Peeking Around Corner During House Clear

Sgt. Tom Lahey Denver Police Department, Colorado

If you need to do a "quick peek" around a corner and don't have a mirror, have your partner provide high cover for you, get down on your knees and do the quick peek from a low level. Nearly all of the time, if a bad guy is waiting for you, he will be focused at the chest level or head waiting for you to come around the corner. They are not expecting someone to peek around the corner at ground level. Remember to always have a high cover officer in case the bad guy happens to be approaching that corner while you're doing your "quick peek."

An officer's discretion: To pursue or not pursue?

Submitted by:
Lt. Dan Marcou

In the 1970s there was a young recruit who experienced and survived his first “high speed chase.” After booking the formerly fleeing felon (FFF) he thought back on the experience and recognized his life or career could have ended any number of times during the pursuit. The rookie sought out a seasoned veteran and asked, “Is there ever a time when an officer should break off a pursuit if it gets too dangerous?”
The response from the veteran was, “Son, you chase them until their wheels fall off and if their wheels fall off and they keep going then you chase them until your wheels fall off. If word gets out you don’t pursue, no one will stop and everyone will run.”
Times have changed. Since those bygone days, litigation has caused anti-pursuit policies to be written all over the nation. Some of the policies make it clear for the officer in pursuit—they outline in so many words, “If they flee you shall not pursue!”
Other policies make it less clear and allow for a certain number of officers to pursue under certain conditions and when certain circumstances exist. How does the veteran field training officer answer the rookie, who says, “I’m confused. When is it time to pursue and when is it time to terminate the pursuit?”
If the policy states terminate all pursuits the FTO could say, “Son the policy says terminate all pursuits so, ‘when they run, the pursuit is done’.”
If the commander orders the pursuit terminated the veteran officer could say, “It’s simple: when the commander says terminate, you terminate.”
“If policies leave some discretion to the officer,” a veteran field training officer once told his young charges, “when they run, ask this question: ‘Am I chasing them because they are dangerous or are they dangerous because I am chasing them?’ If you’re chasing them because they are dangerous then you may decide to continue the pursuit with due care. If they are dangerous because you are chasing them then your life and career are not worth risking on this one. Terminate the pursuit.”

Always carry your knife off duty

Submitted by:
Matthew Collier

I know everyone carries a gun off duty, every time they leave the house, like they should, right? In a perfect world it would be that way, but too often we fall short of perfection and go out like the rest of the ‘sheep’ without our off duty gun and reload. In these (hopefully rare) cases, do you at least have your knife? Your gun and knife should be a pair on duty and off but it is hard to go to the beach or swimming pool with 1911 in your swim trunks. Gives a lot of credibility to the old saying “is there a gun in your pocket or you just happy to see me?”
Even the smallest micro gun is no fun in a pocket while in the water, not to mention what water does to guns and bullets or the fact that you’re taking a chance of losing it doesn't leave a taking gun always an option. Just because you had to temporarily leave your gun behind doesn't mean you should go totally unarmed. With the wide array of affordable tactical folding knives available today you should at least always have your knife. Syderco, Benchmade, SOG, Kersaw, Gerber and many, many more all make reliable clip style folders that won't break the bank.
Hopefully you already have one or two for duty. These "tools/weapons" are easy to conceal, and can go anywhere, even swimming. With a quick rinse after and maybe a drop of oil they can even stay clipped to your pocket or waist line while in the ocean. You may still feel like a sheep but at least you will be a sheep with sharp teeth. Don't forget the training and practice that will allow you turn that tool into a weapon.

Watch females and juveniles during gang contacts

During contact with groups of gang members some officers may have a tendency to focus all their attention on the biggest and baddest looking males in the crowd while disregarding females and juveniles who might be there. Streetwise gang members have been known to predict this kind of behavior and have females and juveniles carry their weapons solely because they think officers may pay less attention to them.
When it comes to juveniles, it’s also important to remember that although seemingly less physically threatening, they may be highly motivated to attack you in the interest of gaining higher status and more respect from the group.
Disregarding the threat potential of those you might consider lower risk could be a potentially deadly mistake. Don’t do it.

Don't Over Look The Trunk

When you’re approaching a stopped vehicle, your attention is obviously heavily focused on the interior of the car looking for things like suspicious movement and taking a mental head count of occupants. One place you definitely shouldn’t overlook, however, is the trunk. If you’re dealing with someone who has planned ahead for the possibility that he’ll be stopped and he’s dedicated to getting away at any cost, you could suddenly be faced with someone who’s planted in the trunk, lying in wait to launch a surprise attack when you approach.

