Tactical Blue TV

https://youtu.be/2Qi1R7ZwNjo Some of you cops are becoming softer! Yes, weaker against injustice and Criminal Profiling.  All these events happening around the nation are encouraging some of you to speak out. The Minneapolis in-custody death sparked outrage among the public.  I have seen some "Celebrity" cops post snapshot photos of the in-custody death demanding justice. As a result, I haven't posted anything because I don't have all the facts to make an accurate and unbiased conclusion.  George Floyd's full video doesn't present all the criminal facts.  Yes, some of you are already biased against this case. Some of you are already biased against other cases!  The Truth About The Case The truth about the case is that we don't know the truth. The probable cause affidavit was released to the public.  I would like to say the affidavit highlights all the details about the case, including what happened to George Floyd.  However, the affidavit is less than two pages long! I write longer criminal affidavits for public intoxication. I can see the reasoning behind expediting the arrest of former Officer Derek Chauvin.  The city and police leaders in Minneapolis want to stop the destruction of their city.  https://twitter.com/CityMinneapolis/status/1267560805609943041?s=20 https://twitter.com/mkultranews/status/1268000981356183552?s=20 In summary, does rushing a case hurt the defendant's or the victim's case? In fact, Charging Documents Suggest A Thin Case In Floyd Murder Charges.   YOU ARE BIASED!  Some of you are already crying and protesting about the subheading.  Unfortunately, whether you like it or not, you are biased. Let me explain why.  Some of you who posted early on about the case don't know what you did. From now on, you'll have a biased view.  Even so, you didn't have any facts before the probable cause affidavit was published. You let your emotions and the media encourage you to post and speak your mind.  You Are Biased You are going to hurt victims, no matter the race, sex, or belief. Your criminal profiling will be weak. Consequentially, you'll be biased against suspects.  In the world of policing, you only have three types of people, law-abiding citizens, victims, and suspects.  You see how I didn't use the word criminals. Criminals are the people who been through the court system, and they were found guilty of their crimes.  You can't be labeling people out there as criminals. Without a doubt, you'll have a clouded judgment when they become the victims.  Weak criminal profiling comes from the fact you don't want to press harder and might have to use force to find the truth of your cases.  Criminal Profiling Vs. Racial Profiling These two terms are one of the most basic teachings of policing. Policing 101 dictates law enforcement officers must never use racial profiling.  Nevertheless, criminal profiling is a tool we must use every day during our tour of duty.  Racial profiling is the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of having committed an offense. That's a big NO, NO!  On the other hand, criminal profiling uses the facts of the incident to make an intelligent or methodical conclusion.  These are some of the factors encompassed in criminal profiling: The time of the day when the crime was committed The number of reports of the same crime in a specific area Any suspicious people or vehicles based on the first two factors Prior knowledge of the criminal activity in the region by beat cops Investigative intel or other factors which contribute to the overall crime map The use of these and other factors encompasses criminal profiling. None of the critical points mentioned above use race or ethnicity as a factor.  The Problem With Posting Your Opinion Before The Facts Although you might want to sound reasonable and encouraging of the public opinion, facts are facts.  By posting individual opinions on your social media, you already demonstrated a criminal biased against former Officer Chauvin. His chances of a fair trial are gone.  Just like everyone else, they will convict him no matter what.  Thus, your biases are going to affect his case, but not in the lower courts where the verdict is guilty. Therefore, in his appeal process. Probably all the way to the supreme court.  Hence, the justices will ignore all the noise and see if the charges brought up against him are legal.  They will test every single definition of murder and manslaughter against the state's penal code. They will examine the policies and procedures of the Minneapolis Police Department.  If the test fails, he either will go free or get another trial with more appropriate charges. Then we are back on square one.  Your Biases Hurts Victims Now, let me switch to what this article is about. One thing I hate about other law enforcement officers is that fact they take one side. We aren't here to chose one side or the other.  We are here to make sure the law is enforced. No buts or ifs… Enough said.  Crime Is Our Only Enemy Any crime is our real enemy, not people.  Crime doesn't practice one specific religion. Evil isn't a particular person or race.  Crime is everywhere, happening at this moment, in every corner of this planet.  From now on, your traffic stops will not be the same. You'll have this case in the back of your mind.  You know what? You'll hurt people!  I'm not talking about unjustified use of force or killing someone innocent.  You'll hurt your partner because your weak criminal profiling thoughts will discourage you from looking further for a crime. You will confuse criminal profiling as racial profiling.  You'll miss that gun, killing your partner because you didn't want to be seen as a "racist." You'll hurt the victim because you'll fail to ask suspect questions that might seem "discriminatory."  Think about how your career will change from now on because you couldn't wait for the facts.  Your job is to find the facts!  In every call for service, you must find the facts! Making assumptions about cases or calls for service kills officers and victims every year!  What Really Matters! Scrolling through social media, I have seen the destruction these "peaceful" protesters are leaving behind.  Many small business owners lost everything.  Three months of pandemic business revenue losses. Now, they attempt to open their businesses to find their building and goods on fire.  Who are we really hurting here? Ourselves, we are killing ourselves.  VICTIMS ARE WHAT REALLY MATTERS! The victims of any criminal episode should be what matters the most to you.  At this moment, because cops are focusing on riots and protecting the cities, you are missing out on crimes that hurt the most innocent of victims.  Human traffickers are exploiting the chaos to traffic more victims. They are moving them from state to state. To them, they aren't victims, but commodities.  Suspects are using the internet to target innocent children to make them do things they don't want. Victims are getting kidnap torture and murder.  Some of them in front of us!  Look at this brutal murder perpetrated in front of hundreds of witnesses, but no one is going to speak out.  JUSTICE FOR ALL!  Dallas Shop Owner Killed Defending His Business Why aren't you posting these in your social media accounts? Doesn't he deserve the same justice as #JusticeForFlyod?  What about this lady? Doesn't she deserve justice for her brutal attack? Every state has enhancements for handicapped victims. Isn't she a more vulnerable victim? Handicapped Woman Attacked By Rioters What about our fellow sheepdog? Does he deserve justice by finding the killer and convicting him in a court of law? I mean, he is a human being like anyone else. He is a victim, no matter the race, uniform, or profession he chose.  Dave Patrick Underwood Federal Protection Services Get Your Priorities Straight Get your Fucking priorities straight. Some of you might want to stop being cops and find another profession.  As one of my sergeants used to say, "Go Out There To Fight Crime and Suppress Evil."  Some of you can't do that!  Your priorities are to find and protect victims. Your precedences aren't to post about a case that clearly you don't know shit about.  In this case, your opinion is irrelevant and is not going to change the crazy protestor's mind.  What you need to be doing is getting close to your community. You need to be stepping out of the office and vehicle to speak with the public.  Proof of this is Officer Deon Joseph. He has demonstrated one person can influence others to change their lives. His career among the residents of Los Angeles Skid Row taught him valuable lessons. Listen to his TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jUZPtsIEGI Officer Deon Joseph The people who live in poor neighborhoods have issues too. Listen to their grievances and problems.  I used to live in one of them. The drug use, fights, and crime were rampant. More people want to see you there.  Despite what the media and other people say, most residents want to have a peaceful place to rest.  When they see you enforcing what you consider insignificant or annoying calls might make the difference to them.  They aren't going to thank you. Not because they hate you, but because that puts a target on their back.  Today Is The Time To Suppress Evil Stop posting and reading about this case, go out there, and suppress evil!  Make traffic stops, ask questions, and protect victims. If you see or feel something is wrong, press harder. Forget about the "I don't want the brass or the public to see me a biased officer." If that's the mentality you have, get out! We don't need you!  We need influential minded law enforcement officers who can distinguish between right and wrong.  We need the type of officers who will find a victim of heinous crimes and do everything legally to protect them.  We need cops who will do everything in their power to do right.  We need cops who are mentally stable to understand some people are not, and they need help.  If you want to be a paper pusher, so be it. Stay inside the office, push papers, and collect your paycheck!  Don't pretend you are a cop and get someone hurt or killed. It's okay, this is a tough job, and is not for everyone.  Key Points There Are Law-Abiding Citizens, Suspects, & Criminals in our professions. There is not Black, White, Hispanic, Jew, Muslim, Handicap, etc. Your Job Is To Find The Facts Using The Law As Your Sword.  Use it effectively, with dignity, and respect for each person you interact with.  Stop Posting About Cases You Can't Control.  Clean your own house before commenting on others. Some people in neighborhoods where "police aren't welcome" want you there anyway.  They can't say it out loud because they'll put a target on their back. Fight Crime and Suppress Evil Use all your energy to find those evil people who harm the innocent. Fight Like A Sheepdog If you aren't fit to fight like a sheepdog, then move on This job isn't for the weak or cowards Find The Victims  Innocent people are waiting for you. Your job is to navigate through the muddy waters to find them and rescue them.  You'll get dirty, but It's worth it.  You Are Not Discriminating Whenever someone throws phrases like "You are a racist" or "You stopped me because I am [Insert your response here]," it's just an excuse.  Find the real reason why they are saying that. Some could be real prior bad experiences with police, while others could be attempting to distract you.  Believe me, it works in some jurisdictions.    Fighting Crime Isn't Discrimination. Criminal Profiling is our goal. If some of you feel offended by reading this piece, then don't follow me. I'm not here to please everyone but to tell the truth. If you feel angry, then you know which side you are on.  If you see some truth and feel inspired by this piece, share, comment, and let me know what you think.  Remember, "Don't be an ass, be an asset."

