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MarshallSvc
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Post subject: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock  Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 05:24 |
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Joined: Sun 18 May 2008 20:26
Posts: 2038
Location: Pennsylvanaia
FRN Agency ID #: 2087
Experience: More than 10 years
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Using Shotguns During Bail Enforcement Operations
Pursuit Magazine
January 8, 2009 by Ruffin Blaylock
One of the most common questions I am asked by new investigators working bail fugitive recovery assignments is, “Should I carry a shotgun while attempting an apprehension?” It is certainly common to see law enforcement officers employ shotguns during arrests and other disturbances when working with a partner but a shotgun is still considered a secondary weapon to the handgun in law enforcement operations. Our work, of course, is very different altogether and a “long gun” is simply not a practical weapon for bail enforcement agents to carry into the field for the following reasons:
1) Weight: A shotgun is heavy and cumbersome which becomes an issue in foot chases, grappling with a hostile subject or while in cramped quarters searching for your fugitive.
2) Searches and Frisking: What do you do with your shotgun while having to climb into attics, basements, rooftops, fireplaces, crawl spaces, tunnels, etc? Where do you safely put your shotgun while conducting a pat down of the defednant while looking for weapons or contraband? Managing such a large weapon will not allow to keep your hands free in these situations.
3) Hand-to-hand Combat: What if the defendant decides to fight you during the apprehension? In most situations you will not be justified in shooting an unarmed assailant. What will you do with an assault rifle or shotgun say, “Excuse me, Mr. Fugitive, while I secure my shotgun and then we will fight?”
4) Legality: Another point to ponder is, “What do you do with the shotgun during a field interview?” Imagine that you develop a lead on your fugitive at a secondary residence; you knock on the door and the residents answer. You begin the interview, questioning them whether or not the defendant is home and if they know where he or she is hiding, and there you are holding this awesome, intimidating piece of firepower. How do you think an innocent third party is going to react to the presence of a shotgun? District Attorneys in some of the counties in which we often work have already told us that displaying a shotgun in this manner is a crime in itself and furthermore, We can be charged simply for resting a hand on our holstered sidearm during an interview. A sharp attorney will introduce this simple act into court as a “threatening and menacing gesture placing the people being questioned in severe fear of their lives” and you will have a lawsuit on your hands.
5) Liability: Shotguns are not designed for bail enforcement close quarter battle (CQB) operations. A Bail enforcement agent’s primary objective is to re-apprehend the defendant in the least confrontational, low profile manner as possible thereby eliminating or reducing the chances of civil liability. Presenting a shotgun in a house, apartment, mobile home, business or other location is overkill and completely reckless on the part of the bail recovery agent.
6) Lethality: A lot of fugitive recovery agents claim they carry “Less Than Lethal” (LTL) rounds in their shotguns, i.e., rubber slugs, bean bag rounds, pepper-balls, etc.; that may be all well and good but the single safety factor they are overlooking is the manufacturer’s warning regarding the safe distances required to discharge these rounds, which in most cases is no closer than 10 feet of the target.
In this author’s opinion, shotguns, rifles and other long guns, while “cool,” “awesome,” and intimidating are just not simply practical for civilian bail fugitive recovery operations due to safety, legal and liability reasons.
_________________
Heritage and Profession Together
J.G. Marshall
MARSHALL FUGITIVE SERVICE
Lic. # 2008-392
Moderator
Its the Irish in my mind that keeps me sane,
and the Irish in my heart that keeps me strong.
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SpanielPI
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 10:13 |
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| in memoriam |
Joined: Thu 16 Jun 2005 16:04
Posts: 4598
Location: NE Alabama
FRN Agency ID #: 5
Experience: More than 10 years
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uhhh...ok....thank you ?...  Your check is in the mail ?
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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601
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tsuggs
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 19:20 |
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Joined: Thu 09 Mar 2006 14:51
Posts: 3344
FRN Agency ID #: 3904
Experience: More than 10 years
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It was also in this months IRB report!
Excellent article.
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AWOBB
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 19:52 |
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| Advanced Poster |
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Joined: Tue 22 Feb 2005 19:28
Posts: 1807
Location: Ohio & Nationwide
FRN Agency ID #: 757
Experience: More than 10 years
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He's FAMOUS now. 
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Steve Faircloth
A Way Out Bail Bonds
(220) 204-9733 Cell
NSIN# SF0105
LIC. #704058
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SpanielPI
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 19:55 |
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| in memoriam |
Joined: Thu 16 Jun 2005 16:04
Posts: 4598
Location: NE Alabama
FRN Agency ID #: 5
Experience: More than 10 years
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IRB Report ? I was unaware of that. How do I view it ? And uhm, thank you everyone.... 
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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601
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KARMA
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2009 21:45 |
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Joined: Mon 14 Feb 2005 10:59
Posts: 7563
Location: Arkansas
FRN Agency ID #: 340
Experience: More than 10 years
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Well done Ruffin!
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Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quit your modesty, or inclines you to any practice which will not bear the light, or look the world in the face .... Marcus Antonius
I AM Some Folks "KARMA" and A MODERATOR @ FRN
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tsuggs
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Sat 28 Feb 2009 11:12 |
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Joined: Thu 09 Mar 2006 14:51
Posts: 3344
FRN Agency ID #: 3904
Experience: More than 10 years
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IRBSearch reprinted the article from Pursuit Mag. It is in their February 2009 Vol 4.2 email newsletter.
It should be available on their website.
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SnoWolf
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Sat 28 Feb 2009 14:20 |
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Joined: Tue 12 Dec 2006 17:33
Posts: 1611
Location: Sharpsburg, Georgia
FRN Agency ID #: 1999
Experience: 7 - 10 years
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tsuggs wrote: IRBSearch reprinted the article from Pursuit Mag. It is in their February 2009 Vol 4.2 email newsletter.
It should be available on their website. Yep...read it. Great article.
_________________
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Thomas SnoWolf
FRN# 1999
GAPB 20120726
NSIS ST0707
http://www.rocksolidrg.com
"The hero is not the man that acts without fear,
He is the man that acts inspite of fear"
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SpanielPI
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Post subject: Re: Great article By Ruffin Blaylock Posted: Sat 28 Feb 2009 14:59 |
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| in memoriam |
Joined: Thu 16 Jun 2005 16:04
Posts: 4598
Location: NE Alabama
FRN Agency ID #: 5
Experience: More than 10 years
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Thanks....
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River City Associates
Decatur, Al. 35601
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