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Author Archives: Randall
Fox Knives at BLADE Show
Fox Knives had some knives on hand at BLADE Show 2015 that actually debuted at the IWA Show in Nuremburg back in March, but these were new to U.S. buyers. I liked them for military and law enforcement use. The first was the PM-3. It is a no-nonsense lockback folder that is marketed for police and rescue work. The PM-3’s blade is made of Bohler-Udeholm N690Co stainless steel, which is comparable to 440C but has a little cobalt added for a little better edge holding. It measures 3.15″ in length and is Cerakoted. The blunt clip-point blade has large thumb studs that would work well with gloved hands. The handle … Continue reading
How Criminals Defeat Keyless Entry Systems
We had experienced some curious auto thefts where a suspect was seen pointing something at a victim’s car, then opening the door and driving away. The owner’s keys were still inside the house. We had it all on surveillance video and it was puzzling. This type of theft occurs by a relay attack. Passive Keyless Entry Systems are the latest technology that let drivers walk up to their car and open the doors or trunk without pushing a button or touching a key. As long as the fob is in your pocket or purse, you are hands-free to get into the vehicle. Once inside the car, the driver uses a … Continue reading
Posted in Detectives, Street, Technology
Tagged auto theft, keyless entry defeat, relay attack
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New Florida Transient Occupant Law
The text is a bit lengthy, but I have pasted in the new Florida State Statute 82.045, which allows a law enforcement officer to remove transient occupants from a home at the owner’s request. This has been gray area for the police when confronted with ejecting an unwanted guest from a dwelling where they had taken up temporary residence. Generally, it has been practice to treat as a civil matter and tell the homeowner that they must start a lengthy eviction procedure to remove the persona non grata. The statute addresses factors a LEO may use to determine if a subject is a transient occupant, procedures for their removal, and … Continue reading
Posted in Legal, Street
3 Comments
Schenk Knives at BLADE Show
One of the first booths I happened upon at BLADE Show 2015 was being shared by Fox Knives with a fledgling company, Schenk Knives. Zane Schenk, CEO, designer, maker, and all around nice guy showed me their Made in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA products. He said he likes to think they manufacture custom knives, affordable to the general public. Schenk uses three main steels in their full-tang fixed blade creations: 51200 bearing steel, Bohler-Uddenholm ELMAX, and lightning strike damascus, which is a blend of 1095 and 15N20. Schenk knife models can be had in any of the three, partnered with a stonewashed, Cerakote, or combination Cerakote-satin finish, as in the knife … Continue reading
Pohl Force Mike Three and Four Outdoor Folders
Dietmar Pohl has been designing knives for over a decade and a half. He is a recognized expert in tactical knives for military and law enforcement uses and has written acclaimed books on the subject. The knife company he founded, Pohl Force, featured two new folders at BLADE Show 2015. These were the Mike Three and Four Outdoors. Pohl Force’s EOD (Euro Ops Division) partnered with Italy’s Lionsteel to produce these robust knives. The Mike Three and Four are modified versions of Pohl Force’s popular Mike One and Two. The production of the Three and Four dialed back some of the more expensive manufacturing components and processes to bring the … Continue reading
BLADE Show 2015
I arrived home from BLADE Show 2015 last night. My trip was on a nomad’s budget, so I drove up, spent one night, then drove right back. I was able to attend the show floor on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. It was rushed. There were 300 booths and nearly 700 tables of good things to see. Because of my abbreviated stay, I missed much, but I met some cool folks and saw some of the newest knives. In the next few weeks, I will be posting articles on what I learned, so keep TBF dialed in. Friday, I collected my Media Pass at Will Call and marched right into … Continue reading
New Hogue Automatic Retention Holster
Hogue, Inc. is introducing a new feature on their line of holsters. It is called the Automatic Retention System. The retention is released by the thumb during the drawing of the handgun. When reinserted, the gun is passively locked in at the trigger guard. This type of holster provides a positive hold on the firearm, but avoids a competitor’s perceived problem by having the release at the thumb and not a finger. Not that I have a problem with the trigger finger release on the issued holster I have carried in plainclothes for eight years. My patrol holster has a thumb release. Read Hogue’s ARS press release here:
Posted in Firearms, Off Duty
2 Comments
Murders Spike in Baltimore–Cause and Effect?