If you are like many law enforcement officers, then you are ready to go back to the streets to fight crime and suppress evil. Unfortunately, many officers are focusing on unconstitutional laws, stay-home laws, and skipping real coronavirus crimes.  

I decided I needed to help my fellow first responders who might not have the resources required to get the job done. No matter what, we still have to respond to calls even if we don’t have the equipment. Luckily, many businesses are stepping forward to fulfill the void many local, state, and even the federal government are missing. These businesses are using their workers, raw materials, and factories to create personal protective equipment for the first responders. Let’s jump right into the information! Resources mentioned in the podcast: ➡️COVID-19 article for law enforcement: https://www.tacticalbluetv.com/a-law-enforcement-guide-to-covid-19-part-2/ ➡️Axon: sign up here: https://www.axon.com/news/covid-19-axon-supplies ➡️Masks for civilians: https://www.today.com/style/where-buy-face-masks-yourself-others-t177883 ➡️3D Masks: https://essentium3d.com/ ➡️Lexipol Grant List: https://www.lexipol.com/coronavirus/grant-funding/ ➡️Reimbursement FEMA Grant: https://www.tml.org/DocumentCenter/View/1657/FEMA-Reimbursement-Process-Summary?bidId= ➡️Personal Financial Aid For First Responders: https://1strcf.org/ ➡️IBM Watson: https://www.ibm.com/watson/covid-response-faq ➡️John Hopkins Pandemic Tracker: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html ➡️National Police Foundation: https://pf.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ef2bbd8c0b004455ae58305a143082d2 ➡️Homeland Security Information: https://www.iaclea.org/assets/uploads/pdfs/First_Responders_Toolbox_COVID-19_NCTC_DHS_FBI.pdf ➡️Testing Kits List: https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/top-suppliers/medical-testing-kits-suppliers/ Share other resources with me: podcast@tacticalblueTV.com  

In part 1, I wrote about the COVID-19’s symptoms, preventive measures, and how the virus is spreading. Additionally, I explained the risk level presented to law enforcement and correction professionals. COVID-19 cases are growing by the day. You might think this is a problem for large metro areas, and the virus isn’t going to affect small-town policing. I can guarantee you’ll see a COVID-19 case in almost every type of jurisdiction. Learn how to prevent the spread using personal protective equipment as indicated by the CDC.

