Police Work, Politics and World Affairs, Football and the ongoing search for great Scotch Whiskey!

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Prop plane reboot!

The US Air Force has a love-hate relationship with the A-10 Warthog. No question, it's the best close air support aircraft ever made. The GAU-8 30 mm Gatling gun will cut through tanks like a razor on single sheet paper. War story, when I was in Korea, 1989, we had an air liaison officer at our operations center. He was an Air Force captain who would coordinate close air support missions for the brigade. He mentioned to our battle captain, an armor officer, "I've got video of them shooting up tanks. Want to see it?"

Mike's answer, "No. I don't like watching that, it makes me a little nervous."

Now the Air Force has tried to kill off the A-10 for ages because it's not sexy, they hate the CAS mission, and the USAF likes jack of all trade birds, not master of one. But even they have had to have reality interfere with their hopes.

The Air Force Is Sending Its Light Attack Plane Competition to War

Two of the aircraft involved in the service's OA-X light attack plane competition are headed to a war zone.

The U.S. Air Force is sending two of the four aircraft involved in its OA-X light attack aircraft competition to the battlefield. The move, likely unprecedented, will allow the service to evaluate both airplanes in combat missions before a final purchase decision is made.

Aviation Week & Space Technology reports that the Air Force is sending the Embraer/Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano and the Textron AT-6 Wolverine to a yet-to-be-determined war zone. Under a program nicknamed Combat Sent III, the Air Force will stand up an experimental squadron and send two A-29s and two AT-6s, along with seventy pilots and maintainers, to test the aircraft under combat conditions.

A-29 Super Tucano


The goal of OA-X program, which stands for observer-attack experimental, is to pick a light attack aircraft for low-end missions against enemy ground forces with little in the way of air defenses. OA-X is meant to be a relatively small ground attack aircraft capable of loitering over the battlefield and delivering bombs, rockets, and missiles on enemy targets with precision. The aircraft is also expected to do reconnaissance and observation missions.

Another key requirement: The OA-X is supposed to be cheap to fly. The retirement of the A-10, whether in two years or twenty, is inevitable. The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter will likely take over close air support duties flying against countries with advanced air defense systems—think Russia or China. But in smaller wars against less technologically advanced enemies, there's little reason to use a plane as advanced (and, at $35,000 an hour, as expensive to fly) as the F-35. OA-X will be a low-cost solution for wars where the F-35A would be overkill.

The Air Force hasn't yet decided where to send Combat Sent III, but the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria would be an obvious choice. The Islamic State conflict is exactly the type of fight the OA-X was tailored for, and ISIS has nearly non-existent air defense capabilities, so there is little to no likelihood that a careful pilot could be shot down by enemy fire...

I would hope they would keep the A-10s going for at least as long as the B-52s. Could it use some upgrades, yes, but again, the design is perfect for, if you will, "high end" close air support. But it's good to see the Air Force will use low cost propeller planes to supplement their CAS assets.

I hope to read soon on how this worked out.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Officer Down


Deputy Sheriff Jason Fann
Yoakum County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch: Saturday, August 5, 2017
Age: 28

Deputy Sheriff Jason Fann was killed in a vehicle crash at approximately 6:00 pm while responding to an accident on Highway 214, two miles south of Plains.

His patrol car left the roadway and overturned, causing him to sustain fatal injuries.

Deputy Fann served with both the Seagraves Police Department and Yoakum County Sheriff's Office.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

A look at the Jones Act.

Fellow 377th Theater Support Command alumni, logistics absolute genius and long time friend and mentor, Colonel Sam Pearson, wrote this on this Facebook page earlier this week and it's great insight into the need for reform (i.e. repeal) of the Jones Act. Please read, digest and any feedback is greatly welcome.
Hurricane season has come with a vengeance this year. Harvey was followed by Irma and Jose, and now Maria is on its way.

The Administration recently issued a temporary waiver to the Jones Act, to make it easier for desperately needed fuel to reach emergency responders and the areas affected by the destruction of the hurricanes.

The law, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, requires goods shipped between American ports to use vessels built, crewed, flagged and owned in the United States or by U.S. citizens.
Congress should consider doing away with the Jones Act altogether.

Proponents claim the law protects American jobs and ensures the country will have an established fleet of vessels and shipbuilding capability. However, the Jones Act imposes substantial costs on American consumers, and these costs are concentrated in noncontiguous parts of the United States, such as Puerto Rico.

