30Sept04

An enlightened policy!

"Weapons, as well as duty gear, are collected and sealed as evidence as soon as possible after an OIS, but always out of public view. This preserves the

officer's dignity and also insures no allegations of tampering, even if made, will be credible. Although we do not have the immediate capability of replacing backups and personal weapons, duty gear and primary weapon are re placed the instant the officer's weapon is impounded. All our officers ar e aware of this procedure and the reason for it. NO DUTY WEAPON IS EVER IMPOUNDED UNT IL A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT IS MADE AVAILABLE.

Involved (uninjured) officers are assigned an 'escort officer=80 and removed from the scene straightaway. They are taken to a local hotel and sequestered there. This eliminates the possibility that an officer will be taken to hi s home, only to be met there by members of the media. Arrangements are then made for family members, clergy, union representatives, legal counsel, medi cal people, and friends. We provide transportation. It is the job of our publ ic relation officer to intercept and confront the media.

Involved officers they are not formally interviewed until later and are actually discouraged from discussing the incident until they have talked wit h their lawyer and union representative.

We don't claim perfection, but our guys and gals know that we always have their best interests at heart. The system has been implemented several tim es, and has worked well."

Comment: This is a wonderful model and should be standard through the Country.

/John

30Sept04

If you haven't already, here are several critical "things to learn" in these times. I give this frank advice to all my students:

>Learn the AR-15 system. The AR-15 may not be the perfect rifle, but it will be around for the remainder of our lifetimes, and you'll probab ly have to use one sooner or later. Issues are airborne grit, lack of maintenance, overcharged magazines, and broken extractor springs, among others. AR-15s are found everywhere the USA has had influence.

>Learn the Kalashnikov system. You'll find the Kalashnikov everywh ere else! Made in China, Russia, Eastern Europe, South Africa (Rs), or Israel (Galil), they all work the same way. It's a good system, but it ne eds competent maintenance.

>Learn about Glocks and SIGs. They're everywhere and will be for t he foreseeable future.

>Learn how to get a blade in your hand fast. Blades are useful for all sorts of things, but, in an emergency, you need one deployed and ready to go to work, fast.

>Learn how to eat MREs. You well may have to subsist on them. C-rations are out. MREs are in. There is a learning curve. Heating element is now water-activated. Everything is now in plastic packets. Hardtack (John Way ne crackers) are still in!

>Learn how to apply the Israeli Battle Dressing to wounds, even your own. This is the battle dressing everyone is using now, and it is superior, by f ar, to all its predecessors. It is literally a life saver, and you'll probably have to use one, maybe sooner than you think.

>Learn how to effectively treat, in the field, a tension pneumothorax. A tension pneumothorax is commonly associated with penetrating chest wounds. The condition is often lethal within minutes, but it can be stabilized, and the

wounded person can survive his trip to the OR.

>Learn how to use a Leatherman Tool. It will do lots of jobs. You need on e and you need to know its many capabilities.

/John