St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Sergeant Murdered

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Randall

Sgt. Gary Morales Courtesy St. Lucie SO

Yesterday morning, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Gary Morales was shot to death on a traffic stop in Fort Pierce.  Sgt. Morales was in his patrol vehicle when suspect Eriese Alphonso Tisdale exited the stopped car and shot Morales.  Morales later died at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.

According to SLCSO, the suspect is in custody and is charged with first-degree premeditated murder, assault on an officer/firefighter/EMT, fleeing and eluding and possession of a weapon or ammunition by a felon.

Sgt. Morales was a former U.S. Air Force K9 handler.  A 13 year veteran of the SLCSO, he had served as an SRO, SWAT Sniper Team Leader, and Special Investigations detective.

Sgt. Morales leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.  A public viewing is scheduled for Monday March 4 at 10:00 at the Westside Baptist Church, 3361 South Jenkins Road in Fort Pierce.

Sgt. Morales is the first police officer to be killed in the line of duty this year in Florida.  Our condolences go out to his family and the SLCSO.

The following information was forwarded to me from Barbara Snow at the US War Dogs Assoc., Southern Chapter.

Sgt. Gary Morales
07/13/1977 – 02/28/2013

Click here for more information

Viewing
Monday March 4th, 2013 at 10:00am

Service
Monday March 4th, 2013 at 12:00pm
Westside Baptist Church
Located at 3361 S. Jenkins Rd.
Fort Pierce, FL 34981

Graveside Service
Monday March 4th, 2013 immediately following
Forest Hills Memorial Park
2001 SW Murphy Rd
Palm City, Fl 34990

Donations
Anyone wishing to make donations to the Morales family may make checks to
“The 100 Club of St. Lucie County, Florida”
Please designate the donation is for the Morales Family.
100% of the donation goes directly to the family.

Mailing Address
The Hundred Club of St. Lucie County, FL
4700 W. Midway Rd.
Fort Pierce, FL 34981

Accomodations for Guests

Hilton Garden Inn (PGA)
845 Commerce Centre Dr.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 871-6850
Rate of $109 – Group Name “Gary”

Resident Inn
1920 SW Fountain View
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
(772) 344-7814
Rate of $99 – Group Name “Morales”

Randall

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Blueguns by Ring’s Manufacturing

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Randall

New Blueguns for 2013

I was lucky to have a lengthy chat with John Ring, the owner of Blueguns, at SHOT Show.  He is a very interesting gentleman with an equally engaging story about his Melbourne, Florida company.  It seems that Mr. Ring was originally in the business of renting props to Hollywood.  Ring and his associates began making rubber guns and other items for movies.  As they progressed, the company began making the polyurethane blue guns that we now use in law enforcement training.  Mr. Ring said 5 to 10% of their business is still on the big screen.

In the photo at the top are four new blue guns for 2013:  a Sig Sauer P290, Smith & Wesson Shield, Beretta Nano, and Kimber Solo.  Mr. Ring said there will be additions to the FN line of guns as well as the above pistols available about now.

Below are a few rubber movie props, courtesy of Ring’s Manufacturing.  The movie props differ from Blueguns as they are painted in realistic colors, which would be unsafe in the training environment but perfect for actors to wield on set.

Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, Florida Companies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

U.S. Fire Arms ZiP Pistol–Part Deux

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Randall

I wrote a quick article about the U.S. Fire Arms ZiP pistol back in December.  I met with Chris from U.S. Fire Arms at SHOT Show and had a chance to examine and shoot the ZiP.  The little gun, which loads .22 cal. long rifle ammunition from a Ruger rotary 10 round magazine, is made mainly for plinking.  It was cool and not nearly as ungainly in the hand as it looks in photos.

With your middle finger inserted in the hole below the trigger guard and using that for the base of your grip, the ZiP Continue reading →

Posted in Firearms, SHOT Show | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Stay Safe

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Randall

One of my guys was seriously injured and almost murdered and a second narrowly escaped with his life during an incident last night.  Today was a long day as the investigation continued.  I have been to the funerals of officers I have known.  I literally cannot count on one hand the number of officers and deputies I consider friends who have been shot in the line of duty over the years.  Most of us have suffered injuries.  For all of you wearing a badge and gun to protect the public, mind your officer safety, switch on your situational awareness, and trust no one on the streets.  Back up your buddies and man the Thin Blue Line.  It’s what we do.

