I have seen a recent trend in off-duty and concealed firearms carry that strikes me as dangerous. The proliferation of smaller, more powerful handguns has spurred a wave of creative carry ideas that are potentially lethal to the user. I would say these carry methods tend toward the “holsterless” gun. Two examples of this are the carry clip and the pocket … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Massachusetts State Police, Vermont State Police Adopt Smith & Wesson
Smith & Wesson announced the Massachusetts State Police and Vermont State Police selected the S&W M&P handgun as their primary duty pistol. MSP picked the M&P45 while VSP chose the M&P40. The Massachusetts State Police ordered 2,500 M&P45 pistols. The Vermont State Police ordered 390 of the M&P40 handguns. I'm not sure … [Read more...]
Magnum RD Short Sleeve Shirt Review
I have been wearing a Magnum RD short-sleeved shirt from the Magnum Boot Company that I think will interest you. Magnum long ago branched out from boots and now makes an entire line of footwear, apparel, and accessories. The shirt I am testing is a Desert Sage colored short-sleeved shirt fit for covert carry or regular off-duty wear. The RD stands for “rapid … [Read more...]
CRKT M16-14ZSF Folding Tanto Knife Review
Recently I purchased a CRKT M16-14ZSF knife. I happened to be on a military base (no tax) and the price was great (just under $30). I was looking for a nice field and duty knife and I really appreciated what this knife had to offer. This knife from Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) is designed by Kit Carson. Kit Carson is famous in the knife building community for the … [Read more...]
The Tactical Weapon Light – Poor Man’s Laser Sight
If you already have a weapon-mounted flashlight, then by default you possess a quick firearm aiming device...if you do a bit of homework! Laser sights are all the rage and I confess to having purchased a couple. But they are not always financially justifiable or even allowed by policy for many coppers. At half the price, a tactical light can give you a similar service in a … [Read more...]
Demise of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
Our last shipment of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors has arrived at our City Public Works Complex. A moment of silence, please. Ford introduced the CVPI, or product code P71, in 1992. Built in St. Thomas, Ontario Canada, the rear-wheel drive V8 sedan has been a staple of American law enforcement for almost twenty years. Solid body-on-frame construction, a strong … [Read more...]
Officer Stabbed, Suspect Shot: Chase Video
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: … [Read more...]
I Miss My PR-24
From when I was a rookie until the late 1990’s, I carried a Monadnock PR-24 on duty. My first one was the aluminum shafted model. Our agency had gone to dark navy uniforms with a large shield-style badge in the early 1980’s. With that dark blue uniform, oval shield, and PR-24, we fairly looked like the LAPD. That was by design. We had hired a progressive chief who wanted to … [Read more...]
Taser X2 Training – Follow-Up
In April, I wrote an article about the new Taser X2 and some of its proposed advances over Taser’s X26. I received a department-issued X2 yesterday and took the required block of Taser X2 training. I have a few thoughts. The X2 is slightly larger than the X26. From their spec sheet, the X2 is ½” longer, 1” taller, and ½” wider than an X26. It also weighs twice as much. … [Read more...]
Key Breaks
Key breaks are a momentary open mic typically caused by an officer bumping the transmit button on the radio getting into a car or reaching for gear. To the rest of the officers on the channel, it frequently sounds like just a burst of static. The vast majority of the time, key breaks are accidents. Before departments had the fancy radio systems that identified … [Read more...]