Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
As we prepare to celebrate our country’s Independence Day I think it might be important to take a minute and understand the value of the rights recognized in our Constitution. I often wonder if anyone else (besides lawyers) spends as much of their professional life having to take those rights under consideration as they do their job. Ironically, more often than not, most officers (like myself back in the day) spend as much time cussing the controls of the Constitution as they do appreciating the blessings resulting from the protections of the Constitution. What do I mean? Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Ed McMann, Billy Mays… names of celebrities who have died in recent days. Without a doubt Michael Jackson has received the most media coverage with whole sections on news websites dedicated to ‘reporting’ on every aspect of his life and his death. Some argue that Farrah’s long and difficult battle with cancer should receive more attention. Some argue that Ed McMann’s lifelong involvement in the entertainment industry warrants more coverage. Others state that, as Michael Jackson was the undisputed ‘King of Pop’ it only makes sense that he should receive the most ‘air time’. As I’ve recently told several friends of mine in discussion, I think it all boils down to money; to simple dollars. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
So, last week I was driving to pick up my son from summer camp and was pulled over for speeding. Yes, I hate to admit it, but truth be told it has happened three times in the past. In fact, every ten years of my driving record: 1980, 1990, 2000. This year the state trooper who pulled me over just didn’t realize he was six months ahead of schedule. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
In the course of a police career you will receive countless orders to complete some task. The very large majority of those orders will be lawful and you’ll get jammed up if you fail to obey them. BUT, some of them may be unlawful and if you do obey those then you can get jammed up even worse. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Gun control is the topic. As I continue to discover, many assumptions are made about how law enforcement officers feel in this regard. The most common assumption I’ve experienced is this: cops don’t like for citizens to have guns. That is a FALSE assumption (as we’re about to see) that needs to be corrected. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Welcome to summer time. Actually, just pre-summer for now, but it (the weather) is improving daily. Nice temperatures; blue skys; pools, sprinklers, camping, etc. Along with that comes a few unique challenges to law enforcement that are directly related to the season: increased numbers of BBQs with plenty of alcohol flowing, safety issues around pools, the sweat of wearing a vest… Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Before we were at war in Iraq and Afghanistan… before the economy went in the toilet… before our country was overwhelming consumed by our most recent historical presidential election… BEFORE all that there was gun control. My question today is whether or not gun control laws benefit the law enforcement community? Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
My father frequently told me who his heroes were when he was growing up. Since he was just reaching puberty during the World War II years, many of his heroes were military leaders of that era. When he did chores or yard work he would talk about segmenting out the area to be worked and he’d view it as parts of Asia or Europe to be conquered. The pieces that never seemed to get finished were either North Korea or Vietnam. Such was the history during his lifetime. Thanks to television the heroes of my youth were predominantly fictional larger-than-life characters from television shows. The Lone Ranger and Captain Kirk are still on my list. Then I discovered books and Spenser stepped in as well. Just recently I spent time in the company of a lot of men and women that I’d call heroes - and what they do is so mundanely spectacular that they do it every day and never look back. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Well, fans, Police Week has begun. Officer.com will have some excellent coverage of it posted probably later today (Wednesday) as well as Thursday and Friday.
On Sunday the Law Ride ended at the memorial. Thousands of police officers on motorcycles - some looking like outlaw bikers and others in uniform on duty bikes - rolled into DC. It’s important to realize that, as with all events this week, their ride and arrival and tribute paid at the Memorial is to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
Administration Proposes Significant Cuts to Benefits of Slain Officers
As I sat drinking my first cup of coffee this morning, scanning the morning news online as I do each weekday, I saw the headline suggesting our President is proposing to cut survivor benefits to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. My very first thought was: Police Week starts Sunday. He’s really not announcing this now, right? Read the rest of this entry »