COVID-19 is affecting every aspect of America. First responders have the commitment and duty to protect society during these turbulent times. Tactical Blue provides the following information to facilitate planning for and execution of civilian interaction between law enforcement personnel and members of the public. Information is presented in a chronological format and provided at a level of detail that affords police officers and law enforcement supervisors the flexibility to develop procedures that are suitable for their environment.

Criminals Going Dark-I talk about a problem many small and medium-size law enforcement agencies are experiencing with encrypted social media messaging.

Texas celebrates the legacy of our fallen Peace Officers. Officers from many jurisdictions, as well as, federal agencies attended the candlelight vigil at the Texas Peace Officer Memorial Monument in Austin, Texas.    The memorial monument is located in the premises of the Texas State Capitol Building. The names of all the fallen Texas peace officers are engraved on granite obelisk on a base with a Texas Lone Star.    The names of the fallen dates back to 1823, when our founder, Stephen F. Austin, commission what is now known as the "Texas Rangers."    The memorial was erected in 1999 with contributions by the Texas Commission On Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and the Texas State Preservation Board.    The memorial is not only remembering the fallen officers. The monument also reflects the strength and honor of the families of the fallen officers.   Unfortunately, more names are added each year to the walls. We all hope the deaths of law enforcement falls to zero. However, for now, we are going to keep adding those names to the walls. The names help us remember how life could be short and to embrace and defend it every single second.   "Rest In Peace Brothers; We Got It From Here"   

