The Active Ride Control System (ARCS) replaces a vehicle's standard passive shock absorbers with an automatically controlled active damping system that improves vehicle stability and ride comfort over a wide range of terrains and vehicle speeds. Much of the standard vehicle suspension system is retained, providing optimized ride comfort and range of operation, according to a company release.

With the ARCS package, handling characteristics are not compromised on rough or loose surfaces. The ARCS package consists of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU), electronically-controlled dampers, accelerometers, and the associated wiring harness to connect with the vehicle for power and CAN bus communications. The dampers used in the system are commercially-available parts and meet all appropriate durability requirements for passenger vehicles.

An armored Chevrolet Suburban demonstrator vehicle is available for ride and handling evaluations and has been used and evaluated for several months by organizations providing driver training to civilian and military organizations.

"I was extremely impressed with the quality and performance of the vehicle, the suspension system is second to none and far exceeded our driving instructor's expectations," said Kurt Delia, a former SWAT team leader and president of Delia Tactical International.

The ARCS system is now available as an installed option on armored Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes, GMC Yukons, and Cadillac Escalades built by The Armored Group.

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Chevy engineers added the column-mounted shifter to the 2014 model-year Caprice—the patrol car is now in its fourth model year—at the request of numerous police fleet managers. Officers in general are more confortable with column-shifters, and the configuration enables easier installation of equipment.

GM announced details of the 2014 Caprice at a police vehicle trade show in Fort Worth.

The 2014 Caprice will also include increased use of high-strength steel throughout its structure to bolster roll-over protection. Redesigned front seat-mounted side airbags will reduce the risk of pelvic injury up to 30 percent, according to GM.

The automaker will also increase hip room to 57.5 inches and add a new driver's seat specifically sculpted for a duty belt. The previous seat included cutouts for a police sidearm.

Other upgrades include a "surveillance mode" circuit that darkens interior lighting for inconspicuous operation. The automaker added new electric power steering, a front stabilizer bar, and larger front struts to improve corning and stability.

For technology upgrades, GM will offer its seven-inch MyLink touch-screen radio with Bluetooth streaming audio and cell-phone connectivity. Trunk-release buttons have been added to the driver- and passenger-side doors.

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I quickly switched gears internally to "cop mode," and I prepared to take evasive action and get the license plate number of this possible impaired driver. Just as this car approached mine, I was shocked to see that it was a marked POLICE.

I looked at the officer, and I could see what he was doing that was causing him to swerve. He was looking at his in-car computer while trying to drive. I thought to myself, "What if he had struck another car? Hit a stationary object? Injured someone?" This officer and his agency would be liable for his distractions and behavior. This is unacceptable.

Technology's Downside

New technology has improved modern policing in many ways. During my career, I saw many changes, including the move from revolvers to semi-automatic handguns, from straight batons to PR-24s and collapsible batons, from Mace to O.C., from stun guns to TASERs, and from 12-gauge shotguns with ghost ring sights to AR-15s with holographic sights. That's just the evolution of weapons. On the safety equipment side, I have experienced the widespread adoption of concealable lightweight body armor.

When it comes to communications, we have seen our two-way car radios with multiple channel knobs replaced by digital, programmable screens supported by computer dispatch terminals and better radio towers with microwave technology and secure public safety bands. Our portable radios are smaller and more compact versions of the old "bricks" that used to adorn our duty belts. And of course we can now dispatch calls for service electronically directly to cars equipped with onboard computer systems.

Computers and Distraction

In-car computers are useful tools in law enforcement and public safety. They work great when you are not distracted and have time to read the information on the screen that is being sent to you. Computers are also useful when you want to conduct records checks on vehicles and individuals that you encounter.

In-car computer deployment was intended to make the job of a modern law enforcement officer easier in conjunction with other tools in the car. But it also created several safety concerns.

The people who first thought of adding computer displays to the cockpits of patrol cars probably thought they would be used by the passenger officer in two-officer units. Sadly, very few agencies now use two officers in a patrol unit, so the computer is read by the driver and that can lead to deadly multi-tasking.

We have statutes in many states against distracted driving, including texting while driving, talking on a cell phone, and other technological multi-tasking. So given the prevalence of in-car computers in patrol cars and how they are often used by an officer who is driving, we have to ask if the rules governing distracted driving apply to police officers as well as the public.

You may think that distracted driving laws are not your concern because after all, your job requires you to monitor that computer display. But if you are sued for causing a crash and you were glancing at the computer at the time, you can bet that plaintiff's attorney will argue that you were distracted, and your agency will be on the hook for a big judgment.

I think we can all agree that operating a police vehicle takes more training than the rest of the motoring public. Emergency vehicle operations courses (EVOC) are required for most basic police academy students before they can drive agency vehicles. EVOC is also a requirement for in-service training.

Some 25 to 30 percent of police officer line-of-duty deaths result from motor vehicle collisions. Many officers are also injured in traffic crashes. Technological distraction is becoming a common cause for these accidents.   

