On Routine Patrol:Cop war stories from around the nation
Almost, but not quite I was working in the Traffic Division as a traffic enforcement officer on a police motorcycle. I had my radar gun on my motorcycle and saw […] Read More
August 2021
That cop was waffle-y helpful
As a Kansas man recently explained on a GoFundMe page, “Hi everyone, my name is James Pyle and I suck at fantasy football. Because I lost my fantasy football league […] Read More
Student Police Academy
The Groton Police Department in Massachusetts recently conducted its first-ever Student Police Academy, giving middle-schoolers a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement. Chief Michael F. Luth tells us, “One of the […] Read More
Little libraries, lots of heart
The Toledo Police Department is memorializing its fallen officers in a special way that ensures their legacy lives on in the community. Each of the agency’s substations will feature a […] Read More
Beyond critical incident stress management
Why the trauma intervention model you use is important
Police officers are highly resilient individuals. However, as first responders to the distress and suffering of others, these individuals are also at a particularly high risk of exposure to both […] Read More
How to deal with difficult behaviors
In police departments, some colleagues are easy to work with, while others can be tough. Using your skills to get along with different personalities can be very unpleasant, but it […] Read More
Marriage 9-1-1
Warning signs of a marriage in distress Resentment. Lack of communication. Lack of intimacy. Decreased affection. Avoidance. Not spending time together. Making unilateral decisions. Arguing a lot. Not fighting fair; i.e., […] Read More
Creating a family support group at your agency
In 2020, I attended an IACP-sponsored officer health and wellness seminar where the director of our regional peer support team and I were tasked with creating a family support group […] Read More
The lasting emotional and mental effects of being a first responder spouse
I awoke to what I thought was a doorbell. I glanced at my clock: midnight. It must have been a dream. Who would ring my doorbell at midnight? My husband […] Read More
Surviving retirement
Tips for a healthy adjustment
Retirement involves much more than financial well-being and medical coverage. What about the stuff no one likes to talk about … feelings?! After all, you are human. The reality is […] Read More
Virtual currencies: Policy considerations
Policies have had a poor reputation in the law enforcement community for many years. We have all heard about a new policy written because of someone’s poor action or bad […] Read More
Virtual reality gets real
Agencies turn to new tech for use-of-force training
Several law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are leveraging virtual reality (VR) simulations to enhance de-escalation and use-of-force training. According to a WPR report, the Superior and Racine police departments, along […] Read More
Investigative treasure trove
Data suggests Big Tech continues to comply with law enforcement
Perhaps it’s simple human nature, wanting to share information about what’s happening in our lives, that has led to the over-proliferation of social media posts. For investigators, people’s tendency to […] Read More
Don’t be biased: Seek your own training
Law enforcement training programs have reached a crossroads. Over the past two years, training budgets have been slashed to the point where officers receive the least amount of training required […] Read More
Grip vs. trigger
Why both are important in firearms training
When it comes to firearms instructors, most of them fall into one of two camps. There are the “proper grip” instructors and the “slow, steady press” instructors. What if I […] Read More
The art of building- clearing
There are many groups in law enforcement that are periodically required to approach, enter and search a structure, whether it be a residence, business or otherwise. These groups include patrol, […] Read More
On defunding the police
An Atlanta city councilman, while meeting with community leaders, according to WSB-TV, had his car stolen from almost literally under his nose. Antonio Brown is in the running for the […] Read More
School resource officer programs
Path to arrests or reform?
Prior to the 1950s, the concept of a school resource officer (SRO) was not widely heard of. Most educational interactions between schools and local law enforcement were done on an […] Read More
Curiosity may be the most powerful tool on your belt
An officer carries an average of 20 pounds of equipment at any given time. On their belt hangs their duty weapon, extra magazines, Taser, baton, pepper spray, radio, flashlight, handcuffs, […] Read More
Low on ammo
Pandemic-induced shortage forces local law enforcement agencies to adapt
The COVID-19 pandemic has squeezed supply chains across a range of consumer goods in all kinds of industries and markets. For law enforcement, there has arguably been no greater impact […] Read More
Beyond the badge
Preparing for an off-duty encounter
Since transitioning out of the Marine Corps in 2015, I have had the incredible privilege of running a firearms training company for a living. Every year, our team at Defensive […] Read More
