Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers

Disclaimer: I make no pretense that I’m an expert in electronics, batteries, or devices that use batteries in them. However, as I’ve stated numerous times in my SurvivalBlog articles, I’m a serious student, and I’m always increasing my learning curve on many subjects. I have many devices that use all battery sizes, with AA and AAA batteries being the most commonly used batteries. We were always buying batteries and would rotate through them, all to no avail! Before we could rotate through our battery supply, some of the Alkaline batteries would already be dead or leaking. That’s not a good thing in a survival situation. Additionally, no matter how well you store your batteries, the shelf life isn’t nearly as long as you believe it is.

In the past two months, I’ve had to replace the four AAA batteries in my tv remote, five times! Furthermore, when these batteries gave up the ghost, they didn’t give any hint that they were getting low; the tv remote just stopped working, period! According to the packages that these batteries came from, they were only a couple years old, and none were leaking.

Many of today’s hi-intensity, small flashlights operate off of either AA or AAA batteries, and some of these lights can take as many as four batteries. Sure, these little flashlights have a good run time with many running up to six hours, depending on the lumens settings. Still, these little batteries can only last so long in a device or sitting on your shelf.

Over the years, I’ve been buying various types and brands of rechargeable AA and AAA batteries and experimenting with them. First off, don’t believe what the package says about how many times you can recharge the batteries…not even close. Secondly, the packages state that the batteries are good for “X” number of years; nope! Then we have the statement that says “batteries come fully charged”. Well, that hasn’t always been my experience, as many needed to be charged before I could use them. In all honesty, it really doesn’t seem to matter what brand name is stamped on the batteries, they all seem to work about as well as the other brand.

Now we have the actually battery chargers. Some of the rechargeable batteries actually come with a charger for free! However, don’t get your hopes up as to how well these chargers work or how long it takes to recharge several batteries. In my experience, some of these charges can take as long as a day to recharge your batteries. Now, while that may not be a big issue right now, in a grid down situation when you need to use your gas-powered generator to recharge your batteries, do you really want to run your generator all day long to recharge your batteries? Do you have the fuel to keep your generator going for as long as it may take to keep those batteries charged up? Probably not!

We also need to keep in mind which devices use up our batteries faster than others. Digital cameras are notorious for using up batteries, whether Alkaline or rechargeable batteries. Even when not turned on, most digital cameras will drain the batteries. It’s strange! You’ll also want a charger that can recharge both AA and AAA batteries. Some will only recharge one or the other. I don’t mix the different battery sizes when I recharge the batteries. That’s just me!

Let’s take a look at the cost of standard Alkaline batteries vs rechargeable batteries. On the surface, if you don’t start to add things up, Alkaline batteries appear to be less expensive, but it’s not even close. You will spend (literally) a few bucks more when you purchase a 4-pack of rechargeable batteries, compared to Alkaline batteries. However, when the Alkaline batteries go dead, you have to toss them in the trash. When your rechargeable batteries die, you simply recharge them over and over and over again. The savings is obvious; rechargeable batteries are a much better buy no matter how you look it. In the past, many rechargeable batteries didn’t run as long as an Alkaline battery. However, any more, that’s no longer the case, at least with most rechargeable batteries. I’ve run side-by-side tests using Alkaline batteries in a device and then using the rechargeable batteries in the same device. In most cases, the run time was about the same, and in some cases the rechargeable batteries actually lasted longer than the Alkaline batteries.

Now, I’m not saying you should not buy regular batteries; I’m not saying that at all. You will need some standard, non-rechargeable batteries on hand in the event you can’t get to your battery charger to recharge your rechargeable batteries. Maybe your generator is down, or you ran out of fuel and can’t get those batteries charged back up, or perhaps, you’re in a situation, where it might not be a good idea to run your generator for whatever reason.

