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Author Archives: Randall
Miami Gardens K9 Dies in Line of Duty
Miami 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 … Continue reading
So long, Tahoe!
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 … Continue reading
Snagmag–A Great Idea for Off Duty Magazine Carry
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 … Continue reading
They Stole my Crown Vic!
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 … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Street
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Eleven 10 Gear C.A.T. and SOF-T Tourniquet Holsters
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 … Continue reading
Pennsylvania Capitol Police are Adopting the Tavor
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 … Continue reading
Back on the Street with the K9’s
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 … Continue reading
Tiny Inconspicuous Handcuff Key
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 … Continue reading
Stay Tuned
I’ll be absent from new posting for a bit. I’ve reassumed supervision of our K9 Unit and I have some administrative projects to slay. I’ll be back in a few… Randall
Posted in Uncategorized
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Happy Independence Day!
I’ll be working it, but I hope you won’t! Randall
Posted in Uncategorized
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Cabela’s ColorPhase Camouflage Changes Hues
Cabela’s ColorPhase camouflage changes from brown to green hues and back depending on the ambient air temperature outside. In weather under 65°, the brown dominates the specially treated dyes in the fabric. Above 65°, a green shift takes place. In the video, you can see that only certain areas of the garment are treated with the rapid-change, temperature-activated dyes. I am sure this type of camo will be hot topic for the Military and, later, SWAT. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been investigating the color shifting abilities of marine squid for similar purposes. ColorPhase is a step in that direction. Randall
Posted in SWAT, Technology
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Combative Edge Knives M1 Fixed Blade
I saw this new fixed blade on the Blade Show table at Combative Edge Knives. Rob Walker told me that is a prototype for their newest knife, tentatively called the M1 Fixed Blade. This is a hard-use knife made from Bohler-Uddeholm N690Co blade steel, HRC 58-60. N690Co is a high carbon stainless steel which is reported to have excellent edge holding abilities and superior corrosion resistance. The N690 will be DLC coated. G-10 composite scales will be snugged down with titanium hardware. A kydex sheath will be standard. Randall
How to Destroy a Police Agency
If you have not been following the dismal events at the Lakeland, FL Police Department, you should. The bra-shaking incident, alleged falsification of official documents, a destructive on-going sex scandal, and the loss of confidence by 10th Circuit State Attorney Jerry Hill have made for a public relations train-wreck for this police agency. Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack was even caught admitting that the department sometimes plays “cat and mouse” with the news media over public records requests, a statement which prompted the Lakeland Ledger to delve further into that issue. Today, it was disclosed that the sex scandal involving 10 officers and a civilian crime analyst had burgeoned to … Continue reading
Schrade SCHF14 Fixed Blade Knife
This striking knife from Schrade (Taylor Brands) is their SCHF14. When I saw it at Blade Show, I joked to the rep that SCHF must stand for, I dunno, “Sh*t Can Hit the Fan?” His face told me he was not amused. Yeah, but I was. One of my first SWAT knives was a Navy Mk3 knife that weighed at lease 14 ounces with its plastic sheath. It was a beast and guys quickly shed it from their belts for more manageable cutters. I think the trend toward smaller blades has continued and this Schrade SCHF14 looked like one I would hang from some tactical nylon. The thing I really … Continue reading
Yesterday
Yesterday, my shift responded to what was dispatched as an attempted kidnapping. A small boy was in the restroom of a supermarket when a male grabbed the boy and made a lewd comment. The boy fled the restroom. Because no one in the store was immediately notified and police were told about the incident over 30 minutes later, the suspect was long gone. Yesterday, when I got home at 2300, I heard about the little girl abducted in Jacksonville. We found out this morning that Cherish Lilly Perrywinkle was murdered by sexual offender Donald James Smith. Heartbreaking. Yesterday’s events reminded me why I was a protective, paranoid parent when my … Continue reading
Posted in Street
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