Is Your Firearms Training Setting You Up for Failure?

Happy Holiday, it’s Monday, January 20th, 2025, Martin Luther King Day

You asked, and we listened. This week’s training section is on Firearms training and was a direct suggestion from you. If you have any other topics you want to discuss are talk about reply to this email.

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🗓️ What to Expect in This Issue:

• Case Law Scenario:
  A real-world patrol encounter at a bus stop—see how syringes in plain view led to an arrest.

• Last Week in Policing:
  A quick recap of major news and line-of-duty events from Jan 12–Jan 18, 2025.

• Legal Update:
  Commonwealth vs. Snowden—Can you arrest and search someone after spotting syringes?

• Training:
  Are your firearms training sessions realistic enough for on-the-job demands?

• Win Free Gifts:
  Learn how to use your referral link to earn free items.

🎯 TODAY'S SCENARIO

Scenario: You’re on patrol when you observe a female at a bus stop “nodding off” and using a trash can to maintain her balance. You approach the female and ask if she is ok, she responds “yes, I am just tired.” You see syringes in plain view in her purse, when you ask about them, the female denies their existence.

Keep reading to see the explanation and legal background!

📚 Last Week’s Recap: Jan 12 - Jan 18, 2025

Here’s what went down in law enforcement last week:

📰 In the News

1. Chicago Council Rejects Plan to Cooperate with ICE on Criminal Migrants
Chicago officials have blocked a proposal that would have allowed local law enforcement to coordinate with ICE when targeting criminal migrants. The decision highlights the ongoing tension between federal immigration policies and local governance.
Read More

2. New Ohio Law Permits Charging Up to $750 for Public Records Requests
Ohio police departments can now charge as much as $750 for fulfilling public records requests, sparking debate on transparency and budget implications. Law enforcement agencies cite rising administrative costs, while open-government advocates raise concerns about limited public access.
Read More

3. ‘Drug-Addicted’ Rats Infest Houston PD Evidence Room
The Houston Police Department is dealing with an unusual infestation: rats reportedly consuming narcotics within the evidence room. Officials are scrambling to protect case integrity while also addressing health and safety concerns for officers and staff.
Read More

4. Virginia NAACP Opposes Bill Protecting Law Enforcement Witnesses
In Virginia, the NAACP is urging lawmakers to reject a bill that would extend legal protections for officers who testify in court. Opponents argue it may reduce accountability in criminal proceedings, while proponents say it ensures officer safety and truthful testimony.
Read More

👮‍♂️ Weekly line of duty deaths: 2

 💪🏽 Training
Are Your Firearms Training Realistic Enough for the Job?

Firearms proficiency is a critical skill for law enforcement, yet how departments approach training varies widely. Some agencies offer comprehensive firearms programs, complete with ample training days, time, and ammunition, while others leave officers scrambling to maintain proficiency on their own time and dime.

The Reality of Firearms Training

For many officers, range days are few and far between. Departments may require qualifications only once or twice a year, often under controlled conditions that don’t reflect the high-pressure scenarios officers face in the field.

Here’s what departments should be asking:

1. Are Officers Getting Enough Training?

   • How many mandatory range days does your agency provide annually?

   • Does this training go beyond basic qualifications and include dynamic, real-world scenarios?

2. Who Covers the Costs?

   • Does your agency supply sufficient ammunition and range time?

   • Are officers expected to pay out of pocket for additional training?

3. Is the Training Practical?

   • Does it replicate the challenges officers may face on the job, like shooting on the move, in low-light conditions, or in high-stress scenarios?

What Should Agencies Be Doing?

• Regular and Frequent Training:
  Agencies should aim for at least quarterly firearms training sessions, with scenarios that simulate real-world encounters.

• Department-Supplied Resources:
  Officers shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket for ammo or range time. Departments need to prioritize these resources to ensure officer readiness.

• Dynamic Training:
  Incorporate movement, decision-making, and stress into training to better prepare officers for unpredictable situations.

Follow along as we debate this out in the podcast.

🏛 Legal Update: Commonwealth Vs Snowden
Can you arrest and search an individual after seeing syringes, in plain view, in their possession?

• On June 6, 2022, Officer Ryan Lawrence observed Brandi Snowden at a bus stop in a state of apparent drowsiness, leaning on a trash can and nodding off.

• Concerned for her well-being, Officer Lawrence approached Snowden and requested her identification. As Snowden searched her purse, Officer Lawrence noticed syringes in plain view.

• Subsequently, Snowden was arrested, and a search of her purse revealed seven stamp bags labeled "Popeye," containing heroin and fentanyl, along with a Ziploc bag of methamphetamine.

Arguments Against the Charges:

• Snowden filed a motion to suppress the evidence obtained during the search, arguing that her arrest lacked probable cause and that the subsequent search of her purse was unlawful. She contended that the mere presence of syringes did not justify her arrest or the search that followed.

Court's Rationale:

• The trial court denied Snowden's motion to suppress, leading to her conviction.

• Officer Lawrence had probable cause for the arrest based on his observations and the visible syringes, which, in his experience, were indicative of illegal drug use.

• The court held that the search of Snowden's purse was a lawful search incident to a valid arrest, and the evidence obtained was admissible

Answer to the Poll:
The answer to the poll is, yes, the arrest and search was legal. It is important to note, however, the officer testified to the totality of the circumstances (nodding off, needing to lean on a trash can for balance, Snowden attempting to hide the needles and deny their existence.) The officer also testified to his training and experience when it came to the relation between syringes and drug use/possession.

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