In my early years in law enforcement, I became intrigued with the wealth of knowledge available from fellow LEO’s, supervisors, and educators in the criminal justice field. Of all the LEO’s I have met over time, Detective Sgt. Harry O’Reilly (NYPD, retired) was, without question, the officer who had the greatest influence over my professional [...]

The Portsmouth (Virginia) Police and Sheriff’s Departments gathered during this solemn week to honor the fallen.  PPD has a number of cherished traditions which combine to make the ceremony particularly moving and meaningful. A line of chairs represents each officer and one school crossing guard, with a name draped in black on the individual chair; [...]

Gospel recording artist Bebe Winans performed a song after the September 11 attack that has become the unofficial anthem for first responders who lost their brothers and sisters while trying to save others. The song was entitled “In Harm’s Way.”   The lyrics of the song makes us think about what I am sure the average [...]

National Police Week is here with the candlelight vigil held on May 13. Names of the newly fallen having been added to the memorial in April are a solemn reminder that we in this line of work are indeed mortal, despite our best efforts. The word that keeps reverberating through my mind is gratitude, which [...]

During Police Week, I am pondering some of life’s great questions such as the “why’s”?  Why do we do what do we do?  Or at least, why did we do what we did for those of us who have moved on to different positions.  We are one of the last noble professions.  We serve when [...]

Each May we stop to honor our fallen police brothers and sisters who have been taken from us as they performed their duties.  For the most part this week is somber and tearful for many of us.  Most sworn officers probably have buried friends and co-workers who have died bravely in the line of duty. [...]

First I’ll state the obvious. Law enforcement experiences, what we see, smell, experience – breeds cynicism.  Working so focused on the bad in society, it is easy to lose sight of the good.  Moreover, seeing the terrible carnage, mangled bodies, and inhuman treatment inflicted on victims – especially when it involves a child – the [...]

Our country is full of heroes, heroes who sacrifice their lives and put them on the line each day. They respond to the call. These heroes go about their day serving, protecting, sacrificing, and ultimately leaving a legacy of heroism, strength, and courage. They are the mighty men and women in blue. They are our [...]

A recent article from the Washington Times profiled an incident in which an on duty Virginia correction officer was terminated after being observed allegedly asleep while supervising an outside work detail. What was even more surprising to some was that 6 months earlier the same officer, Elizabeth J. Rosenbaum, allegedly left her gun belt unsecured [...]

The Working Dog My eyes are your eyes, to watch and protect you and yours. My ears are your ears, to hear and detect evil minds in the dark. My nose is your nose, to scent the invader of your domain. And so you may live, my life is also yours. Author Unknown This week [...]

Officers need to be concerned about the possibility of a lawsuit being filed if an officer is involved in a dog shooting!   Many in society these days consider their dogs as valued family members rather than simply the family pet.  In fact, the preferred nomenclature is “canine companion” vs. pet these days. This perspective is [...]

Recently, a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Chris Watson and his wife, Bonita, returned from a weekend out of town to find a terrible surprise.  The Watson’s home had been burglarized and set on fire. Among the missing items were bulletproof vests, firearms, ammunition, badges, and other official law enforcement equipment. The thieves had also [...]

My family and I arrived on our recent trip to Washington, D.C. ready to explore the city.   This was a trip our family starting planning last year.  One of the greatest things about being an LEO and social media is you make friends and connections with other LEO’s around the world and within our great [...]

In a major win for correctional staff nationwide, the Supreme Court ruled that strip-searching prisoners charged with misdemeanor offenses is constitutionally permissible. The vote was approved on April 29th, 2012 by a slim 5-4 margin by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and Justices Antonin Scalia, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Clarence Thomas, and Anthony Kennedy [...]

“Everybody faces adversity and tough times. We just have to get used to it.” ~ Paul “Bear” Bryant “Today is the beginning of a new day! I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it, or I can use it for good. What I do today is very important, [...]

How did I get here? When did I arrive in this world where I am a purported to be an expert, a characterization that I use lightly, who is paid to teach young people on campuses throughout New Jersey about the complexities of the criminal justice system and the nuances of criminal investigations? Was it [...]

Chief Bruce Troutman, 64 years old of the Manchester Ohio Police Department passed away from a massive heart attack this week.  He was off duty and just finished mowing his lawn about 8pm when he entered his house and collapsed.  Numerous studies have linked the stress placed upon LEO’s with heart disease. Fire and Rescue [...]

I graduated from DARE when I was 10 years old, just like any other kid at my school. Our DARE Officer, Josh King of the Chesterfield, Missouri Police Department, led us through different activities.  He taught us a lot from saying no to drugs, and how to handle peer pressure. He also made us laugh [...]

The call came in for a signal 35; return to the precinct at the end of the shift.  Like any department, we looked forward to this signal for a variety of reasons.  Some saw it as an opportunity to go back to their families and enjoy the rest of the day or evening.  Some saw [...]

An iconic figure in criminal justice history passed away on May 6: Richard Clemens, 83, former member of the 37th Recruit Training Troop of the Massachusetts State Police. Although you might not recognize his name, you are certainly familiar with the picture of him that appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post on [...]

Law enforcement is always looking for another set of eyes.  One of the first things done after a crime scene has been secured is to talk with neighbors to see if anyone witnessed the event.  In other words, another set of eyes.  Since the Korean War introduced widespread use of helicopters, law enforcement agencies that [...]

At the age of 17, Deputy Pat Gibson decided that he was going to be a police officer. After graduation from high school, Gibson enlisted in the Unites States Marine Corp Reserves. He joined Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.  Gibson then acquired additional certification in corrections.  He worked at the state and at the county level, [...]

Communication, it comes in many forms. We communicate with the words we speak or those we write, but we also speak through our actions. I am sure we have all heard this phrase, “our actions speak louder than our words.” So, what is it about our actions that leave an everlasting impression? The word communication [...]

Veterans who have trouble re-adjusting to society have been in the public consciousness since the Dough Boys came back shell-shocked from World War I trench warfare.  War impacts those who serve in it, inspiring excellence from the Best Generation of World War II; quiet suffering of those who served in an all-but-forgotten conflict, the Korean [...]

It’s safe to say that many men and women choose a career in law enforcement because they’re passionate about public safety. Protecting citizens against crime has a strong appeal for them, and they can’t wait to join the fight. What probably doesn’t interest them nearly as much is getting involved in political wrangles. So it [...]