Frank Borelli Editor-in-Chief Officer.com "Training should be like a bloodless battle so that battle is just like bloody training." (A maxim of the Roman Legion.) Some time back I wrote an article about firearms training and how many agencies simply don't approach it correctly. Many focus on meeting and documenting their ability to meet whatever minimum state standards have been set. Instead, in my humble opinion, they should be focusing on instilling maximum skill in their officers. Now I know - that's easy for me to say, and it is neither cheap nor easy to accomplish. However, when you think about it, the concept applies to virtually all training we give our officers today. Trainer Ken Good wrote a paper about training to the...

Frank Borelli Editor-in-Chief Officer.com "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it's what you leave behind you when you go." - Randy Travis Call me corny but I'm a country music fan for the lessons that can be learned from many of the songs' lyrics. Since 9-11 Toby Keith has written a number of patriotic songs I really enjoy. Songs that contain small lessons about life have been put out by Montgomery Gentry, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and others. For some reason, this music appeals to me more than the classic rock I grew up with - even though that's still fun too. Awhile back, in a different forum, I wrote an article about integrity and the value of it. Oddly enough for me, I was at a loss to articulate...

Frank Borelli Editor-in-Chief Officer.com Mentor: A wise and trusted counselor or teacher. To serve as a trusted counselor or teacher. Welcome to April; the beginning of spring – a time for new growth from what has been dormant since fall. Pardon the reach, but isn’t this something new growing from that which is old? Last year’s maturity being passed into this year’s youth? Throughout the ages this has been a path of education, wisdom – and to some extent – likes and dislikes. Yet here I sit, as a man who has served in one uniform or another for more than 25 years now, and as I look back there are only one or two mentors I remember having. Why is that? Here’s what I think: I...

Frank Borelli Editor-in-Chief Officer.com With my last blog I was pretty sure I'd found the biggest hornets' nest in the world and hit it with a big bat. To date, the number of comments received has been record setting (for me). SO, this time I figured I'd take on another politically challenging topic: The 2nd Amendment. Now before someone accuses me of being something I'm not (in response to my post) let me be perfectly clear: I'm pro-2nd Amendment. I don't favor many gun control laws. I'm quite happy that so many states are passing "shall issue" laws and then adding on "Stand your ground" laws (sometimes referred to as "castle doctrine"). The reason I bring up the 2nd Amendment is because the Supreme Court just recently...