The Hornady Critical Duty ammunition uses a new bullet design that incorporates elements from previous company designs to perform well in the FBI ammunition testing protocol.  The bullets use the Flex Tip technology, which is a polymer filled hollowpoint.  The Flex Tip prevents the hollowpoint from being filled when passing through clothing or another barrier, yet it also helps expansion when striking the target.

Hornady also uses an InterLock band to hold the bullet jacket to the core, rather than using a chemical bonding process used by many other manufacturers.  The benefit to the Critical Duty line of ammunition is that Hornady can use a heavier, antimony-rich core rather than a soft, pure (or close to pure) lead typically used with bonded bullets.

Critical Duty ammunition use low-flash powders and nickel cases.

The initial loads will be:

• 9mm: 135 grains @ 1010 fps, 305 ft-lbs
• 9mm +P:  135 grains @ 1110 fps, 369 ft-lbs
• .40 S&W:  175 grains @ 1010 fps, 396 ft-lbs

As mentioned previously, the Critical Duty ammo was designed to perform well in the FBI testing protocol.  The protocol is an arbitrary set of standards developed by the FBI to measure ammunition performance.  While I do not think the protocol is proportionally reflective of law enforcement shootings, it does provide a standard by which two ammunition designs can be compared.

Hornady states the FlexLock bullets in the Critical Duty line perform very well in the FBI protocols.  This is good from a static testing standpoint, but actual performance in the street remains to be seen.  There have been some rounds that performed very well on duty, but failed to meet the standards of the FBI protocol.

Likewise, I’m sure the reverse is true.  I’m cautiously optimistic about the performance of this ammunition, but will not be swapping any of my ammo over to it yet.

[Note:  I am a firm believer that shot placement trumps bullet design.  Rapidly putting multiple rounds into vital areas is more likely to stop a fight than the choice of Federal vs. Speer vs. Winchester vs. Hornady.  However, there are clearly some designs that perform better than others.  So, given my druthers, I'd rather rapidly put multiple good hollowpoints into a target than the same number of cheap FMJs.]

The Blue Crew is a new concept in police training and officer safety on the web.  Driven by member support, the Blue Crew site strives to provide excellent resources for its members and negotiates significant discounts with law enforcement trainers and gear providers.

The Blue Crew is a companion site to BlueSheepdog.com, offering additional benefits and unique content not available elsewhere.

Going forward, the BlueSheepdog.com website will remain as it always has: a free resource of police training, equipment reviews and law enforcement news.  We will still publish regular articles, send out newsletter and produce podcasts.  To really jump to the next level requires funding, and that is where the Blue Crew comes in.

The Blue Crew is a membership site, meaning paid subscriptions are required to access the content.  With your membership, you give us the ability to provide in-depth training videos, officer safety information and reporting from trade shows and training conferences that we otherwise could not afford to do.

Currently, we have video content scheduled for production on topics that include firearms training, defensive tactics, homicide investigations, concealed carry, off-duty survival and more. An in-depth series on getting hired by a law enforcement agency is in the planning stages as well.

Blue Crew membership doesn’t just get you a promise of future content.  You get immediate benefits as soon as you join.

Blue Crew Benefits

e-Books, Special Reports and Other Documents - We’ve put together a number of commercial e-books and other documents for you to download for free.

Videos - An archive of BlueSheepdog videos and an archive of “incident” videos from in-car cameras available for download and use in your training classes, PowerPoint presentations, etc.

Podcast Archive - Download the complete collection of podcasts .mp3 and .m4a formats – either singly or in bulk compressed .zip files.

Training Newsletter Archive - The BlueSheepdog training newsletters are archived here for easy download and reference.  These newsletters are not available for download anywhere else and contain unique articles not found elsewhere on the BlueSheepdog.com website.

Training Class Bulletin Board - Blue Crew members are able to post their training classes on a special section of the website.  If you are teaching or hosting a class, you can post the course information here, in front of other members who are frequently seeking out high quality training.

Discounted Training and Gear - Several major training providers and gear companies have thrown their weight behind the Blue Crew.  Recognizing how important the Blue Crew project is, these companies have stepped up and are offering substantial discounts on their products and services.

