http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/RSS.ashxAmerican COP Sep/Oct 2008 PagesWed, 24 Sep 2008 17:38:19 +0200http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=1http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=1WHAT SWAT NEEDS TO KNOW WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM $5.95 OUTSIDE U.S. $9.50 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 AND A S WESSON M&P45! SureFire GE A PACK SMITH & WIN AN ULTIMATE REVIVAL SHOW MAKING MAKING PERFECTION PERFECTION EVEN EVEN BETTER BETTER ROBAR'S BLADE RUNNER 101 "IT'S NOT AN EASY THING "IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO MEET YOUR MAKER." TECHNO HIDE AND SEEK LEXISNEXIS SEXUAL PREDITOR SOFTWARE Focus: •Private Prisons •We Don't Shoot With Our Feet •Mitch Rosen Holsters •Brownells Back-up Sights ACR's PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON HOW CLOSE IS YOUR COVER? 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POLICE GEAR ® FREE GALCO HAT! with any Galco holster purchase (Limit one hat per order)2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=3http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=3LOSE SIGHT FOR A SECOND AND YOU’RE OUT OF THE FIGHT 4 PM. STOLEN CAR. You need to see everything. The shine of a knife, the glint of a gun. You need to see their hands. Good thing your sunglasses aren’t just sunglasses. They’re Revision Hellfly. Made by the leader in ballistic eyewear for the military worldwide. And Hellfly is made for you. High impact protection, state of the art optics, 100% UV and wraparound lenses to keep you covered on all sides. All under one ounce. So you’re ready for the worst, ready with the best. That’s Revision Ready. PROVEN UNDER FIRE* “Any situation can turn bad, quick… Why take a chance with anything other than Revision. It’s not worth the risk.” – Federal Law Enforcement Officer BE REVISION READY www.revisioneyewear.com M I S S I O N C R I T I C A L E Y E W E A R® *12 gauge shotgun, 1-1/8oz #7.5 lead shot, 1,148 ft/s velocity at 16 feet. ©2008 REVISION EYEWEAR LTD. HELLFLY™ AND REVISION® ARE TRADEMARKS OF REVISION EYEWEAR LTD, 7 CORPORATE DRIVE, ESSEX JUNCTION, VT 054522008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=4http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=42008 SEP • OCT Volume 4, Number 5, Issue 19 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 38 FEATURES 38 44 46 48 51 53 4 Glock’s Great G17 Taken To A New Level. How Close Is Your Closest Cover unit? We Don’t Shoot With Our Feet! THE REVIVAL SHOW SHEP KELLY 36 MICROFIX FROM ACR MARK HANTEN STANCE NONSENSE PAUL MARKEL BLADE RUNNER 101 KEVIN MCPHERSON SHOOTING WITH X-RAY VISION JAMES S. WILLIAMS MD FIRST RESPONDER CALL OUT BOB PILGRIM WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 It's Not Easy to Meet Your Maker. Vital Shot Placement In Dire Curcumstances. What Swat Needs To Know.2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=5http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=544 53 COLUMNS 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 LEAA JAMES J. FOTIS CORRECTIONS BRIAN DAWE HIGH TECH BOB DAVIS OFFICER SURVIVAL SAMMY REESE EVOC ANTHONY RICCI HARD TOOLS PAUL MARKEL RESERVES PERRY W. HORNBARGER 56 RESOURCES 72 76 76 SPOTLIGHT CLASSIFIEDS AD INDEX STREET LEVEL JOHN MORRISON REALITY CHECK II CLINT SMITH CARRY OPTIONS MARK HANTEN PRIVATE SECURITY ED PALUMBO 32 DEPARTMENTS ON THE 18 20 SUREFIRE ULTIMATE PACKAGE 26 74 34 38 44 46 48 51 SureFire and Smith & Wesson Spectacular Give-A-Way! 53 8 RETURN FIRE 56 ON THE JOB 78 INSIDER RUMINATIONS COVER: PRIVATE PRISONS TECHNO HIDE AND SEEK BROWNELL'S BACK-UP SIGHTS MITCH ROSEN HOLSTERS ROBAR'S REVIVAL SHOW ACR's PERSONAL LOCATOR WE DON'T SHOOT WITH OUR FEET BLADE RUNNER 101 SHOOTING WITH X-RAY VISION WHAT SWAT NEEDS TO KNOW 51 WIN! AMERICAN COP™ (ISSN 1557-2609) is published bi-monthly by Publishers’ Development Corp., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. Periodical postage paid at San Diego CA 92128, and at additional entry offices. Subscriptions: One year (six issues) $24.95. Single copies $5.95 (in Canada $9.50). Change of address: four weeks notice required on all changes. Send old address as well as new. Contributors submitting manuscripts, photographs or drawings do so at their own risk. Material cannot be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. Payment is for all world rights for the material. The act of mailing a manuscript constitutes the author’s certification of originality of material. Opinions expressed are those of the bylined authors and do not necessarily represent those of the magazine or it's advertisers. Advertising rates furnished on request. Reproduction or use of any portion of this magazine in any manner, without written permission, is prohibited. Entire contents Copyright© 2008 Publishers’ Development Corp. All rights reserved. Title to this publication passes to subscriber only on delivery to his address. SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS: For immediate action, write Subscription Dept., 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AMERICAN COP™, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, CA 92128. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 52008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=6http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=6AMERICAN COP PUBLISHER THOMAS von ROSEN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR ROY HUNTINGTON EDITOR DAVE DOUGLAS ART DIRECTOR RICHARD STAHLHUT EDITORIAL ASSISTANT STEPHANIE JARRELL EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ROXANNE SMITH ART ASSISTANT ANDY LOY PRODUCTION MANAGER LINDA PETERSON ADVERTISING PRODUCTION DENNAYE CUSICK ´ PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR RANDY MOLDE PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR LORINDA MASSEY CONTRIBUTING EDITORS FIREARMS TRAINING EDITOR CLINT SMITH CCW/DUTY CARRY EDITOR MARK HANTEN TECHNOLOGY EDITOR BOB DAVIS VEHICLE/EVOC EDITOR ANTHONY RICCI OFFICER SAFETY EDITOR SAMMY REESE PROFFESIONAL SECURITY EDITOR ED PALUMBO SUPERVISORY SKILLS EDITOR JOHN MORRISON LEAA ISSUES EDITOR JAMES J. FOTIS EDGED WEAPONS EDITOR ERNEST EMERSON COMPETITION EDITOR ROB LEATHAM LEGAL ISSUES EDITOR JEREMY D. CLOUGH EQUIPMENT EDITOR PAUL MARKEL CONTRIBUTING EDITORS WES DOSS, STEVE ALBRECHT, RALPH MROZ, BEN DOUGLAS, BRIAN HOFFNER, RICH GRASSI, FRANK BORELLI ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT MANAGER DELANO AMAGUIN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE STEVE EVATT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ANITA CARSON ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE JEFF MOREY NATIONAL ADVERTISING: 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128; e-mail: delano@americancopmagazine.com; (858) 605-0206; Fax: (858) 605-0208 FMG PUBLICATIONS EDITOR: ROY HUNTINGTON ADVERTISING: STEVE EVATT AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM EDITOR: JEFF JOHN ADVERTISING: JEFF MOREY GUNSMAGAZINE.COM EDITOR: RUSS THURMAN ADVERTISING: ANITA CARSON SHOOTINGINDUSTRY.COM Special Editions EDITOR: SAMMY REESE ADVERTISING: SCOTT McGREGOR FMGPUBLICATIONS.COM (858) 605-0253 subs@americancopmagazine.com EDITORIAL (858) 605-0243 ed@americancopmagazine.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING (858) 605-0235 class@americancopmagazine.com PRODUCTION (858) 605-0202 production@americancopmagazine.com WEB SITE www.americancopmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTION WARNING: Firearms are dangerous if used improperly, and may cause serious injury or death. Due to the inherent variables in the reloading of metallic cartridges, verify all published loads with manufacturer’s data. Consult a professional gunsmith when modifying any firearm. PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES. 6 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=7http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=7BRIGHTNESS 24/7 24/7 BRIGHTNESS gh te st tritium ail able! av TFO A R-15 s ight tritium/fiber optic technology — bri THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS! Be prepared anytime, anywhere, with the TRUGLO TFO AR-15 style front sight. el e vation ad justment WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM cli c k 72008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=8http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=8RETURN FIRE “ Remember when the Remington 870s were mounted upright in the patrol cars and police officers still drank coffee and smoked? What Questions? Dave, great articles as usual. The magazine just keeps getting better. A question or two please if I may. Between pages 12 and 13 is a post card type insert “PRIZE PACKAGE ENTRY.” Okay, I admit it. I’m getting old. But as I sit here with quill in paw wanting to answer the questions I cannot find them. What questions? What Prize Package? The Mossberg ” 500 package on pages 74 and 75 calls for the usual post card to be sent. No questions to answer other than the usual. Must be something else? Additionally, isn’t it great to see the Remington 870 and .38/.357 revolver are still viable police and self defense tools? They were good in Cleveland and then later in Phoenix. I never felt under-gunned with either. But then I never left the 60s/70s or the semi GI 60s haircut. Just a sort of entertaining sidelight. Remember when the Remington 870s were mounted upright in the patrol cars and police officers still drank coffee and smoked? Well the upright shotgun barrel was often used as an ashtray. When placed into sudden service in it’s intended capacity the TACTICAL PRACTICAL Whether you’re a budget-minded law enforcement agency wanting Leupold’s pedigree of accuracy or a hardcore hunter looking for the rugged durability of our line of tactical optics, the Mark 2 has you covered. 1.800.LEUPOLD LEUPOLD.COM 8 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=9http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=9RETURN FIRE resulting residual gum, candy, cigarette wrappers and butts would really piss off the coroner. One more thing — as to the editorials. People confuse public servant and public property. Pigeons use public property. Citizens shouldn’t confuse the two. Thanks for your time. Fred Brightman Fred, I’m afraid I buggered that one up and forgot to include the questions. I’m getting old too. The questions are on the web site now and you can also enter via the web site — or so the computer guys say. Sorry for the trouble and thanks for the kind thoughts about the magazine. We are still having fun putting the thing together. Dave BE-A-COP Program Dave, BAC! Back to basics! Drop the fluff and social engineering! This was the best one yet! It’s a great pleasure to read material that shines through the darkness of political correctness as your words always do. The American cop’s chief problem (no pun) is a loss of identity and, therefore, a loss of focus or purpose. If I don’t know who or what I am, I can’t know what I’m about. Patrol? Observe for criminal activity? Arrest bad guys? Sounds familiar somehow, but I’m too busy for that sort of stuff. I’m attending several special schools and seminars geared to enhance my skills in other required areas. I must DARE to be a babysitter at school. I must be an emergency medical specialist, an anti-terrorist walking data bank, a Haz-Mat expert, a clown in a crime fighting doggie suit, a neighborhood watch guy who spreads BS about how we’ll help make your homes crime free, a verbal judo blackbelt, a Homeland Security hawk and a minority community apology man. But why arrest anyone in this postlogic era? Our system has spiraled downward from the concept of Punishment to Correction to, finally, the “Management” of felons. Well, “finally” was not a good choice of words. The “final” phase will be when the felons manage us! Sgt. Jimmy Johnson Dickson County (TN) Sheriff’s Office P.S. - I’m with Clint Smith all the way about the revolvers - AMEN! Jimmy, looks like I’ll have to recruit you to teach the Master Instructor Course for our “new” BAC (Be-A-Cop) program. At least you’ll have fun as I am authorizing WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 92008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=10http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=102008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=11http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=11RETURN FIRE Taser use for “reprogramming” reluctant administrators. Dave Society’s Toilet Brush The first line in the LEAA Column, Jim Fotis mentioned “Gun Control.” I have heard a lot of cops voice the opinion that “Gun Control doesn’t hurt me. I’m a Cop. I’ll always have my gun.” Well think again. It reminded me of a recent conversation I had with a police firearms instructor from Australia. Down-Under, when you go off shift you must turn in your gun. That’s right. After spending all day dealing with scumbags you have to turn in your weapon and go home with an empty holster. In some departments they don’t even get the same one back when they come back on shift. Just take whatever one they happen to hand you. Not surprisingly a number of officers have been assaulted and hospitalized by “unknown assailants” believed to be by people who’d rather the officer not show up in court to testify. You might think you’re a badass but with 4 to 1 odds against guys with cricket bats, I know where my money is. Remember the same people who want to take the guns away from “Joe Citizen” today, were the ones marching in the streets screaming “PIGS!” and throwing bags of dog and human shit at the cops 40 years ago. If you think Pelosi, Schumer, Hillary or their ink, like you or care about you, just because you wear the uniform and protect them — forget it. To people like that, cops are just tools. And not a good tool like the ones you keep clean and oiled — more like a toilet brush. They’re thought of as disgusting and repulsive, but necessary to clean the shit from under the rim. I’m not really interested in getting this published in “Return Fire.” I just thought you might consider having one of your writers do an article on this topic. Try and wake some guys up to the danger out there. If you do publish it, please withhold my last name — I’m in hard-core Democrat County. You’re putting out a great rag. Keep it up. Jerry Jerry, I couldn’t help but publish your e-mail. I have a couple very good friends on the job in Australia and I am trying to convince one of them to write the story. You requested some anonymity due to your geographic location, so I’m sure you can imagine their dilemma. I’ve promised: no writer’s name (I’ll come up with a pen WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM Car windows are tough. Breaking them with a baton is tougher. Punches carry your hand through a shower of glass. The ASP Breakaway makes a car window disappear.like magic. Rescue or arrest. Nothing comes close. • 3 Ceramic Pins • Positioned under the Baton cap • Fits any ASP Baton See the Breakaway and other ASP designs at your local Distributor. For a full color catalog of all ASP products, call 800.236.6243. asp-usa.com B R E A K A W A Y 11 W I N D O W B R E A K E R2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=12http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=122008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=13http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=13RETURN FIRE name like Cecil Hornpuss), no rank, no department name, no city name and no state name. We need to really take a hard look at who we vote for in November. It will have a lasting impact on our rights as cops and as citizens. Dave Evil Lurks Hi, I just read Evil Lurks and your author is wrong about what he can do with a lawfully registered assault weapon in Kalifornia. First of all, pre ban and post ban are references to the federal assault weapons law, which were wiped out in Sept of 2004. Under California Penal Code section12285 if the assault weapon is lawfully registered the characteristics portion, which was enacted in 1999, only effects non-series or “Off List Lower” type assault weapons. So his Old Bushmaster, like many others have can any characteristics. Why advertise such a great AR like the Les Baer with such a lame article. Most of your articles have great info and sources. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with this type of hype for people who evidently do not live in this state to comment on how to reduce violence or keep the peace. The next time a suspect opens up with 35 rounds of 7.62x39 in a project intersection of Kiska and Reardon (Bayview Hunterspoint) and hits the victim four times in the butt, tell Dave Douglas he has done his job for the firearms industry. Ignatius Chinn, retired Oakland Police Department, retired California Department of Justice / Firearms, active San Francisco Police Department Officer Chinn, I’m having trouble determining a clear position. Am I reading that you are a supporter of the California Assault Weapon Ban? I will rely on your expertise here: What were the inaccuracies in the article? Please educate me, I might be old but I am willing to learn. But, just so we don’t continue a myth here, I do, unfortunately, live in this “nanny” state, I don’t work for the firearms industry, I was a cop for 30 years, I despise California’s assault weapons ban, I believe proper, upstanding, law-abiding citizens should be able to own damn near any gun they want to own and I believe we all should be responsible for our own safety. And, I resent the hell out of the California Legislature’s, Diane Feinstein’s and Barbara Boxer ’s opinion that they know better than I how to care for my family and myself. I would really like them to mind their own business and do things to make my life better — like fix the roads, keep illegal aliens out of my 13 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=14http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=14LAW ENFORCEMENT & MILITARY PERSONNEL RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON DPMS PARTS & ACCESSORIES! RETURN FIRE state, stop paying for their education and hospitalization. Don’t get me started — I could fill up this entire magazine with that rant. Dave Douglas Hi Dave, your reference to pre ban and post ban for the California Assault weapons laws is in error. They are federal references that died in Sept. 2004. I was responsible for interpreting the assault weapons laws for the state in the Hunt case, which was just dismissed. Bear in mind, I don’t like the law anymore than you, but when you have homicide rates and assaults with firearms that number in the top ten for the nation, the politicians tend to do what is expedient and legislate against the weapon and not the person. Even if they made it tougher on the criminal, it has been an up hill fight in California. When I started in law enforcement in 1970 we had 11 state prisons, 37 years later we now have 33 state prisons and several private ones, which I believe puts us right at around 40 state prisons facilities. In an attempt to stem the flow of assault weapons, the legislature allowed us to keep the assault weapons we had and they stopped the sale and transfer of new ones. What has caused most of the confusion is the industry has changed the names on the same firearms and it has caused California to adopt new laws attempting to stop the assault weapon flow into this state. The three categories established by the laws are as follows: 1989 Roberti Roos: Name make and model. 1992 Series list for AR -15 and AK47 clones. 