The law can also act as a hindrance to the speed and effectiveness of responses to disasters, because foreign ships have to wait for waivers. Sometimes waivers are not issued promptly, and in some emergencies not at all. These delays and uncertainty limit the full range of options and resources that could be leveraged to help the distressed areas in times of need.
The Jones Act has not even succeeded in one of its stated goals, namely bolstering the number of U.S.-flag ships. In 2000 there were 193 Jones Act-eligible ships in the U.S. fleet, declining to 91 by 2016. The law has not been able to forestall other developments that are more important for ship construction, such as the relative cost of building ships in the United States compared to other countries that have significantly increased their shipbuilding capacity. Building new ships in American shipyards can be up to five times as much as the cost of imported ships.

Areas hit by natural disasters and in need of supplies must deal with the dual constraints of limited Jones-eligible U.S. fleet and the exclusion of foreign-flagged vehicles unless a waiver is granted.

The temporary waiver was a positive step that made it easier for the places grappling with the damage from the hurricane. But the road to recovery will be long and arduous for many of the affected areas, and the waiver lasted only one week. While timeliness and bringing more resources to bear are an important part of the response, shipping costs will be an important component influencing the degree to which some of these places will be able to recover.

Unfortunately, the Jones Act also increases shipping costs. In addition to the differences in costs of constructing the ships themselves, the Jones Act has led to substantial differences in related labor costs. One report from United States Maritime Administration found that U.S. labor costs were 5.5 times greater than labor costs for foreign-flag vessels. Part of this is due to the difference in wages, as U.S. ship and wage crew salaries almost doubled in real terms from 2000 to 2013. Another component is crew size requirements, which for U.S.-flag vessels are dictated by a statute “dat[ing] back to 1915, when vessels were powered by steam boilers and turbines that required round-the-clock attention.”

Overall, the Maritime Administration found that the average cost of operating a U.S.-flag vessel was 2.7 times higher than the cost for foreign-flag equivalents. These higher costs are transmitted to higher rates for consumers.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt from the law, and those people will be able to work with the full battery of ships willing and able to transport the goods needed to rebuild and recover from the effects of the hurricane. The other noncontiguous areas of the United States have all filed for exemptions from the Jones Act, but their efforts have been stymied thus far.

According to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, it cost more than $3,000 to ship a container of household and commercial goods from the east coast to Puerto Rico, while the same shipment cost only $1,504 to the Dominican Republic and $1,687 to Jamaica, which are not subject to the law.

Puerto Rico was already dealing with a fiscal crisis and economic stagnation. There are reports that the entire island is currently without power due to the storm. The higher shipping costs caused by the Jones Act will make it harder for the commonwealth to weather the effects of the storm.

Jones Act waivers make it easier for needed goods such as gasoline to make it to areas affected by the hurricanes. The law limits responsiveness in the period following emergencies and raises costs for consumers. To make it easier to rebuild, Congress should consider repealing the act permanently.

Most of this information was collected by my friend and fellow logistician Charles Hughes, he is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute and can be folllowed @CharlesHHughes.

Colonel Sam Pearson, USAR, Retired, is a 33 year veteran with six combat deployments. He is currently working on a doctorate degree.

Good to hear the Jones Act was waived for Puerto Rican hurricane relief.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

South Park scewers Political Correctness again! :<)

You can always count on South Park to come right to the point on an overrated issue. This time, it's race bating and the victim industry. Awesome.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Officer Down


Lieutenant Aaron Allan
Southport Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Thursday, July 27, 2017
Age: 38
Tour: 20 years

Lieutenant Aaron Allan was shot and killed after responding to a crash involving an overturned vehicle at the intersection of Maynard Drive and Madison Avenue, in Homecroft, at approximately 2:30 pm.

He and a Homecroft officer arrived at the scene and began to check on two occupants. Lieutenant Allan crawled into the car to check on the driver, who was stuck upside down in his seat belt. As Lieutenant Allan then crawled back out to check on the passenger the driver grabbed a gun and opened fire, striking Lieutenant Allan 14 times.

The Homecroft officer and an off-duty reserve deputy from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office returned fire and wounded the man before taking him into custody

Lieutenant Allan was transported to Eskenazi Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Lieutenant Allan had served with the Southport Police Department for six years and had served in law enforcement for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and children.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Gunner
Southaven Police Department, Mississippi
End of Watch: Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Age: 6
Gender: M
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Gunner died as the result of heat exhaustion when he was left in his handler's department vehicle following an undercover operation.

