Drone Threat Mitigation and UAV Deployment: The Next Tactical Frontier in American Policing

Drones have become one of the most disruptive forces in modern policing. Once considered recreational gadgets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) now occupy the same tactical significance as radios, patrol cars, and body-worn cameras. They represent both a powerful tool for law enforcement and a growing threat exploited by criminals, cartels, and hostile actors. As agencies move deeper into 2026, drone threat mitigation and UAV deployment have shifted from optional skillsets to essential operational competencies.

The Expanding Airborne Threat

In recent years, criminal misuse of drones has grown rapidly. The Department of Homeland Security reports that drones have been used to drop contraband into correctional facilities, conduct surveillance of police activity, and attempt to disrupt critical infrastructure. Border authorities have documented cartel-operated drones conducting reconnaissance and moving narcotics across the Southwest border.

Off-the-shelf quadcopters, racing-style FPV drones, and autonomous GPS-guided models are now inexpensive, powerful, and easy to modify. Many can carry payloads, stream encrypted video, or maneuver at speeds and angles that make detection difficult. For patrol officers and tactical teams, this means the airspace above them has become a new vulnerability—one criminals can exploit without ever being physically present.

Understanding Criminal Drone Tactics

Criminal and extremist groups have studied police response patterns and increasingly use drones in ways that complicate officer safety and operations. Common applications include reconnaissance of tactical positions, surveillance during warrant service, real-time streaming of officer movements to aid in escape or ambush, contraband drops to jails and prisons, and harassment or intimidation during public events.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also warned that drones could be used to deploy hazardous materials, ignite fires, or drop small explosive devices. While such incidents remain rare in the United States, international case studies show a clear trajectory: hostile drone activity tends to expand as technology becomes cheaper and more capable.

Tactical Risks to Officers

The presence of a drone above a crime scene or tactical operation introduces several immediate risks. Drones can compromise positions by revealing the location of officers preparing for entry. They can monitor approach routes, document vehicle movements, or beam video to an accomplice nearby. FPV drones—high-speed first-person-view aircraft—can rapidly close distance on officers with little warning and may be equipped with improvised payloads.

Beyond physical risk, hostile drones create operational noise: distractions, uncertainty, and information gaps that slow decision-making. For command staff, the difficulty lies in determining whether a drone is merely recreational, opportunistic, or part of a coordinated threat.

Legal Boundaries and Authority Limits

One of the most significant challenges for police agencies is the legal framework. Most counter-drone tactics, including signal jamming, GPS interference, or physically disabling a drone, are prohibited under federal law except for a limited set of federal agencies.

Local and state police cannot shoot down drones, jam them, or interfere with their signals unless operating under specific federal authorization. This legal reality means that the majority of counter-drone responses must focus on detection, documentation, repositioning, and coordination with federal partners such as the FBI or DHS.

Understanding FAA regulations, airspace classifications, and lawful deployment of police-owned drones is now a basic competency for any department operating a UAV program.

Detection, Tracking, and Identification

The most realistic drone mitigation tools available to local law enforcement focus on detection and identification. Agencies across the United States are adopting RF scanners, acoustic sensors, radar systems tailored for low-altitude detection, and thermal imaging to identify drones in restricted areas. Some systems allow agencies to track the signal back to the operator, enabling ground teams to locate and detain the individual controlling the device.

Visual detection remains valuable but limited. Drones designed with dark exteriors, low profiles, or high-speed maneuverability can evade officers’ sight, especially during night operations.

Building a Department UAV Capability

While drones pose a threat, they also provide transformative capability for officers. Agencies large and small have adopted UAVs to support search and rescue operations, crime scene mapping, disaster response, vehicle pursuits, barricaded-suspect incidents, and SWAT overwatch.

Research by public safety organizations shows that drones reduce officer risk by allowing aerial observation before entry, improve situational awareness during high-risk calls, and provide thermal imaging capabilities that previously required aviation support units.

Departments launching UAV programs must address several core components: pilot certification, night-operation training, thermal imaging proficiency, pre-flight planning, emergency procedures, and integration with manned aircraft when helicopters are present.

Policies, SOPs, and Community Trust

Public acceptance of police drone programs relies heavily on clear policy. Transparent guidelines on flight purpose, privacy protections, data retention, and footage use are essential to maintaining trust. Agencies that publicly articulate their safeguards tend to face fewer complaints and less resistance to drone deployment.

