The State of American Law Enforcement, Chapter 12: Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't

December 2008 - Cover Story

Perhaps nowhere in contemporary American society does the question of the right tool for the right job come into play more often than in matters of police use of force.

Dean Scoville

Corona, California 11-07-2002

November 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Barton's gun swung toward him, and its barrel spit fire. Flashes of amber split the night as Barton's Ruger blazed at Dunnigan a mere 10 feet away.

Dean Scoville

The State of American Law Enforcement, Chapter 10: Rules of Engagement

October 2008 - Features

In smaller agencies, policy manuals—if they existed—were just a few policy statements. Now there are multiple bound volumes that no officer can be expected to memorize, let alone understand.

—Tom Aveni

Police Policy Studies Council

Dean Scoville

Jersey Village, Texas 01-31-2006

October 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Officer Holly Mong had just gotten into the vehicle in her driveway and no sooner closed the driver's side door than it flew back open. She was being carjacked.

Dean Scoville

Little Rock, Arkansas 01•20•O1996

September 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Ellison then went to work, ramming the door with his shoulder. He repeatedly charged the door, slamming it as hard as his body could withstand.

Dean Scoville

Ogden, Utah 05 26 2006

August 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Sgt. Burnett had worn the vest religiously throughout his career, but on this day he told his wife that for the first time he would go to work without it. She wasn't happy with his decision.

Dean Scoville

The State of American Law Enforcement, Chapter 7: Working on the Front Lines

July 2008 - Features

At some point in his or her various travels, the patrol officer will ask a question that pertains equally well to the task at hand and his or her career in law enforcement: Just how the hell did I get here, and where am I going?

Dean Scoville

Reno, Nevada 07•15•1999

July 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Lessman inched forward. Beyond the refrigerator and deeper into the kitchen was a large table that had been upended on its side. He suspected that the table was shielding someone behind it.

Dean Scoville

Room Service

June 2008 - Features

Motels are often the first destination for parolees and sex offenders upon their release from incarceration. And that makes for an unfortunate dynamic.

Dean Scoville

Polk County, Florida 12•03•1989

June 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

The patrol life of a trainee is never easy. But when you don't have the luxury of getting along with your training officer, it can be damned difficult.

Dean Scoville

The State of American Law Enforcement, Chapter 5: Can the Average Cop Thrive in the Age of Specialization?

May 2008 - Features

There is no shortage of inducements to work specialized units. Cool tools, flexible schedules, prestige, and the ability to work at something one is truly interested in are but a few of the perks.

Dean Scoville

Manchester, New Hampshire 09 08 2003

May 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

As the three met near the front of Kilbreth's patrol car, two red flags immediately registered with the officer.

Dean Scoville

Lightbars, Camera, Action!

April 2008 - Features

Frightening, instructional, oftentimes inspirational, and even entertaining videos come to us via a variety of dashboard cameras mounted inside America's law enforcement patrol vehicles.

Dean Scoville

Overland, Kansas 12•04•2001

April 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

The two detectives hurriedly exited Schmidt's truck and made a stealthy approach to the apartment complex. If spotted by the suspects, there would be little mistaking the significance of the word POLICE on the back in white letters.

Dean Scoville

Old Saybrook, Connecticut 05•03•2005

March 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

The sight that greeted Bergantino momentarily took him aback. Beyond the threshold stood a man as naked to the world as when he'd first entered it some 50 years before. It was not a pretty sight.

Dean Scoville

The State of American Law Enforcement, Chapter 2: The Blue Mosaic

February 2008 - Features

Who becomes a cop? Who are the men and women that comprise the ranks of a profession where they can be killed for no reason other than the fact that they are cops?

Dean Scoville

Fort Worth, Texas 11•09•1994

February 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Within seconds of their arrival, the breach man hit the door and the teams streamed inside. Daniels and Johnson targeted the room furthest inside the house.

Dean Scoville

Detroit, Michigan 12•30•2006

January 2008 - Departments: Shots Fired

Gilbert keyed his mic to advise responding units that the suspects were now on foot. As one ran by his passenger door, Gilbert noticed the man's dark lavender jacket matched that ascribed to the armed member of the two suspects.

Dean Scoville

Charles City, Iowa 04•14•2007

December 2007 - Departments: Shots Fired

The call came in a little past 8 p.m. A suicidal man was parked inside a closed garage with the engine running. The Charles City, Iowa, officer assigned to the call was on his first night out and fell prey to many a rookie's bane: he got lost rolling to the call. That meant that the lieutenant who rolled to assist, Brandon Franke, was effectively on his own.

Dean Scoville

Cochise County, Arizona 09•11•1997

November 2007 - Departments: Shots Fired

Long before the events of 2001, Sept. 11 had significant meaning for Dep. Tony Parrish of the Cochise County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Department. For on that date in 1997, he handled a call that changed his life and very nearly ended it.

Dean Scoville

The Storyteller

October 2007 - Features

Few artists have done more to change the way that cops are portrayed in popular culture than best-selling author Joseph Wambaugh. While Jack Webb's Joe Friday was all about the facts, ma'am, Wambaugh's cop characters were and are all about the heart and soul. They are human and their profession takes a toll on them as individuals.

Dean Scoville

Arlington, Texas 08•10•1994

October 2007 - Departments: Shots Fired

Officer Paul Ware found himself facing an occupied train passing. He waited in his truck for the train to pass. Maybe he'd still get home at a decent hour. But if fortune had smiled on Ware, the grin had been one of a shining skull. For in coming to a stop in the shorter lane, Ware found himself abreast of a gold 1963 Chevy.

Dean Scoville

Marion, Arkansas 01•30•2003

September 2007 - Departments: Shots Fired

When two men in a passing Bonneville paid scant attention to him—indeed, made a conspicuous effort to ignore him—Officer Freddy Williams of the Marion (Ark.) Police Department decided to direct his attention to them.

Dean Scoville

How to Develop Informants

August 2007 - Features

Some cops could use a hug. Others could use a Huggy Bear. Like Starsky and Hutch's trusty tattletale, reliable informants provide us with a worm's eye view of their sordid social circles, a heads up on threats to officer safety, and the groundwork for search warrants. They hang in circles we wouldn't want to enter. There is no question that the access they have and the intelligence they acquire is often invaluable to law enforcement.

Dean Scoville

City of Industry, California 09•03•2006

August 2007 - Departments: Shots Fired

Durante arrived at the scene just as Bright was putting out a crime broadcast with descriptions of the couple seen leaving the vehicle. Both had been seen running eastbound on Coleford before making a right on the next street, Newmarket.

Dean Scoville