You heard many headlines, mass shootings happening across our nation. More people want to prevent these atrocities, law enforcement does too. However, this issue can create problems because some of those mass shootings aren’t carried away by ideological or fanatics of some sort. Investigations have concluded people with extreme mental illnesses have committed these crimes. In some cases, family members of those responsible failed to see the signs of an imminent attack. Those with mental illnesses didn’t wake up one day and said, “Hey, I’m mentally ill, let’s go and hurt people.” In fact, many people with mental illnesses will never hurt another human being. In his book, author Gavin de Becker, “The Gift of Fear,” explains humans have developed a tremendous tool which can guarantee their survival. Some of us, police officers, call FEAR a “gut-feeling” or instinct. Gut-feelings is a predecessor of reasonable suspicion. You know something is wrong, but you don’t exactly what’s going on. What do you do? You ask more questions, dig deeper, and find what were you looking for. The same is for our court system, lawmakers believe if you just feel someone is a threat, then we must take their guns away. These lawmakers started new laws, known as Red Flag Gun Laws. What Are Red Flag Gun Laws? “Extreme Risk Protection Order” (ERPO), also known as Red Flag Gun Laws, is a legislative statute. Red Flag Gun Laws allow law enforcement to strip anyone with mental illnesses from possessing firearms while undergoing evaluation. Police officers will have submit an application for a warrant with a judge. After the judge finds credible and substantial facts, any person is a danger to themselves and others, officers might seize firearms for an unknown time frame. Is this really a violation of their due process rights? Well, the idea is complicated. In some states, ERPOs can only be filed by police, while in other states like California or Maryland, spouses, roommates and close relatives can ask courts to remove firearms out of safety concerns. While removing firearms can be seen as a violation of our second amendment right, many law enforcement officers expressed their desire for a fair due process and using “the totality of the circumstances” before taking firearms away according to “Policing Matters” podcast. While reading some comments, many highlighted, for example, some officers weren’t satisfied with states who lack mental health resources. As police officers, we encounter mentally ill people who are in distress or seeking help. Nevertheless, depending on where you patrol, some of those resources aren’t there. Which leaves those sick people finding relief by using legal and illegal controlled substances. Even the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) could be detrimental preventing crimes. Physicians or mental health professionals may inform law enforcement when they believe a person might be a risk for violence. If one of those professionals knew a person might be planning an attack, police could investigate. In a brochure published by the American Hospital Association, they specify hospitals don’t have to share information if they don’t feel is necessary. “A hospital may not disclose patient information to avert a serious threat to health or safety if the information was obtained in the course of treatment to affect the propensity to commit criminal conduct; counseling or therapy; or through the individual’s request for such treatment, counseling, or therapy.” Another officer expressed concerns about taking property from mentally ill people. This officer stated it was better evaluate the ill person at a mental facility than just taking weapons away. This officer made a good point, mentally ill people who have clearly shown violent tendencies will find a way to harm others. Other weapons could be vehicles, knives, improvised explosive devices, etc. Again, we're going back, a reform is needed for our current mental health laws and accommodations for mentally ill people. Many states already had provisions in their laws which helped law enforcement officers seize firearms. My home state of Texas, in clearly specifies in the Health and Safety Code, Chapter 573, guidelines for officers for firearms confiscations from mentally ill people. When there is a substantial risk of serious harm to the person or to others unless the person is immediately restrained and believes that there is not sufficient time to obtain a warrant before taking the person into custody. The officer can take the distressed person into custody for evaluation. Substantial risk is justified by current behavior or evidence of severe emotional distress and deterioration in mental condition to the extent that the person cannot remain at liberty. These facts can be obtained from a credible person or officer’s observations. The officer shall immediately transport the person to a hospital, mental health facility, or jail where mental health professional must evaluate the person who was detained. The statue then expands to the seizing of the firearms by saying: A peace officer may immediately seize any firearm found in possession of the person. After seizing a firearm under this subsection, the peace officer shall comply with the requirements of Article 18.191, Code of Criminal Procedure. Then officers shall issue a receipt to the detained person stating which weapons were taken accompanied by a written notice of the procedure for the return of firearms. The agency then needs to notify via mail, no later than the 15th day, to the closest relative how this person can retrieve the guns being held by the law enforcement agency. As you see, in Texas, officers will seize firearms but will attempt to return those guns for safekeeping. This statue emphasizes due process as well as our right to bear arms. People are medically treated, but property won’t be kept by government officials. Texas goes even further by protecting people’s rights. If patients couldn’t get anyone to take his/her guns for safekeeping. The agency must sell any weapons through an authorized gun dealer, and all proceeds of any sale must go into the rightful owner’s account! Let me walk you through an example, let’s say you just went through a traumatic event like a burglary or an extreme domestic violence case. Based on Texas law, if you suffer an emotional disturbance, like PTSD, where your family or law enforcement believe your best course of action is a mental health facility. Law Enforcement officers will seize any guns at home, but immediately transfer them to any person you designate. If you are evaluated and medical professionals believe this was an isolated incident, all weapons can lawfully be returned back. Though, in those states with Red Flag Gun Laws, this process could take longer, placing you at risk. Think about this, if you just went over any of those scenarios and you feel you ex might come over and attack you at night. Would be safer for you to defend herself, and not cookie-cut specific circumstance as with Red Flag Gun Laws indicate? Every situation is different, and each jurisdiction should have the freedom to analyze, investigate, and conclude our best action for each person who is suffering mental distress episodes for the safety of the community. Although, research in Connecticut shown Red Flag Gun Laws had reduced suicides since 1999 when this law was enacted. Taking this information into consideration, Red Flag Gun Laws should also consider our rights of into account not only numbers. Many people believe if they seek help for their depression and possible suicide thoughts, their second amendment will be dismissed and their weapons will be confiscated. Currently, Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(4) stated a person who is committed to a mental institution voluntarily won’t find themselves disqualified for the ownership of firearms. Consequences of Red Flag Gun Laws Back in 2018, Maryland law enforcement officers attempted an execution of a seizure warrant on a man with mental health problems. While speaking with the subject, one officer began executing the order. This conversation prompted a confrontation which ended his life. One officer shot the homeowner because he didn’t want to let go of his gun. Many people just miss their court date after being legally declared in good mental condition, and they can obtain their guns back. Legal fees lost work dates, or life changes can be a complication for these people. Going through our court system isn’t free! My opinion More information plus acknowledgment from our public officials is needed to help people with permanent or temporary mental illnesses. As police officers, we can’t take people’s rights away, neither should government nor state's legislature should do it without due process. Police officers are placed at risk when these laws are enacted because we will be executing those legal documents. More states should base their Red Flag Gun Laws like Texas Legislature has done. Here in Texas, we believe in the protection of the public. Also, we believe in the protection of each individual’s rights. Gun laws are a complicated issue: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Resources: 1. de Becker, Gavin. The Gift of Fear. Narrated by: Thomas Stechschulte. Audible, 2017. Audiobook. 2. Should police be allowed to seize guns from the mentally ill? [Audio blog interview]. (2019, March 22). Retrieved March 24, 2019, from http://bit.ly/2Cwx2BN Show: “Policing Matter” 3. RECEIPT AND NOTICE OF RIGHTS FOR SEIZED FIREARMS Incident#. http://www.houstoncit.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Receipt-and-Notice-of-Rights-final-draft-3in-1.pdf 4. Texas Law for Court Ordered Drug Rehab and Involuntary …. https://careplanpro.com/texas-law/ 5. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/18/texas-gun-red-flag-laws-santa-fe-greg-abbott/ 6. https://www.atf.gov/file/58791/download 7. https://gunresponsibility.org/solution/erpo/ 8. https://www.ammoland.com/2018/12/anti-gun-bills-to-be-introduced-in-texas/#axzz5j6iKiSBK 9. https://www.ammoland.com/2019/01/texas-already-has-extreme-risk-protection-order-laws/#axzz5j6iKiSBK 10. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/02/25/gun-laws-red-flag-colorado/ 11. https://www.aha.org/system/files/2018-03/guidelinesreleasinginfo.pdf

