Articles

Command under Fire lead image

SWAT & Tactical February 20, 2026

Command Under Fire: Making Smart Decisions When Seconds Count

Jon B. Becker A veteran SWAT leader shares proven tactics for assessing risk, managing stress and making the right call under pressure. In law enforcement, the difference between a good outcome and a disaster can come down to making the right decision under extreme pressure. Inspector Kevin Cyr is the Commander of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Emergency Response Team (ERT) for British Columbia. This is one of North America’s largest tactical units and Cyr lives this reality every day….

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Weaponry February 17, 2026

A Radically Different Duty Round – And Why It Works

Eugene Nielsen The Black Hills Ammunition HoneyBadger™ line of defensive ammunition represents a paradigm shift in bullet design. Named after one of the most “badass” animals on the planet, this ammunition has been engineered to perform under the most demanding conditions faced by law enforcement officers. HoneyBadger was first introduced several years ago, but controversy still exists surrounding it as it challenges many decades of conventional wisdom. Developed through a collaboration between Jeff Hoffman of Black Hills and Dave Fricke,…

Industry News Setina image

News February 10, 2026

Setina Introduces Next-generation Law Enforcement Vehicle Console

Setina Manufacturing Co., Inc. recently announced the launch of its new law enforcement vehicle console, engineered to deliver unmatched comfort, adaptability and mission-ready performance for today’s patrol vehicles. Designed with direct input from the field, this next-generation console blends ergonomic innovation with rugged durability to support officers through long shifts and demanding operations. At the core of the new console is a focus on officer comfort and efficiency. An integrated swivel armrest provides all-day support while maintaining quick, intuitive access…

Busted lead image

Busted February 6, 2026

Busted!

James L. McClinton, Ph.D. Dress for the job you want?… An 18-year-old Florida man was arrested on a DUI charge after failing a sobriety test – while dressed up as a prison inmate for a Halloween party. He was cruising through Port St. Lucie, Florida, on October 31 when officers with the local police department pulled him over shortly before 6:00 a.m. The officers had him complete a sobriety test in a nearby parking lot, but struggled to look past…

How to Turn 1 Billion Records lead image

Technology February 3, 2026

How to Turn a Billion Records into a Force Multiplier

John G. Stephenson What once took hours of analysis now takes seconds – before the first call for service. It’s 11:00 p.m., the start of the midnight shift in a busy urban police department. An officer turns on his cruiser’s MDT as he starts rolling toward the neighborhoods which comprise his patrol area. The screen in front of him loads a host of visual data which he’ll need over the next eight hours to do his job safely and effectively:…

CRI-TAC Spotlight

News January 30, 2026

CRI-TAC Spotlight: Metropolitan Nashville (TN) Police Department’s Professional Wellness Section

The Collaborative Reform Initiative: Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) Spotlight series is committed to advancing knowledge through sharing tools, resources and information developed for the law enforcement field as a result of customized training and technical assistance delivered by CRI-TAC. This publication provides guidance to the law enforcement field on the purpose, structure and goals of law enforcement wellness checks and the different types of wellness checks agencies can establish. A copy of this publication can be downloaded at https://tinyurl.com/36mwh8m8

and nothing but the truth lead image

....and nothing but the truth January 27, 2026

…and nothing but the truth

Ramesh Nyberg The Badge Is Not a Political Tool These are remarkable times we’re living in. I don’t think anyone could deny that today’s politically charged atmosphere is unprecedented, having no rival except maybe the 1960s, when turmoil over Vietnam, racial unrest and Richard Nixon prevailed. For those reasons and basic personal policy, you’ll notice I have always stayed away from political viewpoints in this column. I will continue to do so, but instead offer my observations – however modest…

Industry News Springfield Armory image

News January 16, 2026

Springfield Armory® FIRSTLINE Program Continues Its Support of America’s FirstResponders

Springfield Armory reports that its FIRSTLINE program – launched in 2022 to support law enforcement and other first responders – remains active and widely used in 2026. FIRSTLINE was created to give qualified professionals direct access to duty-ready firearms at substantial discounts through a simple, point-of-sale process. “From the start, FIRSTLINE was built around the needs of working officers,” says Fred Mincks, Law Enforcement Sales Manager for Springfield Armory. “We recognize the demands placed on today’s first responders, and this…

Drone Deployment Policies lead image

Technology January 13, 2026

Drone Deployment Policies and Training in Law Enforcement: A Tactical Evolution

Eugene Nielsen The integration of unmanned aerial systems (drones) into law enforcement – from SWAT operations to traffic monitoring and search and rescue – has revolutionized public safety by delivering unprecedented speed, situational awareness and officer safety. As of 2023, over 1,400 law enforcement agencies in the US actively used drones. This is a 54% increase over six years. However, with this rapid adoption comes the critical need for robust policies, comprehensive training and adherence to federal regulations. Policy Framework:…

Adaptive Crowd Control Management lead image

SWAT & Tactical January 9, 2026

Adaptive Crowd Control Management: Merging Italian Doctrine with American Practice

Andrea “Mahigun” Bogiatto Crowd and civil disturbance operations are among the most complex tasks in modern policing. Urban density, rapid information flow, and the psychological volatility of large groups have rendered improvisation and experience-based approaches increasingly obsolete. In the United States, analyses by the Department of Justice (“After-Action Assessment of the Police Response to the 2020 Protests,” 2022) and the National Institute of Justice (“Police Response to Mass Demonstrations,” 2020) identified three recurring structural weaknesses: 1) absence of a unified…