Month: July 2015

The worst case scenario. If anyone really knows me, they know that I always plan for the absolute worst that can possibly happen, this way I’m never surprised.
I’ve always carried a backup gun on duty. Things happen and Murphy’s Law is always waiting to enact itself whenever your in the middle of the worst situations.
I keep all of my firearms well maintained and as you know, all of the firearms I choose to own and carry are of high quality. I don’t expect my VP9 to fail me, but if that does happen for some odd reason, I’m not out of the fight.
My first backup gun was my Heckler and Koch P2000sk in .40, believe it or not, I carried it in my best holster!

Well that got old and I bought a Beretta M85F in .380 ACP. It served as my backup gun for many years and I just sold it to my partner to buy it’s replacement from another partner, the Beretta Nano in 9mm. I wasn’t a fan of pocket pistols, that is why I choose the M85, it was a mini M9 and it was small, but not too small, allowing me to have a full grip. I didn’t get to shoot it often however, since it was a .380, my department only gave me 15 rounds a year to qualify with it and no more. I would have to bring my own ammo to practice and I did not always have my .380 practice ammo with me at work. It’s was also a pain to have to buy another caliber and stock up on.

The Beretta Nano changed my opinion on pocket pistols. It is built specifically for concealed carry and is snag free, which will make drawing it an east task. I will do some in-depth reviews on each weapon later.

The whole point of this post is encourage everyone to have a backup gun. Most of my partners don’t carry one. Their reasons basically comes down to pure laziness and believing that it is unnecessary. A lot of them also believe nothing will ever happen while they’re on duty. That way of thinking will cost them dearly. Trust me, I always try to teach them but it’s like preaching to the choir. A lot of you can attest to the same with your own partners.
I can go on all day long with examples of why you should carry a backup, but I don’t feel like it. So if you don’t have a backup, you should!

One of the most rewarding feelings you get out this job is knowing that you helped someone, possibly saving their life.
What is prevalent in our society these days is that people don’t seem interested to help another person in need of help; instead they will pull out their smart phone and record the event, then post it online. A lot of people don’t get involved because they don’t have the knowledge or expertise and sometimes the ability to help. But instead of video recording the event, why not call 911 and get help?
I handle a lot of medical aids here at my courthouse. I make sure that I have the knowledge and training within my scope to be effective in helping a person in need.
A few months ago, I was flagged down by a lot of people waiting in line outside the courthouse clerk windows. They pointed out a older woman in distress, who they said was on the ground. When I saw her, she was standing up and seemed to look okay. I asked her what happened and her daughter said that her mother felt weak but is now okay. They initially did not want any medical aid. I started to relay the incident to my partners, who also responded and told them it was Code-4. I had to go back to get the woman’s information to log the contact and when I saw her this time, she was very pale and not looking good. With my training and experience, I knew that she needed to get checked out by paramedics. After talking to her and suggesting that she should get looked at, she agreed. I called for Fire and paramedics, who arrived within minutes and eventually transported her to the hospital. I found out later that she was diabetic and extremely dehydrated.
I’m glad that I knew how to help her and possibly saved her life.
Over my career I’ve seen firsthand numerous medical emergencies. A lot of them involved drugs or alcohol. Those who have drug addictions or are alcoholics have some of the worst withdrawals that usually results in violent seizures. Sadly I’ve seen many of those.
My counterparts who work at our local airport, have saved many lives with CPR and the use of the AED.
You just never know when someone will need help, this is why I always urge everyone to get some basic knowledge and training that will make a difference when the time comes. I’m not a paramedic and don’t claim to be, but I know what my capabilities are and I can take care of things until they get to me.