Since Police-Network.com came on line in 2005 we have tried to make this a site for you, your associates and family. One thing we do is keep the rif-raf out and I belive that is why our membership is pretty low. Yes we have had our ups and downs. Server failures, hard drive failures and complete site changes, yet we're still here three years later. We have strived to keep it simple, and keep advertising to a minimum. Which brings me to a point to ask these questions. Why are you not using the site? What are you looking for? How can we improve?

Please click on comments below and make some suggestions.

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How do you feel about Civilian Responders to things such as minor fender benders, taking property damage reports, burglary or other areas that require just taking a report?

Many departments across the country are implementing or re-instituting the civilian patrols for just those activities. These are different than what some departments do with their reserve or auxiliary units. For instance when I was a Reserve Officer I was able to do everything a full time officer could do. I just didn't get paid for it. For a small department our reserve force was at sometimes twice as large as our full time force. When an officer radioed that he needed assistance reserves came out of the woodwork. The main difference was that as a reserve I only worked a few shifts a week and was usually a ride along with a full time officer. However there were many occasions where I came in, checked out a vehicle and worked by myself. In Ohio the Highway Patrol has auxiliary officers who ride with a sworn officer. These auxiliary officers take many hours of training and are valuable in assisting with accidents and handling the radio, radar and computer. This is different than a civilian responder.

In an article I just read some major departments like Orange County Sheriff in California, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments have these "Field Service Officer" programs. They require less training and are less expensive than sworn officers and they free up sworn officers to handle up more important calls.

So weigh in! What are your thoughts concerning civilian officers, reserve officers and auxiliary officers.

The following is a list of known terror plots thwarted by the U.S. government since Sept. 11, 2001.

• December 2001, Richard Reid: British citizen attempted to ignite shoe bomb on flight from Paris to Miami.

• May 2002, Jose Padilla: American citizen accused of seeking "dirty bomb," convicted of conspiracy.

• September 2002, Lackawanna Six: American citizens of Yemeni origin convicted of supporting Al Qaeda. Five of six were from Lackawanna, N.Y.

• May 2003, Iyman Faris: American citizen charged with trying to topple the Brooklyn Bridge.

• June 2003, Virginia Jihad Network: Eleven men from Alexandria, Va., trained for jihad against American soldiers, convicted of violating the Neutrality Act, conspiracy.

• August 2004, Dhiren Barot: Indian-born leader of terror cell plotted bombings on financial centers (see additional images).

• August 2004, James Elshafay and Shahawar Matin Siraj: Sought to plant bomb at New York's Penn Station during the Republican National Convention.

• August 2004, Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain: Plotted to assassinate a Pakistani diplomat on American soil.

• June 2005, Father and son Umer Hayat and Hamid Hayat: Son convicted of attending terrorist training camp in Pakistan; father convicted of customs violation.

• August 2005, Kevin James, Levar Haley Washington, Gregory Vernon Patterson and Hammad Riaz Samana: Los Angeles homegrown terrorists who plotted to attack National Guard, LAX, two synagogues and Israeli consulate.

• December 2005, Michael Reynolds: Plotted to blow up refinery in Wyoming, convicted of providing material support to terrorists.

• February 2006, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-Hindi and Zand Wassim Mazloum: Accused of providing material support to terrorists, making bombs for use in Iraq.

• April 2006, Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee: Cased and videotaped the Capitol and World Bank for a terrorist organization.

• June 2006, Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyglenson Lemorin, and Rotschild Augstine: Accused of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower.

• July 2006, Assem Hammoud: Accused of plotting to hit New York City train tunnels.

• August 2006, Liquid Explosives Plot: Thwarted plot to explode ten airliners over the United States.

• May 2007, Fort Dix Plot: Six men accused of plotting to attack Fort Dix Army base in New Jersey.

• June 2007, JFK Plot: Four men accused of plotting to blow up fuel arteries underneath JFK Airport in New York.

• March 2007, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed: Mastermind of Sept. 11 and author of numerous plots confessed in court in March 2007 to planning to destroy skyscrapers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

This month I would like to begin discussion on Police Vehicles and their setup. And I would like to get your opinions concerning these vehicles.

I have been in many states across this country and have seen many different types of police vehicles from Midsize Sedans to SUV's. Each department has their own preference. What a small city has is different than a big city which is different than a county which is different than a state. I expect decision makers need to take a hard look at just what a department needs in the way of a police package.

Police Pursuit Package
Does a town need a big block V8 with heavy duty suspension. Does a big city need an off road SUV? How many times does a small town department have a hot pursuit? I worked in a small town of about 3000 that had 3 miles of interstate. Normally on a day-to-day basis there was no need for a vehicle that could do 140MPH. And for the most part we didn't have one that would do that. My father worked for the Ohio Highway Patrol and remembers many occasions doing 140MPH. Several times in one night. I imagine those who work in the Snow Belt can't manage unless they have their 4WD with snow chains.

Now I don't want to get into the rights and wrongs of going fast. That's not the purpose of this discussion. Let's just say there are times when you need the speed.

Question: Can a department save some money by buying a 6 cylinder vs a V8? How much time does the V8 save in town or city police work? What your opinion?

Marked vs Unmarked
Some states say that only marked patrol cars can stop vehicles on traffic violations other states use a lot of unmarked vehicles. Referring back to the states I've been or lived in. The town I worked in didn't have unmarked vehicles and I don't believe they were used in that state. I only had to sit in the median for about 2 minutes before I caught a speeder. Again Ohio requires or did when I lived there that marked cars would be used for traffic. In the state I live in now they use a lot of unmarked cars.

I'm sure there is a lot of opinions on this and I would like your input. Does unmarked vehicles catch that many more speeders than marked vehicles? From my experience the answer would be no.

What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a marked or unmarked patrol car?

Paint and Decals
Many states use Black and White. Some states use plain colors. OHP has straight black, straight gray and straight white. Some of OHP has gray with yellow lettering which in essence means that the lettering is very hard to see.
What's your color preference?

Lights
Again lighting varies from town to town and state to state. I've seen lots of lights to all the lights hidden. I know that some of the states out west require flashing amber lights when you make a traffic stop. Why? Because people are not suppose to pass a patrol car with the emergency lights on. So you pull the vehicle over with the emergency lights and once the cars is stopped you turn on your flashing ambers.

What lighting techniques do you use and why?

Upload a photo of your department's cruiser/s to our Media Gallery. (Registered Users Only)

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