Gunner's handler had returned to the police station to complete paperwork. Approximately two hours later his handler discovered him in the vehicle and rushed him to a veterinary hospital.

The vehicle Gunner was in was not equipped with a heat alarm system.

Gunner was assigned to the Narcotics Division.
Rest in Peace Gunner…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Monday, September 25, 2017

Officer Down


Lieutenant D. Heath Meyer
Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Monday, July 24, 2017
Age: 43
Tour: 12 years
Badge # 64
Incident Date: 7/14/2017

Lieutenant Heath Meyer succumbed to injuries sustained 10 days earlier when he was struck by a patrol car on I-35, near SW 27th Street, in Moore.

He had deployed stop sticks on I-35 as other troopers pursued a vehicle on the interstate. Two of the patrol cars collided as they attempted to avoid the stop sticks. One of the patrol cars then struck Lieutenant Meyer.

The vehicle being pursued continued to flee, however, the driver was taken into custody later in the night and charged in connection with the incident.

Lieutenant Meyer was transported to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.

Lieutenant Meyer had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Sunday, September 24, 2017

K-Day: The opening of Korean War II

I've often mentioned that my first assignment in the Army was in Korea. I was the Assistant S2 of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, The Iron Brigade. A joke we made was we were "45 from the 38." It would take forty-five seconds for the artillery from North Korea to hit us at Camp Casey.

Yours truly in the summer of 1988, at the border. That's North Korea just past the white shack over my left shoulder.

Their speed and accuracy has likely improved, but we knew our mission in life. We were the trip wire, Pyongyang spills American blood, you will see hell fire (see the Lance missile battalion south of Seoul, removed in the early 2000s.)

Now I found this in Military Times and it's an interesting look at what may happen in the initial phase of Korean War II.

War with North Korea: An inside look at how US troops would respond worldwide

The Trump administration sees no good military options in North Korea.

The rogue regime’s missile tests are growing more frequent, and Kim Jong Un is closer than ever to being able to deliver a nuclear-tipped missile to the United States’ West Coast.

"...When asked by reporters about the current tensions with North Korea, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said, "If this goes to a military solution, it’s going to be tragic on an unbelievable scale."

Military Times has constructed a detailed picture of what war on the Korean Peninsula might look like, based on numerous interviews with current and former military officials, international experts and intelligence assessments of the North Korean military’s capabilities.


Contemplated strike by the NOKs and the Allied counterattacks.

"Anybody that assumes this could be knocked out in 30 days would be dead wrong," said retired Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling. "There would be literally thousands, tens of thousands, some say more than 100,000 civilian casualties."

What follows is a matter-of-fact look at the full-blown conventional war that would be unleashed if artillery rounds began to arc over the 38th parallel, ending the tense 64-year-old ceasefire on the peninsula.

Day one

U.S. and South Korean forces would respond instantaneously with the help of the American Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy.

The tip of the spear would be the U.S. 8th Army pushing the 2nd Infantry Division — a combined division of American and South Korean troops — into the fight, bringing with it a combat aviation brigade, a field artillery brigade, an armored brigade combat team, and a chemical weapons battalion.

Throngs of U.S. aircraft would streak across the skies over the peninsula in a narrow battlespace, fighting a multi-nation war in an area the size of Minnesota.

Using sophisticated air defense, anti-artillery systems and air power, they hit key North Korean military positions.

Plans call for the South Korean military, with more than 650,000 active personnel and another 3 million in reserve, to do most of the initial fighting.

There are about 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea.

In the opening hours, U.S. officials alert Marines on Okinawa to begin loading gear onto ships to head toward the fight, while back in the United States the call goes out to the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to prepare its brigade combat team of paratroopers that’s part of America’s Global Response Force, poised to deploy within hours when needed.

The U.S. Navy would annihilate the North Korean navy, said Jerry Hendrix, a retired Navy captain and analyst with the Center for a New American Security.

"At the outset we will find every North Korean ship at sea and destroy it, or [if] in port, we’ll hit it, probably with Tomahawks," Hendrix said.

Experts predict heavy initial casualties among both U.S. and South Korean personnel.

North Korea is believed to have dug several tunnels under the Demilitarized Zone, which could allow it to rapidly deploy troops behind the minefields that separate the two Koreas, said Joost Oliemans and Stijn Mitzer, two analysts in the Netherlands who specialize on the North Korean military.

"The first tunnel discovered by the South was estimated to have allowed for the deployment of 20,000 troops per hour," they said...

