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Dean Scoville

Associate Editor

Former associate editor of Police Magazine and a retired patrol supervisor and investigator with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Sgt. Dean Scoville has received multiple awards for government service. He was the author of Shots Fired, Police Magazine's monthly column examining officer-involved shootings as experienced by the officers themselves.

Articlesby Dean ScovilleJuly 16, 2012

On-Body Video: A Double-Edged Sword

Until recently the technology was limited to traffic stops and perhaps some critical incidents. Now, video can be used to document every aspect of a law enforcement officer's shift. But the question that each agency has to answer remains: Is that a good thing?

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Articlesby Dean ScovilleJuly 16, 2012

Shots Fired: Glendora, California 05/15/2011

The suspect spun counterclockwise to face Cpl. Chris Stabio. His face was contorted into a grimace and his lips seemed to mouth an unheard profanity. He raised his right arm toward Stabio. In his hand was a dark object. That the object was a firearm didn't become apparent until Stabio was about almost six feet inside the front door and it started spitting fire at him.

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Inside the Badge by Dean ScovilleJuly 11, 2012

This Blog Is Almost Rated G

I am not going all "born again" or going "p.c." on ya. I am just pledging to try and be a little more discriminating in how I communicate my thoughts from now on. Ideally I would like to communicate my thoughts without offending you any more than necessary.

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Inside the Badge by Dean ScovilleJune 28, 2012

Treat People With Respect

There is nothing either wrong or weak in treating people with kindness and respect. There is always recourse for those who misinterpret the overture as weakness.

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Articlesby Dean ScovilleJune 20, 2012

Blue-On-Blue Shootings

Recognizing the potential for a blue-on-blue incident—and doing something about it—can go a long way toward preventing such tragedies. That initiative can take many forms, from anticipatory training to recognizing the implications of an errant operation.

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Inside the Badge by Dean ScovilleJune 14, 2012

Engage Your Brain Before Acting

Let me ask you this: If the driver had been a fellow cop, would you have cited him? And if you wouldn't have, would it be because of "professional courtesy" or something else?

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Articlesby Dean ScovilleJune 13, 2012

Shots Fired: Oakland, California 08/27/2010

After serving several DEA warrants in Oakland, Fremont, Calif., police officer Todd Young and his partner headed into East Oakland in hopes of locating a wanted Union City gang member whose ex-girlfriend had said that he'd been hanging out in the area. The officers were met with gunfire, when they located their suspect.

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Articlesby Dean ScovilleMay 15, 2012

Shots Fired: Las Vegas, Nevada 02/18/2009

Las Vegas Metro PD patrol personnel arrived on scene within a few minutes of Sarah's 911 call. They effected a containment of the suspect and the location. Several officers—some with long guns—took cover positions about the scene as a crisis negotiator initiated a one-on-one dialogue with John.

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Inside the Badge by Dean ScovilleMay 14, 2012

Are You a Coward?

That oath did not spare the lives of some officers who failed to live up to it. I will refrain from listing their names herein as they have already paid the ultimate price for their reticence to do what obviously had to be done.

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Inside the Badge by Dean ScovilleApril 19, 2012

Video: A Book Review, Dumbass Video, and Two Rants

Today's cops must deal with jackasses baiting them into taking reasonable actions and old-guard officers bent on telling them how much harder it was in earlier times.

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