I read a story last week about an East Dublin, Georgia police officer who shot and killed a man on a traffic stop. Without even touching the circumstances of the shooting, there was a serious training issue in the 2010 case. The officer had not been through state-mandated use of force training in the prior year, and because of that did not have the legal power … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
HK USP .45 Pistol Safety Warning
A serious safety issue may develop if you are carrying an HK USP .45 ACP pistol using the Surefire DG-19 grip switch according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. In a safety warning bulletin issued by the LASD, the Weapon Training Unit described a situation where older versions of the DG-19 switch can cause the magazine to drop from the gun by activating the … [Read more...]
There I was, minding my own business…
Bluesheepdog has been emphasizing officer safety issues since its inception. Recently articles, videos, and stories from other sources have emphasized the dangerous job law enforcement has especially in the difficult times we live in now. Richard has posted the FBI research findings from interviews with prisoners who have felonious assaulted and killed officers. Videos have … [Read more...]
Trauma Pak with QuikClot for First Responders Review
Adventure Medical Kits’ Trauma Pak with QuikClot is a recent offering that is an important addition to the patrol car, bailout bag, or go-vest. AMK markets a line of first aid products designed for outdoor adventurers and travelers. Their first aid kits are combinations of items tailor-made for different users’ needs from outdoor sport to professional. The Trauma … [Read more...]
CIT—The Memphis Model
Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training is a model for first-responding law enforcement officers to more effectively deal with mentally ill persons, with the goal of improving safety for the officers, mental health consumers, family, and citizens. Developed in 1988 as a partnership between the Memphis, TN Police, the Memphis Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental … [Read more...]
Norway Terrorism
Norway suffered a great tragedy on Friday when dozens of people, many of them teens, were gunned down by at least one subject dressed as a police officer. At this time, it appears this attack was coordinated with a bomb that was set off outside the prime minister's office earlier in the day. If you have paid attention to world events, you know this is not an original … [Read more...]
Controversy Surrounds Police Photo Lineups
In recent years, DNA exonerations have brought to light what are perceived as flaws in police photo lineup procedures. In some cases where DNA evidence has later cleared an incarcerated suspect, one of the factors in the original conviction may have been the false identification of the suspect in a photo lineup by an eyewitness. Advocacy groups have seized upon these … [Read more...]
Magnum Cobra 8.0 Boot Review
The author's Magnum Cobra boots he reviewed. Over a month ago, I received a pair of Magnum Cobra boots to review. The Magnum Boot Company is a branch of Hi-Tec Sports, which was founded in England in 1974. Hi Tec first came to light in the U.S. when they designed a black lightweight tactical boot for the F.B.I. in the early 1980’s. This early boot was called … [Read more...]
Reserve Police Officers
Some people say that police officers are crazy. We go out looking for violent criminals for a relatively small amount of compensation knowing that being killed is a very real possibility. You know who is crazier? People who will do it for free. Reserve police officers and deputies are men and women who volunteer their time to chase bad guys. They put on a uniform, strap … [Read more...]
Are Spike Strips Killing Officers?
Stopping a fleeing suspect has always been a dangerous proposition. Criminals fleeing the police pose a very real risk to citizens and officers alike. Getting them stopped as quickly and safely as possible is the goal, though there is no "sure fire" way to accomplish it. It used to be that officers would set a roadblock, forcing the suspect to stop or crash into the … [Read more...]