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Author Archives: Randall
Korth 9mm Sky Marshal Revolver is Moon-Clipless
Korth of Germany is introducing a 9mm revolver at SHOT Show 2015 that will not use clips to hold the bullets. It will be called the Sky Marshal. I copied the specs off of the Korth website for you. They are in German, which I took in college but can’t really remember that well, but I typed in some gram and millimeter translations which appear in red at the right. Spezifikation: Sky Marshal Kaliber: 9mm Luger (NATO Standard), 6 Schuss (schuss=shot) Gewicht: 560 g (19.75 ounces weight) Höhe: 157 mm (6.18 inches high) Länge: 130 mm (5.12 inches long) Breite: 39mm (1.54 inches width) Lauflänge: 50,8mm (2 Zoll) (barrel length … Continue reading
DNA Produces Facial Images
I found this equal parts cool and creepy. Parabon NanoLabs has developed a process called Snapshot that takes a DNA sample and extrapolates it into physical traits of the contributor. The traits include sex, genetic ancestry, skin color, hair color, eye color, freckling, and–gulp–facial morphology. A dab of blood or strand of hair can lead to a virtual mugshot of the person. Yikes. Parabon, based in Reston, VA, uses DNA phenotyping to read biomarkers and make predictions about physical appearance. This process involves DNA data mining and data modeling to compare the genetic variants of the unknown subject against known DNA patterns. With funding from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction … Continue reading
Posted in Detectives, Technology
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Police Excitement Has Its Price
Yesterday, I had a nice young man over to the house to fix my range. He has a start-up appliance business that he is working very hard to grow. While he was installing some new potentiometers and circuit boards, we made casual conversation. He knows what I do for a living and at one point he said, “Sometimes I wish I had done something exciting with my life–like you did.” I wasn’t quite sure what to say. Jamie, as I’ll call him, is newly and happily married. He has a baby girl at home. For all his elbow grease, Jamie has finally purchased a commercial van with logos and a … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Misc., Off Duty
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Police Officers Say, “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes.”
Phoenix civil rights activist Rev. Jarrett Maupin and a Fox news reporter go through some standard police use of force scenarios and learn some things about what we as cops face everyday. It strongly affected their preconceptions. “We want his badge, we want his gun, we want his job!” Rev. Maupin had chanted earlier at a protest for a police shooting in Phoenix. After this training session with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Rev. Maupin said, “I didn’t understand how important compliance was, but after going through this, yeah, my attitude has changed.” During the Simunition training, both Maupin and the reporter shot an aggressive unarmed man approaching them in … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, Politics, Street
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New 2015 Glock Models Leaked
Kiesler Police Supply has published photographs on their Facebook page of four new optics-ready Glock models, ahead of their SHOT Show 2015 release. Based upon Gen4 frames, the latest Glocks are the G34 (9mm), G35 (.40 cal), G41 (.45 ACP), and the G40 Hunter (in the mighty 10mm Auto for bringing down…Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers). While the G34, G35, and G41 appear to have the 5.3″ barrel we shot on the G41 Practical Tactical last year at SHOT, my eye says the G40 Hunter is sporting a 6″ barrel. I can’t wait to play with these at the Boulder City Range. Randall
New Florida Child Restraint Changes in Effect Today
Changes to Florida’s Child Restraint requirements go into effect today. Children under five years of age must now be transported in a federally approved separate carrier child seat, vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat, or belt-positioning booster seats while riding in a motor vehicle upon the roadways, streets, or highways of the State. Previously four and five year olds could be restrained with just a seat belt. Section One of Florida State Statute 316.613 now reads: (1)(a) Every operator of a motor vehicle as defined in this section, while transporting a child in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets, or highways of this state, shall, if the child is 5 … Continue reading
Posted in Legal, Street
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Happy 2015!
Happy 2015, friends! New Year’s Day always reminds me of resolutions. I posted the following photo and comments three years ago. It was ThinBlueFlorida’s first real post. Thanks for sticking around and reading my articles… Coming off my weekend, I thought of a few things that I resolve to do in 2012 for survival, professional development, and peace of mind: Spend more time with family for relaxation. Maintain fitness and a good (decent) diet. Get to the Range more (though I went two days ago). Be prepared each shift for a violent encounter. Make sure all weapons and duty equipment are in good order. Have patience with my co-workers. Remember … Continue reading
Posted in Misc.