Let’s take another look at battery chargers for a moment. As I mentioned, a lot of rechargeable batteries actually come with a charger, but it can take as long as a day to recharge those batteries once they lose power. That’s not a good thing, and you sure can’t afford to run your generator for a whole day to recharge some batteries. Shop around, and get one of the 1-hour battery chargers. They don’t cost very much, and in most cases they actually will recharge your dead batteries in a hour or maybe a little longer. So, you don’t have to run your generator in a grid down situation all day long, wasting what little fuel you may have stored up. Plan to recharge your batteries in a grid down situation so that the generator is not just charging batteries. Maybe you need to run your refrigerator once or twice a day for an hour. That’s a great time to recharge your batteries, too. The thing is not to waste all that precious fuel just to recharge your batteries. Time it to coincide with other generator uses.

When you head out to purchase some rechargeable batteries, DON’T go and purchase ten packages at one time. Purchase one or two. Then in a couple of months, make another purchase. This way you’ll be getting fresher/newer batteries each time you make a purchase and as you start using and recharging your batteries, try to keep track of the number of times you’ve recharged those same batteries. It’s easy enough to do. Remember, don’t expect your rechargeable batteries to recharge as many times as the battery maker claims, and don’t expect them to have a five or ten year life. It ain’t gonna happen. Make sure you mark on the packages of batteries the date you purchased them, too.

One more thing to think about is the barter uses of rechargeable batteries. You can certainly barter away rechargeable batteries, assuming you have a good supply on-hand. Then you can barter once again with the same people, if they need those batteries recharged later on. It’s a win-win situation, if you ask me. Or, perhaps, you tell those folks that you gave four batteries to in exchange for a carton of soup that when those batteries are dead they can bring them back and you’ll exchange them for freshly recharged batteries in exchange for something else, and then decide on what barter items they need to bring with them if they want freshly recharged batteries. To be sure, batteries take up very little space, so over time you can build up a good supply of rechargeable batteries for barter use. While you can certainly use standard, non-rechargeable batteries for barter, it’s much better (for you) to have a good supply of rechargeable batteries that you can barter away and then barter again and again when those batteries run down. Think about it!

Let me touch on one more thing, as long as I’m discussing barter items. How about stocking up on some of those cheap flashlights from the local dollar store? Talk about a wonderful barter item. You can use the flashlight for barter as well as the rechargeable batteries. If someone is in the dark for any extended period of time, they will give just about anything for a source of light; even a cheap flashlight is better than no flashlight at all.

In the final analysis, it just seems like a good idea to stock up on rechargeable batteries, at least for devices that use AA and AAA batteries, which are the most commonly used batteries these days. Standard, non-rechargeable batteries are a waste of your money in the long run, in my humble opinion. You wouldn’t buy a gun that you could only use one time and when it was empty you had to throw it away. So, why purchase batteries that can only be used once and then must be discarded? Think about it.

In the end, make sure you purchase a good battery charger, too. Don’t depend on those little cheap ones that come with many rechargeable batteries. Also, remember that one is none, and two is one; buy a backup battery charger.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Crunchy Pea Salad, by L.H.

Ingredients:

  • 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 c. diced celery
  • 1 c. small cauliflower florets
  • 1/4 c. diced red or green onions
  • 1 c. coarsely chopped cashews
  • 1/2 c. sour cream
  • 1 c. favorite ranch dressing

Directions

Combine all ingredients and chill.

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Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlogreaders? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!

Letter Re: Solar Well Pump

Hand pumps are not the only alternative to grid-powered electric well pumps. When we were researching the available options, hand pumps with a solar option was our first choice. The problem was that they would not produce the volume of water required. We needed a system that would be capable of pumping enough water to satisfy the requirements of all the livestock plus supply domestic water, if needed. (This was approximately 1500 gallons per day as a design parameter.) Consultations with the folks at Simple Pump indicated their pump could not produce enough water.

That left a solar submersible pump as the only option. The next question was whether to pump to a large enough reservoir to have backup capacity. This option would require a large storage tank, plus a distribution pump in the tank to pump to a pressure tank, and battery backup for the distribution pump. The other option was to pump directly to the pressure tank. While not cheap, pumping directly to the pressure tank was a lot less expensive than pumping to storage.

