Police Work, Politics and World Affairs, Football and the ongoing search for great Scotch Whiskey!

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

The limits of "De-Escalating"

One of the constant rephrains from the cop haters (for lack of a better term) is "Police need to learn to 'de-escalate' the situation..." OK, here is what can happen if "de-escalating" fails:
Denver officer shot early Saturday morning after attempting to calm down man in crisis

Suspect also shot and is in surgery

A Denver Police Department officer was in stable condition after he was shot Saturday morning while attempting to calm down a man “in crisis.”

Police tried to defuse the situation before the man shot an officer, hitting him in the leg, Deputy Chief Matt Murray said. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. Both the officer and suspect were transported to separate hospitals and have undergone surgery. Both are stable however the man remains in critical condition.

“It really appears that he was having a personal crisis and in our attempts to try to defuse that, he made decisions to make the situation get to where we are,” Murray said...

The cop haters put out a lie that cops shot first, ask questions later. Bull, if only for the fact they know what they have to loose (felony conviction, loss of career, pension, family, etc). And over the last 20 years agencies across the land have trained more officers to deal with people in mental crisis. However, "de-ewcalating" techniques have their limit and, again, there are Monday morning quarterbacks to spare. To them I'll just ask, "Tell us how to do it on Sunday."

Officer, glad you're gonna recover.

Friday, May 26, 2017

Officer Down


Assistant Chief Deputy Clinton Greenwood
Harris County Constable's Office - Precinct 3, Texas
End of Watch: Monday, April 3, 2017
Age: 57
Tour: 30 years
Cause: Gunfire

Assistant Chief Deputy Clint Greenwood was shot and killed behind the agency's headquarters building, in the 700 block of West Baker Road in Baytown, at approximately 7:00 am.

It is believed he was shot from ambush as he arrived for work. He was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The primary suspect in Chief Deputy Greenwood's murder committed suicide the following day. Investigators believe the man committed the murder in retaliation for Chief Deputy Greenwood finding of no wrong doing following the citizen's complaint.

Assistant Chief Deputy Greenwood had served in law enforcement for 30 years. He had previously served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, and Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Assistant Chief Deputy Greenwood was a graduate of the 263rd Session of the FBI National Academy.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Nicholas Rodman
Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Tour: 3 years
Cause: Vehicle pursuit
Incident Date: 3/28/2017

Police Officer Nick Rodman succumbed to injuries sustained in a vehicle crash at the intersection of a 26th Street and Duncan Street during a vehicle pursuit.

Other officers were pursuing a suspect who had been involved in a domestic violence incident in which shots were fired. Other officers were able to free Officer Rodman from the burning patrol car and transported him to a local hospital. He succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon.

The subject being pursued was apprehended and charged with murder, assault, wanton endangerment, as well as additional charges.

Officer Rodman had served with the Louisville Metro Police Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, son, and newborn daughter.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

1st World idiots gets schooled on 3rd World progress...

Just a few minutes tells you all you need to know about capitalism.

I don't recall who said it first, but the fact is billions have been raised from poverty by capitalism. And while former socialist (India) and communist (China) nations have moved to open markets and freedom, we are moving to more central control.

In Clint Eastwood's immortal words, "Swell."

North Korea's The Pukguksong-2

Good to hear that Agreed Framework is working out right.

The North Korean military is coming close to deploying MRBM.

The Pukguksong-2 Approaches Initial Operational Capability

Following a successful flight-test this weekend, North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency announced that the KN-15 (Pukguksong-2) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) will now enter mass production and begin operational deployment. The missile probably isn’t truly operational at this stage, but is more likely entering a pre-operational training period. It will likely take another year or so to achieve reliable and accurate performance from the missile, train the launch crews, and establish a mass production capability. This is about what we expected in terms of the timeline, only the explicit announcement comes as any sort of surprise.

While North Korea already has the ability to attack their regional adversaries—South Korea and Japan—with their current arsenal, the KN-15 provides a robust second strike capability for deterrence purposes. And early deployment, even of an unreliable missile in limited numbers, may suit that purpose.

Timing and Training

The KN-15, first seen earlier this year, is a solid-propellant missile with a range of 1,200-1,300 kilometers, carried on a tracked transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicle. Its performance is comparable to North Korea’s existing Scud-ER and Nodong missiles, threatening targets across South Korea and much of Japan, but the use of solid propellant will give it greater mobility and a faster response time. The tracked TEL will also support greater cross-country mobility, though the old-style wheeled TEL would have been better for on-road operation.

