Articles by publisher

Essential Patrol Rifle Knowledge and Skills

Todd Fletcher In some departments, carrying a patrol rifle is a confirmation of ability and competence. It’s recognition of a commitment to training and skill development. In other departments, carrying a patrol rifle is a responsibility everyone shoulders.  In my opinion, I prefer to have all officers equipped with rifles because they are easier to shoot accurately and are more effective than a handgun. Greater accuracy and effectiveness seem like a good combination to me. However, there are certain insights…


No More “Dusting for Prints”

Bill Siuru, Ph.D., PE Fingerprints and forensic evidence found at the scene of a crime are two of the most valuable ways to identify a suspect and solve crimes. Current methods for capturing latent fingerprints require physical contact which can possibly damage or destroy the fingerprint, or risk contaminating or destroying the DNA information contained in the fingerprints. Another problem is locating blood spots, gunshot residue and body fluids at the crime scene or on items taken from the scene…


The Wheels of Justice November/December 2019

Sergeant James Post TRANSPORTATION 2020 Welcome to our transportation issue for 2020, our annual review of everything which is new in LE vehicles and equipment for the coming year as seen at national events like the IACP Conference, Police Security Expo, Police Fleet Expo, and the Michigan State Police (MSP) vehicle tests. You’ve often heard that “hindsight is 20/20,” well, we’re here to prove that foresight is also 20/20, as we give you a huge jump start on building your…


BUSTED! – Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity November/December 2019

James L. McClinton, Ph.D. “Dude, you can’t outrun the Batmobile”… A man in Burtonsville, Maryland, drives a highly recognized vehicle: a custom-built 1966 replica of the Batmobile, complete with rocket launchers, jet flames and a bat phone. When a hit-and-run driver smashed into his prized car on Route 28, he wasn’t about to let the driver make a getaway. “I don’t know what the guy was thinking,” he told a TV reporter. “He must have been going about 60…and just…


…AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH November/December 2019

Ramesh Nyberg We Didn’t Start the Fire…             By the time you read this, the holiday season will be in full swing. So, this column focuses on reflection of the past, and thanks – yes, thanks – to our brothers and sisters in blue from the past. What they had to deal with, and how they dealt with it, is an exploration most of us don’t really know about and it has shaped what we – as law enforcement agencies…


New NIJ Journal Article Focuses on Conducted Energy Device Policies

Better knowledge of the use and effects of Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) and developments in constitutional law have prompted law enforcement in the past decade to revisit policies on the widely used “less-lethal weapon” which stuns and usually immobilizes subjects to make it easier for law enforcement officers to subdue them. Since CEDs were introduced as a law enforcement tool, the NIJ has sponsored research related to implementation, officer training and potential effects. NIJ-sponsored research on CED effects has repeatedly…


Take These Three Steps to Safeguard Against Ransomware Attacks

The recent ransomware attacks targeting systems across the country are the latest in a string of attacks affecting state and local government partners. The growing number of such attacks highlights the critical importance of making cyber preparedness a priority and taking the necessary steps to secure our networks against adversaries. Prevention is the most effective defense against ransomware. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), the National Governors Association (NGA), and the…


The Importance and Impact of Cold Case Units

The National Institute of Justice has released a new video which highlights the work of practitioners from across the criminal justice system. The video and its companion document, “National Best Practices for Implementing and Sustaining a Cold Case Investigation Unit,” (PDF) provide information on the importance of cold case units and the impact they can have within the criminal justice system. To view the video, go to nij.ojp.gov/media/video/23381


Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services recently published a new report, “Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies,” designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being. This document focuses on innovative, but replicable, programs in law enforcement agencies of various sizes around the country. The publication reports on 11 case studies of programs in ten departments and one call-in crisis line. Each chapter describes the agencies’ programs and their origins, focusing on elements which can be implemented elsewhere…


SAFETY ALERT: What They Didn’t Teach You About Naloxone Could Get You Killed

John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D. and Gregg J. Gunta, Esq. On May 15, 2019, Appleton, Wisconsin, police officers and firefighters responded to a bus passenger’s medical emergency at the Valley Transit Center in downtown Appleton. The passenger, later identified as 47-year-old Ruben Houston of Wausau, Wisconsin, was asleep on the bus and did not get up to exit when it arrived at the Transit Center. Passengers reported him snoring oddly, while another passenger claimed Mr. Houston appeared to exhibit symptoms…