Category: Uncategorized

United We Stand.
Do we as Americans still remember this phrase? It sure doesn’t look that way currently; in fact, I don’t ever our nation so divided as it is today in my entire lifetime.
Quite frankly, I’m sick and tired of seeing fellow U.S. citizens stomp on and burn the American flag. Just because you have the right to do something that disrespectful, doesn’t mean that you should.
I love America and what it stands for. It definitely is not a perfect nation, but it’s ahead of all others on this planet when it comes to the freedoms it provides for it’s citizens. America is a nation by the people and not by the government.
I am a first generation American. Both of my parents were refugees from the Vietnam War. My father was a South Vietnamese Airman and was evacuated from an airbase being overrun by the Viet Cong. My mother came across the Pacific Ocean by boat. They both went to America to start a new life and they did so, successful by working hard. They loved America and what it provided them and our family. They lived the American Dream.
Most Americans take a lot for granted. We are free because of the brave. The brave are our service members and our law enforcement officers. Our service members keep our enemies off of our soil, while our peace officers keep our streets safe from criminals. I have the utmost respect for all of those who have answered the call to serve in our armed forces. I have many close friends who are veterans and many who are currently serving and deployed overseas. I can’t imagine being away from my own family, let alone being away months at a time.
I never served in our armed services; I instead chose to serve my community by being a peace officer.
Why do people serve as soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors or peace officers? They all do so because they are a part of something much bigger than themselves individually. They do so to serve their fellow Americans selflessly.
There’s absolutely no excuse for anyone to disrespect the American flag because there’s no greater disrespect to those who have sacrificed so much, many with their lives.
If you’re unhappy with how your life sucks, how about taking it out on those who are responsible: your leaders, not the people who are only doing their jobs and have no power to make any changes.
Never Forget that over 3,000 Americans were brutally murdered on September 11, 2001. Don’t forget the ultimate sacrifice of the hundreds of first responders who went into the towers to save others. Remember the United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Lest we forget…

My knowledge on optics for long guns is very limited. I can say that I’m proficient in close range engagements with rifles. I’ve only shot out to a hundred yards to zero some of my rifles. I am not a sniper or marksman and this post is to pass on some knowledge to those who were in my shoes a while back when I researching what optic to put on my rifles.
What most new gun owners will notice after they had just spent nearly or over a thousand dollars (sometimes thousands of dollars) on a quality rifle, is that the cost of optic for will be in the hundreds and sometimes may exceed the cost of  rifle it’s going on.

Iron Sights, in my opinion, everyone should learn how to shoot with them first before adding any optics to their weapon system. Most optics are electronic and therefore can fail. That’s why they call the BUIS, or Back Up Iron Sights. So why have optics? There’s many good advantages you obtain from employing good optics. With Iron Sights, in order to get a good sight picture, you need to align the front and rear sights, usually using yor dominate eye and closing your other. One can be very proficient and fast with Iron Sights, but with a Red Dot Optic (RDO) you only need one point to focus one, allowing both eyes to remain open. This allows for extremely fast target acquisition, increased field of view and peripheral vision. It makes shooting real simple: place the dot on your target and press the trigger.
There are many options for RDO’s, like with everything in life, you get what you pay for! You cannot go wrong with Aimpoint, EoTech, Trijicon and a few other brands. These brands are all expensive and start at the $400 mark. They are all combat proven by our service members and are tough as nails. They will hold their zero and will take a beating. I will go in depth on RDOs on another post.

Magnified Optics do exactly what their description says, they magnify. Here, my knowledge and experience becomes very limited. Like I said, I’m not a skilled long range shooter. There’s not a lot of places for me to shoot further than a 100-200 yards. I also don’t get enough time at the range to shoot my longer range rifles. With my limited experience, I will say that it definitely helps having a magnified optic to identify your target and hit your targets with more accuracy than you would with a non magnified Red Dot Optic. The cost of good magnified optics can get extremely expensive. There are many manufacturers that have affordable options available. Some good brands are Leupold, US Optics, Steiner, Night Force, Zeiss and the list goes on. Some of those will run over $5000 easy! Shooting long range is not a cheap or easy endeavor. It takes a lot of time to be proficient. It is a very satisfying and challenging experience nonetheless shooting things that are far away.
So if you’re a new rifle owner, there’s a ton of information out there, so do your research before you drop a few hundred on one. Always remember, you get what you pay for!