Our supporters include:

• Lifeline Training (15% discount on all training seminars)
• Tuff Products (10% discount plus free shipping)
• Public Grants & Training Initiatives (10% discount on all training classes)
• Safety Solutions Academy (25% discount on all training classes)
• Helix Arms (5% discount on orders $50 or more)
• Mil Spec Monkey (25% discount on all orders)
• DALTECH Force (20% discount and free shipping on the BULLBELT)
• Pistol Wear (10% discount)
• PoliceFunerals.com ($100 discount on book or DVD purchase)
• Dave Smith & Associates (10% discount on all training classes)
• TCB Firearms (free shipping, plus additional 10% off for all law enforcement, military & first responders)
• Dydrostorm (15% discount on all orders)
• National Rifle Association ($10 off annual membership)

We are currently in talks with even more companies that will provide Blue Crew members with discounts.  As we bring on new sponsors, we will immediately let you know so you can take advantage of all the discounts.  For more information on our business model, read more about our sponsorships here.

We believe the benefits outweigh the cost of membership.   We hope you will agree and choose to join the Blue Crew today!

In addition to the many articles published here, I want to encourage everyone to connect with us in a few other ways as well.

Sign Up for the Newsletter! – We publish a monthly newsletter that contains exclusive content such as incident debriefs, equipment reviews and training articles.  This information is not published on the regular site.  So, the only way to get it is to sign up for the newsletter.

The sign-up is on the left; just enter your primary e-mail address.  The newsletter is free, and we do not sell your information to any third party.

Listen to the Podcasts – Podcasts are essentially syndicated radio shows you can download for free to your computer, iPod, phone or other device.  The individual shows can be accessed by clicking the tab above that says “Podcasts.”  You can also subscribe (for free, of course) to the podcast by clicking the iTunes icon on the lower left side of this page, or on any of the podcast pages.

Twitter – Twitter is a weird little program where you can send others very short messages.  After playing with it, I have realized you can make a lot of connections with others in law enforcement.  If you want, feel free to connect with us there.

There are a lot more things coming down the road, and I am very excited about them!  However, I am always looking for suggestions and feedback on how to make BlueSheepdog a better community.  Please leave a comment, or send me an e-mail to share your ideas!

Stay safe!

The large media outlets have covered the weather event that on Sunday evening, May 22, caused an EF-5 tornado (the most powerful form of a tornado) to strike the heart of Joplin, Missouri. Joplin, a town of about 50,000 in southwest Missouri, has seen tornadoes in the past as it sits in that horrible part of the country known as tornado alley. But even being in the alley doesn’t mean that you can fully comprehend the devastation of an EF-5 tornado.

When the tornado hit, Joplin had eight police officers on patrol. To the full credit of the professionalism of the Joplin Police Department, one hour after the tornado strike, more than 100 officers had reported for duty, accounting for about 95% of the department. Since that dreadful night hundreds of brothers and sisters in uniform from dozens of agencies have responded to assist.

Sadly, Officer Jefferson Taylor of the Riverside, MO Police Department was killed during the recovery efforts after being struck by lightning only one day after the tornado. Weather was still a concern at that time, as severe thunderstorms were still in the area. Apparently he was riding an ATV and had just dropped off a Fire official at the Command Post when lightning struck very close to him, knocking him over 15 feet away.

Initial reports had been positive for his recovery, as Officer Taylor successfully went through skin graft surgeries to treat his burns. However, on June 3, Officer Taylor succumbed to his injuries becoming the only Riverside Police officer to die in the line of duty, and the only officer to die from the Joplin tornado. Officer Taylor had served for the Webb City, MO Police, a city close to Joplin, before accepting a job at Riverside, which is just north of Kansas City.

Here are the facts as of June 9:

• 151 dead
• hundreds of others injured
• estimated over 2000 structures destroyed
• as many as 14,000 vehicles destroyed
• tens of thousands of people displaced

The 8-story St. John’s Hospital on the southwest side of town was reportedly moved 7 inches off its foundation. Every window was blown out of the hospital and parts of the building collapsed. It is a total loss and will need to be demolished. Six persons died inside. It is one of only a handful of significant structures that still remains on the landscape in the tornado affected area.

Thankfully the last of the “missing” has been accounted for, but they believe some of the injured may die in the days and weeks that follow, raising the numbers of dead on a near record killing tornado for the entire United States. It is estimated that it will cost at least $3 billion to rebuild Joplin.

As a part of the relief efforts in the devastated city of Joplin, Missouri my department has sent me and four other officers to the city to help with patrolling the tornado-stricken areas. We are the third “strike team” from our department to serve in Joplin, and I can say that it has been one of the most profound experiences of my career. Our Strike Team served June 3-5 and were assigned patrol duties during the 12- hour night shift.

