While at the SHOT Show last week, I had the chance to meet the folks from Sportsman Eyewear. In addition to being really great people, they are selling a fantastic product called the Sportsman 720T.
Essentially, this product is a pair of sunglasses with a built-in video recorder.
©2011 James Russo
I have attempted to train quite a few rookies in safe traffic direction. There are many dangers in playing toreador to hundreds of two ton cars. I have a few tips.
First and foremost: Wear your reflective vest! Regardless if it is night or day. The darn thing is ANSI compliant for visibility and you are not.
Second, know clear hand signals. Hard to recreate here, but hand signals in daylight are much different than using that flashlight and cone in the darkness. Simple movements to direct the cars are best. Waving them forward, pointing toward turns, and holding out a hand or light for stop work best.
Next, you need your whistle. One long blow for stop. Two short chirps for go. This auditory addition to good hand signals is essential if you want to get their attention. And you do.
Want to learn enough of the Spanish language to increase your officer safety and job performance? The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is offering a free police training class on the Spanish language.
The online Spanish lessons do not require registration and the classes are free. It is self-directed training, meaning you can start and stop at any time. This works well for police training, as most officers do not work 9-5 and are self-directed anyway.
A drawback to the class is the technology running the program is old and may not work on some machines. Even though the lessons are web-based (html), the stated requirements of the course are old versions of Microsoft Windows (it makes no mention of Vista or Windows 7). Mac OS, iOS, Android, Linux, etc are not officially supported.
In October, Lafayette, Indiana police officers engaged in a vehicle pursuit of a subject who was reported to have just committed a battery, burglary and arson. After a chase of approximately seven minutes, the subject left the roadway and got stuck, unable to flee any farther in the car.
Here’s what then happened in the next few seconds:
There are several free online courses on DNA evidence now being offered through the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence. You do have to register, but the process is quick and easy.
There are three course directed to the law enforcement audience. Two are general familiarization courses while the third delves more deeply into DNA evidence collection. There are more than a dozen additional classes for prosecutors and analysts.
Feel free to check these out. Free training is rarely a bad thing, and since it is online, you can squeeze it in at the station between calls.
Your Thoughts