During discussions around previous events with law enforcement officers it is all too common to hear the words “If I was there…” This is followed by the persons conjecture on what they would have done if they would have been in that particular events. I say conjecture because that is exactly what it is. Everything that comes after the words “If I was there I would have” is bullshit. The only people who know what they would have done are the ones who were there and know what they did do. The best any of the rest of us can do is speculate. Continue reading

A great article here by Brian Willis on those in our professions that prefer to message their own egos instead of  really trying to learn and understand from the lessons of others. The next time you start to state the words IF I WAS THERE in criticism of another officer stop…and think just for a second, would you, could you, actually do what you claim? Or is it just plain talk?

Learning lessons from others is a crucial method to becoming better at what we do, but it needs to be done correctly based in candor on lessons learned from the experience of individuals and others. We have a tough job to do and  It is time we start proving our effectiveness on the street  instead of trying to prove our manhood in the squad room! MY RANT ENDS HERE! ~Fred

Minn. officer killed in ambush, sets off manhunt

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A suburban St. Paul police officer was killed during an ambush Saturday morning, setting off a massive manhunt that ended with one suspect dead and another in custody, authorities said.

Maplewood Police Sgt. Joseph Bergeron, 49, was fatally shot while responding to a reported carjacking. A jogger on a nearby trail heard the shot that killed Bergeron, a married father of two and a 26-year police veteran, and turned back around to see two suspects fleeing, police said.

The jogger used the officer’s radio to call for help, and the carjacking victim warned police that at least one of the suspects was armed.

“We’re all grieving,” Maplewood Police Chief David Thomalla said. “He’s one of the finest people I know, and he was murdered today senselessly.”Continue reading

Evangel University to Arm Security Guards

An Ozarks university is the first in the area to add a lethal weapon to the utility belts of its first line defenders. Evangel University is arming its security officers. It’s a move that’s been several years in the making. “We really don’t experience that many problems on campus.”  Evangel Director of Security Gene Thomlinson would like that trend to continue.

  “In the 41 years I’ve been here we’ve experience claw hammers and screw drivers and knives- had one incident with a rifle, but that’s over a span of 40 years. That’s one every ten years,” Thomlinson explains. “I’d rather have it and never need to use it than need to use it and not have it,” says Andy Englert, one of Evangel’s security officers. Continue reading

Wellbeing Check to Knife Attack: Anticipation-The Double Edged Sword and its Affect on Winning and Losing, Up Close and Personal

By Fred Leland

The location and assailant was a home and person the officer involved frequently went to and dealt with. In this case he received a call for a “wellbeing check” a person possibly in emotional distress. The officer went and talked with the WOMAN who said she was fine and that she did not need our services. After his initial assessment the officer felt she was OK so he cleared the scene. No sooner than he left, a friend of the woman called the station and stated, she had lied to the cop and that she was going to kill herself (again routine for this location…I HATE THE WORD ROUTINE!

The same officer goes back and called off back-up stating it would just be a transport to the hospital! He goes to the door which is open and begins to speak with the woman who is angry and states she does not want to go to the hospital. The officer continues the conversation in an attempt to get her to go.

The officer steps inside the crammed apartment kitchen (approximately 8ft by 10 feet).  In the kitchen, the officer is positioned with a fridge to his left, a kitchen table to his right (with just enough walking space between the two), and a counter behind him making it difficult for him to move freely. She reaches behind her back, lifts her shirt, and quickly draws a large knife to her front, removes it from a sheath, and thrusts it towards the officer’s chest.

This cop is a big kid and he is a 3^rd degree black belt and continually trains. He quickly grabbed the knife hand and swept her off her feet by kicking her leg out from under her. She continued to struggle and he used several strikes to get her to stop as she was still actively attacking him.

In the end the officer in this scenario fulfilled the number one rule in law enforcement. “He went home at the end of his shift!” All too often this where the learning ends, a cop comes out alive and we rightfully celebrate the victory. We owe it to ourselves, those we care for and those we serve to learn the most form each experience. Continue reading

The Seven Signs of Terrorism By John Demand

My good friend John Demand from Observation on Demand has put together a great  way to help all of us remain vigilant called OBSERVE! Keeping things simple and getting things done!

Stay Oriented

Fred

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