Community engagement—public demonstrations, town halls, and informational campaigns—remains one of the most effective means of ensuring that UAV operations are seen as safety-enhancing rather than surveillance-driven.

Scenario-Based Training

Because drone threats are dynamic, scenario-based training is critical. Tactical teams must rehearse hostile drone encounters, simulate drone surveillance during a warrant service, practice repositioning to conceal movements, and integrate their own drones for overwatch. Departments that treat drone tactics as an afterthought risk being outmaneuvered by criminals who have embraced the technology more aggressively.

Preparing for the Air Threat of 2026

The airspace above police operations has become an active domain of concern. Criminal drone use will expand, not contract. Police UAV usage will grow more complex, not less. Agencies that develop disciplined, well-trained UAV programs and adopt defensive counter-drone awareness will be best positioned to protect officers and communities.

Drone threat mitigation is no longer futuristic. It is the new tactical frontier of modern policing.

---

References

Department of Homeland Security. (2024). Impact of artificial intelligence on criminal and illicit activities. Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2022). Unmanned aircraft systems: Emerging threats and homeland security challenges.

Federal Aviation Administration. (2023). Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) regulation summary.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (2023). Border security report: Unmanned aerial vehicles used in transnational criminal activity.

National Institute of Justice. (2022). Drones in law enforcement: Benefits, challenges, and best practices.

International Association of Chiefs of Police. (2023). Considerations for unmanned aircraft systems in public safety operations.

Introduction: The Digital Frontline of Policing

When an officer reaches into a patrol car to grab a body-camera or MDT (mobile data terminal) after a call, the mission is still “public safety.” But more and more, digital risk has become a part of that mission. Whether it's a phone issued by the department, a laptop used in an investigation, or a cloud upload of body-cam footage, each device and each bit of data is now a tactical asset — and if mishandled, a potential vulnerability.

In the field, cyber hygiene is not just an IT concern—it’s a matter of evidence integrity, officer safety, and organizational credibility. A compromised device can mean lost video, corrupted logs, delayed prosecutions, or worse: exposure of sensitive officer or victim data. The purpose of this essay is to translate cyber-security best practices into actionable field tactics for patrol and investigations—so that every person carrying a device can act like both a first-responder and a cyber-aware operator.

---

1. Understanding the Threat Landscape

1.1 Why It Matters in the Field

Police agencies increasingly rely on digital evidence: phones, body-cams, vehicle computers, cloud uploads, and remote investigation tools. If any of these are compromised—via malware, remote wipe, data exfiltration, or simply loss of chain of custody—the consequences ripple: cases drop, trust erodes, and officers face added risk.

1.2 Common Vectors & Attack Scenarios

Some of the most common vectors that matter operationally:

• Phishing / social engineering: An officer serving a subpoena opens a link that appears legitimate but leads to credential capture.

• Malicious USB or charger “juice-jacking”: Plugging a device into a public charger or unknown USB drive can invite malware or data theft.

• Compromised credentials & remote access: Weak passwords, reused logins, or exposed remote desktop protocol (RDP) leave systems vulnerable.

• Third-party/cloud compromise: When devices sync data to the cloud or use shared storage, the compromise may begin elsewhere and cascade.

• Evidence device handling failure: Improper seizure or storage of a phone or camera may alter metadata or allow remote erasure, undermining the case.

1.3 Why Patrol Units Must Care

Often, we think of cyber-risk as the domain of IT or the bomb squad—but the patrol officer is on the front line. Devices in squads and detectives’ cars are high‐mobility, connect to many environments, and are often managed in less controlled settings. That makes them the weakest link in many security chains.

The federal guidance from agencies such as Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and others reinforce this point: the majority of ransomware and data extortion incidents begin with basic access vectors such as compromised credentials or unpatched systems. (U.S. Department of War)
For police, the practical upshot: the device you hold, the upload you trigger, and the evidence you seize all carry risk—and all demand disciplined handling.

---

2. Core Principles of Field Cyber Hygiene

Below are five guiding principles that translate policy into patrol-level behavior.

