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Category Archives: Street
Safe Traffic Direction Basics
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 Police Traffic Direction, Safe Traffic Control, Traffic Vest
3 Comments
Update to the Rookie
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
Kubotan–Simple Self Defense
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 Kubotan, pocket stick, self defense, Takayuki Kubota, yawara
2 Comments
Bushnell HD Torch Flashlight Review
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 Bushnell Flashlight, Bushnell HD Torch, flashlight review, HD Flashlight, Police Flashlight
2 Comments
StarChase Pursuit Management System
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 Car Chase, GPS marking, Police Pursuit, StarChase Pursuit Management System, Tag and Track
8 Comments
L. A. Police Gear Jumbo Bail Out Bag Review
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 Jumbo Bail Out Bag, L.A. Police Gear, LAPG, tactical bags
5 Comments
Florida Highway Patrol the Latest Victim of Media’s Crystal Ball
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
Posted in Media, Politics, Street
Tagged Fatal Crash I-75, Florida Highway Patrol, Lt. John Gourley
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Spyderco Waved Endura4 For Duty Carry
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 Emerson ES1-M, Emerson Opening Feature, Endura4, Police Duty Knife, Spyderco Endura, Waved Endura
3 Comments
Memories and Police Patrol
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
Morphix Technologies Chameleon Chemical Detector Review
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
Video Games Can Aid Police Training
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 Building Clearing, Building Search, First-person shooters, FPS, Police Tactics, police training, Video Games
1 Comment
Avoiding the Dangers in a Chemical Suicide Response
On Monday in Boston, a BU pharmacology grad student committed suicide by lethal chemical. Police and Fire department personnel responding to the apartment at 676 Massachusetts Ave. were in danger from highly toxic sodium azide, which has effects similar to cyanide. Four police officers and two EMT’s were taken to the hospital for exposure to the chemical. I had just written an article on April 2 about a dangerous malathion suicide attempt, where first responders needed medical attention. Last June, I wrote an article for BlueSheepdog called Chemical Suicides–A Safe Response. I thought it very important to post that article on ThinBlueFlorida for obvious officer safety reasons. Police officers respond … Continue reading
Posted in Medical, Officer Safety, Street
Tagged chemical suicide, Detergent Suicide, Hydrogen Sulfide Asphyxia, Officer Safety
1 Comment
Alternative Drugs Causing Aggression
On several calls in the last few months, our officers have had to fight people who were out of control on hallucinogenic substances. These drugs are a serious cause for concern for law enforcement. In one instance, an officer rolled up on an unknown situation in the middle of a large intersection. A Good Samaritan was trying to hold down an out-of-control girl who was screaming “Kill me!” over and over again at the top of her lungs. The officer and citizen managed to keep the 90 lbs. girl on the ground. Another officer arrived to replace the citizen. Now with two officers trying to handcuff her, the girl began … Continue reading
Posted in Officer Safety, Street
Tagged aggression, Hallucinogenic drugs, K2 spice, psilocybin mushrooms
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Diamondback DB9 Long Term Test and Review
In January of 2011, I was walking through the static vendor booths at SHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range and saw a familiar pistol that somehow looked off-kilter. It was a stretched Diamondback Firearms DB380 pistol. No. It was something new. Diamondback Firearms makes striker-fired polymer framed pistols and (soon) shotguns AR -15’s in Cocoa, Florida. After successfully marketing a micro-compact .380 ACP pistol, the company began producing a 9mm version. This was the gun I saw on the table. I handled the unloaded gun in the booth. It looked very promising, however, for its diminutive size, I worried about how it would actually handle in the hand when … Continue reading
Reminder in Margate of the Danger of Suicide and Chemicals
An incident in Margate, FL yesterday is a good reminder for first responders to be wary of the presence of chemicals in suicide attempts. A Coconut Creek man apparently attempted suicide by drinking the commercially available pesticide Malathion. EMS workers arrived his home at about 0130 am to find him in his yard. When the man was transported to Northwest Medical Center in nearby Margate, he vomited up the chemical in the rescue unit and cause three paramedics to suffer dizziness, nausea, and headaches. At the Northwest ER, toxic fumes could still be smelled on the man. He was isolated and the ER was shut down. The Broward County Sheriff’s … Continue reading