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Monday,
July 31, 2006
National Night Out
NJLawman.com
Police departments across the nation are gearing up for this year's
National Night Out festivities which are scheduled for August 1st.
For more information on this year's National Night Out,
click here.

Sunday,
July 17, 2006
Reloading
NJLawman.com
Great training video here.
How fast are you at reloading your weapon? Take a look at this
guy, and then answer the question. This would be a great video to
show during patrol briefings.
Click here to see the video

Sunday,
July 2, 2006
Hiding Spots
NJLawman.com
These eight containers all have one thing in common: they are fakes.
These and many others like them are readily available for purchase
from both online and brick-and-mortar companies. They are designed
as secret safes for citizens to protect their valuables, but they've
also been used to secret contraband.
To view the entire collection, copy and paste the following into your
browser:
http://sneakysafes.com/index.html
Sunday,
May 21, 2006
Cell Phone Guns
NJLawman.com
Last week it was reported that the NYPD issued an internal memo
regarding cell phone guns.
While they have not yet surfaced it the U.S., officers should be
aware that they do exist and they do function.
According to the
International Association of Chiefs of Police,
The deadly phones come apart in the middle to reveal a four-chamber
compartment for .22 caliber bullets, which can be shot out of a
protruding fake antenna. "These would be lethal at 10 meters
(yards)," said Michel Lavaud, head of a local police brigade.
Monday, May 15, 2006
3 Types of Reloading
NJLawman.com
Administrative reload, Opportunity reload, Combat
reload.
An administrative reload is what you do to your your
weapon at the beginning of your shift.
Now we get to the two important ones.
An opportunity reload is when you are in a combat
situation and realize that you have used a good portion of your
magazine. You have cover and are temporarily safe. Instead
of waiting for the magazine to run dry, you take the opportunity to
reload. Since you are temporarily safe, don't disregard the
partial magazine. Stuff it in a pocket in case you need the rounds
later. Opportunity reloads need to be taught and practiced more.
A combat reload is when you must reload during
combat. When your on a range day, don't pass up the opportunity to
test your ability to combat reload. Put a real scenario in your
head. Dump the empty magazine and get the new one in immediately.
How fast can you do it?
Practice both of these.
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Ready.Gov
NJLawman.com
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers a website with some very
valuable information. It is called Ready.Gov.
One of the primary mandates of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is
to educate the public, on a continuing basis, about how to be prepared
in case of a national emergency – including a possible terrorist attack.
This website has cataloged a wealth of information and is worth the
visit.
Click here to visit.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Plenty of Help Out There
NJLawman.com
We try and revisit this at least once a year.
Suicide is the leading cause of officer deaths each year. Some
estimates suggest that suicide takes five times more officers than line
of duty deaths.
There is no reason for this anymore as a lot of help is now available.
Most certainly, someone going through a difficult spell is reading this
right now. Below, we have posted contact information for resources
specially designed for cops.
If you are having difficulty or know of an officer who is, please make use
of these resources.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Who the Secret Service Protects
NJLawman.com
Interesting read from the website of the United States Secret Service:
After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901,
Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the
United States. Protection remains the primary mission of the United
States Secret Service.
Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
- the President, the Vice President, (or other individuals next in
order of succession to the Office of the President), the
President-elect and Vice President-elect;
- the immediate families of the above individuals;
- former Presidents, their spouses for their lifetimes, except
when the spouse re-marries. In 1997, Congressional legislation
became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former
Presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the
former President leaves office.
- children of former presidents until age 16;
- visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their
spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to
the United States, and official representatives of the United States
performing special missions abroad;
- major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, and their
spouses within 120 days of a general Presidential election.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
First Aid Calls - Strokes
NJLawman.com
This one will benefit you whether you're on a call or at a family
function.
Strokes are difficult calls for first
responders as we are limited in what we can do besides comforting the
victim, providing oxygen and expediting emergency transport.
However, there is one crucial thing we can do:
Find out exactly when the stroke occurred.
There is a medication that can be given to
certain stroke patients, which, is some cases, can significantly
minimize the effects of the stroke. It is called TPA or in medical
terms t-PA.
However, this medication generally must be
given within three hours of the actual stroke.
There has been great success with this
medication.
Click here for more information.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Motorcycle Club Websites
NJLawman.com
The Internet just keeps growing. Even some of the larger motorcycle
"clubs" have their own websites. And, they're very interesting
too.