2.1 Least Privilege

Only carry and use the accounts or applications you need for duty. Avoid using administrative logins if you only need user access; avoid personal cloud drives for casework. Ensuring minimal access limits exposure if a device is lost or compromised.

2.2 Separation (Personal vs Professional)

Keep personal and professional devices/data separated. If you use a personal phone or tablet for case-work, you merge two risk domains. Department-issued devices should be strictly for profession-related tasks; personal apps or social logins shouldn’t co-exist on them.

2.3 Strong Authentication & Encryption

Require auto-lock, long passphrases or biometric controls, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever supported. Encryption—both for stored data and device backup—means that if a device is lost or stolen, the data is protected.

2.4 Chain of Custody for Digital Evidence

The same rigor we apply to physical evidence—tagging, logging, hand-offs—must apply to digital devices. Metadata (timestamps, serial numbers, IMEI numbers, access logs) must be preserved. Failing to treat a phone or camera as “evidence” can jeopardize prosecutions.

2.5 Update Before You Operate

Devices should be patched and updated on schedule. Many successful intrusions hinge on unpatched software, exposed RDP services, or outdated firmware. The federal guide stresses this. (CIS)
In the field, this means: don’t delay updates, don’t bypass prompts, and schedule periodic audits of device status.

---

3. Tactical Handling of Digital Evidence

This section walks through how to treat digital devices and data from the moment you encounter them.

3.1 On-Scene Capture Protocols

When you seize a device or collect digital evidence:

• Photograph the device in situ: how it was connected, screen state, cables, surrounding environment. That establishes condition prior to handling.

• Prevent remote wipes or tampering: If policy allows, place the device in airplane mode, isolate from the network, or use a Faraday pouch. But avoid “clicking around” inside suspect devices—opening apps or triggering remote calls can alter metadata.

• Treat the device as you would a weapon: chain of custody begins at the scene.

3.2 Documentation & Labeling

Record the device’s make/model/serial/IMEI and note date/time/seizure location and collecting officer. Log screen status (locked/unlocked). Tag the device to the case number immediately. Maintain access logs if you (or units) access it later.

3.3 Transfer to Forensics/Storage

If the device will be forensically examined: (1) Do not connect to suspect networks. (2) Create a forensic image (if trained) or ensure transfer to qualified digital forensics unit. (3) Avoid previewing data unless absolutely necessary—previewing risks altering metadata or triggering remote wipes.
Legal guidance emphasizes preservation of system state, extraction of logs and memory images, and use of proper forensic methods. 

---

4. On-Shift Cyber Hygiene Habits for Patrol

These habits make the difference between “we’ve got a problem” and “we’re ready.”

4.1 Mobile Device Habits

• Disable auto-connect to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth networks. Before connecting to any network, verify SSID and security.

• Use only department-issued chargers/cables; avoid public phone-charging kiosks or unknown USB sticks (juice-jacking risk).

• Enable device auto-lock in a maximum of 2 minutes of inactivity.

• Use MFA for login and enforce strong passphrases (15+ characters if feasible).

• At shift end, confirm device is updated and logged off properly.

4.2 Vehicle/MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) Protocols

• Lock the screen when exiting vehicle, even if only briefly.

• Do not store personal files/media on MDTs or squad computers.

• Do not insert USB drives from unknown sources—treat as contaminated unless confirmed safe.

• For downtime (hardware refresh), treat vehicle computer as critical asset—update, patrol-only apps, network segmentation.

4.3 Email, Messaging & Cloud Uploads

• Be alert: phishers may mimic subpoenas, warrant services, or internal portals. Hover links, inspect senders, verify with a phone call if unsure.

• Do not share case files via personal Gmail, free messaging platforms, or unapproved cloud services. Use department-approved storage.

• For body-cam and other uploads: verify that the upload completed before clearing the camera or deleting local files. Know the retention schedule and redaction policy. 

• When networks are compromised, activate fallback manual (paper or voice) systems rather than exposing MDTs.

---

5. Supervisory & Policy-Level Reinforcements

It’s not enough for line officers to know—supervisors and department leadership must enable and enforce.

5.1 Supervisor Roll-Call Leadership

• Conduct short “cyber check” drills during roll call: ask “is your device locked now?”, “have you changed your passphrase since last update?”, “what would you do if you found a stranger’s USB in the squad car?”

• Enforce compliance: ensure all devices are patched, updated, and all credentials current.

• Model the behavior: supervisors should not bypass device-security steps themselves.

5.2 Policy, Training & Accountability

• Departments should codify rules: e.g., “No personal device may be used for case data access” or “MFA mandatory for all user accounts.”

• Update policy to reflect digital evidence handling: chain-of-custody logs for devices, clear labeling, device supplier protocols.

• Conduct quarterly audits and spot-checks.

• Integrate cyber-hygiene into annual in-service training, following federal standards. CISA’s #StopRansomware guide provides baseline controls. 

---

6. Case Studies: What Went Wrong and What We Learn

Case Study 1 — Metropolitan Police Department (District of Columbia) (MPD), 2021 – Ransomware

In 2021 the MPD was hit by a significant ransomware event involving the Babuk group. Sensitive internal files were reportedly exfiltrated and leaked. The operational impact was extensive: investigations slowed, case files were exposed, and the department’s public trust took a hit.
Lessons for field units:

• Attackers are targeting law-enforcement agencies directly—this demands the same vigilance that other critical infrastructure sectors use.

• Ensure network segmentation: patrol and investigative networks must be logically separated from administrative and public systems.

• Devices in vehicles (which connect to broader networks) must follow the same protections as desktop systems.

Case Study 2 — City of Dallas Ransomware Incident, May 2023

In May 2023 Dallas was hit by the “Royal” ransomware group. Multiple city services were impacted—including demand for remote access, printer push of ransom notes, and systems used by the police department.  The breach exposed personal information for tens of thousands of individuals (one report estimates 30,253 people) including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and health-insurance details.

 Operational impact for policing:

• The CAD/records system suffered outages, forcing manual processes and delaying investigations.

• Officer data was exposed, increasing risk of doxxing and operational vulnerability.
  Lessons learned:

• Digital readiness includes fallback operations: if CAD/records go down, patrol must have manual plans.

• Ensure minimal personally identifiable information (PII) exposure on devices and shared networks.

• Training for “what do we do when digital infrastructure fails” must be practiced.

Case Study 3 — City of Dallas Data Loss (DPD Archive), March 2021

In March 2021 the Dallas Police Department lost more than 20 terabytes of data — 8.26 million individual files, including archived images, video, and case-notes — when an IT employee mistakenly deleted cloud-storage files during a migration.  Operational impact:

• Ongoing investigations were put at risk; the district attorney alerted defense counsel to missing files.  Lessons learned:

• Human error remains a significant risk: policies and “failsafe” checks must be in place before change actions.

• Evidence handling is not just about field collection—archiving, storage, backup, and retrieval matter.

• Field units must ensure that device-seized data and investigative files are backed up in secure and verified systems.

---

7. Quick Reference Checklists

Patrol “Cyber-Clean” Checklist

• Lock device every time you step away (even briefly).

• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a strong passphrase (15+ characters preferred).

• Do not use public or unknown USB drives or chargers.

• Disable auto-connect to open Wi-Fi or Bluetooth unless verified.

• Confirm device software (OS/app) is up-to-date before your shift.

• Treat all case-related files as evidence: log collection, access, and hand-off.

On-Scene Digital Evidence Checklist

• Photograph the device as found (screen state, cables, surroundings).

• Record make, model, serial/IMEI, collection time, officer name.

• Prevent remote wipe/alteration (airplane mode/Faraday, if policy allows).

• Package and tag the device with case number; log the hand-off to evidence/forensics.

• Do not preview or open apps unless trained to do so; preserve metadata.

• Ensure forensic imaging or transfer to qualified unit; document every access until submitted.

Supervisor Spot-Check Card

• Are all issued devices patched and updated on schedule?

• Are personal devices being used for case-access or data upload?

• Are roll-calls including a cyber-check (device locks, charger inspection, USB/hardware review)?

• Does the unit have a plan for CAD/records outage or digital-service loss?

• Are retention and release policies for body-cam/cloud files posted and understood?

---

8. The Future: Digital Survival Skills for Officers

As policing advances, the digital environment will only grow in complexity. IoT devices in vehicles, body-cams with cloud integrations, predictive policing tools, and more cloud-native workflows mean the attack surface expands. Meanwhile, threat actors sharpen their skills: deep-fakes, voice-impersonation, remote device takeovers, coordinated data extortion.

