Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Short Bursts

To be honest, I've never liked writing a hodge-podge of an editorial note. It's kind of a cheat. But I have a lot of things to talk about this month and, since this is my only platform to do it, I'm going to machine-gun some stuff at you.

3 min to read


To be honest, I've never liked writing a hodge-podge of an editorial note. It's kind of a cheat. But I have a lot of things to talk about this month and, since this is my only platform to do it, I'm going to machine-gun some stuff at you.

Item One: Never trust a journalist. I know, I know, I'm a journalist. But I gotta admit, and most of you know it, that few people on this earth can do more long-lasting damage in a short amount of time than a journalist.

Ad Loading...

Take for instance the recent whopper of an error in USA Today regarding Tasers. As we all know, police use of Tasers has been under attack from Amnesty International and the ACLU. They say that Tasers kill, even though the overwhelming evidence is that a Taser has never killed anyone.

But if they were as powerful as USA Today recently claimed, then just about everybody ever exposed to a Taser burst would be pushing up daisies.

In an infographic published on June 3, McPaper told the world that the X26 packs a punch of 2,100 amps to 3,600 amps. The report compared the Taser to electric chairs, which pump 6 to 20 amps; the third rail of the New York City subway, which is about 4,000 to 10,000 amps; and lightning, which is about 10,000 to 100,000 amps.

Is a Taser really more powerful than an electric chair? Of course not. USA Today miscalculated the power of the X26 by, get this, 1 million. The actual punch of the Taser is 0.0021 to 0.0036.

The moral of this story is never trust journalists. Most are dumber than a philodendron.

Ad Loading...

Item Two: A couple of years back I wrote of how the accused killer of Dep. David March of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department walked free south of the border, and there's nothing that the L.A. County DA or anyone in American law enforcement could do about it. Nothing has changed in this case.

Yes, we do have an extradition treaty with Mexico. But the Mexican courts have thrown a monkey wrench into the system. They won't extradite anyone, not just any Mexican citizen, but anyone, who faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole. I personally think the drug lords helped write this law to prevent the federales from shipping them north.

So, what can a prosecutor do? Nothing. Or swallow hard, and seek only life, not life without parole. That's exactly what the Denver district attorney may have to do in the case of Raul Garcia-Gomez.

Denver police say that Raul Garcia-Gomez gunned down Det. Donald "Donnie" Young while he was working off duty as security for a baptismal party.

Garcia-Gomez was recently arrested in Culiacán by Mexican police. Now, the hard part will be getting him back to the states. Denver prosecutors will have to negotiate the accused cop-killer's potential sentence with the Mexican authorities. The process could take more than a year, and the Denver DA will have to take the death penalty and life without parole off the table if he ever wants to see Garcia-Gomez in a Colorado court.

Ad Loading...

Item Three: On June 8, nine hours after being sworn in as chief of police for the border town of Nuevo Laredo, Alejandro Dominguez was gunned down outside his office by thugs from a local cartel. He was the only applicant for the job in the town, which is murder central because of a drug war.

Investigators counted 35 to 40 casings at the scene. Witnesses told police that three Chevy Suburbans hemmed in Chief Dominguez's car, rolled down their windows and opened fire. Then they got out of their cars and unleashed another hail of lead into the chief's windshield.

If you're so inclined, say a prayer for honest law officers in Mexico. They need all the help they can get.

Subscribe to our newsletter

More Patrol

POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips video series graphic featuring a Garmont Tactical Contact Collection duty boot against a police vehicle with flashing lights. Includes “Watch Now” callout for the video series.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJuly 9, 2026

Garmont Tactical Contact Collection: New Duty Boots for Law Enforcement

Choosing the right duty boot can make a significant difference during long shifts. In this video overview, Kyle Ferdyn, of Garmont Tactical, introduces the new Contact Collection, designed specifically for law enforcement professionals seeking comfort, traction, and durability.

Read More →
Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for a POLICE Magazine article on Tennessee’s new deadly force law, featuring Lady Justice, handcuffs, a Tennessee map with Nashville highlighted, and the headline “Impact of New Deadly Force Law.”
Patrolby David StephensJune 4, 2026

Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee

Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.

Read More →