Sniper or Marksman?
By · CommentsRecently I was reviewing some literature on the terminology used in law enforcement and its implications in court and in the public opinion. Being a Team Leader for the Cover Team of my agency I found particular interest in the terminology we use for the officers on our team who are trained in the use of precision rifles. So here’s the discussion topic - do we call our precision rifle officers “snipers” or “marksmen”.
At first it sounds like a simple play on words, no big deal, right? But a closer look at common dictionary definitions may reveal a strong argument for criminal defense lawyers and civil liability lawyers alike, should the particulars of a precision rifle shot be the focus of a court case.
Is Apathy Killing Your Department?
By · CommentsIs Apathy Killing Your Department? - Part I - Acquiring the Disease
Apathy is a systemic disease for any organization; from law enforcement to private enterprise. It starts small, making almost imperceptible in-roads that may go undetected for years. It quietly spreads throughout your building eating away at productivity, morale, ethics, effectiveness and every other aspect of your agency’s existence. Predictably, the end result is the death of your department. Not in the traditional sense of an end to your existence, but in the sense that your people are no longer able or willing to uphold the duties entrusted to them when they took the oath.
Just like diseases of the body, apathy is not always an unexpected or uninvited killer. We bring it upon ourselves. Like a three pack-a-day smoker, your agency could be gleefully barreling toward its own demise, aware of the consequences and simply unwilling to change current practices to save its own skin. It might not even be the result of something you are doing, but the result of many things you are failing to do. A person who fails to exercise and who fails to feed the machine a balanced diet suffers the consequences of obesity, heart disease, etc. An agency that fails to take steps to quell or prevent apathy suffers the lingering illnesses associated with a general feeling of, “I don’t care.”
Wreck in Fla Keys Cause by Woman Shaving Her…
By · CommentsYeah. Welcome to the Sunshine State.
A woman driving to see her new boyfriend decided to save a little time and shave her…well, privates…while driving. Her ex-husband was trying to steer for her as he sat in the passenger seat.
Needless to say, things got out of control and they struck another vehicle.
There are sooooo many things wrong with this incident.
The New Ford Police Interceptor is Coming!
By · CommentsFord will introduce a new Police Interceptor patrol car on Friday, March 12. The new Interceptor is slated for a 2011 release as a 2012 model. Ford says the new Interceptors will be ready to go on time, and departments will not suffer any interruption in normal delivery times.
Speculation on the new Interceptor abounds, but Ford has been rather quiet about the specifics. Ford states they have been working “…on key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort.”
While competitors exist, the number one patrol car on the road today is the Ford Police Interceptor. In fact, Ford estimates 75% of the patrol cars on US streets are the current generation of Police Interceptor. However, with increased competition from other manufacturers, including start-up Carbon Motors, Ford has to continue to upgrade the line to remain competitive.
Streamlight PolyTac LED HP
By · Comments
Streamlight announced the new PolyTac LED HP, an inexpensive high-powered flashlight for law enforcement and others needing a tactical light. The new PolyTac delivers 150 lumens for a retail price of $75. I would expect street pricing to be about $50-60.
From Streamlight:
Streamlight®, Inc., a leading flashlight manufacturer for law enforcement, military and tactical uses, today introduced a high performance version of its lightweight, compact tactical PolyTac® LED-the PolyTac® LED HP. The new model offers nearly triple the peak beam intensity of its predecessor for even greater performance. It features C4® power LED technology.
The lithium-powered PolyTac LED HP delivers150 lumens measured system output and 15,000 candela peak beam intensity, enough to provide critical lighting for a wide variety of law enforcement and tactical uses. It features the same compact, lightweight polymer casing as previous PolyTac models.
New Streamlight Strion LED HP
By · CommentsStreamlight announced the new Strion LED HP flashlight at the 2010 SHOT Show. The HP is the next evolution of the Strion flashlight, bringing a much brighter light and strobe function to the compact flashlight.
From Streamlight:
Streamlight®, a leading provider of lighting equipment for law enforcement, tactical and military professionals, has introduced a high performance version of its popular compact Strion® LED rechargeable flashlight, the Strion® LED HP. The new model provides approximately 400 percent greater peak beam intensity than earlier models, using C4® power LED technology to deliver extraordinary brightness.