What this means for the field:

• Digital awareness becomes part of officer survival. Just as you train for use-of-force or defensive tactics, plan for “what if my device is compromised.”

• Continuous learning: incorporate cyber-hygiene into annual training, roll-calls, and field drills.

• Resilience mindset: digital workflows will fail. Preparations for failure (manual backups, paper options, alternative comms) matter.

• Community trust: a breach or device loss doesn’t just affect one officer—it can undermine several investigations and public confidence.

---

9. Conclusion: From Keyboard to Courtroom

The devices we carry and the data we collect in the field aren’t “nice to have”—they are mission-essential. Cyber hygiene is not a tech locker or a policy document—it’s an operational reality. Safe devices, secure data, and sound evidence practices protect cases, careers, and community trust.

Start small: run a five-minute cyber check in each shift, use the checklists above, institutionalize the habit of “lock it, update it, treat it like evidence.” The field officer who pulls up for an investigation, secures their phone and body-cam upload—and knows the chain from collection to court—is the one who ensures justice is served.

---

References

1. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). #StopRansomware Guide. May 2023. (U.S. Department of War)

2. City of Dallas. The City of Dallas Ransomware Incident: May 2023 – Incident Remediation Efforts and Resolution. Sept 2023. (Dallas City Hall)

3. City of Dallas — Information & Technology Services Report on Data Loss. “Data Loss / Archive Files” Feb 2022. (Dallas City Hall)

4. Federal Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Updated Advisory on Potential Sanctions Risks for Facilitating Ransomware Payments. Sept 21 2021. (OFAC)

5. Loeb & Loeb LLP. “What Now? A Business Guide to Navigating Ransomware Attacks.” April 2022. (Loeb)

6. Cybersecurity Dive. “Dallas ransomware attack causes critical service outages.” May 4 2023. (Cybersecurity Dive)

7. Sangfor Technologies. “Dallas Ransomware Attack Affects 30,253 People.” Aug 29 2023. (SANGFOR)

The FBI Child ID App: A Free Tool to Help Keep Kids Safe

Today the FBI released a version of its Child ID App built for Android mobile devices.

The Child ID App provides parents and caregivers with an easy way to electronically store pictures and vital information about their children in case they go missing—whether it’s a toddler wandering away at the mall or a teen who has been snatched by a stranger.

Using the app, you can show pictures of your kids and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. You can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks. The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing.

An iPhone version of the app was first released in August 2011.

Download the free app for iPhones from the iTunes store or for Android on Google Play.

Special Forces Soldier

On May 22, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. United States Army (ret.).

Program Date: May 22, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Special Forces Soldiers
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/23/Special-Forces-Soldiers-

About the Guest
Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata Jr., USA (ret.) was an Army Special Operations NCO and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2003 after 28 years of service with the U.S. Army Special Forces. He now lives in Gilroy (California). Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. is the author of Desperate Lands: The War on Terror through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier.

According to the book description of Desperate Lands: The War on Terror Through the Eyes of a Special Forces Soldier it “is the unprecedented story of U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and the missions they have carried out while fighting the war on terror in the Horn of Africa and in Afghanistan. The book is unique and timely, in that it tells the compelling story of our nations struggle and of its soldiers fighting a new and different kind of war never fought before a Global War on Terror. This true story comes at a time when our nation has divided feelings and opinions about this war a division that exists among both government leaders and the American people. These pages offer a different perspective that of lower enlisted soldiers reflecting their personal experience in combat zones in Africa and Afghanistan as they witnessed and experienced the fog of war. The author Special Forces Master Sergeant Regulo Zapata, Jr. shares his extraordinary journey through ancient and desperate lands at the front lines of this ongoing war. Here are true stories of sacrifice, bravery, excitement, horror, anger, tedium, fear, camaraderie, and more a firsthand look behind the headlines at the reality of the exceptional and difficult challenges U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers face as they defend America against the terrorist threat.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/23/Special-Forces-Soldiers-

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Soldier, Cop, Musician and Author

On May 8, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Sergeant Gregory Allen Doyle, Upland Police Department.