Keep an eye out for signs that the trunk may be open a crack and continue to glance at it looking for even the slightest movement. Start looking right away, beginning at the point you pull behind the vehicle. When you get to the trunk, push on it to make sure it’s closed. If it’s not, remember this tip and be ready to kick your officer survival efforts into overdrive.

New CPR

This is the new CPR. It may not be taught by your department yet and may never be but I think you should know about it and maybe share it with family and friends that are not certified.

10 fatal errors that have killed experienced officers

1. Lack of focus. If you fail to keep your mind on the job while on patrol or you carry your “home” problems into the field with you, you will start to make errors. That can cost you of fellow officers their lives.
2. Tombstone courage. No one doubts that you’re a cop. But in any situation where time allows, WAIT for backup. There are few instances where you should try to make a dangerous apprehension alone and unaided.
3. Lack of sleep. To do your job you’ve got to be alert. Being asleep on the job is not only against regulations, but it puts yourself, the community and fellow officers at risk. Get the sleep you need.
4. Taking a bad position. Never let anyone you’re questioning or about to stop get in a better position than you and your vehicle. There is no such thing as a routine call or stop.
5. Missing or ignoring danger signs. As a police officer, you will get to recognize “danger signs” — things that tweak your “cop sense” like strange movements, hinky cars, warnings that should alert you to the fact that you should watch your step and approach with caution.
6. Failure to watch the hands. Is a suspect reaching for a weapon or getting ready to strike you? Watch the hands...they’re where attacks stem from.
7. Relaxing too soon. Constant false alarms can cause you to let your guard down. Don’t. It could be deadly.
8. Improper or no cuffing. Once you’ve made an arrest, cuff your prisoner properly. Be sure the hands that can kill you are safely cuffed.
9. No search or poor search. Your failure to properly and thoroughly search a suspect is a tremendous failure to meet your sworn responsibility to keep your community and fellow officers safe. Take the time to search...and search WELL.
10. Dirty of inoperative weapon. Is your weapon clean? Is it functioning properly? How about your ammo? When’s the last time you qualified? Can you stop an aggressor’s action and defend yourself and others?

Look for concealment in aftermarket gear shift tops

Kevin Lewis, New Boston (Ohio) Police Department

When searching vehicles, look at the gear shifter. Some after market shift knobs have hidden compartments in them, they either screw in half or the top screws off. Look in your local auto part store and become familiar with the different styles. They are a great hiding spot for narcotics.

When patting someone down, search for BBs

Ryan L. Russell
Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, Oklahoma
Most new officers, when asked what to search for while patting someone down, or search incident to arrest, reply, “guns, knives, drugs, etc.”
If that is all you search for, that is all you will find. I tell them to search for BBs. If you search for something that small you will find all the others. Sometimes the hardest thing to find is the obvious. Stay safe.

What's Hiding In Your Back Seat?

Before and after each shift, be sure to thoroughly check the back seat of the squad you’re assigned. You ask enough cops and you’re sure to find some who have unexpectedly surfaced everything from drugs to weapons hidden in the back of their squads.
Even after multiple searches, some suspects have an uncanny ability to hide things they don’t want you to know about. Take a minute to make sure none of those things end up available to the next suspect who you transport.

Cracking a Computer Case

Criminals use computers for all manner of nefarious activities — this is not news — from arranging meetings between Johns and prostitutes, to distributing illegal pornography, to advertising the sale of goods which had been stolen from residences and businesses. PoliceOne Technology Help Correspondent last month wrote an article (the full text of which you can read here) that provides an excellent tip for investigators who are certified to gather digital information: invest in a hard drive duplicator.
They’re relatively cheap (well, some are relatively cheap, others cost thousands of dollars), they’re very reliable, and they can solve a host of problems created by trying to obtain digital data via other means such as “ghosting,” which can be tedious and time consuming.
The prices and complexity of operation vary, so you’ll need to research all your options and determine which solution best suits your department’s needs. To get you started, some of the top names in the market are StarTech, Voom Technologies, ICS (Intelligent Computer Solutions), and Logicube.
One last thing: As you do your “shopping” you should keep in mind that many of these types of devices can be written into any number of Federal and State grant programs. If you have any questions on using grant funding to support your department’s investigations unit, you should check out PoliceGrantsHelp.com.

10 Personal Protection Reminders

1. Make sure your home phone number is not publicly listed.

2. Avoid having obvious law enforcement-related deliveries (like law enforcement magazines or gear from Police Stuff, Inc. delivered in a Police Stuff logo-emblazoned box) sent directly to your home and make clear that you do not want your rank included on anything sent to your home. The safest option is to get a P.O. Box and have an alternative street address you can use for package deliveries (some private mail drop businesses let you use their street address for UPS, Fed. Ex. and other similar package delivery services).