When the first Strike Team arrived the situation was very chaotic. Thunderstorms were still rampant in the area, and our first strike team even had to take shelter from what was feared to be another tornado coming into the area. Their duties were mostly to secure key infrastructure, and to man checkpoints at critical intersections to provide traffic control. They also checked identifications to ensure that only residents and approved help was getting into the area.

The next Strike Team saw the operations a little more organized. In addition to monitoring checkpoints, those officers went on patrol in the devastated area. Residents were checked on, and suspicious activities were investigated. Sadly, in the first couple of weeks after the storm looters from all over came to pilfer on the piles of rubble that were all that was left of many Joplin resident’s homes. It was a metal scrappers paradise in the midst of utter destruction.

Looters weren’t the only parasites to arrive. Towing services from out of state and all over Missouri came to “help” residents remove their vehicles from the damaged area.

When we arrived, Joplin still had a curfew imposed in the devastated area during the night hours due to the concern over looters. In two weeks Joplin had made around 320 arrests!

In a sign of solidarity to their city, Joplin bonding agencies refused to post bonds for anyone arrested for stealing or other offenses in the tornado affected area.

On our first night, however, the Joplin Police decided to lift the curfew. Residents had been given two weeks to remove valuables and many of the looters realized that Joplin had no desire for their foul presence. Gratefully we did not see an influx in looting, however we did make one arrest in the affected area.

The sight-seers were still present during the day but the night returned to an ominous quiet. The tornado affected area was nearly pitch black surrounded by the unaffected areas that were brightly lit as any other large city in America. Utility crews had done an amazing job of restoring power poles, and the major intersections even had traffic signals re-established. Sprint and AT&T brought mobile cell towers (trucks with expandable towers) to the area and cell service was almost completely restored.

The relief effort was so strong that in the first week after the tornado the American Red Cross put out a broadcast asking that no more bottled water be delivered to Joplin. I could see why when we arrived. Two weeks after the tornado there were literally stacks of bottled water on street corners and at relief stations.

Here are some of the other amazing sights we saw:

• Packages of bottled water on nearly every major street corner.
• A tractor trailer wrapped around two trees like a twist tie for a loaf of bread.
• A house completely lifted off its foundation and laid into the adjacent street.
• A city park play set that looked completely untouched.
• A church completely laid bare except for a large metal cross standing firm.
• Enough smashed cars to stock several U-wrench it lots.
• At least one vehicle that landed on top of a building.
• Schools with their walls collapsed to expose the inside classrooms.
• Wal-Mart and Home Depot nearly leveled.
• Almost every tree in the area reduced to a shattered stub.

Insurance disaster response teams set up all around the devastated area. American flags everywhere! Including on the side of the destroyed St. John’s Hospital. People helping people, shaking hands, thanking everyone and God. Relief workers by the thousands, and sadly looters by the hundreds.

It is impossible to fully describe the scene in Joplin. Trying to put in words what it looks, feels, and smells like is an act of futility. The tornado obliterated a path of this city that runs about 18 city blocks wide and nearly 50 blocks long. An area over one mile wide and about five miles long through the heart of Joplin. Easily 35-40% of the city has been leveled.

Imagine looking for well over a mile in every direction, of what used to be a thriving city, only to see what looks to be an active trash dump or landfill. Many have compared the scene to the pictures of Hiroshima after the atomic detonation during WWII.

Worst of all is the fact that after two weeks the stench of death is still very strong in the air. Though the humans have been accounted for, animals and rotten food remain on every block.

The emergency agencies report that asbestos and other chemicals are strong in the area.

When we left, the Joplin Police and Incident Command were preparing to cordon off sections of the devastated area to allow heavy equipment to come in and completely remove any remaining debris. Hundreds of Missouri National Guard had already been assisting relief efforts and were being prepared to guard intersections during this event.

Due to the incredible response from Missouri law enforcement agencies, and the strict enforcement in the affected area that severely reduced criminal activity, our Strike Team was released early from our week-long assignment. It was a bittersweet declaration. On one hand we were glad that our efforts had helped establish order out of chaos. On the other hand we felt the enormity of the situation and wanted to do more.

The clean-up efforts will probably take months, and the rebuilding will take years, but from the residents of Joplin we encountered the strength of this community remains solid and the will to overcome will prevail.