Randall

Posted in Officer Safety | 4 Comments

U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Florida in K9 Records Case

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Randall

One of my old partners…

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Florida Supreme Court in the 2006 K9 narcotics detector case of Florida vs. Harris.  Siding with the trial court, the Supreme Court ruled that K9 training and testing documentation are sufficient trial evidence to support the probable cause of a drug dog’s alert.  The Florida High Court had ruled that the State must provide “an exhaustive set of records, including a log of the dog’s field performance, to establish the dog’s reliability.”

The Supremes disagreed and cited Illinois vs Gates 642 U.S. 213-239 (1983):  “Finely tuned standards such as proof beyond a reasonable doubt or by a preponderance of the evidence have no place in the [probable cause] decision.”  In the majority opinion, Justice Kagan wrote,  “To evaluate whether the State has met this practical and common sense standard, this Court has consistently looked to the totality of the circumstances and rejected rigid rules, bright-line tests, and mechanistic inquiries.”

In sum, “Because training records established (the dog’s) reliability in detecting drugs and Harris failed to undermine that showing, we agree with the trial court that the (the officer) had probable cause to search Harris’s truck.  We accordingly reverse the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court.”

The ruling in Florida vs. Harris was being watched very intently across the nation by K9 narcotics trainers and handlers as Continue reading →

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New Springfield Armory XD-S 9 Pistol

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Randall

At last year’s SHOT Show, USPSA and IPSC championship shooter Rob Leatham showed me Springfield Armory’s new XD-S, a sub-compact single stack .45 ACP pistol.  I shot one and I was impressed with it.  For 2013, Mr. Leatham was running around at his normally frenetic pace giving media members a look and trigger time with SA’s new XD-S 9.

Mr. Leatham told me the new 9mm semi-auto has the same basic dimensions as the .45 XD-S, except for cartridge capacity, which increases to 7+1 in 9mm.  Springfield Armory’s XD and XD-M series have been very popular.  The XD-S single stack guns, at only 0.9” in slide width, are just that little bit more concealable.

 

CALIBER 9mm
CAPACITY 7 + 1 RDS
WEIGHT 21.5 oz.
BARREL MELONITE®
Fully Supported Ramp
SIGHTS STEEL DOVETAIL REAR
FIBER OPTIC FRONT
SLIDE FORGED STEEL
FRAME BLACK POLYMER
MAGAZINES 2 STAINLESS STEEL SINGLE STACK
OVERALL HEIGHT
with Magazine		 4.4″
OVERALL LENGTH 6.3″
OVERALL WIDTH 1″

I put a couple magazines of 9mm hardball through one of the dusty, dirty XD-S 9’s on the range table.  While I had no issue with .45 ACP stoking last year’s gun, 2013’s XD-S in 9mm was downright Continue reading →

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Florida International Drivers Permit Law Causes Stir

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Randall

Our Dispatch Center was recently besieged with calls from upset Canadian citizens seeking information on how to obtain an “International Drivers License.”  This rush was apparently was spurred by letters sent to the Canadians by their government urging them to apply for these licenses immediately based upon a new Florida law requiring all non U.S. residents to carry this new document when driving.  The situation was made worse by the fact that no one in our Dispatch was clear about what the frantic Canadians were talking about.

There is no such thing as an “International Drivers License.”  The document in question is an International Driving Permit (IDP) that translates a person’s valid drivers license into the language of the country the person is visiting.  International Drivers Permits do not authorize a person to drive a motor vehicle in any country.  They only provide a translation of the valid drivers license a person already possesses.

The U.S. Department of State has authorized the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) to issue IDP’s in the United States.  For U.S. citizens, an International Drivers Permit can be obtained through AAA at the following link:

AAA/International Drivers Permit

Our Canadian visitors and part-time residents can access IDP information here:

CAA/International Drivers Permit

The current IDP resembles a passport, bears a photo and physical descriptors of the driver, and gives translations of the valid drivers license in multiple foreign languages.  Their valid drivers license must accompany the IDP for a person to legally drive in another country.  No IDP is necessary in the U.S. if their originating country prints the drivers license in English.

The debate about the requirement for IDP’s became heated this week and the Florida Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued this statement on Continue reading →

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The Right K9 Tool for the Right Job

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Randall

One of my K9 partners who was Patrol and Narcotics trained.  Not a Bomb Dog.

We responded to a bomb threat last week.  Having an explosives detector dog at the scene reminded me of a call years ago when I was a K9 handler.

It was the early 1990’s.  I was working a dual-purpose Patrol and Narcotics K9 on the Midnight Shift.  A woman called 911 to report that she was having a domestic with her boyfriend.  During the argument, he threatened to blow her and her whole family up.  Prior to our arrival, she told the dispatcher that he had left their…wait for it…mobile home with something under his shirt.