3. If you take your squad home, avoid parking it in front of your house if possible.

4. Don’t wear your uniform in your private vehicle.

5. Watch what you wear in public. Hats, tee-shirts, jackets, etc. that announce the fact that you’re a cop could draw unwanted attention.

6. Vary your route to and from work and keep an eye on who’s behind you when you drive.

7. When you come in and out of your home, make a conscious effort to take a second and look around.

8. Consider the address you’re using on applications that require you to list your place of employment along with your home address. Whenever possible, avoid associating the two.

9. Think like someone who might want to figure out where you live and try to “look for yourself.” Is your home in your name and your address readily available through public property records searches? Does an Internet search for your name pull up personal information you might want to try and have removed?

10. Ask trusted neighbors to always tip you off if they see something or someone odd in the area. Have they noticed someone who has started driving by your house regularly and paying particular attention to your home?

Stay safe, on duty and off.

Build understanding and empathy

Want political representatives, community activists, and/or the media in your area to better understand the challenges, dangers, and difficulties you face as a police officer? Want to help decrease incidents of these individuals making wide-sweeping uneducated statements about police work and coming to ignorant conclusions? Be proactive and consider inviting them into “your world.”

• Make an effort to reach out to these people and invite them to participate in ride-alongs
• Suggest that they sit in on select training sessions and give them firsthand experience in real-world scenarios
• Keep yourself open and available to explaining the law enforcement side of things should they have questions (and be open to listening and learning)

As we all know, lack of understanding in the public sector can be dangerous to law enforcement. Taking steps to help build understanding and hopefully some empathy can go a long way... in a lot of ways.

Tip On Becoming A Harder Target

Submitted by: John D. Williams

"Be a hero, but not by yourself. Call for backup." This was one of the many excellent reminders in an email recently distributed by our friend John D. Williams of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. "Possess a survivor mentality," wrote Williams. "Mentally prepare yourself to expect the unexpected, be alert and prepared to fight and survive, and always be vigilant." With his permission, we reprint the entirety of his email here for PoliceOne Members who may not have seen the original circulation last week. Thanks John... Maintain Situational Awareness Attacks in Hemet included booby-trapping LE offices and placing an explosive device under an officer's car A) Vehicle (personal or agency vehicle) B) Office C) Residence Consider your Wardrobe A) Wear body armor on duty, whenever feasible B) Be vigilant when wearing clothing identifying self as LE when off-duty (gang conference shirts, agency polos, hats, etc) Be Predictable to Your Colleagues but Not to the Bad Guys A) Call in location B) Vary your routine — routes, timesd and exits When Approaching a Suspect A) Maintain professionalism and be respectful B) Look for concealed weapons — An FBI study found that cop attackers most often hid their guns on their person in the front waistband, either groin area or in the small of the back. C) Watch their hands — the same study found that offenders avoid using holsters and frequently touch a concealed gun with hands or arms “to assure themselves.” Such gestures are most noticeable when offenders change body positions, sitting, standing or exiting a vehicle. Watch for Attack Indicators A) Fake 911 calls to gauge police response (part of the Hutaree militia group’s plan of attack) B) Pre-attack surveillance and counter-surveillance C) Odd behavior or clothing on scene (i.e.: wearing a long coat on a hot summer day) D) Out-of-place vehicles If You Suspect that You Are Being Followed A) On foot, use store front windows (reflection) to look behind you and across the street. Also, “J-walk” across the street and see who else “J-walks” after you, in front or behind you. You can also drop a random piece of paper, if they pick it up, you are being followed. B) In a vehicle, make two right turns and a U-turn, if still behind you, you are being followed. C) If you suspect you are being followed, report it immediately and drive to a police station. DO NOT GO HOME! Maintain a Low Profile A) Shun unnecessary publicity B) Avoid public confrontations and disputes C) Keep personal/agency information secure and avoid divulging info on social media sites (i.e.: Facebook) D) Remove LE indicators from POV (stickers, visible LE equipment) Stay Informed of Trends A) Area familiarity B) Anticipate that some gangs commemorate significant dates (White gangs may commemorate Adolf Hitler’s birthday on 4/20 or his date of death on 4/30. C) Some gangs celebrate their “Hood Day” on a date coinciding with their street or gang names. i.e.: 6/10 for the Rollin’ 60’s. D) Some Hispanic gangs with the number “13” in their names, such as MS-13 and Florencia-13, celebrate “Hood Day” on Friday the 13th, the next of which occurs in August 2010.) E) Look for graffiti (OnMay 20th, graffiti attributed to the Florencia-13 Gang in South Gate, California was found in an area served by an injunction. The word “COPKILLA” had the word “COP” crossed out. F) Intelligence bulletins