Here are a couple we found that are by or about some of the more well
known clubs:
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Know Thy Enemy!
NJLawman.com
Here's another example of time well spent.
The site is called CopsSuck.com. It's your garden variety anti-law
enforcement website which has everything you have come to expect.
Their message board has an "Ask the Cops" section. I can't imagine
what cops would want to man that disaster and field those questions.
Anyway, just paste the following into your browser to take a look.
http://www.copssuck.net/
Monday, April 3,
2006
Interesting Website
NJLawman.com
We found this site which you should add to your favorite places on the
web.
It's called Family Watchdog.
On their main page, just type in an address, and a map will come up
showing the locations of sex offenders who live in the area. You
can then click on the locations and see offender information with a
photo.
It looks like they are only showing higher tier offenders, but, still,
it's a handy tool.
We'll be adding it to our Investigative Resources page in case you lose
the address.
http://www.familywatchdog.us/
Sunday, March 26,
2006
IACP Oath of Honor
NJLawman.com
Several years back the International
Association of Chiefs of Police launched an excellent program called the
Law Enforcement Oath of Honor.
Simply, officers volunteer to reconfirm their
pledge to an honorable career. To accomplish this, they take the
oath of office provided by IACP.
It is a very big deal to agencies that have
adopted the program. Below is an excerpt from the program's
description:
It is envisioned that the Oath of Honor
would be used in a number of applications, including spoken as a form of
voluntary reaffirmation at assembled public and internal gatherings of
law enforcement officers (public ceremonies, promotional events, law
enforcement conferences, etc.); placed on signs and conspicuously
displayed throughout law enforcement facilities; printed on the back of
business cards and other types of agency materials; incorporated at
every opportunity in policies, procedures and training materials;
referred to by administrators in conversation and correspondence; and
referenced in both positive and negative personnel actions.
To learn more,
visit the IACP Website.
Sunday, March 19,
2006
Defeating Police Tactics
NJLawman.com
It's always good to know what your opponent is thinking.
We found a page on a website which discusses how to defeat police tactics.
The article is specifically geared toward defeating the tactics used
during a large-scale unrest.
This exact piece is posted on at least sixteen different websites, so it's
safe to assume it has been read by many of those who like to stir the
pot at such protests.
It's an interesting read.
Click here to view the article.
Sunday, March 12,
2006
Police Week 2006
NJLawman.com
Police Week 2006 is fast approaching. Attending it something that
every officer should do at least once in his or her career.
For information on this year's plants, visit our
Police Week 2006
page.
Sunday, March 12,
2006
The Police Unity Tour
NJLawman.com
When the Police Unity Tour was first founded in
1997, it was only supposed to be a one time event to raise money for the
National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial, which relies upon private
donations. The Tour has since continued to grow each and every year. The
Tour started with eighteen people with a donation of $18000 to the
memorial. Over 700 members presented the memorial with a donation of
$750,000 in 2005.
Each year they hold a bicycle ride from their respective locations to
Washington D.C. just in time for the beginning of Police Week.
For more information on the Police Unity Tour,
visit their
website.
Sunday, February 12,
2006
Interesting Shotgun Facts
NJLawman.com
Most of us who are not hunters or gun enthusiasts
have limited knowledge and experience with shotguns. Here are a
couple of interesting facts:
- OO Buck Rounds generally consists of 8 or 9 .33
caliber projectiles
- While police shotgun spread varies, a very general
rule is that the spread will be 1 inch per yard
- Shotguns are excellent combat weapons for up to 20
to 25 yards depending on the weapon and rounds used
- Rifled Slugs are .69 caliber rounds
Sunday, January 29,
2006
The Drink Wheel
NJLawman.com
Here is an interesting little tool which will supposedly calculate blood
alcohol content.
It is called the Drink Wheel. By entering alcohol type, amount,
gender and weight, the tool will approximate the BAC.
Now, of course, there are many variables (some not included in this tool)
in determining blood alcohol content, but, still, it's a neat online
device. Click
here to take a look.
Sunday, January 22,
2006
Wanted Posters
NJLawman.com
This one is neat.
We found a website that specializes in offering reproductions of wild west
wanted posters. From Jessie James to Pancho Villa, they have them
all.
The posters only go for about $6.00 which is quite reasonable, but
cannot vouch for their quality as we've never seen one up close.
Still, for only six bucks it's worth a shot to those interested.
Click here to visit the website.
