A cops life

Guns on campus gets first approval in Texas

2011-03-18T08:09:00.001-07:00

Opponents, including some university and law enforcement officials, worry that students and faculty would live in fear of classmates and colleagues

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Legislation that would allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons in college classrooms and buildings across Texas took its first step to becoming law Wednesday, as dozens of students, faculty and administrators testified before the bill was approved along party lines by a Republican-controlled committee in the state House of Representatives.

Supporters consider it a key gun-rights, self-defense measure to prevent violent campus crime such as the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007. Opponents, including some university and law enforcement officials, worry that students and faculty would live in fear of classmates and colleagues, not knowing who might pull a gun over a poor grade, broken romance or drunken argument.

Texas has become a prime battleground for a national campaign to open campuses to firearms because of its gun culture and the size of its university system, which includes 38 public colleges and more than 500,000 students. Similar firearms measures have been proposed in about a dozen other states, but all have faced strong opposition, especially from college leaders.

Texas would become the second state, following Utah, to pass such a broad-based law. Colorado gives colleges the option and several have allowed handguns.

"One wrong word could set off a temper," said Mickey Gressman, a student at Colin County Community College. "A lot of people say it's for self-defense. Let's just fire campus police if they're not doing their jobs and everybody has to start arming themselves. ... More guns is going to cause a lot more trouble."

The Texas Senate passed a guns-on-campus bill in 2009, but it died without a vote in the House. This year, more than half of the Republican-controlled House's 150 members have signed on as co-authors of one of the bills, and the issue is supported by Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

The chancellor of the University of Texas system recently wrote Perry and state lawmakers, saying school administrators do not want guns on campus, fearing a rise in college suicides and violent confrontations.

Alice Tripp, lobbyist for the Texas State Rifle Association, which supports the bill, called college campuses "predator magnets" where violent crimes such as rape are underreported.

Until the Virginia Tech killings, the worst college shooting in U.S. history occurred at the University of Texas at Austin, when sniper Charles Whitman went to the top of the administration tower in 1966 and killed 16 people and wounded dozens. Last September, a University of Texas student fired several shots from an assault rifle on a campus street before killing himself.

Texas enacted its concealed handgun law in 1995, allowing people 21 or older to carry weapons if they pass a training course and a background check. The state had 461,724 license holders as of Dec. 31, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

Republican Rep. Joe Driver, author of House Bill 750, said the issue applies mostly to faculty, staff and parents because most students would be too young to qualify for a license. In 2010, only 7 percent of license holders in 2010 were between the ages of 21 and 25, Driver said.

"We're not talking about every student getting a gun," Driver said. "I did not file this bill so (license holders) could be heroes in mass-shooting situations. I filed this bill to allow (them) to be able to protect themselves."

But some lawmakers on the committee noted that students are staying in school longer and getting older, raising the percentage of students who would qualify for licenses.

A University of Texas at Austin student, Katherine Merriweather, said she was nearby when a student carried an assault rifle into a campus library and killed himself last year. The gunman was the only casualty.

"If another student had opened fire as a vigilante, I think the matter would have been worse with so many students in the library," she said.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo testified against the bill, citing the potential for chaos if someone does begin shooting on campus.

"When you think about 21-year-olds, responsibility is the last thing they are thinking about," Acevedo said. "Common sense says to me that guns on campus, like in bars, is not the right environment."

Driver's bill would keep a ban on guns in bars, churches, hospitals or athletic events on college campuses. It also would apply to private universities, but gives give them the option to ban concealed handguns after consulting with students, faculty, parents and law enforcement.

Fake Cop Busted After Pulling Over Ga. Officer

2011-03-18T08:06:00.002-07:00

A security guard has been arrested after pulling over an undercover police officer.

Dalton police said James Smith of Dalton attempted to pull over the police officer just after 10 p.m. Tuesday night along Shugart Road.

Police said Smith had rigged his white Crown Victoria with a strobe light system to look like police flashers and also had a Police Interceptor icon on the back of the car.

Smith attempted to pull over the police officer, but the officer kept going and called 911, according to police.

Then, officers said, Smith pulled up next to the undercover officers car and tried to nudge him in an attempt to get the officer to pull over.

According to police, thats when Smith realized he knew the officer and turned off his lights.

Investigators said the officer followed Smith into a gas station and waited for police to show up to take Smith into custody.

Police said Smith was wearing clothes similar to what police officers wear when they are training.

He also had a Glock pistol in a holster on his belt, a spare ammunition magazine, handcuffs in a holster and his security badge, according to police.

Dalton police have charged Smith with impersonating a law enforcement officer and impersonating a public officer or employee.

Maine Trooper, K-9 Trapped in Cruiser Wreck

2011-03-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

LIVERMORE FALLS, Maine -- A Maine State Police trooper whose cruiser was struck by an empty log truck on snow-covered Route 133 on Wednesday escaped serious injury.

Trooper Robert Cejka of Brunswick was trapped in his cruiser as he waited for police and firefighters to free him.

Amber Richards, 17, of Lewiston, whom Cejka had stopped to help, stood by with a friend, state police Sgt. Shawn Currie said.

Richards was standing outside her car, which had slid off the road, and saw the out-of-control truck approaching, Maine Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a news release. She ran into nearby woods to escape the impending crash. Her car was damaged in the crash, but she was not hurt.

The empty log truck, owned and operated by Edwin Tillson of Sidney, was headed southwest toward Wayne when Tillson lost control he drove down a hill and struck the rear of the cruiser, Currie said.

Tillson was not injured, McCausland said.

Cejka was returning from a training session with his dog, Charlie, in the back of the cruiser when the accident occurred at about 3:30 p.m. Charlie could be seen through the window of the cruiser as a nurse who was passing by tended to Cejka. The lights in the back window of the cruiser still flashed blue, even though the rear-end was crushed.

Livermore Falls firefighters used hydraulic tools to cut away the door from the cruiser to free Cejka. State Police Trooper Sam Tlumac could be heard talking to him.

Cejka was removed from the cruiser, placed on a stretcher and rolled to a NorthStar Emergency Services ambulance. He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with injuries described as minor, McCausland said.

Cejka's dog was not seriously injured and was taken to a veterinarian to be checked, McCausland said.

A state plow truck made a pass across the road to clear some of the heavy, wet snow that continued to fall.

Maine State Police Trooper Aaron Turcotte set up his gear to reconstruct the accident with fellow police.

Man uses genitals to assault Scottish cop

2010-03-25T13:25:00.000-07:00

The suspect had been drinking heavily before the incident

BBC.com

ABERDEEN — Marium Varinauskas, 28, tried to strike the officer on the head with his penis when she was called out to his flat, but she got out of the way.

Lithuanian Varinauskas admitted a charge of assault at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and was fined £600.

The court heard he had been drinking heavily and could not remember committing the offence at his home in Aberdeen. Police were called to his home by his girlfriend, who had complained about him being drunk last November.

Fiscal depute Elaine Lynch said: "The accused got to his feet and was standing over the police officer exposing his penis and thrusting it in her face, forcing her to take evasive action to avoid getting struck."

How is she not dead?

2010-03-25T11:06:00.000-07:00

Written by APB Staff

Ladies and gentlemen, we may have a record here. Someone get the Guinness Book people on the phone. South Dakota authorities say a woman found passed out in a stolen delivery van recently registered a blood alcohol content of .708. That’s close to a whopping nine times the legal limit and a possible record for the state, if not the country. Meade County State’s Attorney Jesse Sondreal said that 45-year-old Marguerite Engle was found slumped over the van’s steering wheel along a highway a couple of months ago. Sondreal says the highest blood alcohol content state chemists he spoke with could prior recall was a .56.

The state’s legal limit is .08. Here’s the kicker – authorities say Engle missed an initial court hearing but that they found her shortly afterwards in another stolen vehicle.

She had been drinking again.

She was being held on two counts of driving under the influence.

It wasn’t immediately clear if she was facing other charges. Her attorney wisely declined comment.

The Dumbest things you've said to a cop

2010-03-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sup Po-Po? was the first comments made by a young man stopped for 45 in a 25? the officer confused by the dialog asked the young man what language that was? the man answered it was Snoop Dog, the officer scratched his head went back to his crusier, issued the ticket and returned to the car, He told the young man that he was being site for speed and should slow down, the man replied "Fo Shizzle my nizzle" the officer smiled and went back to the car.

Good for laughs

2010-03-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Monkey on fire In Houston, fire department officials said an out-of-control inflatable gorilla was responsible for a rooftop blaze at a Houston shopping center. No injuries were reported in the incident. The remnants of the inflatable gorilla could be seen at the site of the blaze. District Chief Fred Hooker said some type of a “blowup doll” was on the roof, the item deflated and landed on some lights and caught fire. Fire authorities said two stores suffered minor water damage.

hio Highway Patrol Search for Hit-and-Run Motorcyclist

2010-03-25T10:58:00.002-07:00

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is searching for a motorcyclist involved in a possible hit-and-run early Tuesday morning.

According to authorities, the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. on Route 7 near Pottery Addition, when a motorcycle struck a Chevy Tahoe.

Rescue crews said they rushed the driver of the Tahoe to Trinity Hospital. Police believe the motorcyclist just drove away.

Officials described the color of the motorcycle as gray and said it may be a racing bike.

Anyone with information of the whereabouts of the motorcyclist is urged to call Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Rookie St. Louis Officer Killed During Pursuit

2010-03-25T10:58:00.001-07:00

A rookie St. Louis officer was killed yesterday morning in a four-vehicle crash while in pursuit of a burglary suspect, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Officer David Haynes, 27, spotted the suspect's car and pursued with his lights and sirens on before his cruiser was struck from both sides at the intersection of Kingshighway and Oleatha Avenue.

The suspect is still at large, described as a medium-build black male with a "chin beard" and two gold teeth.

Haynes, a newlywed, had just one year on the force.

"It's certainly a tragic day for the police department. We are all sorry for the loss, for his wife and mother," Police Chief Dan Isom told the newspaper. "We ask that everyone in St. Louis pray for his family and all of the officers in the St. Louis police department."

Haynes had served in the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy on Jan. 8, 2009, according to the report.

BackStoppers -- a St. Louis area non-profit organization that supports the families of the fallen police officers -- will meet with Haynes' widow to present her with a $5,000 check for funeral expenses.

Ohio Police Chief Dies on Duty

2010-03-25T10:57:00.001-07:00

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Ohio --

An area police chief died Tuesday while on duty.

Ross Township Police Chief Carl Worley responded to a suspicious activity call on New London Road at Forest Run Reserve, police said.

The 58-year-old Worley was found unresponsive inside his cruiser and taken to Fort Hamilton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"This is a tragic loss to our department and to the citizens of Ross Township," said Officer Gary Vaugh, of Ross Township police. "Chief Worley will be greatly missed by all of those who knew him."

Worley had served in law enforcement since the 1990s and had been chief of Ross Township police for more than six years.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Worley.

Funeral services are pending and will be held at Young’s Funeral Home in Ross.