Police Products with Lindsey J. Bertomen

Product Review: SIG SAUER P239 in .357 SIG

I tested the SIG SAUER P239 in .357 SIG. I short-listed this gun about 500 rounds into the test. Here’s why: the SIG SAUER P239 (henceforth called the P239) is a single-stack, semi-auto pistol with classic SIG SAUER features, including a hard coated anodized aluminum frame and a stainless steel slide. It comes in the DAK, SRT, or DA/SA trigger. My model was a DA/SA trigger version in .357 SIG. It came with the Nitron-coated slide in a black hard coat and bright, “contrasty” SIGLITE night sights.

I have a personal bias toward the SIG SAUER P239. Of the dozens of handguns I shoot for testing, there are only five in the group to which the SIG SAUER P239 now belongs — my personal top five choices.

Before I go any further, in the interest of full disclosure, I have a personal bias toward the SIG SAUER P239. Of the dozens of handguns I shoot for testing, there are only five in the group to which the SIG SAUER P239 now belongs — my personal top five choices. That is, if I ever found myself in a target rich environment that required me to fight my way to a battle rifle, I would prefer to have one of these five (or all five) handguns in my possession.

My personal bias toward this product is well-founded. This gun has performed without a hitch. It has been torture tested, which included rapid firing 300 rounds in an attempt to induce failure. After that, it went three weeks without cleaning, except for a dry patch down the barrel after some very unusual weather on the range. One range session started out as a dry, windy day. I set the gun down on the table on the range. It rained, then the wind picked up. 30 minutes later, the gun was covered with fine sand. I ran a dry patch down the barrel, and then shot another 100 rounds.

More full disclosure: I’ve had this P239 a little longer than SIG SAUER would want me to have it. This gave me the opportunity to run thousands — not hundreds — of rounds through the gun. I holstered it and re-holstered it (no discernable sign of holster wear), dry fired it several days in a row, and swapped magazines in front of the TV for days. I carried it IWB, belt scabbard, in my pocket and in a waistpack.

Now, I must include a disclaimer. Nowhere in this article is there a recommendation or an endorsement to treat your handgun like I treated this one. I recommend regular cleaning. I tested this handgun at distances that should be considered outside of the design parameters of a handgun and the duty use of a handgun. My purpose was to show the reader the capabilities of the P239, not to encourage extreme use.

SIG SAUER is one of those companies that has a long-standing reputation for reliability, coupled with an ear to the ground for product improvement. The P239 is a smaller and slimmer version of the P229, reputably one of the most coveted combat handguns in the industry. Several of my coworkers had P229 duty handguns that were around 20 years old. They were as reliable as brand-new guns.

SIG SAUER uses quality components like hardened roll pins and full-length slide rails. The barrel and chamber of the P239 (and the P229) are markedly reinforced compared to most guns one would carry off duty.

The P239 overall length is 6.6” and its width is 1.2” which is small and thin enough for discreet carry. The single stack magazine holds seven .357 SIG rounds. I found the second magazine was slim enough for a back pocket or IWB magazine holder.

SIG SAUER offers three trigger choices for three distinct shooting styles. The DA/SA trigger has a traditional feel where the double action pull is fairly stack free (the tension doesn’t seem to increase as one pulls the trigger further). There is a decocking lever, which gives the shooter a positive tactile feel when the hammer goes to its reset position. The hammer rests without contacting the firing mechanism, which also has firing pin safety that prevents forward motion (firing) without a pull on the trigger. There are four separate safety features on the P239: Decocking lever, firing pin safety, safety intercept notch and trigger bar disconnector. Occasionally, I carry my P239 in the reinforced pocket of my jeans with confidence. At 29.5 oz, this is a reasonable carry for officers with extra large pockets.

The SRT trigger, which stands for Short Reset Trigger, is a version of the DA/SA trigger that has a much shorter reset than the DA mode. This was designed for competitive shooters, not for LE officers.

The DAK trigger is a smooth double action trigger that gives the user the same pull all the time, without the decocking lever. I’m not sure how SIG SAUER did it but it is a worthwhile option for this model.

The P239 comes in 9mm, .40 and .357 SIG. I was fortunate to have had friends who own P239’s in the other calibers. I got to shoot them all. I would choose the .357 SIG every time, especially after several ballistic gelatin tests.

The .357 SIG cartridge was designed to mimic the .357 magnum in an auto pistol. It is a bottleneck cartridge, which means the bullet has a narrower diameter than the base of the cartridge. In this case, the bullet diameter approximates a 9 mm bullet and the base of the cartridge approximates a 40 caliber cartridge.

