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Veteran law enforcement trainer Dave Smith has always had a love of performing. So in 1980 he approached his commanders at the Arizona Department of Public Safety and asked them if he could make a series of funny training videos. His alter-ego J.D. "Buck" Savage was born. Buck is the most incompetent cop to ever wear an Arizona DPS uniform, and Dave Smith is one of the funniest. Today, Dave is retired and serving as the lead instructor for Calibre Press's "Street Survival" seminar series. In between his training sessions, Dave writes a back page column titled "In My Sights" for POLICE. Dave compiled some of his favorite columns into an "In My Sights" book. POLICE Editor David Griffith recently caught up with him by phone.

The deputies of the Pinal County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office must be extra vigilant when traveling into the rugged desert south of Interstate 8, following the ambush shooting of deputy Louis Puroll and the shooting deaths of two armed gumen with ties to a Mexican drug cartel this spring. Sgt. Matt Thomas, motor supervisor and assistant SWAT commander, speaks exclusively with POLICE Magazine about patroling this hostile territory, detaining illegals and the ramifications of his state's tough new immigration law. PHOTOS: View our gallery, "How Cartels Smuggle Narcotics Into Southern Arizona."

The Tucson (Ariz.) PD started its home invasion unit two years ago to curb paramilitary raids on drug houses by well-organized crews with military grade weapons. The crews were well trained and often posed as police officers. In an interview from Tucson PD headquarters on Tuesday, the unit's Sgt. Bob Jimenez discussed the unit's approach to enforcement and outlined two recent cases, including a shootout with two former Marines with an SKS rifle. View the "Tucson Home Invasions: The Missing Man" photo gallery of one of the cases.

Experienced officers share their life lessons for a successful law enforcement career in "If I Knew Then: Life Lessons From Cops on the Street." In the book, which is edited by Brian Willis, 30 writers contribute 37 essays. "If I Knew Then" is available exclusively at Willis' website. Also, read a review of the book by Recruit blogger Chief William Harvey.

The lieutenant in charge of the LAPD's Hollywood vice unit sat down with POLICE Magazine to discuss how officers approach enforcement of these crimes. Lt. Jeffrey Pailet emphasizes the "three Cs"—citizen complaints, commercial violations and conspicuous activity. He primarily discusses how officers enforce street prostitution.

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland, who became chief in April, speaks to POLICE Magazine about taking over an agency that protects and serves the nation's fourth largest city. McClelland talks about absorbing cuts in overtime pay and answers whether Texas needs an immigration law similar to Arizona's. McClelland also addresses whether the Houston PD needs more bilingual officers.

When he took over the LAPD in 1950, Chief William Parker oversaw the transformation of the agency from a tool of corrupt politicians to the more professional law enforcement outfit symbolized by the "Dragnet" television program. With "L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City," John Buntin tells this story. Listen to learn the origin of the phrase "thin blue line" coined by Parker.

Mobile broadband technology has the potential to revolutionize police communications. Kevin McDunn, Motorola's director of its portfolio of broadband public safety applications, predicts how this will change the way you do your job and what we need in terms of technological innovations and network construction to make his prediction a reality. Read about Motorola's unveiling of its new multi-band radio.

Safariland's Training Group will hold a new course for female police officers that's developed and taught by female officers. POLICE spoke with the course's lead instructor Dorcia Meador, former rangemaster of the Fort Worth (Texas) Police Department, about why a training course for women by women makes sense.

Author Rod Englert helped pioneer blood spatter analysis in criminal investigations. He explains how in "Blood Secrets." While a police officer, he spent years studying and testing how blood behaves. Now his research is frequently used to solve cases, from puzzling murders in small towns to high-profile celebrity trials. The author spoke with POLICE about his inspiration and the importance of first responders preserving blood spatter at a crime scene so it can be analyzed as evidence.