have declined. I joined Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey today to announce that deaths caused by oxycodone plunged by 17.7 percent in 2011 and overall prescription drug deaths fell by 6.37 percent.

While much remains to be done, we should all take a moment to recognize the tremendous milestone we have reached. Thanks to the tireless efforts of everyone engaged in this battle, we have saved lives.

From 2003 through 2010, the number of lives claimed by prescription drug abuse steadily rose each year. Last year’s decrease in prescription drug-related deaths marks an abrupt reversal of that trend.

It has been less than two years since we worked with the Legislature to enact tough new laws and penalties, strengthen regulatory oversight, and enhance interagency coordination. In March of 2011, Governor Scott created Statewide Drug Enforcement Strike Force teams to coordinate statewide efforts Continue reading →

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S.L. Variant Revolver Speedloader Review

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Randall

Latest Update 7/22/2026: A “replica” version of the S.L. Variant Speedloader is currently being made in Japan. It looks and functions the same as the German-made ones. Link Here. Most of the variations run $32.00 or $35.00. Some forums say they are as good as the original. Your mileage may vary. If you get one, let us know how they work!

The Longwitz S.L. Variant Speedloader, which is available from Bobby Mac’s Holsters in the U.S. or Sportshooter.de, is an excellent product for reloading the revolver.  They have a positive hold on the bullets and will not release in a pocket or pouch.  At $30.00 a piece, they are a little pricey, but, hey, how many do you really need?

HKS, left. S.L. Variant, right.

Available for .38/.357 cal. revolvers with 5, 6, and 7 (no, not eight) round cylinders, the S.L. Variant is my speedloader of choice.  Though I like the HKS ones and Safariland Comp Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Brous Blades Silent Soldier Neck Knife Review

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Randall

Jason Brous is a custom knifemaker whose work is the melding of his experience in CNC machining and his love of Biomechanical art.  Biomechanical art is a synthesis of machine and organic forms.  It was popularized by the renderings of artist H.R. Geiger, whose eerie designs are seen in the Alien series of movies (think of the curvy exoskeleton of the Alien).

Brous Blades have their own synthesis of curves and lines that make them visually attractive and strong.  I saw one of Brous’ knives on a co-worker’s desk and I think I asked to examine it after I already had the knife in my hands.

The Brous Blades Silent Soldier is a stout neck knife made of ¼” D2 tool steel. Quarter-inch stock is very thick, especially for a knife so small.  D2 tool steel is known for its high carbon, high chromium content.  Respected knifemaker Bob Dozier was one of the first to use it decades ago.  D2 holds a good edge and is reasonably “stainless.”

The wharncliffe blade profile has a 2” cutting edge.  Overall, the knife is 4 ¼” in length. Brous’ knife has a flat double grind.  The flat grind on the short blade leaves lots of steel behind and results in a rather beefy point.  The point is sometimes a delicate area on lesser wharncliffe knives.

I was intrigued by the two chamfered 7/8” holes in the stubby handle.  Placing my index finger in the forward hole gave me that “ah-ha moment” when the Silent Soldier locked into my palm.  Very secure.  Flipping the Silent Soldier around, I found it worked in the Continue reading →

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When the Balloon Goes Up! Launches Online Store for Gear That Just Works

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Randall

I received this release from my friend Ron over at When the Balloon Goes Up! He’s good people and publishes a great website.  I Blogrolled him when I started my site.  Much like Richard at BlueSheepdog.com or Paul at SafetySolutionsAcademy.com, I am proud to know these guys.  Click on the orange Balloon logo to go over to the store!

Randall

HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina – October 15, 2012 – When the Balloon Goes Up! (http://balloongoesup.com), one of the most popular firearms blogs focused on training and gear for concealed carry, pistol competition and 72 hour preparedness, has launched a new online store to further serve that market.

The When the Balloon Goes Up! store is organized into Gun Gear, EDC Gear, Preparedness and Range Gear sections, features select items from manufacturers including Comp-Tac Victory Gear, Crimson Trace, Surefire, Apex Tactical, Warren Tactical Sights, Crusader Weaponry, Rite-in-the-Rain, Adventure Medical Kits, and C-A-T Tourniquets.

President Ron Larimer said, “Our mission is to provide the best gear available for training, competition and preparing to survive the first 72 hours after a critical incident.  We have Continue reading →

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