In car police cameras have radically altered our understanding of officer safety. In the past two decades, the videos coming from squad cars have made a huge impact on how instructors present training in the academy and have made lasting impressions on the psyche of many a rookie and seasoned cop. Before the widespread use of video cameras in police cars, trainers … [Read more...]
New Laser Speed Devices: Analysis of Performance and Features
We’ve heard this before. You need to know what laser guns can do and if they meet your officers’ needs and not just your budget. Here is a performance guide: Police laser guns have been with us since Laser Technology, Inc. introduced its 20/20 Marksman in 1991. These first laser guns were heavy (almost five pounds) and could only produce a single shot, not a continual … [Read more...]
Traffic Stop Shooting
Seeing his partner dragged under a car on a traffic stop gone bad, an Albany, NY police officer was forced to shoot and kill the car's driver to save the first officer's life. This is the video that was presented to the Grand Jury, which found the officers' actions reasonable. It is a combination of video from the patrol car and from a … [Read more...]
Traffic Stop Video – Deputy Dragged by Motorcycle
Traffic stops remain one of the most dangerous actions a patrol officer can engage in, yet it is frequently seen as a "routine" activity. The below video shows a deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County who is dragged by a motorcycle through a busy intersection. Fortunately, the deputy was not seriously injured and the suspect was identified. Being dragged by a car, truck … [Read more...]
Traffic Stop Shooting Video
This police shooting happened during a traffic stop in Tomah, Wisconsin. Notice that the driver immediately exited the truck and started shooting. Watch how the suspect engaged both officers while he was shooting. You see him shooting at one officer, then shift his fire to a second officer and then back to the first officer before retreating back to his truck. … [Read more...]
Is the Use of Light a Use of Force?
Several years ago, I read an article called "Use of Force and High Intensity Tactical Police Flashlights: Policy Concerns." Since then I have seen it re-printed in various other locations. In the article, R. Paul McCauley, Ph.D., a criminology professor at a university in Pennsylvania, opines that: I don't know what background, if any, McCauley has in modern police … [Read more...]
Roadside Safety: Danger From Passing Vehicles
Making a so-called routine traffic stop poses a lot of potential hazards for a police officer. Officers rarely know the occupants of the vehicle, or what danger they may pose. So, academies and department in-services teach their officers safety and survival skills to give the officer the best possible advantage when dealing with a threat from inside that car. However, not … [Read more...]