Ohio Officer Dies While Chasing Man on Foot

2010-03-25T10:56:00.002-07:00

A Cleveland Heights officer died after collapsing while chasing down a suspect on March 13, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Officer Thomas Patton II, 30, was in pursuit of 21-year-old Malcolm Bryant, who allegedly harassed two female employees at Marc's discount store around 8:15 p.m. and spit in the face of an off-duty officer working security.

Preliminary findings show his cause of death was heart related. Patton had no history of heart trouble and was thought to be in excellent health, according to the report.

The suspect Bryant was taken into custody and will be charged today with assault of a police officer for spitting, obstructing justice, and fleeing.

Prosecutors will decide whether to charge him with Patton's death.

Funeral Arrangements

Visitation for Officer Patton will be held Tuesday, March 16 and Wednesday, March 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday at St. Colman Church, where Patton was an altar boy.

Ohio Officer Fatally Shot, Suspect Killed

2010-03-25T10:56:00.001-07:00

A veteran Elyria police officer was fatally shot last night after responding to a 911 call at a residence, according The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

As Officer James Kerstetter walked through the back door of the house at approximately 10 p.m., he was shot by 58-year-old Ronald Plamer.

Before collapsing, Kerstetter told a dispatcher he was shot and needed backup. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Elyria Memorial Hospital, according to the report.

Responding officers confronted Palmer and fatally shot him.

The initial 911 call came after a neighbor reported that a naked Palmer walked over to her house, kicked in a window and walked back home.

Kerstetter had been an Elyria officer for more than 15 years, was a member of the department's special response team and trained rookie officers.

"It's terrible," Chief Duane Whitely told the newspaper. "He was a top-notch officer, a friend to everyone and he loved being a cop."

He is survived by his wife, Tammy, and three daughters, Misty, 17, Shelby, 14, and Bailey, 8.

Hey boss, we all quit!

2010-01-08T09:38:00.001-08:00

Written by APB Staff

Hey boss: We're rich and we quit! In Hungary, an entire town's police force has quit after winning more than ten million euros in the lottery. The 15-strong police force in the town of Budaors scooped the jackpot with their ticket and every last one of the officers resigned on the spot. Police chiefs have scrambled back-up units to the region until more full-time officers can be recruited.

It was the sixth biggest win in Hungarian lottery history, reports the Daily Telegraph.

In a related lottery story back stateside, an Ohio woman nearly sparked a riot in a clothing store after falsely claiming she'd won the lottery and would pay for everyone's purchases.

The woman arrived at the Burlington Coat Factory in Columbus by limousine and by the time police got there 500 people were inside with another 1,000 scrambling to get in.

The woman was arrested after staff discovered she had no money and the whole stunt was a hoax.

This went over rather poorly with the folks that thought they were getting their stuff for free.

Angry customers threw merchandise around as they looted the store.

Afterward police said it looked as though a hurricane passed through it.

Linda Brown, 45, was arrested over the incident.

No charges have yet been filed, until authorities can get the troublemaker a mental evaluation.

New Job Title!

2010-01-08T09:34:00.000-08:00

For the longest time, I have been associated with the Brice Police Department, from Officer to Deputy Chief, as of Last night I have been Appointed to the Position of Chief of Police, Hopefully I will be able to honor the citizens of Brice and uphold the honor of the officers.

I also want to say thank you to the officers for there support and help in turning around the problems of this department.

Stay tuned for more.....

Suspect in Utah Officer Slaying Arrested

2010-01-08T09:33:00.001-08:00

By JENNIFER DOBNER and PAUL FOY
Associated Press Writers

SALT LAKE CITY --

The man charged with killing a Utah sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop was arrested Wednesday after authorities found him asleep inside a shed.

Roberto Miramontes Roman, 37, was captured around 8 a.m. at a trailer park near Beaver, about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City, said Beaver County Sheriff Cameron Noel.

Roman, the subject of an intensive manhunt, has been charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence in the early Tuesday shooting of Millard County sheriff's deputy Josie Greathouse Fox.

Roman was arrested with another suspect, Ruben Chavez, about 90 miles south of the shooting, which occurred about 1 a.m. near the farming town of Delta in central Utah.

Deputies were tipped to the suspects' location by a 911 call, Noel said. An overnight search of the same trailer park - based on a report that Roman and Chavez had associates there - came up empty, he said.

Detectives found the men and then got a warrant to thoroughly search the shed, Noel said.

Millard County officials expressed relief.

"Now we can focus on the victim," sheriff's spokeswoman Lindsay Mitchell said. "It will give us some closure."

Greathouse Fox, a mother of two and a five-year veteran of the sheriff's department, was found dead from a gunshot wound on a rural highway shortly after 4th District Court papers say she stopped Roman in a Cadillac registered to Chavez.

Shortly before the shooting, another deputy saw two cars meet on a dirt road and radioed to Greathouse Fox to stop one of them. The other car was traced back to Greathouse Fox's brother, Ryan Greathouse, who told deputies he bought drugs from Roman and another man during the encounter.

The brother-sister connection was a bizarre coincidence, authorities said.

Ryan Greathouse later gave police Roman's cell phone number and information about Roman's family that led to an unsuccessful search of a west Salt Lake City home hours after the shooting.

A license plate from the Cadillac was removed and bolted to an orange Corvette, which police found outside the Salt Lake house, court papers say.

If convicted of murder, Roman could face the death penalty. Chavez has not been charged.

Both men were in the Beaver County jail Wednesday.

Ohio Police Shut Down 'Drug House'

2010-01-08T09:32:00.001-08:00

DAYTON, Ohio --

Dayton police shut down an apparent drug house Tuesday night after they said they recovered a large amount of drugs and guns.

It happened on the 100 block of Santa Clara Avenue.

Police said they recovered about 100 grams of crack cocaine, which is worth about $10,000.

Police said they also recovered at least two handguns, some marijuana and made five arrests.

"At least three people were connected to crack cocaine and guns, and a couple on outstanding warrants. It was pretty successful," said Sgt. Steven Abney from the Dayton Police Department.

Cell Phone Captures Calif. Police Beating

2009-10-26T16:46:00.001-07:00

A cell phone video shows San Jose police officers repeatedly using batons and a Taser gun on an unarmed San Jose State student, including at least one baton strike that appears to come after the man is handcuffed, as they took him into custody inside his home last month.

The video, made by one of the student's roommates without the knowledge of police, shows that force was used even though the suspect was on the ground, and apparently offering no physical threat to the officers. Several experts in police force said the video appears to document excessive and possibly illegal force by the officers. A police spokesman Friday said the department had opened a criminal investigation of the officers' conduct, after police officials viewed a copy of the recording.

The confrontation arose as Phuong Ho, a 20-year-old math major from Ho Chi Minh City, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting another of his roommates. He faces pending misdemeanor charges of exhibiting a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. Ho admits picking up a knife as he argued with a roommate. He was not armed when police arrived.

Experts cautioned that the grainy, shaky video, a copy of which was obtained by the Mercury News last week from Ho's lawyers, is difficult to view and may not depict critical actions by Ho that justify the response. Nevertheless, four of the six experts who reviewed the video at the request of the newspaper said it raises serious concerns.

"It takes me back to the day I saw the Rodney King video on TV," said Roger Clark, a certified policing expert and a retired lieutenant with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, where he served for 27 years.

San Jose Police Assistant Chief Daniel Katz, after being shown the video by the newspaper, said the department takes the matter "very seriously."

The video shows police standing over Ho in a hallway of his house for more than two minutes. During that time, one officer strikes Ho with a metal baton more than 10 times at times swinging it with both hands while another officer leans in and uses his Taser gun. The Mercury News was unable to reach either officer seen using force during the incident, despite written requests sent both through department officials and their union.

The roommate who made the video, Dimitri Masouris, said he considered the police response unnecessary and excessive. The roommate sold the tape to Duyen Hoang Nguyen, the San Jose lawyer now representing Ho.

Among the issues noted by the outside experts:

Ho remains on the ground, moaning and crying, as he is repeatedly struck. He does not appear to offer significant resistance, suggesting the high level of force is not necessary.

The officer most visible in the sequence stands for much of the time in a casual posture, at one point with his legs crossed. He seems to show no concern that the situation is potentially dangerous raising additional questions about why force was being used.

The final baton strike appears to occur after the handcuffs can be heard snapping onto Ho's wrists. That particularly troubled several outside experts.

"That's a felony," said Clark.

David M. Grossi, a Florida-based law enforcement trainer and an expert on the use of police force, was also troubled.

"That is not what can be construed at first blush to be reasonable force," said Grossi, who was a lieutenant and training commander with the New York Police Department.

Added Frank Jordan, a former San Francisco police chief and mayor: "Once he is handcuffed, then he is helpless. If you can show that his hands are behind his back, and he is handcuffed, that is where you get brutality. That would be excessive force. You have him in custody. This is one last coup de grace. Is that really necessary?"

Not all experts acknowledged concern. Thomas J. Aveni, executive director of The Police Policy Studies Council, said the poor quality of the video made conclusions impossible. But he said: "Batons are largely ineffectual with contemporary baton designs, and baton usage always looks worse than what it actually was when videotaped."

And Kansas force trainer Brian Kinnard, who often testifies for police in court, said he saw nothing untoward, adding that the question of whether force is "reasonable" depends on the circumstances.

Ho, who has no criminal record, told the Mercury News last week that he was not resisting arrest that September night, but that he was desperately looking for his thick, high-prescription glasses, which flew off as police shoved him. He said he was then stunned by the blows that followed.

"In philosophy, they call it 'dehumanization,' " Ho said. "So when they think me a dangerous guy, they don't treat me like I was human. They hit me like an animal or something."

The incident occurred after a Sept. 3 encounter between Ho and roommate Jeremy Suftin that began when Suftin slopped soap on Ho's dinner steak. The two scuffled, and Ho picked up a steak knife, saying that in Vietnam, "I would kill you for this." At least some roommates laughed at the comment, as shown on a videotape of that portion of the incident. But Suftin said he took it seriously, and the police were called. At least four officers responded.

According to police reports obtained by the Mercury News, officer Kenneth Siegel could not understand Ho's accent when he confronted him in a hallway and asked his name. Ho then ignored a command to stand still after officers entered his room to check his wallet for identification.

When Ho tried to follow Siegel into his room, officer Steven Payne Jr. attempted to handcuff Ho. According to his report, Payne pushed Ho into a wall and then forced him to the hallway floor when Ho resisted being handcuffed. Ho said his glasses fell off then, and as he attempted to pick them up, the officers struck him.

It was then that Masouris captured the events on his Motorola ROKR cell phone.

That video shows officers surrounding a suspect on the ground. An officer repeatedly strikes Ho with a metal baton as he can be heard shouting, "Turn over!"

Ho acknowledged in the interview that he did not turn over immediately; he says he was blindly groping for his glasses.

"How could I resist arrest?" Ho said. "I didn't even touch them."

The police report cites several times Ho's imposing size 6 feet tall and 220 pounds, according to the report. Ho's California ID says he is that tall. But in fact he is 5 feet 9 inches tall and at least 10 pounds lighter. In their reports, the officers wrote that Ho was "kicking in a violent manner" at them an account that experts questioned based on the video. "He is begging," Clark said. "This is not resistance."