Fixing the Problem

The best form of mitigation in any problem situation is to change the behavior through training and policy improvement. Supervisors, mid-level managers, and executives within your agency need to understand that managing your in-car computer involves risk management.  

In the early '90s, I was a member of my agency's Accident Review Board. We had just started a pilot project with our neighboring agencies to evaluate early in-car computer systems. What our board found was an increased number of crashes by deputies who had computers in their patrol cars.

All the crashes we investigated during this period were ruled "avoidable" because the deputy did not have to take his or her eyes off the road while driving the vehicle. These deputies had other options. The primary option was to tell the dispatcher, "Broadcast the call." Yes, use the radio. Communicate with the dispatcher by radio, and you will get the same information and keep your eyes up on the road where they belong in emergency driving situations.

Communication policies for both patrol officers and dispatchers must unilaterally indicate that the in-car computer is a tool, but the primary communications between the officer in the field and the dispatcher will be two-way radio communications.

Supervisors monitoring and directing resources in "hot call" situations should insist that the officers close the computer screen down and drive safely to the call. Dispatchers need to broadcast live updates on the emergency calls, giving situation updates and timely information. Remember, you can talk faster than you can type. 

Moving Forward

You should always be concerned with officer safety and information security. With the increasing use of encryption, the two-way radio channels available to public safety agencies make the technology more secure, so you don't need to worry about "scanner land" in many instances for officer safety. The radio is still your friend. 

The technology that has been developed over the past few decades makes your job easier. And the in-car computer, when used properly, is a great boon to officer safety. But we have to ensure that we are arriving safely to the call for service and that we are not creating a safety problem for the public that we serve. When in doubt, pick up the microphone and close the computer screen. 

Mark D. Reese is a retired sergeant from the Lane County (Ore.) Sheriff's Office. He has held assignments in patrol, corrections, special operations, and as an active field training officer.

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Police emergency vehicle operations trainers were able to test-drive the Skidbike at the 2013 International Skidcar Conference in mid-April. More than 30 police trainers tested it out.

"We've put so much energy and focus into developing what we hoped would strike a chord with motorcycle professionals and rider trainers," said Dane Pitarresi, Skidcar president.

Trainers told the company that Skidbike "does a terrific job of emulating a front wheel skid caused by over-braking or lack of traction. It also provides a safe means of teaching techniques to recover from an unexpected front wheel skid," according to the company.

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According to William Tsumpes, CEO of T3 Motion, police agencies in New York City, Dallas, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are using the vehicles and can keep them in service 24 hours per day using the vehicles’ removable batteries.

Tsumpes further states that vehicles "typically pay for themselves within the first six months of service due to the fuel savings vs. standard gas powered vehicles. Our vehicles typically operate on approximately 10 cents per day of standard 120 volt electricity."

Miami Police Officer Hector Herrera said the difference between the ESV and a Segway is better balance.

The police department held fundraisers to help purchase the vehicles.

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The Oceanside (Calif.) Police Department applied a $737,000 federal grant from Operation Stonegarden to the purchase of the 35-foot boat. The grant allowed the agency to pay for foul weather gear, encrypted radios, searchlights, overtime enforcement, fuel and maintenance costs, reports San Diego U-T. The department also received $250,000 to purchase an armored rescue vehicle.

Powered by three 300-hp outboard motors, the new vessel can reach speeds of up to 45 knots (or about 52 mph). The boat is equipped with radar, FLIR and GPS. The boat is constructed with an aluminum frame filled with foam, so it can take several rounds without sinking, reports Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch.

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Officers used flat-bottom "jon" boats to navigate flooded streets and conduct rescues. Because the boats don't have motors, they lack mobility and maneuverability in swift currents, the report noted.

Because the boats are metal, officers needed to carefully avoid downed power lines, reports AFP.

Police should instead be using inflatable craft with outboard motors that can operate with 18 inches of draft. They are made of galvanized rubber that can easily be decontaminated and stored.

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Carbon Motors abandoned plans to produce the purpose-built E7 patrol car. The company had developed a prototype vehicle, took over a former Ford plant in Connorsville, Ind., and began taking orders for the vehicle. The company said it had received about $200 million in private and public financing.

In March 2012, the Department of Energy denied the company's application for $310 million in loads under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program.

The company quietly left its facility last month and send a brief email to Mayor Leonard Urban thanking him for his support, reports the New York Times.

The E7, which was designed by a one-time Dallas-Fort Worth police officer, came at an opportune moment, as Ford announced it was discontinuing the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. The prototype offered upgrades from the CVPI that were mostly incorporated into the new generation of police vehicles from Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.

Related:

Carbon Motors E7 Patrol Car (photos)

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Chief Jordan told KTUL he was "highly upset" by the photos, which were e-mailed to the television station by a resident. The word "Tulsa" doesn't appear in any of the photos.

KTUL contacted the photographer, who declined to identify who hired her. The photos are about three years old.

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Earlier this month, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach shut down ABLE (Airborne Law Enforcement). Three helicopters will be sold off, and 5,000 gallons of unused fuel will be disposed, reports the Los Angeles Times.