Officers arrived on scene and she disgorged that he had previously served in the Marine Corps and knew something about explosives.  While we were speaking to the woman, the male arrived back at the trailer.  He consented to a pat down.  Nothing on him.  We questioned him about her assertions.  Of course, he did not know what we were talking about.

I turned to the sergeant on scene.  I had a brilliant idea.  No, my dog isn’t a bomb detector, but if the man hid something in the darkened mobile home park, I could follow his track with the dog and find anything he might have secreted that had human scent on it.  The sergeant was skeptical.  Seriously, I told him, I’ll be careful and keep Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, K9 | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

N8² Tactical’s Professional Series Holsters

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Randall

N8² Tactical makes holsters in North Carolina.  At SHOT Show 2013, I asked Nate Beard about their name.  Nate Beard and Nate Johnson formed the company.  “Nate Squared,” get it?  I asked Mr. Beard what was new and he showed me their improved Professional IWB concealed carry holster.

From the N8² Tactical website:

The Nate Squared Tactical Professional holster is the ultimate IWB (inside-the-waistband) holster. It has all the comfort of our Original design, but comes with the following additional features: 

  • ADJUSTABLE CANT
  • TUCKABLE 
  • EXCELLENT POSITIVE RETENTION

The holster is made of polycarbonate, which is an extremely durable thermoplastic. Common uses range from cd’s & dvd’s to bullet resistant glass. We chose to use polycarbonate because it has 30% more tensile strength and almost double the impact strength of acrylic-polyvinyl chloride, which is the material used by many of the most popular IWB holsters on the market today. All of this simply means that the Professional holster is made Continue reading →

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AG’s Office Announces State Officers of the Year

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Randall

L to R: Sgt. Lounge, AG Bondi, Ofc. Weaver
Photo: Steven Rodriguez/WFSU

Press release from the Attorney General’s Office:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today named St. Petersburg Police Department Sergeant Karl Lounge and St. Petersburg Police Department Officer Douglas Weaver the Attorney General’s 2012 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Sergeant Lounge and Officer Weaver were joined by seven fellow officers from around the state at a ceremony recognizing them for their dedication to law enforcement and public safety.

“Each nominee is a hero who selflessly serves their communities,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I am proud to name Sergeant Lounge and Officer Weaver as the 2012 Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Their courage in the face of danger and dedication to saving the lives of their fellow officers is truly admirable.”

In January 2011, Sergeant Lounge and Officer Weaver were involved in a shoot-out with a fugitive where two law enforcement officers lost their lives, and others, including Officer Weaver, were injured. Because of their bravery in a life-threatening circumstance, Sergeant Lounge and Office Weaver are the well-deserved recipients of the Attorney General’s award.

Each nominee for the Attorney General’s award had previously been recognized as an “Officer of the Year” by a Florida law enforcement agency or organization that sponsors such a statewide award. Sergeant Lounge was nominated by the Fraternal Order of Police, and Officer Weaver was nominated by the Florida Police Chiefs Association. A selection committee appointed by the Attorney General considered the distinguished group of nominees from state agencies and organizations including the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the State Law Enforcement Chiefs Association, the Florida Gang Investigators Association and the Florida Retail Federation.

–I have heard nothing but good things about Sgt. Lounge from many of his co-workers.  AG Bondi shook my hand and thanked me for my service recently.  I know Doug Weaver from SWAT over the years and he is a great guy.  After reading the Pinellas/Pasco State Attorney’s report on the deaths of Tom Baitinger and Jeff Yaslowitz, I have nothing but profound respect for these two men and others at the scene.  I would only hope we would all react with such selfless bravery in a situation like they faced that day…

Randall

Posted in Media, Officer Down, Politics, SWAT | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

New Crimson Trace Products for 2013

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Randall

One of the first booths we hit at SHOT Show 2013 Media Day at the Range was Crimson Trace Corporation.  CTC’s Media Relations Manager Iain Harrison showed us a few of their new-for-2013 products.  It was so cold, my pen did not write, but the lasers fired up just fine.

Green laser!  There I said it.  Crimson Trace, ironically, is now in the green laser business.  Several models are now available, with more variation in the manufacturing pipeline.  CTC’s green lasers will come in trigger guard, rail-mounted, backstrap-mounted, and grip replacement systems.