Jordan said he was concerned why, with multiple officers at the scene there were at least two other officers present, according to police reports it was not possible to control Ho without using weapons.

Ho suffered one baton strike to his head. The experts noted that head strikes, which are potentially lethal, are especially dangerous and should be used against suspects only when potentially lethal force is appropriate.

The police reports say the blow to the head occurred when a baton bounced off Ho's shoulder.

Toward the end of the incident, the officer who had mostly been observing leans down; the audio suggests he used a Taser gun on Ho at that point.

The audio and video indicate Ho is then handcuffed, after which one more baton strike appears to occur.

The police reports identify Payne as the officer who deployed the Taser, and Siegel as the officer who used his baton repeatedly.

Robert Brennan, former police chief of Atherton, said he jumped when he saw that last baton strike.

"If this was my officer doing this, I'd be very concerned with it," said Brennan, a retired Palo Alto commander who now works as a San Mateo County Sheriff's deputy. "I think it's kind of like the Rodney King thing."

Siegel documents at least 10 baton strikes in his police report. But there is no mention in his report of the last baton strike.

Masouris and his son, Nicholas, were both eyewitnesses to the event. Both said it appeared to them that the police used excessive force, including striking Ho after he was handcuffed. Dimitri Masouris said he falsely told police at the time that the force appeared warranted, because he feared the result if they thought "that I was against them." Added Nicholas Masouris: "I thought it was completely unnecessary. All he was screaming for was his glasses."

At the hospital, the police report said, Ho was treated for a Taser burn and received staples to close several wounds, including the blow to his head. Siegel reported that he strained his right wrist during the incident.

After he spent most of the night in jail, Ho was released, then limped home. It took him two hours, he said, ruefully laughing about his television-bred misconception that officers would offer him a ride home. When he got home, he cleaned up and walked to his morning finance class. He was 30 minutes late.

Bill Aims to Improve Concealed Weapons Permitting for Retired Officers

2009-10-26T16:45:00.001-07:00

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) has announced legislation to improve current law to permit qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements Act of 2009, H.R. 3752, aims to increase public safety and ensure proper protection for law enforcement officers.

"About five percent of law enforcement officers who die each year are killed while taking action in an off-duty capacity. Convicted criminals often have exact memories, preventing law enforcement officers from ever being 'off duty', whether active duty or retired," said Forbes in a prepared statement.

"Not only is the ability of retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms a critical officer safety issue, but it just makes sense that trained officers should be prepared to respond immediately to public safety threats, regardless of whether they are off-duty or across state lines. This bill would make significant improvements to law enforcement firearm laws to increase safety for officers and the public."

Under current law, Forbes reports, retired law enforcement officers are subject to complicated and duplicative document certification procedures to carry concealed weapons. Differing interpretations of the law lead some states to refuse to issue the required documentation.

H.R. 3752 aims to "establish measures of uniformity and cut through the bureaucratic red tape by enabling a firearms instructor to certify that retired law enforcement officers meet the active duty standard for firearms training," Forbes reports.

This would allow law enforcement officers who are retired or who separated in good standing after at least ten years of service to carry a concealed weapon. The bill would also extend the right to carry a concealed weapon to current and retired law enforcement officers for a branch of the United States Armed Forces.

H.R. 3752 has been endorsed by the National Fraternal Order of Police and the International Union of Police Associations. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee where it awaits further action.

Dallas police sorting through 2K cases found in officer's garage

2009-10-23T17:42:00.001-07:00

DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department is trying to determine if more than 2,000 family violence cases stored haphazardly in the garage of one of its 35-year veterans were handled properly.

Family violence advocates, prosecutors and police are worried that some of Detective Mickey East's cases may not have been properly filed with the district attorney's office. Officials are reviewing department policies to determine what rules may have been violated, including ones that require detectives to keep evidence in its proper place.

East said he had taken the documents home to organize them and put files together.

"I made a mistake," he told The Dallas Morning News. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach East on Saturday were not immediately successful.

He has been temporarily assigned to the police auto pound.

Dallas police say it could take weeks, if not months, to sort through the unorganized mound of police records.

"I don't think he had a system," said Deputy Chief Mike Genovesi, commander of the special investigations division, who called East's record-keeping technique "grossly inadequate."

Two weeks ago an audit of an internal tracking database at the Police Department's family violence unit discovered problems with East's files.

East, who has been assigned to the family violence unit since 2005, had entered about 10 of his cases into the system. Officials then asked to look at his case files, which he told them that he kept at home. East then brought in a dozen large boxes, some of them labeled by year, that were filled to the brim with police records.

Detectives and supervisors have spent hours sorting through the records in a conference room at police headquarters .

"Given the state of the files, it's hard to believe that, considering the way they were maintained, that they were all taken care of," Genovesi said.

Dallas County First District Attorney Terri Moore, top assistant to District Attorney Craig Watkins, said prosecutors would wait until the Police Department completes its internal review before deciding how to proceed.

"We think there will be a spike in family violence cases once they finish their investigation," Moore said. "They're going to be filing a lot of cases with us that we think he had not filed."

Paige Flink, executive director of the Family Place shelter, said she's concerned for police detectives "who work very hard for victims" and the victims themselves who may have suffered because cases were not filed properly.

"It's hard for victims to come forward because of all the shame and fear or the abuser saying that nobody's going to believe you," she said. "When she's done her part and made the call, and then that follow-through doesn't happen, it's disheartening."

Female DUI's increase dramatically

2009-10-23T17:38:00.001-07:00

Maybe "ladies night," at the bar isn't such a good idea. According to a recent article by the Associated Press the number of women arrested for drunken driving has jumped nearly 30 percent in the past decade. The Transportation Department reported that the number of women arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased 28.8 percent between 1998 and 2007. On the flip side, the number of men arrested under the influence fell 7.5 percent during the same period.

"If you're over the limit, you're under arrest. This is a matter of life and death," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told reporters when asked about the increase in DUI offenses for women. But despite the increase among females, men continue to account for the vast majority of drunk driving arrests. In 1998, 676,911 men were arrested for being under the influence, compared with 626,371 arrests in 2007.

More than 126,000 women were arrested for DUI in 1998, a number which increased to 162,493 in 2007. Laura Dean-Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said it's not clear why there has been an increase in the number of women arrested for impaired driving. "There's no hard data on that. What you're hearing more is that women are under more pressure, they're now perhaps the breadwinner because of the unemployment rate," she told reporters with the Associated Press.

"We need to make sure women understand that if you're a drinking driver, you're just as likely as a male to hit or kill or injure someone or perhaps even kill yourself, as we saw in the horrible Taconic Parkway crash," Mooney went on to say. In the incident that Mooney was referring to, a woman named Diane Schuler drove the wrong way for nearly two miles on the Taconic State Parkway late last summer before her minivan slammed into an SUV, killing 8 people in New York's Westchester County. Schuler, her 2-year-old daughter, three young nieces and three men in the SUV were killed.

Schuler's 5-year-old son survived. Police said they found a broken bottle of vodka in the wreckage of Schuler's minivan. An autopsy found she had a 0.19 blood-alcohol reading at the time of the crash, well above the legal limit of 0.08. Making matters worse was the fact that she had smoked marijuana no more than an hour before the wreck. Transportation officials said the number of impaired women involved in a fatal crash increased in 10 states from 2007 to 2008.

The states are: Ohio, New Hampshire, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, West Virginia, Indiana, Washington state, Kansas and Tennessee. About 2,000 alcohol-related deaths involve women every year.

More Funny Drunks

2009-10-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

More Funny Drunks

2009-10-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

Funny Drunks

2009-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

OnStar Halts California High-Speed Pursuit

2009-10-20T18:33:00.002-07:00

DETROIT --

When two Visalia, Calif., police officers swung their cruisers behind a sport utility vehicle that had been carjacked at gunpoint early Sunday, they prepared for a dangerous high-speed chase.

The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe roared away with officers in pursuit, but shortly after the suspect made a right turn, operators at General Motors Co.'s OnStar service sent a command that electronically disabled the gas pedal and the SUV gradually came to a halt.

The flustered thief got out and ran, but was quickly nabbed after he climbed several fences and fell into a backyard swimming pool, police said.

It was the first time since OnStar began offering the service in the 2009 model year that it was used to end a chase that could otherwise have had dire consequences.

"He wouldn't have pulled over if OnStar hadn't have shut the vehicle down," said Visalia Police Sgt. Steve Phillips. "Generally pursuits end in a collision."

The whole thing began when Jose Ruiz, 33, of nearby Lindsay, Calif., was sitting in his Tahoe in a lighted parking lot about 3 a.m. Sunday while his cousin was talking on a cell phone in the passenger seat. Out of the corner of his eye, Ruiz saw a man walking toward him.

"He already had a gun out," Ruiz said Monday.

The man pointed a sawed-off shotgun at Ruiz and ordered both men to get out of the Tahoe and empty their pockets. Ruiz's cousin at first refused, but Ruiz told him to obey, knowing that OnStar could find the stolen truck with a global positioning system.

"I was afraid he was going to shoot my cousin. My cousin was arguing with him," Ruiz recalled.

The cousin relented and the man sped off in the truck. Ruiz then sprinted for a nearby pay telephone to call police, but ran into a sheriff's deputy on her break who notified Visalia police.

Officers quickly contacted OnStar and got Ruiz's permission to find the vehicle. Police spotted it a few miles away, but as officers made a U-turn to pursue it, the Tahoe sped off at a high speed, Phillips said.

The suspect made a turn, and police dispatchers told the pursuing officers that OnStar was about to disable the Tahoe. It then rolled to a halt, and the robber was quickly captured.

The 21-year-old suspect was jailed and faces preliminary charges of robbery, carjacking, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

OnStar President Walt Dorfstatter said it took only 16 minutes from the time OnStar was notified for the vehicle to be stopped.

Visalia Police Chief Colleen Mestas said the new technology kept officers, other motorists and even the suspect out of a dangerous chase.

"Considering the violent crime that this suspect was wanted for, I was just amazed," she said.

Police chases often end in death, many times for the people in the pursued vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Last year, 334 people were killed nationwide in crashes that stemmed from police pursuits, including five police officers, 235 people in the chased vehicles and 77 who were in cars or trucks not involved in the chases.

Ruiz said police returned his Tahoe, cell phone and wallet to him that night. The only thing they didn't get back was some cash taken from his cousin.

The stolen vehicle slowdown feature isn't offered on all GM vehicles yet, but the company hopes to expand it to the entire lineup as models are updated. For 2010, the feature is on 18 of the 30 models equipped with OnStar, a communication service that also can give directions or call for help if a car is in a crash. Dorfstatter said it will take several years for all GM models to get the feature.

Mestas, whose city is about 50 miles southeast of Fresno, hopes that both technology like OnStar and more police aircraft can minimize the dangers of chases.

"It would be nice to have a day in law enforcement that you didn't have to actively pursue suspects at high speeds," she said.

