Poor Judgment Leads to Police Sergeant’s Firing

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Randall

This is a sample of the target that Sgt. Ron King of the Port Canaveral, FL Police Department wanted to use as a “training aid” during an April 2nd department firearms training.  He was fired on Friday.  The text of his explanation, which was posted on YouTube, is below.  King’s version doesn’t quite jibe when you actually see the target.  Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea?  With a crosshair reticle?  Come on…

Randall

 “Good Evening, my name is Ron King and I am the focus of some recent media attention based on lies, false information and political agendas.

“First, you’ll have to excuse me if I refer to my computer here for some of my notes. There are a lot of thoughts that I want to get out and its just way too many to try to memorize.

“I would like to start my statement by first apologizing to the family of Trayvon Martin for being used as a pawn in somebody’s political agenda. Additionally, I would like to apologize to my fellow law enforcement officers for any negative light that this has come from this incident.

“I remain a professional law enforcement officer and a professional fire arms instructor. I refuse to sit by while others use the Martin family and myself as a way to further their own political career agendas. The events that took place on April Second are as follows:

“I have been a law enforcement officer for over 25 years and Continue reading →

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Selecting FTOs

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Randall

I am an FTO sergeant on my squad.  Today was the selection process for new field training officers.  A letter of intent, resume, supervisors’ recommendations, and performance evaluations were previously submitted by the candidates.  Interviews were then conducted by a panel of command officers and supervisors.

The dozen candidates acquitted themselves well.  I was impressed with the applicants’ knowledge of our program, which is based upon the San Jose model.  During the interview, most articulated a strong desire to teach and explained the importance of adapting their style to the particular recruit’s learning needs.

This is a far cry from the attitudes of FTO’s a few decades ago.  Years back, a command officer on today’s board was one of the three FTO’s, of which I was a member, who were collectively known as “The Hammer, Anvil, and Sickle.”  The third member was my current partner-sergeant on the weekend shift.  We were given many of the department’s make-or-break training cases.

None of our little trio had any problem with canning a recruit to protect his or her life, our citizens, the other officers Continue reading →

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Surviving to Twenty-Five Part Two

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Randall

In the first part of Surviving to Twenty-Five, I yapped a bit about safety and diet and exercise.  Another part of long-term officer survival is in the work arena.  Over the years, I have collected a few tips for getting your career off to a good beginning.

If you just had those patches sewn on your uniform shirts, the best tactic for you on the job is to keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth closed, except to ask questions.  And, contrary to cliché, there is such a thing as a dumb question.  It’s the one you have already asked more than once.

Ours is a profession devoted to interpersonal communication, verbal and non-verbal. Command presence is a requirement.  Choosing the right words to convey orders to, or request information from, your customers can be difficult in the rookie years.  I have this suggestion for younger officers:  Don’t say things you wouldn’t say with the Chief of Police standing right next to you.  Simple, yes?

Now, when the fight is on, I’m certainly not going to gig a guy for using colorful language.  But if you are regularly dropping f-bombs on citizens Continue reading →

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Legendary Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Passes Away

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Randall

Dr. Joseph Davis, 88, died on March 19, 2013.  He was a giant in the field of forensic pathology.  In 1956, Dr. Davis and Dr. Stanley Durlacher opened the first Medical Examiner’s office in Metro-Dade County.  Shortly thereafter, Dr. Davis became the Chief Medical Examiner, a post which he held from 1957 to 1996 and again in 2000-2001.

Dr. Davis is credited with pioneering modern death investigation, strongly influencing public safety legislation, and training hundreds of medical examiners in the science worldwide.  Under Dr. Davis’ guidance, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department crafted their lauded Police MedicoLegal Investigation of Death Course.  The 40 hour seminar, a.k.a. Homicide School, is attended by homicide investigators, prosecutors, and medical examiners from all over the globe.

I was fortunate to have attended Police MedicoLegal Investigation of Death in 2003. Current Miami-Dade Chief Medical Examiner Bruce Hyma, Davis’ protege, and his staff gave nothing but high praise for Dr. Davis’ breadth of knowledge and his ability to impart it.  Police MedicoLegal Investigation of Death is a course frequently seen on medical examiners’ résumés.

Dr. Davis, who is said to have personally performed over 10,000 autopsies in his career, played investigative roles in reviews of the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Elvis Presley.  During the 1980’s drug violence in Dade County, Davis’ office investigated over 600 homicides per year.  His office also handled the grim crashes of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, and later, ValuJet Flight 592 in the Everglades.

