Monthly Archives: April 2015

Swab-its Creates News Website

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Randall

Super Brush LLC manufactures the Swab-its® brand foam products, which are superior, lint-free swabs and applicators specifically tailored for precision gun cleaning.  I wrote about them here.  Swab-its now has its own website devoted to firearms articles, gun safety, shooting tips, and other useful information at www.swabitsnews.com. Among the engaging articles in the inaugural edition are “Carry Concealed Tips” by gunwriter Jorge Amselle, “Succeeding with the Fundamentals” by shooting instructors Michelle and Chris Cerino, “Knife Sharpening” by outdoorsman Tom Claycomb III, and “To Magnify or Not to Magnify” by writer Sal Palma. Mosey on over and check it out.  You might find an article about the history of Smith & … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Knives, Media, Misc. | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Police and Modern Communication

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Randall

Aaron over at BlueSheepdog.com just wrote about the changing perception of police officers in the last half century.  It is a nice read and made me think about how law enforcement influences its own public image.  Of late, it seems as if the mainstream media has focused on current uses of force and devoted much less airtime to the good work cops do every minute of every day in our communities. In recent years, law enforcement agencies have gravitated to other strategies for positive public outreach.  Take the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, for example.  They employ five public information officers, two of whom focus specifically on their department’s Facebook page … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Misc. | 2 Comments

NOPTIC Thermal Imaging System

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Randall

…and another thing!–I am jealous of the FLIR system on the orbiting police helicopter above!  It would be cool if I had a thermal imager in my cruiser to pick out bad guys hiding in the darkness like those rotorheads up in the chopper.  Well, someone has come up with just this idea. I had not seen the NOPTIC, nighttime optical thermal imaging camera, until recently.  The NOPTIC camera mounts on the A-pillar spotlight of a police car and sends infrared imaging back to the in-car computer screen so the officer can see at night without the compromises of a visible light beam. Using a passive IR camera, the NOPTIC … Continue reading →

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QALO Thin Blue Line Ring Series

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Randall

QALO Rings, about which I have previously written, has a new line of wedding rings that honor police officers and firefighters.  The Thin Blue Line and Thin Red Line rings allow you to show commitment to your profession while protecting the hands that hold your spouses tight.  Yes, they make them for both men and women. QALO, pronounced Kay-Lo, will donate 20% of the proceeds from the sales of these rings to care for the families of fallen officers through the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.  A similar fund will distribute the 20% to families of fallen firefighters through the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Firefighter Wife.  Says QALO: … Continue reading →

Posted in Misc., Officer Safety, Street | Tagged | 5 Comments

Graphic Dash Video Shows Cruiser Hit Active Shooter

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Randall

On February 19, 2015, a wanted felon in Marana, Ariz. stole a rifle from a Walmart and strode down the street firing bullets.  Officer Michael Rapiejko saw an opportunity to end the incident before the suspect made it to commercial businesses and a busy roadway. This video is graphic, but illustrates the split-second decisions officers have to make while on the job. Ofc. Rapiejko was praised for his decisive action by Marana Chief Terry Rozema, who credited the officer with saving citizens and the suspect’s life.  This felon spent only two days in the hospital before his transfer to jail.  He was wanted in connection with three incidents in Tucson: … Continue reading →

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Civilian Version of the FN M249 SAW?

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Randall

How much is that SAW-y in the window?  FN Herstal USA will be producing a civilian version of the U.S. Military’s M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), according to news from the NRA Annual Meeting 2015.  Also in the works from FN are two Military Collector versions of the M-4 and M16.  Here is the presser: (McLean, VA – April 10, 2015) FNH USA is excited to announce that three new products, including a brand-new product line, will be making their first appearance on the FNH USA Booth #2324 at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville, TN. Expected to be released in the Fall of 2015 are the mil-spec FN … Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms | Tagged , | 5 Comments

New Remington RM380 Pocket Pistol

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Randall

Yet another new handgun officially launching at the NRA Annual Meeting 2015 is the Remington Arms‘ RM380.  This .380 ACP caliber hammer-fired DAO sub-sub-compact pistol has an aluminum frame with a fiberglass reinforced nylon grip overlay.  It will have a 6+1 capacity and a weight of 12.2 ounces.  The new gun will ship from Remington’s Huntville, Ala. plant with extended grip and flush grip magazines that will release from ambidextrous buttons. Much like the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, with which it will directly compete, the hammer-fired locked breech RM380 has a multiple-strike capability for stubborn

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New Heckler & Koch P30SK Pistol

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Randall

Heckler & Koch announced a SubKompact version of their popular P30 pistol at this week’s NRA Annual Meeting.  The new double-stack 9mm handgun is designated the P30SK.  SK, get it? P30SK has dimensions similar to a Glock 26/27.  The HK is 6.42 inches in length, 4.57 inches high, and 1.37 inches wide.  Bullets are launched from a 3.27 inch barrel.  Weight is tallied as 23.99 ounces. The SubKompact can have a DA/SA trigger or HK’s Law Enforcement Modification (LEM) DAO “light strike V1” trigger at a light 5.4 ounce pull.  The DA/SA is available with and without the ambidextrous safety/decocking levers.  Dual slide releases are worn by all versions.

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

BLACKHAWK! Debuts New A.R.C. IWB Holster

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Randall

BLACKHAWK! has a new appendix carry holster debuting at the NRA Annual Meeting, which begins tomorrow.  Here are the details: OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – April 8, 2015 – BLACKHAWK!® announces its new Appendix Reversible Carry (A.R.C.) Inside the Waistband (IWB) Holster for civilian and law enforcement concealed carry. The holster’s design offers concealed carry users and professional operators who prefer the appendix carry position with a versatile and comfortable holster in one model. The new holster will debut at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, April 10 to 12 in Nashville, Tennessee. “Comfort is a top priority for someone who uses an appendix carry holster,” said Liam Yarbrough, BLACKHAWK! … Continue reading →

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Ocala Officer Killed in Training Accident

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Randall

Ocala Police Officer Jared Forsyth, 33, was accidentally shot at the Lowell Correctional Institution range in Marion County this afternoon.  He was rushed to the Ocala Regional Medical Center, but he succumbed to his wound after being rushed into surgery.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the training accident.  Ofc. Forsyth had been with OPD since April 16, 2012.  No further details were released at this time. Ocala Police Department will announce service arrangements.  This is very sad. Randall

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Flakka–A Deadly New Designer Drug Rises in Florida

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Randall

South Florida is experiencing a spike in violent and unpredictable behaviors exhibited by people using the relatively new synthetic designer drug known as flakka.  A “bath salt”-style mixture, flakka can be smoked, vaped, snorted, injected, or swallowed.  It is classified as a synthetic cathinone under the chemical name alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or alpha-PVP. Flakka, known as “gravel” in other parts of the country because of its coarse crystalline appearance, is highly addictive and can cause dangerous psychotic episodes.  It costs about one quarter that of methamphetamine, but seems to have worse short term effects on its users. Since the beginning of this year, a naked and armed flakka user held police at … Continue reading →

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Wives Behind the Badge–Florida Auxiliary

Posted on April 1, 2015 by Randall

Wives Behind the Badge is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in California in 2008.   They provide resources and emotional support to law enforcement families and serve as a positive voice for law enforcement in the community.  Florida has recently opened a chapter of WBTB. A sample of Wives Behind the Badge programs includes: Online support forums for LEO wives. Families Behind the Badge:  designed to extend the same support offered the main Wives Behind the Badge forums to family members of law enforcement officers.  All family members are welcome – parent, grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc. HALOS:   (Helping Aid Lost Officers’ Survivors) offers sympathy and support in the event of a … Continue reading →

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