Pa. Officer Fends Off Sword With Batshield

2009-10-20T18:33:00.001-07:00

It was the sword-swinging samurai versus Batman.

No, this is not an early Halloween tale. It was a police call this weekend in Upper Darby. And (spoiler alert) Batman won.

Just after midnight Sunday, the Delaware County 911 emergency center received a call from a man who said he was suicidal and had covered his rowhouse apartment with gasoline. He was armed with knives and a crossbow.

Police said they determined that the call came from George Henry Rogers, 36, of Dayton Road in Upper Darby. When police arrived there, Rogers' mother told them that her son was barricaded in his first-floor bedroom, according to court documents.

"He basically said he was going to burn the house down and kill any cops that tried to come in, and he was going to kill himself," said Michael J. Chitwood, Upper Darby superintendent of police.

After attempts to talk with Rogers were unsuccessful, Officer Dan Lanni used a Baker Batshield, which is made of Kevlar, to protect himself as he forced open the door that Rogers had blocked with furniture, Chitwood said.

The shield is shaped like a large bat, with wings that fold around the user.

Rogers attacked Lanni with a samurai sword, hitting the shield with enough force to bend the blade, according to court papers.

Chitwood said his department has two Batshields, which cost about $1,000 apiece, will stop most firearm projectiles, and are available to officers on the street at any time.

After Rogers struck the shield a number of times, and refused police orders to lie on the floor, Lt. Mike Kehrle used a Taser to subdue him, according to court documents.

"He fell like a sack of potatoes," Chitwood said, adding it was the perfect use of a Taser. "We used less-than-lethal force with the Tasers, and it worked."

He said it was lucky that Lanni was not injured and lucky that Rogers was not shot and killed by police during the incident.

The sword confiscated from Rogers was adorned with a skull wearing a German World War II helmet on the end of the handle.

Police said they found a crossbow, a hunting bow, arrows, a large sword, throwing knives, and smaller knives on the bed.

All the weapons were legal to own, Chitwood said.

Rogers was taken to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby for evaluation and was released. He was charged with attempted murder, assault, and other crimes and was being held in Delaware County Prison.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Ind. Police Crack Down on Cruiser Look-A-Likes

2009-10-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

Indianapolis police are beginning to crack down on those who have look-a-like police cars, specifically those with red and blue flashing lights.

Earlier this week, pre-rush hour traffic was backed up for blocks at one of the city's busier intersections at 11th and West Streets.

When police dispatched traffic units to the area, officers found what they thought was a fully marked police car, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

The car was equipped with red and blue lights visible from all angles and was adorned with a "patrolman" decal on the trunk, but it belonged to a private security company.

Police said both the car and the security company, Advanced Tactical Security, didn't have state certification to be used as an emergency vehicle.

"It's in violation of the law. They are working part-time security at construction sites," said Indianapolis police Sgt. Christian Nielsen. "They cannot have red and blue lights."

Police issued citations to the security company, but not the off-duty Putnam County reserve deputy who drove the car.

Officials said the situation highlights a growing problem of off-duty, out of county officers unfamiliar with city traffic patterns being hired to direct traffic at downtown construction sites.

"It's one of those things where I think they're trying to save a buck on security, as far as helping the company," said Indianapolis police Capt. Mike Bates. "The bottom line is, it hurts us and the citizens."

6News went to the security company to ask about the car, but managers did not respond to a request for an interview.

Indianapolis police documented the company's alleged violations and impounded the vehicle.

Officers would like the city code to be amended to require that all officers directing traffic at a construction site have certification from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.

Ohio Mayor Says He Was Set Up for Police Stop

2009-10-20T18:30:00.001-07:00

AKRON, Ohio --

The mayor of Akron said a 911 call reporting him for erratic driving over the weekend was orchestrated for political purposes.

In a statement released Monday, Mayor Don Plusquellic said an Akron firefighter and his girlfriend set him up, following him from a restaurant and then dialing 911 to report him to police.

Plusquellic said he was celebrating an Akron police officer's birthday at the restaurant Saturday night and was on his way home when a police officer stopped him on West Market Street.

Plusquellic said the officer approached his car and told him about the 911 call, and after asking him several questions, the officer decided not to take any further action and let Plusquellic go.

The mayor said the firefighter and his girlfriend took video footage of Plusquellic at the restaurant before placing the 911 call, apparently before they even observed Plusquellic driving.

Plusquellic said the police officer handled the situation properly and responsibly.

The Future

2009-10-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in my posts, my Daughter seems to take a lot of time and getting time to post new events are difficult, but things are going to change, new posts are going to start up here soon, also updates on the new book are forth coming!

Thanks for all your support!

Florida Police Dog Killed During Pursuit

2009-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Todd Leskanic
Tampa Tribune, Fla.

Aug. 8--ZEPHYRHILLS -- A police dog was killed Thursday as it helped officers chase a burglary suspect across U.S. 301.

Gunner, a 4-year-old German shepherd, had been with the Zephyrhills Police Department since May 2006. Gunner's handler during his time with the department was Officer Joseph Rinaldo.

"It's a pretty raw deal for all of us," said Capt. Jeff McDougal.

Officers responded to a burglary at 5747 Gall Blvd. about 1 a.m. Thursday. The suspects were still inside the business when Rinaldo and Gunner arrived. Gunner was sent in through the back door and chased the suspects as they ran from the store.

Backup officers arrived and joined the chase, McDougal said. As Gunner chased one of the suspects, he began getting closer to one of the pursuing officers. That's when Rinaldo called Gunner off and had him recross U.S. 301. As Gunner crossed the highway, he was struck and killed by a sports utility vehicle.

"Joe really had one choice and that was to call that dog off," McDougal said. "The dog can't tell the difference between the burglar and a police officer in those kind of situations, so he really prevented serious injury to one or more officers by calling him off."

Police arrested Charles Lee Boulanger, 51, and Kathleen Harpst, 36, at the nearby Magnuson Hotel; they face charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools and interfering with a police dog.

Florida law provides for the prosecution of people who harm police dogs and horses. One provision in the law requires anyone convicted of such an offense to pay for the replacement of the animal.

Boulanger and Harpst, both of 36919 North Ave., were being held Friday in the Land O' Lakes Jail with bail set at $3,100 each.

According to police reports, they entered the business by breaking a deadbolt lock on the back door and stole $2 in cash, 40 postage stamps and a laptop computer. The items were recovered by police.

Baltimore Officer Struck at Traffic Stop

2009-08-08T10:59:00.001-07:00

LIZ F. KAY
The Baltimore Sun

A city police officer was treated for minor injuries after being struck by a vehicle during a Thursday night traffic stop in East Baltimore.

The officer stopped a car about 11:45 p.m. in the 3000 block of McElderry St., police said. The driver put the car in reverse, striking the officer in the left leg and knocking the officer to the ground, police said.

A passenger tried to exit the vehicle, but the driver pulled away and dragged the passenger, police said. The driver, a woman, fled the scene.

The passenger was taken to an area hospital, according to police.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

National Night Out

2009-08-08T10:56:00.000-07:00

We all had a Great time at National Night Out, thanks to Target for the Help, here's a few pics of me and my K9 with the kids....

Obama says words ill chosen, calls Mass. officer

2009-07-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — Trying to tamp down a national uproar over race, President Barack Obama acknowledged Friday he had used unfortunate words in declaring that Cambridge, Mass., police "acted stupidly" in arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. "I could've calibrated those words differently," he said.

He stopped short of a public apology. But the president telephoned both Gates and the white officer who had arrested him, hoping to end the rancorous back-and-forth over what had transpired and what Obama had said about it. Trying to lighten the situation, he said he had invited the Harvard professor and police St. James Crowley for "a beer here in the White House."

Hours earlier, a multiracial group of police officers had stood with Crowley in Massachusetts and said the president should apologize.

It was a measure of the nation's keen sensitivities on matters of race that the fallout from a disorderly conduct charge in Massachusetts — and the remarks of America's first black president about it — had mushroomed to such an extent that he felt compelled to make a special appearance at the White House to try to put the matter to rest. The blowup had knocked Obama offstride just as he was trying to marshal public pressure to get Congress to push through health care overhaul legislation — and as polls showed growing doubts about his performance.

"This has been ratcheting up, and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up," Obama said of the racial controversy. "I want to make clear that in my choice of words, I think I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department and Sgt. Crowley specifically. And I could've calibrated those words differently."

The president did not back down from his contention that police had overreacted by arresting Gates for disorderly conduct after coming to his home to investigate a possible break-in. He added, though, that he thought Gates, too, had overreacted to the police who questioned him. The charge has been dropped.

Obama stirred up a hornet's nest when he said at a prime-time news conference this week that the officer, who is white, had "acted stupidly" by arresting Gates, a friend of the president's. Looking back, Obama said he didn't regret stepping into the controversy and hoped the matter would end up being a "teachable moment" for the nation.

"The fact that this has garnered so much attention, I think, is testimony to the fact that these are issues that are still very sensitive here in America," Obama said.

Obama wryly took note of the distraction from his legislative efforts.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but nobody's been paying much attention to health care," the president said.

Obama, who has come under intense criticism from police organizations, said he had called Crowley to clear the air, and said the conversation confirmed his belief that the sergeant is an "outstanding police officer and a good man."

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs refused to say whether Obama had apologized to Crowley.

Asked repeatedly about that, Gibbs said: "If the president doesn't want to characterize it in a conversation that he hates having with you all, I'm not going to get ahead of him."

Obama was lighter in tone in his public remarks about his phone conversation with Crowley.

He said the police officer "wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn."

"I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn," Obama joked.

In his conversation with Gates, aides said, Obama and the professor had spoken about the president's statement to the press and his conversation with Crowley.

Before Obama's appearance Friday, fellow police officers in Massachusetts said that Obama and the state's governor, Deval Patrick, should apologize for comments on the arrest. Patrick had said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare."

Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said Obama's remarks were "misdirected" and the Cambridge police "deeply resent the implication" that race was a factor in the arrest.

Sgt. Leon Lashley, a black officer who was at Gates' home with Crowley at the time of the arrest, said he supported his fellow officer's action "100 percent."

The incident began when Gates returned home from an overseas trip, found his door jammed, and tried to force it open. Gates went through the back door and was inside the house when police arrived. Police say he flew into a rage when Crowley asked him to show identification to prove he should be in the home. Police say Gates accused Crowley of racial bias, refused to calm down and was arrested.

Gates, 58, maintains he turned over identification when asked to do so. He says Crowley arrested him after the professor followed him to the porch, repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number because he was unhappy over his treatment.

Obama's take on the situation: "My sense is you've got two good people in a circumstance in which neither of them were able to resolve the incident in a way that it should have been resolved."

Democratic activists around the country were hopeful the president's latest remarks would put the issue to rest.

"Let's concentrate on the business at hand — fixing the economy and health care for everybody," said Florida state Rep. Luis Garcia, a vice chair of the state Democratic Party.