From humble beginnings in a formal funeral home in 1956, the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department now has an extensive campus aptly named the Dr. Joseph H. Davis Center for Forensic Pathology.

Dr. Davis passed away peacefully in Tallahassee, Florida.

Randall

photo:  Dignity Memorial
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SCCY CPX-2 Pistol Review

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Randall

One of my buddies loaned his Ruger LCR to a co-worker for off-duty carry.  The co-worker is a newer cop and she was short on funds after having a baby.  It got me thinking that not everyone in the squad room can afford an expensive back-up piece.  Introducing:  SCCY Industries.

SCCY Industries, LLC (pronounced “Sky”) makes handguns in Daytona Beach, Florida.  After handling their Generation 2 CPX-1 and CPX-2’s at SHOT Show, I was impressed with the design and quality control of their 9mm polymer pistols.  Fit and finish was above average, especially if you factored in the MSRP:  $319.00 for the CPX-1 and $299.00 for the CPX-2!  It elicited a “Wow!” and a “Hmmmm…” at the same time.

Since SCCY did not have a range booth at Media Day, I would have to find another way to road test one of their pistols.  After a few phone calls, I got one shipped to my local gun store.  When I opened the SCCY box, I was shocked.  Not only was the little 9mm pistol nestled in there, the CPX-2 came with two magazines, two finger extension mag bases, and two flat mag bases.  There was also a very nice spring loaded trigger lock and keys.

A little company history here—SCCY was started by Joe Roebuck, a 35-year tool and die maker and mechanical design engineer.  In 2003, Roebuck founded Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Florida Companies, Off Duty, SHOT Show | Tagged , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Surviving to Twenty-Five

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Randall

Several months ago, I crested the 25-year mark as a sworn police officer.  More recently, I turned 50.  I had some thoughts about surviving a law enforcement career for a quarter of a century that I would like to share.

I will get this one out of the way right off.  Continue your officer safety training and mindset throughout your whole career, regardless of your job description.  Everything else on which I will comment has no bearing if you do not live to fight another day.  Always be aware of your surroundings and think tactically on and off duty.  What would I do if X, Y, or Z happened right now?  Be ready to take active measures.  Wear your vest.  Always.

In addition, all police officers need to maintain their own best level of martial preparedness, whether it is in defensive tactics, intermediate weapons, or firearms.  Take responsibility for your own readiness.  If your agency does not provide what you feel is adequate training and practice, then get some for yourself.  It is your life.  You save it.

Okay, now you are in it for the long haul.  I have observed that a commitment to physical fitness over decades takes patience and self-discipline.  There is no easy road to Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Medical, Misc., Off Duty, Officer Safety | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

SCOTUS Rules K9 Sniff of Home is an Illegal Search

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Randall

Miami-Dade Police K9 Franky

In a move I think we all saw coming, the Supreme Court of the United States held that a K9 sniff to the exterior of a house constitutes a warrantless search and as such is a violation of the Fourth Amendment in Joelis Jardines v. State of Florida (SC08-2101).  As I had written in my earlier article, the interesting argument posed by the State of Florida in this case was that the sniff of the K9 dog detects only illegal substances, not the legal activities of an ordinary citizen.  It also does not “illuminate” the residence to public examination, as would a search of the residence.

SCOTUS addressed the State’s argument that “investigation by a forensic narcotics dog by definition cannot implicate any legitimate privacy interest.”  By way of analogy, they cited their review, last Term, of the GPS tracking case in United States vs. Antoine Jones (10-1259), which discussed Fourth Amendment rights in a public setting.

Unmoved by the State’s assertions, the Justices ruled 5-4 that, “The government’s use of trained police dogs to investigate the home and its immediate surroundings is a “search” within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment.  The judgment of the Supreme Court of Florida is therefore affirmed.”

Again, for those of us who have handled narcotics detector dogs, this ruling was not a surprise.  All the K9 drug schools I have attended reviewed case law and taught that this type of deployment is an illegal search.  How Miami-Dade did this and then found a state attorney to support and a  judge to sign a search warrant for the home is beyond me.

Okay, everybody, back to business…

Randall

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Kel-Tec KSG Bullpup Shotgun Review

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Randall

Finally!  I waited two whole years from SHOT Show 2011 to SHOT 2013 to fire a Kel-Tec KSG bullpup shotgun.  I really wanted to mount it on my shoulder to check out its maneuverability for room clearing.  I wanted to test its ergonomics and controls.  Mostly, I wanted to stack up with the boys and run a shoot house while wielding this particular shorty shotty.  Well, at least I did get to fire the doggone thing.