The Costa Mesa City Council had voted to exit the partnership in 2011. The cities will now rely on Huntington Beach for airborne law enforcement.

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A veteran Polk County (Fla.) Sheriff's deputy died Friday morning in his patrol car in an accident in Winter Haven.

Master Deputy Joseph "Shane" Robbins, 40, was found unresponsive inside his mangled patrol car in a westbound lane of Bomber Road, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

Robbins, who began his career with the agency in 1998, has worked as a homicide detective and a Special Victims Unit detective. Before his death, Robbins was a patrol deputy in the Northeast district of Polk County.

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VIDEO: Seattle PD's Vintage Patrol Car

Veteran Seattle Police Officer Jim Ritter responds to calls downtown not in a Crown Vic or any of the new wave of patrol cars. He prefers a restored 1970 Plymouth Satellite.

The cruiser is part of the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum, a non-profit that Ritter founded In 1997. Ritter and volunteers have 14 vintage police cars. They have restored six vehicles for the King County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol and the Seattle Police Department, and are in the process of fixing up another eight, which includes a 1979 Dodge Aspen.

Ritter uses the Plymouth as his everyday cruiser under a special agreement with the Seattle PD, reports the Associated Press.

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A Washita County (Okla.) Sheriff's deputy was killed early Sunday when a truck broadsided his patrol vehicle, which spun off the roadway and rolled several times.

Deputy Douglas Hanna, 44, was driving a marked agency truck east on Corn Road (state highway 54A) when a truck driven by a 17-year-old struck failed to stop at a stop sign and struck his vehicle.

Hanna, who was wearing his seatbelt, was partially thrown out of the truck and suffered fatal head trauma in the crash, reports NewsOn6.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol declined to say whether the teen driver will be cited in the accident. The teen suffered minor injuries, reports KOCO.

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Engineered to navigate space conscious locations, the Go-4 Utility Vehicle is powered by a three-cylinder, 69-hp, four-speed automatic engine. The three-wheel vehicle is ideal for parking enforcement and campus safety applications. The tailored-size cabin and unique door design allow users easy access from either side of the vehicle. The two-piece sliding door feature provides the ability to mark tires while moving forward. The vehicle arrives with LED lighting and tilt steering. Options include air conditioning, body type, and stereo.

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A Utah marketing company is making available a new line of Polaris eBikes for police, fire, and public safety departments.

Market Builders, Inc. of Salt Lake City will offer the eBikes—eight-speed bicycles with an electric motor and powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery. The Polaris eBikes can travel up to 30 miles on a single charge at a speed of up to 20 mph.

Most competitive eBikes are either throttle controlled or pedal assisted – not both. The Polaris eBikes features Biosync pedal assistance technology and Power On-Demand throttle control, which operates like a throttle in order to ride without pedaling.

The Polaris eBike also arrives with a 6061 aluminum frame, 26-inch Kenda wheels, Suntour XCT front suspension, Tektro brakes, SRAM eight-speed gear, and in-frame battery design.

A range of accessories can also be purchased, including mountable carry bags for equipment, flashing lights, and more. A Polaris eBike retails for $2,195.

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The police and fire departments of Melbourne, Fla., had been seeking funding for a mobile command center for the past four years with no luck.  That's when NACS Vehicles stepped in to assist their hometown and made their dream a reality by donating a custom-built 30-foot Unified Command Center.

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The oil-rich Middle Eastern country of Dubai has added a 700-hp Lamborghini Aventador to its police fleet to catch the luxury vehicles driven by wealthy scofflaws, reports Yahoo Autos.

The Aventador, which has been produced since 2011, replaced the Murcielago as the Italian luxury sportscar manufacturer's flagship vehicle. The Aventador is powered by Lamborghini's new 6.5-liter V12 engine and can reach 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds. It can reach a top speed of 217 mph.

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The Delaware State Police have ordered a pair of Bell 429 helicopters to serve airborne law enforcement operations as well as emergency medical services.

The light twin-engine helicopters will be delivered in early 2014, according to Bell Helicopter.

"For the mission and operations for the Delaware State Police, we evaluated all helicopter options in the light-twin category, as well as multiple medium-twin options," said Colonel Nathaniel McQueen, Jr., state police superintendent. "After careful consideration, the selection team chose the Bell 429 as the best combination of speed, power, performance and working volume to meet our mission needs."

The two aircraft will join the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, which consists of 25 pilots and medics providing 24-hour coverage from locations in Georgetown and Middletown. Each year, the unit averages 2,000 missions, transports approximately 300 trauma patients and flies nearly 1,500 hours. The Aviation Unit now operates four helicopters—three Bell 407s, a Bell 412, and a fixed-wing Cessna 182.

The Delaware State Police Aviation Unit's mission is to provide rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients to medical facilities and to support law enforcement ground personnel in the apprehension of criminal suspects. The unit conducts a variety of other missions, including, airborne security for visiting dignitaries, homeland security operations, photographic missions, narcotics interdiction, pursuit support and maritime security.

