Last week I received an interesting email from one of my many “pen pals” out there in Internetland. It had been a while since I’d heard from Chief Dan Losada of the Knoxville (Iowa) Police Department, so when I saw his name pop up in my inbox my interest was immediately piqued.  I was further intrigued when I saw that Chief Losada had attached a video. The lesson in it is well worth sharing in this space: pay attention to handcuffed subjects. “I teach an ‘Intro to Criminal Justice’ class at the local high school,” Losada wrote. “We were discussing handcuffing when a student told me she co ..read more

Linda McLaughlin Brevard County Sheriff's Office, Florida For a couple of years, I’ve carried my .380 for my off duty firearm. It’s easily concealed under fitted clothing with the use of the Flashbang holster. Yes, Flashbang.  The holster itself is made of a durable kydex material and attaches to the front of the bra with a leather strap. I’m not overly blessed in the chest region so the idea you need a lot of cushion there to conceal a weapon is a myth. Friends and coworkers were unaware I was carrying concealed under fitted shirts.  This prompted officer safety concerns ..read more

Deborah Lewis, Increasingly, law enforcement organizations are embracing the position of a Diversity Officer, in response to internal and external environmental issues. There is, of course, more to this than appointing a person to the role. However, many departments are unclear how to utilize the position in support of organizational success. To ensure the promise of the diversity program and the performance thereof agree, I suggest the following: 1.) Clearly Define the Diversity Officer’s Role It is critical to clearly define the duties and the responsibilities for the position, with the un ..read more

Duane Wolfe Tip: As a martial artist and use-of-force instructor, I’m a firm believer in realistic training. To truly train, you need to practice in a realistic manner on realistic targets. If you truly want to train for a situation where you use a punch on a suspect's head, here is my suggestion. The human head weighs around 10 pounds — it is supported by the neck and moves around.  Go to your local bowling alley and see if you can get an old 10 pound bowling ball. Bolt the bowling ball to a spring on the end of a post for the most realistic results or attach an eye bolt and ..read more

 It has been a while since I posted anything and man, has times changed.  The country seems to feel that people's safety is more important than PO's safety.  I don't thing the world has changed, there it has been the attitude of the people we work for and try to keep safe.  It seems like a lose-lose situation to me, yet, we will continue to do our jobs.  Stay as safe as you can until the community wakes up.  ..read more

Each time you start your shift, make sure your duty belt and equipment within is in good working order.Is your holster located in the sweet spot for your draw to be at its best? When you put your duty belt on, the location of your pistol should be your primary concern, since it is the most important piece of equipment on your belt. A shift of an inch or two in the location of your holster can result in a grip that is higher or lower on the back strap than you want.If you are not sure where your sweet spot is, here is a tip: Close your eyes and, with no duty belt on, reach 10 times to where you ..read more