Duty belts are as old as policing. From the beginning, para-military uniform adaptations of duty belts included police officers. Police belts symbolize the disciplined body of the justice system. When policing started, officers were part of the night watch. Officers carried tools like lanterns and sometimes a stick for self-defense. Eventually, law enforcement belts became a symbol or a brand. Officer’s dress code included a trench coat plus a Sam Browne belt. Belts consisted of a leather piece, brass buckle, and another leather strip which connected front to back passing through the officer’s chest and right shoulder. When I see photographs of police officers who used this setup, I can imagine myself being one of them. These officers carried a nightstick, flashlight, and revolver. Over time, law enforcement evolved, and more tools were added. All these new tools or toys, as some of us see them, started adding weight which translated in back, hips, and knee injuries. However, there are new options to consider when setting up your belt to avoid or prevent injury. Here are some critical factors. 1) Duty belt’s material: Majority of duty belts are either made out of durable nylon or leather. Nylon is lighter and flexible; however, some departments discourage nylon because it doesn’t look “professional” since this material could rub off over time with daily use. Leather belts can look professional. Police departments like the way manufacturers can make it look glossy or basket weave. However, leather can add weight to the already heavy-duty equipment. 2) Manufacturer: Price is a significant factor, primarily if your department doesn’t provide a uniform allowance or pay for all of the uniforms. I suggest you do your research and go with quality manufacturers. Don’t forget to read the reviews, not just reviews like t “It looks good,” but more about how it feels after the usage for a while. I use Bianchi Duty Belts, and so far the belt is lighter than my old leather one. Remember, security officers also use some of the duty belts, and they don’t carry as much equipment as we do. 3) Comfort and Size: Your waistline will determine the size as well as your level of comfort, and the number of pouches and holsters you attach to your belt. Remember, you might want to buy a bigger size. You might gain a little weight, but if you are like me, I wear many layers during the winter, and I have to open loosen up it up a bit. Let’s take a look the way I set up my duty belt. Your setup depends on the number of tools you carry, personal preference, and policies by your department. One thing is sure if you are a rookie, you’ll change the setup for the first two years because you’ll learn what works and doesn’t work for you. (Starting Counterclockwise from belt buckle) Taser Tasers are useful for many reasons, some to stop subjects who aren’t complying to commands, other times to make the taser spark showing you aren’t playing games. I placed my taser next to the belt buckle because I’ll reach to use it with my dominant right hand. My academy taught me always place the taser on the opposite side or away from your firearm because, in a high-stress scenario, you could grab your gun instead of your taser to stop someone while resisting, a true story this happened before: https://link.tacticalbluetv.com/shot-with-taser. If I’m that close to a subject, I’m not reaching for a taser to make someone comply, hands-on baby! Magazine Holster My magazine holster is unique, well, not really, but I like it. I have a double handgun plus AR15 magazine holster. The reason I chose this setup is the location where I work. My backup is 10–15 minutes away. I like the idea of having another AR15 magazine just in case I have a defective magazine in the AR15 already, or I experience a double feed which prompts me to do a rapid clearing drill and reload. I never hear anyone ever said, “I brought too many rounds to this gunfight!” Flashlight Holster I carry many flashlights, in the vehicle, in my go pack and on me. This particular flashlight is what I call my “Vehicle Search” flashlight. I can place it in tight places when I’m looking for contraband, e.i AC vents. Always use your non-dominant hand to handle your flashlight or any tool which isn’t essential for fighting. Like my old academy, sergeant used to say “Nothing In Your Gun Hand.” PR24/Flashlight Loop Next, I have this velcro loop for my PR24. If you never used a PR24, you are missing a cool and useful tool for crowd control. Make sure you take the necessary training before using one. It’s useful, but deadly if you strike one of the red zones. By the way, it’s hard to find one in the market. It took me a while before I got ahold one. This loop is multi-function because I also use it for my long Streamlight flashlight. Radio Pouch The radio goes in my non-dominant hand. All my fellow officers at the police department use different setups for their radios. Some use the radio clip which it’s attached to the radio’s battery. Others have metal clips or “Porta” clips. I use a swivel pouch which is easy for me to use. If I have to take the radio off my duty belt, I turn the pouch upside down and pull up, easy. Tourniquet Holster If you don’t use a tourniquet on your duty belt, you are automatically failing in this job! Tourniquets could save your life or your fellow officer’s life in a life-threatening situation. If you are shot, after stopping the threat, the first thing you need to do is to stop the bleeding. Having the tourniquet easily accessible can be the difference between bleeding to death or winning the fight! If possible also carry an Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) close by as well. Glove Pouch My glove pouch is directly behind my spine. The reason for this methodology is to avoid spine injuries if I fall backward. Never place anything which could compress the spine discs if you fall, such as handcuffs or other hard tools. The injury isn’t worth it. Place something soft or nothing at all. If you have a small waistline and you need space, consider adding a double magazine pouch to save space. OC Spray I carry my OC spray in a pouch directly behind my baton. The reason is that I prefer to use my dominant hand to withdraw the bottle. I’m not sure if this is the best place for it, but I’m more concerned with the other tools mentioned above. Baton To use my baton, I’ll withdraw it from the holster. Using my dominant hand with an upper and downward motion extending the baton. Firearm My Glock 22 holster is near my hipbone. I place it about 1 inch in front of the hip bone. This way, it’s comfortable for me while sitting in the patrol car, but also it doesn’t interfere with the seat belt if I ever have to do a rapid retrieve while sitting. Double Handcuff Pouch Police Academies don’t emphasize the importance of proper handcuff placement. Usually, police officers place their handcuffs in the back of the duty belt. However, think about it; if you are going to handcuff someone and your non-dominant hand is holding the suspect’s hands, what’s the other hand doing? Moving back to open the pouch and retrieve the handcuffs. If you notice before, your torso automatically leans forward. The movement places you in an odd disadvantaged position. If your handcuffs are in the front, the whole time you’ll maintain the upper hand. You won’t have unusual movements. You’ll reach the pouch, open it, and handcuff. If you practice enough, it can be a fast and smooth movement. If you decide to use this setup or another, the important thing is to practice, practice, practice. You should be able to grab any of your tools in the daytime or dark. Muscle memory plays a big part in the officer’s safety. Remember, my goal is that you go home safe to your family. “Don’t Be An ASS, Be An ASSet!” https://youtu.be/i157jKuTWTE