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According to a document presented at the commissioners meeting, the Sheriff's Office has five Crown Victoria patrol cars ranging in miles 105,000 to 150,000 miles. The five high-mileage cars in service are "beginning to experience high repair costs, drivetrain problems, and handling issues at highway speeds," according to county records. A sixth 2010 CVPI patrol car was involved in an accident and declared a total loss.

The vehicles will also be funded from the capital equipment budget, drug forfeiture funds and the insurance settlement on the totaled vehicle.

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A Brooklyn bicyclist received a $1,263 invoice for damage to the unmarked New York Police Department police vehicle that struck him and sent him flying, reports the New York Post.

Justin Johnsen, 31, was knocked down on Nov. 5 by an unmarked Ford Taurus police car. Johnsen said the driver, Sgt. Conrad DePinto, was friendly but didn't offer an apology.

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Gamber-Johnson has introduced the newest version of its MAG docking station for the Getac B300 computer.

The MAG Dock for Getac B300 is constructed using a one-piece magnesium chassis to enhance overall strength and performance. The MAG dock features a side docking handle with a wide grip for smoother docking activation. The computer can be docked by simply pulling the handle toward you. The docking stations comes with a standard key lock for added security.

The MAG dock for Getac B300 has passed MIL-STD-810G shock/vibration testing and has undergone extensive cycle testing on the latch and docking mechanisms. Additionally, the MAG dock for Getac B300 contains forward facing ports for low mounting capability, minimal cable strain and minimal swivel resistance, is USB 2.0 compliant, and offers one or dual antenna pass-through options.

The MAG Dock for Getac B300 has one Ethernet, four USB, two Serial, microphone, VGA, mouse/keyboard and headphone ports. The MAG dock for Getac B300 comes standard with an integrated internal power supply. The docking station also has a power switch with a green LED indicator light and optional by-pass capability.

The MAG dock for Getac B300 attaches to any existing Gamber-Johnson motion attachments.

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An Alaska State Trooper helicopter carrying a trooper, pilot, and snowmobile rider on a search and rescue mission went down about 100 miles north of Anchorage on Saturday evening.

The three occupants of the craft—including Pilot Mel Nading, Trooper Tage Toll, and Carl Ober—were killed in the crash, the agency announced Monday.

Nading responded with Helo 1 and picked up Trooper Toll at the Talkeetna post. Helo 1 then headed to Larson Lake about 10 miles east of Talkeetna to locate the 56-year-old Ober, who had flipped the snowmobile, injuring his ribs.

The helicopter picked up Ober shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday and was scheduled to transport Ober to medics in Talkeetna for treatment. When Helo 1 didn't show up, two Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded to the area.

Rescue aircraft located the wreckage of Helo 1 on Sunday near the south end of Larson Lake. Two Para jumpers were lowered to the scene along with two wildlife troopers. There were no survivors.

"Everyday our people are put in harm's way and face it head on without a second thought that today they may not come home," said Megan Peters, Alaska State Troopers' spokeswoman, in a statement. "They are brave and service-minded individuals and Alaska is much safer because of them."

The National Weather Service said the temperature in Talkeetna Sunday night was 34 with light rain that turned into snow at about 11 p.m., but that visibility was 10 miles, reports the Associated Press. The cause of the crash in now under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

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The youth, who escaped after the crash, took off with the squad on Monday afternoon in Southeast Washington while the sergeant investigated a missing person complaint.

The joyride began in the 1600 block of Fort Davis Place and ended a few blocks away at R Street SE, near Pennsylvania and Alabama avenues when the youth crashed into a barrier or fence near a house. The car had only minor damage, reports the Washington Post.

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Detroit automakers and five other corporations promised $8 million to the city, including 100 new patrol vehicles for the Detroit Police Department, Mayor Dave Bing announced today.

The funds will bring each of the trio of new law enforcement sedans into the city, including the Chevrolet Caprice PPV, Dodge Charger Pursuit, and Ford Police Interceptor. The donation will also cover the cost of 23 ambulances for the Detroit Detroit Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division.

Detroit PD's interim Chief Chester Logan said the new vehicles will be greated enthusiastically by patrol officers.

"Having access to 100 new vehicles will make our police force more responsive to citizens and will help lift the morale of our officers," Chief Logan said. "We are grateful to the corporate leaders who made this possible."

Other companies who donated funds include Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Quicken Loans, The Kresge Foundation, Penske Corporation, and Platinum Equity. FirstMerit Bank will serve as the financial partner as part of this project, according to the city.

This public safety announcement is related to Bing's Detroit One initiative, which seeks to reduce violent gun crimes in the city by 25% by the end of 2013.

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A Buffalo Bills pass rusher who started his career with the Houston Texans has donated five 2013 Dodge Charger Pursuit cruisers to the Houston Police Department.

Mario Williams, who played for the Texans from 2006 to 2011 and still lives in the city, appeared at a March 12 ceremony prior to the cars entering service. This was not the first gift of vehicles or equipment from the NFL defensive end. In 2011, Williams donated five V-8 Chevrolet Camaros to the Traffic Enforcement Division.

Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. thanked Williams for the donation.

"We know he plays for another team, but we all know that Houston is still in his heart when it comes to the Houston Police Department," McClelland said. "We're very, very appreciative of that. I can't thank him enough for what he has done."

McClelland added, "The resources are very scare at HPD. One of our critical shortages are of police vehicles."

The traffic unit will utilize the cars to catch aggressive drivers who weave through traffic at high speeds, Capt. Larry Baimbridge told POLICE Magazine. Williams donated five solid-black V-8 Chargers with ghosted lettering and stealth lighting packages. They've been nicknamed "phantoms" by unit officers.

"It's not just nice looking," Baimbridge said. "It's very effective in trying to deter that aggressive driving." The vehicles are also used to catch drunk drivers.

By Paul Clinton

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VIDEO: N.C. Cop Resigns In Road Rage Incident

Onslow County (N.C.) Sheriff's Deputy Craig Culpepper has resigned, after a road-rage incident involving a South Carolina motorist went viral.

Deputy Culpepper was returning from K-9 training in North Charleston, S.C., when he encountered Chad Walton, who was driving a truck with a dashboard-mounted camera.

Walton posted a clip on YouTube showing Deputy Walton cutting him off and brake-checking him. Walton struck the deputy's cruiser and called 911.

Deputy Culpepper told WWAY he was baited by Walton. "I fell for it hook, line and sinker," he said.

Sheriff Ed Brown told Deputy Culpepper he could remain with the agency as a corrections officer, but the deputy declined, reports WCIV.

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It's been my experience that the alley lights on police cruisers are among the most underutilized tools in law enforcement. That's a shame because proper use of alley lights can make you safer, make you a more effective crime fighter, and enhance your relationship with the public you serve.

Your alley lights can assist you in nighttime conditions by providing light to the sides of your car. They can help you locate addresses and expose areas hidden in darkness.

And they are so easy to use. By moving a toggle switch or pressing a button on your cruiser's emergency control panel, you can turn them on and off as needed.

On the Periphery

When searching for a suspect or trying to discover criminal activity during the night, you can light up areas on both your right and left with your alley lights. This lets you see things or people that you may have had trouble spotting without the aid of these tools.

You may also want to run your alley lights for periods of time during regular patrol when the discovery of suspects is not necessarily imminent and you're not responding to a call about a crime in progress. Doing so may help you uncover unexpected activities and people.

During nighttime patrols of residential neighborhoods, business districts, park settings, or farm lands, you may find yourselves focused on what you can see in front of your vehicle. This tunnel vision is promoted by your headlights, and it's a good thing since you should concentrate on where you are going. But you are not just driving around in the dark, you are patrolling.

Your head should be on a swivel as you scan the environment for threats and criminal activity. And your cruiser’s headlights just won't help you see all that's going on in the environment around you. Headlights are really limited in how much they can pick up from the sides, which is why you need alley lights.

Shaking the Bushes

By turning on and leaving on both of your cruiser's alley lights for a limited time while patrolling you can make better use of your peripheral vision and catch things out of the corner of your eyes. The "things" you see that you wouldn't have seen without the alley lights could be a broken window, or a suspicious-looking man standing next to a tree, or a person sitting low in a car parked in a driveway.

What could have been completely overlooked can be very clear when a good light is shone upon it. I work in an area where winters includes lots of snow, and I have noticed that by using my cruiser's alley lights I can observe footprints in the snow near a home where I may have missed them if only relying on available ambient light such as moonlight.

Your cruiser's alley lights in conjunction with its rotating spotlight can light up large areas at a time such as in a partially wooded park where ambient lighting is very low and there are various objects that can provide partial cover for a suspect. Regular use of alley lights is also valuable for patrolling business districts after hours when you are keeping an eye out for pried doors that may be slightly open or damaged windows indicative of breaking and entering.

You have probably been told by your bosses to go and "shake the bushes" while out on patrol to see what you can find. When you drive by an area and light it up with your alley lights, you are shaking those bushes.

If people are up to something criminal, they don't want to be lit up by your car. Also being lit up may cause them to think that you are on to them, resulting in sudden flight, which will alert you to their presence. Proper use of your alley lights can take away the bad guys' cover of darkness and diminish their opportunities for escape.

Tactical Advantages

Using alley lights can also provide a tactical advantage. When people approach your cruiser from the side, they will be illuminated to allow better observation of what is in their hands as well as available descriptors such as clothing and hair color. Also, the light can impair a person's vision, which can affect aim, in case the person was intending to direct fire at you.

A useful way to appreciate what alley lights can do is to stand outside your cruiser when the alley lights are on and look at them. Although not as bright as the rotating spotlight, they can still provide a distraction for someone looking directly into them. Sometimes that is all that’s needed to cause a suspect to become slightly disoriented, if even momentarily, and have trouble acquiring a good sight picture against you.