Think about this: one factor in the reliability of a handgun is the ability to smoothly feed off the magazine and completely insert into the chamber. Imagine a 40 caliber handgun. The 40 caliber bullet goes into a .40 caliber chamber. Now imagine a 9 mm sized bullet being eased into the opening the size of a 40 caliber chamber. This particular design is inherently reliable.

There are some factors one must consider with shouldered cartridges, but that goes beyond the scope of this article. Succinctly, do not continuously chamber and re-chamber a .357 SIG cartridge. Rather, practice often to keep a rotation of fresh cartridges.

The .357 magnum had a reputation of excellent performance in ballistic gelatin tests, especially after barrier. That is, one fires through tempered glass into ballistic gelatin to test one aspect of bullet performance. There are several factors including the weight retention of the recovered bullet, the amount of expansion and what it actually does inside the gelatin. I compared the .357 SIG bullets to .357 magnum bullets after barrier.

The .357 SIG cartridges generally duplicated or exceeded the 357 magnum performance, except in heavier bullet weights. It appears that the nominal bullet weight for the 357 SIG was about 124 grains, simply because the 124 grain combinations were more accurate and tore up the gelatin. Compared to a 9 mm… well, there really wasn’t a comparison. I don’t think I ever went below about a 20 percent advantage in penetration over the 9mm. The 357 SIG gave after-barrier performance, which could only be described as remarkable.

One thing that must be addressed with the .357 SIG: bullet manufacturers should not load this cartridge with standard 9 mm bullets. The higher velocities tended to cause jacket shedding. First, the P239 should only be used with bonded Bullets. Second, the superior velocity generally requires thicker jackets.

SIG SAUER has a reputation for design ergonomics in their handguns. The P239 will fit a variety of shooters comfortably, especially the grip angle, which tends to absorb the recoil of this cartridge. The inherent design advantages of the 357 SIG cartridge are perfect for this handgun. I was shooting a superior cartridge that felt like a light 9 mm. All of this was in a handgun package small enough for off-duty carry.

If the P239 package sounds attractive so far, I have to talk about the final reason why I would carry this gun into a gun battle: it is accurate. Using duty rounds, I was consistently hitting 4’ steel plates at 50 yards. I completed a modified qualification with this gun using a B27 target at almost 100 yards. Oh yes, it is accurate.

The handgun is the short distance firearm. The rifle is the long distance small arm. The carbine bridges the gap between the handgun and the rifle. However, if I was really in dire need, the P239 is on my short list.

Feel for a subject's movement during pat downs

Submitted by:  Doug Wyllie

In many past Street Survival Seminars, attendees had been shown a surveillance video from a prison in which inmates used combs and toothbrushes to practice disarming techniques. The bad guys continue to practice tactical movements today. A PoliceOne Member just sent us an alert that his PD recently received an email from an NRA firearms instructor who observed what he believed to be organized firearm training by gang members that had these individuals practicing the ability to an officer from the standard pat-down position. According to that NRA instructor, the shooter in this drill extends his hands in the standard pat-down position, and then on command, the shooter drops, rolls, and draws — shooting the target from less than five feet away. “With this in mind,” this P1 Member writes, “an officer needs to be ready for anything when dealing with a compliant suspect.” Agreed. While conducting a pat down, you’re not only feeling for objects on the individual, but also feeling for resistive tension and other minute movements the individual may be making that could be pre-attack indicators. Be especially sensitive — given this new information — to a subject who suddenly drops to the ground.

Presenting a weapon during roadside sobriety tests?

By PoliceOne Staff

If you use a pen as your focal element during Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus tests, consider changing your approach. Although admittedly convenient and seemingly small and innocuous, a pen in the wrong hands can inflict some serious damage.

The same holds true for anything else that can be quickly grabbed and used as an improvised weapon during an assault. If you’re holding something that could be used to stab or slash you (think of a pen to the eye or neck) right in front of a suspect’s face, you could be inviting trouble if he’s motivated to attack you.

Instead, consider using the index finger of your weak hand. It can’t be taken away from you and the weak hand approach keeps your strong hand clear and ready should things spin bad.

Train for terrain, condition for conditions

If your running regime consists only of running on flat surfaces in decent temperatures, remember this: foot pursuits happen in all kinds of weather on all kinds of surfaces.

Consider adding variance to your workout strategy to facilitate better performance in challenging settings. Try running a diversified “cross-country” type course that requires the kinds of physical movements you might be forced to perform in a foot pursuit — things like jumping over ground obstacles, scaling a chain link fence, jumping over a wall, quickly pushing through tight squeezes between buildings or fighting your way through brush, etc. Imagine the kinds of settings you might encounter in your area and tailor your running trail to meet the demands they may present. Also try to add weather challenges to your workout. Make an effort to run in the rain, snow, and heat depending on your local climate.