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Florida First Responder Appreciation Week
This came in from the Capitol this week. It would be a good time to appreciate the sacrifices that all law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMT’s make each day they put on their uniforms to protect the citizens of the State of Florida. None of these jobs are easy and each has its own inherent rewards and risks. Take time out next week to thank someone who pins on a badge. I know I will. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott issued the following proclamation recognizing January 5-9 as Florida First Responder Appreciation Week: FLORIDA FIRST RESPONDER APPRECIATION WEEK WHEREAS, Tarpon Springs Police Officer Charles Kondek and Leon County … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Misc., Politics
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New Beretta M9A3 Introduced
Beretta USA has announced the newest version of the venerable Military M9–the M9A3. The freshened 9mm pistol includes a MIL-STD 1913 accessory rail, dovetailed tritium sights, a thinner and modular grip, suppressor threaded barrel, and other upgrades. Says Beretta: “On 10 December 2014 Beretta USA submitted to the U.S. Army the M9 ECP (Engineering Change Proposal) that identifies major improvements to the M9 to increase the operational effectiveness and operational suitability of the weapon. These improvements consist of design and material changes resulting in increased modularity, reliability, durability, and ergonomics.” In addition, it is being reported that a law enforcement/civilian version of the M9A3 will
Posted in Firearms
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Tarpon Springs Officer Down
A Tarpon Springs, FL police officer was shot and killed overnight. The suspect is in custody. Neither the officer’s, nor suspect’s names have been released, but the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and Tarpon Springs Police Department said they are both male. I will update this after a press conference is held later this morning. Update: The murdered officer is Ofc. Charles Kondek, 45, a 17 year veteran of TSPD and five years MOS with NYPD. He is survived by a wife and six children. No press conference as of 3:45 pm… It appeared Ofc. Kondek was on a call for service when he was killed, but few other details about … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety
1 Comment
NYPD Officers Murdered in Retaliation
Today’s assassination of two New York City Police Department officers was reported to be in retaliation for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. The killer ambushed the NYPD officers as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn. The killer posted his intentions on Instagram. He committed suicide after fleeing the scene into a subway station. Criminals have been calling for the killing of officers since Ferguson. The anti-cop rhetoric has increased since the in-custody death of Garner. Unfortunately, the murder of police officers was predictable. I urge all officers to step up their situational awareness and team tactics. We are marked targets. Do not take your life … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down, Officer Safety, Tactics
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Florida Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Specialty License Plate
A few weeks ago, a colleague brought in a sample of the Florida Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Specialty License Plate. A non-profit called the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc. is promoting the presale of these tags. Their goal is to presell 1,000 of the tags in 24 months to qualify for production and distribution. After about three months, the total thus far is about 290. From the Police and Kids Foundation website: “The Police and Kids Foundation, Inc is a non-profit 501( C) 3 charity that has been set up with two objectives in mind. First are the immediate needs of a child that we determine is in need of … Continue reading
Posted in Misc., Off Duty
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RAMP–Rapid Access Magazine Pod Review
When I cruise the vendors’ displays at SWAT Round-Up International, I look for new products. About three-quarters of the way down the north aisle, I saw something that made me pause: an AR-15 mag pouch that had the magazine…upside down. Well, I had to stop and chat with the folks at Gear4Grunts.com. CEO Doug Mullen is the inventor of the RAMP, or Rapid Access Magazine Pod. Doug’s military experience and work as a civilian defense contractor led him to ask, “Why are we still carrying rifle magazines the same way we did in WWI?” In examining the ergonomics of a magazine change, Doug figured out something innovative. The patent pending … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Protective Armor, Street, SWAT, Technology
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Long Range Police Marksmanship Part One
The November 28th police shooting in Austin, Texas, where a mounted patrol officer neutralized an active shooter at over 100 yards with his handgun, reminded me of another active shooter incident 20 years ago. Both cases reinforce the lesson that police pistol training needs to take place at longer ranges. Austin Sgt. Adam Johnson engaged suspect Larry McQuilliams, who had unleashed over 200 rounds around the city’s downtown from two rifles, at 312 feet with his duty Smith & Wesson M&P40. Johnson was on foot and holding the reigns of two horses when he fired a single fatal shot, one-handed, at the suspect. The bullet hit the McQuilliams in the … Continue reading
Posted in Firearms, Officer Safety, Street
3 Comments