Police officer’s duty belts are diversified, heavy, full of surprises for the bad guys. We carry all kinds of tools which help us in our jobs while keeping us safe. Duty belts add significant weight which can cause health problems, including lower back pain and knee injuries. Photo by Jordan on Unsplash Recently officers have been looking for alternatives to reduce the weight they carry. Some have chosen to move part of their gear to their vest or load-bearing vests. However, the price of these vests can go from $150 up to $1500, depending on the model, brand, and specific features. Other officers opted to change their duty belts. I changed mine from leather to nylon. The reduction of weight wasn’t significant, but it helped my back for sure. Another alternative is to change the holsters we carry our tools. More officers are using Kydex as an alternative to leather or nylon. I’m sure you’ve heard about Kydex before, but if you haven’t, here is some information. In Wikipedia, Kydex is an acrylic-polyvinyl chloride composite which it’s used for aircraft bulkheads, firearm holsters, sheaths, and knives. Kydex is really strong and highly moldable. If you Google “Kydex,” you’ll find hundreds of videos, blogs and other materials for this particular material. Many people love to make all kinds of things out of Kydex, and some are impressive. For police officers, the use of Kydex holsters is an excellent addition to the duty belt. A well built Kydex holster can be durable, reliable, and lightweight. I started researching Kydex, and I found two ways to obtain Kydex holsters. One, I could learn how to make my holsters. I would have to buy the materials and tools. Also, the learning curve and research I would have to do. Second, I could find a company out there which already had Kydex holsters for sale. I started researching for companies, and I finally found a suggestion in a Law Enforcement Group which I’m a member. Many of the members suggested Omega Holsters. I looked into it and found out this company is based in Texas and run by a law enforcement officer. I thought this was great since I like to support other officers. The first thing I asked the owner was for a handgun/AR-15 magazine holster combo. I was looking to add an AR-15 magazine to my belt since I work in a remote area (THE MORE ROUNDS, THE BETTER!). The owner immediately contacted me and sent me a link to a product he already produces. I was like, SOLD! Omega Holsters Products I purchased the magazine combo, flashlight, OC Spray & Tourniquet holster with my order. The magazine combo and Tourniquet are attached to my belt with a Blade-Tech Tek-Lok. It’s easy to use, pull the lever down, and push the two ends of the locking mechanism. The clip can be adjusted to fit different belt thicknesses. For the OC Spray and flashlight holster, I ordered the malice clip which slides through either end of your duty belt to the desired position for comfort and tactical position Omega Holsters was a great purchase, and I’m happy I chose it. Here some of the Pros and Cons of the products I purchased. Pros: Lightweight Handgun/AR-15 Magazine combo Durable Cons: Since you’re carrying more rounds with the magazine combo, whichever side you carry it, you’ll have extra weight, and the weight will ride the holster down. OC Spray holster will tear down the can’s label Whichever Kydex product you chose, remember to go with a business who knows what law enforcement needs. Remember, some little aspects as retention, durability, and others are essential in law enforcement.  As I mentioned above, many Kydex makers vary from amateur to full-size businesses, but each focuses on different products and aspects of each product. I went with Omega Holsters since the maker is a police officer and knows what’s essential for us. Side note: If you purchase from this business, read the instructions, or you’ll end up doing a big “oops” as I did here. DISCLAIMER: I wasn’t paid to promote Omega Holsters. I believe these products are made with quality materials and at a reasonable price. The value of the product exceeds my expectations.  https://youtu.be/wjOixJsgeH4

My police department just purchased two brand new 2019 Chevy Tahoe with the Police Package. All the new features, the performance, and add-ons make this SUV a great purchase! Many police departments are debating whether they should purchase this big vehicle. However, the most important thing to consider is the customization and space this SUV offers for the patrol officer. I can carry so much equipment with this vehicle. I even have some space to spare compared to my old SUV, 2009 Chevy Tahoe. I'll show you all the features from bumper to bumper including the after-market equipment which was added for better user experience. Let's begin. Oh, if you find this podcast interesting, don't forget to subscribe and share it. https://youtu.be/wzdV_TGmrrU

In today's episode, I want to discuss case law. Yes, I know it's boring! However, it's relevant to your reports, and it's a big part of what it means to be a real police officer, which means it's essential to your police training. Before we get started, I want to paint a picture. Let's say that you're part of a Special Task Force and you want to focus on a specific area in town that is of interest because of the high crime occurring in the last month, whether that's in narcotics, burglaries, or other crimes. Imagine you're driving around in your marked patrol vehicle. Then, you spot a man walking down the street, and as soon as he sees you, he turns around and runs away. The question here is this: Are you allowed to stop him? Is it illegal for him to look at you? Do you have a reason to stop him? It doesn't seem that way. However, guess what? According to the Supreme Court of the United States, you are indeed allowed to stop that person, but there are some things you need to consider, and that's what we'll be discussing today. To illustrate my point, I want to take a look at Illinois Vs. Wardlow. This case took place in Chicago, Illinois, in 1995. Here's the summary: three patrol cars were working in a specific area of town looking for Narcotics. On one of those patrol vehicles, Mr. Wardlow was walked by, and as soon as he noticed the police officers, he turned around and ran away through an alley. One of the officers noticed the suspicious behavior, got out of the car, and started pursuing on foot. Once the officer caught up to him, frisked him and went through a bag Mr. Wardlow had on hand, he found that Mr. Wardlow had an illegal firearm. This stop, of course, led to an arrest and eventually, Mr. Wardlow got convicted for the crime, but he fought his conviction in the Supreme Court. Here's what's interesting: The Illinois Supreme Court stated that the fact that he ran away was not enough reason to stop Mr. Wardlow, but the Supreme Court decided otherwise; Mr. Wardlow's behavior was, in fact, indicative of possible crime, and the pursuit was warranted. Let's break it down: 1. Mr. Wardlow was in a high-crime area linked with Narcotics. 2. The officers, who were part of a Special Task Force, were working said area. 3. His behavior, the fact that he ran away for no reason, gave the officers enough reason to suspect, stop him, and pat him down. 4. This stop resulted in the discovery of an illegal firearm on his person. The bottom line is that is not normal behavior for someone to run away from the police for no reason at all, and is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment to stop someone for reasonable of suspicion. Illinois VS Wardlow provides you a frame to stop crime in its tracks. Remember crime is mobile, whether it's a criminal driving or walking down the street, we must stop those criminals using all the tools the supreme court allows us to use.  https://youtu.be/MKEALXVDW18

