R.K. CampbellFrom R.K. CampbellWeaponsDon’t Dump the Pump ShotgunThere was a time not so long ago when the pump-action shotgun was known by another name. It was called the “police shotgun.” Back then, the standard equipment in every patrol car included a 12-gauge pump. Today, many agencies have dumped the pump shotgun in favor of the patrol rifle. And I think that’s a mistake.December 31, 2006WeaponsFighting with a CarbineOld West sheriffs and marshals often carried a Colt .45 called the Peacemaker. But that .45 had the limitations of all handguns, so savvy Western lawmen also kept a short-barreled repeating rifle like a Winchester in their saddle bags. They knew that in a real gunfight, a carbine is the real “peace maker.”April 30, 2006PatrolDon't Go With ThemOne of the most difficult situations that an officer can face is a confrontation with an individual who wants to die. These extremely dangerous people fall into three primary classes: terrorists on a suicide mission, criminals who won’t be taken alive, and emotionally disturbed people who want to take their own lives and choose a police officer as their unwitting accomplice.April 30, 2005WeaponsStop Accidental DischargesAlmost every veteran cop has either experienced an accidental discharge or been around when one happened to a fellow officer. Accidental discharges happen. But any time a firearm goes off accidentally it can lead to tragedy.November 30, 2004Special UnitsGas PainsNo piece of necessary equipment is more debilitating under the stress of violent aggression and physical exertion than a gas mask. If you’re on a SWAT team, it’s inevitable that you will have to deploy in a gas mask. Which means that SWAT trainers must train you to work, move, and fight in a respirator. It’s not as easy as it looks.July 31, 2004WeaponsDialing Long DistanceWe all know that most police-involved shootings develop at a range of just a few feet. But there are exceptions. It’s not easy to hit a target in combat at long range with a pistol. But it can be done.October 31, 2003PatrolLead Vs. SteelSince the turn of the 20th century when criminals first became mechanized, officers have recognized a need for gun and ammunition combinations capable of penetrating the light sheet metal of vehicles.March 31, 2003Page 1 of 1