Sunday, January 15,
2006
ARRESTED!
NJLawman.com
Wanted Bulletin Cancelled! Kincey has been arrested and taken into
custody. Click
here for more.
Sunday, January 15,
2006
Excellent Information on Gangs
NJLawman.com
The East Orange Police Department website, run by Lt. Gene DiGiacomo, has
a page on gangs that is an excellent read for all officers.
It contains both basic basic and very detailed information on some of the
larger gangs that exist today.
To visit the website,
click here.
Tuesday,
January 3,
2006
The Worst Shooting Position
NJLawman.com
While techniques differ widely throughout the law enforcement community,
there are some things for which we should all be on the same page.
The photo to the right is clearly one of those things.
The website
ForceScience.com calls this the Hollywood Highguard position.
Simply, it should never be used except when making movies.
This, additional shooting positions, and a wealth of other information
related to law enforcement can be found on the website
ForceScience.com.
Range Instructors and other officers involved in force training will find
this site especially useful.
Tuesday,
December 27, 2005
Officer Alert
NJLawman.com
Pictured
to the right is a ring that is also capable of firing pepper spray into
the eyes of an unsuspecting person.
It is designed as a self-defense tool for the public, but officers
should be cautioned that such a device exists.
They go for about $24.00 and can be purchased right online.
For more information, visit the following web address.
http://www.personal-selfdefense-online.com/pepper-spray-ring.htm
Sunday,
December 18, 2005
Natural Voices
NJLawman.com
This is just very cool.
From a page on this AT&T website, you can enter text which is translated
to speech and spoken back to you using human-sounding synthetic speech.
It gives you a choice of different accents, voices, and even languages.
While there may be some uses for the job, you'll probably have more fun
leaving constructed messages in other people's voice mail.
http://www.naturalvoices.att.com/demos/
Sunday,
December 11, 2005
The Honor
Legion
NJLawman.com
The Honor Legion.
You have probably heard of them. You
might have been given one of their courtesy cards. The Honor
Legion is a law enforcement fraternal organization which is involved in
many good deeds and programs.
Following is a letter from Jim Homwey, a
senior member describing the Honor Legion:
I'm Jim Homwey, 2nd Vice President of the
Honor Legion. For those of you who are not familiar with the honor
legion, it is a police fraternal organization of the "finest of the
finest" law enforcement officers. Any person who is a bona fide active
and paid member of any regular law enforcement agency shall be eligible
to apply for active membership in this association subject to the
restrictions and limitations hereinafter provided. Elected and
appointed officials are not eligible. Membership is available to any
member who has risked his or her life to save a human life or whose life
has been in imminent risk of danger from an armed adversary. Final
determinations shall be at the discretion of the executive board of the
Honor Legion. Be advised that there are three distinctly different
new member applications:
1. Active members with NJ
jurisdiction
2. Active members without NJ jurisdiction
3. Retired members
See new membership information and other
New Jersey Honor Legion information at our website
NJHL.com
or contact me at 2NDVP@njhl.COM.
Fraternally yours,
Jim Homwey, Jr.
2nd Vice President of NJ Honor Legion
Sunday,
December 4, 2005
New Concept in Traffic
Enforcement
NJLawman.com
Pictured
to the right is the 3D Patrol Decoy, a recently launched product made by
Florida-based Safe Highway Corporation.
3-D Patrol is a police decoy vehicle designed as an inexpensive
alternative to having an actual patrol car on the side of the road as a
deterrent to speeding. The vehicle is equipped with radar and a speed
threshold control that allows it to turn on flashing lights in the
presence of an oncoming speeding vehicle.
The unit is situated on a trailer which can be towed from location to
location.
For more information and photos, stop by their website at
http://www.3dpatrol.com.
Sunday,
December 4, 2005
Women in
Law Enforcement
NJLawman.com
SameShield.com is a website devoted to women in law enforcement and the
issues they face.
It's
an interesting site which catalogs news, issues, line of duty deaths and
other information relevant to female law officers.
The link is
http://www.sameshield.com.
Sunday,
November 27, 2005
It's not Just Guns!
NJLawman.com
To date, 130 law enforcement officers have fallen in the line of
duty. Of that number, 42 died from motor vehicle-related
incidents. This is excluding 13 more deaths involving vehicles in
assault-by-auto incidents.
It's not enough to just practice good tactics. Too, too many of
us die from simple car crashes.