For decades, a major effort of the US and ROK (Republic of Korea) armies has been to locate and destroy these tunnels. I'll make a safe assumption that we have many either destroyed or set for immediate destruction if things look bad (don't want to tip your hand too quickly.) When I was there many of the roads just south of the DMZ were cut through massive rock, just wide enough for a large truck or tank to pass. These choke holds were set with square blocks elevated to their sides. The blocks were set upon a cut "table," with small windows on the side. Throw one grenade in, the support will collapse and the blocks with fall into the road. Ruins your day if you want to come down the road.

"...A key challenge will be finding the North Korean artillery, which are hidden inside carved-out positions built with rails that allow enemy soldiers to slide the piece out of its hiding place, fire, and then pull it back into the mountainside in minutes.

"If you’re going to build hardened artillery sites, those south-facing granite mountains are just perfect," said retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales.

The jagged mountains and deep valleys make the battlefield terrain a daunting challenge for land warfare.

Hertling recalled a tour he did decades ago on the peninsula, taking helicopter rides to different locations and seeing the land below for the first time.

"I just went, ‘Holy shit, this would be tough,’" Hertling said...

 I'll like to show two pictures. The one on the left contains the Koreans Peninsula in total, showing how rugged the terrain is. On the right, on overview of the major road networks. Notice how they all tie into the capital of Seoul and how close they are to the border. In the opening hours thousands of artillery shells would strike the road networks throughout the Seoul/Incheon area, disrupting evacuations and military operations. Hopefully in the time before actually hostilities, the ROK government would move people out of the major cities. As Military Times points out:


"...'Megacity combat'

Seoul is about 35 miles from the demilitarized zone separating the two nations, and North Korean rockets and artillery could cause significant damage to the densely-populated area of about 25 million people.

Seoul is nearly twice the size of Baghdad, with significant urban sprawl. The South Korean capital city has skyscrapers such as the 123-story Lotte World Tower, which opened last month and is the fifth tallest building in the world.

North Korea’s Koksan 170 mm self-propelled guns and 240 mm and 300 mm multiple-launch rocket systems could reach Seoul from their positions, according to a May 2016 report by geopolitical analysis firm Stratfor.

Those weapons represent a small part of the North’s artillery, Stratfor said. At best, most guns could hit the northern outskirts of Seoul — and its longer-range guns have greater problems with accuracy.

"If every one of Pyongyang’s 300 mm multiple rocket launcher systems were directed against Seoul, their range would be sufficient to rain fire across the city and beyond," the report said.

A single volley would unleash 350 metric tons of explosives — roughly equivalent to ordnance dropped by 11 B-52 bombers. The world would see civilian casualty numbers equal to the entire Syrian conflict in a matter of days, Hertling said.

That creates a massive humanitarian crisis in which millions of civilians fleeing Seoul southward would clog up rail lines, air traffic and roads just as U.S. and coalition forces were pushing north, he said.

While many analysts agree that the North Koreans would push as fast as possible to gain ground in the South, one fear is the North Korean military getting significant troops into Seoul.

That could spark what Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has referred to as the dreaded "megacity combat."

It’s a scenario that the U.S. military has not faced in a long time, if ever.

The Air Force’s ability to provide close-air support and other air power would be exceptionally limited in a megacity fight, Carlisle said.

"If [North Korea] got into some portion of Seoul, that would be incredibly difficult," Carlisle said....

Now this would not be a replay of 1950. The ROK Army is a professional, well trained and equipped force, we've got units and other assets already deployed there, we've spent decades planning for this possibility. That being said, with an army of over one million men and between 12,000 to 14,000 pieces of artillery. Now NOK artillery has serious issues with quality control and reliability, with numbers like that, they will overwhelm many targets in the initial barrage.

In summary, K-Day would be fugly!

Friday, September 22, 2017

Officer Down


Trooper Michael Paul Stewart, III
Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, July 14, 2017
Age: 26
Tour: 3 years, 6 months
Badge # 12494

Trooper Michael Stewart was killed in a vehicle crash on Route 711, at the Route 271 split, in Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, at approximately 2:20 am.

His patrol SUV was traveling southbound when a garbage truck attempted to turn left onto the roadway in front of it, causing a collision. Trooper Stewart suffered fatal injuries in the crash and his partner suffered minor injuries.

