The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has honored some of the nation's bravest and most dedicated officers through its Officer of the Month program. Officers of the month are nominated by their supervisors, and then the nominees are reviewed by the NLEOMF staff. Nominations that make the cut receive consideration from a select committee of NLEOMF board members. Last year POLICE Magazine became official media sponsor for the Officer of the Month program. We have been publishing detailed stories of the officers who have received this honor in print, since June 2010. View this gallery for photos and capsule summaries of the honorees.
Riverside (Calif.) Police Officer Loren Mitchell became the first officer in his agency to work with a police dog when he was partnered up with "PAL" in 1958. Chief Sergio Diaz and the City Council honored the now-retired Officer Mitchell for this historical achievement at a City Hall ceremony. The photo gallery includes an apprehension the pair made during a 1950s traffic stop.
You spend every shift for several years wearing the same ballistic vest under your uniform. You know it's there keeping you safe, but it's even better when you aren't constantly aware of this protection because it fits just right. Thanks to thinner, more advanced ballistic packages as well as carriers featuring high-tech materials and designs, manufacturers are able to make concealable vests more comfortable and effective. Here's a look at some standout vests available right now.
Today's patrol gloves can protect against microbes, bacteria, blood-borne pathogens, needles, and even knives. They can help you scale chain-link fences, keep your extremities warm, and give you a better grip when you need it. View these nine options that are now available.
Tulsa K-9 Officer Steve Downie was summononed to a dark alley about a mile from a fast-food restaurant that had been robbed on June 10, 1996. Officer Downie and Officer Dick Hobson began searching the alley on foot, when muzzle blasts lighted up the area. Suspect Steven Williams, 21, had engaged officers with a shotgun, firing from a darkened corner in front of a steel plate (visible on the right). Read the full story, as our "Shots Fired" feature for June. Photos are courtesy of Steve Downie.
The 2011 candlelight vigil during National Police Week in Washington, D.C., drew up to 20,000 officers, police survivors, dignitaries, and other law enforcement supporters to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial for the reading of 316 names added to the wall this year. The vigil is organized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
To honor their sacrifice, the names of 316 law enforcement officers were engraved onto the marble walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The men and women who served their communities as officers, deputies, troopers and agents were honored during National Police Week, and well-wishers came to pay homage to their memories by leaving notes, photos, duty gear and other personal items. View the tributes.
Pinellas County (Fla.) Sheriff's Sgt. Raymond Fleming was among the deputies who pursued Kentin Dion Brooks during his campaign of vehicular terror. Dep. Jeffrey Newman performed the PIT maneuver on the black Mustang, and then Brooks opened up on the officers with a 9mm handgun from behind tinted windows. Deputies fired 39 rounds, ending the shoreline gunfight northwest of St. Petersburg. Read the full story in our "Shot Fired: Pinellas County, Florida 10/28/2009." Photos are courtesy of PCSO.
SHOT Show 2011 featured a slew of introductions from companies diversifying their product lines. The show drew more than 50,000 attendees to Las Vegas for the January event and also featured celebrity appearances, quick-draw contests, competitive shooters, and plenty of law enforcement gear. Read our full coverage of the show, "SHOT Show 2011: Best of Show." Photos by Mark W. Clark.
View photo shoot outtakes from our new promotional series called the "Well Dressed Officer" contest. Six times a year, we outfit a themed officer — SWAT, Patrol, Female, Special Ops, K-9, Federal and Bomb Tech — with equipment from law enforcement suppliers. One lucky POLICE Magazine reader, who must be a sworn law enforcement officer, wins the entire package of gear. Enter by visiting the contest page at PoliceMag.com. Photos by Mark W. Clark.
The latest installment of TLC's "Police Women" series heads to Ohio to follow four female officers with the Cincinnati Police Department. The show, which began Jan. 13, follows the officers as they encounter "intense cop drama and action as they patrol some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America, all while balancing kids, significant others, and life at home." Photos courtesy of TLC.