In Michigan, 19-year-old Mitchell Rivard, the president of the Michigan State University College Democrats, expressed hope the controversy would indeed be a learning experience for the country."I think it's going to make people talk about race relations around the United States and in their home towns," Rivard said. "This will be something that people are going to talk about across the nation in terms of how we can have better race relations."

Shot New Jersey Officer Succumbs to Injuries

2009-07-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

The thoughts and Prayers go out to the family of Officer DiNardo, Another hero falls serving the public.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. --

A Jersey City police officer critically wounded in a shootout with two robbery suspects last week died on Tuesday, one day before his 38th birthday.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy said Officer Marc DiNardo, who had been on life support, was pronounced dead around 9:35 a.m.

The 37-year-old was shot in the face with a shotgun blast as he and other officers tried to storm an apartment Thursday.

The officer had no signs of life when he arrived at Jersey City Medical Center that day and had to be revived several times before he could be stabilized in critical condition.

His family issued a statement over the weekend calling him "a fighter" and thanking the community for its "overwhelming support and prayers." The married, 10-year veteran had a 3-year-old son and two daughters, ages 1 and 4.

"He will be greatly missed. He had a personality you could never forget, and when he walked into a room we all loved him," said Officer Melissa Bartholomew, a friend and fellow police academy classmate of DiNardo.

Deputy Chief Peter Nalbach said at the family's request, doctors began harvesting organs from DiNardo for transplant.

Hours before DiNardo's death, seven police officers dodged bullets and suffered bruises Tuesday while pursuing three robbery suspects.

Nalbach says the suspects fired at police twice and police arrested three teenagers.

In last week's gunfight, four other officers were wounded during the close-quarters gunfight in the apartment building. Robbery suspects Hassan Shakur, 32, and his wife, Amanda Anderson, 22, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officer Michael Camacho, who was initially listed in critical condition for a gunshot wound to the neck, was upgraded to serious but guarded condition Sunday.

DiNardo and the 25-year-old Camacho were the first SWAT officers inside Shakur's apartment during the assault. Shakur and Anderson were wanted in a June 18 armed robbery in Jersey City, in which a man was shot in the stomach with the shotgun. They also were suspected of a similar robbery in South Carolina.

Shakur was buried in Jersey City Monday in a Muslim ceremony. Beforehand, his sister offered an emotional apology for her brother's actions.

"I want to apologize to the state of New Jersey for the terror that my brother brought upon your city," said Monique Hosendove, who traveled from Hampton, S.C., for her brother's funeral.

"I am so sorry to the families of all the officers," she said. "My family is grieving the loss of my brother, because we didn't understand what was inside his head that would make him hurt people when he was such a lovely person - the one we knew."

According to autopsies released Monday on Shakur and Anderson, 19 bullets were found in Shakur's body. Anderson died from a gunshot wound to the base of the skull and was also hit in the hand, Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio said.

DiNardo had arrested Shakur in 2002 for illegal firearms possession.

The other Jersey City officers wounded by gunfire were Frank Molina, 35, and Marc Lavelle, 43. Port Authority police officer Dennis Mitchell, 35, was also shot.

Three other officers were treated and released for minor injuries.

Minn. police struggle with rise of Somali gangs

2009-07-21T10:41:00.001-07:00

By Patrick Condon
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Ahmednur Ali's family fled the chaos and violence of their East African homeland Somalia in the 1990s, eventually making their way to Minnesota like thousands of their compatriots.

While many of the estimated 32,000 Somalis who settled in the state have struggled to adapt, Ali flourished, blazing a path to Minneapolis' Augsburg College on a soccer scholarship by age 20. He studied political science and aspired to a political career modeled on President Barack Obama's.

He was shot and killed last September outside a busy community center where he worked part-time as a youth counselor, and prosecutors said the 16-year-old accused of killing him was part of a gang.

Ali was one of seven Minneapolis-area Somali men killed over a 10-month period, and authorities believe all were killed by fellow Somalis. Police say it's too simple to tie all the killings to Somali gangs, which have lured hundreds of young community members to their ranks in recent years.

Those in the insular community willing to speak out, however, disagree.

"It was all gang activity, totally, 100 percent," said Shukri Adan, a former Somali community organizer who estimated in a 2007 report for the city that between 400 and 500 young Somalis were active in gangs. "The police don't want to say that but everybody else knows that."

Despite anger and despair over the killings in Minnesota's Somali community - the nation's largest - police and prosecutors have struggled to catch and try the killers. Few witnesses have stepped forward because of a fear of reprisal and deep-rooted distrust of authority. More than half of Minnesota's Somalis are living in poverty, according to state statistics, and many complain that authorities are biased against Somalis because of their Islamic faith.

Last month, prosecutors dropped the murder charge against the teenage boy in Ali's case after one witness backed out and another apparently fled the state.

Gangs like the Somali Hot Boyz, the Somali Mafia and Madhibaan with Attitude have grown more active in recent years, said Jeanine Brudenell, the Minneapolis Police Department's Somali liaison officer.

The recent spate of killings started in December 2007, when two Somali men, ages 27 and 25, were found shot to death at a south Minneapolis home. No arrests have been made in that case.

They culminated last September, when a man was fatally shot outside of the Village Market Mall, a cluster of Somali-owned businesses and a popular destination for local Somalis. Investigators believe the shooter was retaliating for the death of his cousin, one of the other slain Somalis. The mall shooting was the only of the seven slayings for which anyone was convicted - 23-year-old Hassan Mohamed Abdillahi.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said he hoped the conviction would show local Somalis that the law is on their side, and spark new progress in closing the other cases. "We have a job to do to convince people they can trust us," he said.

A gang expert in California said economic and social factors are more likely to blame for the spike in gang activity than any spillover of violence from war-ravaged Somalia.

"When there's unemployment and poverty and lack of external support, there's gangs," said Jorja Leap, a social welfare professor at the University of California Los Angeles and former gang adviser to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators in a separate criminal investigation have said they've also had trouble penetrating Minnesota's Somali community. The FBI is looking into the disappearance in recent years of up to 20 young Somali men, mostly from Minneapolis, believed to have been recruited into Islamist terror groups back in Somalia.

The first sign of progress in that investigation came this week with the indictment on terrorism charges of two young Somali men, at least one of whom is accused of traveling to Somalia to fight.

Elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada, police and community officials have reported an increase in Somali gang activity.

In and around Edmonton, Alberta, six young Somali men have been slain in the last six months. The leader of a small Somali outreach group there said the deaths are seen as evidence of a growing gang problem, and that they've led to better cooperation between Somalis and police.

"It seems like the community now is getting to the point where we are trying to give information to the police, and they are sharing information with us," said Mohamednur Mardowe, who heads the Brotherhood Community Support Service Association.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, which has the second largest U.S. population of Somalis, have also seen growing evidence of Somali gangs, said Sgt. Chantay Boxill.

Ahmednur Ali's sister, Hindia Ali, said she hopes her fellow Somalis will stand up against the violence. "I don't think any Somali person wants killing to continue," she said. "We all want this violence to stop."

After 149 MPH Ticket, Officer Removed From SWAT Team

2009-07-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

GAHANNA, Ohio — A police officer who was pulled over for riding a motorcycle at speeds approaching 150 mph along Interstate 70 has been removed from his department's SWAT team, 10TV's Andy Hirsch reported on Thursday.

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers stopped Gahanna police Officer Chris Thomas and Trooper Jason Highsmith on June 28 after their speeds were clocked by a patrol aircraft.

The patrol said Thomas was clocked at 149 mph while Highsmith was traveling 147 mph. Both men were off-duty at the time of their citations.

In a letter earlier this week, Gahanna police Deputy Chief Ken Bell called Thomas' judgment into question.

"You had an enforcement contact with the Ohio State Highway Patrol which was the result of extremely poor judgment on your part," Bell said.

Bell went on to write that Thomas was being immediately removed from the division's SWAT team.

"As the result of the above mentioned incident, you have given me cause to believe you are lacking the necessary ability to use sound judgment," he wrote. "It is for this reason you are immediately removed from the ranks of the Gahanna police SWAT."

Thomas and his speeding citation are being investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and the city of Gahanna, Hirsch reported.

Thomas has been on medical leave since injuring himself during an off-duty fall in December. The BWC said Thomas could be charged with fraud if his injuries were exaggerated.

10TV has tried to reach Thomas for comment several times. He has not responded.

Highsmith has pleaded not guilty to his speeding fine, while Thomas' initial court date was postponed.

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Top 16 things said to a violator at a traffic stop!

2009-07-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

16 'You know, stop lights don't come any redder than the one you just went through.'

15 'Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch after you wear them a while.'

14 'If you take your hands off the car, I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document.'

13 'If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.'

12 'Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? Because that's the speed of the bullet that'll be chasing you.'

11 'You don't know how fast you were going? I guess that means I can write anything I want to on the ticket, huh?'

10 'Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I'm the shift supervisor?'

9 'Warning! You want a warning? O.K, I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket. '

8 'The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?'

7 'Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy and corn dogs and step in monkey poop'

6 'Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.'

5 'In God we trust, all others we run through NCIC.'

4 'How big were those 'two beers' you say you had?'

3 'No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we can.'

2 'I'm glad to hear that the Chief (of Police) is a personal friend of yours. So you know someone who can post your bail.'

AND THE WINNER IS....

1 'You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here.'

Suspects can be questioned without lawyer

2009-07-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

Written by Mark Nichols

In a significant ruling for law enforcement from the United States Supreme Court, suspects no longer have the right to the presence of an attorney during questioning by police. In a remarkable 5-4 ruling, the High Court has overturned a long-standing decision that stops police or prosecutors from initiating questions unless a defendant’s lawyer is present. The court overturned the 1986 Michigan v. Jackson ruling, which said police may not question a defendant who has a lawyer or has asked for one unless the attorney present during said questioning.

The flaw in the Michigan ruling, according to the majority, was that it also applied to defendants who agreed to talk to the authorities without their lawyers. Justice Antonin Scalia said of the Michigan decision “it was poorly reasoned, has created no significant reliance interests and (as we have described) is ultimately unworkable.”

Scalia, who read the majority opinion from the bench, said their decision will have a “minimal” effect on criminal defendants. “Because of the protections created by this court in Miranda and related cases, there is little if any chance that a defendant will be badgered into waiving his right to have counsel present during interrogation,” Scalia reasoned.

The Michigan v. Jackson opinion was written by Justice John Paul Stevens, the only current justice who was on the court in 1986. Stevens dissented from the ruling, and in an unusual move, read his dissent aloud from the bench. “The police interrogation in this case clearly violated petitioner’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel,” Stevens said.

Overruling the Jackson case, he said, “can only diminish the public’s confidence in the reliability and fairness of our system of justice.” The challenge to the Michigan decision came in the case of Jesse Jay Montejo. He was found guilty in 2005 of the shooting death of Louis Ferrari in the victim’s home on Sept. 5, 2002.

Montejo was appointed a public defender at his Sept. 10, 2002 hearing, but there was no indication that he conferred with the attorney prior to his interaction with police. Montejo went with police detectives to help them look for the murder weapon. And at some point on that trip he wrote a letter to Ferrari’s widow incriminating himself.