Community Policing Value

Alley lights are not just a search tool and a tactical distraction; they are also a way of letting the community know that you are on the job. From a community policing perspective, regular and targeted use of alley lights can really have a long-term impact.

When you are patrolling residential neighborhoods during night conditions, leave your alley lights on for a bit. The lights let those you serve know you are out and about keeping their neighborhoods safe. I believe most law-abiding people appreciate seeing a police cruiser patrolling their street. It helps create a feeling of security and also lets them see a return on their tax investment.

A targeted application of high-visibility lighting can have an impact. When people are sitting at their dinner tables or relaxing, they may occasionally look out their windows and notice a light flash from your cruiser's alley lights. This tells them an officer is patrolling their neighborhood. The quick lighting effect is hardly intrusive and may increase the peace of mind for those who appreciate a periodic patrol on their street.

As people are generally not used to seeing patrols conducted with additional lighting, a break-in/buy-in period will likely take place as they get used to the idea and are not alarmed by it. If this is to become a practice of your agency, the agency brass may want to try to inform local residents and the business about your increased use of alley lights.

Another community policing benefit from the use of alley lights is obvious, crime prevention. Bad guys will note your patrols and possibly be deterred from taking criminal action by your presence.

When officers light up areas where criminal activity such as drug sales and prostitution are common, it may discourage further congregating of people with criminal intent. People who behave badly don't like the glare of a light to expose them and their actions.

A Targeted Approach

It is important here to emphasize that these applications of additional lighting while patrolling should be targeted and limited. You do not want to drive around for hours with your alley lights on.

There will certainly be times when extra lighting is not appropriate. There will even be times when you will want to drive without any lights on. And rightfully so.

Just as there are times when extra lighting can benefit you tactically, there will be other times that it could work to your disadvantage. It’s your call. And the decision must be based on the type of area you are patrolling and your objective.

In any discussion of the use of alley lights, officers often express concern that having the alley lights on could give up their position when traveling at night, as suspects would see them from a distance and know that a police cruiser is approaching. You have to apply common sense and balance to the use of alley lights.

Tom Wetzel is a northeast Ohio suburban police lieutenant, SWAT officer, trainer, and certified law enforcement executive.

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A man driving a stolen car who rammed pursuing police cars and then accelerated directly toward an San Jose (Calif.) Police officer on foot was shot and killed Monday night, officials said.

Two unmarked police cars began following the stolen vehicle around 6:45 p.m., in the area of S. White Road in East San Jose, according to Sgt. Jose Cardoza of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office, which is handling the investigation because it ended in an unincorporated area of the city.

Witnesses described the cars traveling onto Woodhaven Drive at high speed before turning on Athene Drive, where the suspect put the car into reverse and backed into a police cruiser and a parked car.

Read the full San Jose Mercury News story.

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A group of Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers stationed in Chattanooga have been using an innovative approach to catch traffic scofflaws who text or drink while driving. They've been using a heavy-duty truck.

Troopers with a commercial truck license have been taking out the Highway Patrol's 18-wheel Peterbilt tractor-trailer so they can see down into vehicles and catch moving violations.

"The purpose of the truck is to educate drivers to safety drive with trucks," Jennifer Donnals, a Highway Patrol spokeswoman, told POLICE Magazine. "They're taking this truck and repurposing it for this campaign."

The Highway Patrol's Lt. John Harmon headed up the initiative as part of his "Stay Alive on 75," a program to raise awareness among motorists traveling Interstate 75 with heavy-duty trucks. The department operates what troopers call a "No Zone" truck so drivers can avoid entering a truck's blind spot.

Lt. Harmon was given approval to use the truck for highway interdiction. Of the 783 Tennessee troopers, 96 have a a commercial license. Many of those are Class A, which is required to operate an 18-wheel rig.

The agency seized the truck a decade ago from a marijuana trafficker and reformatted it for safety education work. The rig was painted to look like one of the patrol cars. A lightbar was affixed to the roof. And radio equipment has been installed in the cockpit.

"We were driving down the road and watching people text and drive," Lt. Harmon said. "We realized we could see everything up here."

The Highway Patrol doesn't make traffic stops with the truck. Instead, troopers radio ahead for a trooper in a patrol car to pull over the suspected violator. A second trooper rides in the truck's "jump" or passenger seat to operate the radio.

By Paul Clinton

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An Arizona deputy sheriff is recovering, after rolling over his Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle while responding to a call of a gas leak at a family's home.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Deputy Jorge Ainza, a six-year veteran, became trapped inside his vehicle at 5:49 a.m. early Saturday. The agency had received the call for service several minutes earlier from a residence on Paseo Mascota. The caller said there were young children in the home who were unresponsive when parents tried to wake them.

Deputy Ainza lost control of his Tahoe while traveling east on Ruby Ridge just past railroad tracks. He had activated his lights and sirens. The vehicle rolled 3 1/2 times, according to the agency.

