One of the most frustrating parts of any genealogical project is the inevitable brick walls researchers run into. Records disappear in a fire or other disaster. Names change through marriage, immigration, or misspellings. Sometimes people just disappear off the face of the earth. Place names change when towns are consolidated or die. Genealogists deal with Read More
New York
More Only Ones Forget The Four Rules
It appears that ESU Detective Andrew McCormack is not the first officer to have trouble with the Surefire X300 weapon-mounted light. In October 2010, an unidentified Plano, TX sergeant negligently shot a suspected drug dealer as the officer attempted to turn on his Surefire X300, fatally wounding Michael Anthony Alcala, 25. According to this write-up Read More
The Only Ones Who Don’t Follow The Four Rules
The NYPD Emergency Services Unit is considered amongst the very best of SWAT/Rescue police officers in the world. They are highly trained, elite members of the NYPD who perform rescue, SWAT and other high risk tactical, counter-narcotic and counter-terror operations. But they still need to work on the Four Rules of Gun Safety. ESU Detective Read More
Another Isolated Incident
Radley Balko and other sources are reporting yet another wrong door raid, this one on a family in Spring Valley, New York. The family had lived at the address for 12 years, were county foster parents (with an extensive background check), and the father was actually a county employee. Lots of opportunities for the 13 Read More
A Peek Into the Back Room
The New York Times has an interesting short piece about an embalmer in NYC. In my time around the funeral industry, I had occasion to visit prep rooms, and occasionally see bodies in there. Never had the opportunity to observe an embalming procedure.