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 »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
As the Editor for Officer.com I get a lot of emails from folks around the country (and some around the world) providing insight into various concerns. For obvious reasons, the feedback this week has focused on Swine Flu, its seriousness, response protocols, public safety concerns, etc. I thought I would share some of what I’ve received with you. To the best of my knowledge none of this is strictly controlled “FOUO” type of information. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
I am often perplexed by situations wherein one group of people feel that it is hateful and should be illegal for another group to feel and demonstrate pride in its existence. What makes speech against one group “hateful” or illegal but speech against the other group perfectly acceptable? The difference seems to simply be that one group has been determined to be a minority. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
“Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t doing the right thing.” Schmuck Captain from the movie SWAT.
“You know how it is, Street; sometimes doin’ the right thing ain’t doin’ the right thing.” Sgt. Hondo from the movie SWAT.
Those statements are almost identical. Voice inflection and attitude are definitely different. But do they really say the same thing? Not when you think about it. When you think about what each meant they mean nearly the opposite. The Captain is essentially saying to do nothing at all while the Sergeant is saying to do something that probably violates rules but needs to be done. Read the rest of this entry »
Frank Borelli
Editor-in-Chief
Officer.com
It’s not just a job; it’s an adventure.
Be all you can be.
Looking for a few good men.
All of those sayings are as applicable to law enforcement as they are to the branches of military service they are recruiting tools for. What law enforcement further shares in common with those branches of service is that it’s a lifestyle - as much as being a serviceman or woman is. Read the rest of this entry »