Running in a controlled-temperature atmosphere on a flat, comfortable surface is fine and necessary for a variety of reasons, but adding surface and weather variances to your workout will help you more realistically train for the kinds of challenges you could very easily encounter in the field.

Leave a car-length space in front of your squad

Officer Michelle Hertling — whose incident with a dog was described in detail in Chuck Remsberg’s book, Blood Lessons — recently saved her own life while off duty with a simple tip given to her by her Field Training Officer several years ago. Stopped due to road construction late at night, a drunk driver struck her from behind at an estimated 70 mph. She had left a car length distance between her vehicle and the one stopped in front of her.

North Carolina State University Police Officer Larry Jones tells PoliceOne, “Michelle and I are ‘RAD’ Rape Aggression Defense instructors for women. In the class we teach women to always ‘Check 6’ — to look behind them for additional threats whenever they perceive danger to the front. While she was sitting in the traffic she was checking behind her when she noticed the headlights of the drunk driver approaching. She had left the car length distance between her vehicle and the one in front of her so she turned the steering wheel to the left to attempt to get out of the way. Before she could do that, the car hit her from behind knocking her unconscious. Fortunately, her vehicle was shoved to the left off the road missing the vehicle in front of her. She said that her trunk ended up about 4 inches behind her back. Had she pulled her vehicle up close to the bumper to the one in front of her it is almost certain that she would have been killed.”

Jones adds that it’s been his experience that some of the officers he encounters tend to “set themselves up to fail” by not giving themselves this kind of options to bail out of trouble when it happens. Jones advises that officer should always “have a ‘Plan B’ wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.”

Define your gang problem in schools (before addressing it)

By Derrick R. Crews
Gang Prevention Officer
Kernersville Police Dept.
Gang activity is a hot topic facing school resource officers. In our rush to combat the problem, we tend to forget one of the basic elements needed to create a solid prevention plan. This necessary element is simply to define your problem. While seemingly insignificant, without clearly defining your problem, you cannot solve it.
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) tells us time and again, “It is wise... to define a problem adequately before adopting a response strategy... especially in the sphere of street gangs.”
Defining gangs and gang activity doesn’t have to be difficult. In addition to state gang associations or school policies that define gangs and gang activity, thirty-seven states have legislation defining the activity. Don’t reinvent the wheel. You may need to customize the definition to fit your needs. Remember, the more specific you make your prevention plan, the better off you are.
Having a definition can help prevention plans in many ways. Here are some examples.

• Staff should have a basic understanding of what a gang is, what gang activity can encompass, and what behavior is unacceptable — this will help unite the overall efforts to stop gang activity
• Enforcing school rules can be applied more fairly and should be consistent across the entire student population.
• Students should be advised what behavior is recognized as gang related — once informed, they are responsible for their actions and the consequences
• When gang related disciplinary actions need to be taken, you can readily justify your response based on the definition of the problem

Clear definitions may not be the magic element to your prevention plan but most successful programs have clearly defined problems. This allows you to build effective strategies to address the issue. If you would like to learn more about this idea, read Street Gangs and Interventions and Crime Analysis for Problem Solvers in 60 Small Steps.

Watch out for window work on suspects' houses

by: Michelangelo Nicolazzo

The new ‘hurricane-proof glass’ used for windows and doors in civilian homes which are in hurricane prone regions can withstand winds upwards of 120 m.p.h.. This is of importance to the SWAT/Entry Team as traditional methods of gaining entry through a window, such as a window-puncturing piston, or a battering ram, or Haligan Tool. The usual tools in the breacher’s arsenal will not be as ‘tactical’ as they once were. There are now specific pyrotechnic devices as well as stronger piston devices which will work. Although this new glass protects life and property it does merit consideration to a SWAT/Tactical Entry Team. The one good thing about this glass is that it does not shatter, which according to NTOA and DOJ databases, causes more injuries than I would have thought