Cocoa, Florida’s Kel-Tec CNC debuted the KSG (Kel-Tec Shotgun) to the press two years ago.  Since then, the KSG’s have been a little hard to come by–much like the KT RFB, which the KSG mimics in shape and materials.

Out at the range, I got a short ground school from the Kel-Tec rep who said it was soooo cold he might have loaded his right thumb instead of a 2 3/4 shell about four reporters ago.  Hmmm, they are ’bout the same diameter…

With the dual bomb bays full of ordinance, I lined up for “Rolling Thunder.”  I had snapped the 12 ga. rounds into both 7 round tubular magazines.  Since I am used to stoking a Remington 870 from Continue reading →

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OIS

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Randall

I was the supervisor on scene when a gunfight broke out between the suspect and an officer at a wanted subject call two nights ago.  All the officers reacted appropriately and the incident eventually came to a successful conclusion.  I was proud of our troops and of the troops from the two assisting agencies that responded to help.

Following the volley of gunshots (and after ducking), I had been moving some of our guys around on the perimeter, adjusting fields of fire, when I asked one of the officers to take up a position further east.  He was proned out behind a tree with his AR.  As he went to get up, the effects of aging and his many, many years in the K9 Unit showed.  There was grunting and creaking.  I laughed a little and whispered that we were “getting too old for this shit.”  It later dawned on me how true that was.

Just shy of twenty years ago, I was the K9 handler on a scene and he was following me as my back-up on the track of a suspect who had just shot a police officer to death on that horrific call…  Wow.  Twenty Years Ago.  We are getting too old for this shit.

Randall

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1st District Court of Appeals Rules on Facebook Threats

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Randall

This week, the 1st District Court of Appeal, State of Florida, upheld a trial court ruling that a defendant who posted, on his own personal Facebook page, a tirade of profanity and promises to hurt a relative violated Florida Statute 836.10, Written Treats to Kill or Do Bodily Harm, a second degree felony. O’Leary v. State, Slip Op. No. 1D12-0975 (Fla. 1st DCA, 2013).

Timothy Ryan O’Leary wrote the anti-gay diatribe, aimed at one of his relatives and her same-sex partner, on his Facebook page. Because O’Leary is Facebook friends with his cousin Michael and Michael is also related to the threatened relative, it broke the law, even though the threatened relative was not contacted by O’Leary personally in the incident.

O’Leary sought to have the charges dismissed because he argued that the Facebook comments were not “sent” to the threatened relative, but simply posted on his personal page. O’Leary had pled no contest to one count of the offense (the other count having been dropped by the prosecution) with the stipulation that it could be appealed. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.

In denying O’Leary’s motion to dismiss the charges, the 1st DCA used the three element test in State vs. Wise, 664 So. 2d 1028, 1030 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1995). For a violation of Florida Statute 836.10, Wise requires:

1. A person writes or composes a threat to kill or do bodily harm;

2. The person sends or procures the sending of that communication to another person; Continue reading →

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T.U.C.Rig — Tactical Under Carry for Equipment

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Randall

A West Central Florida police officer/SWAT member has come up with a simple carry method for ancillary equipment with external clips or sheaths.  She calls it the T.U.C.Rig for Tactical Under Carry Rig.  Consisting of a nylon strap, single buckle, and hook and loop closure, it can secure items that have clips, such as knives and flashlights.  It can also be threaded through pouches with belt loops or MOLLE attachments.  The T.U.C.Rig mounts on the ankle, arm, or even on body armor vest straps.

For the last two months, I have been using the T.U.C.Rig to tote my C.A.T. Tourniquet while on shift.  I attach the hook and loop of the T.U.C.Rig into the hook and loop of the C.A.T. and cinch it to my ankle above the boot.  They are not going to come off and I do not feel them during the day.  Since I was looking for a minimalist way to carry my tourniquet, this was the perfect solution.

To field test the T.U.C.Rig, the inventing officer, who carries a folding knife clipped over her boot with the rig, has enlisted (or conscripted…) several tactical operators, patrol cops, and fire rescue personnel.  Since the Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Florida Companies, Knives, Medical, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

VHS, the YouTube of Yesterday

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Randall

Back in 1987 (the year I was sworn in), sending out a hundred training tapes on VHS was the equivalent of something going viral today.  A traffic stop in Los Angeles that year prompted this sarcastic training tape.

