Social media as a trust-building tool
Police can’t do their job without public trust, and the battle for that trust is being fought online. The events of summer 2020 and the ongoing friction between police and community have challenged […] Read More
April 2021
Doorbell cams are putting cops at risk
Millions of doorbell cameras and home security systems have become an invaluable investigative resource for police, recording illegal activity from porch pirates to serious, violent crimes, including the alleged placement of pipe bombs […] Read More
All-hazards training goes virtual
FEMA’s CDP enhances online offerings during pandemic
In 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) faced the challenge of COVID-19 by increasing the number of its computer-based offerings. By moving more of its content online, the […] Read More
Cop Hobbies: Tombstone cleaning
My hobby is tombstone cleaning … something I started out of a sense of duty, only to discover how rewarding it could be. I remember how it started. One day, I went in […] Read More
Statistical analysis in law enforcement
Using statistics for patrol activities and identifying patterns and trends in crime
When managers and leaders want to know what is common or what is average when thinking about a particular problem, they refer to statistics to reach some type of conclusion. The conclusions reached […] Read More
So you got assigned to I.A., huh?
Tips on how to get it right
I remember when that happened to me. I had only been a patrol sergeant for a year and a half when I got that call. Traditionally, the sergeants who got assigned to internal […] Read More
On Routine Patrol
Cop war stories from around the nation
The double-line drunk Getting a call of a body lying in the middle of a four-lane street at 2:15 a.m. would make any cop cringe, especially this one. I hate working traffic, collisions […] Read More
The FLSA public safety exemption needs to go
Timesheet day. It’s a dreaded event for supervisors and human resources departments everywhere. As the deadlines to process payroll approach, they scurry about furiously checking timesheets against policies, sending sheets back to the […] Read More
Negativity: A survival mechanism that can kill you
We all have a tendency to focus on the negative. It’s a survival mechanism that’s hardwired into us. This means that, instinctively, we think more about the stick that could beat us than […] Read More
The ultimate battle
Former MMA competitor fights to leave positive impact on community
Everyone remembers the horrific Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest festival event in 2017. To date, it is the deadliest mass shooting incident in the United States, killing more than 55 people and injuring […] Read More
Carry a big one
Proper planning prevents being chased by elk
In August 2012, my wife, teenage daughter and I were finalizing the plans for our family motorhome vacation to a national wildlife park up north. It was particularly exciting because six years prior, […] Read More
Common marital issues for LE couples
Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar: You get home from a long shift at work and your spouse is at the door asking you how your day was. Maybe you’re too tired […] Read More
Lack of vaccinations among cops
Early surveys suggest police and other first responders resist COVID-19 vaccines
From Chicago, to Mobile, Alabama, to Dallas-Fort Worth and up to San Jose, California, police agencies admit the COVID-19 vaccination rates among the rank and file have been unexpectedly low, at least early […] Read More
Reducing officer-induced escalation
A call for non-escalation training
Why do we still do what we do? I know several officers during the past year who left law enforcement because they simply had enough of the pervasive anti-law-enforcement rhetoric. Unfortunately, they were […] Read More
PTSD treatment that works
The benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy
There are several treatments for post-traumatic stress; however, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is nearly universally recognized to be one of the most effective by certified trauma professionals who practice it and […] Read More
Competitive shooting for law enforcement officers
“Make ready.” “Are you ready?” “Stand by …” Beep! When I hear these words, my heart beats faster, my respiratory rate increases and the adrenaline starts to flow. Anyone who thinks competitive shooting […] Read More