Program Date: May 8, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Soldier, Cop, Musician and Author
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/09/Soldier-Cop-Musician-and-Author

About the Guest
Sergeant Gregory Allen Doyle, Upland Police Department is currently a patrol sergeant. During his law enforcement career has served as a gang detective, street gang officer, undercover narcotics officer, school resource officer and patrol officer. Prior to entering law enforcement Sergeant Gregory Doyle served four years in the United States Army in a Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Sergeant Greg Doyle is a writer who has published articles in professional magazines and the author of three books: The Sting of the Gadfly; God Is Not an Option; and, The Stinging Salve.

Sergeant Gregory Doyle writes contemporary Christian music with Associate Pastor Don Maresh (Discovery Christian Church, Moreno Valley); and, together, Greg and Don lead the Good News Praise Band at Discovery and have professionally recorded three CDs of original music: No Other God (2000- 15 songs); The God That I Love (2002 - 19 songs);
You're My God (2006 - 23 songs).

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/09/Soldier-Cop-Musician-and-Author

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Bombs, Bullets and Fast Talk

On March 27, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a
discussion Special James Botting, FBI (ret.) the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast
Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.

Program Date: March 27, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk

About the Guest
Special Agent James Botting (ret.) served in the FBI for twenty-five years, sixteen as a crisis/hostage negotiator. He served as the team leader of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) from 1981 to 1995 and a supervisory member of its international Critical Incident Negotiation Team since its inception in 1985 until his retirement. He has personally negotiated numerous hostage/barricade incidents and responded to several high-profile events. He lives in California. James Botting is the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.

According to the book description of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories, “A desperate gunman holds a planeload of innocent passengers hostage. A heavily armed cult leader refuses to leave his compound, threatening mass suicide by a hundred of his brainwashed followers. A neo-Nazi militant in a cabin hideout keeps federal agents at bay with gunfire. A baby disappears; his only trace is an ominous ransom call to his parents. Prisoners riot, threatening the lives of prison officers and hundreds of other inmates. How do you react? What do you do? What do you say? Your words, your actions can save lives--or lose them.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Sawgrass

On February 27, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Deputy Sheriff Alex J. McDonald, Broward County Sheriff’s Office (ret.) about his novel – Sawgrass.

Program Date: February 27, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Conversation with Sergeant Alex J. McDonald (ret.)
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/28/Sawgrass

About the Guest
Alex J. McDonald retired in June 2007 after thirty seven years in law enforcement. He began as a police cadet with Ft. Lauderdale Police Department, in 1970. In 1974, two weeks out of high school, he was hired by Davie Police Department. He was one of the first police officers hired in the State of Florida who was under the age of twenty-one. In 1976, he became a police officer for the Deerfield Beach Police Department; and, in 1982 began his career as a deputy sheriff with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (Florida).

During his career with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, he was a member of the Dignitary Protection team, a field training officer, lead defensive tactics instructor, firearms and driving instructor. An avid martial and competitive shooter, he has had numerous articles published in Police Marksman. Alex J. McDonald is the author of Sawgrass.

According to the book description of Sawgrass, “A missing cop is found dead in his car in an orange grove. Suicide or murder? The evidence points to murder but the bureaucrats want it to be suicide. Detective Sergeant Daniel Quinn is in charge of the investigation and sets out to prove murder. A second murder occurs and Quinn finds the two are connected. Quinn becomes embroiled in a drug smuggling investigation and is forced to battle politics, a smuggling group and even the DEA. All of this leads to a surprise ending.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/28/Sawgrass

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Badge of Life

On February 13, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Sergeant Andy O’Hara, California Highway Patrol (ret.), Executive Director of The Badge of Life.

Program Date: February 13, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: The Badge of Life
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/14/The-Badge-of-Life

About the Badge of Life
According to The Badge of Life, they “are a group of active and retired police officers from the United States and Canada who are victims of trauma-related injuries from our law enforcement service. We have suffered the worst that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) brings—the hopelessness, the despair, the flashbacks, the attempts at suicide, the nightmares and insomnia, the panicky hypervigilence, anxiety and terror. Among us are victims of both critical incident and cumulative PTSD.

