When we speak about the “use of force,” I notice more and more that officers either need or want the green light to be given to them before they act. Correctional officers deep down have an intimate fear when it comes to the use of force of either reacting too soon, or too late resulting…

Crime is on the upswing.  In some cities, violent crime has spiked.  Just as important, the public has tired of many of the late 20th Century crime reduction strategies.  Strategies and tactics such as saturation patrol, zero tolerance policies and random check points are only modestly effective in gaining a short-term reduction in criminal activity and…

As a drug enforcement officer/detective, working undercover (UC) is the grass roots of what we do. This can be as complex as interjecting yourself into an organization or as simple as pretending to be a drunk passed out of a bench in order to conduct some type of strategic surveillance. Either way you are pretending…

More than One-quarter of all Americans met the criteria for having a mental illness problem within the past year, and fully over a quarter of those had a “serious” disorder that significantly disrupted their ability to function day to day, according to the largest and most detailed survey of the nation’s mental health, published in…

Steve Russ, a retired police officer from the State of Michigan, has introduced a new safety innovation into the law enforcement, corrections and military community (LECM).  A major problem within the LECM community has been the deterioration of body armors ballistic-resistant capabilities due to improper care and maintenance. According to a National Institute for Justice…

Ancient Chinese military strategy evolved over thousands of years of conflict. As commanders rose and fell, the heart of their philosophies were saved for future generations. These early lessons took written form and were passed on to the ruling class. Eventually, this became the basis for strategic thinking in ancient China. Since the 11th Century, these…

Directing traffic may be the least understood or ignored risk/hazard facing emergency services professionals? Consider the threat posed by today’s distracted driver, and the aggressive tendencies of immature drivers. All too often, these kinds of drivers are responsible for a majority of traffic collisions.  Today’s public safety officer while directing traffic must be at their…

As SWAT Officers we train for and prepare to provide a tactical resolution to a variety of high risk incidents.  Ultimately SWAT must be prepared to use their training, equipment, and expertise to go head to head with an armed suspect(s).  This is where there are no second chances, and very limited time to act. …

Any one of you who have been with me on a range for more than about 30 seconds probably have a good grasp on the following terms and concepts. These terms, however, are not terms commonly used among Police trainers and I want to share with you how these different terms and concepts can influence you…

The Practical Competitive Shooting world uses some terms and concepts that we rarely if ever, hear from Police Trainers.  When I attended my first practical shooting match, I assumed that my police-trained firearm skills were far superior then any local civilians.  At that match, I watched with amazement at how fast and accurate a gun…