The number of murders in Baltimore during the month of May skyrocketed following the indictments of six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray. Baltimore had 42 homicides in May 2015. Of cities with comparable populations, Baltimore’s homicides top those of Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Louisville, and Nashville–combined! It is also eight more than in New York City, which has more than ten times the number of residents. Since the indictments, arrests in Baltimore have dropped by 56% from the number of arrests in
Two Hialeah K9 Dogs Die in Vehicle
This one really hurts. A Hialeah Police K9 handler ended his shift Wednesday morning (after an OT search for a missing person), went into his Davie house, and left his two K9 partners in the vehicle. By evening, both dogs had expired. The officer was a seven-year handler and 13-year cop. He was given both a Belgian Malinois and a bloodhound because he was a proficient handler. How could this happen? Apparently, when the handler went into his house, he turned off the engine of his assigned Ford SUV. With the vehicle not running, his heat alarm supposedly went inactive. I do not understand a system designed like this because … Continue reading
New Mil-Spec Monkey Boss Beaver Pack
Mil-Spec Monkey had requests for a larger backpack following the popularity of his mid-sized MSM Adapt Pack. The new Boss Beaver Pack combines a substantial main pack with an adjustable “beaver tail” pouch that can hold much larger, bulkier items. The Monkey himself gives us a tour in the video. There are times when I have had to lug my Kevlar pot along with other pieces of equipment in a backpack. The Boss Beaver would have gotten that task done, then later converted back to a more reasonable EDC-style bag. Much versatility was incorporated into this design, what with its ability to stow larger objets de guerre.
Memorial Day
It is Memorial Day. My wife and I gave thanks at dinner tonight for all the servicemen and women who have given their lives for our freedom. We hope we are honoring them with the way in which we live each day. “Thank you” cannot not adequately convey our gratitude for the ultimate sacrifice. Randall
Posted in Misc.
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Tourniquets for Police Patrol
There was an officer-involved shooting in the City of St. Petersburg last week. In the exchange of gunfire, an officer was hit in the leg by a bullet from the suspect’s pistol. Unfortunately, the officer’s Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T®) was in his cruiser. He attempted to fashion a field-expedient tourniquet from a garden hose to help staunch the flow of blood. I am glad to report that he survived. The suspect did not. This shooting caused SPPD to examine their issuance of the C-A-T tourniquet. Some officers complained that the C-A-T is difficult to carry on a crowded gun belt. SPPD Chief Tony Holloway, in turn, approved the purchase of … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Officer Down, Officer Safety, Street
Tagged Officer Safety, Tourniquet for Police
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Omaha PD LODD
It was very, very sad to read that an Omaha, Neb. Police Department gang unit officer was shot to death today by a wanted fugitive. Sadder still was that she was to start maternity leave tomorrow, as her daughter, born February 17, was due to come home from the N.I.C.U. It is an unbelievably sorrowful situation. Ofc. Kerrie Orozco, 29, had been with OPD for seven and a half years, three of which she was assigned to the gang unit. The unit was serving an arrest warrant at about 1300 hrs. today when the armed suspect engaged the officers. Both Ofc. Orozco and the suspect died from gunshot wounds. Ofc. … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Down
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Miami Beach PD Cracks Down on Messaging
Following a scandal involving 16 sworn officers over racist and sexist emails sent on city accounts, the Miami Beach Police Department has issued new policy requiring the recipients of any inappropriate emails, text messages, or social media postings to immediately report the communications to Internal Affairs. Although a policy had been in place punishing the senders who distribute such banned content, the new directive is aimed at receivers who do not comply and notify IA. The scale of the original violations of policy and professional conduct apparently resulted in the zero tolerance stance. Former Maj. Angel Vazquez and former Capt. Alex Carulo were responsible for sending over 200 inflammatory emails … Continue reading
Off Duty First Aid Necessities
I was out on a hiking trail in California earlier in the day. Yes, I am on vacation. It occurred to me that there was something noticeably different about my fellow hikers and me. Could it have to do with the large backpack that was absent on all but myself? I had about six more miles to ponder this. As law enforcement officers, we are trained in first responder medicine, which nowadays means we also learn about tactical combat casualty care or TCCC. When I was preparing for this trip of day-long hikes, I included medical gear. Not just for myself and my spouse, but in the event we ran … Continue reading
Posted in Knives, Medical, Off Duty, Tactical Bags
4 Comments