Category Archives: Street

Flawed Headline: “Lake County Deputies Kill Wrong Suspect”

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Randall

This is an unfortunate set of circumstances.  Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a request for assistance from the Leesburg Police in locating an attempted murder suspect.  The suspect, Jonathan Brown, and his motorcycle were spotted in the Blueberry Hills apartment complex at around 0130 hrs. yesterday. Not knowing where Brown was, deputies went to the apartment closest to the parked motorcycle.  They knocked on the door without announcing that they were the police.  Andrew Scott, the resident, opened the door and pointed a handgun at the deputies.  A deputy shot and killed Scott.  Brown was later found in an adjacent apartment in the same building. Blame is already … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Street | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Death Notification Delivery Tips for Law Enforcement

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Randall

I have had the sad duty of delivering quite a few death notifications in my career.  It is one of the more difficult parts of our job from an emotional standpoint.  For me, the worst part of the notification has to be in the moments as you approach the house, or apartment, or room where the unsuspecting family members are.  They have no idea you are about to change their lives in a very significant way… Knock, knock. Yes? I’m Officer Smith and this is Chaplain Jones.  May we come in? Why, yes– Please have a seat, ma’am.  I am sorry to tell you your son, John, was killed in … Continue reading →

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H&K MP5: The Best CQB Weapon I’ve Ever Kicked to the Curb

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Randall

I carried a 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5A2 on SWAT operations and patrol from 1990 until 2009.  My gun was #364 and she was my assigned weapon the whole time.  Together, we went on hundreds of callouts, buy-busts, and warrant services over the years. I kept #364 stone stock, except for the Surefire light kit up front.  That’s all the technology I needed for close quarters battle.  I loved the three point sling, the curved thirty round mags, SEF trigger group, and the left-side charging handle.  The adjustable diopter rear sight and front hooded post were simple and fast to employ. I could change those 30 round coupled mags in … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Street, SWAT | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

When the Police Need to Break Glass…

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Randall

You need to have the right information and tools if you are going to break a glass window or door to make an exigent entry into a structure or to rescue a trapped motorist.  There are three types of glass you will encounter:  tempered glass, non-tempered glass, and laminated glass. Tempered glass is special heat-treated form of glass.  Tempered glass is used where there is a likelihood of human contact and as such is made to shatter into small ¼” pieces when broken.  The small pieces are not very sharp and are relatively safe to handle. Non-tempered glass is a different animal.  When broken, non-tempered glass makes large, irregular, jagged … Continue reading →

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Safe Traffic Direction Basics

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Randall

I was at a serious DUI traffic crash the other night.  All of the eastbound lanes of a six-lane state road were impassable.  I was assisting a new officer in maneuvering traffic in a U-turn away from the scene. The rookie did not have a traffic cone for his small tactical flashlight, nor did he have a whistle on him.  He was obviously not well skilled in traffic direction yet, so I kept an eye on him.  I loaned him my Streamlight Stinger and yellow cone.  I went to my cruiser for a sec to check the computer status screen and see if any priority calls were holding. That’s when … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Update to the Rookie

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Randall

A few months ago, I wrote about a rookie cop on our squad who was undergoing the trial-by-fire that can be Midnight Shift. The final four days of his one year probationary period were last week. On the fourth night, he seemed a little overwhelmed. Our business was heavy and the manpower was short. The New Guy went call to call for the whole ten hours and into OT without a break or meal. I ended up on most of his dispatches. Early on, he assisted with arresting the suspect at a bar fight. He came back in service from that to handle a domestic battery in one of our … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Street | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Kubotan–Simple Self Defense

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Randall

The Kubotan was invented by former Japanese police officer and martial arts instructor Takayuki Kubota.  In the late 1970’s, Kubota was teaching self-defense to officers of the Los Angeles Police Department when he developed this pocket stick as an aid to empty-hand suspect control. The Kubotan, a registered trademark of Kubota, added a tool for officers to use in manipulating pressure points, applying joint locks, and effecting strikes.  Past generations of policemen carried the Kubotan as a key ring from their belts and pockets. The original Kubotan was a lexan rod, which measured 5 ½” long by 5/8” in diameter.  It had a key ring affixed to one end.  “Kubotan” … Continue reading →

Posted in Defensive Tactics, Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Bushnell HD Torch Flashlight Review

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Randall

I have to start off by saying that this new flashlight by Bushnell Corporation is one of the most interesting things I’ve seen in a while.  While it’s not the actual flashlight itself that is so neat, the mesmerizing beam it produces is.  This round metal tube makes square light! The HD Torch is a medium-sized aluminum body LED flashlight.  It measures 9 1/4” long and weighs 9.8 ounces loaded up with 2 CR123 batteries.  The head diameter is 1 5/8” and the body is 1 ¼” across. Activated by a tail cap on-off switch, this flashlight also has a side button toggles between constant on, strobe mode, and off.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Flashlights, Street | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