Wear your seatbelt, wear your vest (proven time and time again to
protect officers in accidents), and don't let emotion dictate your
driving. We all get juiced up when dispatched to certain calls,
but we have to drive very, very carefully.
It's better to get there a few seconds later than not get there at
all.
Sunday,
November 20, 2005
Wake Up Call for Veterans
NJLawman.com
What do you think is the average age of
officers who die in the line of duty?
Many would guess it to be in the early or late
twenties since officers are generally at the most proactive point of
their careers at those ages. The answer will probably surprise
you.
Year to date, the average age for officers who
die in the line of duty is thirty-nine. This is not just some
statistical aberration either. The average age in 2004 was
thirty-nine. The average age in 2003 was thirty-seven. In
2002, it was thirty-eight. It was 39 in 2000; 38 in 1999; 39 in
1998; 39 in 1997; 37 in 199; and 39 in 1995.
While there has been no study or research as
to the reason for this, officers generally become more complacent as
they get further into their career which could be a factor.
Sunday,
November 6, 2005
Internet Investigation Resource
NJLawman.com
You are conducting an
investigation pertaining to a website, and you need to see what was on
the site a month or a year ago. Well, we found a resource that can
do just that. It is called the Wayback Machine.
Simply, this site takes
snapshots of websites and stores them. Generally, it takes several
snapshots each month and seems to house them indefinitely.
Click here to check it out. Enter NJLawman.com to see how this
site appeared. Oh, this site was first launched in 2002, so
disregard the options for 2001. Also, we will be putting a link to
this site on our
Investigative Resources page so you know where to find it should you
ever need it.
Sunday,
October 30, 2005
Med-Evac
NJLawman.com
As most know, NorthStar runs the med-evac program in northern New
Jersey. Their website contains some interesting information for
first responders who have occasion to be present or participate in a
med-evac situation.
Below are some of tips provided by their site:
- The landing zone (LZ) should be a minimum of 110 feet by 110
feet, level, firm, dry and free of debris.
- Secure the perimeter from pedestrians or vehicles.
- Keep personnel and fire apparatus 100 feet from perimeter of LZ.
- Mark the corners of the LZ with bright colored cones, lights or
public safety vehicles.
- When using flares, care in their use and/or anchoring is highly
recommended.
- NEVER SHINE LIGHTS at NorthSTAR, they may blind the pilots.
- If the pilots feel the LZ you selected is unsuitable, an
alternate should be selected.
- Shield your eyes or wear safety glasses while NorthSTAR lands or
takes-off.
- DO NOT APPROACH NorthSTAR while the blades are moving.
- ALWAYS APPROACH NorthSTAR from the side, in full view of the
crew and then only with the escort of a crew member.
- NEVER APPROACH NorthSTAR from the BACK, approach from the side
with caution.
- Keep arms and IV's at or below shoulder height.
- Secure all loose objects and personal items, e.g. hats,
stethoscopes.
- No smoking within 100 feet of the aircraft.
To learn more, stop by
their website.
Sunday,
October 23, 2005
Your Mental State
NJLawman.com
In the Calibre Press book, The Tactical
Edge, they created a systematic view of an officer's mental
condition on a given day ranging from patrolling around without a care
in the world to panic. Take a look:
CONDITION WHITE- This is a state of
unawareness, you are totally relaxed and unaware what is going on around
you.
CONDITION YELLOW- A person is relaxed but
at the same time is alert.
CONDITION ORANGE- An officer in Condition
Orange is in a state of alarm. His training, education, common sense,
tells him that something is not right. He doesn’t know what the problem
is but he is constantly evaluating the situation and is planning a
course of action.
CONDITION RED- In Condition Red danger is
obvious. Threat recognition is mandatory. You see the threat and then
you act upon it using verbal commands, physical force, or deadly force.
You are totally committed to neutralizing the threat in a controlled
manner.
CONDITION BLACK- An officer in condition
Black has completely lost control of the situation. He is in a state of
panic, or mental paralysis.
This is just so right on target.
The only area we would add to is Condition
Black.
Another symptom of Condition Black is when
an officer loses control of himself. He begins screaming at
suspects and is clearly not in control of himself. Every human
being is susceptible to this. It is important to recognize because
this will be the guy who may do something inappropriate. This is
also the guy who may get you indicted. If you spot this, save him
from himself, and have him disengage from the situation.