When the police and the suspect returned to the prison, a public defender was waiting for Montejo and was upset that his client had been questioned without counsel. Montejo was convicted and sentenced to death. He appealed, but the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the conviction and sentence.

Police Shoot and Kill Armed Man Near Capitol

2009-07-16T11:00:00.002-07:00

By BEN EVANS
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON --

A chaotic scene unfolded near the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday after police shot and killed an armed man in what authorities described as a routine rush hour traffic stop that turned deadly.

U.S. Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Schneider said the unidentified 35-year-old man sped away in a white car after being told to stop about a block north of the Capitol grounds. The man drove the wrong way down a street, ultimately striking two officers with his car, and crashed into a police cruiser, she said.

Police then opened fire after seeing the man hold up his handgun and refusing to put it down, said Schneider, who described the melee as "very fast moving, very fluid."

"The officers felt they were being threatened - they were in fear for their lives," Schneider said.

She did not know if the man ever fired at police. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The police officers who were hit - one of whom was on a motorcycle - received minor injuries, Schneider said.

The late afternoon scare occurred as lawmakers were wrapping up a third day of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Police briefly sealed off part of the Capitol as a precaution, but the buildings were reopened about a half hour later. Authorities said the shooting was not related to the Capitol complex.

"We hear pop, pop, pop, like a gun," said Carol Lanigan, of Toledo, Ohio, describing how she saw a white car come flying down the street with two police cars behind chasing it.

She said she heard about four or five shots.

"There were so many gunshots being fired my family got down," said Robert Drumm, a tourist from Oklahoma who was visiting the nation's capital with his family.

Drumm said he saw someone being taken away in an ambulance. He said he first noticed trouble when he saw one car speeding and being chased by a police vehicle.

Numerous emergency vehicles converged quickly in the area.

Another witness, Dale Lanigan of Toledo, Ohio, described a similar scene, although he said two police cars gave chase.

As the car went past him, Lanigan said, "the driver had one hand on the wheel and it looked like he was reaching for something."

Lanigan said he then heard shots and police ordered him to get away.

___

Five Officers Shot in New Jersey

2009-07-16T11:00:00.001-07:00

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Five police officers were shot during violent exchanges of gunfire with suspects that closed blocks of Jersey City streets and evacuated residents.

The five police officers were reportedly shot and are being treated at Jersey City Medical Center in various conditions.

The most seriously injured is in critical condition in the emergency room. He arrived at the hospital in traumatic arrest.

Of the other four:

One was shot in the neck. He has a torn ligament and a bruise to the face.
One was shot in the arm.
One was shot in the bullet resistant vest
And the fifth is the original gun shot wound to the leg.

A Jersey City police official says four of the officers were hit in a dramatic exchange of gunfire 90 minutes into a standoff with two suspects -- who eventually barricaded themselves in a building.

The gunfire started just before 5:15 a.m., when a Jersey City police officer was shot in the leg after a male suspect opened fire on another person in a dispute between two civilians on Reed Street.

The officer's injury was not life threatening.

The gunman and a another suspect, a woman, fled the scene and ran into a nearby building.

Jersey City police then set up a perimeter around the building as they searched.

Heavily armed officers went into the building, a known drug location.

Meanwhile, blocks of streets were closed and evacuated residents were seen running away from the police activity.

As police attempted to take the suspects into custody, another round of gunfire erupted at around 6:45 a.m.

Officials say four more police officers were shot. They were put onto stretchers and rushed to nearby ambulances.

Two of the officers were seriously injured. A third was hit in the arm and a fourth was shot in the bullet resistant vest.

During the second round of gunfire, the two suspects were fatally shot, apparently by police.

Investigators believe the gunfire initially started as a dispute between two civilians.

Republished with permission of WABC-TV.

Ohio Officer Blames Fire Cuts

2009-07-09T18:55:00.001-07:00

WARREN, Ohio --

An Ohio police officer who was wounded when he saved people from a fire blames his injuries on budget cuts that shut down a nearby fire station.

Warren police Officer Doug Hipple spoke at a city council meeting Wednesday and offered his condolences over the death of one fire victim. Then he asked Mayor Michael O'Brien to step down because, he says, the city is failing.

Hipple was hurt April 28 saving people from the arson fire in the northeast Ohio city. He arrived on the scene before firefighters.

The mayor describes Hipple as understandably frustrated with the budget crisis. O'Brien says it's a tough time to be mayor.

NYPD Warns About Weapons Hidden in Cell Phones

2009-07-09T18:54:00.001-07:00

ROCCO PARASCANDOLA
Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

The NYPD has found an unintended use for the T-Mobile Sidekick and other hand-held devices -- a razor blade can be secreted in their battery compartments, police sources say.

At the same, sources say, officers have been alerted to a recent Harlem arrest in which a cell phone recovered from a suspect had been converted into a stun gun. And officers guarding prisoners in hospitals have been told that meal trays have a vanity mirror that can easily be fashioned into a makeshift shiv.

The NYPD routinely alerts its officers to unique and creative weapon making, everything from knives inside lipstick containers to steering wheel security devices that can be converted into shotguns.

Police sources say the makeshift weapons are often a result of a heavy police presence in certain areas or a push to keep guns off the streets. Last year, for instance, knives and other sharp objects were the weapon of choice in 125 slayings, up 50 percent compared to 83 such killings in 2007. Gun murders, meanwhile, dropped to 292 last year, from 347 the year before.

But knives, or at least razor blades, are much easier to hide. An unofficial missive making its way around a number of precincts shows how easy it is to hide a razor blade in the battery compartment of a T-Mobile Sidekick and other devices, in the narrow space between the back cover and battery.

A spokesperson for T-Mobile could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Another warning concerns the seizure of a stun gun cell phone, sources say. The improvised weapon was unlikely to cause much harm, as the jolt was described as low-level.

More formally, an internal memo circulated departmentwide Thursday warns that the hospital meal tray "could pose a threat to police officers, prisoners and hospital staff." The vanity mirror, the memo says, is in a second-level compartment and can pop up for easy use by a patient. Accompanying the memo is a photo of a cracked mirror.

Sgt. Carlos Nieves, a police spokesman, said the memo came after an officer noticed the mirror in the tray and saw the potential threat. "There have been no incidents where an NYPD officer has been assaulted," he added.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Set Back for the book

2009-07-03T08:39:00.000-07:00

Received a letter from Barnes and Noble today, they have decided not to carry the book, they do not believe it will sell enough, funny were selling books all over the country, so for now Lulu.com will be the only resource to get the book.......... and book #2 is in the works

Chris

On July 4th, a wake up call for American cops

2009-07-02T19:20:00.000-07:00

July 4th is a day to cerebrate the birth of the United States of America, a nation still strong, still powerful, but also a nation in transition, possibly in peril, and certainly a nation on the cusp of changes that may prove to be divisive. As we watch the demonstrations and the violence on the streets of Tehran, and the negative role of the Iranian police in that chaotic dictatorship, American law enforcement officers must ask themselves: “are we ready, truly ready, to keep order on our own streets if our own citizens turn against the government, against us, against each other?”

Remember that this country was born out of protest, out of the fight against tyranny and oppression, out of a need and a love for true freedom, and we are the ones who must walk that fine line between protecting the rights of those we serve and keeping the peace for the benefit of all. Whether you work in federal, state or local law enforcement, no one can deny these are going to interesting times for all of us.

This may be an unwelcome bit of doom and gloom on a holiday associated with fireworks, backyard barbeques, and flag-waving parades, but as crimefighters, we have an obligation to be informed and a duty to be prepared. Consider using this 4th of July as your personal wake up call to re-commit yourself to being a sheepdog — an ever-watchful warrior always prepared for what we face now and in the future.

• Get (and stay) informed; know what threats may be out there beyond the usual list of dirtbags. “Intelligence-based policing” is here; know how to obtain and share information, learn about fusion centers and how you can use them to your community’s advantage. Keep up on the street gangs, the drug dealers, the burglars and the other criminals who plague your area. But also understand the terror groups — both foreign and domestic — and the violent individual zealots like Muslim extremist Abdulhakim Muhammad and white supremacist James von Brunn. All part of the evil we face not only as a nation but as the police officers sworn to protect it. Make sure you understand what is happening in the country and in your community politically, militarily, and economically.
• Inventory your equipment, your mindset, and your skills. If you’ve been thinking about putting together that go-bag, do it now. If you’ve been contemplating that patrol rifle, go ahead and buy it or get one issued, then train with it and make it one of your essential everyday tools. Start carrying that back up gun and get yourself a good tactical knife that you can use not just to jimmy doors and cut seatbelts, but one you can train with and use as a lifesaving weapon against a suspect. If you haven’t participated in any realistic training lately, set it up. If you’ve stopped working out, start getting back in shape. Get to the range, on the mat, into the classroom, and prepare. Know what your mission is and work toward it.

As American law enforcement, we have an obligation to the men and women who fought and sacrificed to form this great nation, to our children and grandchildren who will carry on, and to our citizens who have the right to live freely and safely to continue to truly “serve and protect” to the very best of our ability.

Enjoy the holiday, but remember its true significance, and the role that you have in maintaining the freedoms that we all enjoy.

Sergeant Betsy Smith has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, and she currently serves as a patrol supervisor in a Chicago suburb. A graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Staff and Command, Betsy is a police trainer, author and instructor for the Calibre Press Street Survival Seminar. Visit Betsy's website at www.femaleforces.com.

Video surfaces of Ohio officers kissing in cruiser while transporting prisoner

2009-07-02T19:18:00.001-07:00

Associated Press

CANTON, Ohio — The police chief of a northeast Ohio township has retired after a video became public showing him and a female office kissing and caressing in the front of a police cruiser while a prisoner was in the back seat.

Timothy Escola retired Tuesday night after four years with the Perry Township police department about 50 miles south of Cleveland. Law Director Charles Hall says Escola's retirement closes an internal investigation.

Hall says no charges are being considered against part-time officer Janine England, who was with Escola in the cruiser June 2.

Escola and England drove to the Cincinnati area to pick up a burglary suspect.

An anonymous tip prompted an investigation last week and a review of the cruiser's dashboard camera.

Fla. DEA agent killed in crash mourned

2009-07-02T19:17:00.001-07:00

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — He followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a special agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

At home, he recently became a father, to a daughter now 7 months old.

During a viewing service in Boca Raton on Wednesday, dozens mourned DEA Special Agent Paul Andrew Teresi, 44, who lived near Boca Raton in unincorporated Palm Beach County. He was killed Sunday in an Interstate 95 crash in Deerfield Beach.

A Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at St. Joan of Arc Church, at 370 SW Third St., in Boca Raton.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Teresi served with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for 13 years, including as a sex crimes detective, recalled his friend, Detective Bart Arnold from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

"He was determined, loyal to his colleagues and dependable," Arnold said.

Among Teresi's accomplishments was arresting a West Palm Beach man in 1997 and charging him with sexually abusing four boys in the trailer park where he lived.

In 2002, Teresi helped handle a case in which 14 West Palm Beach children were found living in squalor.