Trooper Stewart had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for three and a half years.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Officer Down


Trooper Joel R. Davis
New York State Police, New York
End of Watch: Sunday, July 9, 2017
Age: 36
Tour: 4 years
Badge # 3814

Trooper Joel Davis was shot and killed in Theresa, New York, while responding to a domestic disturbance and shots fired call at 34371 Route 46.

At some point during the incident the male subject murdered his wife and wounded another woman who lived on the property. Trooper Davis was shot and killed after arriving at the scene. The subject, an active duty Army member, surrendered as additional units arrived at the home.

Trooper Davis had served with the New York State Police for four years and had previously served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

All Lives Splatter!

One of the things that has aggravated me with the BLM/ANTIFA movement is their interfering with people going about their business. You have a right to "peacefully assembly for regress of grievances," that does not give you the right to block traffic, etc.

A Republican state rep from South Dakota has mad a humorous meme on this.


Now the fun thing is the source seems to think this article will offend most people. It won't. Most people are adults who can take a joke and understand this is not inciting violence, but saying "Get your ass out of the way and get a job!"

I'm all in with #alllivessplatter :)

Monday, September 18, 2017

Officer Down


Detective Miosotis Familia
New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Age: 48
Tour: 12 years
Badge # 7370

Detective Miosotis Familia was shot and killed from ambush as she sat in a marked mobile command post vehicle at the intersection of East 183rd Street and Morris Avenue in the Bronx.

As she sat in the vehicle at approximately 12:30 am a male approached and fired one shot through the window, striking Detective Familia in the head.

Officers responding to the call of an officer down confronted the male subject fleeing the scene. The officers shot and killed the subject in an exchange of gunfire.

Detective Familia had served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the 46th Precinct. She is survived by her three children.

Detective Familia was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective.
Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Friday, September 15, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Robert J. Johnson
Northville Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Age: 60
Tour: 33 years
Badge # 847
Incident Date: 7/3/2017

Police Officer Bob Johnson was struck and killed by a vehicle on Route 30, south of High Rock Road, at approximately 9:50 pm.

He had just gotten off duty and was driving home when he encountered the crash in which a deer was struck by another vehicle. Officer Johnson had retrieved his service weapon and was walking along the shoulder on the opposite side of the road to dispatch the deer when he was struck by a second vehicle.

He was transported to Nathan Littauer Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after midnight.

Officer Johnson served as a part-time officer with the Northville Police Department after retiring from the Gloversville Police Department. He had served in law enforcement for 33 years and had previously served with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Miguel I. Moreno
San Antonio Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Friday, June 30, 2017
Age: 32
Tour: 9 years
Badge # 1603
Incident Date: 6/29/2017

Police Officer Miguel Moreno was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to contact two subjects near the intersection of Evergreen and Howard Streets at approximately 3:00 pm.

The officers observed the men near a car that appeared to have been broken into. As they stopped to speak to the subjects one of the men immediately opened fire with a revolver, striking Officer Moreno in the head and his partner in the torso. Despite his wounds, Officer Moreno's partner was able to pull him out of the line of fire and then returned fire, wounding the suspect. The man then committed suicide.

The second subject was taken into custody. Officer Moreno was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wound the following morning.

Officer Moreno had served with the San Antonio Police Department for nine years.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Active shooter training.

In June 2010 (can it be seven years ago!) I posted on my first Active Shooter class, calling it "The best in service class I've ever had." Times flies, so does technology. Now the Houston Police Foundation is trying to bring much more advanced training and facilities to the Houston Police Department, and the greater Houston area.

Building a tactical village for Houston police

HOUSTON - With Houston entrepreneur Tilman Fertitta at the forefront, the Houston Police Foundation is raising money to build a tactical village for the Houston Police Department.

The foundation reports it is only $2 million shy of the $10 million needed to break ground on the state of-the-art facility.

"We know it's all about training for everything," said Fertitta. "You just realize, this really makes a difference."

To understand what Fertitta wants to bring to Houston, Channel 2 Investigates toured the Fort Worth Police Department's advanced training facility.

"One of the goals of training is to get as close to real as possible while maintaining safety," said Sgt. Eddie Trinidad, with the Fort Worth Police Department.

Fort Worth's tactical village is built inside a 30,000-square-foot facility. The village contains city streets, apartments, houses, a school, a convenience store and a restaurant with a bar. Each building inside the village comes complete with furniture or other items normally seen in a business, home or school. Everyone from cadets to SWAT officers trains on a myriad of scenarios in a near-real-world setting.

"Before, we would have to use a classroom and pretend it was this or that. Well, now we don't have to pretend anymore," said Trinidad.

