January 2021

New Article on Palm Prints

Published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the article “What Police Officers Need to Know About Palm Prints,” discusses advancements in technologies to identify palm prints and how agencies can ensure that they capture palm prints correctly during booking. The author discusses the National Palm Print System; the cost of incomplete palm prints; how to capture a quality palm print; and resources to improve palm print capture.  The article can be read at https://tinyurl.com/yaglqdhh


New Article Discussing the Opioid Crisis

The Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP) published an article, “The Opioid Crisis and Children: The Critical Role of Law Enforcement,” which discusses law enforcement agencies’ role in mitigating the effects of the nation’s opioid crisis on its youngest victims. The article discusses how law enforcement can leverage deflection strategies to identify and protect drug endangered children and how to connect them to community-based treatment which is critical to reducing their exposure to substance use at home. To…


ADVANCING YOUR CAREER WITH EDUCATION

Dr. Stephenie Slahor Your personal betterment, your career and your confidence can all be enhanced through education, but your first step is to determine what focus you want in your learning and which schools will best meet that goal. An associate two year degree program in law enforcement is a foundation for basic instruction. The coursework at that level will likely be cataloged by the school as 100 and 200 level courses. The associate degree is offered at community/junior colleges,…


Taking Aim at the Dark – What Every Officer Needs to Know About Night Sights

Eugene Nielsen The ability to engage and hit targets in low light scenarios is critical to officer survival. The importance of low light shooting skills isn’t diminished during daylight hours. During the day, there are many situations in which officers are faced with reduced or inconsistent light.  Ambient light isn’t the only factor. Your visual acuity will be further reduced by the fact that you and your assailant will frequently be in motion prior to, and during, a shooting. And,…


Are Dynamic Entries No Good?

Ralph Mroz If you see anything wrong with my reasoning, please feel free to correct me. I’ve been reading articles which claim that dynamic tactical entries are dangerous and outdated and that a more methodical “slice the pie/don’t enter until you’ve visually cleared almost all of the room” approach is the current standard. These posts are written by ex-Special Forces guys from both the US and allies, but they are preaching to law enforcement folks. While I don’t for a minute…


The Wheels of Justice January/February 2021

Sergeant James Post Protecting Officers: Ballistic Armor for Police Vehicles Advances in ballistic protection technology have made adding armor to law enforcement vehicles easier and more affordable, eliminating the need for “patrol cars” like the one shown below.  “Let’s be careful out there.” With these words, Sergeant Phil Esterhaus (played by Michael Conrad) closed the daily roll call which signaled a new episode of the beloved “Hill Street Blues,” a television show on NBC which aired from 1981 to 1987….


Legal Update January/February 2021

Larry E. Holtz, Esq. US Supreme Court to Decide Warrantless “Hot Pursuit” Home Entry for a Minor Offense In Lange v. California (US 20-18) (cert. granted 10-19-20), the United States Supreme Court agreed to decide the issue of whether a police officer may make a warrantless home entry when the officer is in pursuit of a person of whom the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a jailable misdemeanor offense. In the case description below, the defendant, Arthur…


BUSTED! – Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity January/February 2021

Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity James L. McClinton, Ph.D. I can’t see that marriage lasting… In Antwerp, Belgium, a 24-year-old convicted drug smuggler hired a helicopter at Deurne airport, then hijacked the aircraft in mid-flight and forced the pilot to fly to Berkendaal women’s prison to free his 27-year-old wife. As inmates cheered and waved below, the pilot circled the prison yard, trying unsuccessfully to land, while the hijacker put his head out of the chopper to vomit, before giving…


Ready Bags and Packs for Law Enforcement

Ralph Mroz I dislike the term “go bag” because it’s often not accurate. Sometimes, they are used in “go” situations; other times, in “return” situations; and, sometimes, they just haul stuff around. What are called “go bags” are really just gear hauling bags – better referred to as “ready bags.” They are distinguished from paper grocery sacks and generic gym bags by 1) their sturdy materials and construction; 2) their suitability for traversing rough terrain (urban or wilderness); and 3)…


…AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH January /February 2021

Ramesh Nyberg “I am the eye in the sky, looking at you…” – Alan Parsons, 1982 The old “Adventures of Superman” TV show started with, “Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird…it’s a plane…no, it’s…” …Officer Friendly! It is?      Yes! I’m not talking about a police officer wearing a cape. I’m speaking about unmanned aerial systems, better known as “drones.” Quadcopters (as they are also called) have become more than just wondrous playthings for retired cops who write for…