"Chicago shootings" Training & The Proper Tools Need to be supplied to avoid these Tragedies Max Garbarino Opinion

“You don’t blame the officers; you blame the training they receive,” Wexler said. “It is every police officer’s nightmare to have an outcome like what happened in Chicago this weekend. It really is. It’s not what any good officer wants.”

I think Wexler hit this right on the nose.  Our police officers need to be supplied with proper training and the right tools or these tragedies will keep happening.  When we invest in our police we have better results, you cut it to bare bones and this is what happens....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/12/29/why-police-calls-involving-the-mentally-ill-often-end-in-tragedy/

"Mich. officials push back as feds recall military gear" Max Garbarino Opinion

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/23/mich-officials-push-back-feds-recall-military-gear/77865306/

Every time I see this it amazes me how ridiculous it is.  The Departments losing these have always used them responsibly, they clearly preserve life by enhancing officer safety, and have been in these departments hands for years without problems.  Now they have to go out and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace them for what reason?  Because its satisfying some political agenda.....

www.maxgarbarino.com

"Police in Michigan using automatic license plate readers, raising controversy" Max Garbarino Opinion

So this may be raising controversy only because people don't like it.  License plates that are visible to the public are checked everyday all day by officers on the streets.  The only difference is that this is automated and allows officers to quickly locate stolen cars, wanted fugitives, and vehicles of interest.  This is not retaining the information but simply used to scan what's around the officer.  Bob Stevenson is completely correct.

http://www.wwmt.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Police-in-MIchigan-using-automatic-license-plate-readers-raising-controversy-244624.shtml#.Vnt7S7DSmUk

Emergency Managment in Lincoln Park...... Max Garbarino Opinion

The best part of this is "Lincoln Park officials will run the city, but have to go through the transition board for major contracts “to make sure things don’t go off the rails." If history is any indicator from the other emergency managment municipalitys they will not run anything even with the EM gone. At least until the TAB board and state are gone.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2015/12/22/lincoln-parks-financial-emergency-state-says/77758476/

Big Change to Law enforcment operations! "Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (H.R. 2029), which was signed into law on December 18, 2015" Wow.... Max Garbarino Opinion

So..."Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (H.R. 2029), which was signed into law on December 18, 2015"  As a result the DOJ announced that, effective immediately, all new equitable sharing payments to state and local law enforcement agencies through the federal asset forfeiture program will cease for the foreseeable future.

 

Wow, this is seriously going to change local law enforcement.  Many departments of all sizes use these funds for all kinds of things such as scout cars, gear, training, the works.  Some more than others are going to have real problems because of this move.  Those municipalities that have been shorting the funding on their police departments are going to have to pony up or consider alternative options.... this is a big change.

Deescalation Training...Max Garbarino Opinion

This is good...this should be trained in constantly.  The more of this equals far less physical confrontations and people hurt.

http://www.vice.com/read/i-went-to-a-class-that-trains-cops-to-use-words-not-guns

Ghost Guns......Max Garbarino Opinion

What I find even more interesting is the people in the third world countries making them by hand in the jungle from blocks of metal.  Building an AR15 is easy but the ones built in the jungle by people doing it to simply put food on the table is amazing.  Either way this is not a good thing.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article50685560.html

Max Garbarino Opinion....Nice Job NJ

NJ is really stepping up to the plate!

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/12/state_to_pay_for_body_cameras_for_thousands_of_nj.html

max Garbarino Opinion.... Gallup Pole

This Gallup pole on Americans Faith Honesty in Police is interesting.  We are far below how nurses rate and way above members of Congress.  I guess I should have expected that.  It ha increased as of recently and we haven't hit the low like it was in the 70's so I guess were not doing to bad....


http://www.gallup.com/poll/187874/americans-faith-honesty-ethics-police-rebounds.aspx

Max Garbarino Opinion...Sensitivity Should Be a Vital Element In Policing

So I really like the headline of this article.  Although it speaks to India and likely is more geared to people just not getting beaten there.  I think the headline still hits home for us here.  More sensitivity in policing is a good concept and I believe many police departments would increase their relationship and support from their respective communities by doing so.  Who knows maybe we could do wonders to change our image as a profession.

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sensitivity-should-be-a-vital-element-of-policing-pm-modi-1257044

Max Garbarino Opinion Mental Health and Police Call Outs

Now this article is great.  In Washington they are cross training police on mental health and sending mental Health professionals out on police call outs.  This is a great idea as police are often challenged with dealing with mentally ill individuals and not properly equipped.  This is a wonderful step in the right direction.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/mental-health-workers-to-join-police-on-callouts-in-worldfirst-trial-20151214-gln0bt.html

Max Garbarino Opinion Drones

Now this is interesting.  The article is talking about how Pakistan is using drones to monitor mass gatherings and such.  These things are amazing, the more they become prolific the more we are going to see legal challenges to their use in law enforcement and civilian circles. 

http://www.dawn.com/news/1226220/drone-cameras-more-efficient-than-cctv-helicopters

Max Garbarino Opinion

Hiring minorities and women is challenging for every agency.  Its particularly acute in small agencies with limited resources and limited ability to attract qualified candidates.  This truly takes an all in effort from the Chief down to accomplish.  Its an absolute necessity to do!

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/challenge-remains-in-hiring-minority-female-police-officers/article_36979ced-346a-53a9-9ede-c8c2e37872a0.html

Max Garbarino Opinion

I think this is great the the FD is getting more involved.  I know of at least one department here in southeastern MI were their SWAT team actually has a FD medic on their entry team.  I think they should all be cross trained.  I'm not saying make the FD be cops but having the skills makes everyone that much more safer.

http://www.azfamily.com/story/30736908/tempe-firefighters-to-play-more-active-role-in-active-shooting-situations

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All these negative police articles are getting out of control...

Every day I scan police related articles and it is all negative.  No good headlines to be found....very very sad.  I think people enjoy reveling in their imagined police state fantasy...