External vest carriers can reduce duty belt weight, improve comfort and keep critical gear within reach – but only when the vest and belt are set up with purpose.

When I started out, my duty belt included my service revolver, a holster, a dual dump pouch for spare ammunition, and a handcuff case. This whole rig was secured to my inner garrison belt by a trio of keepers and a baton ring and I felt I was well equipped to handle any emergency which came my way. Although I was issued a portable radio, it was nearly useless in my remote patrol area and I only carried it when another officer might be nearby.

That has changed dramatically and officers now carry more gear than ever, including an aerosol restraint, a body-worn camera, a TASER^®, an expandable baton, a radio, a tourniquet, extra magazines for their pistol and rifle, and a flashlight. The combined weight of these accessories can bring the rig to a weight of 25 pounds or so. Not only does this compromise the comfort factor over a long day, but the long-term effects on the lower back come at a huge price. 

Not only is weight a factor, but there is just so much real estate on the duty belt to place critical gear. Hard items placed between the three o’clock and nine o’clock positions on the rear of the belt can cause serious injury in a fall. Gear around the back can also be a big handicap in a ground fighting situation. This leaves one with roughly half a duty belt to affix critical gear. This might not be a major issue for a good-sized individual, but it can be problematic for slim and small stature officers.

Essential gear must be carried, so we need a more effective way to have it on our person. One viable solution is an external vest carrier which holds soft armor panels while keeping essential safety equipment immediately accessible. As with many recent innovations, careful consideration must be given in determining which items are best placed on the vest and which should remain on the belt. Let’s take a look and see what sort of advantages an external vest carrier might offer.

Take a Load Off

My first experience with an external vest carrier came in the early 1990s, when I was issued a quilted nylon carrier for my body armor panels. It was intended for winter wear and many officers preferred it over a concealed vest because it was cooler and more comfortable over the uniform shirt. I stayed with the traditional under-the-shirt carrier until retirement. Another spin-off was the external vest carrier which matched the color of the uniform shirt. To the casual observer, it gave the appearance of a regular police uniform and was unlikely to draw any undue attention.

But, that was then and this is now. Over the last several years, the uniforms worn by patrol officers have gotten a bit more practical. BDUs, boots based on athletic shoes and synthetic duty gear have replaced neckties, oxfords, dress pants, and leather for everyday patrol wear. Here in the Northeast, more departments are adopting external vest carriers for patrol officers and the trend continues to grow.

Today, the most popular style of external vest carriers have a more business-like, practical appearance and feature MOLLE loops and integrated storage compartments. This allows officers to get gear off the belt and up on the vest. It may not sound like a big deal, but the cumulative weight of even small accessories adds up. The fact that critical gear is now within easy reach also pays dividends.

Is this style of vest more comfortable? Comfort is a subjective quality; however, most officers who use an external vest carrier feel that it holds an advantage over a concealed vest. The fact that an officer can make adjustments without a great deal of difficulty over a long shift is another advantage. Ballistic protection is afforded with either Level II or IIIA panels and some vests will even support a rifle plate. Getting some weight off the belt, enhanced comfort and greater safety are indeed very positive attributes.

Do This, Don’t Do That!

Exactly what gear should we put on the vest and what should stay on the belt? An external vest carrier does not make the duty belt obsolete and there is, in fact, gear which needs to stay right there on the belt. For patrol officers, the holstered pistol belongs on the belt. While some tactical operators may have reason to mount a sidearm on the vest, the duty belt remains the best place for patrol carry. I also feel the pouch containing spare pistol magazines should also remain on the belt. If there is a need to reload, a properly situated magazine pouch on the belt is the faster option. In addition to the pistol and extra magazines, I personally prefer placing the expandable baton and a single cuff case on the belt as well, for quicker access.

Perhaps the most common accessory well suited for the vest is the portable radio. Modern portables are lighter, more reliable and let officers communicate instantly away from their vehicles, unlike the brick I was given years ago. Other gear could include a body cam, a chemical agent, a tourniquet, emergency first aid gear, a tactical flashlight, a folding knife, or a small notebook. How about rifle magazines? One of the concerns many administrators have is that external vests have a military appearance and may ruffle some feathers. Would visible rifle magazines do that? How about a TASER? Ultimately, it all depends on the community you patrol.

On the downside, wearing an external vest carrier with gear affixed will result in slightly reduced agility. This can be minimized by placing gear where it is accessible, but does not interfere with your range of motion. This is crucial when using empty-hand control during an arrest.

As a trainer, one concern I had was a support hand draw in the event of an injury. Years ago, I attended a class put on by members of LAPD SWAT officers. They reported that a significant number of officers involved in a gunfight are struck in the dominant side hand, arm or shoulder. Removing a firearm from a Level III retention holster with the support hand is already challenging; officers using external vest carriers should ensure they regularly practice this skill. After I ran our troops through a live fire exercise, more than one officer changed the location of his/her gear on the vest.

Another issue users of external vest carriers may have to contend with is shooting a rifle from the prone position. What I’ve noted with some of our officers is that the butt of the rifle slides off the shoulder when wearing the external vest when firing from prone. Depending on the terrain, one could also try to shoot from the Hawkins prone position when you are on top of the buttstock instead of pulling it tight into the shoulder pocket. This is not only a very stable position, but it makes you a much smaller target than when firing from conventional prone.

Duty Belts Still Matter

If the goal is to lighten the load, you need to take a hard look at the gear you are carrying on the belt. Considering some support gear can be carried off the belt, I have taken the minimalist approach and only my holster, dual magazine pouch and cuff case remain on the belt. If I were still an active patrol officer, I would probably add my expandable baton to the mix as well.

Recently, I checked out Point Blank’s Patrol Belt System which pairs with a low profile stiffened inner belt and eliminates the need for extra hardware. Available in 1.75 inch or 2.25 inch widths, it features a hybrid aluminum/steel Cobra buckle, Snap Track sizing, micro adjustment, and included Tac-Wraps for quick gear attachment and relocation. To fill out the package, I added a Point Blank Double Mag Pouch and a Handcuff Pouch along with a Level II VALOR^® Duty Holster from Blade-Tech. To date, I’m very impressed with the VALOR Holster and putting this rig together gave me a significantly lighter package than I had been utilizing previously. I especially like the fact that the hook and loop combination of the duty belt and inner belt eliminates the need for keepers and prevents the whole rig from shifting around.

Making It All Work

A properly configured duty belt and external vest carrier keep vital tools accessible; improve comfort and focus during long shifts; distribute weight more effectively; and can increase an officer’s margin of safety. Traditions die hard in American law enforcement and some executives have an issue with officers going afield with something other than a traditional police uniform. I get that and sensitivities will vary from one community to the next. But, it’s quite clear that external vest carriers have much to offer. As long as officers are recognizable as public servants and not some spec ops warrior about to jump out of the back of a C-130, I don’t have a problem with it. Agency affiliation and name tags should be visible. I would also suggest that, if your department doesn’t have a written policy on external vest carriers, you need to get one together.

For the hard knocks of patrol, external vest carriers have much to offer. A well-thought-out system between the external vest carrier and duty belt allows officers to carry vital gear in comfort and enhances not only their safety, but the safety of the members of the community they serve.

Captain Mike Boyle served with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, and has been active in use-of-force instruction for over 40 years. He is an instructor in multiple firearms and less-lethal disciplines and has been a police academy assistant director, instructor and rangemaster. He is the author of three books; three training videos; and hundreds of magazine articles on firearms, training and tactics. Mike served 21 years on the Board of Directors of IALEFI and is a member of NLEFIA and ILEETA. He continues to work part-time as a law enforcement training specialist and resides in Forked River, NJ.

Firearms qualification is usually discussed in terms of readiness, policy compliance and officer proficiency. Yet, one of the most persistent risks tied to range work often receives far less attention: lead exposure.

For rangemasters, firearms instructors and police officers who train regularly, lead contamination is a real occupational health concern. The hazard is shaped by how often personnel shoot, the type of ammunition being used and the conditions at the range itself. Indoor ranges are often the greatest concern, but outdoor ranges can also create meaningful exposure depending on wind, residue, ventilation, and duration of contact.

Why the Risk Is Significant

Lead remains a common component in ammunition. Bullet projectiles and primers often contain lead compounds such as lead styphnate and lead peroxide. When a firearm is discharged, those materials can become airborne as dust and residue, then settle on skin, hair, uniforms, gear, and nearby surfaces.

That means exposure does not stop when the training session ends. Lead can follow personnel into patrol vehicles, locker rooms, homes, and family spaces if proper decontamination steps are not taken.

The scale of the issue is not small. A study by Beaucham et al. reported that approximately one million law enforcement officers trained at 18,000 indoor shooting ranges in 2014. Research cited by Laidlaw et al. also found a strong positive correlation between shooting frequency and blood lead levels, with more frequent shooting associated with higher exposure. In adults, lead exposure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, while significant poisoning has been associated with chronic renal failure, hypertension and coronary heart disease.

Qualification Should Not Create a Second Risk

A department may run an efficient qualification program and still leave a major health hazard insufficiently addressed. That is why safer work practices should be part of every firearms training program.

Good ventilation, careful ammunition selection, sound cleaning procedures, and contamination control all matter. Just as important is post-range hygiene. Ordinary soap may remove dirt and surface oils, but it is not specifically designed to bind and remove lead and other heavy metals from skin, hair or fabric. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may be even less useful, since they can spread residue rather than lift it away.

A Practical Decontamination Step

Products designed specifically for lead and heavy metal removal can help reduce that risk. One example is Shooter’s Soap, a purpose-built cleanser formulated for people exposed to firearms residue and toxic particulates. Rather than acting like a general soap, it uses chelating and surfactant technology to bind and remove lead and heavy metal particles from the skin and from contaminated clothing.

That is important because range contamination is rarely confined to the hands. Residue can remain on the scalp, facial hair, uniforms, towels, and range bags. A product which works as a body wash, shampoo and laundry additive can offer a more complete decontamination step after training, especially for personnel with repeated weekly exposure. By removing contamination from both the body and clothing, these products may also help reduce the risk of bringing lead home.

Readiness Includes Health

Qualification is meant to support officer readiness. It should also support officer health. Lead exposure should be treated as part of the firearms training conversation, not as a side issue. For agencies committed to safer, more professional training standards, contamination control deserves a place alongside marksmanship, documentation and use-of-force preparation.

For further information on Shooter’s Soap and its lead removal applications, visit cleanshot-products.com

WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key indicators of police friendliness. Metrics included median income for law enforcement officers, police deaths per 1,000 officers, state and local police spending, training requirements, and other factors tied to officer safety and career viability.

The report notes that, while policing remains one of the most scrutinized and hazardous public service professions, many officers continue to risk their lives daily to protect their communities. With the median annual salary for police officers now exceeding $77,000, compensation and benefits can be attractive, but they vary widely by location. The full report is available at: https://tinyurl.com/mv2vnpc8

Public safety agencies don’t get to choose when the spotlight turns their way – a single incident can take over the headlines without warning.

In those moments, leaders often ask: What do we say? What don’t we say? When do we say it? And, how do we balance maintaining trust with protecting the integrity of the investigation?

As former Chief of External Engagement for the US Attorney’s Office, and as an advisor to schools, nonprofits and public leaders, I have learned that successful crisis communication comes down to three fundamentals.

Lesson 1: Speed Matters, but Clarity and Control Amid the Chaos Matters More

In a crisis, silence creates a vacuum which will be filled by speculation. However, issuing a statement before everyone is aligned only creates confusion. The balance is speed with clarity and control: Acknowledge the issue, commit to transparency and promise updates as facts develop.

One of the strongest models I have seen in practice is directing reporters to a centralized, secure briefing location during an emergency. This approach serves two purposes: It protects both responders and journalists and it ensures updates are delivered consistently. If the media is already gathered, agencies can go a step further by offering a short, factual briefing. Even a few lines can calm speculation and keep coverage anchored to facts.

Strong communication is not only about messaging; it is about establishing order in the middle of chaos. The same principle applies beyond policing, whether it is a nonprofit under scrutiny, a school navigating a crisis or a company responding to a high-profile incident. Leaders who project calm, provide clarity and control the flow of information set the tone for trust.

Lesson 2:  Message to Your Key Audience

When drafting crisis communications, leaders often focus on what the media will say. The real test, however, is whether your stakeholders (parents, donors, employees, and community partners) hear what they need. Communications should be written for them first; the press, second.

This means considering the lived experience of your audience. A parent wants reassurance that his/her child is safe. A donor wants confidence that his/her contribution is being protected. An employee wants to know that his/her leadership is steady and reliable.

Leaders who pause and ask themselves, “If I were a parent, funder, or staff member, does this answer my biggest concern?” are far more likely to communicate in a way which builds trust with the audiences who matter most.

Lesson 3: Build Trust Before You Need It

The strongest crisis strategies begin long before the crisis itself. Leaders who already communicate consistently, transparently and credibly will find stakeholders far more forgiving when things go wrong. Trust is earned in the everyday updates, newsletters and community engagement long before the breaking news headline.

I once saw a public safety leader use short monthly video updates to keep staff informed on priorities and challenges. Those updates made the leader more approachable. Staff had a natural way to connect, often saying, “I liked what you shared in your video last week.” By creating that baseline of familiarity, the leader built credibility which carried into more difficult moments.

The same principle applies to media relationships. Even if a reporter has published unflattering coverage in the past, leaders should not shy away from building rapport. Meet with them directly, set clear ground rules and be candid: “I will share what I can, when I can. In return, I ask that you honor when I say something is on background or off the record. Please only use the statements I explicitly agree to give you.” Reporters value access and consistent, respectful engagement often yields more balanced coverage over time.

Trust with both stakeholders and the press is cumulative. Leaders who invest in it early will find they have far more control over the narrative when a crisis eventually comes.

The End Result

Crisis is inevitable. Loss of trust is not. Mission-driven organizations, whether schools, nonprofits or public safety agencies, do not have the luxury of waiting until the storm hits to figure out their playbook. The leaders who succeed are not the ones who avoid crises altogether. They are the ones who prepare, communicate with clarity and stay visible when it matters most.

The good news is that these fundamentals are teachable and repeatable. With preparation, clear messaging and a commitment to trust building, organizations can emerge from crises not weaker, but stronger, with stakeholders who feel reassured rather than abandoned.

Jessica A. Kuron is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Belvedere Consulting Group where she helps public-facing organizations strengthen communications, strategy and engagement. She has served as Chief of External Engagement for the US Attorney’s Office, directed crisis communications for schools and nonprofits, and was recognized as one of New Hampshire’s Top 40 Under Forty in 2025. She can be reached at jessica@belvedereconsult.com.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the United States Department of Justice.

Several states are warning of pink cocaine – a powdered mixture of substances which is dyed pink; may have a sweet smell; and typically produces mind-altering, hallucinogenic effects.

DEA laboratory testing has identified pink powders containing ketamine, MDMA, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and xylazine.

Effects of pink cocaine can vary greatly as many seizures contain mixtures of a variety of dangerous drugs, but much like MDMA or ecstasy, pink cocaine is a mind-altering psychedelic drug. Ingesting an unknown substance or drug cocktail is dangerous and can be deadly.

Since 2020, the DEA has seized a total of 960 pink powders – four exhibits contained 2C-B and 956 exhibits of “other” substances. To put that into perspective, within that same time, the DEA has seized 180 million fentanyl pills.

To learn more about pink cocaine, visit dea.gov/pink-cocaine

We must be geniuses.

We, who labor in uniform, in plainclothes, or in tactical armor, are not merely figures of authority – we are reasoning beings, operating with disciplined intelligence.      

OR…

High school juniors are complete, empty-headed lamebrains. Now, before all of you with high school children out there get your city-issued knickers in a twist, let me tell you that I have raised six kids, all of them having stumbled through their 11th grades with various levels of incompetence, and I openly admit to having been a 17-year -old lamebrain myself.

Specifically, I’m talking about some simple concepts. Here’s an example: What is a lead? It’s something which needs to be followed up on, right? It’s a piece of information, a tip, a hint of information which might promise more. It’s something you need to get done. My detective friends out there know that you should maintain a “lead sheet,” a to-do list which keeps you organized: What have I completed and what tasks still need to be completed. A witness named Frank tells us that Mario, who works at the pastry shop on 19^th Street, knows something about the murder. Your lead sheet should have an entry which says something like, “Identify and interview Mario from the pastry shop on 19^th Street.” Right? It seems very simple. I taught my students what a lead is back in September and, as I write this, I’ve spent the last month reminding them how important it is to keep track of and prioritize their leads. I created lead sheets and gave one to every group of three students each – a “squad.” The other day, two students told me, “I have no idea what any of this means.”

Huh? We’ve been doing a mock investigation for the better part of three weeks and now you tell me you don’t know what we’re doing? So, I tried to walk it back. “What is a lead?” I asked. I got blank stares and shrugs. “I dunno,” one girl said. I could tell from polling the rest of my four junior classes that many of them shared her lack of comprehension (forgive my clenching jaw and the clumps of my own hair in my fist). I was bordering on distraught. If they haven’t been able to divine what a “lead” is, what hope do I have for them to grasp ideas like the Sixth Amendment right to confront your accusers, or what it means to appeal a case on judicial error? Have I failed them as a teacher?

I love doing the mock investigations. It’s fun – maybe more fun for me than most of them – and I get to challenge them to try and connect information, evidence and use critical thinking as a foundation to grasp investigative principles. And, to be fair, not all my students give me blank looks and make me doubt my teaching skills. There are some who truly get it, who embrace the process; they are, however, the exception rather than the rule. This is a struggle for the vast majority of them.

Why?

I’ve been grappling with that question for a while. I’ve been doing these mock investigations, teaching them about leads and the concept of “motive, means and opportunity,” since 2009. Over the years, I’ve noticed a change in the students’ ability to understand the things which you and I, as law enforcement professionals (retired or otherwise), consider second nature. The students of 2009 caught on with the concepts much faster and remembered how to integrate them when we started doing these mock cases. Again, why? The answer is probably multilayered, but here are some facts. High school students’ reading and language arts scores have been on a steady decline for the last two decades, but getting significantly worse the last five years. What’s my theory? Young people aren’t reading anymore. Maybe a small segment of them break the mold and have a love of reading, but, for the most part, they spend hours thumbing through TikTok videos, Instagram and Snapchat posts, and chatting with their friends (and not about Mr. Nyberg’s Criminal Justice class, to be sure).

So far, I’ve been talking only about the student’s inability to understand what a lead is. Imagine now the culmination of this project: Write a report. Here are some of the reactions I got when I announced this: “Huh?” “Wait – what?” (one of my all-time favorites), and “How do you do that?”

They stopped short of asking, “What’s a report?” but that’s what I heard in their anxious tones. Understand that we spent a solid week on how to write reports and I gave them a couple of assignments on it: one was to write a report on a simple investigative task which they conducted, and the second was to identify certain elements from a sample report I provided for them, and answer some questions about the report (basically, comprehensive reading). I coached them, telling them that details are important, such as when you interviewed someone and where. I told them not to ever refer to players in a case by first name only; if they knew their full name, they had to use it. Be detailed and don’t assume the reader knows about your case. It may well end up in the hands of a prosecutor who has no idea about any of it. It’s chronological and it’s informative and it’s in past tense. A report, I told them, is them telling their story about what part they played in the case. What did you do?

This turned out to be more confounding for them than their struggles with leads.  

As we concluded this three week project, I told them that less than 5% of them would ever become criminal investigators. But, I also told them that there is a very good chance that they will have situations in their careers which will require them to document things and to prepare some type of report to submit to someone. As far as leads, I explained to them that learning to prioritize tasks would help them in daily life. Living involves meeting the challenges of schedules, expectations and things which need to get done. I won’t tell you that I’m on the verge of despair, but I will tell you that we have legions of young people pouring into the ranks of adulthood in June and, next June, and the June after that, who are increasingly deficient in being able to describe things and events using written communications. It’s not a good look for the future of law enforcement, for the legal system and maybe for society in general.

Are we law enforcement folks geniuses? Nah. But, we should count our lucky stars if our young years developed in an environment which valued the written word, the questioning mind, and desire to learn new ideas.

Ramesh Nyberg retired from law enforcement in November 2006 after 27 years of police work. He lives in Miami and teaches criminal justice at a local high school. He also teaches regional law enforcement courses through Training Force, USA. He enjoys getting feedback from readers and can be reached at ramesh.nyberg@gmail.com. Also, Ram has written a new book, Badge, Tie and Gun: Life and Death Journeys of a Miami Detective,which is available on Amazon in both Kindle eBook and paperback. You can find it by visiting amazon.com/dp/B0CTQQKQTV

The CSG Justice Center’s new research-based guide can help states prevent violence, expand opportunities and keep youth out of the justice system.

The Youth Safety Playbook for States includes: a community-based service continuum; strategies for financing, infrastructure, policy, service, and workforce; and a checklist for implementing each strategy.

The playbook also includes real-world examples of these strategies in action. In Illinois, for instance, interventions and investments helped spur an80% decline in gun violence in the communities with the most firearm victims.

This playbook is a product of the CSG Justice Center’s Collaborating for Youth and Public Safety Initiative (CYPSI) which partners with states to strengthen and scale research-based services and supports for youth and their families.

To view the playbook, visit https://tinyurl.com/evxc56d8

P&SN Presents Its 35^th Annual Roundup Covering New Firearms and Equipment of Most Interest to Law Enforcement

For almost 50 years, the SHOT Show has served as the launching pad for new firearms and related gear. This year’s installment was once again held in the Venetian Expo and Convention Center and Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas and included over 2,700 different exhibitors. With over 13 miles of aisles, it is impossible to take it all in and I try to stay focused on products of interest to the law enforcement professional.

As in recent years, law enforcement saw little in the way of entirely new firearm offerings; however, I noted the improvement and refining of a number of proven designs. The field of optics, lights and suppressors has exploded and performance of this critical gear is better than ever. One could spend the entire four days of the show checking out those new offerings. As we all know, ammunition is once again readily available as manufacturers have caught up with demand; however, prices are high and will continue to creep higher.

What follows is a rundown of a number of products which caught my eye and may appeal to the discriminating user. Perhaps, there is something here which might strike a chord with you.

Aimpoint^®

Last year, Aimpoint rocked the world with their revolutionary COA^® optic and A-CUT^® system, a direct mount solution which offered unprecedented durability and consistency to the end user. The Achilles’ heel of red dot optics had long been mounting plates and the Aimpoint direct mount system simply takes this out of the equation. Initially, GLOCK^® had an exclusive lock on the COA optic and this factory installed package was a huge success. By the end of 2025, demand exceeded the supply.

This exclusive arrangement has now expired and Aimpoint has now licensed other firearms and accessory manufacturers to market this product. In short, the A-CUT is an integrated mounting system which mechanically locks the optic to the slide, eliminating shear forces on the plate and screws which can lead to failure. Instead, the A-CUT/COA combo uses a front hook and rear locking wedge to secure the optic to the slide. The end result is a lower profile mount which is extremely durable.

The Aimpoint COA is a compact, enclosed pistol optic with a crisp 3.5 MOA dot. Aimpoint wrote the book on extended battery life and the COA can yield up to five years of service. When that time comes, a side loading battery compartment makes swapping out the battery a piece of cake. Windage and elevation are easily adjusted with a T10 TORX tool. Best of all, the A-CUT will allow the user to co-witness standard height sights on most pistols.

While walking the aisles of the SHOT Show, I did note an Archon Type B pistol outfitted with the Aimpoint COA and A-CUT. I would expect by the time you read this, a number of major manufacturers will be offering this as a factory direct option.

Beretta

In the police world, traditional double-action pistols have fallen from favor as striker-fired pistols have become king of the hill. Entire lines of DA pistols from major manufacturers have disappeared; however, Beretta’s classic M92 is still going strong. Rather than rest on their laurels, Beretta continues to upgrade the iconic M92 with features much in demand from law enforcement.

Among the many M92 variants on hand, there were indeed a few which I felt were standouts. I was especially impressed by the 92G Elite LTT II which features a number of enhancements made in collaboration with Langdon Tactical Technology. This pistol features improved frame ergonomics, a Vertec grip, an Inox barrel with a combat crown, and the LTT Low Mount Solution for fitting a red dot optic. If you favor a DA pistol, this one is top-shelf.

Beretta struck gold with the A300 Ultima Patrol shotgun a few years back and this 12-gauge autoloader quickly developed a legion of followers. While perusing the shotguns on display, I couldn’t help noticing one which was a little trimmer. On closer examination, I noted it was an Ultima Patrol in 20-gauge.

This is indeed a product which can fill a very useful niche. The 20-gauge variant offers lighter weight, a slightly reduced length of pull and reduced recoil. In the era of the patrol rifle, shotguns still have a great deal to offer and this new spin on the Ultima Patrol is easy to manipulate and well suited for anyone seeking greater comfort and control. This is especially true for small stature users.

Dead Air

In the not so distant past, suppressors were an exotic tool only seen in some spy thriller movie or in the hands of the tactical specialist. That is no longer the case and suppressors have now become mainstream. So, why the big flip?

I have been involved in firearms instruction for over four decades and spent roughly 100 work days per year on both indoor and outdoor ranges. To cut right to the chase, despite always using ear protection, my hearing has been severely impacted. This is certainly a road you don’t want to go down.

Like many outfits, we slowly bought into the concept of patrol rifles and we are now at a point where every officer other than the command staff is issued a rifle and a shotgun. Our training is probably more frequent and intense than many departments and I can assure you that having a full line of officers launching a high number of 5.56mm rounds downrange gets pretty loud. Over time, this takes a toll, especially if range duties are a big part of the job.

In the interest of hearing conservation, we purchased a number of Dead Air Lazarus 6 Sound Suppressors to use in training. To date, our experience has been very positive. For those unfamiliar with this technology, the report isn’t anything like what is portrayed in the latest action flick, but similar to that of a rimfire cartridge. When you are exposed to thousands of rifle reports per day, this is a huge difference.

New from Dead Air is the CT5P Patrol Silencer, an ultralight gas regulated, Triskellion baffled 5.56 NATO suppressor. This ultralight silencer builds on the lessons learned from the earlier Lazarus 6 and Sandman series and is designed for flawless operation in either direct impingement or gas piston guns. The CT5P measures 5.49 inches in length, generates low back pressure and minimizes muzzle flash and spark to nearly undetectable levels. In addition to 5.56 NATO rifles, the CT5P can also be used with those chambered for 6mm ARC. Needless to say, the CP5T would also be very useful in the tactical environment, particularly in confined spaces indoors. In my part of the world, noise complaints from homeowners in close proximity to the police range are hardly uncommon. Be a good neighbor and affix a CT5P to your rifle!

EOTECH

EOTECH has been turning out quality optics for many years and they remain one of the premier manufacturers in the industry. While visiting with EOTECH, I noted a few new products which would hold wide appeal.

Low power variable optics have come on very strong in recent years and can offer capabilities beyond that of a red dot. Brand new from EOTECH are the Vudu^® 3-9×32 SFP and the 4-12×36 FFP. Both are short, lightweight optics crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum with an illuminated reticle and ten brightness settings. A CR2032 battery will provide 300 hours of runtime when set at level five. One can also mount an EFLX^® on the front of the tube or in a 45 degree mount for close range threats.

The new EFLX CE also looks like a solid bet. This design is a fully enclosed optic complete with fully programmable sleep and shake awake modes. A switchable reticle can be set to either a 3 MOA dot, 42 MOA circle or a combination. The EFLX is rendered from heavy-duty 7075 aluminum to stand up to hard knocks and runs on a single, side loading 2032 battery offering 25,000 hours of runtime. The EFLX CE is configured for the Leupold Delta or Shield RMSc footprint.

FN^® America, LLC

One of the few totally new pistols I saw at the SHOT Show was the FN 309, a compact size 9mm with a very different trigger system. Although it does resemble the FN 509^®, the new 309 is not striker-fired, but instead utilizes an internal hammer similar to the FN Reflex^®. The single-action trigger trips when about five pounds of rearward pressure is applied and I would expect many users to be very pleased with it. The slide is very easy to rack with 25% less resistance compared to the FN 509.

 The barrel on the FN 309 measures 3.8 inches in length and wears a target crown. At 7.4 inches in length and 5.4 inches tall, it is well within the limit for discreet concealed carry. The FN 309 is optics ready and the standard sights consist of a U-shaped rear notch and a green fiber-optic front. This pistol will ship with a 16 round and a 20 round extended magazine.

The FN SCAR^® has been the Cadillac of gas-operated rifles for many years and this unique, modular semi-auto has been given 25+ upgrades for 2026. SCAR packages are available in light and heavy configurations and chambering includes 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm and 6.5 Creedmoor.

GLOCK

For 2026, GLOCK has totally overhauled their line and discontinued many of their popular pistols and added some new ones. This rebooting of the line started a few months ago with the launch of the V Series which is designed primarily for the commercial market. A short while later, we got wind of Gen6 which may be the most advanced pistol GLOCK has produced. To the casual observer, things don’t seem very different, but there are a number of very subtle improvements which will certainly make for a better shooting experience.

The grip frame features a palm swell, thumb rest and an improved texture which reminded me of a cat’s tongue. An extended beavertail is a bonus for shooters with large, fleshy hands and protects one from “slide bite.” There is also a slight flare to the magazine well for more efficient reloads. The Gen6 comes standard with a flat-faced trigger for consistent finger placement.

I had the opportunity to fire a Gen6 GLOCK 19 and 17 at the Las Vegas Metro Police Department range the day before the show. I can’t say the Earth moved when I pressed the trigger, as performance was straight-ahead GLOCK. However, they did indeed feel very different in the hand and the texture was a big improvement over my first issue “pebble grip” GLOCK 17 39 years ago.

Kimber^®

Kimber is one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of 1911 pistols and showcased what I felt was the “sleeper” of the show. I picked up a Kimber Desert Warrior over 20 years ago when it made its debut and that pistol has never disappointed. I can’t ever remember having a stoppage of any type with it and, while some may feel it’s a bit old-school, the all steel construction tames even the hottest .45 ACP loads.

While perusing the wares at the Kimber exhibit, I stumbled across the new Warrior 1911DS which, to my thinking, represents a great value. As the name implies, the DS Warrior is a double-stack, high capacity variant built around the John Browning classic. It merges the classic Kimber design with other in demand qualities to create a pistol born to perform.

The DS Warrior is crafted entirely of stainless steel and wears a tough black DLC finish. Each DS Warrior is assembled by a single firearms technician who pays particular attention to the details. The frame, slide and barrel are made in Kimber’s state-of-the-art plant in Troy, Alabama, and the final product is held to very tight tolerances. The barrel is ramped and crowned and a MIL-SPEC guide rod, which I prefer, is standard. Like most modern service pistols, the DS Warrior is optics ready. Other desirable features include an ambidextrous frame mounted safety and an accessory rail. A proprietary carbon fiber and glass filled grip completes the package. 

The Kimber DS Warrior is available in 9mm, .38 Super, .45 ACP, and 10mm all boasting generous magazine capacities. Best of all, the price point is significantly less than the 2011 variants available from other premium manufacturers.

Mossberg^®

To my thinking, the Mossberg 590^® is the best pump-action police shotgun in today’s market. Years ago, I ran a 590 as a training gun and also as a loaner and rounds digested equaled that of a high mileage pistol – and it kept working!

Last year, Mossberg introduced the 590R variant which uses a receiver mounted, ambidextrous rotary safety instead of the tang safety found on the original. This new combination is optimum for the latest variant, the 590R Chisel. The Chisel stock affords the end user eight different adjustments to fine-tune the length of pull and the stock can be folded when the gun is not in use. Magpul^® MBUS^® adjustable sights are standard and a top mounted Picatinny rail accepts optics. Models with an 18.5 inch barrel and a Class 3 11.5 inch barrel are available.

Mossberg hit a home run with their 940^® Pro Tactical SPX autoloader, but this year they have followed up with something a bit different. The new 990 SPX Magpul uses a completely different gas system and comes with a wide range of features in demand from law enforcement. First of all, consider the Magpul SGA adjustable LOP stock with spacers, a QD port and M-LOK slots. A ghost ring rear sight is standard and a direct cut allows the mounting of RMSc footprint micro dots. Additional adapter plates are available for the mounting of other popular optics.

Ruger^®

The Ruger RXM^® has been on the market for a little more than a year now and it is the best centerfire pistol the company has ever made. Ruger collaborated with Magpul to create a pistol with very wide appeal and met with great success in the marketplace. Although its similarity to a Gen3 GLOCK is obvious, it does have a few key features of its own. The biggest difference is the removable Fire Control Insert which can be switched to another Magpul EHG RG9 grip to create a larger or smaller pistol.

For this year, Ruger has expanded the RXM family and is now offering a full-size GLOCK 17-size pistol along with another variant with a compact-sized slide and barrel mated to a full-size frame. Both of these new pistols are outfitted with 17 round magazines. By the time you read this, Magpul will have a subcompact GLOCK grip frame available for more mix and match.

Ruger has also launched a couple of new rifles which will no doubt hold some appeal. The Harrier is a completely new spin on the AR pattern modern sporting rifle loaded with features such as a nitride bolt with a staked gas key, Magpul M-LOK accessory slots and a partial Picatinny rail. Best of all, the Harrier is available at a very attractive price.

Smith & Wesson

One Smith & Wesson’s bigger success stories is the rise of the M&P^® pistol. I frequently encounter M&P pistols in my classes and the 2.0 version is indeed a proven commodity.

Recently, S&W^® began offering variants of the M&P with a metal versus a polymer frame. Although this variant was developed for competitive shooters, it may also generate some interest among law enforcement professionals who, for whatever reason, are adverse to polymer frames and prefer the additional weight and control of a heavier pistol. The M&P 2.0 Full Size Series does indeed have a very different feel than my polymer frame copy and the additional weight of this five inch copy would no doubt dampen muzzle flip and recoil.

Two new models of the M&P FPC are now available. The FPC is a very handy carbine which can be folded to an overall length of 16 3/8 inches for storage. New variants include 10mm and 5.7x28mm and these new spins on the FPC take the same magazines as like caliber M&P pistols.

In police duty handguns, pistols are now the universal choice, but revolvers are often encountered for backup and off duty carry. This year, S&W is reintroducing two much improved versions on the Night Guard, built on a scandium alloy L-frame with a three inch barrel. The M386 is a seven shot .357 Magnum, while the M396 is a five shot .44 Special. Sights and trigger action are much improved over the original Night Guards and I’ve got my fingers crossed that we might see a smaller K-frame variant down the road.

Springfield Armory

Springfield Armory introduced the Echelon pistol a few years back and, since that time, it has played to very positive reviews. I picked up an Echelon 4.0C which is the compact version and it quickly became a personal favorite. New this year is the Echelon 4.0FC which combines a full-size grip module with a compact slide assembly. It may not sound like a big deal, but this combo is ideal for either duty or plainclothes carry. The slightly reduced slide and barrel length are a moot point, particularly if you are running an optic. Drawing from the holster might also prove faster than with the original service-size Echelon.

For those who favor premium grade 1911s, check out the new 10-8 Performance Master Class pistol. Developed in collaboration with retired FBI Agent Hilton Yam, founder of 10-8 Performance, this pistol includes premium grade components and is built on specially selected forged carbon steel slides and frames. The Agency optics system, which includes an integrated rear sight and series of plates for popular optics, is part of the package. Models will be available in both 9mm and .45 ACP

The micro-compact Hellcat^® has been a very hot ticket in the Springfield line and new this year is a variant in .380 ACP. The .380 copy offers a softer shooting impulse and incorporates all the positive features of the original 9mm Hellcat. The Hellcat OSP .380 is purpose-built for optics with a direct-mount RMSc/SMSc footprint which allows true co-witness with its U-Dot sights. It offers class leading capacity with an 11+1 flush magazine and an included 13+1 extended option.

Steiner

Steiner enjoys a well-deserved reputation for turning out some of the world’s finest riflescopes, binoculars and spotting guns and they have now entered the red dot sweepstakes with the MPS-C micro pistol sight. The MPS-C is an enclosed optic created for concealed carry and is roughly 40% lighter than comparable optics from other firms.

The fully sealed optical system which resists sweat, dirt and moisture is designed to stand up to the rigors of everyday carry. As expected from Steiner, quality is top-shelf and I was able to quickly define the 1.6 MOA dot against different background conditions. When the stakes are high, a “hobby grade” optic doesn’t make the cut and it pays to go with quality like the MPS-C.

Staccato

More than any other firm, Staccato has been the prime mover in the surge of double-stack 2011-style pistols for personal defense. High capacity 2011 pistols have been around for well over 30 years, but were primarily used by competitive shooters. Staccato flipped the paradigm and their pistols are in use by a number of elite law enforcement agencies.

New this year is the Staccato HD C4X, an all steel compact-size pistol perfect for concealed carry. The HD C4X features a four inch barrel, a single port compensator and ambidextrous controls. Staccato’s HD optics mounting system is included in the mix and the pistol feeds off of a GLOCK pattern 15 round magazine. Considering that a great many cops have a bunch of these on hand, that is a big plus. It is indeed a great gun, but a MSRP of $3,499 will limit its appeal.

