Guess Who Knows You’re A Cop?
By Ben Douglas Remember how excited you were upon completing the academy and getting sworn in? I sure do. What an amazing day honoring a great accomplishment. Back then, standing on the stage, shaking hands [...]
Perils Of A Hazardous Patrol Vehicle
By Ben Douglas The present-day patrol car is as much a marvel of modern innovation as it is a sad example of automotive design. Think of all the dangerous things we have the potential to [...]
It’s What’s Underneath
By John Thomas Grohn I absolutely hate the saying, “It’s just another tool for your toolbox.” I actually cringe when I hear it. We carry a lot of defensive gear on us when we’re working. [...]
Taking The Shot
By John Thomas Grohn Are You Good Enough? Ah, the Internet. Where people can sit in the relative safety and comfort of their humble abodes (whether they live with mom and dad is really not [...]
Decisions?
Anyone with anything between their ears except air knows a fight is in the wings over the lawful ownership of firearms. The proposed registration will ultimately (based on history) amount to confiscation. Think about the [...]
Do All Women Need To Be Armed?
You Bet By John McCarthy We need as many armed women as possible.This is fact regardless of whether violent crime against women is rising or in decline. Every woman is a potential victim every day [...]
Tactical Tips
Well, Tactical-ish, At Any Rate. I get a lot of questions about “tactical tips and techniques,” some specific and some general. Those who ask the latter kind just wanta be entertained. They don’t care how [...]
Professional Courtesy
How Much Is Too Much? Most of us have been pushing our beat car around town when some yahoo screams by at the speed of heat. You feel the familiar adrenaline rush, hit the lights [...]
DUI Or Diabetic Emergency?
While on patrol in the middle of the day you respond to a solo vehicle collision. Upon your arrival, you see a man who appears to be unsteady on his feet standing outside of the [...]
Code 3 Vs. Pursuit Driving
Is There A Difference? I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure most of us became cops so we could drive fast legally. Who can deny the attraction of having droves of people get [...]
Anatomy Of A Crash
There you sit at your second roll call — Starbucks — lamenting about how all the Motor units are off on a “training ride.” Suddenly, you hear dispatch calling you and your stomach drops. It’s [...]
One More Safety Net: “The Gadget”
There are few more humiliating things which can happen to a police officer than to shoot himself while holstering his duty pistol. For decades, duty holsters and quality concealment holsters have been cut to cover the triggerguard. This was because in the old days, many cops drew their revolvers with the finger already on the exposed trigger. If something hung up, the gun and the hand and finger kept going and there would be a “bang.” What goes up must come down and what comes from the holster must generally be returned to it. If something interdicts the trigger on the way in, the trigger stops but the gun keeps going, and we have another “bang.”
You Don’t Need That — On Simplicity
A defensive gun has to work, all the time, and you have to be able to hit with it. This simply means the pistol must be capable of reasonable accuracy, and you must be able [...]
Fingers & Triggers
The jurors said the reason they convicted NYPD Officer Peter Liang of manslaughter (see Ayoob Files in the upcoming Jan/Feb 2018 issue) was that his finger was on the trigger of his GLOCK 19 when he unintentionally discharged it. Testimony had made it clear to them fingers were only supposed to be on triggers when one intended to fire. While the judge reduced the manslaughter conviction to negligent homicide, the same factors were still in play. I don’t think the NYPD Academy or the Firearms and Tactics Unit deserved any heat on the firearms training, though. Here’s why.
Safe Practice Almost Anywhere?
SIRT-anily! Live fire training costs time and money, and it’s the curse of being a police firearms instructor. The bean-counters looking over your shoulder have to consider things like the travel time to and from [...]