1999 Characteristics. Since 2005 some manufacturers of AR-15 lowers have been using the AW term of detachable magazine, which in the regulation states that: if you have to use a tool to detach a magazine then it’s not detachable. But, where they error is the state and a number of DA offices in CA are of the opinion, if the lower receiver can be restored to accept a detachable magazine with minimal effort and time then it still has the capacity to accept. So, this is where a lot of CA gun buyers are getting into trouble and their getting A lot of bad Continued on page 68 DPMS Firearms, LLC rifles and carbines have been purchased for duty-use by over 1450 federal, state, county, and municipal agencies directly from DPMS since 2003. 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ACOP • St. Cloud, MN 56304 (p) 1-320-258-4448, Ext. 2267 • (f) 1-320-258-4449 • (e) dpms@dpmsinc.com 14 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=15http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=152008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=16http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=16LEAA JAMES J. FOTIS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ALLIANCE OF AMERICA. WHO DECIDES IF YOU CAN CARRY A GUN? here’s an old expression: “There is no good law until a judge says so.” A new version might be, “There is no good law until a judge says so — and it all depends on the prosecutor!” When LEAA came up with the idea of H.R. 218 (called LEOSA or National Concealed Carry for Cops) it was to prevent the arrest/prosecution of any off-duty or retired cop who chose to carry a concealed gun. Along the way the idea was attacked and subverted, the final version that became law in 2004 had some serious holes in it. Worse, the idea it would be a bar to arrest and prosecution seemed to get lost. T TRUMPED BY FEDERAL LAW he distinction is key: when mounting a defense to a charge you first have to be arrested. Then a prosecutor has to decide to prosecute. Once you’re processed (gun taken, life in ruins) much later you can assert a defense. Then (usually) it’s up the judge to decide if your “defense” is sufficiently strong to keep you from being convicted/out of jail. When first advancing Cop Carry we wanted something quite different. When you’re off-duty or retired and carrying, should you have contact with local police, you would merely show your active/retired creds and then be free to go. The law was envisioned to be a bar to arrest and/or prosecution. If officers decided to take you in, the law was supposed to be clear and strong enough prosecutors would “get it” and make the decision not to prosecute, realizing it was no crime T because it was trumped by federal law saying that it was legal. And, since no law really means much until a judge rules, there’s at least one ray of hope. LEAA has been watching two cases, both out of notoriously gun hostile New York: one in 2006 with a Pennsylvania Constable named Rodriguez and one in 2008 with a Coast Guard cop named Booth. In both cases the judges ruled since each party was able to show they were protected by the Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act (18 U.S.C. § 926B) they were not guilty of the crime of having a gun. Now, while it’s good news two test cases with two local judges have found in favor of the officers, the system is horribly broken and skips over a key part — Qualified persons carrying under this law are not supposed to be arrested. GUNNING FOR COPS oo many prosecutors across America have been sharpening their knives to go after cops, as the above cases demonstrate. A high-profile case proving this point is that of Deputy Hernandez (Texas). A federal prosecutor used the fact a deputy shot at a moving vehicle as the key part of his prosecution to “send a message.” Although there’s more to the case, the deputy did shoot at a moving, occupied vehicle; however he was cleared by local and state criminal and policy review for that decision. This prosecutor wanted to send a message to all cops, everywhere. Quoting the published record he said, “.we are concerned that law enforcement has the understanding that they are not to use firearms as spike.” “This is not constitutionally permissive.” Speaking of the apparent desire his opinion should rule the whole nation, he made it clear he wanted this message sent not only to this one deputy but to all of America’s cops, “This is the message I hope this court not only sends to this defendant but also to all of law enforcement.” One federal prosecutor thinks he is the sole authority in this nation; he alone decides the law. He decides what is a prohibited use of force — for every cop in America, in every situation — without regard to the local or state guidelines or law and without respect to how the event is perceived by the officer at a moment of great stress when making critical decisions. In this case the prosecutor won, the local deputy was arrested, charged, tried, convicted and sent to jail. T WHAT YOU CAN DO his fall there will be important elections. Generally, judges are selected and/or approved by elected officials; prosecutors work for bosses who are2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=17http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=17LifeAct. Powerful non-lethal self defense tools from Kimber. The new Guardian Angel® is the most powerful and technologically-advanced non-lethal self defense tool available today. Small, light and ergonomic, it carries easily and clips to belt, jacket, waistband or seat belt. Each unit holds two blasts of liquid agent containing a devastating payload of OC (oleoresin capsicum), the effective ingredient of pepper sprays. A single blast will incapacitate an assailant for up to 45 minutes. • Instantly incapacitates an assailant. • More effective than sprays. • Revolutionary non-aerosol delivery. • Jet delivery stops cross-contamination. • Suggested retail is just $39.95. May be unlawful to own or possess in some states or jurisdictions. Use for any purpose except lawful self defense may be punishable by imprisonment, fines or both. Avoid use where it may harm children or persons with respiratory disorders. Names of other companies and products may be property of their respective owners. Guardian Angel® protected by U.S. Pat. 6,951,070B2. Copyright 2006, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Now your finger is all you need to get to your handgun or your valuables. The GunVault Bio uses fingerprint recognition biometrics and a spring-loaded door to give you instant access to your safe’s contents when you need it—and strong, tamperproof security when you don’t. Mounts securely to walls, floors, drawers or inside your vehicle— it’s the ultimate insult to criminals everywhere. www.gunvault.com • 800-242-1055 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 172008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=18http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=18CORRECTIONS BEHIND THE FENCE. BRIAN DAWE THE PRIVATEERS A ccording to the US Department of Justice, in the past year the number of inmates incarcerated in forprofit prisons increased by 10.1 percent to 111,975 inmates. If the private prison industry were a state, they would rank third behind only Texas and California in total inmate population. State prisoners held in private facilities increased 12.9 percent; those under Federal jurisdiction increased 2.1 percent. This increase in the usage of the incarceration-forprofit industry should bring with it increased scrutiny of their practices and a careful review of the impacts this industry is having on corrections. Art: Sequoia Blankenship PROPOSED LEGISLATION ne piece of legislation now before Congress addressing this issue is HR 1889. Members of the current Legislative Committee of American Correctional Officer originally crafted it. ACO is a national nonprofit coalition of public Correctional Officers from around the nation. Representative Tim Holden (D-PA) is currently sponsoring the bill. A companion bill, S.1010, was filed in the Senate by Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). Both bills are now before Committee. BUT WHY? CA lays claim to being superior to public corrections yet the very information they have available to prove those assertions they refuse to turn over. You’d think that if they were doing the great job they claim, they’d welcome the opportunity to showcase this information as proof. Instead, they spend millions to cover up that very information. And, even when they do release information, can taxpayers trust it? According to Time Magazine,“‘When Mr. Puryear (CCA General Counsel) felt there was highly sensitive or potentially damaging information to CCA, I would then be directed to remove that information from an audit report,’ tells Robert T. Jones, former CCA man- O C Private Prison Information Act he act requires prisons and other correctional facilities holding Federal prisoners under a contract with the Federal Government to make the same information available to the public that Federal prisons are required to do by law. It merely requires the private prison industry adhere to the same T standards regarding reporting vital information, as public entities do — no more, no less. Yet you’d think it was the end of privatization the way the industry has reacted. According to the Associated Press, just one of the major players, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), spent over $2.5 million last year in large part to stop this legislation. Brian Dawe is the Executive Director for The American Correctional Officer (www.americanco.org) and the American Correctional Officers Intelligence Network (www.COIntel.net). He can be reached at ACOIN1@aol.com or by calling him at 307-883-9707. 18 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=19http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=19ager. He alleges the company even began keeping two sets of books — one for internal use describing prison deficiencies in telling detail and a second set Jones describes as doctored for public consumption to limit bad publicity, litigation or fines possibly derailing CCA’s multimillion dollar contracts with federal, state or local agencies.” How is it an industry making billions in profits off of incarceration is allowed to do so virtually unchecked? They claim the American Correctional Association (ACA) accredits many of their prisons. So what, ACA is another private entity with no governmental jurisdiction or authority and makes up its own rules. There’s no oversight, this is just one private company singing the praises of another private company — and they have a very lucrative mutually beneficial relationship as well. Proprietary Interests? When confronted with disclosure, the privateers have actually had the audacity to raise the issue of proprietary interests. In our business, whenever one of us figures out how to make a better mousetrap, we share that information, we don’t squirrel it away so our competitors won’t learn our secrets. Sharing information agency to agency saves lives. This is one of the issues exposing what I believe are the inherent wrongs of private-for-profit incarceration. The industry often claims proprietary interest when they refuse to disclose information. Are they putting profits before lives? How can we ever make an apples to apples comparison in this ongoing public vs. private debate when one side refuses to release the information necessary to making that happen? We’re talking about not only billions in taxpayer dollars, but human lives — the staff, inmates and the public living in the communities where these facilities exist. There’s no reason not to disclose this information. Remember, this legislation does not seek any more information from the private sector then the public is already required to provide. Why all the resistance? Freedom is one of our greatest gifts. The right to take freedom away brings with it some of our greatest responsibilities. There are reasons why we incarcerate more people then any other nation; I hope one of them is not profit. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM * 192008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=20http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=20HIGH TECH BOB DAVIS CUTTING EDGE WIDGETS — AND OTHER NEW STUFF. HIGH TECH HIDE & SEEK P rotect and Serve is a maxim shared by many, if not all, law enforcement agencies. Our duty — to guard innocent lives, particularly children — ranks among our highest responsibilities. Sexual predators whose twisted logic justifies their acts are an ever-growing danger, especially in a society where freedom of movement is cherished by all lawabiding citizens. We’ve all heard the horror stories of innocent lives destroyed or forever damaged by these predators. In many cases, our failures were the result of missing or untimely information, specifically rooted in our freedoms. Sure, there are laws forcing registered sex offenders to notify local authorities of their whereabouts. But the hodgepodge laws between the 50 states are frustrating and dysfunctional, allowing predators to move or functionally disappear from the supervision of law enforcement agencies who are woefully understaffed for this task. The result — we find ourselves playing catch up in a dangerous game of hide and seek. MEGAN’S LAW ew Jersey became the first state to pass what we know today as Megan’s Law in 1994. Designed to notify communities of the sexual predators living in their midst, it was a good start. Previously, Washington state’s 1990 “Community Protection Act” was one of the first attempts to keep an eye on these criminals. Therein lies the problem: every state has their own ideas and, of course, “their” bureaucracy knows best. In other words, there are no national sex offender tracking standards for street cops to track offenders who move between states, let alone jurisdictions. But wait! Fast-forward to 2005 and Congress finally gets off its collective and ample rear end and proposes a federal law that would, if adopted, mandate more stringent tracking of released sex offenders. It’s modeled after the Florida state law known as Jessica’s Law. TECHNO HIDE AND SEEK hat’s where LexisNexis, one of the most respected names in data gathering and storage for business and government, steps up to the plate. They’ve designed a web-based application to help law enforcement with one of our most important tasks — locating non-compliant sexual predators. I like to think of it as a 21st century technological seek to the predator’s overwhelming desire to hide in plain view. Lexis, with its Advanced Investigative Solution Division, created the Accurint Law Enforcement Plus application that zeros in on critical information from what might be described as an infinite number of sources on the Internet. The Advanced Sex Offender Search N T 20 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=21http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=21Engine combs through public records across the net to learn who the convicted sex offenders are, where they were convicted, their aliases, Social Security numbers, photos, physical descriptions and even where their relatives and associates live. Combine that with information compiled from public records, such as mortgage applications, utility and rental deposits, and you have a centralized data warehouse available nationwide. Then, with its built-in tools, users can produce link analysis charts, maps and program e-mail alerts about sex offenders. Advanced Tools “We want to give law enforcement the advanced tools they need to improve the odds that missing and abducted children will be safely reunited with their parents,” said James Peck, CEO for Risk Management at LexisNexis. “We’re committed to working with the government, law enforcement and child advocacy groups in doing our part to help keep our children safe from sexual predators.” Because the application is Internetbased, law enforcement users get “fresh” information tied to known and previously unknown predators. When you consider the time and manpower necessary to comb through the Internet’s newest trend of “Social Networking” sites, this tool makes even more sense.The powerful and proprietary Advanced Sex Offender Search (ASOS) technology allows law enforcement to quickly identify and locate not only registered sex offenders, but the non-compliant offenders who failed to register their most current address as required by law. In doing so, the application supports our ongoing efforts to remain compliant with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006*, which mandates strict registration requirements for sex offenders. * For More Info: www.accurint.com/lePlus.html A Federal judge in the Middle District of Florida, in an opinion rendered on April 18, 2008, ruled the sexoffender registry portion of this act unconstitutional. The court held there was no rational relationship between the regulation of interstate commerce under the Commerce Clause powers of Congress and the ostensible federal interest in registering offenders convicted of state sex crimes. Info at: www.flmd.uscourts.gov/notableCases/Opinions/USA-v-Powers.pdf WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 212008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=22http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=22OFFICERSURVIVAL SAMMY REESE GETTING HOME IN THE SAME CONDITION YOU WENT TO WORK IN. PROFESSIONAL I COURTESY f you work patrol for long enough you’re going to, in some way, contact an off-duty cop. The flip side is, some day you’re going to get pulled over. If you say, “I’m way too professional for that — won’t happen to me,” I gotta call BS. Early in my career, I pulled over a deputy for blowing my doors off on the freeway. I had to look around my car to see if I was really in a police car. When he finally stopped, he yelled something to the effect of, I’m an f-ing cop and late for work, why was I f-ing with him. His anger caught me off-guard. Had I been in his shoes and I have been, I’d have been in a more humble mode begging forgiveness. My first question was, “Are you armed?” His reply was his gun was in the bag on the seat. “And your ID is where?” After getting his ID and driver’s license, I asked him if the shoe were on the other foot and I was cussing at him, how would he feel? I told him to think about it for a minute and let me know what I should do. The look on his face was priceless. “What do you mean what should you do?” I told him professional courtesy is just that — a courtesy. Should I write him the ticket or tell him to please slow down and be careful. I let him stew for a few minutes before I let him answer. “Sir, I apologize for my behavior, I’m really stressed out. Problems at home with the wife,” he responded. “Say no more — drive safely.” Ticket Wars e all know guys who’d have written the ticket in a heartbeat. Hell, I was tempted. The downside is the ticket war starts between my department and his. I learned a lot about how not to act if and when I get pulled over. In the few off-duty contacts I’ve had, all for too much gas pedal, I made sure I had my driver’s license and ID/badge, as well as my registration and insurance, in my very visible hands. When the officer arrived at the window I immediately told him I was a cop and I was armed — again with my very visible hands on the steering wheel. I was respectful like a private talking to a four star general. For those of you saying I was sucking up to not get a ticket — I was — and I was definitely not trying to talk the officer into giving me one, like the guy I stopped. Other than an ass chewing from a CHP officer who gave up a good moving cite and let me go, I’ve managed to avoid any points being added to my license. W The BROTHERHOOD T 22 here’s another side to professional courtesy. I was always taught to take care of brother cops and their families. Shouldn’t everyone get the same service you ask. NO! Your brothers deserve more. I’m not talking about looking the other way when a crime has been committed, I’m talking about the brotherhood taking care of its own. As my friend says, “I’m not trying to be ugly here, but if you’re not part of the family — sorry. That’s the way it is.” If a cop calls the cops for a problem, help him out like you would like him to help you. I recently had an experience that left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Local deputies responded to an incident at my rural house. My wife was home alone when a problem came to the door. The deps did everything they could to blow the call off so they wouldn’t have to take paper — and do their job. I expected more because I’d have done everything within my power to help them had roles been reversed. It all boils down to professionalism — on duty, off duty, retired or active. Treat people like you’d want to be treated if you were in the uniform, and take care of your brothers in arms. If you’re in civvies remember what the guy in uniform is trying to do — get home safe at the end of the shift. Don’t add any more aggravation to his day than he already has. * WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=23http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=232008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=24http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=24EVOC ANTHONY RICCI SURVIVING IN YOUR MOBILE OFFICE. LOOKING BACKWARDS ow many of you are familiar with the famous stomach-twisting backstretch to get a better look through the rear window? I hate that. You reach all the way up to the passenger seat headrest and actually twist your body backwards while pushing on the steering wheel, which by the way is supposed to be steering the car. Or better yet, you could have gone to the left-handed wheel toss school. That’s a great way to not know where straight is, not to mention lose control of your vehicle. It’s no wonder there are so many backing accidents. H Many “in reverse” accidents happen due to poor vision, bad coordination, excessive speed, lack of control, jerky steering from the wrong seat position or just plain laziness. Untrained drivers and/or poor backing skills can make for a really expensive day. Cops need to understand the dynamics of moving in reverse and positioning themselves to better utilize the controls. POSITION FOR BACKING T ake your left hand and put it at 12 o’clock on the steering wheel, swivel your hips around so your back is up against the driver’s door. This pivot starts at the hips not the shoulders. Your right foot still controls the gas and brake pedals so some will have to push off the dead pedal on the left floorboard with your left foot — especially the vertically challenged. Your right shoulder should be up against the door, wedged into the seat back. If you don’t have the height to see over the headrest you may need to lean forward to look around it. Your right hand can either post against the passenger seat or my preference is to hold onto my own seat belt buckle, providing upper body support. You should never put your right arm around the back of your own seat. Some drivers are tall enough to accomplish this and it may give some support but if an accident occurs, you risk significant shoulder injury. Due to the pivot or swivel in your hips you now can see much more of your rear window and some of the driver’s side rear window as well — about another 45 degrees. From this point the rear window is now your new windshield and your left hand should stay glued to 12 o’clock on the wheel. If you have to make a full revolution with the steering wheel, palm the wheel but don’t take your hand from the 12 o’clock position. When you re-straighten the wheel, your hand will still be at 12 indicating that you are pointing straight again, and knowing when the car is straight is essential especially when backing for any length of time or at speed. The faster the vehicle is going, the less steering input is necessary. At slow speeds a driver may have to turn the wheel just a half turn where at speed a 2" rotation could significantly and quickly upset the car’s lateral motion. So, smooth, progressive steering movements are critical. ur eyes control where our body goes and in this case where our hand turns the steering wheel. Since our eyes lead the vehicle, we need to always look ahead of where we want the vehicle to go. Using mirrors restricts the driver’s visual control, as well as reduces the ability to direct the vehicle with total accuracy. There will always be a blind spot in your mirrors and it takes much too much time to switch between the right and left mirror. Use your side mirrors for checking possible obstructions on the sides of the vehicle or for quick measurement purposes. If you can’t see through the rear window in vehicles such as vans and some police vehicles, you’re forced to use mirrors. Be sure no one is behind you before you start to move. Although police vehicles will have more visual obstructions than an average car, this seating position will still work in most patrol cars, trucks and SUVs. Hopefully with correct patrol vehicle setup you’ll have decent visibility to the rear and this position brings you good results. Controlling Vision O * Anthony Ricci is the owner and president of Advanced Driving and Security (ADSI). He’s been teaching 2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=25http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=252008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=26http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=26HARDTOOLS PAUL MARKEL ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR THE JOB. s a young, eager troop in the Sheriff’s Academy my firearms instructor offered, “Two is one and one is none.” The point of his advice was if a piece of gear is critical, you should have at least two. Cops know that this especially applies to your number one lifesaving tool — the handgun. I apply this guidance to flashlights, handcuffs and other work-related tools. Patrol rifles or carbines are fast becoming standard fare on many departments. Those that don’t issue long guns may, nonetheless, authorize officers their own carbines. Today, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some black rifle company making M4-style carbines configured with a flattop receiver. Cops across the nation are mounting all manner of optics on their black rifles. As valuable as they are, all are made of glass and most require batteries. Thanks to our still free-market economy, the quality of red dot optics has increased tremendously over the last decade. I’ve watched an Aimpoint optic bounced and skidded across a concrete floor. When placed back on the A Backup Iron Sights from Brownells gun, not only was the electronics and glass undamaged, it was still zeroed to the gun. Despite advances in optic technology, most shooters still desire some type of iron sights and correctly so. These sights are used as a secondary system, hence the term BUIS (backup iron sights) was born. BUIS are offered by a number of manufacturers. Regardless of the maker, most are flip-up/fold-down designs and have simple windage and elevation adjustments. Brownells Flip-Up Sights Front Sight T I 26 don’t need to introduce the readership of this magazine to Brownells. For those that were not aware — Brownells offers several specialty catalogs, including one centered on the AR-15/M4. A few months back, Brownells introduced its own version of the BUIS. Officially titled the Tactical Flip-Up sights, the folks from Montezuma, Iowa, have two different rears and a flip-up/fold-down front sight. he front sight is constructed of 6160 aluminum and 4140 steel and finished with a matte black. A standard A2-style square front sight posted is mated into the sight tower. Just like your standard AR, the adjustable post is protected from damage by “wings” on the left and right. Depressing the detent pin and rotating the post left or right make elevation adjustments. You can use a special sight adjustment tool or simply push the detent pin down with the tip of a FMJ 5.56mm round. The sight has a Picatinny/Weaver-style base mounted to a Picatinny gas block or an extended rail system. A hexagonal locking nut on the left side can be tightened with a flathead screwdriver or a socket if you really want to crank it down. As for height, when mounted to the gas block, the front sight is as tall as a standard “A frame” M4 front sight. Rear Sight The unit I used during this review was a flip-up/folddown rear peep sight. Like the front sight, it’s built from aluminum and steel and finished in matte black. It mounts to the rear of the flattop Picatinny rail with a single locking nut. The peephole is 0.108" in diameter. It’s not a match-grade WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=27http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=27sight but it works really well. The sight is the same height as the leveled rear sight on an M4 carrying handle, thus you can use the Brownells’ sight on a gun with the standard front sight. The flip-up rear sight has a fixed height but adjusts for windage. The knob is found on the right side and is nearly identical to your normal A2 rear sight. Left or right adjustments are made in .5" MOA increments. For those with a completely flattop AR and who want to push accuracy out farther, Brownells offers an HK-style rotating turret rear sight offering enhanced accuracy from 100, 200 and 300 yards. Parting Thoughts I mounted the Brownells’ sights on my DPMS carbine upper and BZO’ed them on a military 25-yard grid target. It only took a few rounds to get zeroed and resulted in shot groups hovered in the sub-inch range. While red dot optics are the rage, it’s essential to train with and have iron sights available. The Brownells Tactical Flip-Up sights fit the bill. They fold down when not in use and provide plenty of accuracy when you need it. Regardless of the sights you choose, don’t forget to train. All the high-tech gear in the world can’t compensate for poor marksmanship. * For More Info: www.brownells.com, www.paulmarkel.com GET YOUR GUNS GEAR! Team GUNS Collector Pin It’s colorful, it looks expensive, but any cheapskate can afford it and someday it might be worth what you paid for it. (Actual sixe: 3/4” x 5/8”) $3.50 each (Price includes shipping) ORDER TODAY! Call Toll-Free 800-628-9818 Order at www.gunsmagazine.com WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 272008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=28http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=28RESERVES PERRY W. HORNBARGER DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT GOES BEYOND PAY. P ossibly one of the most important decisions you may have to make is whether or not to act (or react) to an offduty crime in progress. While there’s no true black-and-white answer to this question in any scenario, there are important factors to consider that will help your decision. Unfortunately, it’s one of those highrisk/low-probability skill sets we don’t normally commit brain cells to regularly. I’ll never forget an Internet story I read a couple of years ago where a 9-year-old innocent bystander Off-Duty Encounters for t he Reserve/Auxiliary Officer was accidentally killed in a gun fight between an off-duty officer and a robbery suspect. I can’t verify the authenticity of the story but frankly, whether truth or fiction, it scared the hell out of me and made me reconsider what my perceived reaction would be if faced with the same situation. Last year one of my Auxiliary Officers was off-duty (unarmed) and walked in on a bank robbery. The suspect passed him in the doorway of the bank and they made eye contact as they passed. Our guy (the good guy) recognized the situation and stepped away to call 911. He continued to watch the suspect for as long as he could and was able to get a good physical description and the suspect’s mode and direction of travel. To make a long story short, he was able to pass on this information to responding units and an apprehension was made a short time later. My point here is simple — in some cases you don’t have to be armed and start flashing a badge around identifying yourself as a cop. You, and the public, may be better served by holding back and being that good witness I described earlier. PRE-PLANNING A ssuming it’s true, I can only imagine what that officer is feeling and will feel for the rest of his life. As any commander would do when we receive information that impacts us as this did me, I passed the story on to all of my auxiliary officers as “food for thought.” I wanted them to do some internal pre-planning on whether or not they’d get involved, and if so, under what conditions would they engage. Virginia State Code (like most) requires an officer to take action should a felony occur in their presence — but the definition of “action” is up for discussion. I’d argue calling 911 and being a damn good witness is action enough if you’re off-duty and/or not properly trained or equipped. THINGS TO PONDER ere are a few of the things you should consider while in your preplanning mode: Training — Are you properly trained for reacting to plainclothes encounters? Department Policy — Does your department have policy dictating how you, as a reserve or auxiliary officer, should react if you encounter an offduty situation? Will they stand behind you if you do take action? Equipment — Do you always carry the necessary equipment (weapon, handcuffs, Police ID, etc.) to have an effect H on an arrest? A sidearm alone along with a badge may not be enough. Threat Level — I understand, and I hope you do as well, the level of threat should dictate how you react. If there’s a life in danger, obviously you need to act — now! But if it’s a couple hundred bucks being robbed from an occupied fast-food restaurant or convenience store, you may want to take the good witness route. Again, each and every situation must be evaluated on its own merit. I intentionally left out some parts of the equation — such as the possibility of ? ? ? ? ?? multiple suspects, the risk of being challenged (or even shot) by responding officers, among other things — we simply don’t have the space to talk about all of the factors here. My intention is to hopefully stimulate the thought process and give you a kick in the ass to do some research on your own. Do yourself a favor and dedicate some time to pre-planning on your own and if you don’t do it already, consider bringing in some experts to provide additional training in this area. Remember the old adage: “An 2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=29http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=29Helping Secure the Border. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 292008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=30http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=30STREET LEVEL JOHN MORRISON STRAIGHT TALK ON SUPERVISION & LEADERSHIP ON THE FRONT LINES — THE STREETS. The Perils Of COPolitics I n the run up to November’s elections, thousands of police supervisors will be asked this question by countless officers. How do you answer? More fundamentally, should you answer? For those who wear stripes on their sleeves, dealing with this seemingly simple question can be like tap dancing through a minefield wearing snowshoes. SO BOSS, HOW ARE YOU GONNA VOTE? Before you turn your necktie into a noose, let’s look at some of the pitfalls. If you answer by naming your candidate of choice, there’s a 50-50 chance you’re endorsing a loser — and that tag sticks to you. Sometimes, being stuck with a winner can be just as bad. Second, in the eyes of your troops, you will be forever tied to that politician’s coattails, no matter how altruistic or reprehensible their subsequent performance in office. And we all know, or should know, how politicians tend to take off their campaign masks and reveal their warts and horns once they’re ensconced in power, right? If you personally endorse a proposition on a ballot, the same dynamics apply, and you’re not just on record as having supported it, but wedded to how it works or doesn’t work and the effect on your officers and their families. Every seemingly wonderful project, once turned over to bureaucrats, can become a longrunning nightmare of unanticipated costs, collateral damage and poisonous fallout. Not the image you want to be associated with, is it? Two Doors, Both Leading To Political Hell f you give a “choice” answer, you can give the short version or the long. If short, like, “I’m voting for NumbNutz and Yes on Proposition 4,” you’re making a clear endorsement — bad enough — yet failing to provide any indication that you’ve examined the candidate or the issue in depth. Given the political naiveté of many young officers, you may have also contributed to the neo-American tendency to vote on potentially momentous issues by “bumper-sticker rhetoric.” If you deliver the long version, complete with history, background, your own analysis and consideration of options, you’ve now established it’s okay to engage in what amounts to partisan political advocacy on company time — after all, the boss does it — and you’ve given it an official, organizational blessing. That’s just not professional, folks, and is a precedent you’ll later regret. As long as you wear stripes or bars, nothing you say is ever purely personal, no matter how you intend it to be taken. Being politically informed, aware and opinionated is a good thing — and rare today. But lending your position, your badge and uniform to a partisan political campaign is improper for any cop whose mission is not cocktailing and ring kissing. Yes, it happens, and it’s understood to be an integral duty of the suits and gasbags occupying higher elevations — but you’re different. I A Professional’s Response S o how could you respond and preserve your professionalism? Try something like this: “It is my personal policy not to discuss politics, and especially not to endorse candidates on duty, in uniform and on company time — and I don’t condone it, either. It’s not about freedom of speech; it’s about professionalism. I don’t tell people who to vote for or how to vote. What I would advise you to do is study the candidates; look beyond all the hot air and jaw-jackin’ and learn what they’ve done versus what they’re saying now. “Ask yourself if anything about this candidate indicates they would have any understanding of or empathy for you and things that are important to John Morrison served in combat as a Marine sergeant, and retired as a senior lieutenant from the San Diego Police Department, having served there as Director of Training, Commanding Officer of SWAT and division executive officer. He has taught, written and lectured widely on training, tactics and leadership. Contact him at StreetLevelOne@yahoo.com. 30 WWW.AMERICANC2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=31http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=31“THE ELITE” CONCEALABLE CARRIER PROTECT AND SERVE WITH PEACE OF MIND. you. Have they ever worked for a living? Gotten their hands dirty? At any point in their lives have they undertaken grave risk or sacrifice on behalf of someone else? “Look beyond and below that candidate too, at the party platform they’re standing on. During campaigns those platforms are covered with so much BS and bunting you can’t see the planks, and they’ll tell you not what that candidate is going to do for you, but what their machine is going to do to you while they’re in office. “Who owns that candidate? Can you name their five biggest campaign funds contributors? You know, if you gathered a single notebook page of data on a candidate, you’d be better informed than most voters. Try it.” Few may follow your advice, but you’ll have acquitted yourself honorably on a tough issue. And believe me, Ready for the Front Line. 1202 McGhee Lane Jacksboro, TN 37757 phone (866) 517-1113 During campaigns those platforms are covered with so much BS and bunting you can’t see the planks, and they’ll tell you not what that candidate is going to do for you, but what their machine is going to do to you while they’re in office. I didn’t arrive at this position spontaneously or intuitively — I made all the mistakes first. Every supervisor should be as politically informed — and as apolitical — as possible. When you’re moved to public pronouncement or activism, do so out of uniform and make it clear that while your police experience certainly bears on your opinions, you’re expressing them as an individual, a free citizen, not as an officer. Few, perhaps, will understand the difference, but those who do will respect you for it. Police associations and unions should represent officers and advocate on public safety issues. Just make sure you’re aware of your association’s positions and endorsements and if you disagree with them, jump into the fight in earnest — don’t let your badge be co-opted by wannabe politicians. * WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=32http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=32REALITY CHECK I I COUNSEL, WISDOM, GUIDANCE AND TEACHING. CLINT SMITH TO SIGHT OR NOT TO SIGHT H istorically, the issue of using the sights on a handgun is discussed calmly to a point of which technique is better — aimed fire or pointed fire. After opening remarks are proffered it generally deteriorates into an ugly, name-calling, verbal brawl by proponents for each technique and is argued to a draw — at least in each proponent’s eyes. Here are some thoughts about the argument. At moderate ranges, a two-hand hold and looking for and at the sights as well as is possible is a good thing. Aimed Fire S ight alignment is described as the proper alignment of the front to the rear sight placed so the top of the front and the top of the rear sights are level with an equal amount of light or space showing on each side of the front sight while leveled on top. This correctly aligned sight is then placed on the target producing what is correctly called sight picture. Optimum handgun marksmanship is achieved by placing correctly adjusted mechanic sights on the target and carefully pressing the trigger, allowing the hammer to fall without disrupting the still correctly aligned sights on the target. If this technique is used, the range to target distance needs to be carefully considered — if used at arm’s length, with a close adversary, the shooter could be in jeopardy of losing the handgun in a contact struggle. POINT P The sights and using them is always a good thing if range and time allow for it. 32 ointing techniques are promoted to be the act of pointing the handgun as a mental extension of one’s will, or the physical extension of one’s arm, hand or finger, so the muzzle is superimposed over the target. If this technique is used, the distance of range to target also needs to be carefully considered. If the range to the target is a modest distance, the correlation of the muzzle alignment to the target could be off the intended mark, causing the projectile to miss the target. It could be stated that excellent marksmanship results can be obtained pointing the handgun, but it requires no small amount of luck, or my personal favorite technique of practice, practice, practice, to get consistent, effective results desired for fighting with a handgun. It’s still limited by range. The more practice pointing, the better the result. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=33http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=33One-handed shooting while using the sights is very productive. The ability to shoot well one handed is often based on distance to target and good trigger control. Revolver held at eye level with eyes looking at the sights is the best way to get hits on target. Instinct Environmental Effects I do not go here because I do not ften lost in the argument of techniques are a few issues that might be interbelieve that humans are born with esting to consider. No matter what technique one used today, it probably a natural or inherent aptitude, won’t be the one used 10 years from now. With bifocal or trifocal glasses impulse or capacity to shoot a thrown into the mix, what and how we see changes as we gain seniority. The handgun. I firmly believe, after 30fact that many confrontations take place in no, low or altered light conditions may plus years of teaching firearms, affect downrange results. people are not born to shoot — they Throw in a white light for assistance in target identification of what is being can be taught and they can learn to looked at and light flaring and glaring as the beam bounces off walls and ceilings, shoot. Some which often doesn’t produce a visual happy meal. humans have On top of all these issues, most fights have moving Two hands are always special gifts threats, and in many cases the shooter is moving as better than one. of good eyewell to get cover or to get better target acquisition. sight and All these things mentioned occurring in combinahand-eye tion increase the potential of missing the target. coordination Mr. Cooper in his assemblage of the Modern that are very Technique of pistol craft attached the name of “flash valuable sight picture” as part two of the five-part technique. assets to The misunderstanding of what the Modern Techshooting nique flash sight picture is in application is the basis firearms well. for many aimed fire vs. un-aimed fire arguments. A parallel The Modern Technique flash sight picture is not example can intended to be, nor is it, a Camp Perry bull’s-eye perbe many fect example of sight alignment and sight picture. In people fly principle, this is the best — not necessarily perfect planes, but — sight picture you can get in an expedited manner. very few It was also to be used at relatively short ranges — people fly say, five to 15 yards — or longer, depending on the fighter planes. always easily forgotten practice. O I SIGHTS f used, sights are our last visual contact or control with the projectile before it leaves the weapon. We all know yanking or jerking the trigger will disrupt the sight — thus disrupting the strike of the projectile on the target — always. Oh yeah, this jerking thing is what craters the adding a laser “solves all shooting problems” concept. If sights are not good for using or looking and seeing in a fight to help us get hits, why don’t we just take them off all our guns? PRACTICALITY s long as it is application practical and I can clearly see the sights, I’m going for the sight option. If your glasses are gone and so is your eyesight, a laser may help place the muzzle on target — being sure, of course, of what you’re about to shoot — but the laser still won’t cure a jerk jerking on the trigger. More shots fired in anger have missed their intended target than have ever hit. If every shot fired in anger since the advent of firearms had hit the intended target — there wouldn’t be anyone alive on the planet. No matter what technique you use, if you don’t hit the target it doesn’t count. Use the technique that works for you, and practice the rest. A * 33 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=34http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=34CARRY OPTIONS FROM HOLSTERS TO HAVERSACKS. MARK HANTEN DRESSING UP WITHOUT GETTING SOAKED M itch Rosen’s name is synonymous with quality gun leather. He’s been in the business since 1991 because he couldn’t find any holsters meeting his personal standards. Fortunately for us, there are several high-quality holster makers today, but most of them suffer from the same problems (from the consumer’s point of view) — long wait times and high costs. The turnaround time from order to shipment frequently exceeds three months from the best makers, and except for a limited number at the beginning of each month, many won’t even take new orders. The Mitch Rosen 5JR-PRES in Cuban Brown is a great example of the excellent value of the Express Line. H A New Line igh-quality leatherwork is very labor intensive. Add to that the time consumed when switching gears from one “custom” order to the next, and you can see how orders stack up quickly in a shop with an excellent reputation for quality. To address the needs of customers who can’t wait, and/or may not be able to afford the higher costs of extensively hand boned custom leather, Mitch started a line of holsters he calls the Express Line — with a turnaround time of only two to three weeks and a price point significantly less. The new line of holsters offers great value to those in need of professional-grade leather. Make no mistake about it, these are quality holsters and still bear the Mitch Rosen name and the quality it represents. How does he reduce costs and turnaround time while maintaining quality? It is a two-part deal. There’s less detail work in these holsters, and there are fewer options. As for the detail, it’s reducing hand boning, resulting in the Express Line holster’s “smoother” look. The fit is still fantastic, and the finish is first rate too. In fact, some people prefer the smooth look to the more detailed Standard Line. Express Line holsters are only offered in Cuban Brown or Black and are only available with 1.5" belt slots. The belts are straight cut, 1.5" width, even lengths and the same Cuban Brown or Black color. This 5JR-PRES-FD (Full Detail) holster, belt and mag pouch in whiskey cordovan are from the Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather Standard Line. THE PANCAKE PRESIDENT O ne of my favorite Mitch Rosen designs is the 5JRPRES (President) in the Express Line, or the 5JRPRES-FD (Full-Detail) of the Standard Line. It’s a belt slide pancake holster with a slight muzzle rear cant and a dowel sight track to prevent the front sight from pulling up a ball of leather each time you draw. They are similar to his 5G or 5JR models, however on the President version, the construction is offset. Rather than the seam being centered on the weapon, the seam is offset toward the wearer’s body, with the inside piece of leather accepting a natural contour of the body, rather than the detail of the gun. This also helps alleviate the tendency for the holster to bind as the belt is tightened enough for a snug fit against the waist. It’s a particularly pronounced problem for thin folks, where the radius of the inside curve is tighter. For those slightly girth-challenged, this type of construction may not be necessary. Hence the reason the 5JR (non-President) is still popular. Either way, Mitch Rosen Extraordinary Gunleather has you covered. * For more info: www.mitchrosen.com 34 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=35http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=352008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=36http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=36PRIVATESECURITY ED PALUMBO ISSUES AND TRENDS ON THE PRIVATE SIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. HUMILIATION MITIGATION M ay Day rallies in the US don’t pack the punch they might have in the recent and fading past, but security managers in the private arena — and their public enforcement counterparts — must consider the likelihood of union or other anti-corporate actions, in particular if their campuses have union affiliates and membership as part of their employment infrastructure, without announcement or fanfare in advance of arriving protesters. Your job is knowing when. As this is written, corporate security, legal and facilities teams throughout the Bay Area, from Silicon Valley in the southwest across the bay to Oakland and the Berkeley Hills in the northeast, dozens of industry and high-tech cam- puses have been targeted by the union posturing on behalf of its membership. The union representing janitors, the northern California chapter of the annual, nationwide “Justice for Janitors” campaign, sponsor this current and vocal effort. It affects dozens of maintenance service companies who directly employ the janitors and corporate clients who employ those companies. Art: Sequoia Blankenship CONTRA-HUMILIATION PROGRAM ational strikes, such as the one that the United Auto Workers waged against General Motors last year, have become rare, largely because of the waning influence of labor unions: There were just 20 strikes and lockouts involving more than 1,000 people in 2007. That compares with 470 a little more than half a century ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In some areas, though, particularly California, “local” union issues, even without the drama of the national stage, continue unabated. Often, they are used to humiliate big business. Like it or not, the private security specialist now has, among other things, brand reputation considerations among his or her job description aspects (or, if you like, contra- N 36 humiliation program elements). The tactics adopted by union organizers — ostensibly to demonstrate for better wages and working conditions for actual janitors — more than merely resemble the global anti-corporate, anti-government campaigns of Greenpeace and other Direct Action groups, whose charge is only remotely linked to the lot of individual human beings: embarrassment, public humiliation and clear identification of corporations as greedy monsters is just beneath the solidarity rhetoric. (That some corporations are greedy monsters is not our focus here today.) For example, investment banker JP Morgan Chase was Continued on page 65 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=37http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=37RELIABILITY. FIRST TIME, EVERY TIME. TM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=38http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=38THE Glock’s Great G17 REVIVAL he Glock pistol with its polymer frame revolutionized handgun design in the 1980s. Gaston Glock completely changed the industry’s approach to not only gun frame material, but to ignition system design and parts interchangeability. The Glock 17 and follow on models have been described by many as the “perfect 9mm” — reliable, accurate, simplistic and virtually indestructible. While some gunsmiths offer “services” for the Glock, they’re nowhere near as extensive as for the 1911 pistol. The basic Glock 9mm is in service worldwide and works extraordinarily well. So when editor Dave suggested I accompany him to Robbie Barrkman’s ROBAR booth at the SHOT Show for a look at a “customized” Glock 17, I went more out of curiosity than interest. T The ROBAR Glock Walking to the ROBAR booth, I half-expected to find a modified stock Glock — grip reduction to fit average to small hands. Certainly I expected high visibility night sights, a replacement barrel to offer more case head support, and the use of lead bullets and replacement ignition system parts to give a smoother pull and quicker reset. I could not have been more wrong. I was presented with not one but two approaches to a Glock upgrade, changing the look, feel and functionality of the gun to an extent I’d have previously thought impossible. Utilizing the CCF RaceFrame as a base, ROBAR has rebuilt the G17 and G22 for those .40 S&W into one of the most impressive pistols I’ve seen in some time. I must tell you I like the Glock pistol — in 9mm. I’ve 38 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=39http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=39Taken To A New Level SHOW Shep Kelly Photos: Robbie Barrkman WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 392008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=40http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=402008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=41http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=41THE REVIVAL SHOW2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=42http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=42had Glock 40s and 45s, but have used and carried a G19 for over 15 years. I have no issues with the trigger system; it’s been utterly reliable with myriad ammunition and different bullet configurations. It fits my hand and I’m “okay” with the 9x19 cartridge. But looking at the ROBAR improvements made me realize my nearly ideal 9mm just became significantly better. The advantages of the CCF RaceFrame have been reported in this and other magazines since inception. Aside from additional weight (the aluminum frame adds 3.7 oz and the steel frame 18.6 oz to the weight of the G17/22), you’ll find a crisper trigger pull without trigger system modifications, a more ergonomically adaptable grip and light rails that won’t flex when an illumination device is added. Robbie Barrkman recognized this and other features and decided Glock’s “perfect” pistol could be product improved — PIP’d. ROBAR offers two packages for the Glock 17/22. The first is called the Alloy Extreme and includes the CCF RaceFrame in aluminum or stainless steel, a new ROBAR standard length or extended slide, match barrel, sights and refinishing in one of ROBAR’s trade42 mark finishes. The second package, and our focus here, is called the ROBAR REVIVE. Revival Meeting Having worked with the Glock system in the law enforcement community since its introduction in this country, I had firm ideas of what was realistic to expect in a service 9mm — realistic in terms of a duty gun and what a cop would be willing to pay for improvements. I wanted to keep my improved Glock similar in pattern to that of an M1911 being readied duty use. The Glock trigger for service use needs no improvement right out of the box. Although some agencies specify the Glock NY1 trigger spring to give a more “revolver-like” feel and a faster trigger reset. But, we agreed to limit our modifications to those essential for function and performance: namely, the CCF RaceFrame, easily acquired and sturdy sights with night use capability, custom barrel to provide better case head support and use of other than jacketed bullet ammunition and refinish in a dark Roguard finish, I also wanted the 1911 backstrap insert in this pistol, especially considering this gun was being configured with law enforcement use in mind. Robbie gave me a standard G22 and told me to hold onto it in my firing grip used when “in close” with a suspect. I did so and he grabbed the front of the slide and twisted the gun out of my hand. He then gave me a CCF framed gun with the 1911 backstrap configuration and attempted the same thing — the controllability of the gun with the CCF frame was astounding. The narrower Continued on page 66 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=43http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=43The ROBAR REVIVE It consists of four levels of upgrade to your Glock: Level 1 CCF RaceFrame in either aluminum or stainless steel. Complete replacement of your parts into the new frame. Complete inspection, function check and test fire. Complete metal finish in your choice of NP3, Roguard and Polymax coatings. Level 2 – Level 1 upgrade plus: Trigger smoothing for consistent, smooth trigger pull (does not affect release weight). Cut forward cocking serrations on slide. Supply and install XS24/7 Tritium night sight set. Level 3 – Level 2 upgrade plus: Supply and install match grade barrel. Custom tuned trigger with 3.5 lbs connector. Level 4 – Level 3 upgrade plus: Complete detail finish of frame including rounding out trigger guard, smoothing beavertail, smoothing magwell, contouring finger grooves and removing machining marks. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 432008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=44http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=44With only one button to push, this thing is completely COP-proof. 44 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=45http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=45HOW CLOSE IS YOUR CLOSEST COVER UNIT? F some of us, cover generally isn’t too far away and the press of a button or uttering a phrase into the mic will make it rain cops when we really need help. But many work in a different world entirely — a world where the nearest cover unit is measured in hours. When they need help they are truly alone. Alone, and chances are no one knows exactly where they are even when the gap closes down to the last few miles. Size: Sheriff’s deputies, game wardens, state troopers and other LEOs who work with Weight: this reality, my hat is off to you. You need Material: to be more careful, practice better tactics Color: and you deserve better technology to help overcome that disadvantage. Operation: ? Mark Hanten OK, OK, we know it needs a tactical black case… We’ll talk to ACR about it. they know where to start looking, but if your investigation has taken you away from your car, it might be a long time before they find exactly where you are. Experience Counts ACR Electronics, Inc. has been in the business of developing safety and survival equipment for all types of applications for over fifty years. They have an excellent reputation and make survival products for the U.S. military, U.S. Coast Guard, NATO and Arctic explorers. They have made over half of the satellite-detectable beacons registered in the US today. MicrOFix transmits on the 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT search and rescue satellite system. Its signal is a digitallycoded distress signal providing GPS coordinates and relevant personal information provided when the unit is initially registered. Since the FCC authorized PLBs for use in the “lower 48” in 2003, they have been steadily gaining recognition and popularity — with good reason too. They’ve been responsible for numerous saves and have been notably absent on some rather high profile tragedies such as the loss of three climbers on Mount Hood this past winter. In addition to the 406 MHz signal, the 1.25" x 5.81" x 2.31" MicrOFix transmits a signal on (3.71 x 14.75 x 5.8 cm) the 121.5 MHz SAR homing 10 oz. (285g) frequency as an added measure High impact plastic of assistance to search and Hi-Viz Yellow rescue professionals. ACR’s other new PLB is Deploy antenna, Press “ON/OFF” called the ResQFix and it is button for 1 second essentially the same device as 33 ft (10 m) the MicrOFix. Rather than COSPAS-SARSAT, FCC having green rubberized grips and control panel, the ResQFix 5 years are blue. Its neoprene floatation Lithium — 5-year replacement pouch makes it more suitable Life (NON-HAZMAT) for marine environments and AM while both units are waterproof 5 watts +2dB (406 MHz) down to 33 feet, neither floats. If you’re one of those cops 50 mW +3dB (121.5) who works miles away from +24 hours @ -20°C (-4°F) cover, you might want to talk to 40 hours @ -20°C (-4°F), the powers-that-be about 8 hours @ -40°C (-40°F) investing in some new safety equipment. And, if you are the adventurous type, you may just want to invest in one of these life saving devices on your own. They go for about $650 retail, and this is one tool that absolutely will save your ass. MicrOFix Specs: Bunker Down Waterproof: One particular piece of gear that can litCertification: erally be a life saver is the MicrOFix personal locator beacon (PLB) from ACR Limited Warranty: Electronics, Inc. Primarily marketed Battery Type: toward outdoor adventurers, aviators and ocean travelers, this device will literally Modulation: send an SOS message from anyplace on Radiated Power: earth to the most advanced network of emergency response professionals anywhere. Not only will the message tell them Operating Life: you are in a life or death situation, but it Typical Operating Life: will tell them where you are — within a few feet. All you have to do is flip open the antenna, press the red button and then bunker down for the cavalry to arrive. Not even the “Emer” button on the most sophisticated portable police radio gives you that. Granted you may have a 2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=46http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=46Stance Nonsense WE DON’T SHOOT WITH OUR FEET , clang, clang!” The sound of bullets striking steel echoed across the range as the shooter moved down the line engaging metal silhouettes. “Stop, hold on a second,” the Head Instructor called out as he approached the shooter and his line coach. “His feet aren’t right,” our Headmaster complained, pointing out the shooter’s right foot was angled and not pointing directly toward the target. I was a few yards away and could only roll my eyes behind my tinted shooting glasses. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen or heard of a similar situation. I’ve got to ask what The Hidden should be a rhetorical Drunken question. Are we Praying (instructors and trainers) Mantis of concerned about how the Doom and Harbinger of shooters feet are planted, Painfully Slow or are we concerned Death Stance: about putting rounds Usually this accurately on target? stance is used Shooting stances have by DETAC become a pseudo-religion Instructors. with some instructors. It’s almost as if they believe that unless your feet are placed in the prescribed way on the ground, your front sight and trigger press are irrelevant. Don’t get me Paul Markel “CLANG The Notaweaver II stance is seen everyday at the range. No one knows where it came from but those that use it believe it really looks cool. wrong, I understand perfectly well for Olympic-quality, precision marksmanship stance is an important part of the equation. But also understand, in our case, we’re talking about rapidly putting rounds into a humanoid target — to save our life or someone else’s life. History Combat shooting, for lack of a more appropriate term, has evolved dramatically over the last century. A good deal of study has gone into it. We’ve all seen the old black and white photos showing the Fairbairn/Applegate combat crouch. Later we had the “Highway Patrol” style Isosceles, often including the “teacup” or “cup and saucer” hold. The point shooting/crouch stance and the teacup stance both held on for quite a long time until a few guys in Big Bear, Calif., started the practical shooting revolution in the late 50s. Jack Weaver developed his namebrand stance to give himself the edge in WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008 462008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=47http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=47The Weaver or Modified Weaver stance has been and still is being taught all over the country. I t’s a great technique that has stood the test of time. But it all comes down to what works best for you. The Notaweaver stance is generally not taught at all and is in fact a hybrid of the Weaver that students always claim, “Well, this is what they taught me when I came on.” The Butt Up stance is another seen regularly at the range. I t is a result of instructors yelling, “Bend your knees and lean forward.” Instructors usually do not correct this stance, as they need some comedy relief during long training sessions. handgun in 1986 and it was the stance I was taught. Since then, I exercised a wonderful thing called analytical thinking. Come along with me on this inspiring journey. The Issue The Bifocal Stance: We find the older shooters, detectives, sergeants, lieutenants and captains often utilize this stance. The Don’t Want To Be Here Stance: Again the detectives, sergeants, lieutenants, captains and especially the chief officers adopt this stance. Motor officers also use it. practical pistol shooting competitions. Most shooters were using the combat crouch or “point shooting” and Mr. Weaver whipped most every one of them. Col. Jeff Cooper proclaimed the Weaver Stance as “the way” to shoot a pistol and taught it vehemently at his Gunsite Academy. Innumerable shooting schools, police academies and even the FBI adopted the Weaver Stance as the one and only way to train shooters to fire a handgun. When you were standing flatfooted, facing your target and waiting for a signal to draw and fire, Weaver kicked ass — there’s no denying. I learned to shoot a combat WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM The isosceles stance is generally taught to law enforcement as it presents the best part of body armor to the suspect and incorporates the body’s natural reaction to a threat. My problem with the modern shooting instruction world is we’ve allowed stance, or more specifically how we place our feet, to overshadow what’s really important — putting rounds on target rapidly. I believe the loosely connected Brotherhood of Shooting Instructors will agree placing the front sight on target and pressing the trigger smoothly and deliberately is the key to accurate and rapid shooting. So where does all this stance nonsense come from? Why are we willing to scold a shooter that’s hitting the target consistently because his feet aren’t placed just so? It could be that too many of us live and train in the “square range world.” We train ourselves and our shooters to succeed on the square range — a static place with no obstacles, barriers and most importantly, a place where no one is trying to shoot us. The same folks who would agree with the importance of front sight and trigger press also confess movement and seeking cover are two very important factors in surviving a hostile assault. Riddle me this Batman. What happens to your feet when you are moving, getting off the “X” and seeking cover? Where are your feet when you are returning fire from behind whatever cover you’ve found? “Holy Leather Slap Batman!” Your picture-perfect shooting stance is gone, but by some Continued on page 64 472008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=48http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=48The S&W 329 Night Guard is not only formidable it’s concealable too. The Scandium frame makes it very light, so you might not want to practice with it a lot, especially with full power loads. So, practice with .44 Special, but fire a cylinder of full power loads to acclimate to the increased recoil. (Below) While not the Mountain Gun Kevin referenced, the Smith & Wesson Model 29 coupled with some Corbon DPX rounds, Glaser Safety Slugs or the deep skull busting penetration of the Garrett 44 Mag Defenders, it’s everything your basic insomniac needs on the nightstand. This combo can handle anything from bellowing buffalo to recalcitrant replicants. Besides, if it was good enough to make Detective Harry Calahan’s day in 1971, it should be good enough to make Detective Deckard’s day in 2019. 48 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=49http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=49Kevin McPherson Blade Runner 101 I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments lost in time. like tears in rain. I can only say it was Hollywood “magic” that made Deckard’s blaster look good in the movie. Kevin got the revolver part right. The bottom portion of the receiver is a Charter Arms Bulldog. But, the “pollution control device” is actually a cut up receiver from an Austrian Steyr bolt rifle in .222 Remington caliber. The prop makers included Steyr’s set trigger system and hand manufactured the resin grips. Many thanks to Karl Tate for not only taking the photos of this rare Hollywood movie prop but also the time he took educating the editor in the movie and prop world and allowing use of his photos. The cylinder of the Charter Arms Bulldog is revealed with the bolt handle moved up. It’s not an easy thing to meet your maker. Stop right where you are! You know the score, pal! If you’re not a cop, you’re ‘little people.” I was channel surfing during a spell of insomnia and came upon the 1982 sci-fi classic, Blade Runner. Having spent my impressionable teenage years in the 80s, I was nostalgically compelled to watch it. Harrison Ford plays an LA detective assigned to the Blade Runner Division in the year 2019. He hunts down genetically engineered “replicants,” derogatorily referred to as “skin jobs.” Replicants are programmed with a four-year life span. They look human, but possess superior strength and agility. Rutger Hauer plays the scary leader of a group of replicants returning to Earth trying to extend their life span. In this future cars fly and people live “off planet” where there’s more room. I enjoyed this movie for its entertainment value 25 years Continued on page 69 49 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=50http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=502009 SHOT SHOW JANUARY 15-18, 2009 ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER ORLANDO, FL WWW.SHOTSHOW.ORG All the firepower, and more, your profession needs. Ensure that your profession is fully primed and on target by attending the 2009 SHOT Show. Get ready for the newest, most advanced duty, tactical and mil-spec gear. Firearms, advanced weapon systems, optics, cutlery, clothing, training, safety equipment, security, body armor and more. Network with peers and learn at FREE industry conferences. Source from over 200 categories covering routine patrol and special operations. For all those who protect and serve, it’s time to reload. REGISTER TODAY AT: www.shotshow.org2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=51http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=51Shooting With X-Ray Vision B27 qualification target closeup B27 qualification target back view Vital Shot Placement In Dire Curcumstances James S. Williams MD y partner and I just finished teaching an advanced pistol class. One of our students came over to me, frowning. “Doc, I feel a lot better about my shooting skills after this class,” he said quietly. “But I’m still unclear about one thing. Where should I be aiming to put my opponent down?” If this had been one of my civilian CCW students I wouldn’t have been surprised by the question. But this was a veteran cop with a successful officer-involved shooting (OIS) under his belt. Being an ER doc and firearms instructor, I’d been asked this question hundreds of times, so I gave him the short version of my recommendations. M This cop’s question highlights a glaring deficiency in police firearms training. Outside of a few instructors, such as Louis Awerbuck and Massad Ayoob, realistic training on where to shoot the bad guy is rare. Scoring zones on most police qualification targets have little or no relationship to the vital anatomy of the human body. Paper targets present the opponent facing squarely toward the firing line, but OIS data show frontal target presentation is uncommon. While touting qualification scores in the 80 percent range or better, most law enforcement agencies document OIS handgun Continued on page 60 51 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=52http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=52Blocks Better. When it comes to impact, Storm Case outperforms the competition – even at below freezing temperatures. From its tougher, patented plastic to eight reinforced corners – Storm Case is engineered to protect your sensitive, delicate and expensive gear 78% better. Visit stormcase.com for more information. (Actual Cement Block Drop) HARDIGG® CASES 52 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=53http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=53BOB PILGRIM What SWAT Needs To Know ou’ve worked for a major city law The SWAT team leader contacts enforcement you directly agency for several and to the best of your ability, and per department SOP, you break out the checklist provide him with the following years. It’s been a information: pleasure to move √ Lo ca tio n of crisis site (Redunda to a semi-rural area and a medium-size police depart√ Type of incident (Hostage, nt, but must be confirmed.) barri ment. Quality of life for √ Number of hostages, includ cade, sniper/active shooter, riot, etc.) your family has improved ing se substantially. In short, employment of chemical agen x and ages (Extreme ages on both ends of spectrum may pre clude you’re a happy patrol shift √ Number of subjects and de ts and pyrotechnics.) sergeant working the 0800 scrip to 1600 gig. Problems and √ Have subjects identified the tions ms calls have been routine √ Language spoken (May need elves as individuals or a group? and you’re looking forlin ward to your son’s Little √ Weapons and explosives (R guist to negotiate.) ifles will defeat most personal League game scheduled body armor and L III / IV shields vehicles may be required.) later that afternoon. . Armored Dispatch interrupts √ Subject’s vehicle identified (M your pleasant thoughts √ Any casualties (These will be ay be disabled to prevent escape.) with, “Silent alarm transa mitted from the Gibraltar √ Type of building (Structure, first priority for evacuation and treatment and may require ne gotiatio numb Bank, Fifth and Main — type of equipment required.) er of stories, exits/entrances and lighting will influence tactic ns.) all available units s and respond,” and as your √ Has contact been made and subje shift reports in you accel√ Officer in contact with subje ct’s reaction (May influence negotiator’s initial approach/co erate with lights and ntact attempt.) cts sirens toward the bank. √ Threats, if any About a mile away, you √ Demands, if any turn off your emergency equipment and close in √ Senior officer in scene (Will on the building. One of be responsible for all initial co ntainment, contact and on scen intelligence collection.) your units has arrived e before you and √ Number of officers on scen unwisely pulled into e and locations. Are any of the m in plainclothes? √ K9 on scene the bank’s parking lot. Suddenly the √ Any other agencies on scen cruiser burns rubber e (FB √ Traffic conditions (Has traffi I agents, FBI SWAT, county officers, etc.) and careens out of the c lot onto the main √ Best approach to crisis are been halted and all innocents evacuated from immediate are drag with the officer a (Initially, SWAT may not want a? to make show of force and de ) covered/concealed approach. yelling into his mic, sire a Also desired is most direct rou “Shots fired, shots √ te Re to co cri mm sis en sit de e d are as a.) se mb ly/comman fired, Gibraltar fire and observation and large d post area (Normally a location that is protected for direct sm Bank.” Clearly, it’s enough to accommodate SWAT all arms now a situation for vehicles and equipment.) your department or T U O L L A C R E D N O P S FIRST RE IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU Y WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 532008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=54http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=54the regional SWAT team, and you call dispatch with a situation report and your SWAT call out recommendations. First Responder It’ll take some time for SWAT, which, in this case, is a non-dedicated force to organize, equip and respond, so as first responders you halt traffic, move people out of the immediate area and set up a loose inner perimeter with the several officers you have on scene. Judging by the number of cars in the lot, you figure a number of people along with employees are in the bank. Satisfied all potential exits from the bank and imme- How first responders react during the chaos of initial contact and organization could spell the difference between a SWAT team’s ultimate success or its failure. diate area are covered, you dial up its