StarChase Pursuit Management System

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Randall

Who doesn’t like playing “Tag” or “Cops and Robbers?”  When you combine the two games, you come up with a serious solution proposed by StarChase LLC to a serious problem for law enforcement. The StarChase Pursuit Management System “tags” a suspect vehicle fleeing from law enforcement and leads authorities to the vehicle by the use of real-time GPS tracking, thereby minimizing the risks of a high-speed pursuit. Started in 2001, StarChase, LLC, is a Virginia Beach, VA based company that specializes in pursuit management solutions using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and existing technologies. The StarChase System uses a laser-aimed compressed air launcher in the grill of a police car to … Continue reading →

Posted in Officer Safety, Street, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

L. A. Police Gear Jumbo Bail Out Bag Review

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Randall

L. A. Police Gear (LAPG) is an on-line retailer catering to the law enforcement crowd.  I have been buying equipment from them for years.  LAPG has a product line of their very own that includes BDU pants, polo shirts, hats, backpacks, gear bags, and novelty items (think tactical ballistic nylon MOLLE-bearing Christmas stocking!). A prime attribute to LAPG brand products is the economical price point.  When I went looking for a new front seat equipment holder, I chose LAPG’s Jumbo Bail Out Bag. Back in the late 1980’s, I bought a small briefcase style piece of luggage to contain the everyday flotsam of gear that washes aboard the passenger compartment … Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Street, Tactical Bags | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Florida Highway Patrol the Latest Victim of Media’s Crystal Ball

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Randall

On January 29, 2012, there was a terrible series of crashes on I-75 in Alachua County in the Paynes Prairie Preserve area just south of Gainesville.  Smoke from a wildfire and early morning fog conspired to create deadly road conditions, which resulted in six vehicle crashes and 11 fatalities. A 38-page report released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement yesterday detailed a number of findings indicating the Florida Highway Patrol, and specifically FHP Lt. John Gourley, made decisions that morning which would ultimately impact the events on I-75. Following the release of this report, mainstream media outlets immediately slanted the findings of the report to insinuate that the FHP … Continue reading →

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Spyderco Waved Endura4 For Duty Carry

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Randall

I have carried many, many knives on duty.  It seems I am always trying to find one better than the last.  My uniform pockets have contained uncounted blades unleashed by nail nicks, thumb studs, opening holes, coil springs, leaf springs, and even centrifugal force (yes, a Bali-song).  I recently decided to try something completely different:  mechanical fabric resistance! In the 1990’s, custom knifemaker Ernest Emerson patented an interesting design he originally called The Wave.  The folding knife’s blade has a “hook” at the top that catches the edge of the pants pocket and pulls the blade open as the knife itself is withdrawn.

Posted in Knives, Officer Safety, Street | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Memories and Police Patrol

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Randall

I hate to be a big buzz kill, but you will not be doing these cool law enforcement things forever.  Just as your equipment gets old and weathered, so will you.  And like your gear, you will be obsolete one day.  Reality check. I am writing these mean words to remind you to enjoy these times of your life.  I was once in my twenties, lean and invincible.  Professionally, I had it all:  Midnight Shift, SWAT, and K9.  I didn’t know how well off I was.  My work days consisted of speeding from one adrenaline rush to the next. It is all a blur now, though.  I’m twice as old … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Street | Tagged | Leave a comment

Morphix Technologies Chameleon Chemical Detector Review

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Randall

Morphix Technologies has released a seven minute training video which gives some simple statistics and dangers about Meth Labs.  The video also addresses Morphix’s Chameleon Chemical Detector, one of their products for detecting hazardous chemicals by first responders.  I got my hands on a Chameleon kit for testing in October. The Morphix Chameleon is a chemical detection unit that is worn on the forearm or attached by Velcro to the uniform of a first responder.  The purpose of the kit is to provide an officer, firefighter, or soldier with immediate visual identification of the presence of hazardous gases. A passive detector, the Chameleon has ten windows, called cassettes, which change … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Video Games Can Aid Police Training

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Randall

Do you wander around your house, punching out your finger-gun from the low ready, practicing room clearing?  Sure you don’t; neither do I.  And I’ve only been embarrassed about it a couple of times.  I think many of us seek out opportunities to practice our skills whenever we can. First-Person Shooter video games take us on exciting missions in exotic locales.  The danger is not real, but the format is much like a simulator for teaching search techniques.  While not a scenario trainer like, say, a FATS machine, an FPS game can give you reps in considering tactical angles and problem solving. In the confines of a video game, you … Continue reading →

Posted in SHOT Show, Street, SWAT, Tactics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment