Are You Hiding Your Heroes Behind…Melting Butter?

Are you hiding your heroes behind

We see it on TV. We see it in the movies. And we read it in your books. In fact, we see real-life officers doing it in on the street. Yes, many heroes, both real and fictional, use their vehicles for cover when they’re involved in a shootout. But are personal vehicles really an effective means of providing safety from incoming gunfire?

Well, let’s see what the experts had to say. I believe you’ll find the results a bit stunning. Actually, you may want to rethink your options when Billy Badass decides to plink off a few rounds in your direction.

1. When fired straight-on at the engine block from a distance of 25 yards, many .223 cal. (rifle) rounds totally disintegrated, turning into a mass of individual pieces of shrapnel. However, there were rounds that didn’t hit dead center and actually ricocheted and exited the engine compartment by way of fenders, etc. Therefore, an officer using the front fender as cover could be killed by indirect gunfire.

Let’s not forget all those bits of broken-up lead flying around. After all, pieces of shrapnel are nothing less than tiny bullets/projectiles that are just as capable of killing as a full-size, intact round.

2. Next were the car doors. We’ve all seen the hero cop crouching behind his car door, popping up every few seconds to return fire. At 25 yards, the same .223 cal. rifle rounds passed through car doors as if they were melting butter. Actually, at that distance, the rounds passed through the driver’s door, through two mannequins seated as if they were a driver and passenger, and then through the passenger’s side door. At 100 yards, the round again passed entirely through the vehicle, exiting the passenger’s door. This time, however, the bullet had slowed a bit, causing it tumble end over end instead of spinning. By the way, a tumbling bullet leaves a keyhole-shaped exit hole when passing through metal. Imagine what effect that would have on human flesh.

3. I remember my firearms instructor telling us (a class of moon-faced, buzz cut, recruits) that we could use our patrol car wheels as cover . He said they’d provide some protection for us during a gun battle. Well, at a distance of 100 yards, .223 rounds traveled through the steel wheels as if they weren’t there at all.

Those same experts fired a .45 at the driver’s door from a distance of 15 yards. Guess what? Yep, the rounds pierced the doors, striking the mannequins inside. This time, however, the rounds stopped at the dummies. They’d lost enough velocity that they could travel no further. BUT…that’s all the power and distance needed to kill the occupants inside the car.

So, what do we take away from this information? Easy answer…vehicles are NOT a totally safe haven from gunfire. Rounds can pierce metal and hit the officer. They can break apart, or ricochet, and still hit the officer. And they can pass directly through car doors. In other words, a vehicle is not the best option for cover. But they’re better than no cover at all. Then again, a mound of soft and gooey marshmallows is better than no cover at all.

But, as we taught in the academy… YOU (and the hero of your stories) WILL SURVIVE!

In fact, believe that you’ll survive, no matter what, and you’ve won half the battle. Simply because you’ve been hit by a round or two, or even pieces of shrapnel, doesn’t mean that you or your protagonist has to fall down and die.

Don’t believe me? Well, just ask Jack Reacher…

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I Was Awakened By the Abduction of Brock Guzman

I was awakened by the abduction

It started Monday morning at 6:09 a.m. with my cell phone announcing, quite loudly, a local Amber Alert about a missing 8-year-old boy named Brock Guzman. Then a beat later came an identical message from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). I was then, without any doubt whatsoever…wide awake.

At 6:27 a.m. CHP (Golden Gate) lit up my cell phone with an all-CAPS description of the suspect’s car—2001 SILVER TOYOTA COROLLA, CA PLATE 5BWF072.

6:41 – Missing Child Update from the local police department – Brock Guzman, 8-year-old male last seen in a silver 2001 Toyota Corolla 5BWF072.

Then at 7:59…Missing child located, unharmed.

8:42 from CHP (Golden Gate) – Amber Alert Cancelled: Vehicle located by an alert citizen & boy found inside safe and unharmed. Thank you for your help.

So, in roughly 2.5 hours a child was abducted and safely recovered. In what was an extremely brief time-frame, the combined teamwork of state and local police along with a community of alert citizens, turned what could have been a worst case scenario into a happy ending.

But it was what happened behind the scenes that was nearly as disturbing as the abduction. Here’s why.