We recently completed the installation of such a system in one of our wells, and it is up and working. The system seems quite satisfactory. The heart of the system is a Grundfos submersible SQ Flex pump. Grundfos is unsurpassed in the quality of their pumps. The SQ Flex line of pumps is made for solar or wind systems. The Flex in the name indicates the flexibility of the pump, at least to me. The pump will run on AC or DC with no modification. It will also run on a wide range of voltage in either AC or DC mode. If memory serves the voltage range is something like 19-300 volts. There are a large number of different pumps in the SQ Flex line. Choosing the right one depends on the depth at which the pump will be set and the gallons per minute required. We chose a pump that we set at 250 feet (60′ static water level) that would produce six gallons a minute.

The pump is controlled by Grundfos controls that allow the user to choose the source of power input. By plugging in a pigtail that comes with the control we can operate on grid or generator power. If we unplug from the grid/generator, the control switches automatically to solar. We view grid/generator power as backup for the system.

The system is powered by four 180 watt pv panels. (Since this is an overview, I won’t go into any detail on how things are connected.) There is a battery bank to power the pump for 24 hour operation, and a charge controller that handles power distribution. Since the entire system is DC, there is no need for an inverter.

In the course of installing the system I’ve learned quite a bit. That said, I’m not knowledgeable enough to have designed the system. For that, and as a source for all the components, I relied on the knowledgeable people at Oasis Montana (http://oasismontana.com/). I can’t speak highly enough of them. They were a pleasure to deal with and invaluable if we had questions.

A hand pump is a less expensive alternative than the system described here. However, if you want a system you do not have to physically operate on a daily basis or one that will produce a larger volume of water than you can get from a hand pump, a solar pumping system is something to consider. – G.L.

Economics and Investing:

Since ’07, $11 trillion of global QE, $57 trillion of more debt, Europe 2 more recessions, Japan 3 more recessions, US 2 negative GDP qtrs, the collapsing of many EM economies.

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A Return To Nuclear May Be Japan’s Only Option The legacy of the Fukushima disaster has badly damaged Japan’s economy, but the only relief may come from returning to the controversial power source despite the risks.

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The Best Way to Avoid the Dollar Crisis

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No Country For Young Workers: Only Americans 55 And Older Found Jobs In March

Odds ‘n Sods:

Woman Puts Gun in Her Mouth in New Brady Campaign Video. – T.J.

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Technocracy Rising – T.P.

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SurvivalBlog reader C.F. writes in to say: “Here is a topic that we all need to be aware of in packing our field kits. Some years back, regulations completely cut off the supply of Strike Anywhere matches. Then, after a few months, they were back on the store shelves… or so we thought.

The fact is, the new ones barely function unless struck on the box! Everyone who is packing survival kits for a rainy day needs to be sure to not depend on Strike Anywhere matches! The days of lighting them on a rock, or sandpaper, or your zipper, or flicking a flame with your thumbnail, are all but gone. Good luck if your life depends on it. Might as well buy safety matches, and eliminate the false sense of security. Pardon my dullness, but I just figured it out. (I have been enthralled with non-match options for the last 20 years.)”

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‘Role players’ solicited for emergency-prep drill. – D.S.

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For the Amateur Radio Operators among us, SurvivalBlog reader RBS sent in this link: SolarHam

Guest Article: Extremes: Expect Consequences-Part 1, by Gary Christenson

What extremes am I referencing?

The S&P 500 Index has tripled in six years, is overbought, and is at an all-time high. See graph showing 7-year cycle highs and overbought indicators.

W-SP

Earnings do not support the high valuations of U.S. stocks. Note the extreme valuations as shown in the graph below, courtesy of Arabian Money.

Median-PE

Interest rates are currently at multi-generational or all-time lows and consequently bonds are extremely high in the “bubble-zone.” Many European banks and sovereign governments are “paying” negative interest. This was unthinkable a few years ago!

