Patrol: Page 42

A New (Old) Approach to Crimefighting In Chicago

The city's new top cop is implementing a more traditional policing approach, by stressing the need for resources to be in the hands of district commanders to use as they see fit in the neighborhoods they oversee.

Photo: yooperann (Flickr).

Divide and Conquer: Dealing With Multiple Detainees

I wanted everyone a little uncomfortable. When they were seated curbside with ankles crossed, hands beneath their butts, and heads down, it was hard for them not to telegraph their desire to run.

Don't Be a Fair Weather Cop

About the last thing I like to do is make t-stops during bad weather. Nonetheless, it's the job. And here's a story of why we need to remain vigilant even when it's awful outside.

Photo: Flickr (Tattooed JJ).

Non-Cop Films With Serious Cop Lessons

When all those slaves stand up and identify themselves as Spartacus, ask yourself if there hasn't been a time or two when one of your fellow coppers couldn't have benefited from such solidarity?

Photo: Flickr (mark lorch).

Hiding in Plain Sight

I've often wondered how many bad guys I missed through the years because I was fixated on looking for hypes wearing long-sleeved Pendleton shirts in summer. Some of the most prolific burglars and robbers in history would camouflage themselves as members of good standing.

How I Nearly Got Arrested

I could have defused the situation early on. Never mind whether or not I was in the right.

He Who Ignores History...

The first two weeks of April bring us anniversaries of two of the most pivotal events in modern officer survival study. The Newhall firefight on April 6, 1970 and the FBI Miami shootout on April 11, 1986 have been nearly forgotten.

Five Underused Phrases in Law Enforcement..and Some Other Things to Think About

In recent days I've been thinking about the language that we use in law enforcement, not just the words we say daily, but also the words we seldom get to say. Here's a look at some words and phrases that all cops would like to be able to say more often or should say more often to make their jobs easier.

Racial Profiling: A Pragmatic Approach

Law enforcement officers rely on their training and experience when developing a case and if their expertise leads them to believe that a subject is involved in, or about to be involved in criminal activity, this belief shouldn't be discounted simply because it was based partly on the subject's race or ethnicity.

A Good Argument for Thinking Some Very Bad Thoughts

I thought it was universally understood throughout our profession that when we fail to train, we train for failure.

A Few Words on Searches of Detainees

A little charm can go a long way. By catering to their ego without emboldening them - "You play college football?" - you might even get them empathizing with your desire to secure them before searching.

My Memories of the Rodney King Riots? Rage and Frustration

Traffic on the I-10 Freeway was non-existent, save for those who absolutely had to go to work under a hazy film of smoky clouds. I remember thinking that all of the other commuters must have been either cops or firefighters.

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