Aaron is a sergeant with a midwestern police department, where he serves as a trainer, supervisor and SWAT sniper. In addition to his broad tactical knowledge, Aaron has experience in DUI, DRE and undercover narcotics investigations.

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I never had the chance to train directly with Thompson, but learned Verbal Judo from instructors he taught, and from the book and videos he produced.  Thompson’s work made an impact on how I policed, and made me a better officer.

I was skeptical of his techniques when I first learned them, but figured I would give them a fair chance.  Once I started using them, I never turned back.

Godspeed, Dr. Thompson.  You made a positive impact on the world while you were here, and I thank you for it.

Suspect Mark Anthony Gonzalez was arrested at his south San Antonio mobile home and charged with Capital Murder.  A firearm, consistent with the murder weapon, was seized at the home and taken for testing, according to BCSO.

Authorities were initially looking for a white car seen in the area of the shooting, but that vehicle was apparently not related.  Investigators were also seeking a 2009 or later royal blue Ford F-150 witnesses observed leaving the intersection.  A tip, possibly from a body shop, led to Gonzalez’ Ford pick-up.

Thousands attended Vann’s funeral services on June 3, 2011 at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church near Spring Branch, TX.  Vann was honored for his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Operation Desert Storm, and his nearly 26 years as a deputy sheriff in Bexar County.  Vann is survived by his wife, Bexar Sgt. Yvonne Vann, two sons, and a daughter.

Gonzalez had a previous record for DUI and petty theft, but there was no obvious link between the suspect and victim.  It is unknown if anyone will receive the $127,000 reward offered in the case.  Gonzalez’ wife was brought in for questioning.  No motive was given thus far for the shooting.

Randall is a twenty-three year sworn police officer in a mid-sized Florida police department.  He has been an FTO, K9 Handler, Detective and SWAT Team Leader.  He is currently the Midnight Shift K9 Sergeant and department SWAT Coordinator.

In Florida, the camera-issued tickets have a small fine, whereas the officer-issued tickets have a much higher fine, plus points on the driver’s license.

According to the judge, ”This violates the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution, as well as the Florida Constitution.”

This ruling is not binding on other traffic courts, but it will certainly be used by many a defense attorney as a (very) persuasive argument for their clients’.  I expect this case to be appealed by the

Personally, I have never liked the red-light cameras.  I’ve always felt they remove officer discretion, which can make a huge difference.  For example, I’m a lot less likely that the automated camera to issue a ticket to a husband trying to get his pregnant wife to the hospital.

When they first started popping up, I thought the cameras may have some positive impact on decreasing fatality accidents, but I have long since determined that local government merely sees them as another revenue stream.

It is unfortunate I have to say this, but I don’t sell the list to anyone, so you will not get any Viagra ads or anything. Just police training articles, gear reviews and the like.

Relativity Media contacted me and asked I pass along the below information regarding an upcoming TV show.  The show will profile police families in a positive light.  So, if you are interested, read the info and shoot them an e-mail.

Do you come from a long line of law enforcement officers? Do you work with your brother? Your wife? Your son? In the same department? Does it seem like the job is in your blood?

The creator of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, is looking to produce a new project showcasing police family dynasties. We are searching for families that have multiple family members working in law enforcement. It’s looking to be a positive portrayal of some of law enforcement’s finest officers. Our producers bring years of experience covering law enforcement, from the CBS newsroom to the critically acclaimed television documentary: 911.

Having worked extensively with departments for other types of positive programming, we know the pressures of the job and the benefit of having a family member who understands what it’s like. If you, or someone you know comes from a family of LE officers we would love to hear from you!

If interested send us a brief message at policefamily@rrstaff.com with some information about your family, a family photo if you have one, and the best way for us to contact you!

 

• review of the Maratac LED flashlight
• Surviving the Road, Part I
• officer safety considerations regarding an officer’s death in an April shooting

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Among the advantages to the X2 are a second shot capability without reloading, dual laser sights, an increased battery life, and a more weather resistant housing (optional).  The X2 also allows for a “warning shot,” which would previously have require removing a cartridge, ala the “spark discharge” which Taser had advocated in its training curriculum.

The dual lasers of the X2 remind me of the dual laser emitters integrated into the last Tasertron model in the late 1990’s.  The two laser dots give the officer a better idea of where both probes will strike upon firing.  It is a move to improve operator accuracy, which is one of the main failures of ECD’s.