The dollar index rallied over 25% between May 2014 and March 13, 2015– an exceptional and parabolic rally, particularly considering the precarious financial condition of the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve. See article here from Laurence Kotlikoff.

V-Dollar-Index

Derivatives, depending on who is counting, are approximately $1,000 trillion globally. This extreme bubble is growing, and all bubbles eventually pop.

Leverage in the financial system is more extreme than in 2008, before the “Lehman moment” crash in which the global financial system nearly froze.

The “Warren Buffett Indicator” is flashing a warning– equity valuations are high compared to GDP. See graph below.

W-Warren-buffett-Indicator

The Bloomberg Surprise Index is flashing a warning.

Bloomberg-Surprise-Index

There are many more extremes that could be shown, but consider a few specifics.

Robert McHugh has listed a sequence of Fibonacci turn dates at the end of March and early April 2015. Risk of a stock market crash or important correction seems high in this time period.

Markets often turn around solar eclipses. We experienced a solar eclipse on March 20.

Greece will exit the Euro. The issue is not Greece, as in the Greek people, their economy, or austerity but the paybacks to various banks, mostly French and German. The piper and the bankers must be paid or banking cartel profits will be decreased. Banking cartel profits are used to “influencing” politicians, so politicians listen to the needs of bankers. It is an old story…

We have many economic and political extremes in our current world. Perhaps this time will be different, but I doubt it. Plan on:

Debt will increase until a “reset” occurs. Politicians will “extend and pretend” and make MANY promises. The S&P has enjoyed a large rally in the last six years. It will correct. Bonds are in a massive bubble, partially created by the low and negative interest rates forced upon the system by central banks. All bubbles eventually burst, however. Gold and silver and their stocks have been beaten down for nearly four years. They will rally to new highs.

Additional Reading:
Bill Holter “Three Strikes and You’re Out!”
Steve St. Angelo “Important Gold Chart”

Gary Christenson – The Deviant Investor

Street Combat – This Ain’t No Game! – Part 2 of 9, by Pat Cascio

INTRODUCTION

The right cross came out of nowhere, followed immediately by a second blow. Before the victim had time to think about it, he had collapsed to the cold, snowy concrete walk. He had been attacked and robbed. The attacker had stolen a new pair of gloves from the seven year old. The attack had taken place on school grounds, during recess. The attack was swift, without warning and final! The eight year old attacker was already a known member of the Latin Kings street gang in Chicago. The seven year old victim had just learned his first (and most important lesson) in street combat. A lesson he would never forget– “This Ain’t No Game!“

The middle-aged man arrived at the city park early, hoping to catch a few bass in the small pond before the sun rose. The angler had fished at this same park hundreds of times. There was nothing to fear; this was a small town in Oregon. At best, there were usually one or two senior citizens taking an early morning walk, but not this morning!

Upon arriving, the man noticed an older Ford Bronco parked in the parking lot. The driver was in his early 20’s as well as the male passenger next to him. Two girls, approximately 15 or 16 years old, accompanied the men. “Probably runaways,” the man thought. It was obvious the entire group had been “living” in the vehicle. They were all dirty, and their clothes were filthy.

Minding his own business, the man ignored the youthful group and fished his usual spot. One of the men started to approach the angler from the left. The angler made sure the rapidly approaching man knew he had been observed approaching in the predawn light. The unwelcomed man turned and left. In short order, this entire process was repeated, with the same results.

Not to be denied, the unwelcomed visitor to the park decided to walk around the outside of the park and approach the angler from a different direction. The angler was keenly aware of his surroundings and movements of the determined man. When the park visitor was within 30 feet of the angler, the visitor stooped down and attempted to retrieve something from his right sock. “Probably a knife; this isn’t going to be a good morning,” the fisherman thought to himself.