I’ve carried the Beretta M85F Cheetah chambered in .380 ACP or 9mm short for many years as my backup gun.
When I got tired of lugging around my HK P2000sk in my vest holster, I started searching for something smaller but not too small. Back then, pocket .380 pistols were all the rage. Almost every company had one; Ruger, Sig Sauer, KelTec to name a few. I was, however not a fan of the pocket pistols then, believing that they were too small to control and shoot accurately. That was then, I’ve come around on that thinking and that’s why I sold my M85F… back to the review…
I’ve always wanted a Beretta, but didn’t want the full-size M92, so the M85F was a great solution; it is like a mini M92.
To my knowledge, it was the biggest .380 pistol I could find and at the same time, it was smaller, slimmer and lighter than a subcompact pistol. I could get a full grip with both hands.
The Beretta M85F is a DA/SA Semi-Auto with a manual ambidextrous safety/decocker that resembles a 1911’s, it is on the frame and not on the slide like on the M92. It also has a magazine disconnect safety, which I don’t like. The trigger pull is like a standard DA/SA on the M92 and has no trigger reset, another feature I’m not a fan of. The magazines are metal, single stack which hold 8 rounds.

It was accurate and easy to shoot.
So why did I get rid of it? There are quite a few reasons for that.
If you have been following me for the last few months, you would notice that I have been doing what I’m calling a “spring cleaning” of my firearms collection. I’ve been updating my collection with newer guns that I want and will use more often by selling ones that I don’t anymore. At the same time I am consolidating the ammunition that I need by getting rid of a few calibers.
The M85F was one of them. It was the only .380 ACP pistol I owned and those that own .380’s know that it’s difficult to find ammo for it. My department does not provide .380 for practice, so I had to supply it myself, which was not an issue, but I didn’t always have practice rounds with me at work so I rarely shot it.
The .380 is also called a 9mm short because that’s what it is. Some will argue that it is too small of a round to use defensively. I always carried good JHP ammo for duty, but why carry .380 when you can carry 9mm? Enter the Beretta BU9 Nano.

Cost, the M85F isn’t cheap with the price being close to $800! You can get a M92 at that price!
Bottom line: if you like .380’s and Beretta’s this is the gun for you. I sold it to my partner who got it for his wife for the range. It’s an ideal range gun for the ladies who have less upper body strength to deal with other Semi-Autos. The M85F is pretty easy to manipulate.
In my opinion, it’s more of a collector’s piece because of it’s price tag. There’s so many other options out there that are more practical and cost effective.