Trinidad said officers train on everything from routine traffic stops to domestic disturbance calls to active shooter and hostage situations. Fellow officers are brought in to play the parts of suspects. The environment of the village can be altered from night to day, and physical space can be changed to make areas tighter or more expansive, depending on the scenario.

Sound effects can also be piped in to enhance the reality of a situation.

"If we have an officer approaching an apartment door, we can have a woman suddenly scream, or the sound of gunshots," said Trinidad.

Catwalks run over every part of the village so instructors can watch scenarios from above and offer instant critiques.

The Fort Worth Police Department's facility also has a video simulator that gives officers a taste of the life-or-death decisions they have to make on the street.

"We have over 130 scenarios in here," said Trinidad...

...The Houston Police Foundation hopes to break ground on the 40,000-square-foot facility sometime next year. The foundation reports it will take a year to build the village, which will be constructed on the grounds of the Houston Police Department's training academy near George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

"I've put in my share. I put in $2.5 million and, gosh, we'd love to raise another couple (of) million dollars from the citizens of Houston," said Fertitta.

Mr. Fertitta, thank you for your contribution, when this comes in it will be a God send for HPD and the other law enforcement agencies in the area. Here is the video of the story, showing how the Fort Worth PD uses its facility:


This is the linked PowerPoint presentation, but the diagram is here:
This looks like an incredible training opportunity and hopefully it opens soon.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Officer Down


Trooper Ryan Matthew Albin
Illinois State Police, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Age: 37
Tour: 11 years, 6 months
Badge # 5718

Trooper Ryan Albin was killed in a vehicle crash on I-74, near milepost 155, in the area of Farmer City at approximately 3:10 pm.

His patrol car collided with a box truck as the vehicles reduced speed for slow moving traffic in a construction zone. He was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Trooper Albin's canine was transported to a veterinary hospital with minor injuries.

Trooper Albin had served with the Illinois State Police for 11-1/2 years and was assigned as a canine handler in District 6.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Portlandia is reinventing the wheel

Portland has been know for stupidity. A few years ago it was know as a place even where a teenager can have a Sam Adams. The previous mayor, Sam Adams admitted to a sexual relationship with an eighteen year old. While that can arguably be called a "private matter," this stupidity cannot. And people will suffer for it.

Portland police to halt, purge all gang designations 
Portland police next month will end their more than 20-year-old practice of designating people as gang members or gang associates in response to strong community concerns about the labels that have disproportionately affected minorities. 
The Police Bureau recognizes that the gang designations have led to "unintended consequences'' and served as lifelong barriers for those who have shunned the gang lifestyle and tried to get jobs, said Acting Tactical Operations Capt. Andy Shearer. 
A review by Oregonian/OregonLive reporter Carli Brosseau last year found that of the 359 "criminal gang affiliates'' flagged in Portland's database as of last summer, 81 percent were part of a racial or ethnic minority. She obtained the list, names removed, only after appealing the city's attempt to keep it from public view...


Eighty-one percent is a racial minority. Oh, is that out of the ordinary? Not really, according to the National Gang Center. According to them, eighty one precent of gang members are black or brown:


Race/Ethnicity of Gang Members, 1996–2011
YearHispanic or LatinoBlack or African AmericanWhiteAll Other
199645.235.611.67.5
199846.533.611.88.0
199947.330.913.48.4
200149.033.710.37.0
200247.035.710.46.9
200448.737.87.95.7
200550.132.69.57.7
200649.535.28.56.8
200850.231.810.57.6
201146.235.311.57.0

Leaders from Black Male Achievement, former police Assistant Chief Kevin Modica and others have lobbied to end the designations 
"Gang violence isn't going to go away. There are still crimes attributed to known gang sets. There are still criminal gang members. That doesn't go away because we don't have a gang designation,'' said Capt. Mike Krantz, who helped spearhead the change. "We're not pretending gang violence doesn't exist. We're just taking this one thing away..." 
Police will send out letters to everyone on the gang list alerting them that the bureau will purge all documents related to the designations. The new policy will take effect Oct. 15.
"It takes courage for the bureau to take this step,'' said C.J. Robbins, program coordinator for Black Male Achievement. 
He applauded Modica and others in the bureau who responded to his group's concerns and "acknowledged, 'Hey this is not OK.'" 
"This is too long coming,'' said Mayor Ted Wheeler, who serves as the city's police commissioner. "It was the right thing to do." 
Wheeler, who recently selected the first African American woman to serve as the bureau's new police chief, said the decision shows that city police are committed to rebuilding trust with the community. 
The Oregonian/OregonLive review of the controversial gang affiliation database showed that police labeled someone a "criminal gang affiliate'' more than 100 times each year, without a conviction, without an arrest. Police were able to add someone to the list if the person self-identified as a member of a gang, participated in a gang initiation ritual, committed a gang-related crime or displayed two or more observable signs of gang membership. 
Those labels would pop up as a red flag when officers ran someone's name on their mobile computer database. Nicknames, employers, schools, vehicles and associates were included in the gang designation reports...
People must earn themselves into a gang, and onto the database. You can get yourself out of the database, but that takes work, like getting out of a gang.

