I’m spending this week at the High Liability Instructors Conference hosted by the Florida Public Safety Institute and Tallahassee Community College. Cops working alongside paramedics et. al., public servants who respond to dangerous situations with human life on the line.  It builds character doing that day after day, so you always meet quality people at gatherings like this.

I’m teaching each day, but in free periods I take every class I can. It ain’t just about guns and bullets and smackin’ folks. I caught an excellent lecture from Tania Penderakis, an expert in body language and detection of deception.  I’ve been studying body language and teaching it for years – in all the time I’ve been writing for Backwoods Home, the single most popular reprint request for one of my articles was the one on recognizing assaultive behavior cues – but this erudite lady is deeper into it than I am, and I picked up some new info from her. So can you, at her website, www.AthenaTraining.net.

Another great trainer I got to spend some time learning from is Michelle Santamaria, a prosecutor with the Palm Beach County, FL State’s Attorney’s office. Her advice to investigating and arresting officers on how to testify in court was absolutely spot on.

There’s lots of gunfire on the range, and the cannon-like explosives from the class on breaching, and the mats are busy and sweaty in the Defensive Tactics center as police instructors drill on unarmed restraint of violent suspects, the latest in TASER training, and related topics.  But classes like Michelle’s and Tania’s remind us that The Job is about people more than anything else.

Comforting and reassuring the people who’ve been victimized, and helping to restore their peace of mind. Assessing, outsmarting, and bringing to justice the worst of the worst. Protecting your own when they’re violently attacked, or falsely sued and slandered after they’ve fulfilled their oath to protect and serve.

A week like this rekindles the spirit. Any cops, paramedics, corrections officers, etc. reading this need to touch bases with the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center in Havana, FL which sets it up each year. The tuition is ridiculously cheap; they can put you up in police academy housing; and the training as absolutely top-notch.

The host facility is excellent.

Penderakis is an expert on body language.

Santamaria lectures on principles of testimony for arresting officers.

A class of baby troopers shares the facility with assembled instructors.

1 COMMENT

  1. Mas, I have a question about training of LE people relating to dangerous dogs. Background: I live in the county just north of Palm Beach County (Martin County). A few weeks ago, a 14 year old girl was killed in Palm Beach County by loose pit bulls. The local LE officers went to the scene and were threatened by the dogs. The officers shot the dogs after fearing for their safety.

    The counties south of Palm Beach ( Broward and Miami-Dade) have outlawed pit bulls. I know that some feel that these dogs are misunderstood, but in my experience they can be very dangerous.

    In your experience, have you ever attended or heard of LE classes that deal with dangerous animals? Of course K-9 officers get extensive dog training, but how about for regular LE officers? Loose dangerous dogs are a real problem in South Florida.

    Thank you.

  2. Mas, any comment on the CNBC special report on Remington? Context was that besides civilians, they mentioned both military and LE SWAT folks who document the “defect” with the 700 trigger. You have experience with this?

  3. Massad, is there any way we can legally carry in Mexico? I am sure the answer is no. But if we (I) have to do a lot of business and travel to places like Monterrey I wish there was a way.
    Hugs

  4. Fred, I treat dogs like people: I don’t worry about the breed, but treat the individual specimen based on its behavior. Most cops seem to feel the same.

    Mike, the Remington 600 and 700 discussion has been going on for many years. The Remington Model 700 remains the most popular precision rifle in the collective SWAT armory. Remington has a website up to answer the allegations in the recent TV show, I suspect a Google search should get you to it.

    Karen, I’m aware of NO way you can bring a firearm into Mexico. Check with their consulate, but my advice is not to have so much as a spent cartridge casing in your possession or your vehicle when you cross the border.

    Best to all,
    Mas

  6. We just had a major fiasco here in North Carolina.
    Three officers (Raleigh PD) responded to a call about a disorderly woman – and ended up shooting her even though it was immediately known that she was unarmed.
    Since then, it has come out in the local paper that two of the three officers are 23 years old – and haven’t been in police work for two years yet.
    This is part of a pattern – very-inexperienced, very-young officers, no on-scene supervision or colleague who’s more experienced, and things get wildly out of hand.