Throughout my career, I’ve come across a lot of criminals. Most of them made poor decisions or life choices. Seldom do I ever run into some truly evil people.  Those are the ones you don’t forget.
It’s like looking into the eyes of a shark; black, cold and empty. Their facial expressions are full of hate and rage. As scary and intimidating as they may seem, I’m not afraid to face them. I too, can look fearsome and when they stare at me with all of their hatred for my uniform, my race, or whatever..I stare right back.
A few years ago, I was in a arraignment courtroom and one the inmates was an overt white supremacist with his lightening bolts and 88 tattoos all over his neck and face. He was uncooperative from the moment he entered the courtroom. He eventually had to be physically escorted by the detention deputies out of the courtroom. Later on, his mother approached me asking about him. Usually, family members I deal with are curious as to when someone gets released from jail. She was the total opposite. With fear all over her face, she asked me to confirm that her son will be staying in custody as she was in fear of her life from her son. I wasn’t a parent then, but now that I am, I couldn’t imagine going through what that poor woman has to go through.
Racism is still in existence of today, sadly. I just don’t get it in this day and age with all of the information available for people to educate themselves. It’s a huge topic in our media and I can say what most cops will attest to, I don’t care what someone’s race or ethnicity they are, it’s their actions that were focused on.
A few months ago a man who was probably suffering from some mental illness had a rough time going through our weapons screening process and had to place a forbidden item outside of the building. He responded by opening the exit door and throwing the item outside. I told him that he needed to take it away from the building and not throw it. He got about a few feet from my face and stared right at me and clenched his fists and started to turn red, it reminded me of the Hulk getting angry. He then turned away and did what I requested him to do. On his re-entry through the metal detector, he yelled something at me that was inaudible. I asked him to repeat himself. He said it again and it was still inaudible. Then he said, “First Amendment! Freedom of speech!” I responded with, “okay…” He then said what he said earlier, this time clear and loud, “I HATE ASIANS!!!!” I replied with, “Well I don’t care!”
Once my partners heard what he said, they stayed with him and eventually escorted him out of the building for saying other absurd things to civilian staff members.
Does it make my blood boil? Yes, but I’m a professional and I know better than to let my emotions get in the way of my job. It’s all part of the job, to take it and move on. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is to just let it go.

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.

Since this is a huge topic today, thanks to our media, I will give you some insight into why the Deadly Force option to a Peace Officer is their last resort.
The media makes those who have the difficult, dangerous job of enforcing the law come out to be a group of lawless hitmen or assassins out to kill the innocent with impunity. Nothing could be further from the truth.
I am not here to talk about any particular case because I wasn’t there and neither were most of you. What I will say is that I don’t leave my home each day, head in to work to change into my uniform, badge and duty belt with the intention of using any force on anyone. That is true for the majority of my fellow brothers and sisters in blue, although I cannot speak for all of them.
In my almost eight years in my career, I have not had a Use Of Force incident yet. That is something pretty hard to do in my profession. Have I come close? You bet, numerous times.
A Peace Officer is reactionary by nature. Everyone in contact with an Officer are the ones that usually determine the outcome of that contact, whether it be positive or negative. I’ve had thousands of contacts with people and I can tell you from my own experience, it really is a “Split-Second decision” (a common term you hear all the time) that I’ve had to make many times throughout the years, and it is extremely stressful. In these types of encounters, most of them escalated in very few seconds and some of them took time to escalate.
It’s really easy to “Monday Night Quarterback” any incident, especially with Deadly Force incidents. The media, the average citizen, who have no knowledge or experience of what an officer goes through during these incidents think they know the correct way of handling that particular incident. Usually none of these experts were present during the incident.
I myself do my absolute best to de-escalate a situation if possible and it shows with my record so far. I am always prepared to defend my life and the lives of those I swore to protect and I cannot hesitate if it ever comes to that.
Why don’t I want to get into a UOF and especially a OIS (Officer Involved Shooting) incident? There are many reasons. First of all, I do not ever want to take another person’s life if it can be avoided. In any UOF, no matter how minor, I can be injured. Injuries can end my career and livelihood for me and my family. What most people don’t know is the level of scrutiny the involved Officer comes under from the investigation by the department, the District Attorney and nowadays the media and general public. I highly recommend that you watch the first two episodes of Flashpoint, a Canadian police show that focuses on their Strategic Response Unit. That show in my opinion, shows the process of what an Officer goes through after an OIS. Once a thorough investigation by all parties is over, you are either cleared or you will face criminal charges if you weren’t justified in your UOF, discipline by your department if you weren’t within policy. It definitely isn’t like what you hear from the pundits who think that the departments cover for their officers. If there was a mistake made, then there will be consequences for those actions. If you’re cleared by your department and the DA, you’ll still face civil action by family members of the person whose life was taken.
As you can see, this is why my Deadly Force Option is my absolute last resort to end a contact with any person.
This is why I constantly train myself physically and mentally, so that I will make the best possible decision whenever I need to make them. It is said, ” You do not rise to the occasion, you fall back on your training.”
With all the negativity and public outcry and scrutiny LEO’s come under nowadays, why do we keep going 10-8?
It’s because for many of us, it’s a calling and we take pride in what we do each day and night.

