March 2020

New Video: “How Law Enforcement Culture Plays Into Stress and Wellness”

In the “Research for the Real World” video from the NIJ, the speakers discuss how law enforcement culture plays into stress and wellness. They argue that a culture of not showing weakness may deter some officers from getting much needed help, especially if they are suffering from mental health issues. The experts in the video recommend acknowledging that it is acceptable and normal to have an emotional response to the intensity of issues most officers experience in the line of…


New Opioid Research: Meth Resurgence Associated with the Opioid Crisis

A resurgence in methamphetamine abuse has raised concerns in the medical and legal communities throughout the United States. The findings of a national task team of subject-matter experts – collected in a white paper titled The Resurgence of Methamphetamines: Methamphetamine Abuse Associated with the Opioid Crisis – have confirmed a recent significant rise in mortality, morbidity and violence directly attributed to methamphetamine abuse and further support concerns that the impact may be even greater than that of the original methamphetamine…


How to Reduce Repeat Encounters

Responding to repeat encounters is a challenge for law enforcement agencies. Individuals who come into frequent contact with law enforcement officers or nonemergency services often have unmet behavioral health, housing or other social services needs. A brief fact sheet, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, outlines four practical steps to help officers address the needs of high utilizers and to reduce their contact with the criminal justice system over time. To download a copy of the fact sheet, visit…


Available on Amazon Books Store

Newly available on Amazon books, Harlem Raiders is a hard-hitting, crime-fighting saga about a diverse narcotics team working in Harlem’s 32nd Precinct during the notorious 1970s and ’80s. Based on a true story, NYPD Sergeant Peter Pranzo leads his narc team (nicknamed the “Harlem Raiders”) in one of New York City’s most notorious neighborhoods, ultimately achieving over 8000 gun and narcotics arrests during a seven year period. Working closely with a local female community leader, Pranzo and his team form…


Shooting the New 9mm Hellcat™ Micro-compact

Todd Fletcher In modern history, “Hellcat” has been one of the names used for some of the baddest and most powerful machines ever developed. From the Grumman F6F Hellcat Navy fighter in WWII to the Dodge® Hellcat Challenger and Charger muscle cars, the Hellcat name means power and capability.  Springfield Armory® might be onto something here. The Hellcat™ micro-compact pistol takes the concept of an everyday concealed carry pistol with small size and weight and adds a duty caliber chambering…


What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness which can spread from person to person. The outbreak first started in China, but cases have been identified in a growing number of other areas, including the United States. Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness. Data suggests that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus which causes COVID-19.Symptoms can include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and…


WHAT’S HOT FROM SHOT?

New Guns for 2020 Mike Boyle The 29th Annual Roundup Covering New Firearms of Most Interest to Law Enforcement The SHOT Show might be best described as the world’s largest firearms exposition, and manufacturers large and small use this event to introduce their newest products and services. As in recent years, the SHOT Show was held in the Sands Convention Center located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this year it drew over 55,000 attendees. With over 2,000 manufacturers on hand,…


BUSTED! – Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity March/April 2020

James L. McClinton, Ph.D Almost as popular as “I’ve only had two beers”… In Ohio, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office issued a serious warning to residents: “Prior to wearing someone else’s pants,” it stated in a Public Service Announcement posted to Facebook, “please remove all drugs, drug paraphernalia, stolen property, or any other illegal items the ‘owner’ of the pants may have left behind.” That’s because, they continued, “ ‘these are not my pants’ is not an affirmative defense” to…


…AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH March/April 2020

Ramesh Nyberg Is the grass really that much greener? The other day, I was on the Web site of my old department to look up someone’s name and I found myself looking around the site and how it was presented to the public. I decided to share my thoughts with you, my fellow brothers and sisters in blue (and brown – we wore brown uniforms and nicknamed them “the brown gown”). Let me begin by telling you that I worked…