The angler turned toward the park visitor and gently swept back his vest, revealing his 9mm Star Firestar pistol nestled on his right side. The park visitor immediately decided he had business elsewhere and left at a brisk pace. The angler finished fishing and left the park. “This Ain’t No Game!”

The first incident took place in Chicago, Illinois in 1958, while I was but a mere lad, ignorant of the dangers surrounding me on the playground of the public school. The second incident took place in September 1997 in Ontario, Oregon. However, almost 40 years of life-long experience and learning had better prepared me for that latest threat.

We’ve all heard people interviewed on the t.v. news after a senseless shooting spree say, “I never thought it could happen here.” Can people really be so naive as to believe they’re “safe” anyplace these days? As I write these words, a police officer in Boise, Idaho is being laid-to-rest. He is their first officer killed in the line of duty. The officer had recently moved to Boise, Idaho from Southern California, where he worked as a deputy sheriff. He left California because it was “too violent”. The City of Trees proved no less violent, or deadly, for this brave man.

It can, and it will happen to you, no matter where you live, if you allow it! Can you protect yourself from every possible threat? Of course not. However, with a little common sense, training, and mental awareness, you can avoid many threats or at least diminish them so that they no longer pose a lethal threat to you, just as I did while fishing. In my case, a “picture was worth a thousand words”. I didn’t have to draw my gun. The simple act of sweeping back my vest and allowing him to gain sight of the gun (on my side), laid to rest any notions the man had about attacking or robbing me. There was no “threat” implied by my actions, just a “friendly warning” that the would-be attacker clearly understood.

Make no mistake, we are involved in street combat every time we leave the so-called “safety” of our homes. You never know when a disgruntled postal worker is going to go “postal”, (as shrinks now call it) and start shooting everyone in sight.

Everyone has seen the graphic images on t.v. of the aftermath of yet another “fired” employee taking revenge on his supervisors and former co-workers. It happens all too often. It happens in small towns and in “safe” neighborhoods of big cities. It happens where “I never thought it could happen.”

This book contains a lifetime of study, training, and experience in street combat that I have been exposed to. Much of my experience comes from working as a private investigator, police officer, K-9 handler, military infantryman, and martial arts instructor, and being just a plain ol’ “ordinary citizen” just like yourself.

With you, the reader in mind, I humbly offer this book:

Street Combat – This Ain’t No Game!

Letter Re: The Home Library

HJL,

I have thought on the topic of the home library and what books it should and should not comprise, at least in terms of there being a set of bookshelves, which all family members have access to and are encouraged to read and use for study, whether one homeschools or not.

A Bible and a good concordance thereto top the list, and I believe that the King James Version, in modern type, is generally the best overall. For intensive Scripture study, in fact, I usually print out a Book or chapters from the KJV from a reliable .pdf file. I can then underline or highlight as I see fit and can carry the pages in a binder.

I believe a good parallel translation Bible can be useful in determining the meaning of words, so long as the parallel translations are not objectionable in the intent of the translators. However, I believe there are many modern translations of good intent.

Among the Bibles I would have in my library would be a good Geneva Bible, but only if the typeface and spellings were modern while the book was otherwise complete and the notes unexpurgated. Specifically, it has to include the Apocrypha, which all original and ancient Geneva Bibles did. It’s worth noting that all KJV Bibles also did so until 1803, when a North American printing omitted it.

I would also not be without a good concordance to any translation I intended to study much from and also some supplementary literature. I would like to have a copy of Halley’s Bible Handbook, which was prepared under his own supervisions; modern ones are a farce and deviate extensively from his scholarship.

In my opinion, most really worthwhile Christian literature was published before 1900. Much of what is sold in Christian bookstores today is either empty platitudes or actively detrimental. My wife and I do not take our children to most Christian bookstores, and we do not listen to contemporary Christian music.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Brownback is a Brown Coat! Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has signed a bill that re-legalizes permit-free concealed carry (aka “Constitutional Carry“) of guns. The law will take effect on July 1st, 2015. Commendably, Brownback was quoted as saying: “Responsible gun ownership – for protection and sport – is a right inherent in our Constitution.” Kudos to Governor Brownback. Kansas will join Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Vermont, and Wyoming as Constitutional Carry states. The legislatures in other states should take note and follow suit! (Idaho and Montana are presently ripe candidates.) – JWR

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Common Core Education: The Insane Bottom Line. – H.L.