Danger of Side Mirror Lights

Joseph J. Hawk, Jr
Pittston Township Police, Pennsylvania
Side mirror lights offer great warning power and high visibility lighting at a 'different' angle. They are a safety plus for the responding officer, especially in the ever-crucial intersection, where you need to be seen. However, for the officer that is on the traffic stop they may not be so safe. Picture this: You are working the graveyard shift, you pull over a vehicle for a minor infraction. As we all know, we have no idea what is going through that driver's mind. Are they ready to run? Worse yet, are they willing and ready to try and take your life? You activate your emergency lighting (including your side mirror lights) and they pull over waiting and watching for you to get out.
The mirror lights are great in doing what they were designed to do. However, may pose a serious problem on traffic stops. That driver's side mirror light is an indicator that you exited your patrol car. It moves with the position of your driver’s door. Whether they plan on taking off after you exit your car or doing you harm, this just may give them that tactical advantage. My suggestion is to talk to whomever you have to, not to get ride of mirror lights all together but have them put on a separate switch, a kill switch when the vehicle is in park or an over ride when your take downs and/or side spot light is activated just to name a few. I believe that if you present this as an officer safety issue, your department should have no problem with the change. Stay Safe my fellow Brothers and Sisters!

Check Your Six On Traffic Stops

Submitted by:
Officer Mark McCracken, Mobile (Ala.) Police Department

On traffic stops, I glance towards the rear of my car as I exit to make both my initial and secondary approaches. I'm not just checking for traffic. I'm also making sure that a family member or other acquaintance of the driver is not pulling up behind me. I take my look back while I'm getting out of my car, not while approaching the subject's vehicle that I stopped. Then, I keep my eyes on the driver and the other occupants of vehicle, watching their actions and their body language.

5 Tips for winning a ground fight

In a Police Marksman article, trainer Larry Lein shared five basic but powerful principles that can help you win a ground fight. Here’s a summary:
1. Stay calm. Remember that through your training, you have “been there and done that.” Fighting on the ground is not new for you. You know what to do and you’ve practiced it, so if you go to the ground, perform, don’t panic.
2. Relax and breathe. If you forget to breathe and cause yourself to suffer unnecessarily from oxygen deprivation, your knowledge and skills will be of little use after 30 to 50 seconds. Breathe.
3. Stay constantly aware of the positional relationship between your weapon and the suspect.
When fighting on the ground, you can easily find yourself ending up in a position that basically “offers” your firearm to the suspect and for all you know, getting that gun may be his only goal. Always know where your weapon is in relation to the suspect and your body position and make every effort to protect it. Goes without saying, but conscious effort may be needed to remember this in the heat of battle.
4. Stay in a face-to-face orientation with the suspect.
Don’t turn your back on a suspect. Simple. Serious.
5. Remember to use your feet and legs. These can be very powerful in a fight and can be used in a variety of ways, from delivering blows to controlling the suspect. Keep this in mind during your physical workouts. Leg strength can be a tremendous asset in a ground fight.

Cleaning Your Auto Pistol

Sgt Jim Williams (ret.),
Memphis (Tenn.) Police Department
As a retired detective sergeant and a former police training instructor, I can assure you that it is not necessary to field strip police automatic pistols to unload them fully. There are TWO steps which MUST be taken — done in the SAME order every time — as follows:
(1) Remove the supply of ammunition: take out the magazine, AND THEN,
(2) Empty the chamber of the last round. Lock the slide open and look down through the gun to verify the magazine is indeed fully removed.
If you do this backwards, you will RELOAD the chamber and WRONGLY believe you have unloaded the gun. YOU HAVE JUST LOADED THE CHAMBER AGAIN if done in reverse order.
This is not only the procedure to empty your own carry gun, but ALSO the procedure to unload the auto pistols you seize in making arrests, handling evidence, etc.
I can just imagine thinking you have to field strip an auto pistol in the field on the trunk lid of your patrol car every time you seize one in making arrests; you will have gun parts rolling off the trunk into the street.
REMOVE THE MAGAZINE FIRST. THEN EMPTY THE CHAMBER NEXT. Lock the slide open on an empty gun to prove your work.

National Law Enforecement Memorial

The National Law Enforcement Memorial stands as a reminder all year, but for one week in May, it becomes the center of the universe for thousands of officers, families, friends, and ordinary citizens who mourn the loss of our law enforcement warriors.

Although increased efforts to keep officers' names off the memorial wall have been successful to a degree, the ultimate goal of "no officers lost" sadly remains just a goal, not a reality. We will not forget and we will NOT give up the fight .

For Poice Week: Killed In The Line Of Duty

By Dan Marcou.

