BLM 2002-02.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Inside This Edition Volume 14 Number 2 February 2002 Publisher’s Commentary 4 Taking command of a dangerous situation Blue Line Magazine Canadian DNA Database 6 12A-4981 Hwy 7 East Ste 254 One of the world’s best Markham, ON Canada L3R 1N1 New breathing apparatus 10 designed for police Ph: 905 640-3048 Fax: 905 640-7547 e-mail: [email protected] R-E-M-O-V-E Clutter 12 - Publisher / Editor - from your Desktop Morley S. Lymburner e-mail: [email protected] Stopping power and shot placement 13 - General Manager - Geographic Information Systems 14 Mary Lymburner, M.Ed. for street cops e-mail: [email protected] Video taping domestics boosts convictions 17 - Managing Editor - Black box proposal scuttled - for now 18 Mark Reesor e-mail: [email protected] PERSONAL COMPUTING 19 Overcoming fear of PCs - News Editor - Les Linder Helping to fill the gap in community 21 e-mail: [email protected] problem solving - Advertising - DEEP BLUE 22 Blue Line’s annual Supply and Service Mary Lymburner Thought disorders puzzling for everyone Guide brings you the most comprehensive di- Kieran Huggins CORRESPONDENCE 23 rectory anywhere of businesses selling prod- Bob Murray ucts and services to the Canadian law enforce- Dave Douglas ment community. Product categories range e-mail: [email protected] TECHNOLOGY 24 Now you can put CPIC in your pocket from Access Control to Wireless Communica- - Pre-press Production - tions and the guide has complete corporate CASE LAW Del Wall • Strip Searches 28 listings — names, addresses and phone/fax - Contributing Editors - • Access to property 62 numbers. Communication Skills Terry Barker • Negligence 63 Those looking for what’s new in products and services will also want to mark April 23 Police Management Robert Lunney First impressions count 30 Tactical Firearms Dave Brown A critical review of the police and 24 on their calendars; that’s the dates of the Technology Tom Rataj uniform tendering process sixth annual Blue Line Response Trade Show. Psychology Dorothy Cotton News editor Les Linder reports on Cana- Case Law Mike Novakowski FIREARMS 32 da’s national DNA databank, recognized as one Blue Line Magazine is published monthly, September to June, Cover is where you find it of the best in the world, in an article beginning by Blue Line Magazine Incorporated with a mailing address of: 12A - 4981 Hwy. 7 East, Ste. 254, Just ordinary people doing 34 on page six. The databank linked over 100 cases Markham, Ontario, L3R 1N1. extraordinary things to convicted criminals last year but could do Individual magazines are $3.50 each. Subscriptions are One officers view of Ground Zero $25.00 per year or $40.00 for 2 years. (Foreign - $50.00 U.S.) much more with a little support, according to the officer in charge. ©2002 - All articles are protected by copyright. No part of this Michigan State Police 2002 test 36 publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by Special service vehicles There’s a common misconception that the any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying 9mm bullet has more stopping power than the and recording or by any information storage or retrieval system WINNING STRATEGIES FOR LIFE 38 old .38 special round. Cst. Dean Steinberg without permission from the publisher. Internet activity is When the job overwhelms you monitored and use or reposting of material on the Internet sets things straight on page 13. is restricted. Geographic information systems helped All material submitted for publication becomes the property of 6th ANNUAL TRADE SHOW 40 Blue Line Magazine unless other arrangements have been made and SYMPOSIUM keep the pace during the Summit of the Ameri- with the publisher. ca’s conference in Quebec City. Read how four The authors, advisors and Publisher accept no liability whatsoever Canadian police services are using the technol- for any injuries to persons or property resulting from the application or 2002 Supply and Services Guide 41 adoption of any of the procedures, tactics or considerations presented ogy to help street cops on page14. in this magazine. Readers are cautioned and advised that articles Videotaping domestic disputes is help- presented herein are edited and supplied for your personal awareness and should not be used for further action until appropriate advice and When do freedom fighters 66 ing Canadian police services increase convic- guidance is received from a supervisor, Crown Attorney or other become terrorists? tions — that story begins on page 17; a pro- person in authority. posal for black boxes in police cars in Niagara Established in 1988, Blue Line Magazine is an independent VITALITY 67 publication designed to inform, entertain, educate and upgrade the Falls, Ontario has been scuttled, at least for skills of those involved in the law enforcement profession. It