Our personal experiences are varied and representative of what occurs in police work—shootings, violent attacks, the loss of fellow officers, near-death experiences, helplessly watching the death of a child, and more. We were drawn together out of a determination to help others avoid our fate. With the help of experts in the field like John Violanti, PhD (author of Police Suicide, Epidemic in Blue and Under the Blue Shadow), Dr. Janak Mehtani, an expert on PTSD and Catherine Leon, LCSW, who has worked extensively with PTSD and law enforcement, we began to set a path.

We found that many departments still lack adequate suicide prevention programs. We found many departments have excellent programs—but limit themselves to suicide awareness and prevention. Our program came after long discussion and research--and the realization that, in the search for complex answers, we were all missing the simple solutions! Thus came about the Badge of Life program--a common sense approach to law enforcement stress and trauma that stunned even us by its utter simplicity.

About the Guest
Sergeant Andy O'Hara, California Highway Patrol (ret.) is a military veteran and the Executive Director of The Badge of Life. According to Sergeant O’Hara, he “spent his last day of law enforcement sitting on the bedroom floor with his gun, trying to decide whether to shoot himself in the mouth or side of the head. Hospitalized twice with the effects of his post traumatic stress, he has written on this topic and spoken to numerous groups about the importance of this new program. Through those presentations, he has realized how well received and effective the message truly is. He is a member of the California Peer Support Association, the International Police Association and works as a peer volunteer with the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/02/14/The-Badge-of-Life

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Spring 2009 Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute

Application Deadline: February 1, 2009

For the seventh year, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is sponsoring a Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute. This technology institute will be held May 3-7, 2009 in Coronado (San Diego), California and is targeted/designed for the command staff/supervisory personnel of rural and small law enforcement agencies containing less than 50 sworn officers. Law enforcement personnel will learn about and discuss technology initiatives and issues affecting the rural and small law enforcement community. Participants will receive information and assistance on existing and developing technologies, work through problems relating to technology implementation, and exchange technology lessons learned, that are of importance to the rural and small law enforcement community.

As part of the program, participants are required to give a brief (no more than 15 minutes) PowerPoint presentation on a technology issue that their department has encountered or is in the process of implementing (i.e. implementation of a crime mapping program, new communications system, automated booking station, etc.). The presentation can be either an "issues to be dealt with" or a "lessons learned" format, depending on whether the program has been completed, and must be submitted on CD-ROM with the application.

There is no registration cost and all travel, food, and lodging expenses are paid. However, only 35 individuals will be selected to attend. Previous attendees of the NIJ Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute or the NIJ Technology Institute for Law Enforcement or Corrections are not eligible to reattend.

The deadline for submitting an application is February 1, 2009 and applications not received by that date and/or applications submitted without a CD-ROM containing the PowerPoint presentation will not be considered. The application and PowerPoint CD-ROM should be mailed to the following address:

Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center
ATTN: Rural LE Tech Institute
101 Bulldog Lane
Hazard, KY 41701

Please contact Scott Barker, Deputy Director-Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center, at 866-787-2553 or by email at ruletc1@aol.com for additional information about the NIJ Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute.

Laughs in Law Enforcement

On August 22, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with two former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies, Harry Penny and Claude Anderson, who have revealed the humorous side of law enforcement through writing and cartoons.

Program Date: August 22, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Laughs in Law Enforcement
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/23/Laughs-in-Law-Enforcement

About the Guests
Harry D. Penny, Jr. has over twenty years of law enforcement experience. Harry Penny has been a police officer for the Buena Park Police Department and a deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. During his ten year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department he worked jail division, technical services division and spent five years in patrol as a field training officer.

Harry D. Penny has also been a Special Deputy in the US Marshal Service, working in Court Security; and, a reserve police officer for the Chula Vista Police Department as well as the Barstow Police Department. In addition to his domestic law enforcement service, Harry Penny served over 20 years with the United States Navy. Harry Penny has authored several works including the book, Behind the Badge: The Funny Side of the Thin Blue Line.

According to Claude Anderson, he began drawing since the first day he could hold a pencil. Having been blessed with "limited artistic ability", he drew cartoons throughout grammar, high school and college. While serving in the U.S. Air force during the Korean War he had several cartoons printed in the Stars & Stripes newspaper.

After joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, he continued with cartoons appearing on locker and briefing room walls. In 1972 he was asked to submit a cartoon for a new monthly law enforcement bulletin: The Star & Shield. After the first issued appeared, he was asked to keep drawing until he submitted a cartoon that was funny. His cartoons have also hit the locker rooms of the San Francisco PD and the Texas Highway Patrol. He was assigned to Firestone Sheriff Station where he worked for 12 years. Seven of those years he was a training officer. Claude Anderson is the author of RadioCarToons: The Training Officer.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/23/Laughs-in-Law-Enforcement

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Schools as Terror Targets

On August 6, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature an interview of John Giduck on the Beslan School Seige. According to Esquire Magazine, “On the first day of school in 2004, a Chechen terrorist group struck the Russian town of Beslan. Targeting children, they took more than eleven hundred hostages. John Giduck is the author of Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools.

Program Date: August 6, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Schools as Terror Targets
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets

About the Guest
John Giduck has a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State and a law degree from the University of Denver. He also earned a Master’s Degree in International Affairs, specializing in Russian studies, from the University of Colorado, which included completion of the Russian Culture and Language Program at St. Petersburg State University in Russia. He has traveled extensively throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, training with Russia’s elite Special Forces units for more than 10 years; and, is a certified instructor in Russian Special Forces hand to hand combat.

John Giduck has trained state and federal law enforcement officers and agents, including DEA, FBI, US Marshal’s Service, and SWAT teams throughout the US. He has served as a consultant on various international and terrorism subjects, and as a Russian Organized Crime instructor, for numerous federal and state agencies. He currently devotes his professional time to the Archangel Group, providing anti-terrorism consulting and training to U.S. law enforcement, government and military, part of which includes John serving as a civilian contract U.S. Army Special Forces hand-to-hand combat and firearms instructor. As well, he holds several black belts, is a multiple inductee into international martial arts halls of fame, and is a former U.S. national weightlifting champion.

John Giduck is a lifetime member of the Special Operations Association, Rocky Mountain Tactical Team Association, Russian Special Forces Brotherhood of the Red Beret Association, and is a lifetime executive member of the British Professional Bodyguard Association. He is a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and holds the highest level expert certification in Homeland Security through the American College of Forensic Examiners International, and is a former member of the Executive Advisory Board of the American College of Homeland Security and Police Marksman magazine. He is a current member of the Advisory Board of the College of Disaster Medicine and Management of Philadelphia University. In addition to other published materials and articles on terrorism, Russian organized crime and close quarters tactics, finished his book, Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy With Lessons for America’s Schools, in 2005. His second book, co-authored with Green Beret Sergeant Major John Anderson, entitled The Green Beret In You: Living With Total Commitment To Family, Career, Sports and Life, was published in late 2007.

As part of his work with Archangel, John Giduck is also a scuba, tactical diving and CQB instructor, and teaches terrorist-hostage negotiations, narco-terrorism, terrorism and global organized crime, and Russian organized crime courses. He is now working on his doctoral dissertation on the global expansion of radical Islam through King’s College of London.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/08/07/Schools-as-Terror-Targets

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Homicide Investigations

On August 1, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Lieutenant-Commander Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S. (NYPD, ret.) on homicide investigations.

Program Date: August 1, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Homicide Investigations
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

About the Guest

Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S. is a retired Lieutenant-Commander of the New York City Police Department with over forty years of law enforcement experience. He has personally investigated, supervised, assessed, researched and consulted on over 8000 death investigations. In addition, Commander Vernon J. Geberth has been the recipient of more than 60 awards for bravery and exceptional police work and is a member of the New York City Police Department’s Honor Legion.

Commander Vernon J. Geberth has a Master’s Degree of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) C.W. Post College, Long Island University and a second Master’s of Science Degree in Psychology (M.S.), California Coast University, Santa Ana, California. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York and he is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia 119th Session, (1979). Commander Vernon J. Geberth is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

Commander Geberth, is the author of Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Techniques, which is now in it’s Fourth Edition and is recognized in the law enforcement field as "The Bible of Homicide Investigation" and the Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide, which is considered by professionals as an essential prerequisite in conducting proficient death inquiries. He is also the author of Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives, which is considered the framework textbook on sex-related murder.

In addition, he created and serves as the Series Editor of Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations for Taylor & Francis CRC Press, LLC Inc. in Boca Raton, Florida and has proposed and edited over forty publications within this series.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530