They always knew they could be
They never thought they would be
God knows none ever should be
Killed in the line of duty

Some made their final stand
Their profession’s last demand
They fell with gun in hand
Killed in the line duty

A routine to many a cop
Some made one final stop
Someone’s Mom or Pop
Killed in the line of duty

Others answered one last call
To a robbery, theft, or brawl
They arrived only to fall
Killed in the line of duty

Some were dressed in brown, some blue
Some in gray, and plain clothes too
Some were dressed like me and you
Killed in the line of duty

May their souls be forever blessed
For they who are now at rest
Died doing what they loved best
Killed in the line of duty

Forgotten they never could be
Forgotten they never should be
Thought they never would be
Killed in the line of duty

God bless all those who fell
They are missed and loved so well
Let us pray and toll the bell
Those killed in the line of duty
Amen

KEEP SUSPECTS IN THE DARK

When arresting or detaining a subject, think about what kind of information he or she will be exposed to. If you're placing suspects in your squad car, don't give them the opportunity to learn about the full nature of the investigation. Here are some things to keep in mind:
If you have a computer or radio in your cruiser (as I'm sure most of us do), turn the computer monitor off and turn off or mute the radio as well. This will prevent the suspect from gathering information on the process and current stage of the investigation.
Don't give the subject the chance to know how you and other cops at the scene are operating — don't let them hear our radio traffic and prevent them from viewing updated call history on your computer screen.
These communications tools there here to help us, not help the suspect or allow them to interfere with our investigation.
Let the subject sit with the fear of the unknown, setting the stage for your interview or interrogation later on.
Keeping an individual your car is usually the only place on scene to confine a subject, and placing multiple subjects in several different squad might be necessary so they can not all conjure up the same story.
We need to control our environment — don't forget that includes our squad cars as well.

The one-rep equipment check

Before every officer goes on duty they should check their equipment to make sure that it is in proper working order. When you do this, do it in the manner that you will use it. For instance, when checking your handcuffs, practice the proper way to remove the cuffs from your duty belt, the proper way to hold the cuffs and simulate handcuffing a subject. If you carry a baton, practice properly drawing the baton, striking with it and smoothly re-holstering it.

Each one of these acts only takes only a few seconds, costs zero dollars, helps you retain your muscle memory, and gets you mentally prepared for the start of your shift. During a five-day workweek, you will have performed five repetitions with each piece of your equipment. In a month you will have performed more than 20 repetitions, and by the end of the year you will have completed hundreds of repetitions. When practicing, don’t forget to mentally review your department’s policy on using each piece of equipment.

5 legal reminders for an officer-involved shooting

At a recent Force Science Certification Course, student Scott Wood, a police defense attorney and General Counsel for the National Tactical Officers Association, made his business card available to other students during a break, pointing out that the back of the card listed five things officers should keep in mind if they’re involved in a shooting. Here’s the list:

1. Remember your constitutional right to remain silent (Fifth Amendment, U.S. Constitution).

2. You should consider retaining a lawyer knowledgeable in this area of the law.

3. Any statement you give may be used against you in a subsequent criminal, administrative or civil proceeding. Make sure you are psychologically ready before giving it.

4. Regardless of whether you have retained a lawyer, when your initial statement is given, make sure you have been ordered to give that statement by a superior officer.

5. Remember that the law in the area of use of force is evolving. You have a constitutional right to legal representation (Sixth Amendment, U.S. Constitution).

Keep suspects in the dark

Submitted by: Officer Joseph Boehlke, Milwaukee Police Department

When arresting or detaining a subject, think about what kind of information he or she will be exposed to. If you're placing suspects in your squad car, don't give them the opportunity to learn about the full nature of the investigation. Here are some things to keep in mind:
If you have a computer or radio in your cruiser (as I'm sure most of us do), turn the computer monitor off and turn off or mute the radio as well. This will prevent the suspect from gathering information on the process and current stage of the investigation.
Don't give the subject the chance to know how you and other cops at the scene are operating — don't let them hear our radio traffic and prevent them from viewing updated call history on your computer screen.
These communications tools there here to help us, not help the suspect or allow them to interfere with our investigation.
Let the subject sit with the fear of the unknown, setting the stage for your interview or interrogation later on.
Keeping an individual your car is usually the only place on scene to confine a subject, and placing multiple subjects in several different squad might be necessary so they can not all conjure up the same story.
We need to control our environment — don't forget that includes our squad cars as well.

Navigating the junk food maze

Let's face it, cops live on fast food. It's one of the many reasons our health often deteriorates the longer we stay on the job.
Instead, buy a copy of David Zinczenko’s book "Eat This, Not That" and put it in your patrol bag, briefcase, or desk drawer. Zinczenko and his staff at Men's Health magazine have put together a series of small, fun-to-read books (lots of pictures!) detailing the good and bad food choices at most fast food places, chain restaurants, and even at your mom’s holiday dinner table. Trust me, some of those “healthy” choices you thought you were making will turn out to be surprisingly bad for you, and more than a few of those items you’ve been avoiding at the drive-thru window will turn out to be reasonable choices that will contribute to the healthy lifestyle that is essential to your survival on the street.