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Fight Dirty: How to Become a Backyard Garden Guerrilla Even If You’ve Never Grown a Tomato

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Facebook kidnapping case proves you need to know EVERYTHING your kid does online. – D.S.

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How “No dissent allowed” can morph into mass murder. – T.P.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” John 18:4-6 (KJV)

Notes for Saturday – April 04, 2015

Today, we present another entry for Round 58 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,000+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less then one minute without the use of any tools, and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 30 DPMS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. (An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  7. A Model 120 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $340 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  11. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate, and
  12. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  6. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  7. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate, and
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. *Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  7. Montie Gear is donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack (a $379 value), and
  8. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 58 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

A Story of Caution in Today’s Police State, by Lebannen

I have always supported our troops and our first responders. Down deep inside of my conscious, I honestly feel that serving is the greatest form of community involvement. As a fourth generation Army veteran, this is something that I was not only raised to believe but I lived every day. The structure, the camaraderie, and the deep-seeded need to protect others led me to my next chapter– law enforcement.

I eventually found myself applying for an agency in my home state. I applied and was accepted for my military experience, high academic standards, sharp appearance, and life maturity; I entered the police force at the age of 35. I was on average 10 years older than the next cadet, and I was only seven years younger than the youngest instructor. So, I was gently teased about my age; it was in good fun. I missed the teamwork atmosphere that I could not find in the private sector.

However, during the past nine weeks, I have noticed that law enforcement has become far too powerful. The methodology that is being taught at agencies across the nation (or so I am told) skirt the Constitution that we swore an oath to uphold. I was constantly shocked to hear decorated local, state, and federal representatives bend the law and outright laugh at the stories of falsification of statements, coerced statements, and outright deception. This is not an indictment of the profession or honest agencies/officers. I still hold law enforcement as one of the most honorable professions. With that said, the civilian population needs to understand their rights and responsibilities.

I eventually resigned during the Academy, after my sponsoring agency received a report that I was refusing to follow instructions. The charge is true; I refuse to violate the Constitution. So, instead of risking my good name and reputation for a disciplinary hearing, I resigned without prejudice.

Here is the exact scenario that is taken from the exercise that started all of the trouble:

You are pulled over for failing to signal for a right turn on a two lane highway. After the officer gives you a lawful command to exit your vehicle and walk to the front of the patrol unit, the officer asks you the following question(s):

Officer: “Sir/Ma’am, do you have an Operator’s License?”

You: “Yes, Officer, I do.” You give the Officer your license, and the Officer asks the following question:

Officer: “Do you have Proof of Insurance and Motor Vehicle Registration?”

You: “Yes ,Officer, I have it right here.” You give the officer the requested documents.

Officer: “That is odd; most people keep it in their vehicle. Why do you have it on your person?”

You: “I just keep it there because I tend to forget where I placed it.”

Officer: “Okay, stand right here, I am going to run a check on you to verify who you are and to make sure you are authorized to operate this vehicle.”

The Officer returns and states: “I will walk you to your vehicle.”

You and the Officer walk back to the vehicle, and you sit down and buckle up. Then the officer asks you:

Officer: “Can I search your vehicle, since you carried your information so readily; I feel that you are hiding something from me?” “Do you have any weapons or contraband I need to know about?”

You: “I do not agree to any search, as I have done nothing wrong and complied with your every request.”

The officer is instantly angered by your answer and removes you from the vehicle, places you in restraints, and pat searches for “Officer safety” and detains you in his vehicle. The officer eventually finds your lawfully purchased pistol jammed between the front seat and console and arrests you for having a firearm in his state. You have no criminal record of any kind. Is the stop and arrest valid? Why or why not?

