Chime In: Former LEO TxCHL Forum Members

[bryang]

That was a good war story, Timothy, very funny.

Thanks,
-geo

[Charles L. Cotton]

Well, if it's war stories you want, here's one of my favorites. I can't post it here because I gave AC exclusive rights to it (early on I didn't know any better), but here's the link to A Memorable Traffic Stop.

I love it!

Chas.

[pedalman]

For the benefit of us civilians, what are the definitions of "Streamlight Technique" and "Wood Shampoo"?

[tfrazier]

Streamlight is a flashlight brand...halogen bulb computer centered in a highly reflective mirror housed in aircraft aluminum tube. With the added weight of the batteries, it becomes the equivalent of a lead pipe (which is how defense attorneys love to describe it when cross examining police officers). An excellent persuader.

The old ones came with a warning to never leave them on and unattended near anything flamable. If one has been on for several seconds and you touch the lens to bare skin...well, it will certainly induce a reaction.

A wood shampoo consists of a wooden baton being applied to the top of the skull, sometimes with lots of repeats but no rinsing.

Then there's the old "screen test" technique for unruly sunjects in the back seat that results in an intriging "waffle face" effect.

Not the I ever used any of these tactics...

[pedalman]

I have a 4-cell Maglight that could be considered to be a pipe.

I guess some folks will never realize that in the long term, it does no good to resist arrest. Of course, being the good boy that I am , I have never been arrested in my life. Therefore, I am not familiar with these....ummm....shall we say...pain compliance techniques.

[Keith B]

Streamlight is a flashlight brand...halogen bulb computer centered in a highly reflective mirror housed in aircraft aluminum tube. With the added weight of the batteries, it becomes the equivalent of a lead pipe (which is how defense attorneys love to describe it when cross examining police officers). An excellent persuader.

The old ones came with a warning to never leave them on and unattended near anything flamable. If one has been on for several seconds and you touch the lens to bare skin...well, it will certainly induce a reaction.

A wood shampoo consists of a wooden baton being applied to the top of the skull, sometimes with lots of repeats but no rinsing.

Then there's the old "screen test" technique for unruly subjects in the back seat that results in an intriguing "waffle face" effect.

Not the I ever used any of these tactics...

The Streamlight technique is VERY effective. I never used it on anyone, but sure as heck burned myself a couple of times!!! LOL

In all seriousness, I preferred the methods that were baton focused, a thumb against an individual's Mandibular Angle, or a good shot of CN Chemical Mace™ to try and make someone who is uncooperative comply with directives. The thumb technique worked pretty well to remove a driver from hands being locked on a steering wheel. The only problem with any pain induced technique is that they often didn't work as well on subjects that were under the influence of mind altering drugs or were mentally ill. They seemed to have extremely high pain thresholds. A personal story on this in a separate post (since the war stories are being told )

[Keith B]

I have a few favorites from my time in uniform.

One is when we arrested a professional wrestler (to remain nameless in this post) who was very well known during the 70's. I was riding with a regular officer and we stopped his car about 2AM for suspected DWI. We immediately recognized him when we approached the car. We administered a field sobriety and he was borderline. We advised him he was under arrest for suspicion of DWI. When we went to put the handcuffs on him, they wouldn't fit around his wrists pre-zip-tie days). We tried to lock two sets together, but they didn't close properly. He was very cooperative (thankfully) so we just put him in the back of the car. Once we got him to the station, he was .07 on the breathalyser. He advised he had been up for a long time, and that along with a couple of beers was impairing his driving (with his size, I think it was more like a six-pack! LOL.) He was very polite and apologetic. We got him some coffee, and some of the other officers came in and visited and even got autographs . We actually let him catch about an hour nap in temporary holding cell and he was good to go after that. We took him back to his car and he was on his way.

In another DWI stop, the individual was resisting after I advised he was being taken down for a breathalyser. He started to try and fight and I gave him a load of CN in the face. He stopped fighting and I cuffed him and got him in the car. In those days, we just had a screen and no Plexiglas shield across it. I got in the car and started to pull out. Now, for those of you that have never had a 'macing' it will open up your sinuses something fierce! Apparently this guy had a REALLY nasty cold and clogged sinuses. He decided to shake his head like a dog shaking off water while blowing his nose. It went all over the back of the car and came through the screen. I hit the brakes, giving him a good case of whiplash, and told him if he did that again I would just shoot him! In his intoxicated condition, he apparently believed me and complied with all directions from that point. I was just glad we had a fleet maintenance crew (2 guys ) that cleaned our cars.

Plenty of other stories for later.

[tfrazier]

Not a war story per say, but a stupid thing I did on duty one day:

I was sitting in the squad car at a car wash across the street from the funeral home. I'd been assigned to escort the procession and the service was due to end any minute. Fortunately there were no bystanders in the area at the time of the event.

Our shotgun racks were the exact opposite of the old 'suicide racks'. The gun mounted pointing at the floor and was canted with the stock in perfect position to serve as a driver arm rest.

Our department had a strict vehicle inspection policy. When we arrived for our shift we had to check several things on the vehicle and sign off a paper checklist. On that checklist were items such as:
Shotgun safety on?
Shotgun chamber empty?

Like some of the other officers, I tended to sign off the list without actually doing the inspection. That was one of those days.

So, I'm sitting in the car with nothing to do and decide to verify the safety is on. This was a Remington 870 pump model riot gun with the safety button near the back of the trigger guard.

I reached down and poked my index finger at the right side of the guard...except I was doing it by feel instead of looking and my finger was a half inch too far forward.



A twelve gauge slug discharged in a closed vehicle is the equivalent of three hours front row at an Ozzy Osbourne concert with no ear plugs. I felt like someone had just rapped me on the head with a two-by-four.

After the smoke cleared and I coughed the cordite fumes out of my lungs, I inspected the quarter-sized hole in the floorboard to see if perhaps I could pull the frayed carpet edges around and cover up my stupidity. It was passable.

Then I started the car up. The dash lights went nuts and there was a distinct odor of motor oil. The slug had bounced off the concrete under the car and passed through the oil pan, also tearing up part of the wiring harness as it left the corner of the pan and ricocheted up the inside of the engine compartment.

No hiding that.

I called the sergeant, got another squad to cover the funeral escort, and the next day began my well deserved seven day suspension without pay and subsequent firearms safety remedial training.

You know, sometimes those policies are in place for good reasons.

[nuparadigm]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

[tfrazier]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

That counts double in my book! Rough job!

[KRM45]

I'm a reserve officer with a good sized DFW area department.

[nuparadigm]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

That counts double in my book! Rough job!

Thanks. Please do a search on the two Agents you see in my signature line.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

Then I know you have some stories!

Chas.

[bryang]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

That counts double in my book! Rough job!

Thanks. Please do a search on the two Agents you see in my signature line.

That was very good information concerning Newton-azark and what happen to them. I had never heard about Theodore L. Newton Jr. and George F. Azrak before. Two very deserving hero's that gave their life in the line of duty and the service of their Country.

Thanks, for reminding us.

-geo

[nuparadigm]

Never was a Texas peace officer, but I am a retired Border Patrol Agent.

Then I know you have some stories!

Chas.

http://agentnowhere.blogspot.com/ is where I have written some of the less grizzly ones. There are many that I don't want to remember, but still do. Those will not be written down anywhere.