The Things Worth Believing In
Tested by Reality. Guided by Ethics.
recent posts
Category: The Craft
Focusing on the intersection of organizational strategy and tactical reality. This category explores the “Way of the Sword” through the lens of modern law enforcement—incorporating staffing studies, hotspot analysis, and the deployment of technology to optimize the mission. It is about the professional discipline required to lead from the front in a 2026 policing environment.
-
“A person’s good and evil are dependent on his companions. When three people are together there will always be an exemplary person among them… choice the good person and follow his example.” — Hojo Nagauji (1432-1519 A.D.) Hojo Nagauji was a “Fighting Samurai” and a general who helped lay the foundations of what we now…
-
Note from the Author: Years ago, I started a series called “Tactical Preschool.” The premise was simple: most people fail not because they don’t know “advanced techniques,” but because they haven’t mastered the fundamentals. Digging through my old notebooks, I found these doodles from 2009. They are as relevant today as they were then. Fundamentals…
-
Note from the Author: I first drafted these thoughts in 2016 and revisited them in 2019. Looking back in 2026, as I prepare to conclude nearly 26 years of service, it is striking how little the “narrative” has changed, even as the “reality” of the street becomes more complex. I’m dusting this off because the…
-
With the rise of “reality” police media, the public is being exposed to more “street language” than ever before. To the uninitiated, some of these interactions can seem confusing. Why does an officer look skeptical when a subject sounds perfectly reasonable? As a public service, I am providing this easy-to-understand translation guide. Rest assured, in…
-
“Is your pocket knife a tool or a felony? In NY, the line between utility and Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th is thinner than you think. Updated for the 2019 Gravity Knife repeal.” I frequently get asked about the legality of carrying a knife in New York. While the law has evolved since I…