Captain Mike Boyle served with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, and has been active in use-of-force instruction for over 40 years. He is an instructor in multiple firearms and less-lethal disciplines and has been a police academy assistant director, instructor and rangemaster. He is the author of three books; three training videos; and hundreds of magazine articles on firearms, training and tactics. Mike served 21 years on the Board of Directors of IALEFI and is a member of NLEFIA and ILEETA. He continues to work part-time as a law enforcement training specialist and resides in Forked River, NJ.

The findings are from BJS’s 2022 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Post-Academy Training and Officer Wellness (PATOW) supplemental survey. Administered for the first time in 2023, this survey collected data from a nationally representative sample of general-purpose state and local law enforcement agencies.

To download a PDF of the full report, visit https://tinyurl.com/mv3rdz4e

It’s nice to see wigs making a comeback in the courtroom… A St. Charles County (Missouri) Circuit judge has been suspended and will be banned from holding judicial offices in Missouri. The judge was found to have engaged in several acts of misconduct, including discussing politics from the bench, but his most notable overstep was occasionally wearing a large Elvis wig and sunglasses while presiding over the court. The judge said he was trying to “add levity” and relax people, but he can see how his actions affected the solemnity of the proceedings. He admitted to the charges against him and waived his right to an appeal. (And, with that, Elvis has left the bench.)

This is why I don’t “Kermit” crimes – that was a tad polarizing… A Utah police department’s use of artificial intelligence led to a police report stating – falsely – that an officer had been transformed into a frog. The Heber City Police Department started using a pair of AI programs to automatically generate police reports from body camera footage. A report generated mistakenly reported that an officer had been turned into a frog. “The body cam software and the AI report writing software picked up on a movie which was playing in the background which happened to be ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ said a police sergeant. “That’s when we learned the importance of correcting these AI-generated reports.” He said the department will continue using the AI programs, but with more oversight. (The officer turned into a frog and then he had my vehicle toad!)

A different version of “Naked Gun”… A 25-year-old North Florida man is accused of robbing a meat market while wearing nothing but a face covering. The man was carrying an object in his hand which employees believed was a weapon. The Lake City Police Department said the Lake City man was arrested and charged with armed robbery, indecent exposure, grand theft, and criminal mischief. The accused allegedly broke into a cash box in the market and took more than $1,000 from the store before he fled the scene. Employees told responding officers the suspect was nude except for a covering over his face. A description of the suspect and direction of travel were disseminated and officers quickly located and detained the suspect. (“Ma’am, can you identify the suspect?”)

Allow me to introduce you to an actual cat burglar… A woman of Lakewood, California, didn’t even realize her pet cat, Piper, was gone until she happened to look at her doorbell camera video. The video revealed an Amazon Flex driver delivering a package to her front door, then stooping over to pet Piper who was sitting on the porch. The man then proceeded to pick Piper up by her scruff and carried her off to his vehicle. An Amazon spokesperson called the act “horrible” and said the delivery person is no longer “eligible to deliver to our customers.” Police said the driver had been identified and charges are pending, but Piper is still missing. “I don’t know where she is or if she’s okay,” the owner said. (Attn: Catnapper – you take my Nine Lives and I’ll take your one!)

This is your brain on drugs… A 46-year-old Ohio man was arrested after authorities said he mistakenly sent a “baggie” of crystal meth through a tube at a bank drive-thru. He “unknowingly” deposited “a baggie containing a crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine” into the pneumatic tube during a simple transaction at the drive-thru bank, then drove away without ever realizing his snafu. A by the book employee at the bank flagged the bizarre “deposit” and notified law enforcement who quickly tracked him to Wayne Township. A dutiful K9 sniffed his truck and uncovered “suspected drugs and drug-related items,” the sheriff’s office said. (“Putting the HIGH in Ohio…”)

Santa on the naughty list?… An older couple dressed as St. Nick and Mrs. Claus were pulled over for speeding in Ohio while traveling to visit their daughter for Christmas. When a Fulton County Sheriff’s deputy approached, Santa announced he had a concealed carry permit, prompting the deputy to laugh and ask, “Santa has a CCW?” Santa replied, “Times are rough – you’ve got to protect yourself.” The deputy explained the stop was for speeding and asked for Santa’s license, as Santa stepped out of the vehicle, noting he was “100 years old” while struggling to exit. “Santa, slow your speed down,” the deputy said, to which Mrs. Claus chimed in from the passenger seat, “It’s Nick, you know!” Santa added, “I’ll get Rudolph on you!” The deputy asked for a photo, everyone exchanged Merry Christmas wishes and no coal was issued – just a friendly reminder that even sleighs need to slow down. (Cop: “Well there goes MY present!”)

The suspect claims it wasn’t assault – it was a “food delivery with attitude.”… A 26-year-old former strip club employee has been arrested for a drive-by shooting outside the Florida establishment. Actually, the incident should be classified as a drive-by “cheeseburgering.” Investigators allege that he showed up at the Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club “to speak with management,” but “got into a verbal argument.” During the dispute, the accused allegedly “grabbed a cheeseburger from his vehicle” and threw the delicacy, striking a male victim on the shoulder and causing him “bodily harm.” When questioned by police, he reportedly confessed to the crime and showed no remorse for the incident. “The defendant stated he did throw a cheeseburger from his vehicle” and said “he would do it again,” according to a criminal complaint. No weapon was seized (or eaten), police reported. He was arrested for battery, a misdemeanor, and booked into the county jail. (How on Earth can a cheeseburger striking your shoulder cause “bodily harm”?)