The answer that surprises you is NO! In no state in the country is this arrest valid, due to the officer not having reasonable suspicion or probable cause to walk up with you after giving the officer the requested documentation. It is a violation of your 4th Amendment. The original stop is valid, but what follows is poisoned by the officer not having consent or probable cause to search your vehicle. Therefore, the finding of the weapon would be tossed out. This is ANOTHER violation of your 4th amendment. Finally, the officer was holding your information and did not offer to return it to you. That officer is essentially COERCING you to consent to his search. This is a violation of the 5th amendment.

When I said these things, I was instantly ridiculed and threatened by the same instructors who gave me praise earlier. I went from being a model student to being a “troublemaker” in one afternoon. I resigned from the academy effective 3/17/15 for standing up for what I believe in– the United States Constitution; I hold no regrets. Here are some tips that I can give you when dealing with law enforcement.

  • Do a quick Internet search of your State’s criminal law and especially vehicles traffic laws. Most states have them online.
  • Never make direct eye contact with officers while driving. They are trained to pick up on that, and it gives them (in most jurisdictions) reasonable suspicion to follow you. This can lead to you making one minor error while driving to facilitate a stop.
  • Never hang anything on your rear view mirror or blocking the view, such as necklace or cross, as it is a federal law that you cannot carry anything that restricts your vision while driving. Federal law allows states to enforce it.
  • When subject to a stop, do NOT get out of the vehicle unless the officer instructs you to do so. This automatically escalates their mindset, and the officers will immediately place their hand on the duty weapon. Officers are being ambushed at an alarming rate.
  • Always carry your license and vehicle information (driver’s license, insurance, and registration) in your wallet.
  • Fighting a speeding ticket is easy, even with the laser. Just ask the agency in court when the last time the recalibration is done. They have to provide it and show it was in sync at the time of the citation; if they cannot, then you can argue it was out of sync.
  • If you have open carry in your state, be respectful about it. If your state has a mandatory identification clause (such as mine), then identify yourself when approached by an officer.
  • If you feel as your rights are violated, do not argue about it there. Make a formal complaint with the internal affairs division, and then escalate it from there if needed.
  • If you are being pulled over in a poorly lit or dangerous area, then you are protected by federal law of slowly advancing to the nearest reasonable area to assist the officer in facilitating the stop. Don’t drive 10 miles when you pass three or four other places.
  • Think about what you are going to say before you speak; officers are being trained to read body language and to confuse you during questioning. This allows them to get consent or admission during an interview/interrogation.
  • You have a fundamental right to refuse searches; do not let them intimidate you by saying it can be held against you. It can’t in any capacity.
  • Always ask during moments of silence, “Am I free to go?” or “Am I being detained?” This places the burden on them for probable cause.
  • Running from the police automatically gives them reasonable suspicion to stop you. So, if you are doing something illegal and you see police, DO NOT RUN.
  • If you are being placed under arrest and the officer is becoming rough with you, repeatedly say, “I am not resisting. Do not hurt me!”
  • If you are going to film police, do not be like those clowns on Copwatch. Do it safely from a distance.
  • If the police come to your door and ask you to step outside or open it, you do NOT have to comply. They need a warrant unless an exigent circumstance occurs. An exigent circumstance would be them hearing a scream or cry for assistance, a gunshot, or any criminal violation that is against people (drugs included).
  • If you are being interrogated (different from interviewed), repeatedly say this one word: LAWYER! Officers have a right to come back later and ask if you wish to talk, but if you say “no”, then they MUST leave.

Remember, police are trained with the mindset that three types of people in the world exist: the sheep (civilians), the wolves (criminals), and the sheepdogs (police). The sheepdogs will tell you that they are only protecting the flock, when in fact they are predators themselves. Police are now being trained to prey upon criminals rather than to uphold the constitution at all cost. This statement does not apply to all police, but this statement does apply to those in law enforcement who bend the rules to make an arrest or stop.