Explore the case law which justifies the use of deadly force with a vehicle. Recently, the Grand Rapids Police Department (MI), used a car to strike a homicide suspect firing at officers in the middle of the road. I know what you are thinking, it the suspect was shooting at officers then it's justified. Well, not so fast, before you use deadly force of any kind, you need to learn the way you can use that specific use of force. In this podcast, I explain each case law which justifies the use of a vehicle as a weapon to stop a threat. Later, I show you the latest police shooting from the Baltimore Police Department (MD). Officers encountered a subject using deadly force against an innocent victim. Officers responded with deadly force and stopped the threat. However, the suspect injured one of the officers with a non-life threating injury.

In today's episode, I take you to Pflugerville, Texas, where we attended the BBQ Benefit for Cambryn's Relentless Battle. Camryn's is a nine-year-old little girl with a rare disease. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia. This disease has taken her strength from her. Her body is unable to produce more blood cells to fight everyday bacterial attacks. The only way for her to survive and thrive would be a bone marrow transfusion. Camryn's father, Sgt. Kurk Anderson, with the Pflugerville Police Department, asked for assistance. As one big BLUE FAMILY, we couldn't just let this little girl go without notice. We stepped up together to perform a BBQ Benefit for her. This past Saturday, I attended the BBQ Benefit. It was enjoyable to see how law enforcement and the community comes together to help one of our own. The most important message from this podcast is to DONATE. Camryn needs to find a bone marrow donor as soon as possible. Please go to -www.bethematch.org Order your Free kit and test. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tfThmXSzos

The Field Training Officer Program, also known as FTO, is our topic of the day, and this is something every law enforcement officer has to go through right out of the academy. These programs can last from a couple of weeks to 4 months. It all depends on the department and your level of expertise when entering the program. The FTO programs teach you everything; from policies to advanced tactics and everything in between. I am a field training officer, so my goal today is to provide tips to rookies who are going through the program so they can have an easier time. I’m also going to discuss traffic stops and show you how I do it. Common Rookie Mistakes To Avoid 1. Not listening to the radio. Rookies need to pay attention to call signs; if you don’t respond, dispatch will send officers to see if you’re okay. 2. Jumping to conclusions. You need to listen to the whole story and pay attention to physical evidence when you’re dealing with people so you can make good choices. 3. Not having your equipment ready. Always be prepared and make sure your equipment is functional! 4. Dealing with issues when you’re off duty. Forget your badge when you’re off duty unless someone’s life is in danger. 5. Not knowing the law. You need to read your state penal code and be familiar with it. 6. Not knowing the traffic code. 7. Not knowing case law and its applications. Make sure you study case law and stay on top of the updates. 8. Failure to study policy. If you don’t learn and apply your department’s policy, you will get in trouble, and it will go on your record. 9. Talking on the radio. Keep your radio talk short and to the point! 10. Taking everything personal. Everyone’s going to give you a hard time during your training, but that’s part of it. FTOs want to see you succeed, so they’re going to push you; don’t take it personally. If you want to hear more tips, make sure you listen to my above! Traffic Stops: How To Do It Traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things you’ll do out there because you’re mainly walking into the unknown. That’s why it’s essential to know your traffic stop basics and tactical approaches! The first thing you need to do in a traffic stop is to leave a space of the length of two cars between your patrol car and the suspect’s vehicle. Also, make sure you angle your vehicle 20 degrees to either side when you pull over; this will allow you to use the patrol as protection if need be. I prefer to approach traffic stops from the passenger side, so if you want to know how it works, make sure you watch the complete episode below, where I share visual presentations and explain my approach step by step. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc8W7W0G7ho

Today, we are going to talk about a dispatcher who was murder after finishing her shift. Officer used reasonable force to save his life. However, the jury said otherwise. An officer is fighting a decisive battle after being shot in the line of duty. Politicians said the United States leads the charts in mass shootings, and new research shows they were lying. Code Enforcement Officer ambushed and killed, how to prevent these attacks? And Finally, Transformer pulled over by Chinese Police!

In today's podcast, I go over the latest law enforcement news affecting you. There are valuable lessons learned from this week news, including being ambush while sitting in your vehicle. Listen to the podcast and share it with your police buddies!

