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A Request For Cover

A small group of police snipers started a program called Adopt A Sniper in late 2003. Initially it was a simple request for assistance among cop friends deployed with their National Guard or Reserve Units in Afghanistan and other trouble spots around the globe.

As the war in Afghanistan stabilized and the war in Iraq progressed, the urban mission profiles of police and military snipers were found to significantly overlap and the equipment necessary was virtually identical. Military snipers requested assistance from their SWAT sniper friends for specialized gear better suited for this new mission since they were unable to be supplied by the military for a variety of reasons.

Many military snipers and designated marksmen are still spending their own funds and enlisting their families and friends for gear and getting it to them in the middle of a war zone. Unfortunately, many still go without gear they desperately need, due to the expense.
Using contacts throughout the US police and military sniper communities, the police snipers were able to obtain overseas addresses and began sending desperately needed gear and supplies specifically tailored to the sniper mission.

Due to the immediate unity and lifelong bonds formed between the two groups of professional American snipers (most of whom had never met), the name of the organization was officially changed to AmericanSnipers.org.
AmericanSnipers.org makes no distinction between the full-fledged sniper teams and the designated marksmen of the mechanized, mortar and cavalry units. Like their full-fledged sniper brethren, they’re also assigned the daunting task of denying emplacement of IEDs. Designated marksmen often do a sniper’s job, without the training and ancillary gear normally associated with the infantry sniper MOS. Usually, they’re assigned to a Stryker or other non-infantry unit and equipped with an M14 rifle that’s older than their parents. Actual sniper related gear isn’t available to these men who often must literally do something with nothing. But, they’re doing the job regardless of the obstacles presented them — sound familiar?

AmericanSnipers.org is entirely funded by civic donations. Twelve police and military snipers from across the United States staff it. Every penny goes to purchasing gear, shipping charges and/or fundraisers and all the donated gear goes directly to a US military sniper platoon or individual sniper deployed abroad. The organization is qualified as a 501C3 non-profit and receipts for donations are sent upon request. Not one person receives a salary or kickback in any form whatsoever and the entire effort is conducted on the staff’s own time.

Go to their Web site at www.AmericanSnipers.org and if you can, assist the program with a contribution of money or gear. Considering the sacrifice these guys are making it’s the least you can do.

  
   
   
   

?The first thing I did after writing this installment of Toro Caca was ask my friend and partner, Roy Huntington, if I should have the corporate attorneys look it over before we published it. I could see the color drain from his face like pulling the drain plug on the kitchen sink, beads of sweat formed on his brow, his mouth went dry as West Texas and his knees began to quiver. It wasn’t a pleasant sight to see a formerly stoic and grown man reduced to a babbling glob. He recovered quickly and said, “Ah shit Douglas, what’d you do this time?”

I showed him this former cop’s Web site and told him, I called this sorry excuse for a human a no good-motherless-perverted-hairy-tumor and pimple on the ass of progress.

“Sounds good to me — anything else?” He shot back.

“Nope, that’s about it,” I said.

According to his Web site:

“Barry Cooper brings excitement and energy to any room he inhabits. His bold ‘in your face’ style of teaching is always incorporated with humor. Barry uses this charismatic humor ?to capture his audience as he passionately speaks about injustices and prejudices. Barry seems to enjoy the ‘shock and awe’ reactions he gains from his audience by addressing these sensitive issues.”

First off, he needs someone to edit his barely readable self-indulgences into a cohesive paragraph.

To this overinflated self-image I give a hearty Toro Caca.

It seems Barry is a former Big Sandy Police Department narcotics cop and dog handler. His Web site is devoted to teaching poor, innocent, good and regular folks how to not be arrested for possession of marijuana, how to hide it better from the evil and prejudiced cops rampant throughout our corrupt criminal justice system. Something’s wrong here. Actually a lot of things are wrong here. But let’s just stick to the cop thing.

What kind of slime-ball goes around teaching people how to be better at breaking the law? It would be bad enough if this guy was some parolee who scammed this gig to bring home a few bucks so he could pay his restitution, but this guy was a cop. I really don’t think so, at least not a real cop. A real cop would never do something like this.

So Barry, you no good-motherless-perverted-hairy-tumor and pimple on the ass of progress, you win the Toro Caca award for this issue.
I bet it will show up proudly on his Web site.

    
 
 
   

A Completely Subjective Look At Things I Like

5.11 Tactical Utili-T 3-Pack

Sometimes it’s the little things that count. You make sure your equipment is clean, serviceable and looking sharp. You press your uniform and shine your boots because you care about a professional command presence, but your t-shirt collar looks like chimpanzees have been hanging on it.
5.11Tactical’s Utili-T is made of moisture-wicking 4.5-oz. soft and comfortable ringspun cotton. The 1" high-density collar stays flat even after repeated washings. The label is heat-printed, so there’s no tag to irritate the back of your neck and it’s cut extra long to stay tucked in under your vest or shirt; Utili-Ts are sold in 3-packs at a very reasonable price and they’re available in black, ACU-tan, dark navy and white.
For More Info: www.511tactical.com

All Ready Complete First Aid System

Anthony Ricci, our EVOC editor, first turned me on to Elmridge Protection Products. Their first aid system provides all the necessary supplies and step by step illustrated instructions for a number of different injuries you might encounter during your workday. The All-Ready First Aid System is patented technology that meets and exceeds OSHA standards. It’s injury specific and delivers easy access to the supplies you’ll need. The system uses a patented process of visual prompts and guides to help you quickly identify the supply pack and instructions you’ll need. The icons and color-coding direct you to the right care pack and the step-by-step illustrated instructions help you to provide proper treatment. It should be in the trunk of every cruiser and your POV too.
For More Info: www.elmridgeprotection.com

LifeAct Guardian Angelm

The new LifeAct Guardian Angel renders conventional pepper sprays obsolete and stops threats at a safe distance. It’s small and light enough to be easily carried pocket or a purse The integral clip can also secure it to a belt. The Guardian Angel contains two cylinders with powerful concentrations of near pharmaceutical grade OC (take two blasts and just try to call me in the morning). It’s driven by pyrotechnic charges so the solution travels at 90 MPH for about 13' maintaining enough energy to wrap around glasses or even penetrate a facemask. The effect is immediate and lasts for up to 45 minutes. Unlike some conventional sprays, the Guardian Angel doesn’t lose pressure over time. An inert orange Guardian Angel training unit with blue marker dye is also available.
For More Info: www.kimberamerica.com.

 

  
   
 
 
First published in the July/August 2007 issue of American COP.
  
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