The claim that the KN-15 is ready for operational deployment is probably an exaggeration. With only two successful tests to date, it would be difficult for North Korea to have confidence in the missile’s reliability under combat conditions. For instance, in combat, you don’t get to pick the best missile in the stockpile, your technicians don’t get to give it a thorough inspection the day before, and you don’t get to call off the countdown and schedule for another day if things aren’t perfect. Accuracy would also be a concern, as precise control of the shutdown of solid motors is technically challenging and difficult to demonstrate without multiple tests. The six tests of the related KN-11 (Pukguksong-1) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) would add some confidence, but not all of those were successful and the KN-11 is, in any event, a different missile system.

Additionally, the North Koreans have not been trained on solid-fuel systems. The advantage of a solid-propellant missile is the ability to launch on short notice, perhaps as little as five minutes. However, North Korea’s missile have largely been liquid-propellant systems until now. Consequently, training of North Korea’s missile teams has been working through a very different launch drill over a much longer period. It will take some time for them to learn new procedures...

...Implications

Even if mass production of the KN-15 were to start today, it would take more than a year to produce a significant stockpile of these missiles. At its peak, North Korea could manufacture about 50 Nodong missiles each year. It is unlikely it will be able to manufacture KN-15 missiles at a higher rate, and even 50 missiles per year will require a great deal of troubleshooting on the assembly line. From an engineering standpoint, the transition from hand-crafted prototypes to mass production is almost as challenging as developing the prototypes in the first place.

This means, North Korea could begin deploying the KN-15 missile this year, but only in limited numbers and most likely just for training purposes. Within a year or so, the missile could achieve what we would call initial operational capability (IOC), the point at which missiles could reliably be used in combat, albeit still in limited numbers. It will likely take at least five years for the KN-15 to replace the Scud-ER and Nodong as the mainstay of North Korea’s strategic missile force, and even then, only in a first-generation version with a non-maneuvering warhead.

If and when this happens, it will give North Korea a robust second-strike capability against targets in South Korea and Japan. It is important to remember that if all Pyonyang wants is the ability to conduct a surprise attack against their local adversaries, they can do that right now with their current arsenal...

This gets too far along, but South Korea and Japan will be nuclear powers in months. And they will have issues with this.

Back in the 80s we had a Lance Missile battalion south of Seoul and there was a "special weapons" unit nearby. It was very open, you cross the border and spill American blood, we will nuke your ass. I've also read (open source) the Chinese have had enough of the Kims and North Korea. They have told the South Koreans, to paraphrase, "When North Korea collapses, take over the area, just keep the Americans south of the 38th Parallel..."

Hopefully this happens soon enough. Kim is many things, but one thing he is not is sane.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Kyro
Houston County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 4
Gender: M
Tour: 3 years

K9 Kyro was shot after he mistook his handler for a suspect while performing a track in a heavily wooded area while assisting the Dooly County Sheriff's Office.

Kyro bit his handler's calf and failed to release, causing severe damage to his handler's leg. His handler was forced to shoot Kyro in order to prevent further injury.

K9 Kyro had served with the Houston County Sheriff's Office for three years.

Rest in Peace Kyro…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Monday, May 22, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Justin Terney
Tecumseh Police Department, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Monday, March 27, 2017
Age: 22
Tour: 1 year
Badge # 16
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 3/26/2017

Police Officer Justin Terney was shot and killed while pursuing a fleeing subject at approximately 11:30 pm.

He conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle near South Cooper Drive and Benson Park Road. The driver of the vehicle fled on foot and Officer Terney pursued him. Officer Terney deployed his taser, but it had no effect on the man. The subject then drew a firearm and shot Officer Terney several times. Officer Terney was able to return fire, striking the subject numerous times.

Officer Terney was transported to a local hospital where he died from his wounds.

Officer Terney had served with the Tecumseh Police Department for one year.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

I swear ossifer I'm not as think as you drunk I am......

Sunday, May 21, 2017

God I miss Ronnie!!!!!!

Each of his successors have tried to take the mantle, to one degree or another, of this great man. But there is only one Ronald Wilson Reagan. God I wish Trump could communicate like this!

Just to the point in a way anyone can understand.

RIP President Reagan. It's not how you're buried, it's how you're remembered. And you are remembered, and missed, greatly.

Saturday, May 20, 2017

New Orleans goes further down the drain...

And there is the issue.