In March of 2002, Taser International bought out Tasertron in a move to solidify their place in law enforcement circles.  Tasertron, in its dying gasps to retain market share, had tried to improve on their dated TE-86 by introducing the TE-93 and TE-95 models, making them more similar to the Taser International M26.  All these ECD’s were more like a pistols, and therefore seen as easier to integrate into a police officers’ training.

For the record, I have been a certified instructor for Tasertron and for Taser International.  Both of my instructorships have lapsed, so I have no latent allegiance.  On street duty, I have carried a Tasertron TE-86 and Taser’s 34000, M26, and X26 models.

At the 2011 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I was able to handle a Taser X3 in their booth.  Despite its improved function, I found it a bit large for my tastes, so the X2, which is a scaled down iteration, is welcome by size comparison.

The X2 is a Taser International’s compromise between size and improved technology.  With price and space on an officer’s duty belt at a premium, it will remain to be seen whether the X2’s upgrades will outweigh the added bulk.

Randall is a twenty-three year sworn police officer in a mid-sized Florida police department.  He has been an FTO, K9 Handler, Detective and SWAT Team Leader.  He is currently the Midnight Shift K9 Sergeant and department SWAT Coordinator.

All profits from the special logo 9.11 collection will go to these charities.  The items for sale bear a distinct design honoring the police officers, firefighters, and citizens who bravely lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.

Collection items include hats, patches, pins, challenge coins, shirts, and bags.

“This is one way for us to show public safety officers across the country that we will not forget their sacrifices,” explains Dan Cost, CEO of 5.ll Tactical.

Randall is a twenty-three year veteran officer of a mid-size Florida police department.  He served as a SWAT team officer for 21 years, to include 12 years as a team leader.  His other duties included Police K9 handler, FTO, and Detective.  Currently serving as a Midnight Shift Sergeant, he is also his department’s SWAT Coordinator.

Photo courtesy CCSO

The suspects bailed out of a stolen car and ran.  Osborne sent Kane to detain one of the suspects, Keegan H. Graves.  Kane was stabbed repeatedly by Graves during a protracted struggle.  Kane subsequently died at a local animal hospital, according to CCSO.

Both suspects were captured.  Graves was charged with Harming a Police Dog, Auto Theft, and Eluding Police.  The second suspect was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

K9 Kane, a Dutch Shepherd Dog, was a trained Police K9 since March of 2005.  CCSO said he was due to retire next year.

Deputy Osborne and Kane were one of the few Washington state K9 teams trained in STABO, for short-term airborne operations.  In this procedure, the K9 team is flown into marijuana grow operations on a rope and harness below a helicopter.  For these missions, Kane was given an award in 2008 by the President’s Executive Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Both of my Patrol K9 partners were assaulted in the line of duty several times.  Luckily, we escaped serious injury.

Our condolences go out to Deputy Osborne and his family, for the loss of a K9 partner and friend is truly staggering.

Randall spent eight years as a Police K9 Handler.  His two German Shepherd Dogs were trained for Patrol, Narcotics, and SWAT.  He also handled a narcotics-trained Labrador Retriever.

The Cobra Strike Plate is capable of stopping “special rounds” like the 7.62×25 Tokarev and the 5.7×28 FN.  However, the really great thing about the Cobra is it will also stop some rifle rounds like the 7.62×39 and .223 that normally penetrate concealable vests and strike plates with ease.

The strike plate has been tested with 12 gauge slugs, 12 gauge flechette and .500 Magnum rounds.  It also passed the Edged Weapon II Test.

I own one of the better trauma plates on the market, and it only offers “reduced wounding capability” of .223 and 7.62×39 rounds when ranges are at 100 meters.  This strike plate completely stops them from 6″ away, and does so with multiple hits.

In this video, you see Tom Carter of ArmorShield USA shoot one of the 5″x8″ strike plates with an AK-47.  Three times, from about 6″ away.  Then, Carter’s parter steps into frame and shoots the strike plate with a 12 gauge 2 3/4″ rifled slug.  The plate stopped all of the rounds.

No doubt this has to be one of the best advances I’ve seen in body armor protection in a while.

The ArmorShield USA staff at the 2011 SHOT Show said the 5″x8″ plates should sell for less than $150 later this year.  I imagine that price could be reduced nicely if a department was to order a few dozen at a time.