I'm recalling a Marine Reserve major who handled an issue for forces deployed to Iraq in the mid-2000s. We would have people approach our facilities and we would document their "names," etc. But we had no database to query to see if they were friendly or not. The man, on his 2 week leave, got with his company and developed a portable fingerprint machine and tied it to an online database. And soon enough we could determine who was spying on our men. It's called intelligence collection.

Portland is about to purge over 20 years of data for political pressure from radical racial groups. You reap what you sew ladies and gentlemen. How many experienced gang investigators will simply say, "Screw this, I'm out of here, ain't worth the aggravation anymore." How soon before murder rates start skyrocketing throughout Portland and it's suburbs? Tell me Portland PD, will you query the NCIC files of the ANTIFA and BLM terrorist tearing up your streets? Wait, you love those people. so likely no.

Decades of work destroyed, for nothing. Portland PD (the "leadership," not the rank and file) are committing a crime against your men and the citizens of the city your are sworn to protect. Soon to be Chief Outlaw (what a name!), stop this before you inflict a lot of pain on your department and city.
 

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Not the end, or the beginning of the end. But the end of the beginning.

As I sit on my front porch with a cigar and a whiskey, I'm recalling that quote from Sir Winston Churchill. Saturday the 9th is my first day off since August 21st. Nineteen days straight, including five days of 24 hour deployment. Hell of a run.

I can't complain. I've been deployed to Army exercises/operations that lasted much longer and it was 12 plus hours a day. With only MREs to eat. God knows there are men and women living in much more stressful conditions than I was, using lawn chair cushions on the floor of my office as a bed. We also had only five "24 hour" days, in an air conditioned building (Praise the Lord we didn't loose electricity, the backup generator was down :<( ). Plus with this I get something the Army never gave me, paid overtime!

Last weekend we were notified that regular days off would begin this on Saturday the 9th, and the next day we got the word it would be the end of 12 hour shifts. So I expected to get off at 0600 Saturday the 9th. Well, that got cut too, and I'm just ran an eight hour shift. After nineteen days, I am not complaining about loosing four hours of overtime. We're all burned out.

I told my troops to go home and not do anything this weekend. No extra employment, nothing. Sleep in, spend time with family and friends, just take it down. You've earned it. I'm still a bit self conscious when I say this about my squad (one of my officers is my age), but damn I'm proud of them and to be associated with them.

I can say this, these cops eared their pay during Hurricane Harvey. Countless times going out in the back of dump trucks and other large vehicles to rescue people in the street, some with children, some in wheelchairs. People that needed help, the cops, firemen, other emergency services, volunteers, the Cajun Navy, they made it happen. They improvised, adapted, overcame and were then when they were needed.

No one had to say we're different colors, religions, etc. It didn't matter. Texas were people in need and when a great need arises, Texans (and other great people) step up to the plate. The Cajun Navy from Louisiana. Churches from multiple states. Non-profit groups. Most of you don't know a man named Jim McIngvale, better know as Mattress Mack. He's the owner of three furniture superstores in the Houston area, Gallery Furniture. Immediately he volunteered his stores for shelters, put our mattresses for families to sleep on and allowed the National Guard to use the parking lots at assembly areas. He even put the word out if you have a CDL, you can use one of his trucks to help with the evacuation. That's a lot of risk, to give a stranger such a piece of equipment like that. But Mack can always be counted on whenever there is a great need.

We've gotten through the initial worst part of it. The flooded out cars have been towed off to lots. Says enough that many storage lots were dividing the cars by insurance company (makes it easier for the adjuster to process the claim.) The flood waters have mostly receded, the roads have been cleared, people are starting to recover. You will see a lot of homes with large debris in front of them, ripped out carpet, destroyed furniture, ruined appliances. Many have flood insurance (a necessity on the Gulf Coast) and that will ease the financial burden coming. Those who don't will have to recover more slowly, pay as they can, or completely restart somewhere else. Also a factor in living in a flood prone area.