The children's adoptive parents later agreed to a plea deal in which child-neglect charges would be dropped if they complied with a plan designed by child-welfare authorities.

Of helping the public, "you knew this is something he would be doing," Arnold said.

Teresi resigned from the Sheriff's Office in 2002 and became a special agent with the DEA, handling drug investigations in the Miami area.

His father, Paul Teresi, had once served as special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration office in Fort Lauderdale.

As Teresi was exiting the interstate onto Southwest 10th Street shortly before 5 a.m., a westbound Ford Expedition struck Teresi's Chevy Trailblazer, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

Teresi was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Expedition, Derick James, 36, suffered minor injuries.

The Broward Sheriff's Office is investigating.

Aside from his father, Teresi is survived by his wife, Candice Teresi; his 7-month-old daughter, Lillianna Teresi; his stepmother, Toni Teresi; his mother, Lucy Curley, and sister, Lucy Lange-Gappens.

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the DEA Survivor's Benefit Fund, at 2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 659, Washington, D.C., or Broken Star Fund, at 3228 Gun Club Road, in West Palm Beach. Call 561-688-3658.

Police seeking record aid to avoid layoffs

2009-07-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

In this March 6, 2009 file photo, President Barack Obama greets officers at the Columbus Police Graduation Exercises in Columbus, Ohio. The nation's police departments are clamoring for an unprecedented amount of federal aid to forestall big local tax hikes or the possible layoff of nearly 40,000 police officers - enough to staff the entire New York City Police Department.

WASHINGTON — The nation's police departments are clamoring for an unprecedented amount of federal aid to forestall big local tax hikes or the possible layoff of nearly 40,000 police officers - enough to staff the entire New York City Police Department.

When President Barack Obama signed the huge economic stimulus bill earlier this year, $1 billion was set aside to help local and state police avoid layoffs or keep their police academy classes intact.

The response has been staggering: Departments applied for more than $8.3 billion in aid, meaning only a fraction of the demand can actually be met.

July will be a nervous month for mayors and police commanders as they await official word on how much aid they will get from the grant program known as COPS. The first award announcements are expected this month.

"You've got to cross your fingers and remain optimistic," said Mayor Ron Dellums of Oakland, Calif.

Dellums said without federal aid, his city could lose 140 police positions, and California law gives few options for raising taxes to keep those officers.

Even before a single COPS grant check has been mailed, Dellums said the huge demand for help shows that without more aid, Oakland and other cities "are going to be confronted with the stark reality that we have to cut back."

In Pontiac, Mich., Police Chief Valard Gross has seen plenty of spending cuts in recent years and is worried that the red ink spilling across local budgets everywhere else means his city will now get less.

"It concerns me greatly. I can't say what areas are most deserving, but I believe we've been hit harder than just about anyone in the country," said Gross.

Pontiac's police force has shrunk by about half in the past five years, down to about 70 full-time officers, Gross said. "We're already in the mode where it's an emergency, but we've been able to reorganize, and my guys are still kicking butt."

The chief has applied for $4 million to fill 40 positions. But Pontiac's big budget troubles represent only a small sliver of the total requests for aid.

More than 7,200 aid applications poured into the Justice Department and, taken together, they say nearly 40,000 cops could be laid off without federal help. There's no way to verify the number; it depends upon the political process in many places, and law enforcement officials are not above presenting their potential losses in stark terms that aren't necessarily inevitable. During the Clinton administration, FBI Director Louis Freeh once claimed a proposed budget didn't contain enough money to buy bullets for target practice; others said, if that were so, it only meant the bureau had misallocated its more than $2.2 billion budget.

By comparison, the last time the demand for money from the COPS or related programs even came close was more than a decade ago.

In the 1996 budget year, police departments asked the Clinton administration for $1.3 billion, to fill 33,388 full-time officer positions. They got almost the full amount.

Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, the No. 3 official at the Justice Department, said this year's response to the grant program "has provided us with a true understanding of the difficulties facing law enforcement departments today."

In part, the spike in demand is a result of the change from a Republican to a Democratic administration. Through the Bush years, the COPS and related programs were gradually cut away by Republicans who saw them as wasteful and argued that the money was used to hire fewer cops than Democrats claimed.

Democrats counter that the COPS grant program deserves some credit for the large reductions in crime in the 1990's and thus has proved its effectiveness.

In addition, unlike former President Bill Clinton's version, the Obama program will pay not only for new hires but also to retain cops who might otherwise be laid off.

Around the country, cities are scrambling to keep police on the beat without raising taxes.

In St. Louis, officials recently said they may have to cut 105 police positions if the department doesn't get enough federal aid. If those cuts are made, the city's police force would be smaller than it has been in about a century.

Mitchel Herckis of the National League of Cities said the initial COPS program was designed to expand local police forces to fight rising crime - Clinton promised to put 100,000 more cops on the street - but the new version has been retooled to try to just hold departments together in tough times.

Emergency response staff is often the last thing city officials want to cut, he said.

"Across the country, holding on to officers is a huge deal for many cities and towns," he said. "Keeping those essential services for folks is the top priority."

Philadelphia Cadets Get Straight Talk About Job Pitfalls

2009-06-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

By PATRICK WALTERS
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA --

The rows of Philadelphia police cadets grew quiet as grainy video rolled across a screen before them: Shocking footage of a transit officer in Oakland, Calif., fatally shooting a suspect in the back as the man was being held down on a train platform.

"Sir, did the officers see a gun?" a cadet asked after it ended. After a lieutenant said "No," the recruit shook his head at the example of what not to do.

On Monday, 166 Philadelphia Police Academy cadets graduated and got their badges. This year, with police scrutiny high nationwide, they first got a dose of straight talk about pitfalls that have derailed recruits. In other big cities, training touches on such topics, but Philadelphia now has a more direct, all-inclusive approach: What can get you fired?

The Guardian Civic League, a group of black officers, presented a program called "Steer Straight" to the class last week. Veteran officers spent seven hours telling them all about what could ruin their careers - domestic violence, improper use of lethal force, alcohol abuse, accepting freebies on the job and more.

"It takes one slip to lose everything you've worked so hard for," Inspector Cynthia Dorsey, who heads up the internal affairs division, told the class.

With about 6,700 officers, the Philadelphia Police Department is the nation's fourth- largest force - behind New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

The Guardian Civic League presented the program to active officers last year. But the group's president, Rochelle Bilal, worried young recruits weren't hearing enough from seasoned veterans, and Commissioner Charles Ramsey asked her to take it to cadets.

It has been a tough few years for the department, with seven officers killed in the line of duty since May 2006.

With the force on edge, commanders, community leaders and other law enforcement at the training cautioned that the mistakes of even a very few can tarnish the department's name.

In May 2008, about a dozen Philadelphia officers were caught on television video kicking, punching and beating three suspects at a traffic stop; the city later fired four and demoted several others.

"Don't even think about privacy," District Attorney Lynne Abraham told the cadets. "You are going to have to remember that everybody is watching you."

Cadets heard the story of the transit officer in Oakland who resigned after shooting the unarmed suspect on New Year's Day.

Johannes Mehserle was charged with murder in the shooting of Oscar Grant, 22, a suspect in a fight who had his hands behind his back and another officer kneeling on his neck when he was shot. Mehserle has pleaded not guilty; his attorney said he meant to reach for his Taser.

The cadets got words of warning about an ongoing federal investigation of four officers in Philadelphia's narcotics unit who are accused of falsifying search warrants; none has been charged, but each has been put on desk duty.

They heard about small-time corruption, too, like the case of a 15-year veteran in Daytona Beach who was fired after allegedly threatening Starbucks employees with slower response times if they refused to give him free drinks.

"The way the economy is, they won't have a problem letting you go," said Roosevelt Poplar, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, reminding the cadets they are on probation for a year. "Discipline in the police department is, I would say, at an all-time high."

On one day in April, Ramsey announced plans to fire five officers - including one accused of making derogatory racial remarks on a ride-along with a student journalist and two accused of using racial epithets while responding to a school disturbance.

Authorities in other large police departments say they cover many of the topics but not in an exclusive program.

In Los Angeles, cadets get extensive training about corruption, community policing and use of force, but nothing all in one place, said Officer Karen Rayner, a department spokeswoman. Rookies are paired with a training officer, who has at least three years experience.

In New York, recruits get training on many topics addressed in the Philadelphia program, but no single training geared toward everything that can get you fired.

"They cover it, but they cover in it in a way that they can say 'OK, we covered it. Let's move on,'" said Noel Leader, co-founder of the advocacy group 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, who helped train recruits in New York before retiring as a sergeant in 2006.

Shortly before graduating, New York cadets get community relations training and hear the concerns of department critics firsthand, said Deputy Commissioner Paul J. Browne. Internal affairs also makes a general presentation at the academy; The NYPD also steps up training in certain areas as it becomes needed, Browne said.

Philadelphia cadets said "Steer Straight" at the very least gave them pause.

Anthony Herley, a 23-year-old Philadelphia native, said he couldn't imagine himself in any of the bad situations. He's dreamt of becoming an officer since his hopes for a football career fizzled in high school.

"I've got to feed my family," said Herley, the father of two boys, ages 1 and 4. "The last thing you want to do is mess things up. ... This is a dream come true."

Ohio SWAT Team Adds Paramedics

2009-06-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

SUZANNE HOHOLIK
The Columbus Dispatch

These are not your typical paramedics.

These guys wear body armor and helmets and join SWAT teams during raids, shootings and hostage situations.

"We used to have Columbus EMS come to the command post (from a block away), but history shows us, across the country, that's too far away if an officer gets shot," said Lt. David Wood, who leads the Columbus police SWAT squad.

"It's key to have the medics up close to the situation."

Columbus created a 24-member tactical EMS team late last year. Two members go out with the SWAT team as needed.

The medics don't carry guns. Same goes for Cleveland's tactical medic team, founded last year.

"Now we can do immediate lifesaving interventions on the scene," said Mark DePhillips, a tactical paramedic with the Cleveland Fire Department.

Tactical medics, like those in war zones, learn how to better control bleeding and shock, said Capt. Shawn Koser, a member of the Columbus tactical EMS team.

Over the past decade, police agencies across the nation have trained paramedics to work with SWAT and narcotics teams. Some carry guns.

No one is sure how many tactical medic teams are in Ohio because no agency keeps track. Training and education also vary.

The Ohio EMS board, which oversees training and education of emergency medical workers and firefighters, wants to make sure there are uniform rules for tactical teams.

"You see a lot of SWAT teams putting tactical medics into their teams, but there really were no standards, no regulating authority that oversaw the development of this medical community," said Mark Resanovich, a board member and a tactical medic in Akron.

The board is considering an advanced-practice paramedic level that would include tactical teams, bomb squads, flight medics and dive teams. Creating this would require legislation.

"As we were starting to look at the time and resources of the board, we thought, 'Do we build this little thing and step back, or is there this advanced-practice medic component that would work for all of these?'" said William Vedra, executive director of Ohio Homeland Security and a state EMS board member.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Cincinnati Officials Scramble to Avoid Police Layoffs

2009-06-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

Story by wlwt.com

CINCINNATI --

City leaders reacted Monday to the threat of deep cuts in the Police Department.

