All Law Enforcement, Defense & Security Articles
  • How a shotgun laser bore can improve your wing and clays shooting on the…

    Irwin Greenstein Recreation & Leisure

    When it comes to shooting clays, muscle memory is one of those things that can be either a blessing or a curse. It’s a blessing when you imprint the proper way to mount and swing a shotgun into your motor skills so that they become "second nature." It’s a curse if you’ve developed an awful swing or mount that has already turned into a so-called "bad habit" that becomes difficult to break. Either way, you can see the subconscious power of muscle memory at work every time you step up to shoot a clay target.

  • Is honesty the best policy?

    Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    Every department operates with policies, standard operating procedures, guidelines, etc. However, no matter how strictly you follow these parameters, they do not "always" work from a practical standpoint. Is following them to the "T" always working in the best interest of the client/patients/public? Sometimes the decision-makers within the top ranks of a department do not have in-depth knowledge about what is taking place at the lower levels — in my case, serving in the emergency response division of the fire department for most of my career.

  • Officers build community bonds with summer charity events

    Dr. Denise A. Valenti Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    As summer was coming to an end, the Arlington, Virginia, Police Department was practicing using its muscle to pull an airplane.The pull, before it was canceled by Hurricane Florence, was to raise money for the local Special Olympics. But last year, the officers from Arlington got soaked to demonstrate precision rather than brute strength. To promote and encourage attendance at a community block party, five officers shed their protective police gear and decked themselves in goggles and floral swim caps. They then performed a synchronized swimming routine. The hilarious event was made available on video.

  • Nothing — repeat nothing — is more important than safety when handling…

    Irwin Greenstein Recreation & Leisure

    Many shooters get so focused on making the shot that they lose track of what’s going on around them. Once that happens, it’s simply a matter of time until an accident happens with your shotgun. Ignoring or forgetting the safety basics are very easy to do. Shooters get complacent, overconfident or distracted. Eventually, every shooter at one time or another does something unsafe with a shotgun. The doctrine of shotgun safety prevents you from accidentally firing your gun — either through human or mechanical error. There are no shortcuts to safety, and the rules are never relaxed.

  • California signs new clean energy law while fires still burn

    Michelle R. Matisons Civil & Government

    Autumn weather has arrived in many places, bringing with it all of the usual changes, but you may not know this from the ongoing wildfire saga that continues summer burning conditions into fall. All eyes are now on the Delta fire, which started burning on Sept. 5. The fire exploded onto Interstate 5, a major highway that runs from Canada to Mexico, causing the interstate’s closure over the weekend. As of the afternoon of Sept. 10, that highway has been reopened. Cal Fire reports already spending $432 million through August, leaving only $11 million in the current budget. Legislators have been asked to approve an additional $234 million for ongoing expenses.

  • Law enforcement agencies look to invest in pursuit management technology

    Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    Recent headlines related to police chases gone awry or near-misses are disturbing. But they also explain why law enforcement officials are looking at advanced police pursuit technologies. They want to do their jobs better and without any tragic consequences or risking officer safety. Police departments, such as ones in Massachusetts, have announced that they are looking for new methods of pursuit, ones that can help forgo such high-speed chases. Unfortunately, most of these new tech tools are too expensive for cash-strapped local departments.

  • Social media and the use of force

    Eric Lamberson Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    If you are ever involved in a use-of-force incident and are charged criminally, one of the things that you can be certain of is that the prosecutor will ferret out every controversial thing you have ever posted online. He will use that information to paint you as a bloodthirsty, Rambo-wannabe who was itching to kill someone for their own visceral pleasure. What you post on social media, what you wear, the public behaviors you exhibit, and potentially what others post can be used against you in a court of law.

  • Maintaining your hand and power tools

    Frank R. Myers Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    During morning checks of your apparatus, it is important to not only check the power tools on your truck, but also the hand tools. Regular maintenance and cleaning need to take place to assure that they will perform correctly when needed and be presentable in case a public demonstration takes place. Keeping this philosophy in mind is a "win-win" situation for both the public and the firefighters that use the tools.

  • Heads-up: Safety and liability in manufacturing

    Delany Martinez Manufacturing

    Innovation in manufacturing has made for surprisingly even footing among rivals in a variety of industries. The last remaining point of competition for market share, some argue, is found in speed and efficiency: even if two companies are making the same products, the business that gets the products made and shipped more quickly is the ostensible winner in the battle for consumer wallets. That intense focus on speed and volume, however, can come at a high cost for companies that don't tread carefully.

  • Crisis intervention training becomes a crucial tool for law enforcement

    Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

    The news sometimes features stories of wrongful shootings by police officers, and many of these cases involve a victim with a mental health crisis. The officers' misunderstanding of the situation can be partly to blame in these scenarios. But it is a lot more than that. We need to revisit their training before criticizing them. Most experts say that it is lack of specialized training and knowledge that lead to these inappropriate responses. Most of them react out of fear and frustration. This is where crisis intervention training (CIT) will help.