The Austin Police Department is one of the largest police departments in Texas. Over 2500 commissioned and civilian employees are part of this organization. Austin itself became the best place to live in the US. I live near Austin. It’s a great place for culture, fun, entertainment, outdoor activities and much more. The current population is estimated to be close to 950k people. Many people from all over the US are moving here. As you know, not everyone who lives or moves here have the best intentions or behavior. The city likes to brag about the low crime rate reported by the FBI. Uniform Crime Report. Although I have some personal knowledge of a little trick to skew the results (completely legal), Austin is just another growing city in the US. However, Austin is experiencing a cultural change, like no other city in the US. Many people are moving here with their job from places like California, Colorado, etc. They bring their ideology, customs, and political views with them though there is nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. A few months ago, I was sitting in my patrol car when I heard on the radio about a story which didn’t make sense to me. A few former cadets (some classes after I graduated) decided to sue the city because they believe the training was too severe. Also, they mentioned they felt the Austin Police wasn’t teaching them to be guardians. I thought this was funny and said to my self : “Dude, you didn’t make it through the academy, and now you are all butt hurt.” Well, I dismissed the news story and moved on with my day. Last month, the same story came up during my morning commute. However, this time, the Chief of Police was talking about the issue. According to Bryan Manley, Chief of Police for the city of Austin, he was considering changing the training academy curriculum. He explained he spoke with citizens, and some raised concerns how police officers were too aggressive. This cultural change was not just any change. The chief wanted to change the academy from “Warrior” mentality to a softer version of “Guardians.” I believe those are two different ideologies. He wanted to make the academy more like a “college experience.” Initially, as any other cop would say, I thought this was some real BS! What do you mean guardians? Are we supposed to ask people if they feel like being arrested today? Or ask them how they feel when they have a knife on their hand? I decided to see if I could change my mind about the issue. I researched and read articles about cultural change, and this is my final verdict. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a guardian is defined as “one who has the care of the person or property of another.” Yes, as police officers, we are here to take care of people. We take care of people in many ways. Some is protecting them from each other like street fights or domestic violence. The property part is self-explanatory. We perform business checks at nighttime to make sure no one is stealing or damaging anything. But a guardian is a defensive position. When I hear the word guardian, I imagine a person just standing there waiting for the criminal to arrive. Security officers are the closest profession to guardians. They usually stand or walk through a specific area to prevent criminals from hurting others or stealing property. Many businesses like supermarkets prohibit security officers from stopping thieves due to liability concerns. Guardians in nature aren’t in the offense position. How can we be guardians as police officers? Is it our job to be in the offense to prevent crime? Crime is afoot all the time; crime is mobile; crime is not static. Police officers play offense. Stopping suspicious vehicles after minor traffic violations is a good example. Police officers are considered productive by their supervisors when they prevent crime. The mere presence of police in a neighborhood partially deters crime. It’s not a good idea to place an officer in one spot and pretend all the crimes will stop. Police officers have to be in the offense all the time. Yes, they have to be warriors. We aren’t dealing with 70-year-old Mrs. Thompson failing to stop at a stop sign. Yes, she is part of the public interaction. No, we are looking for the bad guys transporting drugs on the highway from Mexico. We are looking for the burglar who was speeding. Then after the investigation turned to something else because many red flags are going up! Sometimes we have to be more aggressive towards crime. We do this because we want you to live in a safer community. Take a look at other places around the world. Our southern neighbor, Mexico, can’t control the violence. We don’t want those problems here. Yes, that’s why we don’t like crime and criminals. Do we have to chose which one fits better for police? After considering those two the ramifications of being a guardian or warrior, I concluded that the public, media and some police departments don’t want to hear. Police Officers are both Guardians and Warriors. As police officers, we wear many hats on the job. Some areas, counselors, and therapists, as well as tactical operators. The fact is we can’t be warriors all the time. When you have a collision call which turns out to be a fatality, you can’t be all tough big macho tactical man. You have to get down to the level of the victim and give the bad news. Think about it. What if this was your wife, husband, daughter, etc. who just died in a crash? Do you want the officer to be dry and emotionless? Probably not. I’m not saying cry with the victim’s family, but have some compassion and empathy. In contrast, when sh$@ hits the fan, you need to be ready to kick some a$$. You need to use the most reasonable force according to your training and experience, plus whatever policy your department implemented. However, you need to make sure you and your partners go home safe! Right now, the public has a skewed view of law enforcement and our tactics. You can see many videos online where the person filming, aka video lawyers, give their comments to the current viewers. “Why do they have all those guns out?…. It’s just a lady with her hands up!” Unfortunately, the media and their agenda twist stories to get the most views and attention. Don’t let the news about warrior vs. guardian fool you. Remember, you are both. You are here to protect people, but protection also means going on the offense when the situation warrants it. Go out there and do your job with dignity, respect, and bravery. The best lesson I can share for new and future LEOs is something I learned from a good book. Every officer should read, “How to Win Friends & Influence People”: “Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.” Sometimes, this technique will change the outcome of the call. I practice this technique daily. In the meantime, be safe! https://youtu.be/e5XkKVNzmQw

An active shooter incident unfolded today in Annapolis, MD. The shooter entered the Capital Gazelle and attacked staff. FBI, ATF and local police are assessing the situation

Breaking News, Officer Christopher Driver and Mathew Mazany were killed over the weekend. Officer Driver died when his vehicle crash with a commercial vehicle. Officer Mazany passed away when a vehicle struck him and left the scene. The suspect was later arrested and is being held in jail without a bond. Keep all the officers' families in your prayers. #Backtheblue #ThinBlueLine

Police departments need to adapt to the latest trends and technologies to gain more recruits. I explain five techniques law enforcement managers can implement immediately to achieve hires and fulfill those vacancies.

This past week we lost two of our fellow officers out of Kansas. Wyandotte County deputies Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer were fatally shot. Prayers

Your training is the best way to advance in your career. Plain and simple, I know some training sucks, and it's stupid. However, find the training that is interesting to you and your goals. You don't want to be the "Retired On Duty" dude. Share and comment. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @tacticalblue

Working with your personality is the best thing you can do for your Law Enforcement career. Make the department work for you. Base your skills on the knowledge you learned from training, personal experience, and other people's help. If you want to work narcotics, you better be the best dope guy on your shift. The same for SWAT, DWIs, etc. Be safe and watch your six

Welcome to Tactical Blue TV! In this podcast, we are going to learn new practical law enforcement skills on the go. We teach practical training you can apply right now. We know you want to train more, but you don't have the time. We know you have other commitments, but police training is essential for your survival. Sgt. Hector Solis with his experience as a law enforcement professional, brings unique leaders in the industry to talk about police topics without the red tape. Stay up to date with the latest laws, tactics, and training, increase your confidence, and improve job performance. Sit back, relax, and take notes. You are about to listen to the best law enforcement podcast in the nation.