What are peer-to-peer darknets?
I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that the law enforcement community’s perception of the “dark web” has remained uncomfortably stagnant over the past decade. As I have previously […] Read More
January 2025
Combating false information on your agency’s social media
Seven strategies for success
Have you ever encountered a situation in which a lighthearted social media post about an upcoming community engagement event goes sideways? Perhaps a community member floods the comments section with […] Read More
Self-education: The unofficial degree
Opportunities for training in law enforcement are vast and plentiful. With the surplus of free or low-cost training available to the average police officer, there really is no excuse for […] Read More
Scenario-based training: Effective when done correctly
Just as well-designed and executed scenarios can enhance our training programs, poorly designed scenarios can cause tremendous damage. There is more to executing quality reality-based training than just making up […] Read More
Dot or not?
Exploring miniaturized dot optics for duty handguns
In the ever-evolving world of law enforcement, miniaturized red dot sights (MRDS) on duty handguns are gaining traction. Many departments report enhanced target acquisition and accuracy with these optics. However, […] Read More
Prozac saved my career, and possibly my life
This article is not something that I enjoyed writing, and it’s something that I certainly would not have even considered when I was still in the professional arena, as it […] Read More
Retirement … Now what?
Don’t go in without an ops plan
As the critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) ended, the officers got up from their seats, said their thank-yous and meandered over to the spread of cold cut meats, cheese, coffee […] Read More
Finding peace through nature
To decrease your stress and increase your well-being, just step outside
As John Muir, the renowned “father of the National Parks,” poetically expressed, “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal […] Read More
Jive Clock empathy
Understanding what it means to be empathetic in a job that demands toughness
Can cops show empathy? “It’s there but it needs to be cultivated,” says Dr. Peter Killeen, a police psychotherapist. He explains, “Every individual has the capacity to exhibit empathy. However, […] Read More
Misconceptions about police violence
In recent years, the use of force by police officers is arguably getting more attention than any other issue in policing. Claims by civil rights leaders, politicians and media figures […] Read More
Mistakes were made
Perspective for rookies, nostalgia for veterans
Field training. First DOA run. House full of meth addicts losing their minds. I get there followed shortly by medics who begin working the very dead-looking subject, trying to pump […] Read More
“Can we still be friends?”
Building positive law enforcement labor–management relationships
Dave, when you become president of the FOP can we still be friends?” This question, from an assistant chief in October 2021, stopped me dead in my tracks. I was […] Read More
What will they think of next?
Police warn of parking ticket scams
Fraud is an incredibly tragic ordeal. There’s obviously the cost to the victim, but there’s also a layer of irony to the craft. While many of the schemes concocted by […] Read More
North Dakota cop stops active shooter
Let’s take this outside.” It’s an age-old trope: A fight (or the potential thereof) starts inside a bar. The bouncers (whose concern for law and order stops at the doorway) […] Read More
Community mourns Massachusetts officer killed on Thanksgiving
The week after Thanksgiving is often a time to catch up on missed work, or maybe to work off the calories with an extra trip to the gym. Unfortunately, in […] Read More
Operation Holiday Cheer
California public safety agencies bring joy to area hospitals
Editor’s note: This article is adapted with permission from the January 2025 issue of PORAC Law Enforcement News, the official magazine of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC). […] Read More
Did you know? Law Enforcement Appreciation Day was started by C.O.P.S.
In December 2014, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) invited partnering organizations to promote a day of appreciation for law enforcement all across the nation. Civil unrest was rampant after events […] Read More
