Tactics and Use of Force

Editor's Note: One the writers is former US Army.

July 26, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers: Dennis Nasci; Howard Rahtz; and, Robert D. Emerson.

In February 2007, Dennis Nasci joined the Village of West Milwaukee Police Department (Wisconsin) as its first assistant chief of police. Assistant Chief Dennis Nasci began his law enforcement career in 1981 as a deputy sheriff with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department (New Mexico). He retired in 2002 at the rank of lieutenant. Moving to Wisconsin, he was appointed lieutenant and second-in-command of the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Police Department. Dennis Nasci holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Wayland Baptist University in Albuquerque, New Mexico and graduated from the 190th session of the FBI National Academy. He possesses numerous police instructor certifications and is the co-author of Tactical Attitude.

According to one reader/review of Tactical Attitude, “This book is about surviving a deadly encounter, mainly at the mental perspective. The book covers such topics as command presence, mental rehearsal, off-duty survival, sudden stress syndrome, and many others. Almost half of the text is real-life stories told by cops. This makes the book an interesting read. The most interesting chapter tells about sudden stress syndrome.”

In August of 2005, Howard Rahtz was promoted to Captain on the Cincinnati Police Department. He hold a BA in business administration and a master's degree in counseling; and, he also completed the program at Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command and the Law Enforcement Foundation's Police Executive Leadership College. In 1988 Howard Rahtz joined the Cincinnati Police Department. He has held progressively responsible law enforcement and leadership positions within the police department. Prior to his promotion, he was the Cincinnati Police Department’s coordinator for the SWAT Crisis Negotiations Team.

Outside of his department career he is an adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati and the Tri-State Regional Community Policing Institute; a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association; and, editor of their Use of Force Journal. Captain Howard Rahtz has authored two books on law enforcement: Understanding Police Use of Force and Community Policing: A Handbook for Beat Cops and Supervisors.

According to the book description of Understanding Police Use of Force, “This even-handed and comprehensive discussion is intended to facilitate informed discussion among citizens, police and students on the use of force in law enforcement. Topics include: definitions; the legal framework; options for the use of force; steps to minimize the use of force; what to do when the worst happens; the racial divide; and towards better policy and understanding.”

Robert D. Emerson entered the United States Army in 1953. His lengthy law enforcement career began when he worked as a Special Agent for the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). In 1957, after leaving the ONI he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In 1963, he joined the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations. He left the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations to enter the realm of private corporate security. Robert Emerson is the author of Dancing with Devils.

According to one reader/reviewer of Dancing with Devils, Emerson's series of law enforcement "tales" presents an interesting weave of the inner thoughts of man who was "born" into law enforcement and made law enforcement his vocation and his passion. I was reared in Chatham County, North Carolina and grew up under the jurisdiction of the author's father, the long term Sheriff of Chatham County, John Emerson. Many stories still circulate of the integrity and ability of Sheriff Emerson.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 668 police officers (representing 298 police departments) and their 1428 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.