According to lore, the LA Police Department sent out a roll call safety brief stating that gang members may be using former LA County Sheriff’s Department Chevrolet Malibu’s for criminal activities.  LAPD Harbor Division cops end up stopping a “suspicious” unmarked Chevy Malibu on felony traffic.  The Malibu contains–two sworn LASD deputies!  Despite being in full uniform, the deputies are taken down at gunpoint by the PD officers and detained until an LAPD supervisor arrives.

Needless to say, the simultaneously dangerous and hilarious misadventure prompted ire and this unauthorized training video made by LASD deputies.  It was labeled Training and sent to numerous divisions of the LAPD.

I had seen this video at an LE school back in the 1990’s–you know, when the instructors used to show funny (non-PC) videos during breaks.  Now a part of the Internets, Who Are You? surfaces every couple of years on someone’s forum site.  I thought if you haven’t seen it, it is worth a laugh.

Randall

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RDR Holsters Micro Carry Review

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Randall

RDR (Rounds Down Range) Holsters is a Hollywood, FL company making Kydex™ holsters and accessory carriers for most major brands of concealed carry handguns.  One of our longtime readers here at ThinBlueFlorida, M@ (Matt–get it?), met me at SHOT Show out on the main floor.  Funny, we both traveled all the way from Florida just to meet in Nevada.  M@, who works for RDR, brought me a RDR Micro Carry holster for my Kahr PM9.

Founded by two brothers, RDR is visibly represented by owner Jeff Wilber.  Mr. Wilber is very active in the firearms industry.  In January 2013, it was announced that Mr. Wilber would be the new Sales Manager for PistolPay, LLC, a secure online platform for the purchase of high value items such as firearms, ammunition, accessories, and knives.

When I went in search of a new holster for my PM9, I checked out RDR’s website.  I knew I wanted something minimalist and for IWB carry.  Though RDR has models for belt and IWB, the Micro Carry was just what I wanted.  I ordered one in Coyote Tan (FDE).  The RDR holsters also come in Black, Carbon Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Florida Companies, Off Duty, SHOT Show | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What You Don’t Know…

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Randall

The weather was beautiful, so my wife and I took a walk to get out of the house.  Along the journey, we headed down the sidewalk near a set of waterfront condos.  There was a sheriff’s office cruiser parked parallel to our path.  As we went by the driver’s side of the patrol car, my wife and I waved to the deputy sheriff.  She was young and appeared to be talking on her cell phone–no problem there, she was stationary.  That would pass muster under our General Orders.  She smiled and nodded back to us–good public relations for Starman.

I could not help but feel uneasy as I was strolling by with a loaded gun in a holster under my shirt.  I knew the deputy could not possibly see the handgun.  What gave me pause was that she did not know I was armed and just feet from the imaginary safety of her driver’s seat.  I know I have been in her place many times before.

We assume so much in our line of work.  Two nice people in casual dress walking down the sidewalk in the Florida sun, no harm there.  But it is a set of beliefs based upon what is in the mind of the officer, not what is really Continue reading →

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Armored Mobility Inc. Rapid Response Carrier and SAPI3 Plate Review

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Randall

My agency responded to an active shooter in the workplace last week.  Shots were fired.  Hundreds of workers, fearing the worst, hid in their offices.  There were gunfire injuries to a civilian.  Our PD response was swift and decisive.  The shooter was arrested.  Afterward, some of my co-workers expressed a desire to upgrade their patrol load out to include a critical incident vest.  I could not help but give them my opinion on the importance of armor and ammo.

I currently have an Armored Mobility Inc. (AMI) Rapid Response Carrier with two AMI SAPI3 plates in the CVPI trunk while on duty.  Armor–check.  Multiple AR-15  and Sig magazines.  Ammo–check.

Since leaving the active part of SWAT after 20+ years, I have gone minimalist for patrol critical incidents.  Again, armor and ammo.  For urgent street calls, my go-vest has rifle plates to go over the uniform and concealed IIIa body armor.  A reasonable payload of 5.56 x 45mm bullets, an extra .40 cal. mag, and a Benchmade SOCP dagger complete the package.

On any hot patrol call, I will already have all my daily carry gear on board.  My work environment has BLS and ALS on scene in mere minutes.  We are lucky.  A CAT tourniquet and dressings will hold the line for TCCC, but you have to survive the fight.

The AMI Rapid Response Carrier is an extremely well constructed and thoughtful product.  In speaking to AMI Rep Bill Gazza at SWAT Round-Up last year, he said the aim for the Rapid Response Carrier was to make a simple, lightweight plate carrier with just the essentials and Continue reading →

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