Cops Sound Off

More than one-third of police officers murdered last year were not wearing body armor, and law enforcement analysts estimate that up to half of all officers don’t wear bullet-resistant vests regularly while on duty.Trainers, police officials and equipment dealers say the FBI statistics tracking murdered officers represent only part of a troubling phenomenon at a time when police confront suspects armed with higher-powered weapons. They worry officers will be put at increased risk.The vast majority of the nation’s 700,000 officers own or have access to bullet-resistant vests, says Ed Nowicki, executive …Read more [.....]

Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in …Read more [.....]

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There will be a police cover-up in Corpus Christi beginning Nov. 1 — cover-up of officers’ tattoos.The department is implementing a new policy to require officers to cover their tattoos while on duty. Capt. Todd Green said the agency’s rules manual didn’t include guidance on tattoos and more people have them than 15 years ago.”If we didn’t address it, it could become problematic,” Green told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. “We had some complaints from citizens. Because of the tattoos, they weren’t really sure that the other person in uniform was an actual police officer, …Read more [.....]

by Craig W. Floyd Provided by The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial FundJD’s Tavern, about 20 miles from Springfield, Illinois, has had more than its fair share of trouble. According to one newspaper report, local law enforcement agencies were called 32 times for help during a 10-month period in 2007. “Way too much manpower has been dedicated to that one location,” said Sangamon County Sheriff’s Captain Jack Campbell.During the early morning hours of October 28, 2007, trouble had broken out once again. Two sheriff’s deputies who had been called to JD’s on another matter found themselves …Read more [.....]