Local police, as they should, divided their search efforts with some combing neighborhoods and streets while others responded to the home of the missing boy. As always, missing person/abduction investigations begin at the home, with investigators searching for clues and for the person who’s been reported missing. After all, it’s not unusual for police to find a “missing” child hiding or sleeping in a bedroom, in a closet, under the bed, etc. And sometimes, unfortunately, they learn that the child has been harmed or even killed, and that parents have attempted to cover up the death. Therefore, as in most cases, police must rule out possibilities as much as they need to include possible scenarios. In other words, a search of the child’s home is an absolute must.

In a nutshell, that’s the setting/back story of how this works. Now, let’s start this day with the 911 call to police.

04:47 a.m. – Call received by Police Dispatch

04:50 a.m. – First Officers on scene

04:56 a.m. – Supervisor requests activation of the County Wide Intersection Observation Plan

05:00 a.m. – Vehicle is entered into the state Stolen Vehicle System

05:11 a.m. – Supervisor requests an Amber Alert be initiated

05:19 a.m. – Emergency Notification Tactical Alert Center at the CHP was contacted to issue the Amber Alert

So, in just over 30 minutes—police received the call, they arrived on scene, assessed the situation, activated the emergency observation plan, entered the vehicle as stolen so officers everywhere could be on the lookout for it, and requested the Amber Alert which was issued. That’s pretty darn quick and efficient.

In the meantime, as I mentioned above, every available officer within the surrounding area was frantically searching for the suspect vehicle, which by the way, was stolen from the home of the missing boy. Actually, what happened was the parents placed the sleeping boy in their car—the Toyota—, started it and left it running, and then went back into the house for their other child. While they were inside someone stole the car with the child inside.

Now, here’s what happened when police arrived at the home of the missing Guzman boy.

Police explained the need to search the home, but the mother refused to let them inside, stating (sometimes screaming) that was her personal space and she wouldn’t allow the search. Then things quickly went downhill. Remember, responding police officers didn’t know if the child had been harmed and that the mother had fabricated the kidnapping story as a means to cover up. It happens…a lot. They have to search the home.

Oh, one important detail…officers witnessed a reddish stain/substance on the floor inside the home (possibly blood?).

Here’s an officer’s body cam video of their interaction with the mother of the missing boy. Remember it was still dark outside.

Now she and her husband are in the process of hiring an attorney to sue the police for abuse. How would you have handled the situation?

*Warning: The Mother Uses Language Not Suitable For Young or Sensitive Ears

Note: The kidnapper in this case was not aware that the boy was in the car when he stole it from the Guzman’s driveway. When he discovered the child sleeping in the backseat he immediately abandoned the car leaving the child with it. The Guzman boy slept through the entire incident. Rumor has it that he vaguely recalls opening his eyes to see the stranger, but thought he might have dreamed it.

*By the way, writers, notice there’s no mention of the FBI? Because they DO NOT handle all kidnapping cases!!!

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When You DON’T Have The Right To Remain Silent

When you don't have the right

The premise is simple. Whenever a criminal suspect is in custody, and prior to interrogation (questioning), he must be warned of his rights as set by Miranda.

In addition, police may question the suspect(s) only after the person in custody acknowledges that they understand those rights and voluntarily waive them. However, suspects may choose to invoke their rights—remain silent, request to speak to an attorney, etc.—at any point during the questioning, at which time the police must terminate the interrogation.

The consequence for police not adhering to Miranda is great. Basically, no Miranda warnings = statements made by the suspect may not be used in court. Therefore, a confession to the crime(s) is totally worthless.

The U.S. Supreme Court, however, has ruled that there is one (only one) exception to Miranda—the Public Safety Exception.

The Public Safety Exception to Miranda is simply this…law enforcement may ask limited and extremely focused questions without warning the suspect of his rights according to Miranda, and the answers to those questions may be introduced in court proceedings. Under this exception questions must be limited to facts relating to a specific and immediate threat to the safety of the public.

Invoking the Public Safety Exception does not mean that authorities have free reign to question a suspect about any and everything under the sun, including questions relating to the crime for which the suspect is currently being held. Again, questions must be limited to facts that relate to a very specific and immediate threat to public safety.

The Public Safety Exception first came to light in a New York case involving a suspected rapist named Benjamin Quarles. The victim told police that she’d just seen Quarles enter a supermarket and that he was carrying a gun. Officers then went inside the store and, after a brief foot chase up and down the aisles, captured him.

When officers searched Quarles they didn’t find the weapon. Therefore, worried that a loaded gun was somewhere within the public area of the store and that anyone, including a child, could be harmed, officers immediately asked their suspect what he’d done with the weapon. Quarles indicated the gun was near some milk cartons and said, “The gun is over there.”

Officers did indeed find the weapon and then read the Miranda Warning to Quarles before asking questions pertaining to the alleged rape.

The trial court, though, excluded Quarles’ statement about the gun and his possession of the weapon, because officers didn’t advise him of his Miranda rights prior to asking about it. Appellate courts also agreed with the lower court’s ruling. However, the U.S. Supreme Court first found that Miranda is not a right according to the constitution. Instead, the court stated, Miranda is designed to provide protection for the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. On this basis they decided the very public location of the weapon posed an immediate threat to public safety, and that officers had acted appropriately by asking questions that were prompted by a reasonable concern for the safety of the general public.

Since Quarles, the Public Safety Exception to Miranda has been used successfully on numerous occasions where the safety of the public was of first concern. For example, U.S. v. Khalil, U.S. v. DeSantis, and U.S. v. Mobley. And, the Exception is successfully utilized even after a suspect asks to speak to an attorney. Again, this ruling only pertains to an immediate threat to public safety, such as the possibility that explosives may be hidden somewhere where citizens may travel or congregate, such as in the case of the Boston Marathon bomber.

In the Boston case, interrogators wanted to know if more bombs and other weapons existed. They also needed to know if more people were involved in the bombings. If so, it was of immediate concern that officials locate them and stop possible new attacks, so they proceeded without advising Dzhokhar Tsarnaev of Miranda.

However, at no time did the questioning move outside the very narrow scope of the immediate threat to public safety. Once the topic moved toward Tsarnaev’s actual criminal charges/case, investigators then advised him of the Miranda warnings.

The Public Safety Exception has been in place for just over 30 years, since the Supreme Court ruled on the Quarles case in 1984. Reagan was in office at the time.

 *Remember, writers, officers only need to recite the Miranda warnings prior to questioning and when a person is in custody. If there is no intention of questioning, then there’s no legal mandate for Miranda (individual department policy may require it, though). Therefore, the stuff you see on TV—spouting off Miranda warnings the second the cuffs go on—is not how it works in real life.

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The Murder of Walter Scott: He Took My TASER!

The murder of Walter Scott

Modern-day policing is not the Wild West, where the town marshal sits beside the front door of the jail shooting bad guys from the backs of their horses as they gallop past. Things are much different these days. We’re a civilized nation. We treat people fairly, justly, and humanely. Well, until last Saturday, that is.

By now I’m sure you’ve all seen the headline about the S.C. police officer who shot a fleeing suspect in the back, a man who died as a result of those gunshot wounds. This case, my friends, sickens me all the way to the very core of my soul. But, before we talk about the incident here’s a bit of background about cops shooting people who are running away from them.

First of all, there are times when it’s legally permissible to shoot a fleeing felon, but only during the most extreme, exigent/emergency circumstances. A 1985 Supreme Court case, Tennessee vs. Garner, held that the police may not shoot at a fleeing person unless the officer reasonably believes that the individual poses a significant physical danger/threat to the officer or others.

In other words, short of exigent circumstances, police officers are required to capture fleeing criminals using methods other than deadly force—pursue and restrain, K-9’s, wait until the suspect is at home, call for backup and surround the immediate area, obtain a warrant and catch them at a later time/date, etc.

Again, the use of deadly force against a fleeing felon is justified only when an officer reasonably believes that allowing the suspect to escape would endanger the lives of others/endanger the community. For example, a psycho-crazy maniac who’d just butchered twelve random strangers and was running away while yelling, “I’m going to kill everyone I see!” In this case the officer would have every reason to believe the killer would make good on his threats, therefore, he’d need to stop the murderer using any means possible, including shooting him in the back if that’s what it took to stop him.

In the S.C. incident, however, the initial stop was for a broken taillight. No murder or threat of world destruction. No imminent danger to others. Instead, a minor traffic offense. A summons. Fix the light and the judge will let you off the hook.

During the initial encounter the officer and the subject, Walter Scott, engaged in some sort of tussle where the officer, Michael Slager, deployed his TASER. Slager later claimed Scott took the TASER from him and that’s why he said he felt his life was in danger, an act he apparently felt would justify the use of deadly force.

Scott escaped custody and took off, running away from Slager. Then, in jaw-dropping horror, Slager pulled his service weapon and fired at Scott’s back…eight times. Scott was running in a straight line away from the officer which made his body practically a stationary target (no side to side movement). This was as close to shooting a paper target at the range as one could get. To put it bluntly, Slager had an easy shot. I believe Scott was wounded at least five times, three in the back (one of which entered his heart), once in the buttocks, and another round to an ear.

Actually, I’ve seen deer hunters bag their prey in similar fashion.

And, by the way, the TASER, the justification/excuse/reason Slager gave for using deadly force, was nowhere near Scott’s body when he fell to ground. In fact, it appeared that Slager picked it up at the place of the original scuffle, carried it over to where Scott lay, and dropped it on the ground beside his body.

Even if it’s true that Slager felt threatened when/if Scott took the TASER, that threat immediately ceased to exist when Scott dropped it and fled. And, no threat = NO justification for deadly force.

New Picture

Slager drops what appears to be a TASER next to the body of Walter Scott

An attempted cover up? Time will tell.

How else can I put this other than to say Slager murdered Walter Scott. There, I said it and I’m not taking it back. That’s my opinion based on what I saw in the video.

Yes, I believe this was a murder. Not a death that occurred accidentally while attempting to cuff a suspect. Nor was it a death that happened while an officer was being attacked. This was a killing that took place while a man was merely running away from a police officer, and people run away from cops every single day of every single year.

People run from the police and cops chase them. It’s part of the job. Sometimes they’re caught and sometimes they’re not. I’ve seen young men run away just for the mere fun of seeing officers chase after them. But it’s not a sci-fi movie where, for sport, cops give the bad guys a running start and then shoot them in the back.

One question that’s popped up as result of this case is about handcuffing wounded or dead suspects? People have asked why? Well, it is standard procedure because more than one wounded or “dead” person has suddenly popped up to shoot, cut, fight, run away, etc. Therefore, even though it may seem cold and cruel, cops always handcuff suspects, even those who’ve been shot and appear to be deceased.

New Picture (5)

This was a sad day for the family of Walter Scott. It was also a sad day for law enforcement, when one of their own does something as despicable as the act committed by Michael Slager.

I have to say, though, that Slager’s actions are by no means reflective of all officers. By far, most want to serve their fellow man in any way they can. Unfortunately, a few bad apples slip through the cracks and their actions deepen the divide between citizens and the badge.

Michael Slager was arrested and charged with the murder of Walter Scott, and he remains in the Charleston County Detention Center under no bond status.

I think it’s safe to say that most police officers across the U.S. believe Slager is where he belongs, behind bars.

 

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t

How long does it take to become a champion mixed martial arts fighter? Three years? Five? Maybe even ten long and grueling years? Well, how about less than a year? That’s right, last February (2013) one young man of the ripe old age of 11, walked through the doors of a martial arts school for the first time. Four months later he won the Ohio state North American Grappling Association (NAGA) championship in his age division. In the months following, he went on to claim top honors in numerous other tournaments and competitions, including the Abu Dhabi World Submission Fighting Championship.

What, you may wonder, is my interest in this now 12-year-old? Well, he just happens to be our grandson, Tyler.

I’ve been involved in the martial arts for many, many years (Aikido and Chin-Na), and I’ve trained numerous people, including police officers during their academy certifications. I taught rape and sexual assault prevention classes at a few colleges, and I’ve trained executive bodyguards. Denene and I once owned a gym where I taught classes. To help round out my knowledge of the arts, I trained in Tae Kwon Do for a while. Obviously, martial arts have been a part of my life and lifestyle for a long time.

Now, it is absolutely wonderful to see Tyler show such a great interest. He’s truly dedicated to his training, hitting the mat seven days a week for three or four hours, or more, each day. He’s always been one to go all out for whatever he decides to tackle.

Tyler’s fortunate to have title-winning coaches and trainers in his corner. They spend many hours each week, helping and pushing Tyler toward his goals. His coaches are champion MMA fighters who know what it takes to win. More importantly, they insist that Tyler devote as much, or more, time to his schoolwork (he’s an honor roll student).

Tyler and coach/trainer Ezrah Hines. Anyone recognize the name on Tyler’s t-shirt?

Grappling is one of Tyler’s favorites, and it seems to suit him just fine. I believe he’s currently undefeated, winning most matches by tap-out.

An opponent “taps out” when he/she (yes, both males and females compete) has been placed in an inescapable submission hold. In other words, the pain is so intense that the fighter taps the mat or a portion of their body to signal they submit (give up).

Tyler (on his back in the above photo) locked his opponent’s arm, forcing the wrist, elbow, and shoulder into an extremely unnatural and painful submission hold. With the pain too great to withstand, his challenger tapped out.

After fighting his way to the final match, Tyler (above left) locked in a rear naked choke, causing his opponent to tap out. The match lasted only 17 seconds.

A few of Tyler’s other accomplishments include, to name a few:

– Kyu Championship – 1st place Forms, 2nd in Sparring

– 2013 USKS Superstars – 1st place Grappling, 1st Weapons, 1st Forms, 1st Sparring, 2nd Continuous Sparring

– Grand National 2013 – 1st place Grappling, 1st Weapons Forms, 1st Sparring, 1st Forms

– 2013 USKS – 1st place Sparring

– Superstars 2013 – 1st place Grappling, 2nd Sparring, 2nd Forms

– 2013 Clark County Ohio Open – Gold Medal Sparring, Silver Medal Weapons, Bronze Medal Forms

Tyler recently received a nomination to the 2013 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He is to be inducted at an upcoming black tie banquet. Past honors have been presented by top names such as Chuck Norris, Ben (Superfoot) Wallace, Ken Norton, and Conan Lee.

Tyler’s next major competition is the North American Kickboxing Championship later this month in Richmond, Va., where he’ll be competing in kickboxing, MMA style fighting, no-gi jiu jitsu, and gi jiu jitsu.

And that brings us to this… The expenses associated with the Richmond event are, well, let’s just say the trip is pretty doggone expensive. So, Tyler is asking for donations and sponsorships to help bring his dream of winning the nationals to fruition. If you would like to help out, please visit Tyler’s Fundly page by clicking the link below (sponsors and donors will be listed as supporters on Tyler’s website and future match apparel).

Every donation, no matter how much, would be a huge help and greatly appreciated.

Tyler and I both thank you!! And, if any of you are in the area that weekend we’d love to see you there.

https://fundly.com/wkausa-north-american-tournament-trip?ft_src=fbshare

Visit Tyler at http://tylerproffittmma.weebly.com/ (Paypal users can find a link here).

*In exchange for a donation of $50 you’ll receive ad space (for four months) for your book here on The Graveyard Shift (see top right of this page).

 Here’s a video of Tyler training, and during a few matches.

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Donka Doo Ball: Have A Drink On Me

Donka Doo Ball

It was 3 a.m. when Nita Chaser’s friends collectively decided she was far too drunk to drive, so she decided to walk home—red plastic cup in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other.

After a few stumbles into the twelve-block journey, Nita placed the cup against her lips and sucked and slurped at the last of the foam and ice. She took a quick drag from the smoke and flipped the burning butt out into the street. It sizzled as it landed in a small puddle left behind by a passing street sweeper. She tossed the empty cup into a group of white azaleas near the entrance to an apartment building on the corner. It rolled in a slow half-circle, weighted by its thicker bottom, coming to rest near a mushroom-shaped landscape light.

A left turn and she was once again on her way. Only eleven blocks to go.

What a night! The party was great and the band was killer. In fact, Ms. Chaser couldn’t get their tunes out of her head. Especially that AC/DC song Have A Drink On Me. So she started to sing…loudly. Too loud, in fact. But she didn’t care because she felt ten-feet-tall and bullet-proof.

“Whiskey gin and brandy
With a glass I’m pretty handy
I’m tryin’ to walk a straight line”

Didn’t matter to her that she was staggering and crooning through a normally quiet neighborhood, the one where two elderly women sit up all night peering outside, watching to see who got lucky and connected with their one-night-soul-mate. The ladies were also well-known for calling the police for every single sound that’s a little out of place. After all, you can’t take chances these days, right?

Nita thought about the drinking game she and her friends played during that song. Every time the singer belted out the line “Have a drink on me,” everyone had to gulp down a big swallow of whatever was in their cup at the time. Nita’s drink du jour happened to come from a seemingly bottomless bottle of ass-kicking tequila.

“So join me for a drink boys
We gonna make a big noise”

She tipped her head back and cranked it up another notch.

“Forget about the cheque we’ll get hell to pay
Have a drink on me
Yeah have a drink on me
Yeah have a drink on me
Have a drink on me”

Just her luck. It was trash night and the curb was lined with dozens of garbage and recycle bins. She bumped into an overflowing container, turning it over. A plastic bag filled with empty vegetable cans spilled out onto the concrete walk. They rang out like church bells as they rolled and tumbled toward the curb. She slipped and fell, landing on her stomach with her face resting near a storm drain. Cool stagnate air brushed across her booze-warmed cheeks. The song played on a never-ending loop in her alcohol-scrambled mind.

“I’m dizzy drunk and fightin
On tequila white lightnin
My glass is getting shorter
On whiskey ice and water
So c’mon have a good time”

Suddenly, headlights rounded the corner. The car stopped directly in front of her, idling.

“Have a drink on me
Yeah have a drink on me”

Then she heard it, the unmistakable crackles and robotic voices of police radios. Two pairs of shiny, black shoes made their way in her direction. Nita tried to stand but that last drink, the double shot with a beer back, held her down.

Why didn’t the officer want to hear her sweet singing voice? And didn’t like AC/DC? The nerve of that flatfoot…

The next couple of hours were a blur. The last clear memory she had was of puking in the backseat of a police car and that the officer said he’d charged her as a DIP. And no, that didn’t mean she was acting like dippy Paula Abdul.

Actually, D.I.P. (DIP) is cop slang (an acronym) for Drunk In Public, one of the few offenses that’s pretty darn difficult to fight in court since the police are typically not required to conduct blood or breath tests to prove public drunkenness cases. (DIP may be called a variety of terms throughout the country).

Beating a DIP charge is next to impossible because this is one where it’s pretty much the officer’s word against yours. Fortunately, police officers nowadays normally have video evidence (cruiser cams or body cams) to back their testimony, if necessary. And, of course, there are usually plenty of witnesses to back the officer’s claim. But that’s if the case ever makes it to court, and chances are it won’t. Most people spend a few hours in lockup to sober up, pay the small fine (if there is a fine), and move on.

In many areas, officers use the DIP (a misdemeanor) charge when a person is too intoxicated to care for himself, or could endanger another person. A DIP arrest could also be affected if the intoxicated subject is blocking or interfering with the free passage of foot or vehicle traffic on streets and/or sidewalks. The charge may also apply to someone who is under the influence of drugs. Either way, the charge is a discretionary call for the officer.

* Some states do not have public intoxication laws, and one, I believe, has a provision in their law that allows officers to take intoxicated subjects home, especially if they are a danger to themselves.

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Foot Pursuits: Follow The Knob…say WHAT?

Foot Pursuits: follow the knob

“I’ve got a vehicle stopped at 5th and Mockingbird Lane. Driver just tossed something from the window. Request back up… He’s running! I’ve got a runner!” Suddenly, the radio goes silent, but everyone knows exactly what’s going on. They’ve all been there and done that.

The patrol officer was in the midst of a traffic stop when the driver decided to abandon his car and head for the hills, or wherever it is they think they can go to avoid an arrest. So, Officer I. M. Fast (Well, that’s what’s on his name tag) shoved the shift into park and took off after the wiry, tennis shoe-clad thug. For the record, runners (rabbits, foot-bailers, the guys with happy feet, etc.) are always young, thin, in shape, and wearing tennis shoes. It’s never an easy-to-catch old fat guy in HushPuppies.

A foot pursuit typically begins in an instant. A flash. A blink of an eye. Faster than you can say “diddly-squat.” There’s no time to think things through. No time to plan. No time to run through the mental checklist. No time to remind yourself to do important things, like tell someone which direction you’re heading. Or even to think about routine things, like grabbing your portable radio from the charger. Yep, after twenty strides into total darkness the officer will also remember the flashlight he left lying on the passenger seat next to…dammit, he left his cellphone lying there, too! Therefore, besides the obvious, officers often find themselves alone in what can be a very dangerous situation. Why?

– Bad guys tend to bail out in familiar territory, meaning they know where they’re going, and they often have friends in the area—friends who’ll protect their buddies at all costs, even if that means hurting or killing a cop.

– Unless the officer is in great physical shape (how many older cops have you seen who could win a marathon?) he/she’ll quickly become winded, possibly after only a couple of blocks. Sure, adrenaline will take you a few steps beyond your normal capacity, but not too much further. What that translates into is a cop who’s sucking wind like an antique church organ when he does finally catch the suspect. Believe me, it’s extremely difficult to restrain and cuff someone when you can’t breathe.

– The officer is wearing a ton of gear and sometimes those goofy, shiny shoes. And let’s not forget those spiffy bus driver hats. Think about it…could you run wearing all that? Why would you even want to run while wearing those cool duds?

So what should officers consider before taking the first step in pursuit of a runner?

– Why did the guy run? Is he wanted? Is he dangerous?

– Where are we? Is the area dangerous? What’s around me? Who’s around me? WHY are THEY suddenly around me?

– How far away is backup? Is there backup?

– Did I call for backup?

– What did the guy do? Is it even worth the chase?

– Am I healthy enough to do this?

– What’s around the next corner? Who’s around the next corner?

– What am I going to do with the guy when I catch him? Will I be able to manhandle him all the way back to my patrol car?

– Why not call a canine unit and wait for them to arrive?

Even though any pursuit, foot or vehicle, can be unpredictable, there are are few things that are a bit predictable. Like…

A crook who bolts through a doorway will most likely turn to the doorknob side of the door—doorknob’s on the left side of the door, the suspect headed left. Doorknob on the right, suspect ran to the right. Therefore, an open door and no suspect… Turn toward the knob and set your feet in motion. After, of course, making sure the bad guy isn’t hiding beside the door waiting for you to poke your head through the opening.

Most fleeing suspects, when not running in a straight line, will make one left turn and then all right turns thereafter, if not all right turns. Therefore, when the officer finally reaches a dead end and needs to pick a direction, a right turn will probably be the correct choice.

The cool part of the right-turn habit is that IF the suspect is forced to make several left turns, his only option, then he’ll soon stop to hide. Running counterclockwise is not natural to them. And…those same suspects are more apt to hide on the right side of a roadway (in the bushes, a ditch, the woods, etc.).

Wait, it gets better. If two suspects bail on you and they run in the same direction, the chase won’t be a long one. Two guys almost always stop to hide before they get very far. So, if you catch one guy behind a stack of pallets, stay alert because his partner is probably laying low inside the nearby dumpster, under the rotten cabbage.

Oh, if the driver runs and the passenger remains in the car, forget the chase. Go for the guy in the car. He’ll snitch. Besides, you’ve got the idiot’s vehicle.

– Discarded evidence? They almost always toss it on the right-hand side of the road, path, sidewalk, alley, train tracks, etc.

Lastly, lay off the doughnuts and hit the treadmill. Or, send the rookie after the guy. You can always follow along in your patrol car…

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Real-Life Roadhouse

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I’d been out of police work for several months when the owner of a rowdy extremely rowdy nightclub/bar called to ask if I’d join him for lunch. I thought the request to be a bit odd since I really didn’t know the man, but I agreed to the meeting. Besides, it was free meal in a decent restaurant.

After the usual pleasantries, he got right to the point. He was experiencing a rash of trouble at his club—fights, drug sales, shootings and stabbings—and he needed help to “cool” things down. Not only was the damage to his place becoming expensive, the local authorities were threatening to revoke his business license.

The place definitely had a surly reputation and my initial reaction was to say, “Thanks but no thanks.” However, I was sort having a touch of withdrawal symptoms from missing the many years of sudden bursts of adrenaline pulsing through my tired veins. Hell, I hadn’t been shot at in nearly eight months. Not even so much as someone waving a knife in my direction. Yes, my life had become as dull as a

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Biometrics: Identifying Jihadi John

Biometrics: Identifying Jihadi John

Real-life crime scene investigation is most often unlike the fantasy we see on television shows such as Castle and, well, any number of the CSI episodes. However, some things we see on TV are indeed possible, and such was more than likely the case with the identification of Jihadi John, the Islamic State terrorist who publicly, on camera, executed several hostages.

Before we delve into those details, first let’s visit the Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) in Clarksburg, West Virginia. If you’ve sat in one of my presentations or have visited this blog over the years, then you’ve probably heard or seen me mention this West Va. facility. It’s the home of world’s largest fingerprint repository where law enforcement send prints for storage (mostly electronic these days), and for possible matches in criminal cases. In addition, CJIS is the home of criminal history records.

Also behind the walls of the CJIS is the Biometric Center of Excellence (BCOE). It is here that the latest in biometrics (biometrics – related to human characteristics and authentication/identification) is explored and utilized.

For example, facial recognition is mostly achieved by geometric measurements and photometrics (viewing facial features). Other methods of identification include retina and iris recognition. To identify someone using the iris, investigators/scientists locate landmark features and analyze the random pattern of the iris. Retina recognition uses the specific patterns of blood vessels at the back of the eye.

Other biometric modalities include, palm print, voice, handwriting, hand geometry, and more.

Also, and newly available available to law enforcement is the $1.2 billion Next Generation Identification (NGI), a system that’s gradually phasing out IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (read more about fingerprinting and IAFIS in Chapter 8 of Police Procedure and Investigation, A Guide For Writers).

NGI takes criminal investigation to the highest level by including tools such as, AFIT (Advanced Fingerprint Identification Technology), Interstate Photo System (photo search database, including facial recognition capability), Palm Print database, Rap Back (instant notification to law enforcement when offenders in the system re-offend), and more. It’s a complete package of high-tech tools.

Actually, the FBI is opening a shiny and new $328 million Biometric Technology Center next to the existing CJIS facility. CSI has indeed come to fruition.

But back to identifying terrorist Jihadi John. It is highly probable that, by using the tools listed above, the FBI was able name Kuwaiti-born, British-educated, Mohammed Emwazi as Jihadi John.

So, crime writers, feel free to use these new advances in your work. They are, after all, no longer exclusive to the Sci-Fi world.

*Above photo ~ BBC

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Plate Readers, Jammers, and…Butt Bombs

Plate Readers

I follow a few online forums where writers post questions that are answered by a variety of professionals such as police officers, firefighters, physicians, explosives and poisons experts, etc. As a result, I often see popular cop-type questions pop up time and time again. So, I thought it might be a good idea to compile a few of those topics in one centralized location…here on this blog.

Therefore…

1. No, not every state in the U.S. allows the use of license plate readers. However, there is only one that does not…New Hampshire. I guess that means we cannot track Lisa Gardner’s every move. Well, maybe we can, thanks to Facebook. Yes, after a quick peek I see she will be in Oslo, Norway next week for Krimfestivalen, to promote Fritt Fall (Crash & Burn). Cool! See, I found her without using a plate reader.

Note: Politicians have repeatedly introduced bills that would require all states to permit the use of plate readers. So far New Hampshire has won their battle.

2. Writers, you can no longer get away with having your bad guys dye their hair to avoid having police positively ID them. Technology is currently available—Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with a portable Raman spectrometer—that allows investigators to instantly analyze hairs found at a crime scene. Not only does the technology confirm that hair dye was used as a coloring agent, it can also reveal the dye brand. In addition, the process is capable of detecting even minute amounts of drugs, explosive material, body fluids, and gunshot residue.

3. Yes, it is indeed possible to use signals (hundreds of them) from TV, WiFi, and cell phones to triangulate someone’s position. BAE Systems’ “system” even uses signals from GPS “jammers” to help perform the search, which is pretty darn unique since jammers are used by the enemy to hack and take control of drones and other sensitive equipment. No longer, though, thanks to BAE.

4. Believe it or not, scientists do have the capability of extracting bits of information from the human brain. Of course, at the present time the subject must be a willing participant in the process. I wonder if this could help me remember where I put the…wait, what were talking about??

5. Faking DNA evidence to throw police off the trail? Yes, it can be and has been done. Israeli scientists have proven they can fabricate samples of blood and saliva containing DNA from a person other than the person who actually donated the sample. Furthermore, the scientists say they could easily manipulate DNA databases, or construct a totally false crime scene that would implicate someone who’d never been there.

6. Al-Qaeda has distributed a 22-page manual on how to construct a “better butt bomb.” The explosive device is designed to be inserted into the rectum, which could avoid detection by airport screeners since that’s an area generally not probed by the agents.

Finally…

– Cops are not trained to shoot hands, feet, fingers, toes, weapons from the hands of bad guys, or apples from the heads of, well, anyone. Instead, they’re taught to shoot the center of the largest target available (center mass). A large target is far easier to hit while moving (hands and feet are typically in motion during shooting incidents).

– Cops do NOT shoot to kill. When they shoot it’s to stop a threat.

– Police officers are NOT responsible for the outcome of Grand Jury proceedings. Their only involvement is to testify.

– Police officers have absolutely no authority to release someone from jail or prison. That act falls squarely on the shoulders of a prosecutor or judge. So the “revolving door” thing everyone complains about…it’s not cops who’re letting them out.

– Cordite…NO, NO, and NO! (unless you’re writing historical fiction).

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