No part of this great nation is exempt from some potential natural disaster. The coasts have hurricanes, the west has earthquakes, the midwest (the entire country to one degree or another) has tornados. In a discussion with the worshipers of Church of Climate Change, a point I will continually make. If you're betting on man against Mother Nature, you're an absolute fool. Bet on her every day and twice on Sunday. This old bitch has been around a long time before apes and man, ever cock roaches. She will be around when we're all dust.

So what's next. For me, immediately, I'm taking this weekend off. I'll sleep in, read, start blogging more, see to the family, and catch up on some household stuff. The wife and I are having dinner with some friends Saturday evening, I need a drink and a good steak. And as I'm unwinding at 3:30am, thinking of the marathon we've all gone through, I'm recalling the great words of Dr Martin King, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I'm Free at last!" Plus I'm enjoying the sound of my Bug Zapper painfully murdering the mosquitoes, one of the minor misfortunes of a lot of rain. Yes, the whiskey is starting to take effect!

All in all things are coming back to normal, for good and bad. Businesses are open again or being repaired, soon to be open. School restarts Monday (to the horror of my 17 year old) and while many schools are damaged, the schools districts are making plans to handle this challenge. The National Guard is redeploying back and FEMA is working on deploying to Florida.

As far as Texas and Houston, we've been here before, we'll be here again. I can only think of a great man and leader, Vince Lombardi.

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up."

Texas and Houston will be back up before you know it. The Texans play the season opener Sunday and I know JJ Watt will be leading the team out, carrying an American flag (we don't have the issues the 49ers have) and I predict a victory. The team is psyched up, it knows what a morale boost winning will be for this city. Nothing was better for New Orleans after Katrina than the sights of the Saints beating the division rivals Atlanta.

Florida, best to you right now, we know you'll pull through. Trust me, the Cajun Navy and countless others will be there before you know it to get you back on your feet.

Time for a refill (damned that whiskey is good) and soon enough I'll need to go to sleep. I've missed sleeping next to my wife (and dog Bugs). Have a great weekend.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Officer Down


Correctional Officer Joe William Heddy, Jr.
Escambia County Department of Corrections, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, June 17, 2017
Age: 63
Tour: 28 years
Badge # 2199

Correctional Officer Joe Heddy suffered a fatal heart attack at the Escambia County Road Prison in Cantonment, Florida, after struggling with an inmate at approximately 1:00 pm.

He had responded to a cell in the South Wing dorm after an inmate tied a bedsheet around his own neck and was tightening it in an attempt to commit suicide. He called for assistance and began to struggle with the inmate in an attempt to remove the bedsheet. The inmate continued to resist until officers were able to remove the bedsheet and subdue him.

Officer Heddy then packed up the inmate's belongings before calling for assistance on the radio and collapsing. Other officers initiated CPR but were unable to resuscitate him. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Officer Heddy was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had served with the Escambia County Department of Corrections for eight years after having retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons with 20 years of service. He is survived by his wife, three children, and seven grandchildren.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Officer Down


Master Sergeant William Trampas Bishop
Florida Highway Patrol, Florida
End of Watch: Saturday, June 17, 2017
Age: 52
Tour: 30 years

Master Sergeant William Bishop was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating an accident on I-75, near mile marker 403, in Alachua County.

He was outside of his vehicle when a secondary accident occurred in the center lane at approximately 6:35 pm. One of the vehicles involved in the secondary accident then struck Sergeant Bishop, pinning him underneath it.

Sergeant Bishop had served with the Florida Highway Patrol for 30 years. He is survived by his wife and son.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Cain
Crossville Police Department, Tennessee
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 2
Gender: M
Cause: Stabbed

K9 Cain was stabbed to death during the apprehension of a subject who had stolen a tractor trailer shortly after 4:00 am.

A Cumberland County deputy had attempted to stop the semi near the intersection of Highway 68 and Highway 127 after it was involved in a hit-and-run. The driver led the deputy and other responding officers in a pursuit until crashing into a tree on Genesis Road at Obed River.

K9 Cain was released as the man fled into the woods. Cain returned to his handler suffering numerous stab wounds to its chest. He was taken to UT Veterinary Medical Center where he died.

The subject was taken into custody by other officers.
Rest in Peace Cain…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy