July 2003 Issue

Who would have thought years ago that the hunk of hardened and shaped leather we wear on our hips would evolve from a simple holster into a high-tech, lightweight firearm retention device?

You know your agency needs patrol cars, and that some new ones show up every year or so, but you might not be aware of the intricacies of the process. Keeping that process running smoothly could mean the difference between patrolling by car and walking your beat.

On the morning of April 29, 2002, Dep. David March of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department pulled over a driver for a minor traffic violation on the streets of Irwindale, Calif. Minutes later, he was dead.

If you like the elegant curves and "just-right" feel of that definitive fighting pistol, the Browning Hi-Power, you may be a little surprised by the look and feel of FN Herstal's new FNP9 duty pistol.

As a division executive officer, I saw many distraught cops come into my office to discuss mistakes they or their subordinates had made. Before deciding how to proceed I'd ask the same question: "Was it a mistake of the head, the heart, or the hormones?"

One of the most blatant mistakes entertainers insist on perpetuating is the notion that Miranda warnings have to be given immediately upon the suspect being hooked up.

For a knife with a Zytel handle, the Gunsite folder had a really solid feel. There was no side-to-side slop, and when opened and closed the action was secure. I was sold.

Without bullets, a handgun is nothing more than an expensive paperweight. Reloading this paperweight with bullets quickly is a necessary skill.