number from your cell phone. It takes several attempts before someone picks up your call, but when it happens your worst fears are confirmed: Hostage situation with death threats. Uncle Mike’s® Slimline PRO-3 Triple Retention Duty Holster Weapon retention can be the difference between life and death. Now more than ever, you need a duty holster that keeps your gun safe and secure, yet allows you swift access when the need arises. Uncle Mike’s PRO-3 duty unclemikesle.com holster features triple retention technology that keeps your gun out of the wrong hands, but still allows you to draw cleanly without having to negotiate a complex system of snaps and traps. For safety without sacrificing performance, count on Uncle Mike’s. ©2008 Meet Arriving Tactical Team In most situations, only some information will be available and cannot be completely digested by tactical personnel while en route, but any essential reactive, on-scene information gleaned will assist the next echelon of responders to shape their initial actions. Once on the ground, first responders will most likely be asked to give leaders another more detailed intelligence dump at the outset of the crisis/confrontational management process. Prepared For Worst Case With the variety and abundance of threats facing law enforcement today, it’s not optional, but simply mandatory all first responders be properly trained in initial on-scene actions and intelligence gathering. A departmental SOP with a detailed checklist will ensure these actions are methodically accomplished and serve as a guide for responding personnel. First responders must do all they can to “grease the skids” for better equipped and more appropriately trained units. How first responders react during the chaos of initial contact and organization could spell the difference between a SWAT team’s ultimate success or its failure. * 54 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=55http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=55WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 552008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=56http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=56ON THEJOB COMMANDER GILMORE A CAREFULLY SELECTED COLLECTION OF SLAPSHOTS AND SNOT-FLINGIN’ FUNNY STUFF FROM FELLOW COPS. THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE I LIKE THESE S anta Rosa, Calif., police records say an 84-year-old retired Marine was peaceably ambling home from the local grocery store in late March, his arms laden with paper bags, when he was accosted by a knife-wielding juvenile dirtbag. Undoubtedly thinkin’ his elderly “prey” would be suitably impressed with his sneering mad-dog face and big blade, the kid told the vinground and warned, “If you step any closer, you’re gonna be sorry.” The kid stepped closer. It was a very brief altercation. The old Marine kicked the kid square in the nuts with maximum force — just once. That’s all it took. Our “victim” picked up his grocery bags, went home, stowed his perishables in the fridge, and then called police. The kid was in semi-permanent fetal position, turning purple and pukin’ on the sidewalk. If you listen hard, you may hear angels singin’. They like Art: Jerry Meloche justice too. tage leatherneck, “Old man, give me your wallet or I’ll cut you.” It might not have been a politically correct and approved reaction, but our hero laughed and told the lad he’d fought in three wars and been threatened with knives and bayonets by real men. A bit confused with this response, the kid just waved his knife and tried not to look scared. The Marine then carefully placed his bags on the Is “Something Fishy” A Legal Term? F our times over a couple of months, Leroy Carr was stopped either returning to the US from Canada or lurking near the border. Each time he was found to possess thousands of dollars in cash, night-vision goggles and a GPS device preloaded with coordinates along a known drugsmuggling trail. Each time, Carr just smiled, kept his yap shut and was released without charges, although federal agents opined they “felt sure there was something fishy” about him. Oh, really? Then came the day Leroy called and asked the feds if they had found his cocaine stash. He explained he had hidden two blue backpacks in the woods near a Boy Scout camp just south of the border, but when he returned the next day to pick ’em up, he couldn’t find them — and they contained an estimated 68 lbs. of prime Colombian tap-dancing powder. If they’d found his dope, Carr asked, could they please put some kinda “Big Dope Haul Seized” story in the papers? Please? After mumbling, muttering and beating around the bush for awhile, the story came out: Carr’s “employers” weren’t buyin’ his story that he had simply misplaced their dope. Like, did it just disappear into a hole in the ground? Then maybe, they thought, Carr himself ought to occupy a similar hole in the ground and take a nice, long “dirt nap.” Ol’ Leroy was hopin’ if agents had his stash, his bosses would believe a write-up in the news, and not send Vinnie and Paulie to tenderize him with baseball bats and bury him under some buttercups. The feds told Leroy “Nope, no stash,” and explained even with his confession, without evidence, they couldn’t arrest him to save him from his pals. Poor Leroy could feel his luck falling like a sack of hammers, the same way his core temperature may soon drop — a distinct possibility. Then Leroy lucked out — sorta. A Boy Scout stumbled across Carr’s stash, and the coke was packaged exactly as he described it. There was a press release about the haul, but it included news of Leroy’s arrest. Yeah, they got him. On one hand, it probably saved him from execution by his employers. On the other, he ain’t goin’ for any more moonlight strolls in the beautiful north woods for a while. * Got something to share? Send it to me at OnTheJobStuff@Yahoo.com and if I use it, I’ll fish around in my desk and find some kinda cheap gizmo to send you. 56 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=57http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=572008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=58http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=582008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=59http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=592008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=60http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=60SHOTING WITH X-RAY Continued from page 51 hit ratios between 9 and 65 percent. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see there’s a critical gap between firearms training and OIS performance. Seeking A Solution Over a decade ago, I tried to devise paper targets with anatomic overlays, but realized simply moving the shooter two steps to one side rendered the anatomic geometry invalid. A lot of paper targets with anatomic outlines have come out since, but they all have the same flaw. Surface outlines are only relevant from one point in space — directly in front of the target. Then I tried building a three-dimensional human target, but discovered making it anatomically correct was too costly to shoot, and cheaper alternatives were anatomically useless. The solution came to me as I mentored the 12-year-old son of a nonhunting neighbor who wanted to learn to hunt. I’d shown Kyle photos of deer with the vitals outlined — in frontal and side presentations. Early in the season I shot a doe and Kyle watched as I field-dressed it, demonstrating the location of the heart, lungs and great vessels. He clearly got the picture, because the next morning he placed a bullet perfectly into the chest of a buck quartering away at 85 yards — dropping it in its tracks. Most importantly, Kyle was able to tell me before we dressed the deer what the path of his bullet through the deer would likely be, and when we opened it up he was right. If a 12-year-old kid can learn the 3-D anatomy of a deer, why can’t a cop learn the 3-D anatomy of the human body just as easily? And, if cops could know precisely where to shoot, wouldn’t that translate into better hits on suspects? Over the next two years with a lot of input from cops and other doctors, I developed the 3-D targeting method called Tactical Anatomy. 3-D Target Visualization Three challenges need to be met in training cops to be 3-D shooters. They need to learn what are the vital hit zones. They need to learn to see these zones in three-dimensional space, and they need to merge their existing firearms proficiency with these new 3-D visualization skills. Wounds And Incapacitation There are a lot of myths regarding gunshot wounds (GSWs) and incapacitating the human body spawned by Hollywood and the Internet. There are only two reliable means of shutting down the human body 60 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=61http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=61SPECIAL WEAPONS For a single, precise shot to resolve a situation, it has to be fired from a special weapon. Enter the Savage LE Series. Special weapons. Exceptional accuracy. savagearms.com WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 612008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=62http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=62pronto: destruction of the Central Nervous System (CNS) — the brain and upper spinal cord — and catastrophic blood loss. Skeletal system destruction is a special third case, which I will get into in the next article in this series. The bottom line is a cop’s bullets need to destroy the CNS or shut down its supply of oxygen to stop a suspect’s violent acts immediately. These are the vital zones upon which we’ll concentrate. cognitive bridge. We create this cognitive bridge in the classroom by using a simple yet highly effective method. We generate a 3-D model by transcribing the 2-D Meeting The Challenges The first challenge isn’t hard to meet. Using anatomic drawings, x-rays and photos, the anatomy of vital structures is easily illustrated. Using different views — front, side and oblique — we begin to form a construct. The second challenge is to help change the view of anatomy from flat, two-dimensional drawings into a 3-D model. It can’t be bought from a mailorder house — it’s something we have to create in the mind. The solution lies in the fact that human beings function in three-dimensional space 24-7. Two-dimensional anatomic drawings are artificial and we subconsciously know this. All we have to do is show a way to turn on the 3-D brain. In learning theory, it’s called a For this reason, among others, train to aim at the high mediastinum. This is supported by the experience of guys at the sharp end of the spear in highly lethal environments such as South Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. anatomy onto an assistant while referring to anatomic illustrations. This demonstrates relationships between the vital zones and surrounding structures. The first time I used this method, I almost saw lightbulbs flashing on over the class members’ heads. The third challenge, merging existing handgun proficiency with 3D visualization, is accomplished through a series of exercises using dummy guns, laser sights and computer simulators such as FATS or MILO. The training can be accomplished in about eight hours and it’s proven to be highly retainable. Center Of Mass Myth The concept of “center of mass” (COM) as the primary target in an OIS is virtually dogmatic in police firearms training. But ask 10 different cops to write down their definition of COM, and you’ll get 10 different answers. It’s not a term you’ll find in anatomy textbooks. Center of mass means shoot “somewhere in the middle” and it’s a hopelessly vague term. Training cops to aim for the middle guarantees misses and/or ineffective hits. As the hunter’s axiom goes, “aim small, miss small” and if you aim big, you’ll miss big. Even if we define COM as the chest, two-thirds of that anatomic region is lungs and lung hits don’t cause rapid incapacitation. Train to visualize the heart and the cluster of great vessels immedi- A dope buy. A rat infested flop house. A weird glance. The hairs stand up on the back of your neck. Are you burned? ¼ The SureFire® E1B Backup ™ was designed for serious undercover concealment. Depress the two-stage tailcap fully and it puts out 80 blinding lumens. The low setting offers 5 lumens; for reading a map, writing notes, or navigating for a staggering 37 hours. Reversible clip for bezel up or down carry. Cover your back. 62 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=63http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=63ately above the heart and make that your primary target. This zone is called the mediastinum. When viewed three-dimensionally, it’s roughly the size and shape of a quart milk bottle. This large target zone is highly vulnerable to handgun bullets, particularly the top (atria) of the heart and the great vessels. A cardiac surgeon I know once assured me if a breathing patient with a bullet in his heart hit my ER doors — not uncommon in inner city hospitals — Charlie could almost guarantee he’d save the patient’s life in the OR. But, if the GSW involved the atria or great vessels, the chance of survival is almost zero. The heart is a tough, muscular organ and a hole in it can be easily sutured shut. The thin-walled great vessels aren’t nearly as resilient. As Charlie put it, “Suturing the aorta or vena cava is like trying to sew a fart to a moonbeam.” An armed opponent shot in the heart Several agencies in these places train their CQB personnel to shoot the high mediastinum first and it’s devastatingly effective. may be able to keep fighting long enough to kill you. If your bullets take out the great vessels — the fight will be over in seconds. For this reason, among others, train to aim at the high mediastinum. This is supported by the experience of guys at the sharp end of the spear in highly lethal environments such as South Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Several agencies in these places train their CQB personnel to shoot the high mediastinum first and it’s devastatingly effective. One Less Decision Training to visualize the vital zones of the human body and to see these zones in three dimensions has obvious benefits for the patrol officer. If confronted by a lethal threat, he has one less decision to make in his OODA loop as he brings his sidearm to bear. He reflexively knows where his bullets need to go — from any angle of presentation. The consequence is more bullets hitting the real target — the suspect’s vital anatomy. In the next article, we’ll look at two other vital zones of the body, and reality-based training methods that can fine-tune your CQB skills. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM * 632008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=64http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=64STANCE NONSENSE Continued from page 47 miracle you’re still able to put bullets into bad guys. The Markel Stance What stance do I advocate? The Markel Stance. It’s the stance that keeps me — Paul Markel — standing up right, facing in the general direction of my target, and allows me the freedom to move in any direction to evade incoming projectiles. Before you pull out your daggers and deluge my poor editor with poisoned pen letters, let me explain. Regardless of your favorite stance, there are some basic fundamentals. Balance is probably the biggest one. Place your feet so your body is balanced and you aren’t putting an inordinate amount of weight forward, backward, to one side or to the other. Your platform needs to be stable enough to allow you to absorb the mild inertia modern combat pistols generate without falling over. And your feet should be set to allow movement in any direction — because you don’t know what direction you might have to move. My friends, that’s pretty much it. Notice I did not get into 45 degree or 90 degree angles. I didn’t specify 71.2 percent of your body weight should be on the rear foot with the remaining 28.8 percent on the forward foot. This is what I tell my students in regard to stance. Face the target like you are going to punch it in the face. Now, instead of punching it, shoot it. HDPMDHPSD Stance People still get all bunged up and wrapped around the axle. They have this need to put a label on it. “Is that a Weaver stance, Modified-Weaver or Modified-Isosceles?” As long as you’re facing your target, your body’s balanced and stable, and you can move freely, call it anything you like. Hell, name it after yourself; you practice the “Smith Stance,” the “Douglas Stance” or the “Johan Sebastian Bach Stance.” Who cares what it’s called if it works? Call your stance the Crouching Hidden Drunken Praying Mantis of Doom and Harbinger of Painfully Slow Death Stance, or HDPMDHPSD Stance for short. As long as your rounds all go into the target I’m right there with you. The next time you’re at a range or shooting school and the instructor implores you to place your rear foot at a 45 degree angle with approximately 65 percent of your body weight on it, you might — ever so quietly and with the utmost respect — inquire as to whether we shoot with our hands or our feet? P.O. Box 370 Barrington, IL 60011 • Tel: 847-277-7258 Fax: 847-277-7259 • Email: customerservice1@dsarms.com GET YOUR GUNS GEAR! Team GUNS T-Shirt Nobody ever had too many T-shirts,except us and we need to clear them out. Get this top quality, pre-shrunk 100% cotton T-shirt imprinted with Team GUNS logo on the front and back. (Colors: Ash or Black)(Sizes: M,L,XL,XXL) $21.95 each ($31.95 Outside U.S.) (Price includes shipping) ORDER TODAY! Call Toll-Free 800-628-9818 Order at www.gunsmagazine.com 64 * WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=65http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=65PRIVATE SECURITY Continued from page 36 greatly embarrassed earlier this year by a video created by Service Employees International Union, which sought to unionize security workers at the bank. The video — airing on YouTube.com — shows a man rifling through trash outside a Chase bank branch in New York and finding customer data, replete with Social Security number and date of birth. This is a fascinating example as it sheds light on several aspects of planning that must be considered by private security managers who own the responsibility, on behalf of “big business,” to protect human and physical assets during such labor actions. Not the least of which is what to make of a situation wherein the union representing potentially strike-bound janitors also represents the security officers employed to maintain safety and security for the same employer? QUESTIONS How far can a security agent go — legally, ethically — to develop useful intelligence on a union — the organization — or their constituent members? What tactics can lawfully be implemented to physically deter (restrain?) protesters who obviously intend on pushing every known limit to their actions? Where is the line between public enforcement and private security drawn, and who is finally accountable for both establishing the line and enforcing a legally sound policy to support it? On the tactical side of the dilemma there is no shortage of private contractors who possess — or merely claim to possess — strike response and management capabilities. One vendor advertises their premier strike intervention services as labor dispute protection procedures. Most of these programs are heavily influenced by an infusion of outside contractor personnel — strikebreakers, to borrow a more colorful term from the 1930s — but can only work if the buyer is a prudent security professional with a plan, one that works based on intelligence and developed partnerships. I’ll try to illuminate these and other pressing issues in future columns. As you can imagine, there’s no standard template upon which to build a solid, legally defensible, culturally acceptable protest countermeasure playbook. Of course we still need to create such a thing, promulgate it with partners and seek as much support as possible in a corporate climate where internal political and departmental alignments — that is to say, private agendas — can cause your average security manager no end to ulcerating obstacles. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM * 652008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=66http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=66Tactical clothing is made with trademark Woolrich quality and designed for comfort and functionality. See our full line of tactical apparel and accessories at woolricheliteseriestactial.com. ELITE DISCREET SHIRT • 100% cotton for cool, breathable comfort. • Side vent system with hidden hook-and-loop closure. • Bottom front button is false with breakaway closures to allow easy and rapid access to essential gear on the waist. • Relaxed feel, even on the hottest days. • Solids feature a single buttonthrough chest pocket while the print styles featuring our 4 pocket design. Woolrich Elite Series REVIVAL SHOW Continued from page 42 grip coupled with the flat backstrap allowed the pistol to be locked into my grip — there was no radiused backstrap expanding my fingers and making a less secure area to hold on to. I chose the Glock sight system from 10-8 Performance, which included a tritium insert front sight. A working federal law enforcement agent designed this sight and it’s robust yet streamlined, visible and available with varying widths of rear notches to accommodate old guy eyes like mine. I also asked Robbie to install the new CCF barrel. The Glock factory barrel is more than sufficiently accurate and reliable for law enforcement use, but because of its polygonal rifling pattern it is required to be shot with jacketed bullet ammunition only. This precludes its safe use with lead bulleted and some softer frangible bulleted ammunition. Plus the new CCF barrel, because of its almost match Visit us online at www.woolricheliteseriestactical.com It works smoothly from the holster, is not noticeably heavier than the polymer G17 and just plain feels good. grade tolerances, would improve accuracy. ROBAR understands a defensive pistol must be reliable even at the expense of accuracy — his experience in barrel fitting provides the best of both worlds. And I also wanted the increased case head support in the event of a ruptured case — it happens even with factory ammunition. And finally, I asked for a black matte Roguard finish that would approximate the Glock factory finish. Roguard is a phenolic-based polymer with Molybdenum Disulfide. It’s not only wearresistant but also has an increased lubricity feature that improves reliability. Robbie also included the NP3 finish on the internal parts, adding a protective coating along with additional lubricity for even smoother functioning. In Service As this pistol is intended to be an LE duty weapon, it required an examination of holsters and ammunition to complement function. I’ve never been a uniformed cop, but have worked with many in my federal LE career. With respect to uniform duty holsters, suffice it to say what is available for the stan66 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=67http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=67dard G17 will fit the ROBAR Glock with CCF RaceFrame. The manufacturers of the CCF Raceframe maintained virtually identical dimensions to the original Glock frame and holster fit was not an issue. Using the pistol in either a duty or tactical team application I selected the BLACKHAWK! SERPA tactical thigh holster. I like the unique security system and find it to be comfortable, secure and fast. In the off-duty or plainclothes mode, I chose a favorite — the Milt Sparks IWB Summer Special, long the benchmark for IWB holsters. Since its development and introduction by Bruce Nelson with Milt Sparks as the maker, Tony Kannaly and crew at Milt Sparks Holsters carry on with superbly crafted products. Even thought the G17 is a full-size gun, it feels closer dimensionally to a Colt Commander. Now with the CCF RaceFrame, it balances even better due to the additional weight provided in the aluminum frame. Ammunition Selection I looked to 9mm loads in service with LE agencies and established track records for effective performance. While reliability trumps accuracy in a combat pistol, it’s important to show the improved accuracy results brought about by the RaceFrame and barrel. Just as the pistol was delivered I had the opportunity to see the result of tests conducted by Winchester on improved 9mm loadings. By now most American COP readers know Winchester has won the single largest ammo contract ever awarded in law enforcement history — the FBI and other federal agencies. The 9mm loading submitted and selected by the FBI was the bonded 147 Ranger hollowpoint — that’s what I chose too. Winchester is also in the process of a bullet redesign on their Ranger ‘T’ series of LE ammunition. Another Winchester loading with a proven record, their 9mm +P+ 127 round, is currently undergoing this redesign. Any of the loadings mentioned would be ideal rounds for the ROBAR Glock. The PIP’d Glock Robbie Barkmann takes a welltested pistol and makes it even better. You have to handle and shoot this pistol to fully appreciate the improvements brought about by the addition of the CCF RaceFrame and barrel, 10-8 sights and Roguard finish. It works smoothly from the holster, is not noticeably heavier than the polymer G17 and just plain feels good. Words like ultimate, perfection and other superlatives are tossed around in the gun writing press all too frequently so let’s refrain from using them. This gun meets and significantly exceeds duty requirements. WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM WANT SOME MORE? WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM Cop Christmas Gift Guide! $5.95 IN CANADA $9.50 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM IN!A I'M W NOT D COP BUT . A SPRINGFIEL OR TOR RAT OPERA PACKAGE! $5.95 IN CANADA $9.50 MARCH/APRIL 2006 .45 ACP DO WE LIGHTWEIGHT LIGHTWEIGHT OPERATOR PATROL RIFLES: Springfield’s REALLY NEED Manipulation Optics SWAT Reliability: REVOLVERS VS. AUTOS ? A D&L CUSTOM AR-15 PACKAGE! WIN! D&L SPORTS Back issues are still available! At REGULAR cover price of $5.95! EVOC: Hydroplaning FN's Five-seveN Macho Mousegun Corrections: Bad Tactics Hard Tools: Illuminators Urban FOCUS: Urban Rifle: Don Hume Leather p.38 GT-14 Night Vision Monocular Portable Scanner p.20 PART IV p.56 FOCUS: * •POLYSHOCK AMMO •FEDERAL FLIGHT CONTROL BUCK •A FAILURE TO PLAN CORRECTIONS ORRECTIONS — ONE NATION ATION UNDER ARREST RREST GET THEM ONLINE AT: www.americancopmagazine.com OR CALL: 888-732-2299 672008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=68http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=68RETURN FIRE Continued from page 14 info from people who have misinterpreted the AW laws. There are 58 DA offices in this state and sometimes they listened to the AGs opinion and sometimes they go out on their own. But to quote my old director, “How much excitement do you want in your life?” So, if you buy assault weapons parts and put them together thinking you are on the line and you’re not, then you just made a lawyer rich. Many people have asked me how can they get AR-15s if the law is so restrictive and I always tell them to do what my sons have done and join the Army. They’ll give you a free one and all the ammo you can shoot. This is a short lesson in the CA assault weapons laws. I no longer work for the state, I’m a rookie cop on field training in the Bayview Station in San Francisco. I guess you might say I am trying to re-visit my youth. I started at the Oakland Police Department Patrol Division for my first 11 years in law enforcement and I am going home to Patrol for my last years. Ignatius Chinn SFPD Dave, I see Steve Baum blames his job for his “two crappy marriages” and would rather “go down in flames” than accept help from a reserve according to his latest rant. Now, I don’t wanna get into kickin’ a dead patrol car here but. I had four marriages — not all crappy — go under the wheels and fully expected the OT and hours when I signed on. Of course I loved being a 68 Break Away cop and figured the failures in my personal life were based 33 percent on my type “A “personality (all good cops have that), 33 percent on my “good looks,” and 33 percent because sometimes that’s just the way life goes — and maybe part was some of the women — but not all. ‘Cause ya just can’t blame the cop all the time. Still rather than “go down in flames” and a blaze of glory like Steve, my goal was to leave the shift in one piece and in the same condition in which I started. It wasn’t always possible but getting home safe was the point of the exercise. If I got help from another Full Timer, Reserve or helpful civilian I was more than happy for the assist. Yes indeed I was in my words “Bign-Bad-n-Rough-n-Tough” and figured Rhino Tuff was tough enough. But I don’t blame the work for anything that went wrong and definitely appreciated all the help I could get. But like Steve I wear my scars both, of the heart and of the body proudly because I earned each and every one of ‘em. I’m kinda old school. Mike Trotta, Retired Deputy Sheriff, Salem, Oregon AMERICAN COP TM welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit all published letters for clarity and length. Due to the volume of mail, we are unable to individually answer your letters or e-mail. In sending a letter to American COP, you agree to provide Publishers Development Corp. such copyright as is required for publishing and redistributing the contents of your letter in any format. Send your letters to Return Fire, American COP, 12345 World Trade Dr., San Diego, CA 92128; www.americancopmagazine.com; e-mail: ed@americancopmagazine.com. * WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=69http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=69BLADE RUNNER 101 Continued from page 49 ago. Now, as a sergeant with moss showing around my edges, I Monday morning quarterbacked Ford’s tactics and gear choices. Most of us do that automatically when watching cop flicks. Valuable lessons can be learned from studying the movie. CrossBreed Holsters LLC. ARE YOU TIRED OF UNCOMFORTABLE HOLSTERS? ARE YOU CARRYING A SMALLER GUN THAN YOU WANT TO JUST SO YOU CAN CONCEAL IT? I got my SuperTuck holster from you for my XD 4” back in February. I use it everyday 10 to 12 hours, sometimes tucked, sometimes not. This is the most comfortable holster I have ever had. Holds my XD close to my body and just makes it disappear. It holds the gun firmly, yet easy and fast to draw. Who says you can’t conceal carry a full size gun? They never tried a SuperTuck. I love it! Thanks, Choose Your Gun Wisely We’ll assume Ford is burdened with some foolish and politically motivated policy forbidding rifles. But, Ford’s character, Deckard, impressed me as he carries a revolver. Replicants apparently take some killing and clearing malfunctions while in fisticuff range isn’t healthy. Deckard understood this and opted for a wheel gun. Revolvers are still viable fighting tools because of reliability and the powerful cartridges they chamber. Deckard’s gun is about the size of a K frame S&W fitted with some kind of futuristic targeting apparatus. More likely it’s a pollution-control device rendering his dirty old wheel gun smog-compliant pursuant to California EPA laws. Deckard scores brownie points for the revolver, but I’d carry a bigger one. Why not try a CrossBreed TODAY? Lifetime Warranty! Try-It-FREE-Guarantee! 888.732.5011 Lanyards Are A Good Idea When you’re getting slapped around by freakishly strong replicants, a retention lanyard is a helpful piece of gear. Deckard doesn’t use one and twice loses his gun when he really, really needs it. On one of those occasions, replicant Leon disarms Deckard and is beating our unarmed hero to death. Deckard’s love interest, a replicant named Rachel (played by Sean Young), retrieves the gun and stops Leon with a well-placed headshot. Although lanyards are making a comeback with our soldiers, you see them on cop’s guns about as often as cops carry revolvers. www.CrossBreedHolsters.com Carry A Backup If you lose your gun (because it’s not attached to you with a lanyard), a backup gun is a very good idea. Deckard takes some hurtful beatings that might’ve been avoided had he been carrying two guns. Weak Hand Shooting Early in the last scene, Hauer breaks the pinky and ring finger on Deckard’s shooting hand. He has to carry his blaster weak hand only until he drops it several stories. Even if Deckard had a backup, he’s now handicapped to the skill level he has trained to with his weak hand. Hauer has a pacifistic epiphany as his fouryear clock runs out and spares Deckard’s life. I doubt we’d be so WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 692008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=70http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=70lucky in the same situation with a real-life psychopath. Wait For Backup Deckard has the department’s most dangerous job, but works alone. What’s up with that? At one point, he enters an abandoned hotel by himself looking for Hauer. He’s just waved off some street cops attempting to hang paper on him for being in a restricted area by badging them. Deckard should have recruited the uniforms to accompany him. They’re enforcing the traffic code and would jump at the chance to nail a freaky homicidal replicant. This is seconds after Deckard receives a radio call of two additional bodies found on Hauer’s murderous rampage. The movie would’ve lost drama, but spared Deckard lots of pain had he enlisted those uniforms. Practice Gun-Handling Skills Deckard never engages multiple adversaries in this film. His creeps come one at a time. He’s fortunate, because he carries a six-shooter and the one time he reloads, he does it with a pocketful of loose rounds. Shame on him! Several speed loaders should still be around in 2019 — try a swap meet. Carry In A Smart Place Kudos to Deckard for packing throughout the movie. He even carries in his apartment, half-undressed while expecting no threat. However, I question his choice of holster placement. He carries crossdraw above his left rear pocket. Strong hand drawing would be slow and difficult, notwithstanding easier weak side access. We never see Deckard actually draw the gun. His carry would hamper concealment and make sitting comfortably impossible. Deckard wears a trench coat and could hide a larger gun in a strong side hip holster and a backup without drawing attention. Choose Gadgets Carefully The sun never shines in this movie, and Deckard never even uses his high-speed sight. I’d ditch the smogcontrol device and install Crimson Trace Lasergrips. Ford would save weight and probably hit better with Lasergrips. Along those lines, does he own a flashlight? What If? I nodded off at 0230. I slept soundly because I had an S&W .44 Magnum Mountain Gun affixed to my wrist with 550 cord. Guaranteed to get any replicant’s undivided attention. In Deckard’s position, this is the handgun I’d carry in a Milt Sparks holster aft o’me starboard hip. Backed up with a Model 329 (29 oz scandium/titanium .44 Mag) in a shoulder rig, both lanyard secured. My trench coat pockets would be heavy with Safariland Comp1 speed 70 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=71http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=71loaders with CORBON DPX rounds. CORBON also offers Glaser Safety Slugs in .44 Magnum. Twelve Glasers in Galco 2X2 pouches would sandwich my belt buckle. Those flying police cars might be pressurized and crowds are thick in LA in 2019. Glaser’s limited penetration could be helpful. The guys at CORBON must be closet Blade Runner fans. I’d have some of Garrett’s Defender loads (310 grain hammerhead at 1020 fps made for guns like the Mountain Gun and 329NG) in ultra-reliable HKS speed loaders. Comp 1s work with lighter bullets, but heavy bullets dislodge with rough handling. Hammerheads would penetrate anything I’d need to shoot through. These three rounds work for urban replicant combat. If I were leading the blade runner detail, I’d let guys carry semiautos — restricted to a minimum of 10mm. Hardware choice is a debate better Kudos to Deckard for packing throughout the movie. He even carries in his apartment, half-undressed while expecting no threat. However, I question his choice of holster placement. saved for another insomniac’s movie. “If you were going through the Stargate into worlds unknown with Kurt Russell’s little team of commandos, what guns would you carry?” I digress from the important issues before us. Harrison Ford’s Deckard suffered much to pass this knowledge on: Just because it’s old technology doesn’t mean it’s bad. Revolvers work because they’re really powerful, they don’t jam when you’re kung-fu fighting replicants. Lanyards have been around a long time because they serve a valuable purpose. If you need a handgun, you need it in hand, not in the lake. Whatever gun you choose, carry it religiously and accessibly. Practice a lot and with both hands, get real good at loading it. Carry a second gun. If you think you might need backup — you probably do. Above all, get a good night’s sleep instead of watching cheesy movies until two in the morning — the citizens in your jurisdiction and your shift partners deserve it! WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM Quit wasting your time or even jeopardizing your life searching by “trial and error method” for a magazine to feed today’s semi-auto pistols. MEC-GAR exclusively manufactures magazines recognized for guaranteed fit, finish and totally reliable functionality by the majority of firearm manufacturers since 1965! • We are the largest supplier to military, government and law enforcement agencies worldwide. magazines come standard with the firearms of more than 50 prominent manufacturers like: Smith & Wesson • Sigarms Springfield Armory • NAA Browning • Kel-Tec • Taurus Kimber • Walther • CZ Styer • Remington BUL • Charles Daly • Our World’s Finest Magazines For a free catalog call toll-free or write to: Mec-Gar USA, Inc., 905 Middle Street, Dept. AC, Middletown, CT 06457 Tel: (800) 632-4271 Fax: (860) 635-1712 www.mec-gar.com 71 *2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=72http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=72SPOTLIGHT FALCON +P+ 5.11 Tactical Series For more information on seeing your product featured in “Spotlight,” contact Delano Amaguin (888) 732-6461. The Falcon +P+ sits close to your face and features gloss black frames with aggressive wraparound styling. The high-performance frames are constructed from sturdy, bendable nylon 6.6 and employs 5.11’s Pflex technology for superior arm durability. They also feature oil & sweat-resistant rubber touch points on nose and earpieces for added comfort. The Falcon’s extra-thick, top-quality 2.2mm polycarbonate smoke-colored lenses provide 100% UV A/B protection and deliver outstanding optical clarity, fit and ballistic protection. An accessory kit worth $15 is included with every pair. You get a neoprene leash for a tactical fit, a reinforced, compression-molded foam case with 5.11’s molle-compatible SlickStick system and a micro-fiber cleaning/storage bag. An incredible value at just $79.99, the glare-resistant, Falcon +P+ is also available in a non-polarized version for $59.99. Look for Falcon, Hawk, Harrier and Eagle eyewear today at your local 5.11 Full Line Dealer or visit www.511tactical.com. GHOST MINI LIGHT SoundOff Signal SoundOff Signal introduces GHOST a new exterior Edge Mount for single and dual lights, that eliminates flashback and “deadened” warning power that results from tinted windows. The Edge Mounting utilizes a unique u-bracket to mount the small inconspicuous lights to the hood or trunk edge on any type of vehicle. A pivot-able light head can be adjusted up to 30 degrees allowing you to aim the Extreme Angle output just where you need it. A built in Light Sync will synchronize sets of GHOST lights to flash with the same flash pattern. The moisture and vibration resistant light is for heavy duty exterior or interior applications. Another great application is the Dodge Charger where they snap right into the grille and are attached with supplied Permanent Mount Screws or Automotive Grade 3M Tape. Lights meet or exceed SAE J595 requirements and have a 5 Year No Hassle Warranty. For more details please visit www.soundoffsignal.com or call 800.338.7337. BADGEBACKER The badge backer is a new product that attaches to your badge behind you uniform shirt. It gives your badge a much-improved appearance and helps prevent suspects from grabbing you badge in fight. The design is universal and will work with the shield or star badges. For inquiries or to order email Charles Hedges at badgebacker@hotmail.com, visit http://b3.mail.yahoo.com/ym/americancopmagazine.c om/Compose?To=badgebacker@hotmail.com or call 503-544-7519. EXTREME DUTY PEN Hinderer This pen is shorter overall than the Modular Kubaton with a pen attachment, this will make this pen easier to write with but still making it a very formidable weapon. This pen is also using the larger Fisher Space pen refill, which means more writing between refills. The top end of this pen still retains the threading for the Modular Kubaton attachments so you can still use the same attachments to do up your pen the way you want it. This pen was born from the need to have not only a quality writing instrument but also a tough, durable self-defense tool that you will have with you all of the time. For more info, log on to www.rickhindererknives.com/. G3 LED HOLSTER KIT SureFire SureFire’s new G3 LED Holster Kit features a rugged G3 LED flashlight in a fully adjustable, ergonomic holster that allows the light to be quickly drawn and paired with a handgun in high-stress situations. It was created for law enforcement but it’s ideal for anyone who wants a tacticallevel light that’s always along for the ride. The 6.5” G3 LED has a durable, non-slip Nitrolon body with an anodized aluminum bezel that fits securely into the holster. This ambidextrous holster can be placed anywhere on a duty belt and can be angled to accommodate personal preference as well as various departmental standards. This flexibility allows for maximum speed when drawing t2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=73http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=732008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=74http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=74WIN! THIS PACKAGE! Smith & Wesson M&P 45 QUESTION 1 How long have you been reading American COP Magazine? A) 1 year B) 2 years C) 3 years D) More than 3 years QUESTION 2 When you see an ad in American COP for a product of interest, what action do you take? A) Visit the Website B) Call C) E-mail D) Contact American COP Magazine 74 QUESTIONS QUESTION 3 How many times do you read the same issue of American COP? A) Once B) Twice C) More than twice D) I make copies of important articles for others to read QUESTION 4 How long do you save your copies of American COP Magazine? A) I do not save them B) 0-3 months C) 4-12 months D) more than 1 year mith & Wesson’s M&P series guns are law enforcement workhorses. They come with a legacy of more than a hundred years of service to cops and the military. The M&P was specially designed to meet the needs of soldiers and cops all over the world. It’s specifically engineered it to provide professionals with the high-level performance and safety critical in our day-to-day duties. This is one truly duty ready pistol. It offers distinctive features providing durability, safety and versatility. They include a polymer, reinforced frame and stainless steel barrel and slide, a passive trigger safety to prevent firing if dropped and a unique trigger S WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER COP • JULY/AUGUST 2006 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=75http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=75SUREFIRE AND SMITH & WESSON SPECTACULAR GIVE-A-WAY ureFire will light up your life with their spectacular givea-way in this issue. They’ve provided for just about every illumination need a cop could have. For everyday “on the duty belt” uses, the SureFire G3 LED Holster Kit is the answer. This compact, 80 lumen, palm sized, high-intensity LED flashlight comes with an ergonomic holster specially designed for quick deployment — especially when pairing the light with a handgun. It was developed specifically for use in law enforcement where split seconds can make the difference. For those times when you need to bring out the “big guns” SureFire is providing the M6 Guardian. It’s an ultra high-output incandescent flashlight for tactical, duty, or searchlight use. The M6 produces 250 lumens for a smooth, brilliant, pre-focused, long-range beam with over twelve times the light of a big twoD-cell flashlight. It’s bright enough to temporarily blind and disorient a person by impairing his night-adapted vision. But then, the light output can be doubled to a stunning 500 lumens with included MN21 lamp. Considering the one is none and two is one rule, we all need a backup light and SureFire takes care of that too. Aptly named, the E1B Backup is an ultra compact, dual-output LED flashlight with extended runtime and even tactical-level output. The E1B was developed as an everyday-carry light for undercover chores and as a backup light for patrol cops. Now that you can see you need to communicate. That’s why SureFire has included their EP210 two-wire, single-cable radio communication system featuring an electronic ear coil with an inline direct-connect speaker. The system utilizes the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button at the radio’s side mount to transmit. Its single-cable design eliminates wire tangling by bonding the wires together into one durable cable. As an added bonus SureFire is providing the L.E.O. Law Enforcement Utility Knife. It too was designed with the needs of cops in mind. This rugged titanium-framed folder features a durable, locking drop-point steel blade with integral finger guard and thumb stud for easy opening. The blade has a ground-in flathead screwdriver for attaching or removing license plates and a low-profile flex-cuff cutter, which snaps neatly into the frame when not in use. It cuts through both flex-cuffs and zipties. A strong, reversible pocket clip keeps the L.E.O. positioned in your pocket. They’ve also included a pair of their EP3 Sonic Defenders. Sonic Defenders protect your hearing, without interfering with your ability to hear routine sounds and conversation. Safe sound levels are allowed to pass through while potentially harmful noises (above 80dB). If that’s not enough, to cap off the entire package, SureFire is providing their brand new X400 Weapon Light. They’ve combined their excellent X series weapon light with an aiming laser. The light produces 110 lumens of bright-white, suspect blinding light. The adjustable laser is highly visible even with the white light on. S Photo: Dave Douglas For More info: www.surefire.com mechanism eliminating the need to press the trigger to disassemble the firearm. The M&P’s ergonomic design is enhanced with three interchangeable grip sizes — changeable in a matter of seconds. It also features an ambidextrous slide stop and mag release. A universal Picatinny-style equipment rail allows the addition of SureFire’s tactical lights and lasers. For More info: www.smith-wesson.com WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM TO ENTER CONTEST: Use the card found in this issue or a postcard (no envelopes, please) and answer the four questions on the left and follow the sample shown on the right. Send to AMERICAN COP Dept. X6, P .O. Box 501930, San Diego, CA 92150-1930. You can also enter on our website www.americancopmagazine.com. Entries must be received before November 1, 2008. Limit 1 entry per household. This contest is open to individuals who are residents of the United States and its territories only. Age2008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=76http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=76AMERICAN COP Classified ads $2.00 per-word per insertion. ($1.50 per-word per insertion for 3 or more) including name, address and phone number (20 word minimum). Minimum charge $40.00. Bold words add $1.00 per word. Copy and rerun orders must be accompanied by PAYMENT IN ADVANCE. NO AGENCY OR CASH DISCOUNTS ON LISTING OR DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING. All ads must be received with advance payment BY NO LATER THAN THE 1st of each month. Ads received after closing will appear in the following issue. Please type or print clearly. PLEASE NOTE*** NO PROOFS WILL BE FURNISHED. Include name, address, post office, city, state and zip code as counted words. Abbreviations count as one word each. Mail to AMERICAN COP CLASSIFIEDS, 12345 World Trade Drive, San Diego, California 92128. NOTE: WE NOW HAVE DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS IN BOTH GUNS MAGAZINE AND AMERICAN HANDGUNNER. ASK FOR OUR NEW RATE CARD, Or call (858) 605-0235. BADGES GUNGRIPS GUNS FOR SALE GUNSMITHING INSTRUCTION LEATHER MISC MILITARY SURPLUS OPTICS POLICE EQUIPMENT REAL ESTATE IDENTIFY YOURSELF THIS BADGE MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE Police Quality Gold Plated 100% LEGAL FOR PERMIT HOLDERS Badge Case & Shipping With Order FREE Order Toll Free Size 2” x 3” Money Back Guarantee MSRP: $58.00 You Save $20.00 PO Box 970057 Coconut Creek, FL 33097 $38 1-877-332-2343 www.maxarmory.com INDEX Action Target Aimpoint Al Mar Knives ALS Tech ArmaLite ASP BAE/Safariland Benchmade Blackhawk Brownells Bushnell Cool Cop Copquest Crossbreed Cylinder & Slide DeSantis Holsters DPMS DSA Elite Sport Express First Light Glock Gunvault Hardigg Cases Hatch Insight Tech Gear Iosso Kahr Arms Kimber 76 OF ADVERTISERS 70 63 55 14 35 9,11,13 6 9 12 70 54 19 65 69 70 55 14 64 21 29,31 15 17 52 60 21 68 11 17,c4 The companies listed have featured advertisements in this issue. Look to them first when you are ready to make a purchase. c2 8 31 73 23 71 27 59 58 3 19 61 68 50 37,55 10 c3 66 65 61,62 57 71 25 7 13 7 67 66 31 LA Police Gear Leupold Lifeline Armor Inc. Magpul Maxpedition Mec-Gar USA Mossberg Operators Edge Original SWAT Revision Eyewear Rock River Arms Savage Arms Shooter’s Choice S.H.O.T. Show Sig Sauer Smith & Wesson Springfield Spyderco STI Surefire Tactical Design Tops Knives Trijicon Truglo UK International Walker’s Game Ear Wilson Combat Woolrich Inc. XS Sight Systems WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=77http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=77INSIDERRUMINATIONS Continued from page 78 INSIDERRUMINATIONS Toro Caca (cont.) need to feed our families until those new strategies are developed. Let’s make hydrogen fuel cells more viable, let’s harness solar energy in our homes and let’s do all those things that’ll make us less dependant on foreign oil. But also, let’s drill here at home, let’s use nuclear, let’s build refineries and let’s build the distribution systems we need now. Perhaps we should also tell the traders to stop or we will stop you ourselves. They are impacting the US economy and the quality of life for millions of Americans. That’s Toro Caca and it needs to stop right now. A COMPLETELY SUBJECTIVE LOOK AT THINGS I LIKE TRIPP Research It seems every time I have a malfunction with my 1911 or AR they can be tracked back to a magazine problem. They are undoubtedly the main cause of malfunctions in any automatic feeding firearm. It’s really frustrating such a simple device can be the cause of so much consternation. But I’ve learned a very simple lesson and you can too. I now only run Tripp Research mags in my 1911s and only Tripp Research 42 and 52 round mags when I want to send a whole lot of .223 down range from my AR. These guys CNC machine the feed lips of their mags for a super precise fit. They also take into account problems caused slotted ammunition observation ports cut into the magazines. The Tripp Research CobraMags have much smaller windows cut for ammo count observation. The more metal in the magazine tube, the stronger and stiffer the tube becomes. That coupled with almost imperceptible welds makes the Tripp Research 1911 CobraMag the one to buy. They cost a little bit more than some magazines available today but these are the highest quality you can get your hands on. Tripp Research mags run like mad. I have yet to have a single magazine induced malfunction in a 1911 since I started using them. When your life depends on your equipment, you need the best. Stop Tap Rancking and start shooting. For More Info: www.trippresearch.com SureFire X400 Weapon Light And Laser Combo Well, It’s about time! I’ve heard about SureFire’s plans to couple a laser with their great weapon light systems for years now. It took a long time to finally come about, but boy it was sure worth the wait. The white light portion of the X400 provides a dirtbag blinding, pure white light of 110 lumens from its LED and it’s just as solid as their other products. The base is made from aircraft aluminum and fits on any Picitinny rail system. The laser is substantial but really tiny. It’s all part of the base so you won’t have to worry about knocking it off or out of alignment during tough duty. The X400 is must have equipment for the field or home defense. * WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM 772008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=78http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=78INSIDER RUMINATIONS DAVE DOUGLAS Emergencies INSIDERRUMINATIONS t’s been a particularly hectic day here at the World Headquarters of American Handgunner Magazine, with whom we share office space. Actually, we don’t really share space here, we’re assigned a couple cubicals in the converted basement next to the old discarded copy machines, burned out computer monitors and IBM Selectric typewriters. After weeks of waiting for authorization and paperwork similar in scope to an officer involved shooting, I was granted a two-hour pass to be admitted to accounting’s floor at the complex. Suddenly, whooping sirens sounded at ear-splitting dB levels. Unbelievably bright strobe lights were flashing. The blue–white lights were brighter than the explosions of the thousand pounders from a night B52 raid over Hanoi in the 70s. They were enough to cause seizures in buildings half-a-mile away. Employees were scurrying about frenetically. I stopped one out-of-breath young accounting professional as he ran full-speed down the hallway and asked, “What’s wrong?” His white starched oxford shirt showed new stains in the armpits and even his thin black tie was askew. The look of pure fear and panic shone in his eyes. You could even smell the adrenaline dump. “The main account receivables copier is out of paper and it looks like I Toro Caca Traders Or Traitors ust yesterday I filled up my Ford F150 truck for the week. Fortunately, I don’t have to drive very far to the office, but still, it cost over $100. We all like to blame the Saudis, the oil companies and our politicians — indirectly they do shoulder some of the blame, but, the toner may be dangerously low too — oh, the humanity,” he blurted and ran off. It became immediately apparent that cops — even old retired ones — have a different perspective on what constitutes an emergency than do the rest of the folks out there. The saying we have around the office now is: If there’s no arterial bleeding, it’s not an emergency. What we have to remember is people call us when what they usually can control is out-of-control. To them, it is an emergency — a real one. They are at their wits end and in a blind ass panic. They just don’t have the same perspective we have. It impacts their lives and they need rescue. I’ve heard some people say, perception is reality and this is a glaring example of that. So, perhaps we need to be more in-tune with what concerns the folks we serve. We are problem solvers. We’re hired for our ability to think and we further develop critical thinking through our experiences in the field. An overflowing toilet at 0300 isn’t something we’d call for cover on, but for that 75 year-old widow in the third floor walkup, it’s the worst thing that could happen since her husband of 50 years died six months ago. Take some time and help. That’s why we get the “Big Bucks” folks. And remember while you are calm and collected and all those around you are loosing their composure and in a panic, you probably don’t have a full understanding of what’s really happening. J as I see it, they actually have very little to do with what we are paying for fuel. I blame the commodity traders. These are actually the folks that impact the prices we are paying and they are also the people ruining our economy. Due to their “gambling” habit, we pay prices they set for the commodity — namely a barrel of oil. They’re gambling on the price of a barrel of crude two months, six months or even one year from now. We are begrudgingly lining their pockets. I agree we have a lot to learn about conservation of resources and development of alternative energy. We need to develop those alternatives but we also Continues on page 77 INSIDERRUMINATIONS 78 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 20082008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=79http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=792008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=80http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMGPublications/AmericanCop/ACSO08/?Page=80The SIS Custom™ .45 ACP features a stainless steel frame and slide, match grade barrel and trigger, night sights with cocking shoulder, premium KimPro II ® finish and SIS slide serrations. The LAPD™ Special Investigation Section - SIS - is an elite plain-clothes unit specially trained in surveillance. SIS Detectives frequently stake out violent criminals and depend on their pistols even more than tactical team members. Based on LAPD SWAT’s satisfaction with their Kimber pistols, SIS asked Kimber to create a family of 1911 .45 ACPs that met both their high standards and unique requirements. SIS pistols are now available to the public in limited numbers. The full-size SIS Custom RL ™ (left) has an integral Kimber Tactical Rail ™ for flashlight mounting. The SIS Ultra ™ (center) has a rounded frame and mainspring housing, and a 3-inch barrel makes it ideal for backup or concealed carry. The SIS Pro™ (right) combines a full-length grip with a 4-inch barrel, perfect for duty or concealed carry in a belt holster. Use and store all firearms safely and lawfully. Kimber pistols and rifles are shipped with a California approved cable lock. Proper use of the cable lock is encouraged at all times. ©2008 Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Names of other companies, products or services may be the property of their respective owners. www.kimberamerica.com For information on products and dealer locations please send $2 to: Kimber, Dept.151 One Lawton Street, Yonkers, NY 10705 Information is also available at (800) 880-24182008-09-24T17:38:19+02:00