Age ago, 1984 to be exact, New Orleans hosted the World's Fair. In speaking with a close friend of mine (who owned a mechanic shop in the city), he pointed out to me how the city acquired the land for the fair in an intelligent manner. In its infinite wisdom, the city government threw out businesses that had been on those locations for generations. But the City Council was certain the World's Fair would raise new businesses that would more than replace them.

And no new businesses came. And the businesses moved to the suburbs. And the land is still empty.

As I've watched the city I've called home for ages go into another cycle of madness, I wonder if it will ever recover. I remember, what I thought were simply crazed, groups of idiots, demand that local schools named for "slave holders" (e.g. George Washington) be renamed. I never believed this would be taken serious. The school board has real issues and they need to focus on them.

I was wrong.

Now we have Take Em Down NOLA, a group of local race baiting poverty pimps convinced in a city with a crumbling infrastructure, schools that are a complete disaster, a dwindling tax base, an inability to recruit business, murders skyrocketing, what is it the city must focus on...removing Confederate statues. But not only that, but dozens of streets, Tulane University and Toruo Infirmary.

Seeing the latest outrage of the Landrieu family, their boy Mitch destroying a lot of the history of the city, I found this article in the Hayride interesting. I think the City of New Orleans needs a come to Jesus event.

“We Don’t Live There Anymore” Is The Problem In New Orleans

As I’ve watched this rolling debacle with the historical monuments unfold in New Orleans over the past two years, culminating in the unmitigated disgrace that was last night’s takedown of the P.G.T. Beauregard statue – which as Johann Batiste rightly observed this morning amounted to the bowdlerization of a monument to one of the city’s earliest civil rights leaders – something has nagged me from the recesses of my brain.

I’m coming about this controversy from the perspective of a lover of history. I majored in it in college, my bookshelves are covered in history books, I had the History Channel as a default on TV until the geniuses running the place decided to remove history from its programming, I try to take in some of the local history whenever I travel somewhere – to me, history is sacred. History is the record of civilization; it’s something truly common to us all and it doesn’t discriminate.

The story of, for example, Beauregard is a story for all of us. Here was a man of many parts, a product of his time, yes, but a man before his time as well. He was a soldier, an engineer, an entrepreneur, a reformer, a politician, a father, a husband and even a patriot – both for the Confederacy, when events pushed him into it, and for the United States before and after that time. If you’re white, these things in his life can be a source of pride in your heritage – but that cultural and historical patrimony isn’t limited to white people.

P.G.T. Beauregard spent his post-Civil War life working to better race relations and provide access to the American dream for all the people of Louisiana. He repudiated slavery (he never owned slaves) and discrimination. That he fought for the South may have been a negative on his curriculum vitae for some; we all have our crosses to bear. In his time, both black and white in Louisiana saw him as a hero, and for the right reasons.

But this is not a time when we celebrate our history, and we certainly have no appreciation for our heritage. The cultural Marxists and social justice warriors among us, the vast majority of whom have shown themselves to be a collection of frauds and imbeciles unfit to lead so much as silent prayer, have so poisoned the well that American history now bears the taint of “white supremacism,” and it is impossible to judge our ancestors by the standards of their time rather than our own.

Which as an aside, is so completely wrongheaded as to disqualify those who insist on it from any real conversation on the subject. He who sits in an air-conditioned room posting to the internet from a smart phone and who deigns to hold the 19th century to its moral failings has his own intellectual burden to bear, because it isn’t his superior intellect or ethics but rather his technological privilege which affords him such scruples. Even as a “poor” college student he lives better than the richest planter aristocrat he decries as evil, and the source of his wealth is far less of his own creation than that of the plantation owner he caricatures.

We celebrate Southern history largely because of the cautionary tale it tells us. Yes, Southern society with its slavery was unjust – and accordingly, the South suffered. It lost an entire generation of its young men in the war, it was subjected to the ignominious occupation by the U.S. Army during Reconstruction, its economy was put under the thumb of often-dishonest “carpetbaggers” from the North and it was impoverished for a century after the war until finally shedding the shackles of racism and backward thinking. But there was good in that society as well; we find it in the charm and hospitality the region is known for, the celebration of masculine spirit without which America’s military exploits would likely not have been possible from the 20th century to the present, the art and architecture, the food. There is a reason that after a long period of exodus more people are moving into the South than out of it, and the foundations of our culture which were laid by those “awful” people in the 19th century are a large part of that reason...

...But it’s clear we have a shortage of intelligent adults. We particularly have that shortage in New Orleans, and have for some time.

It has worsened in recent years, but the exodus of intelligent adults – it’s been called “white flight,” but this is a lie; the middle class and the productive class is made up of people of all races, whether they share similar politics or not – from New Orleans is half a century old. As such, the city is made up of a new class of post-Katrina carpetbaggers, college students who hail mostly from far away, a giant underclass living on poor wages and government assistance, an outsized criminal class in and out of the penal system, small pockets of put-upon middle class homeowners and a declining monied elite. Most of the people who make the New Orleans metro area work have moved out of the city limits, and most of those moved away a generation or two ago.

And it’s mostly those people who have taken up the cause of those monuments. Not because they’re “white supremacists;” that is an ugly slur thrown around by the same social justice warriors who throw around racism as a towel into the ring in admission they lack a better argument. They wish to preserve the history, and a connection to the culture they and their families were raised in.

But they don’t live in New Orleans anymore.

That feeling of powerlessness, of knowing there is nothing they can do to stop the bowdlerization of the city’s history and that of the region, carries with it pain to be sure. But that powerlessness is a choice; these people left. That’s not an indictment of them; they left for a better life in the suburbs or in another city. But the choice carries a consequence – when you leave, it’s those you leave behind who

I left for a better life in Texas and I've said multiple times, best decision I made. I miss the three F'a, Family, Friends and Food. Actually 4, Football. Perhaps Mitch et all should consider why people are leaving the region and not try and buy off race baiters for their support in the next election.

Now we come to the critical question.

The question is what to do about it. Should the productive class, the protectors of the history and tradition of the region, the put-upon and the assailed simply move on? If so, don’t be surprised when the Beauregard takedown begets the Lee takedown and the Lee takedown begets the takedown of the Andrew Jackson statue.

Perhaps this can’t be stopped. Perhaps all that can be done is to inflict one’s own set of consequences on those left in the city.

After all, the productive classes in the suburbs still contribute an enormous economic impact to the city. Maybe that should be rethought. Maybe the restaurateurs who live in Metairie should move their businesses closer to their homes. Maybe the lawyers and stockbrokers with offices in Orleans should decamp for the ‘burbs and eschew the commute.

And maybe the captains of the Mardi Gras krewes who contribute such a massive amount to the city’s economy each year ought to rethink what they’re doing. After all, those krewes were all formed by the same people who contributed to the erection of the Lee, Davis and Beauregard statues. Their heritage is bound up in the same package as those monuments Mitch Landrieu and his bowdlerizing fan club have been howling to destroy.

And most of those krewe members don’t live in New Orleans anymore, either.

There are lots of parade routes in Metairie and Kenner, and lots of them in St. Tammany Parish. Those routes might not have the tradition of a St. Charles Avenue or Canal Boulevard, but they also don’t have the risk of paradegoers being shot...

And these judgments can now be made, because of this corrosive, stupid modern mentality which is taking down the monuments. If the culture which gave us Beauregard is to be scrubbed, then the fruits of that culture shouldn’t be enjoyed – and those wonderful Mardi Gras parades are some of those fruits. Let the good follow the bad out of the city, and let Bacchus and Endymion and the others roll down Veterans Boulevard or Metairie Road for a time.


Yes, last producer turn out the lights on New Orleans. In my life I've seen the population of New Orleans drop fro 905K to an estimated 386K. Also, the population in the 60s was a much greater population of producers, not takers. NOLA was a vibrant city with a future. Now it's rotting from inside.

Mitch Landrieu has achieved his goal, he's bought off the black militant groups in NOLA and will have their support in his next election, be it the senate or governor. He'a also destroyed a great hunk of his city's heritage for his own political ambitions. By the way Mitch, maybe you should have watched the last election. You have enraged a large population of the state to vote against you. Hate to tell you, but you will never win a statewide election.

And this has only just begun. It's not just the four statues they want gone, but from the Take 'Em Down NOLA website, their next targets:

Street names: Palmer Avenue, Calhoun Street, General Taylor Street, Claiborne Avenue, Galvez Street, and over a dozen other major streets.

School names: Tulane University, Henry W. Allen Elementary...

Hospital names: Touro Infirmary, Tulane Medical Center

Monuments: In addition to the four already removed, they want: Rev. Abram Joseph Ryan at Jefferson Davis Parkway, Confederate Brig. Gen. Albert Pike monument at Tulane Avenue and Jefferson Davis Parkway, Henry Clay at Lafayette Square, World War 1 Memorial arch, Andrew Jackson monument in Jackson Square (one of New Orleans' greatest symbols.

And don't worry, they won't stop there.

I've had arguments with friends over these monuments and they don't want "monuments to slave owners" in the city. For some reason they have so issue with a monument to other controversial figures from history, such as Che Guevara. Also, where does it also stop. Will we rename the name of our nation's capital and one state (George Washington), numerous military posts (Fort Benning GA, Barksdale AFB LA, Fort Lee VA), will we remove the Washington and Jefferson Monuments from the capital? Give them time, these race baiter want to.

I've had people, friend and family say, "I'm done with New Orleans..." and "I'll never spend another dime there...." Dead on, it is a city that lives on tourist dollars. I don't know if I'll go that far, I do want to see the World War II Museum again, but I will never attend a convention there, I will never buy dinner there (the Deanne's in Bucktown was always better) and I'll never rent a hotel there.

NOLA, congrats, you have made your pact with the devil Don't worry, the next time the levee's break, those Southerners who came to your aid will said, "Bless your heart. Let it flood."

UPDATE: I hate it when I think of the perfect quote after I publish, but this was the perfect title for this post.

NEW ORLEANS. IT'S NOT THE HEAT. IT'S THE STUPIDITY!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Officer Down


Sergeant Curtis Blackbird
Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services, Tribal Police
End of Watch: Sunday, March 26, 2017

Sergeant Curtis Blackbird was killed in a vehicle crash while responding to a call in Walthill.

He was driving along Nebraska Highway 94 in a period of dense fog when his patrol car struck a crane in a construction zone.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 




















Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Officer Down


Detective Jason T. Weiland
Everest Metropolitan Police Department, Wisconsin
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Age: 40
Tour: 18 years
Badge # 1274
Cause: Gunfire

Detective Jason Weiland was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance and multiple shootings.

Police initially responded to a domestic disturbance call at a bank in Rothschild where two bank employees had been shot and killed. The subject later killed an attorney at a law office in Schofield before barricading himself inside an apartment complex near the intersection of Ross Avenue and Aspen Street in Weston.

The subject exchanged gunfire with officers from multiple agencies at the apartment complex. Detective Weiland suffered a fatal gunshot wound before the subject was wounded and taken into custody. The man died of his wounds several days later.

Detective Weiland was an 18-year veteran of law enforcement and had served with the Everest Metropolitan Police Department for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Doki
Jasper County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, April 20, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 2
Gender: M
Tour: 1 year
Cause: Heat exhaustion

K9 Doki died of heat exhaustion after a mechanical malfunction in his handler's patrol car.

The vehicle's heat rose to an unsafe level while Doki was inside. Once his handler discovered him he was taken to a veterinary hospital where he died.
Rest in Peace Doki…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Monday, May 15, 2017

Officer Down


Sergeant Shawn T. Anderson
East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana
End of Watch: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Age: 43
Tour: 18 years
Badge # K201
Cause: Gunfire

Sergeant Shawn Anderson was shot and killed at approximately 11:00 pm while investigating a rape.

He and another officer had gone to a salon at 1962 O'Neal Lane to interview the suspect. A struggle ensued during the interview in which Sergeant Anderson was fatally shot.

The subject was wounded during the incident and taken into custody. He died from his wounds several days later.

Sergeant Anderson was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for 18 years.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Friday, May 12, 2017

Officer Down


Trooper Brian S. Falb
New York State Police, New York
End of Watch: Monday, March 13, 2017
Tour: 18 years
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Incident Date: 9/11/2001
Weapon: Aircraft; Passenger jet

Trooper Brian Falb died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.

Trooper Falb had served with the New York State Police for 18 years and was assigned to Troop B. He is survived by his wife and four children.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed two of four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. After the impact of the first plane, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved.

As the evacuation continued, the first tower unexpectedly collapsed due as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The second tower collapsed a short time later. 71 law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site.

A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash.

The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon.

The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.

On September 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.

The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill, and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers.

On May 1, 2011 members of the United States military conducted a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding. During the raid, they shot and killed bin Laden.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Another example of how things can change quick...

From the Conroe TX Police Department, January 2016. Watch how fast this happens:


CONROE, Texas (KTRK) --
Authorities want you to see body camera video showing the moment a Conroe police officer narrowly escaped death.


"I don't know. I don't know how he missed me...by the Grace of God," said officer Greg Vradenburg.

He turned his body camera on moments before the shooting in January 2016 as he chased a suspect who fled during a traffic stop.

When Christopher Hatton fell, Vradenburg attempted to subdue him, he said. On the video, you can see Hatton's hands were underneath him and not visible to Vradenburg. Hatton pulled a handgun and opened fire over his shoulder, attempting to hit Vradenburg less than three feet away.

"I don't know how he missed me. I don't know if it went between my legs. Over my shoulder, I have no idea where it went," said Vradenburg.

Vradenburg had his taser drawn and hit Hatton with a charge, but it had no effect. Hatton ran again but was caught...
And people wonder why we are so nervous about people's hands.

Be safe out there friends.

Thanks Josh P for the link.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Rico
Alaska State Troopers, Alaska
End of Watch: Sunday, March 26, 2017
Breed: Dutch Shepherd
Age: 3
Gender: M
Tour: 6 months
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 3/26/2017

K9 Rico was shot and killed while attempting an apprehension of a suspect following a pursuit in Wasilla.

The driver of the vehicle led troopers on a 45-minute pursuit after they attempted to stop him for traffic violations. The subject had several outstanding warrants.

Troopers were able to disable the vehicle with spike strips near mile 45 on Parks Highway. K9 Rico was deployed when the man fled and refused to follow commands. The subject opened fire on Rico, killing him, before being shot and killed by the troopers.

K9 Rico had served with the Alaska State Troopers for only six months.

Rest in Peace Rico…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Michael Hance
New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Sunday, March 12, 2017
Age: 44
Tour: 17 years
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Incident Date: 9/11/2001
Weapon: Aircraft; Passenger jet

Police Officer Michael Hance died as the result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks.

Officer Hance served with the New York City Police Department for 17 years and was assigned to the 111th Precinct. He is survived by his two daughters.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, seventy-two officers from a total of eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed when terrorist hijackers working for the al Qaeda terrorist network, headed by Osama bin Laden, crashed two of four hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. After the impact of the first plane, putting the safety of others before their own, law enforcement officers along with fire and EMS personnel, rushed to the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to aid the victims and lead them to safety. Due to their quick actions, it is estimated that over 25,000 people were saved.

As the evacuation continued, the first tower unexpectedly collapsed due as a result of the intense fire caused by the impact. The second tower collapsed a short time later. 71 law enforcement officers, 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and over 2,800 civilians were killed at the World Trade Center site.

A third hijacked plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania when the passengers attempted to re-take control of the plane. One law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on the plane, was killed in that crash.

The fourth hijacked plane was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killing almost 200 military and civilian personnel. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon.

The terrorist attacks resulted in the declaration of war against the Taliban regime, the illegal rulers of Afghanistan, and the al Qaeda terrorist network which also was based in Afghanistan.

On September 9, 2005, all of the public safety officers killed on September 11, 2001, were posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush.

The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill, and eventually led to the death of several rescue workers.

On May 1, 2011 members of the United States military conducted a raid on a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was hiding. During the raid, they shot and killed bin Laden.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

K9 Down


K9 Roscoe
Crowley Police Department, Louisiana
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Age: 2
Gender: M
Tour: 6 months
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 3/22/2017

K9 Roscoe was shot and killed after officers responded to a shooting call in the 400 block of Josey Street.

The original call involved reports of a male subject shooting his former girlfriend. Officers, including Roscoe's handler, arrived on scene and attempted to make entry into the home to check the welfare of the victim. As Roscoe's handler kicked open the door the subject inside opened fire, striking him in the leg. Roscoe was also shot by the subject and killed.

The man them exited the home and opened fire on other officers, who returned fire and killed him.

The woman the man had shot died at the scene. Further investigation revealed that the man had murdered another woman a short time earlier.

K9 Roscoe had served with Crowley Police Department for only six months.
Rest in Peace Roscoe…till our next roll call at the Rainbow Bridge!



In Memory of all Police Dogs

They handled themselves with beauty & grace
And who could ever forget that beautiful face
Whether at work; or at home; whatever the test
They always worked hard; and did their best

They were real champions; at work or at play
But their lives were cut short; suddenly one day
While working on the job with their partner one day
They put themselves out on a limb; out into harms way

They gave the ultimate sacrifice; any dog can give
They gave up their life; so someone could live
The best of their breed; as his partner and anyone would say
Many hearts are now broken; that he had to prove it this way

Now as the trees are blowing in the gentle breeze
The sun is shining; thru the leaves on the trees
The meadows are green; and the grass grows tall
Off in the distance they can see a waterfall

As they look over the falls; down through the creek
The water flows gently; as a rabbit sneaks a peek
Far up above; in the deep blue sky
They see the birds soar high; as they fly by

They see animals playing; at the bridge by a waterfall
Chasing each other; and just having a ball
They play all day; from morning to night
There's no more rain; just warm sunlight

Off in the distance; they hear trumpets blow
Then all the animals look up; and notice a bright glow
The harps would play and the angels would sing
As they know they've come home; they've earned their wings

We remember that they died; in the line of duty
And are now with the Lord; sharing in heaven's beauty
Off to the meadows now; where they can play and roam free
With an occasional rest stop; under a tall oak tree

No more bad guys to chase; or bullets to take
Just a run through the meadow; down to the lake
A quick splash in the water; then back to the shore
Then it's off to the forest; to go play some more

These special dogs are back home; up in heaven above
They're cradled in God's arm's; and covered with His love
We'll light a candle for all of them; in the dark of night
In loving memory of all; these very special knights

By John Quealy

Monday, May 8, 2017

Officer Down


Police Officer Houston James Largo
Navajo Division of Public Safety, Tribal Police
End of Watch: Sunday, March 12, 2017
Age: 27
Tour: 5 years
Cause: Gunfire
Location: New Mexico
Incident Date: 3/11/2017
Weapon: Rifle; .22 caliber

Police Officer Houston Largo succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous night while responding to a domestic violence call along County Road 19 in Casamero Lake, New Mexico.

The shooting occurred at approximately 11:00 pm. He was flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital where he passed away the following afternoon.

The subject was taken into custody.

Officer Largo had served with the Navajo Division of Public Safety for five years.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Cyber warfare and the soldiers who fight it....

Around ten years ago I read an article on a major issue with our troops in Iraq. We would stop a suspect at a fence, take his basic information down and get a name from him. However, we would not know that he was also checkering out other installations and he would always give a different name.

A reservist, who worked for a hi-tech company, took a leave back home and had his company work on a portable fingerprint machine. Besides getting his "name," they would get his fingerprints and developed a database of men who continued to "accidentally" run into our fence lines, can change their names every time.

With ISIS recruiting people via website and moving to a "leaderless" resistance, cyber warfare is a critical defense.

Now we have the expansion of the cyber war
Cyberwar on ISIS needs recruits with high-tech abilities

WASHINGTON — A decade ago, he was a young Army soldier training Iraqi troops when he noticed their primitive filing system: handwritten notes threaded with different colors of yarn, stacked in piles. For organization’s sake, he built them a simple computer database.

Now an Army reservist, the major is taking a break from his civilian high-tech job to help America’s technological fight against the Islamic State. He’s part of a growing force of experts the Pentagon has assembled to defeat the extremists.

“The ability to participate in some way in a real mission, that is actually something that’s rare, that you can’t find in private sector,” said the 38-year-old Nebraska native who is working at U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Md. “You’re part of a larger team putting your skills to use, not just optimizing clicks for a digital ad, but optimizing the ability to counter ISIS or contribute to the security of our nation.”

‘Analytic focus’

Last year, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter expressed frustration that the United States was losing the cyberwar against the militants. He pushed the Cyber Command to be more aggressive. In response, the Pentagon undertook an effort to incorporate cyber technology into its daily military fight, including new ways to disrupt the enemy’s communications, recruiting, fundraising and propaganda.

To speak with someone at the front lines of this campaign, The Associated Press agreed to withhold the major’s name. The military says he could be threatened or targeted by the militants if he is identified publicly. The major and other officials wouldn’t provide precise details on the highly classified work he is doing.

But Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of U.S. Army Cyber Command, said the major is bringing new expertise for identifying enemy networks, pinpointing system administrators or developers and potentially monitoring how ISIS’ online traffic moves.

He “has the ability to bring an analytic focus of what the threat is doing, coupled with a really deep understanding of how networks run,” Nakasone said, describing such contributions as “really helpful for us.” He outlined a key question for the military: “How do you impact an adversary that’s using cyberspace against us?”

‘Tangible Results’

The military is looking for new ways to bring in more civilians with high-tech skills who can help against ISIS and prepare for the new range of technological threats the nation will face. Nakasone said that means getting Guard and Reserve members with technical expertise in digital forensics, math cryptoanalysis and writing computer code. The challenge is how to find them.

“I would like to say it’s this great database that we have, that we’ve been able to plug in and say, ‘Show me the best tool developers and analysts that you have out there,’” Nakasone said. “We don’t have that yet. We are going to have one, though, by June.”

The Army Reserve is starting a pilot program cataloging soldiers’ talents. Among 190,000 Army reservists, Nakasone said there might be up to 15,000 with some type of cyberrelated skills. But there are legal and privacy hurdles, and any database hinges on reservists voluntarily and accurately providing information on their capabilities.

The Army major said others in the civilian high-tech industry are interested in helping.

The major said he has signed up for a second one-year tour in his cyber job. He is looking at options for staying longer.

“I find what I’m doing very satisfying, because I have an opportunity to implement things, to get things done and see them work and see tangible results,” he said. “I’m not making as much as I was on the civilian side. But the satisfaction is that strong, and is that valuable, that it’s worth it.”

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Funny thing, this is pretty true....

Have a great week!

The rise of the People's Liberation Army-Navy.

Yea, I've been off the net for a while. It's been a couple of crazy weeks.

Hope your spring cleaning is going better than mine!

Found this interesting. I did my master's thesis on the rise of China and a sobering thought was with current projections, China will have more nuclear submarines in the Pacific than the U.S. Navy sometime in the 2020s. Will that change with the Trump administration, we'll see.


China's Navy Takes a Bow


Forecast Highlights

Even as China continues to prioritize its near-seas defense, it will accelerate the development of its navy's ability to project considerable force far from the Chinese mainland.

While China already has made considerable strides in developing the necessary components for a globally operating navy, a number of obstacles will limit its global maritime ambitions.

Beijing will continue to build up its naval strength in the years to come, but it will continue to lag the U.S. Navy's force projection capabilities for decades to come.


In many ways, China's rise has been built on the back of its seagoing fleet. Chinese commercial shipping helped carry its economy to global prominence. And its bulked-up naval forces allow it not only to back up its maritime claims in the South and East China seas, but also to increasingly project power far beyond its shores. Now, China's shipbuilding prowess — and its global reach — have taken a demonstrable leap forward with the completion of its first fully domestically built aircraft carrier.

Externally, the Type 001A aircraft carrier, which launched April 26 after 3 1/2 years of construction, is similar to China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which the country built atop the hulk of a stripped-down surplus Ukrainian ship. The new carrier features the same ski jump-style takeoff ramp as the Liaoning but incorporates internal features that make it more operationally effective. The technical advances in China's growing carrier program, alongside the rapid development of other aspects of Chinese naval power, point to Beijing growing ability to fulfill its global aspirations and naval ambitions.

The Chinese navy's principal mission remains the "offshore waters defense" of claimed Chinese territory, both the territorial waters 12 nautical miles from its mainland and its maritime claims in the South and East China seas. Those near seas encompass the waters ringed by the series of islands stretching from Japan to the Philippines to Indonesia, which the Chinese dub the "first island chain." To defend those claims, the Chinese have developed a layered approach to denying sea access by other countries. That strategy employs a combination of fast-attack missile craft, submarines, and the land-based anti-ship cruise and ballistic missiles of China's Rocket Force rather than large surface ships to counter and intercept encroaching ships and aircraft....


...The Importance of Chinese Shipbuilding

China's global maritime ambitions have been bolstered by a domestic shipbuilding industry that over the past decade has proved remarkably capable at producing large numbers of top-line warships and supply vessels. Indeed, China is already working on its third aircraft carrier, the Type 002. That vessel is expected to use a catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested recovery system that would allow it to launch and land larger aircraft with greater payloads than a ski jump system is capable of doing. Eventually, China is expected to possess a six-ship carrier fleet, allowing its navy to have four in operation at a time, which would give it a capability second only to that of the U.S. Navy....

...China also has a long way to go in modernizing its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Chinese naval squadrons, particularly those operating with insufficient land-based air cover, would be highly vulnerable to submarine attack. China is only now beginning to make considerable progress in anti-submarine warfare with new helicopter programs and the development of the Type 054B frigate, which is optimized to counter submarines...

COPYRIGHT: STRATFOR.COM

Friday, May 5, 2017

Officer Down



Deputy Sheriff Curtis Allen Bartlett
Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, March 9, 2017
Age: 32
Tour: 4 years, 6 months

Deputy Sheriff Curtis Bartlett was killed in a vehicle crash while responding to assist another deputy and a Virginia State Police trooper who were involved in a pursuit.

He was traveling on Highway 58 when his patrol car collided with a tractor trailer that was exiting I-77. The occupants of the vehicle that was being pursued were apprehended a short time later. The driver of the vehicle being pursued was charged with driving on a revoked license resulting in death and several additional misdemeanor charges.

Deputy Bartlett was a U.S. Army veteran. He had served with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office for 3-1/2 years and had previously served with the Albemarle, North Carolina, Police Department for one year. He is survived by his parents and four siblings.
Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.