Law Officer Volume 7 Issue 1 This issue goes to the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show—my favorite of the many shows that we attend. Why? Because it has a large law enforcement section, and it’s attended by a lot of our core audience: the trainers, supervisors and special units people that are the movers and shakers in our industry. It’s also the show where we have an opportunity to offer special training to the law enforcement community, something we started last year and proudly continue for this year’s show (including our first Below 100 training session).
At last year’s SHOT show, I had the opportunity to attend the Safariland Saves program. Officers who were saved by their body armor were recognized and their stories told. Safariland made it possible for me to interview the officers, and we shared their stories with other law officers on our website. The stories were incredible. The lessons learned were powerful. The support shown by the Safariland staff was off the charts.
Several years ago, I met Neale Perkins, the man who started Safariland, and had the opportunity to share a couple of lunches with him. I was struck by his humility and his intensity. Perkins had built a holster for his father and that turned into a small business that later evolved into one of the most diverse and widely respected law enforcement equipment companies in the world. I specifically remember my earliest days in law enforcement and pouring over the Safariland holster ads, admiring the quality leather products and even saving up money to buy one of their early products.
A lot of people don’t fully understand the role that Perkins and Safariland played in the evolution of body armor. Perkins realized that ballistic protection was a game changer. Safariland provided some of the earliest vests and continued to make them better and offer them at a price that law enforcement could afford. One of the hallmarks of Safariland is that the company listens to its customers and provides innovative products that really work.
Because of their long-term support of law enforcement, the continual development of quality products and the manner in which they support those who serve, Law Officer is honored to announce that Safariland is the recipient of the Gold Badge of Service Award for 2011. Well done, Safariland, and congratulations!
A Notable Organization
If you’ve been reading our magazine for a while, you know that we’re big fans of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association). This group of committed men and women subscribe to a simple but powerful mantra: “Wisdom and courage through knowledge and skill.”
This coming April, I’ll have the privilege of attending my sixth ILEETA Conference and I’m already looking forward to it. Never in my career have I seen a more dedicated group of law enforcement personnel under one roof.
Most cops understand that maintaining their proficiency and edge requires ongoing training. But unfortunately, many assume they’ve got it all down after a few years in the job. Nothing could be further from the truth, and ILEETA quickly makes you aware that street skills are perishable and must be continually honed. If you’re one of those who view training as an inconvenience, it’s time to rethink your priorities. It’s an investment. This is why we devote so much of our magazine to training and why the majority of our contributors are members of ILEETA.
The ILEETA Conference is where we present our annual Law Officer Trainer of the Year award. Why? Because what gets recognized gets repeated, and we want to recognize those who make a difference. The first Trainer of the Year Award was presented to Ed Nowicki, a man who’s probably done more to professionalize and facilitate quality police training than anyone else in law enforcement. Ed was the original director of ILEETA, and it’s only fitting that the award is now known to many as the “Nowicki.”
If you’re a trainer, now is the time to do two things: 1) Check out www.ileeta.org and consider attending their upcoming conference in April; 2) Consider nominating a deserving trainer for the Trainer of the Year Award. Criteria include training ability; leadership skills; commitment to safety; interpersonal communication skills; and long-term commitment to law enforcement.
We’ll provide more information in our February issue and on our website. For now, as you start the new year, think about a skill that you’d like to learn or improve upon. Then invest in yourself and your career and engage—even if it means you have to go on your own dime and time. You’ll be glad you did. —Dale Stockton, Editor in chief