Rio Rico Fire Department personnel arrived and after 40 minutes were able to safely extract Deputy Ainza from his vehicle. He was flown to University Medical Center in Tucson for medical treatment.

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Code Three Syndrome

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RAM is excited to introduce the RAM Tough-Dock powered docking station with port replication for the Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 and CF-19. Our customer base has diverse requirements and consists of Consumer, Commercial, Industrial and Military needs. For these reasons, people have come to expect more from RAM and once again, we deliver. The RAM Tough-Dock was designed to function seamlessly with the Panasonic Toughbook allowing the user to operate the device in either Notebook or Tablet mode.  With an innovative and rock-solid design, this dock offers full port replication, onboard power supply, tamper-proof lock, integrated screen support, cross compatibility with any MK, and a look that says "bring it on!" Easily integrate the ultimate Toughbook accessory, the RAM Tough-Dock, into your existing RAM system.

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During the team's two-week stay in the city, the Ravens received police escorts to and from their destinations, 24-hour security, and outstanding community support, according to a statment.

The team unveiled the motorcycles during a March 6 press conference at the New Orleans Police Department Special Operations Division.

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The New Mexico State Police will deploy a specialty surveillance aircraft acquired from a private aviation company at no cost.

The agency will begin using CSI Aviation's Seeker fixed-wing aircraft as a regional asset to assist local, state, and federal law enforcement missions, said Chief Robert Shilling.

"The Seeker is a great addition to our fleet," Chief Shilling said in a statement. "Because of the aircraft's unique surveillance capabilities, our aircrews will now be able to monitor sensitive, undercover law enforcement operations using its extraordinary ability to fly slowly."

The state police was one of several agencies who applied for the aircraft via an RFP process, even though CSI Aviation provided it as a donation, according to the company. The Seeker was awarded to the state police earlier this year.

"I can assure you that the Seeker will provide our state police with an exponential increase in surveillance capabilities," said Allen Weh, CSI Aviation's CEO. "The department will be able to fly this aircraft at a vastly reduced cost compared to a helicopter or comparable fixed-wing aircraft."

The Seeker, which is valued at $250,000, is designed as an affordable option to helicopters, according to the company. It provides its crew greater visibility with a rear-mounted "pusher" engine and forward crew seating that allow for 270-degree visibility.

The airplane has docile handling characteristics that provide for a safe, low speed stall, responsive harmonized control, minimal pitch change with power and flap changes, and stability that reduces pilot workload and increases situational awareness. It can accommodate a variety of surveillance and sensor equipment, according to the company.

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New Jersey authorities slapped a Philadelphia couple with multiple charges Wednesday for leading police on a high-speed pursuit with two stolen cruisers in two states.

For Blake Bills, 24, and Shayna Sykes, 23, Tuesday's pursuit marked the end of a crime spree that included several stolen vehicles as they attempted to buy heroin in Camden, N.J., reports Philly.com.

The spree began before the Macungie, Pa., couple stole a police cruiser in Camden Tuesday and led police on an interstate car chase into Pennsylvania. Bills and Sykes were attempting to steal a second civilian car, after the first one had broken down, when they spotted a Camden Police officer making a traffic stop.

Bills and Sykes sped off in the cruiser, taking it down I-676 before doubling back and heading over the Ben Franklin Bridge. Philadelphia Police stopped them in North Philadelphia. Sykes broke away from officers and jumped behind the wheel of a Philadelphia PD cruiser, leading officers through the city's narrow streets before she was taken into custody.

Bills is charged with attempted murder, carjacking, eluding, aggravated assault, and assault by auto. Sykes is charged with conspiracy to commit theft of a car and joyriding. They also face charges in Philadelphia.

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Bell Helicopter has introduced the 412EPI, an upgraded 412-platform helicopter offering greater situational awareness and speed to law enforcement agencies, according to the company.

Bell introduced the 412EPI at the Heli-Expo trade show, which opened Tuesday in Las Vegas.

The Bell 412EPI includes a fully integrated glass flight deck and boosts performance with Pratt and Whitney's PT6T-9 Twin Pac engines. The helicopter delivers 15% more horsepower than its predecessor, according to Bell.

The company also introduced a retractable wheeled landing gear option for the Bell 429 to "address customer demand for missions requiring ground taxi," according to a release.

Several agencies use Bell 412 copters, including the NYPD's Aviation Unit and U.S. Park Police.

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VIDEO: Stolen Police Car Pursuit In Philly

A wild chase involving two stolen police cruisers winded through Pennsylvania and New Jersey Tuesday morning and resulted in the arrest of two suspects.

A Camden (N.J.) Police officer had pulled over a vehicle with a man and a woman in front of the Police Administration Building at about 9:50 a.m. and was writing a ticket, when the suspects struck him and jumped into his patrol car, reports the Courier-Post.

Additional units converging on the suspects pursued the stolen squad over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and into Philadelphia. The suspects wrecked the patrol car around 10:05 a.m. at 7th and Norris streets. The male suspect was taken into custody, and in the chaos the female was able to jump into a Philadelphia PD cruiser.