has no Why Diet direct control from a law enforcement agency and its opinions and now — see page 18; Tricia Rudy doesn’t hold articles do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any government, Police Leader of the Year nominee 68 back in telling us what’s wrong with police uni- police, or law enforcement agency. Blue Line Magazine is a private form tendering processes on page 30; Sergeant venture and as such is not funded through any level of government The Last Noose 70 agency, union or association. Ontario Lisa Thomas has a first-hand view of Ground Zero after the September 11 attack on page 34. - Affiliations - PRODUCT NEWS 71 This jam packed, 80 page issue also has the International Association of Law Enforcement Planners Michigan State Police special vehicles tests Canadian Advertising Rates & Data Street Legal in Saskatoon 74 Saskatoon cops take street racing seriously (page 36), a report on Asian crime from a International Police Association Calgary officer currently in Vietnam, The Police Leadership Forum The Canadian Press Newswire THE BLUE LINE FORUM 75 Saskatoon’s successful Street Legal Racing Program, which deters illegal street drag racing Printed in Canada BLUE LINE CLASSIFIED 77 (page 74) and Blue Line’s regular columnists ISSN #0847 8538 THE BACK OF THE BOOK 78 and features - Case Law, Firearms Editor Dave Canada Post - Canadian Publications Mail Can we legislate around Brown, Dr. Dorothy Cotton, Tom Rataj, Vital- Product Sales Agreement No. 176796 discretionary limitations? ity... the list goes on! February 2002 3 BlueBlue LineLine MagazineMagazine Taking command of a dangerous situation by Morley Lymburner We certainly know that determined crimi- concerned about officer safety they would dis- I have been on this subject many times be- nals exist. RCMP Constable Strongquill and courage the use of exterior carriers and encour- fore and Blue Line Magazine has been harping Sudbury Police Constable MacDonald’s deaths age the use of wick-away undergarments spe- about the exterior carriers that officers across are both attributable to very determined gun cifically designed for armour. Police departments Canada have been conned into believing is so wielding criminals. These guys practice the art should issue them and unions should lobby for wonderful. Recently an officer sent me a mes- of firearms control and kill-zone targeting. They them. Police departments should outlaw exte- sage requesting that I help him make a proposal will not simply aim for the largest mass if you rior carriers and unions should support them. to his chief to have the carriers banned within show them that this zone has armour. Sometimes you have to work together for the their department. I would strongly suggest that if top level common good and there is no greater good than My point in return to this is simple. “Give police managers and union bosses are really officer safety. me a proposal to show the advantages of wear- ing them!” Over the past four years that I have gone public about my absolute hatred of exterior carriers I have not received one good argu- ment in their favour. I have disliked these things so much that I now refuse to put any picture on the magazine’s cover that shows them. This month’s cover attests to our re- solve on this issue. I would sooner go to a cartoon. I am working hard toward a policy that will exclude them from the inside of the magazine as well. I would suppose my disappointment is strongest with the command level of police serv- ices. I have spoken to many police managers across the country and have not found one that supports officers wearing exterior carriers. When pressed they simply shrug their shoulders. Some point their fingers at the unions or the associa- tions or fall back on the axiom that “well at least they are wearing them and I am in favour of anything that encourages them to wear their vests.” This is, simply put, a “roll-over and give up” statement. I can only put it down to a lack of courage or a feeling that there are too many more impor- tant things to deal with. I certainly remember a time, not that long ago, when managerial en- forcement was extremely high on such things as keeping your hat on, not turning your collar up or having a cup of coffee in the scout car. None of which were safety concerns. These infrac- tions were aggressively enforced with a loss of a day’s pay for each infraction. There is no denying I lost a great deal of income my first year on the job. I think top managers should seriously look at an equally aggressive campaign to do away with something that can be a potential killer of cops. Those exterior vests are encouraging “kill- zone” target re-alignment. It is broadcasting to the world of criminals that you can be stopped by simply raising the barrel of the gun to target the head or you can be seriously slowed down by aiming lower.