Monday, October 17, 2005
New Police Training Section for NJ Officers
NJLawman.com
We have just added an entire section to the
NJLawman.com website which will catalog all New Jersey police
schools and classes held throughout the state.
Click
here for more information.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Crime Scene Investigations Website
NJLawman.com
We came across a rather interesting
website. Based out of California, this site offers a host of articles
and information on crime scene investigation. We found some
excellent articles on murder scenes, developing latent footwear
impressions, human remains and computer forensics.
This site will be especially valuable to newer
officers who have not yet had any advanced training. Still, we found some
of the tips in the articles to be new and quite handy. We recommend that
all take a look.
Click here to visit.
Power Lines
Monday,
October 10, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement is anything having
to do with live power lines. Zero to minimal training against high
voltage will always lose.
To see some videos of what can go wrong, visit a site we found which
seems to be the NJLawman.com of the linemen world. Use the links
on the right side of the page to see the videos at
Powerlinemen.com.
Police Dogs
Sunday,
October 2, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of our site readers sent us this one.
The link below will take you to a site with a great video of police
dogs in action. It appears to be from Germany.
Click here
to take a look.
Stolen Car Stats
Sunday,
October 2, 2005
By NJLawman.com
We found some interesting information on the National Insurance Crime
Board website.
"In 2003, 1,260,471 motor vehicles were
reported stolen at an estimated value of over $8 billion. With recovery
rates hovering near the 65% mark, that leaves a tremendous number of
vehicles that are either cut up for parts, exported to other countries,
or reappear as clones, the latest trend in an ever-expanding list of
fraud schemes."
The top ten stolen vehicles for New Jersey in 2003 are as follows:
- 2000 Honda Civic
- 1989 Toyota Camry
- 1991 Honda Accord
- 1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
- 1994 Dodge Caravan
- 1997 Ford F150 Series
- 1986 Toyota Pickup
- 1995 Acura Integra
- 1987 Nissan Sentra
- 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Grants
Sunday, September 25, 2005
By NJLawman.com
Law enforcement agencies are always looking for grant money. Much of
what use to be available has dried up as more resources and funds are
detoured toward homeland security. Still, there is a good amount
of money out there if you can find it.
One resource we found is called
OnlineGrants.us.
The site has some good information on research, writing and landing
grants. Also, make sure to check out the page on corporate grants.
Many don't realize how much private money is available.
Hidden Weapons
Sunday, September 25, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of our frequent readers, Walt, sent us this one.
It is a webpage on the Orange County Shields' website which catalogs a
large assortment of
hidden weapons and concealment devices.
There is some great information here. We will also be filing this on
the
Police Tactics section of this website.
Stare
Decisis
Sunday, September 18, 2005
By NJLawman.com
If you followed any of the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee
John Roberts, you heard the term stare decisis (pronounced
stair-ee duh-seye-sis)
used several times throughout the debate.
Stare Decisis is Latin for "to stand by that which is decided" or "let the
decision stand."
Simply, it is the foundation for how courts must follow previously
decided, judge-issued law.
Excellent School - Free Tuition, Free Housing,
Free Meals
Sunday, September 11, 2005
By NJLawman.com
It's
back.
The Northeast Counterdrug Training Center (NCTC) with locations
in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin is a Federally funded training
program which offers many classes and programs for law
enforcement officers.
Last year it's funding was lost, but it is now back in operation.
Interview and interrogation, search warrant execution, polygraph
instructor, and police executive management are just some of the
many courses offered.
And again, it's free for law enforcement agencies.
To visit the main page of their website,
click here.
When a Search Ends
Sunday, September 11, 2005
By NJLawman.com
With everything we have learned from
those who have fallen before us, it is inconceivable that an
officer can be hurt or killed due to a previous poor search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
Too often, when contraband is located, the search ends or it is
done half ass because the searching officer thinks that he or she
has found the suspect's hiding spot or finding a "mother load"
distracts us from properly completing the search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
Monday, September 5, 2005
Missing/Unidentified Persons Investigations Resource
This is an interesting one sent to us by one of our visitors, Joyce.
There is a website viewable to the general public named
The Doe Network
which catalogs missing persons and unidentified persons cases.
They post pictures, location and other related information.
If you have any old cases, this resource might be worth a shot.
Monday, September 5, 2005
Bank Robbery Resource
This website primarily serves Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but it is
worth a look for anyone involved in a bank robbery investigation.
Simply, it catalogs photos taken from security cameras during bank
robberies. Click
here to take a look.
Sunday,
August 7, 2005
Excellent Resource
Once in a while there comes a need to learn
about a certain country whether it be to further an investigation, to
become acquainted with the customs of another, or just out of
curiosity.
There is a branch of the CIA website called
the World Factbook. It is the place to begin.
Maps, terrain, climate, population,
literacy, background, currency, and geographic coordinates are just some
of the many areas explained. We have added it to our Investigative
Resources page so you can always find it. Click
here to visit the site.
Sunday,
August 7, 2005
MV
Stops at Night
When effecting nighttime motor vehicle
stops, upon approaching the stopped vehicle, start making a habit of
always asking the driver to turn on the interior light.
This serves
several purposes. First, it illuminates the vehicle interior for you
observation. Second, should the driver come out of the car for any
reason, he or she will have reduced night vision which always occurs when
someone goes from a well-lit environment to a dark environment.
This works especially well when stopping cars with tinted windows.
In some states, there are now laws requiring motorists to obey this
request.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Rules for the Flag
There are many rules which govern how the United States flag is suppose
to be flown. Some will even surprise you.
We found a website which explains all of them.
Click here to take a look.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Recording the Police
Last year we reported on a Chiefs of Police
meeting where one of the presenters detailed a scheme where certain people
are purposely trying to have encounters with law enforcement officers.
These people are wearing hidden microphones
and, in one case, a hidden video camera to record the actions of the
officer. This has apparently happened in several areas of the state, and
at least one of the incidents was depicted on a local television program.
It has also been reported that people are using cellular telephones and
palm pilots, many of which have recording capabilities, to record
encounters with law enforcement.
We post this not because we think that
officers are doing something wrong but because this may escalate into
these persons trying to prod and provoke officers.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Latex Gloves
Too often, officers who are wearing latex gloves contaminate their own
equipment, uniform, and supplies.
For example, an officer responds to a first aid call where the victim
has an arm laceration.
The primary officer puts on a pair of latex gloves, gathers some
bandages from the first aid kit, and begins treating the injury.
Of course, some blood gets on the gloves.
The officer needs more bandages and, while still wearing the gloves,
which have been contaminated, again opens the first aid kit and grabs some
more items. Then, for his report, the officer takes out his pen and
notebook while still wearing the gloves to get the victim's information
for the report.
The ambulance arrives, and first aid personnel take over. They
ask the officer if he could help them with some light. The officer,
while still wearing the contaminated gloves, grabs his flashlight and
illuminates the victim.
We could go on, but you get the point. In this scenario, this
officer has contaminated the first aid kit, his pen, his notebook and his
flashlight which are all items he will be using later with his bare hands.
Once you have touched a victim, your gloves have been contaminated.
You should touch nothing else while still wearing the same gloves.
Monday, July 11 ,
2005
Do You Know Any of These Faces?
Pictured
to the right are the faces of seven persons whom the FBI would like to
know better.
"L ast year,
FBI Director Mueller and Attorney General Ashcroft held a press
conference to call renewed attention to 7 individuals believed to pose a
real and present danger to U.S. interests around the world--perhaps most
especially this summer and fall, a time of high profile public events
that may well serve as a lightening rod to terrorist attacks."
Click
here for additional information.
Monday, July 4 ,
2005
Patient Conditions
Every day we hear a news report on some incident where the victim's
condition is described as one of several terms. However, most of us do
not know how the medical field even uses these terms.
We took a look at several sources. The terms come from the American
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Here's how they go:
| Undetermined - |
Patient is awaiting
physician and/or assessment. |
| Good - |
Vital signs are stable
and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable.
Indicators are excellent. |
| Fair - |
Vital signs are stable
and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be
uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable. |
| Serious - |
Vital signs may be
unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill.
Indicators are questionable. |
| Critical - |
Vital signs are unstable
and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators
are unfavorable. |
Sunday, June 27, 2005
Countdown to Retirement
For those of you who have begun the countdown to your retirement date,
we found a pretty neat tool.
By entering the exact date of your retirement, this tool will give you
the exact countdown of days, hours, minutes and seconds until you get the
gold watch.
To view this tool,
click here.
Sunday, June 27, 2005
What is MS-13
In recent months, there has been much media coverage of the street gang
MS-13. Unfortunately, most officers have little or no knowledge of
MS-13.
This gang originates from El Salvador. Its name is
derived from La Mara, a street in El Salvador, and the Salvatrucha
guerillas who fought in the El Salvador civil war. MS-13 appeared on
the radar in Los Angeles in the 1980's, and has since spread to many
states throughout the country.
Make no mistake: This is a very, very deadly gang, and targeting law
enforcement officers is not beyond them.
There is an excellent article in POLICE Magazine which is well worth
the read for officers wanting to learn more about MS-13. To view the
article,
click here.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Inside Cops
Recently, VH1 aired a program which went behind the scenes of the
television show COPS. Below is an excerpt from their site:
VH1 Goes Inside: COPS is a celebration
of one of the longest running prime-time shows on television. In its
seventeenth season, COPS continues to entertain and inform its viewers,
giving them a first-hand account of the daily lives of police officers
across the country. VH1 Goes Inside: COPS features clips of
memorable moments from the show, dating back to the pilot episode in
1989. VH1 Goes Inside: COPS will also include interviews with the
show's producers and crew, as well as the police officers who have
helped make the show such a success.
It is very interesting and worth the watch.
For listings of when the program will air
again,
click here.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Resources for Grants
With more and more funds being steered toward homeland security and
away from day-to-day policing, finding grants is more important than ever
before.
OnlineGrants.us
has assembled a nice collection of information on writing grants,
researching grants, and locating grants.
Click here to
take a look.
Sunday, June 12 , 2005
Hidden Cuff Key
We were recently
sent this picture from one of our site visitors.
Simply, it is a
handcuff key secreted in a hidden compartment located on the rear of the
sneaker.
This poses a number
of dangers, and all officers should be aware of this.
The exact brand of
sneaker was not mentioned and really is irrelevant since new models come
out routinely.
You might want to
post this in your squad room.
Sunday, June 12 , 2005
New Product
This one is for gun enthusiasts and those
concerned about home protect alike.
The product is called the Pillow Pal
Holster Holder.
Simply, it serves as a holster for handgun
holsters. It is also a great tool for holding television
remote controls, flashlights, glasses, cell phones, etc.
Clearly, this is not a product for homes
with children in the house or in situations where someone besides the gun
owner could access the weapon.
This should also serve as a bulletin for
officers assigned to entry teams in the event that this product winds up
in the hands of an ill-intended person.
Click here to visit
the site.
Sunday, June 5 , 2005
CIA Memorial
On the north wall of
the Original Headquarters Building lobby, to the right as you enter, is a
memorial wall that was commissioned by the CIA Fine Arts Commission in May
1973 and sculpted by Harold Vogel in July 1974.
With the simple
inscription "IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY," this wall of 83
stars stands as a silent, simple memorial to those CIA officers who made
the ultimate sacrifice.
The glass-encased
Book of Honor below the stars lists the 48 names of officers which can be
revealed; while the names of the remaining 35 officers must remain secret,
even in death. Framed by the American and the Central Intelligence Agency
flags, this memorial immortalizes these anonymous few who served and
sacrificed in silence.
Sunday, June 5 , 2005
Excellent Tool
The
Scenario: Motor vehicle accident with entrapment, black smoke coming from
the engine and under the car with small flames beginning to emerge.
Car windows can take numerous strikes from PR-24's and ASP's. In
a situation such as this, your options are limited and time is slipping
away.
The tool pictured to the left is both a handcuff key and a window
punch. It will break safety glass instantly with a spring loaded,
specially designed hammer. This is a highly recommended tool for
anyone on the road.
They can be purchased at
Copquest.com
for under eight bucks.
Monday, May 31, 2005
Tactics - Fill in the Gaps
Your radio crackles. One of your
fellow officers is going out with a suspicious subject. You respond
to assist. Where should you position yourself?
Often, the second officer to arrive
approaches and stands right next to the first officer. Minutes later
a third officer responds. He or she then stands next to the first
two. Additional officers respond, and the shoulder to shoulder
action continues.
Too often the above scenario is the case.
When a second officer arrives, he or she
take a position directly behind the suspect. This way, the most
obvious path of flight is now blocked. If a third officer responds,
he or she should take a position to the left or the right of the suspect.
The other two officer should re-position themselves, so they are forming a
triangle around the suspect. With each responding officer filling in
an empty gap, the chances of flight significantly reduce.
When responding to back up a fellow
officer, FILL IN THE GAP
Monday, May 31, 2005
Presidential Order of Succession
Okay, this is not really law enforcement-related, but it is interesting
nonetheless.
In 1947 the rules for the current Presidential Order of Succession were
established. Below is the list of who would take over as President
in the event that a sitting President should be unable to hold office:
-
The Vice President Richard Cheney
-
Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
-
President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted
Stevens
-
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
-
Secretary of the Treasury John Snow
-
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
-
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
-
Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton
-
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
-
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez2
-
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao3
-
Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike
Leavitt
-
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Alphonso Jackson
-
Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio
Mineta
-
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
-
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
-
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
-
Secretary of Homeland Security4 Michael
Chertoff
Monday, May 23, 2005
Law Enforcement Salaries
When contract time arrives FOP and
PBA locals always find themselves in a position of needing
information. The contract terms and salaries of other agencies
usually tops the list.
There is a website we found which catalogs
such information from agencies around the nation. They also provide
other services including a financial analysis of your municipality.
The site is called PolicePay.net. Click
here to take a look.
Monday, May 23, 2005
United States Constitution
Always an interesting read. We just added a page to our site
which contains the entire United States Constitution and the Amendments.
To view, click on the
United States Constitution.
Sunday,
May 15, 2005
Preparing for the Promotional
Exam
Preparing for a promotional exam is by far
the largest academic endeavor most officers will ever experience. It
requires months of studying. The results will often reflect who
invested the most hours in preparation.
We found a statistic that is quite
interesting and relevant. It has to do with memory. After all,
retention is what preparation is about.
According to the June, 2004 FBI Bulletin,
our retention level is most dependent on how the material is presented to
us. Below is a list based upon a scientific study sited in the
bulletin.
Our Retention Levels
-
10 percent of what we read
-
20 percent of what we hear
-
30 percent of what we see
-
40 percent of what we see and hear
-
60 percent of what we discuss with others
-
70 percent of what we experience
personally
-
80 percent of what we discover and solve
individually or in groups
-
95 percent of what we teach to someone
else
Sunday,
May 15, 2005
Spotting the Spotlight
Where should the spotlight be pointed when making a vehicle stop?
Well, there are several schools of thought here. Some say always on
the rear view mirror. Others say it should be pointed on the side
view mirror, and others say it should be used to light up the passenger
compartment.
How about basing it on the circumstances.
If you are stopping a car to arrest the front seat passenger who is
suspected of having a gun, you may want to aim the spot light on the
passenger side mirror. If it is just a stop of a vehicle occupied
once, the driver side mirror is fine. If upon stopping a vehicle you
notice five heads inside, it is advisable to light up the passenger
compartment.
The spotlight is an excellent tool for both giving the officer extra
illumination and for temporarily taking out the night vision of a vehicle
occupant or occupants. Use it based on the circumstances of the stop
you are making,
Perhaps the best method is using it based on this situation you are
facing.
Sunday,
May 1, 2005
Emergency Lights or Flashers
When making motor vehicle stops, just about all officers activate their
entire light bar to catch the attention of the motorist. When the
vehicle stops, the light bar remains fully activated for the duration of
the stop to warn approaching traffic and protect the officer.
But, very often when officers pull up behind disabled vehicles, they only
activate the overhead flashers and not the entire light bar.
This doesn't really make any sense. The danger to the officer from
rear approaching traffic is just as great when behind a disabled vehicle
as it is when behind a stopped vehicle.
Emergency lights should be used whenever stopped behind a vehicle on a
highway or busy roadway.
Sunday,
May 1, 2005
Excellent Range Exercise
Range instructors and avid shooters are always looking for exercises to
improve all aspects of weapons proficiency. Here is one.
From the ten-yard-line, shoot as follows:
1. Fire one round, drop and replace the magazine,
2. Fire two rounds, drop and replace the magazine,
3. Fire three rounds.
This exercise is excellent for building reloading skills. The goal
should be to get shooters to the point where they can complete all three
phases in under ten seconds with all of the shots landing within the given
target. Once there, the distance can be moved back to the
fifteen-yard-line.
Monday , April 18, 2005
Selecting a Duty Weapon
In the January issue of the FBI Bulletin, an excellent article on
selecting a duty handgun was published.
The article covers everything from magazine capacity to caliber to
materials and finish.
To view the article,
click here.
Monday , April 18, 2005
The FBI National Academy
The FBI National Academy is the most prestigious law
enforcement training that any officer can add to a resume. The
program is offered four t |