Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. RETURN FIRE There’s not much a street cop can do about that — and I don’t ever recall being asked for my input on a case — I’d have insisted every case I submitted was prosecuted and to hang ‘em all from the nearest tree. Tactical Testimony It’s not surprising to read a civics lesson from an attorney (In Defense of Defense Attorneys, March/April 2009), but I’m disappointed to find it in this publication. My time as a street cop followed by 20-some years of prosecution gave me a different perspective. What goes on in our courtrooms would probably horrify the founding fathers. Criminal law and procedure isn’t found in the Constitution but rather in the decisions of subsequent Supreme Courts. Yes, some defense attorneys are decent people but what they do in courtrooms is far too often the exact opposite of justice. The fact this behavior is legal may be part of why public opinion of lawyers is what it is. Instead of the kind of lecture street cops hear from criminal apologists all the time, this publication should be presenting articles that give tactics and strategy for beating the defense game. Most of what cops are taught about the courtroom process is useless when it comes to effectively testifying. We learn these skills from on-the-job training. Most cases disappear down the plea bargaining rabbit hole with little or no input from the arresting officers, so job-one is how to present cases so they’re properly charged and zealously prosecuted. Good street cops understand the system’s failures without the civics lesson. What they need from American COP are the tools to fight in the courtroom in the same way they need to know about the latest gear and trends. Ken Smith Hoyt, KS Ken, thanks for weighing in on the matter. It was my experience in San Diego, cases disappeared down the plea bargain rabbit hole mainly due to budgetary concerns and, to a degree, keeping conviction stats high. There’s not much a street cop can do about that — and I don’t ever recall being asked for my input on a case — I’d have insisted every case I submitted was prosecuted and to hang ‘em all from the nearest tree. But it sounds like you may have some training ideas — I’d love to share them in the magazine, or if anybody else has ideas on this matter — send them to me at ed@ americancopmagazine.com. SH And … Defense attorneys are filters to insure people arrested for crimes aren’t unnecessarily penalized. I have no problem with demanding officers are convinced if they 800.852.6088 | OfficerStore.com 8 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • JULY/AUGUST 2009