Mr. Harrison showed us a currently available CMR-203, which fits pistols wearing M1913/Picatinny or Weaver rails.  Ours was mounted on a Smith & Wesson M&P auto.  The CMR has all the same standard features of CTC’s Railmaster line at an MSRP Continue reading →

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Spyderco NLEOMF Commemorative Knife

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Randall

Spyderco’s OpFocus division shows this knife in its 2013 catalogue:

“In the year 2000, the United States Congress and President Bill Clinton authorized the establishment of a National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C. The goal of this museum is to tell the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research and education. Designed as a natural extension of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, it will be the largest and most comprehensive museum to honor the duty and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. Building and exhibit designs for the museum are currently in progress and countless artifacts are being collected and catalogued to document the contributions and accomplishments of our nation’s law enforcement officers.

“To support this worthy cause and to continue to do our part to honor our country’s law enforcement personnel, Spyderco is proud to offer a special edition of our popular Delica knife. The Commemorative National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Delica features a blue handle and a laser-engraved logo of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), the organization responsible for both the memorial and museum projects.

“Spyderco will donate a portion of the sales of every commemorative Delica to the NLEOMF to support the museum project. The museum is currently scheduled to open in late 2013. For more information on this project, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and related programs and events, please visit the NLEOMF web site at www.nleomf.org.”

This commemorative Delica has a 2.87″ full flat ground blade of VG-10 steel, blue FRN handle, reversible tip-up or tip-down black pocket clip, and the NLEOMF logo laser engraved on the right side of the blade.  MSRP $114.00.

Randall

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Leon County Sheriff’s Office K9 Koda Slain

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Randall

LCSO K9 Koda

In an attempt to apprehend fleeing murder suspect Carlos Cespedes, Leon County Sheriff’s Office K9 Koda was shot and killed in the line of duty on 2/1/2013.

LCSO PIO Lt. James McQuaig reported that Deputy Ron McMullen, his partner K9 Koda, and Deputy Tyler Epstein confronted the suspect at the end of a vehicle pursuit.  Cespedes fired his gun at the deputies and K9 Koda was hit by a single bullet.

Dep’s McMullen and Epstein returned fire and the suspect was hit.  He is in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head.  The deputies were uninjured.  Cespedes had active warrants from the Tallahassee Police for first degree murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and shooting from a vehicle.  New charges against Cespedes are pending.

K9 Koda is the first police K9 dog in the U.S. murdered this year.  Nationwide, eighteen K9’s were killed in the line of duty in 2012, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.

Randall

Posted in K9 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

New Ruger LC380 Review

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Randall

Sturm, Ruger & Co. trucked out their new LC380 to SHOT Show Media Day.  Since Ruger’s designated patch of real estate was at the very north end of the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club, we did not get to them until late in the afternoon.  Some vendors were already packing up, what with the still chill temperatures and lashing wind.  Aaron and I were hanging tough.

When we stepped up to the table of guns, I bluntly asked the Ruger rep what they were thinking by making the LC380.  I had an answer in mind, but I wanted to see what he would articulate.  He told us that their thought process was to take the lesser kick of the .380 ACP cartridge and mate it to a larger framed weapon (their LC9) for recoil sensitive concealed carry customers.

Micro pistols such as the Kel-Tec P3AT, Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, Kahr CW380, and Ruger LCP can be difficult for some to shoot well because of the limited amount of polymer to grasp and short sight radius.  Ruger feels that there is a market for a slightly larger handgun in the .380 caliber.

The LC380 is built on LC9 mechanicals.  The only thing I detected visually that was different between the two was a small metal spacer inside the back of the magazine that pushes a .380 cartridge forward at the primer to make up the 1.85mm deficit in case length from Continue reading →

Posted in Concealed Carry, Firearms, Off Duty | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tough Hook Kickstarter Project

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Randall

Through a friend, I was put in contact with Tarik Lazri.  He is a former U.S. Army soldier who has an idea for a heavy duty hanger and transporter for body armor.  Lazri told me of his frustrations with hanging up his plate carriers and body armor in stints in Iraq and as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan.  I said, “You should see the makeshift hand-twisted coat hanger nightmares holding ballistic vests in our police locker room.”  He replied, “Exactly!”

When I met with Lazri and he showed me his patented I-beam-inspired Tough Hook.  It was thick and sturdy with turned up ends to keep the straps in place.  It also flipped over and provided a grab handle to transport around body armor or scuba gear.  Lazri said the Tough Hook would hold over 150 lbs!

To pay for mold and production start-up fees, Lazri is using Kickstarter for initial funding.  Link here.  Check out the Kickstarter page and lend some monetary assistance if you wish.  You can even contribute and have a Tough Hook sent to a soldier overseas.  ThinBlueFlorida likes to support the little guys.  TBF paid the last $26.00 this morning to get the project up to the $11,000.00 initial pledge goal.  Good luck, Tarik!

Randall

Posted in Protective Armor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments