By Stephen Owsinski Jurisdictions notorious for gun violence may have ShotSpotter technology implemented to aid law enforcement responses, chronicle firearm discharges, and generate crime data to bolster deployment of dwindled police resources, but some communities are still lukewarm on the use of the alert systems, citing privacy concerns. Speaking of lukewarm, a new study conducted Read more »
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D One of the most unseemly aspects of crowd behavior in recent years is when bystanders not only fail to try to help or rescue people in trouble, but stand back to video it to be the first to post the fight, crash, or fire online. It reminds me of Read more »
By Stephen Owsinski Although it is not every day that law-enforcement professionals deploy Crisis Negotiations Unit assets to instances involving standoffs, the ultra-preparation and training for these chess-like scenarios are paramount. Today, we take a glimpse of the training aspects of police personnel honing skills to more effectively handle often tension-filled engagements involving high-strung individuals Read more »
By Steve Pomper YouTube screenshot Viridian FACT Duty gun mounted camera This morning I was listening to KTTH 770 radio talk show host Bryan Suits talk about a YouTube channel you may be familiar with called Donut Operator. It’s hosted by the compelling and often humorous former cop Cody Garrett. With an irreverent but spot-on manner that entertains and Read more »
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D When an officer fires their duty weapon there is no shortage of questioners, critics, and scrutiny. Why so many bullets? Why didn’t they talk him down? Why didn’t they just Tazer her? Those questions have to be answered for every individual case, but the public needs to have some Read more »
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D If there is one area of law enforcement that retains the respect and fascination of the public it is the murder detective. Americans are fascinated by murder. The harder to solve, the better. The most incongruous the setting, the better. The prettier the victim, the smaller the town, and Read more »
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D While there are police units specifically assigned to water safety, every officer is a general-purpose emergency responder and may find themselves saving lives at risk from drowning. A special force of Metropolitan Las Vegas police rescue officers deployed to save a couple being washed away in flood waters while Read more »
By Steve Pomper Madison County (NC) Sheriff Buddy Harwood has been criticized for making what many see is a difficult, responsible, and rational decision. He’s equipping his county’s public schools with AR-15 rifles in response to the horrendous school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. CBS News reported, “When the school year begins in Madison County, North Carolina, Read more »