The woman, identified as Shayna Sykes, then led officers on a second high-speed pursuit, weaving through narrow Philadelphia streets and striking a pedestrian and several civilian and police vehicles.

At one point, news copters captured video of the battered police vehicle smoking and catching fire. The cruiser eventually came to a stop, and officers converged on the car and arrested Sykes.

The injured Camden PD officer received medical treatment and is listed in stable condition, reports CBS Philadelphia.

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A veteran Sebastian County (Ark.) Sheriff's deputy died after his patrol car flipped into a ditch along Highway 96 in Lavaca early Saturday, the agency announced.

Corporal Terry Johnson, who served the agency for 16 years, was taken by rescue personnel to Mercy Hospital shortly after the 4:20 a.m. crash. The 48-year-old deputy was pronounced dead at 12:42 p.m. A citizen had called 911 to report an overturned patrol unit.

Corporal Johnson's body has been sent to the state's crime lab and the Arkansas State Patrol has taken over the investigation. Investigators believe the deputy lost control of his vehicle following a medical episode, an agency spokesman told POLICE.

Johnson had been promoted to patrol supervisor in January 2012, after rising up the ranks in the sheriff's detention unit. The agency's last line-of-duty death came in 1997, when Deputy Ronald Kanz died in a vehicle crash. The sheriff's office's 40 road deputies patrol Arkansas' fourth-largest county with about 130,000 residents.

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The 28-year-old officer suffered multiple injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He is listed in stable condition, reports WUSA9.

The incident began as a domestic call. Officers responded to a home in the 4800 block of Tapestry Drive and spoke to a man who left in his car. Officers pursued the speeding driver who then headed east in the west-heading lanes of Little River Turnpike.

The suspect, Cicero I. Limberea, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash with the officer.

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Alex Beard, 23, was fired Monday following a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. He was charged with failing to adhere to regulations regarding responding to calls, personal conduct and motor-vehicle damage.

The fatal crash happened about 3 p.m. Aug. 26 at Crump and Walnut near Downtown. Beard, heading east on Crump, was responding to a request for help from another officer. Police said Beard ran a red light without his lights or sirens on, a violation of department policy.

His car collided with a 1996 Mercury Mystique, which was heading west on Crump and turning south on Walnut. The collision killed Mackala Ross, 13, and Delores Epps, 54.

Read the full Commercial Appeal story.

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VIDEO: Iowa Cruiser Struck By 130 mph Driver

A suspect who allegedly kidnapped his 5-year-old son slammed into an Iowa police car at high speed, killing himself and leaving his son unharmed in the crash.

Jeremiah Eldon Johnson, 33, was wanted in Georgia on allegations of cruelty to a child and reckless driving early Friday when he struck an Indianola (Iowa) Police cruiser at 130 mph, reports the New York Daily News.

An officer spotted Johnson's 2003 Volkswagen Passat at about 2:45 a.m. on the off-ramp from Highway 80 heading east to Hickman Road. The license plate was partially obscured and the officer was unable to run the plate, reports the Des Moines Register.

After the officer activated his lights and attempted to stop the vehicle, Johnson accelerated away, reaching speeds exceeding 110 mph.

A short time later, a patrol car's dash cam captures the blur of Johnson's Passat striking a parked cruiser. Johnson's son was found hiding under blankets in the vehicle and was unharmed.

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Zero Motorcycles has added the Zero S electric motorcycle for law enforcement agencies in 2013, pairing it with an upgraded Zero DS police cycle.

The company introduced the Zero DS Police Motorcycle in 2012. Zero has provided models for field-testing with the Monterey Police Department, Santa Cruz Police Department, San Jose State University Police Department, and Scotts Valley Police Department.

Both models are 93% more powerful, generate 62% more torque and yield 10% greater city range as compared against the equivalent 2012 models. The dual sport configuration is able to travel 121 miles (city), or 74 miles (55 mph highway), on a single charge. The street configuration is able to travel 132 miles (city), or 83 miles (55 mph highway) on a single charge.

Both can use a new optional CHAdeMO charging accessory so they can be re-charged to 95% at a charging station in an hour or less. Featuring Zero Motorcycles' completely new Z-Force motor and higher-voltage power system, both motorcycles deliver instant acceleration that is both impressive and, without ever needing to shift, incredibly smooth.

The Zero S Police/Security and Zero DS Police/Security motorcycles also feature new bodywork styling, on-board storage, Nissin brakes and mobile device integration. A new two-up seat, refined frame and passenger pegs provide improved comfort and control for both the rider and passenger, according to the company.

For improved off-road handling and to accommodate a wider variety of tires, the Zero DS Police/Security uses new 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tires. The Zero S Police/Security uses 17-inch tires on the front and 17-inch on the rear.

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Troy Products' Tahoe-specific wide-body console fills the space between the two front seats. It includes a built-in compartment for storing binders, file folders, and clipboards. Models without open storage are also available. The console is made from 11-gauge cold rolled steel and is a sturdy product to mount computers to.

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