New Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Randall

Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380Smith & Wesson has announced a variant of their popular Bodyguard 380.  This will be marketed as the M&P Bodyguard 380, adding to their Military & Police line.  Noticeably absent from this gun is the integral InSight laser.  When I first wrote at BlueSheepdog.com about the LAPD approving the Bodyguard 380 for on and off duty use, back in April of 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department had mandated that both the laser and manual safety be deactivated.  This version solves one of those requests.

I am ambivalent about the InSight laser.  I have kept mine functional and I occasionally use it at the range.  The activation buttons’ stiffness can be fixed by inserting a small rigid piece of material (I have seen snips of a Q-Tip shaft used) under the plastic buttons’ cover.  I prefer a laser that comes on automatically.  Overall, though, for me the laser neither adds nor detracts from the practicality of this handgun.

I have stated that I have no use for the safety lever on this gun.  The hammer-firing DAO trigger has a very long pull that breaks between 8 and 10 lbs, so I am not worried about an ND with the Bodyguard 380.  As far as I am concerned, S&W could have just removed the safety as well, but that would cause them to Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty, Officer Safety | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Tactical Medical Solutions Uniformed Medical Kit

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Randall

Tactical Medical Solutions, Inc. provides products and training resources for both combat and tactical medical applications.   Their Uniformed Medical Kit allows a police officer to carry vital medical supplies beneath his or her uniform shirt.  The pouch attaches with hook side Velcro™ to the loop field on the adjustable strap area of concealed body armor.  More loop material on the front of the UMK is available for the strap ends to affix.

Tactical Medical Solutions UMK wTactical Medical Solutions gives the following benefits to the UMK:

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Tactical Tailor Nylon MOLLE Archery Quiver

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Randall

Back on 4/1/2013, ITS Tactical posted a new archery product from Zulu Nylon Gear called The MOLLE Quiver.  H.S.,L.D. for traditional weaponry.  When you clicked on the link–waaa, waaaa–it was an April Fools joke.  But after readers showed much interest in buying the actual quiver, Zulu started a FaceBook page for the product.  It has yet to be released.

Having been a recurve bow archer for the last thirty years (on and off), I decided to get an inexpensive nylon MOLLE quiver of my own.  After surfing around and finding nothing to my liking, I settled on using a basic Tactical Tailor modular hydration pack.  I had written a review of the Tactical Tailor Urban Operator Backpack for Shot Show earlier this year.  I found their products to have a quality build.

Wanting to keep this project reasonably priced, I examined their website and saw a quick release two point sling adapter that would not dent my wallet.  I reasoned that I could thread the adjustable QR sling through the MOLLE loops on the back of Continue reading →

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SWAT Round-Up 2013 Video Courtesy of Venture Ballistics

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Randall

 

Todd Garrett over at Venture Ballistic Composites sent me this cool video of the SWAT Round-Up 2013 competition.  It captures the events’ preparation and perspiration.  If you competed this year or visited the SRI, you might see yourself in the movie.  Check it out.  Thanks, Mr. Garrett!

Randall

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SmartWater CSI Forensic Marking Technology

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Randall

SmartWaterCSISmartWater CSI, LLC is a British company that has been involved in forensic marking technology for over 17 years.  Their products include a chemical “DNA” marker that can be applied to a piece of property to give a positive identification at a later date, should it be illegally appropriated, and a sort of invisible dye pack that can be employed by law enforcement to “mark” a criminal suspect during the crime.  Business owners can install SmartWater devices that spray the marking chemicals on robbers and thieves so the suspects are tagged as they leave.  Recently, SmartWater has begun North American operations out of Ft. Lauderdale.  I spoke to a representative for this product at the FLEPRU conference.

SmartWater CSI BewareSmartWater CSI’s technology was developed by Phil Cleary, who retired from law enforcement service in the U.K. following injury on the job.  His brother is a forensic chemist and together, they came up with their proprietary Continue reading →

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Do You FLEPRU?

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Randall

FLEPRU logoThe Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit, more colloquially known as FLEPRU (FLEE-proo), is a non-profit entity that was started in the Tampa Bay area in 1987 by a group of detectives whose mission was to aid victims in the recovery of their stolen property and increase the effective prosecution of the perpetrators.

FLEPRU provides information, networking, and education not only for sworn law enforcement, but retail, commercial, and recycling industries as well.  Additionally, FLEPRU works to enact legislation, and better the statutes already on the books, by lobbying in Tallahassee on behalf of crime victims and cops.

Toward that end, FLEPRU has directed much of its lobbying efforts at tightening Florida State Statutes 538 (Secondhand dealers and secondary metals recyclers) and 539 (Pawnbrokering).  The experienced people at FLEPRU have been staunch gatekeepers, attempting to keep the pawn and secondhand dealers from becoming “state-sponsored fencing operations.”

Each year, FLEPRU holds a three day conference in Orlando which becomes and information clearing house and a training seminar for property crimes detectives from all over the state.  Having recently settled back into our detective division, I attended this year’s conference along with two rookie detectives from my agency.

Topics for the 2013 FLEPRU convention included:

  • Identity Theft Investigation
  • Pawn Shop Inspection
  • SunPass Operations
  • Officer Survival and Interviewing
  • EBT Card Fraud
  • Smart Phones and Continue reading →
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LaserLyte Introduces Laser Can Plinking!

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Randall

Press release from LaserLyte:

COTTONWOOD, AZ (November 2013) – LaserLyte®, innovators in firearms laser technologies, is proud to introduce the innovative and entertaining Laser-Plinking-Can. When hit with a laser from any of the LaserLyte® training cartridges or other laser trainer tools, the cans react by jumping up and falling over just as a real can would. This reaction is all powered by a 9V battery (included) and a spring loaded plunger released by a solenoid. To reset the cans, simply stand them up and depress the plunger.

The LaserLyte® laser reactive Laser Plinking Can Set provides hours of training and entertainment indoors or outdoors without the cost of ammunition or the clean-up of cans after the fact! Laser Plinking Can Set is sold in a three-pack with three 9V batteries included. One battery will tip the can over about 8,000 times.

The LaserLyte® Laser Plinker Can gets sport shooters and professionals on the target faster, increasing accuracy and overall hits. For more information visit www.laserlyte.com.

LaserLyte® Tip Over Can (TLB-BWC) Specifications:

Weight:    4.25 ounces/.12kg
Length:    3.82 inch/9.7 cm
Diameter:    2.00 inch/5.1cm
Battery:    9V
Battery Life:    8,000 Tip Overs
MSRP:    $104.95

It just seems like good old-fashioned fun in the living room!

Randall

Posted in Firearms | 1 Comment

New Firebird Tactical Reactive Targets

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Randall

Firebird TargetsI kept seeing flashes and smoke at the west end of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Range at SWAT Round-Up International.  At the far north end of vendor row, I got to speak to Andrew Mahwhinney of Firebird Tactical.  He showed us some of the cool metal target discs that react when hit by bullets.

Firebird Tactical, a division of Firebird Reactive Targets, Ltd., was started to introduce their parent company’s products to the Military and Law Enforcement.  SWAT Round-Up International is the U.S. launch of the brand.  Firebird Tactical markets 40mm and 65mm-sized targets called either SniperFire Standard or SniperFire Mil-spec.  SniperFire Standard targets affix to a backer with high tack double-sided tape and are specifically designed for high power rifle fire.  They allow for instant hit recognition at long distances.

Firebird’s SniperFire Mil-spec targets are designed to be water-resistant and have magnetic backing in addition to the high tack tape.  They are luminous and can be used in the dark, adding to their versatility.  Mil-spec discs’ increased visibility can be seen from distances out to 3000 meters.  Both the Standard and Mil-Spec ignite with a shimmering pop and not a loud bang.

Firebird 2 Continue reading →

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New Celox RAPID Hemostatic Gauzes

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Randall

imageAs I was finishing a half lap of SWAT Round-Up International’s vendor area, I had spied my old friend, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy.  My friend introduced me to Dr. William Brooks at the Advanced Trauma Specialties display.  Dr. Brooks was demonstrating some new Celox RAPID hemostatic gauzes.  The Celox RAPID gauzes come in Z-folded 3″ X 5′ and 1″ X 5′ lengths, the latter of which is called Celox RAPID Ribbon gauze.

Celox granules are laminated to the high density gauze material to provide easy packing into a wound for quick bleeding control.  Celox is made with Chito-R™ (chitosan from shrimp shells) that binds to red blood cells to seal severe wounds caused by gunshot, stabs, or blast fragmentation.  Allergic to shellfish?  No problem, it is not reactive.

Dr. Brooks showed me a graphic video of Celox RAPID staunching a femoral artery bleed in an animal test subject.  It was from a Navy study in which Celox outperformed Continue reading →

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Venture Ballistics Introduces New Active Shooter Shields

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Randall

Venture Active ShooterIn addition to watching last Tuesday’s event at SWAT Round-Up International 2013, I trolled the vendors’ show looking for new things.  I ran across Todd Garrett at the Venture Ballistic Composites booth.  Mr. Garrett chose to introduce their new line of Active Shooter shields at this year’s SRI.

Named an AS-3 or AS-3A, Venture Ballistics’ new models are either NIJ Level III or IIIa.  They come in 16″ X 20″ (short) or 16″ X 28″ (regular).  These shields are very mobile and afford good coverage to the user’s torso.  The AS-3A short is specifically designed to give protection in or out of a vehicle.

photo 1 photo 2 Continue reading →

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SWAT Round-Up International In Orlando This Week

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Randall

SWAT Round-Up InternationalI am in Orlando this week for the Florida Law Enforcement Property Recovery Unit (FLEPRU) conference.  On my way over, I just had to stop at the Orange County Sheriff’s Sheriff’s Office Range for the annual SWAT Round-Up International.  I competed here in the 1990’s and again one last time in 2006.

I visited the vendors and will post some photos of some cool stuff I saw.  In the meantime, I was able to see an old friend from my Academy days some 26 years ago.  He works out here and is doing well.

image image Continue reading →

Posted in Detectives, SWAT | 3 Comments

Sending Them Out to Play in Traffic

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Randall

Detective BadgeIt was my first week back in Detective Bureau.  I was getting a slice with some of the guys when I got a call from my lieutenant.  “Yeah, Boss?”  “You better check on Wheaten and Milner; they requested uniformed back-up,” he said.  Day two in DB and I hadn’t even programmed all the investigators’ numbers into my phone.  Figured.  “Right away, Boss.”

Just before lunch, Wheaten told me he and Milner were going to interview and arrest a grand theft suspect for whom he had probable cause at a particular nursing home.  At least I knew where they were.  I reached Milner on the phone.  “All good?”  She said, “We got in a fight, but have just a few scrapes.”  “Okay, see me back in the Bay.”

I spent seven years as a plain-clothed detective.  It never escaped me that I had traded in a ballistic vest for a silk tie.  As a dick, you arrest the same bad people, but have fewer tools at your disposal than a road officer.  Your empty hand techniques and officer safety awareness need to be better than average.  Good training and mindset are critical.

I met my folks back at the office to write up some injury reports.  Fortunately, we could joke because the damage was minor–an abrasion to Milner’s Continue reading →

Posted in Detectives, Officer Safety | Tagged | 1 Comment

Thank a Veteran

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Randall

American-Flag-2048x1536-iPad-wallpaper_1Yesterday, I discovered a very old photograph of my grandfather on my mother’s side.  I do not know much about him and he passed away long ago.  In the picture I found of him, he was in uniform. I had never seen the photograph before.  He fought in the Pacific in World War II.  And he was wearing sergeant stripes…  I smiled and shared it with my wife.  My dad was a Navy PO2 and his father was an infantry sergeant in WWI.

I appreciate their service and that of all our military veterans.  We owe them all a great debt of gratitude on this Veterans Day.

Randall

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Video Captures Daytona Beach Police OIS

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Randall

Daytona Beach Police Department released this video of their officers engaging a hostage taker on September 25, 2013.  The officer involved shooting was captured on a body camera worn by one of the officers.  Former New York Giants player Jermaine Lanier Green, 32, was holding his girlfriend at knife point when the officers entered the home.

In reviewing the video of the Daytona Beach OIS, I noted a few things.  At the outset, the officers assess the situation from witnesses on scene.  The first responders take immediate action based on there being an armed, mentally ill (“Signal 0 with a knife, Signal 20.”) person holding a hostage inside the residence.  One witness tells Continue reading →

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New Morphix Technologies TraceX Explosives Detector Kits

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Randall

Morphix Technologies is releasing a new explosives detector kit, which is made to test for home made explosives (HME) and improvised explosive devices (IED).  I received a Morphix Chameleon Chemical Detector kit, which I reviewed in April of 2012.  It is good basic technology for the rank and file.  The Morphix TraceX HME kit tests for nine different explosive families in under three minutes with a single swabbing.  The results are clearly indicated in the window of the test box.  The kit is rugged and sealed in its own protective plastic case, which fits in a cargo pocket.  No word on pricing for the TraceX, but the Chameleon was running just $200.00 per unit online…

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (November 2013) – Morphix Technologies®, an innovator in the science of detection devices for dangerous chemicals, is pleased to announce its new solution in the detection of Home Made Explosives (HMEs) and precursors, the  TraceX® Explosives Kit, has received a National Stock Number (665-01-623-0153). The National Stock Number was issued by NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support allowing the TraceX® Explosives Kit to be purchased by all U.S. Government military and federal agencies under approved acquisition Continue reading →

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