In this line of work, you have to adapt and adjust with the times. When it comes to your gear and equipment, you have to pick and choose each piece that works for you, because you are the end user.
With that said, I have chosen a new duty weapon: the Heckler and Koch VP9 with a Surefire X300U attached.

There’s plenty of reviews on the VP9. I’m just going to give you my own observations I’ve had with using this weapon system since I got it a few months ago and why I chose it over my Sig Sauer P229R.
When the VP9 first came out, I could’ve cared less about it, thinking it would be like another Glock. I wasn’t too fond of striker fired pistols because I never really liked the trigger. There are a lot of similarities to a Glock, however, there are many features that HK put into the VP9 that caught my attention. First of all the trigger is clean and crisp out of the box and feels a lot lighter than the 5.5 lb pull weight and it had a positive reset. The side panels and backstrap are adjustable, therefore improving the handling of the weapon. It is a fully ambidextrous pistol with the slide release lever on both sides. The magazine release is improved from the one on the USP, being a bit longer and easier to reach at the rear of the trigger guard. I didn’t get the Law Enforcement model with night sights because it wasn’t in stock at the time. I got the standard model with luminescent metal sights and they are extremely bright in the daytime and in low light, will glow brightly for several minutes. They can be recharged with a quick burst of light from a flashlight. This isn’t an issue for me since I have a WML attached. I plan on replacing the sights with Trijicon HD night sights in the future, but for now it works for me. Underneath the rear sights, there are unique plastic tabs that assist in racking the slide.
There is a loaded chamber and cocked striker indicators, which are nice features just to have.
I had a lot of dry fire practice with it and took it to the Falcon Ops Group LEO 1.5 Pistol Deployment Course, where I shot it for the first time. I shot over 500 rounds without fail. I did however run into an issue with my thumb placement on the slide release lever. I noticed that it wasn’t going to slide lock when it was empty. I quickly adjusted my where I placed my thumb and haven’t had an issue since.
So why go with the VP9? The biggest advantage the VP9 had over the P229 is the trigger. A striker fire system is much simpler to operate than a DA/SA hammer fired system. I no longer have to pull a 13 lb trigger or have to decock the hammer before I move or reholster, all I have to do it draw fire and reholster. I was used to the DA/SA but if it could be simpler, why not?
The VP9’s magazine capacity is 15 over the P229’s 13. The VP9 uses the same magazine as the P30 but let me tell you, they are like unicorns, extremely scarce. I was luckily able to grab a few more from RifleGear.

I had the Surefire X200b on my P229, which outputs 80-100 lumens. The new X300U on my VP9 outputs 300 lumens giving me over three times the power!
Since the VP9 was released late last year, Safariland was working on a duty holster solution for it. I was emailing Safariland back and forth to get them to make a duty holster that will also accommodate the Surefire X300U. They came through and I special ordered it from Tactical Pro Shop. The Safariland level 3 holster for the VP9 fits like a glove and is much more secure than the level 2 for the P229. The P229 had a tiny bit of wiggle room and would rattle with each step as I walked. The ALS on the VP9 keeps it snug and quiet.

The VP9 is significantly lighter in weight than P229. The moment I switched duty weapons, I could feel the difference.
Before you can carry any weapon, especially your duty weapon, you need to have it inspected by a department armorer. After being approved, you need to qualify with it right away. My VP9 was the armorer’s first one he had ever seen. He took his time going over it and was impressed with it after he took it apart. Qualifying was a breeze with it and I didn’t have to worry about that heavy first trigger pull or decocking the hammer.
As of right now, I am the first and only one in my department carrying the VP9 on duty.

Training and experience are, in my opinion, the most important things to a Peace Officer. There are many things that officers go through that are similar like the academy. Not all academies are the same and all have their own standards, but every officer must graduate in order to start their careers. From there it’s an individual, independent journey that each officer goes on throughout their careers. Police Officers who work for a City will start their FTO program with their respective departments; Sheriff’s Deputies will either start their FTO program in the county jail or the courts.
Once an officer/deputy passes the FTO program, they are on probation for 12-18 months. After the probation period is passed there are many opportunities for them to choose their own paths. In the Law Enforcement field, there are endless assignments , depending on the size of the department.
Each officer usually have their goals in mind before they started the academy. I’m not going to list them, there’s too many. You can go to any department website and see all of the services they provide.
My training and experience is unique to me as it is with everyone else. I started in Law Enforcement when I was 16 years old as an Explorer. I moved up the ranks to Explorer Lieutenant, which in my department, I was the commander of my division. Our Explorer program was huge, we have a few hundred Explorers in multiple divisions across the county. I continued with the Explorers up to the point I was hired to become a sworn officer at 21.
I started to work at a minimum security jail, awaiting to attend the academy. It was an eye opener for me, I’ve never had any interactions with inmates or the criminal element while in uniform. At first, I was not very assertive because of my usual friendly personality. I didn’t start there with much of a command presence until one day, I was telling an inmate not to talk while walking back to my compound. He responded by laughing at me when he was out of my line of sight. I had a very good Sergeant who saw the entire interaction and pulled that inmate aside and with colorful language, asked him what was so funny and that if he ever disrespected anyone who has a badge and uniform like he did, that he’d be sent back to a more secure facility. There was an instant attitude adjustment and the inmate apologized to me right after.
I soon attended the academy, which was an experience that was rewarding because of how difficult it was to accomplish, as it should be. My academy was a high stress and four months long. There I learned how to be a peace officer. From physical training, arrest and control techniques, firearms, laws, ethics, report writing, interrogation techniques and more. We were trained by the best tactical officers and instructors, who had a passion for making us the best officers we can be. Not everyone of us who started graduated. Most dropped on request, some were injured and some failed academically. Nonetheless, each and every classmate that graduated with me all went through the difficult academy together as a team and we all share a bond that will always stay with each of us.
After graduation, I was assigned to the same facility I was at before I left for the academy, which was nice because I knew all of my partners and was familiar with the facility. I found that inmates for the most part, would try in every way to take advantage of any weakness you show. So I became extremely strict and to letter of the law. Any inmate that didn’t follow my instructions or violated any jail rule was most definitely written up. Let’s say there were a lot of write-ups. I learned after a few months that writing everyone up for every single rule was not very effective since it was very time consuming to do so. I learned to pick my battles and how to communicate more effectively, making me much more effective and efficient at my job. This didn’t mean I stopped writing inmates up, I just wrote up those that really deserved it. To sum up my experience in the jails in one sentence, it is like babysitting adults.
After four years at the jail, I put in a transfer to go to court operations. It was a totally different world was entering. At the jail, I had very little interaction with the public. The main types of interactions I had at the jails were with visitors. When I got to the courthouse, I wasn’t used to dealing with members of the public, out of custody defendants and court staff. It took me a few weeks to get used to it. At the jail, inmates know not to get close to you, you usually had an invisible force field that no inmate entered or they might be deemed a threat and put against the wall or on the ground. At the courthouse, however members of the public have absolutely no clue and do not respect your space, some will be inches from your face to talk to you or think it’s okay to tap you on the shoulder. You just have to do your best to keep your distance and not have a use of force incident every time someone gets in your space. At the courthouse, you are always in close proximity to people, whether it be in the courtroom, hallway or anywhere, all you can do is be extremely proactive and alert at all times.
On my down time, I try my best to stay current on events and new tactics and technologies to stay relevant and up to date as it changes daily and over the years. Whether it be firearms, medical, hand to hand combat, it is always evolving.
I love what I do for a living and I can’t see myself doing anything else. I can honestly say that through all of my training both on and off duty and my professional and personal life experience has made me the most effective Officer I can be.

The Safariland Group brand needs no introduction of you’re a LEO or service member. Their motto is “Innovation not imitation.” From my own experience with their products, that is a true statement.
They are mostly known for their duty holsters, however they make all sorts of duty and tactical gear. Whatever you can think of, they probably make it: Sam Brownes, web gear, soft body armor, hard armor plates, ballistic helmets, electronic hearing protection and many other products that help keep those that go into harm’s way safer.
Every single duty holster that I have ever gone 10-8 with was made by Safariland, whether it was issued or bought myself. In my opinion, with my experience with many different holsters, nothing comes close to the quality that comes from Safariland. I trust no other Iof holster to secure my duty weapon. I was familiar with holsters since I was 16, back then I was an Explorer and we were trained by our advisors utilizing web gear and red guns. Most of the equipment was surplus or donated. We weren’t worried about retention so most of the holsters were simple Uncle Mike’s snap holsters. There usually never enough equipment to go around so we had to share. We would be trained on scenarios that would involve car stops, felony car stops, search warrant service, active shooter and too many to list. They were meant to show us first hand what the job was all about and to prepare some of us for competitions. I was very motivated and earned my place to represent my post in many competitions. Since I was serious about competing and more importantly about making it my career, I knew I needed my own equipment. I bought my own web gear, red gun and holster. It was a Safariland snap holster, basket weave for a Sig Sauer P226, which I had a red gun of.
Fast forward to 2008, I was being issued my equipment for the academy. I would be one of the very first classes to be issued the Glock 22 along with the Safariland level 3 retention holster. My department was going away from the Smith & Wesson model 99, which were horrible according to everyone who carried one. I did my research before attending the academy so I expected the level 3 holster. When my classmates and I donned our Sam Brownes with our new holsters attached, the armorer instructed all of us to holster and snap down. Then he told us to draw, only a handful of us were able to get our weapons out while the rest were struggling to figure out why their weapon was stuck. They weren’t expecting the ALS or Auto Locking System.
A quick explanation into retention systems and levels:
Level 1: Friction from the holster holds the weapon in. It can be adjusted by the user.
Level 2: SLS system (Self Locking System) this refers to the rotating hood that cover the end of the weapon. It replaces the snap on the older holsters. Once pushed forward, it’s out of the way until reactivated. It’s designed to help the user obtain a perfect master grip while drawing.

Level 3: ALS (Auto Locking System) this locks the weapon in place by locking into the ejection port of the weapon. A small tab has to be pushed down with the thumb to deactivate it once the hood is cleared. It’s automatically locks the weapon upon being holstered. Even with the hood being forward.
Level 4: Sentry system. This optional attachment could be added to a level 2 or 3 holster, raising it up a level. It locks the SLS hood in place and is deactivated with the thumb.
A lot of officers complain about having too much retention and that it’s more important to get your weapon out when you need it than to have secure from a gun grab. That may be true, but if you train with your setup enough, you will be able to draw you weapon just as fast with a level 3 as you would with a level 2. I know so because I’ve used both.
I started carrying a Weapon Mounted Light in 2009. Back then Safariland only had level 2 holsters for weapons that had lights attached. They were not able to secure the weapon without the light attached. It is the current holster that I have on as I am writing this.
Safariland lives up to its motto, they a definitely innovators because they took care of that issue with the WML’s.

I recently special ordered a newly designed level 3 holster for my HK VP9 + Surefire X300U. I have been practicing with it since I got it and I am impressed! It has the ALS system in place along with a barrel plug, allowing the weapon to be secured with or without the light.
Hopefully sometime tomorrow, I’ll have the VP9 as a my duty weapon for foreseeable future.
The VP9 became available late 2014. Safariland was quick to make holsters for it soon after. I was waiting for them to make one to accommodate the X300U. I’ve sent them emails and they were working as fast as they could to make sure that it was done right and they came through.
I would estimate that at least 90% or more of all duty holsters that are on duty belts or on drop legs are made by Safariland and for a good reason: they’re simply the best in the business.