WLWT.com first reported Saturday that the Cincinnati Police Department was facing the possibility of cutting 200 jobs by January.

The cuts would partly be the result of a federal grant that fell through, something the City Council didn't anticipate when it passed a new midyear budget last week.

"Yeah, looking back that may not have been too wise a decision. Although a week ago around here, the sense was that was a sure thing," said Vice Mayor David Crowley.

The City Council also voted last week for six-day furloughs to help counter a budget shortfall that is expected to reach $40 million in 2010. But the police and fire unions have yet to sign off on the plan.

Kathy Harrell, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, has scheduled a meeting with the city manager for Wednesday to discuss the furloughs. Harrell told News 5's John London that she plans to hold an emergency board meeting right after, and put the furloughs up for a vote on Thursday and Friday. But she's not optimistic.

"My read is that they're going to vote no," said Harrell. "You know, you need to do a lot of other cuts before you start talking about laying off police officers."

If the rank-and-file vote as Harrell suspects, up to 100 officers could be laid off in September. Another 100 positions could be cut in January, including officers with up to four years on the force.

The only thing that could change the layoff picture is if the City Council takes action.

"We ought to be extremely reluctant to lay off any police officers, given the current crime environment," said City Council member Chris Bortz.

For their part, Harrell said officers would be watching the outcome closely for future elections.

"There's probably two or three (council members) that should be concerned that aren't going to get our endorsement. And we're thinking about yanking them right now so they can't use them over the summer that they had it last time," she said.

STOP Demonstrating How To Kill Cops!!!

2009-06-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-how-to-kill-cops-demonstration

petition overview | letter

STOP Demonstrating How To Kill Cops!!!

Target:News Channel 5 in Nashville, TN

Photo of the Week: Snow-border patrol

2009-06-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers protecting the wilderness boundary in Colorado.

Photo submitted by: Emalene White, Uncompahgre National Forest Law Enforcement & Investigations (Colorado)

Ohio sergeant's daughter not arrested in fatal crash

2009-06-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

-10TV
Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus police are investigating why the daughter of a veteran officer wasn't arrested at the scene of a fatal crash she was involved in -- even though she had a suspended driver's license and two outstanding warrants.

Internal-affairs investigators want to determine whether the officers who went to the scene of the crash on June 13 in Driving Park violated departmental policy by failing to arrest Alaina L. Greene, the daughter of Sgt. Charles R. Greene, a member of the force since 1979.

Alaina Greene was driving a Lincoln Town Car west on Kent Street about 6 p.m. when she collided with a motor scooter driven by Brian A. Jefferson, 35, of Columbus. Jefferson, who had been traveling south on Miller Avenue, died later at Grant Medical Center.

"Right now, internal-affairs investigators are looking into this to make sure the proper policy was followed ... and to investigate why there was no enforcement action taken," said Sgt. Rich Weiner, a Columbus police spokesman.

Typically at a crash scene, police check the records of those involved using the Law Enforcement Automated Data System, or LEADS, a computerized database administered by the State Highway Patrol. If outstanding warrants pop up, officers appear to have little wiggle room under departmental policy.

"If there are warrants, we will take people to jail," Weiner said.

"The question is whether one (a record check) was done that day. We're looking into that."

Apparently, under departmental policy, a record check is not mandatory unless a violation is suspected.

"It's officer's discretion," Weiner said.

Records from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles indicate that Alaina Greene's license had been suspended for at least five weeks at the time of the fatal crash.

The records also show a drug-related license suspension in 2002, as well as violations in October and January for driving without a license.

A record check by WBNS-TV (Channel 10) turned up the two outstanding warrants -- one stemming from a failure to appear in court and another related to charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

Six days after the fatal crash -- and after the TV station began questioning Columbus police about their actions -- officers arrested Greene on the warrants. She has not been charged in connection with the June 13 collision.

Both Sgt. Greene and his daughter declined to comment.

Jefferson's family, which recently held a $7-a-plate barbecue to raise money for funeral expenses, said the loss would be even harder to bear if it turned out that police handled the crash improperly.

"That," said George Walker, Jefferson's father, "would be a bitter pill to swallow."

Five bullets can't stop Va. officer from doing his job

2009-06-28T08:54:00.001-07:00

By Kristin Davis
Virginian-Pilot

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The rookie police officer who was shot 25 days ago in a rush-hour pursuit says he's getting better and is eager to return to work.

"It will take more than this to scare me away," Sean Fleming said.

It was the first time the 26-year-old spoke publicly since the dramatic shootout on an Interstate 64 ramp. Chesapeake spokesman Mark Cox interviewed the officer at a small table in the WCTV-Chesapeake Television studio as reporters looked on.

Fleming was not permitted to take questions from the media or talk about the events surrounding the shootout because he is a "key witness in a major trial," Cox said.

Fleming showed no sign of his injuries as he ambled on set less than three weeks after leaving the hospital.

"I'm still healing," said Fleming, who wore a

dress shirt and striped tie and sat with his hands clasped on the table in front of him.

Fleming was driving his Jeep Wrangler home from work about 4 p.m. June 1 when he heard "shots fired" on his police radio and joined other Chesapeake officers in pursuit of a van headed toward Interstate 64.

The van crashed and a man armed with an assault rifle emerged and began firing. The shots shattered the headlights and sprayed the windows of the Jeep and struck Fleming multiple times.

He'd been an officer on the streets for less than 10 months.

Fleming fired back, killing the shooter, 26-year-old Christopher White, who was supposed to be in jail. A clerical error in Norfolk General District Court had mistakenly freed White, who was wanted on a number of charges in Norfolk.

Another man died that day - Tione D. Vincent, 30, who had been abducted in Norfolk shortly before. Police believe Vincent was killed before the shootout with police began. Two others were arrested and charged with attempted capital murder of a police officer, murder, abduction and three counts of use of a firearm.

Fleming was flown to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where he remained for five days.

Cox mentioned during the interview that city had received negative press regarding its treatment of Fleming during his recovery.

"The city's been amazing," the officer responded.

A Chesapeake news release Wednesday stated that Fleming remained on "fully employed, sick leave status with the city."

If he uses up all of his accrued time before returning to work, other city employees can donate from theirs, according to the news release. The city also has established a fund of $14,275 to "compensate Officer Fleming for expenses and losses he incurred during this incident."

Fleming told Cox that his personal insurance company was also supportive.

After the taping of the show ended, Fleming read a statement to the media thanking all those who responded to help him that day. His parents, Steve and Donna Fleming, watched from the back of the room.

"I have been blessed with a rare opportunity to work with some of the bravest and most courageous people on Earth," Fleming stated. "Without their support, I would not be here."

24 Indicted in L.A. Gang Crackdown

2009-06-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES --

A man who said he left a ruthless street gang in Central America and later won praise for his anti-gang work in Los Angeles was arrested Wednesday by authorities who allege he conspired to kill a rival even as he spoke out against gang life.

Alex Sanchez, 37, who heads the local office of the nonprofit Homies Unidos anti-gang group, was taken into custody at his Bellflower home on federal racketeering charges, authorities said.

The indictment names 24 leaders, members and associates of MS-13, part of the Mara Salvatrucha gang affiliated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang.

It alleges crimes that include seven murders, eight conspiracies to commit murder, and gun and narcotics offenses since 1995. Sixteen of those named were already in custody. Four others, including Sanchez, were arrested Wednesday.

The alleged crimes by Sanchez occurred after he returned from El Salvador in 1996 and publicly decried gang life.

The indictment said he went by the nickname Rebelde, or rebel, and was a shot-caller for the Normandie contingent of MS-13. He and three others are accused in the indictment of conspiring to murder a man identified by authorities as Walter Lacinos "for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their position in MS-13."

In May 2006, Lacinos was killed in El Salvador.

No other details were provided in the indictment. Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney George Cardona declined to provide any specifics beyond the court filing.

Shot-callers manage the narcotics operations in certain gang territories, collect extortion payments and resolve disputes, the indictment states.

Mara Salvatrucha was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s by immigrants fleeing the El Salvador civil war. The gang spread as members were deported to their home country and is now a major international criminal enterprise known for callous killings carried out by its members, many of whom are heavily tattooed with shaved heads.

Five others named in the indictment, not including Sanchez, conspired to murder a veteran gang detective with the Los Angeles Police Department, authorities said.

Known as an anti-gang worker, Sanchez has testified as an expert witness in criminal cases, lobbied for better intervention and prevention programs, spoken to youths about the depressing consequences of gang life and been widely quoted in the media, including by The Associated Press.

Luis Enrique Guzman, a community organizer at the Los Angeles Homies Unidos office, said the group would have no immediate comment.

Luis Romero, director of the Homies Unidos office in El Salvador, said the organization did not accept the allegations against Sanchez.

"We know that Homies Unidos U.S.A. is doing great work in the reinsertion and rehabilitation of young people," Romero said.

He said he had no details on the charges.

Asked what he thought prompted the allegations, he said, "these are the famous smoke screens, things that they use, things that they have not been able to solve and they take action without previously investigating."

Sanchez arrived in Los Angeles at age 7 from El Salvador and joined Mara Salvatrucha when he was 14. He was jailed three times for minor offenses and deported to El Salvador in 1994.

He told the AP in a March interview that in his home country he had to live on the streets, fleeing death squads and gangs who threatened to kill him because they believed him a rival.

He returned illegally to Los Angeles in 1995. Authorities tried to deport him a second time, but he was granted political asylum after saying police picked him up because he had testified against officers in the Rampart police corruption scandal.

Several people spoke in his defense, including Tom Hayden, a former student radical and state senator.

In July 2002, Sanchez received political asylum after officials determined his life would be in danger if he returned to El Salvador.

It was the latest instance in which an anti-gang advocate has been arrested. In January, Marlo "Bow Wow" Jones was arrested in the robbing and beating of a rapper with the musical group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in his Universal City hotel room. At the time, Jones was working as a gang intervention worker.

Last year, Hector "Big Weasel" Marroquin, a former gang member in suburban Los Angeles who founded an anti-violence group, was sentenced to eight years in prison for selling assault weapons.

Civil rights lawyer and gang expert Connie Rice said anti-gang workers sometimes struggle to completely leave behind gang affiliations.

"The best ones are the ones who have completely gotten out of the life, but kept the relationships and still are respected," she said. "But they are the exception and not the rule. Most of these guys are go-betweens, some act as buffers and some are still in the gang."

Rice said she had wondered about Sanchez because he had been absent from community meetings aimed at reducing MS-13 violence.

"The thing that makes it really complicated is that Alex did really good work," she said. "He helped a lot of kids, put a lot of kids in school."

Homies Unidos was founded in 1996 in El Salvador. Sanchez helped establish the Los Angeles office the following year.

The office has helped remove tattoos from more than 240 gang members.

FBI officials said everyone named on the indictment could face up to 25 years to life in prison, while those charged with murder could face the death penalty. No one else from Homies Unidos was named in the indictment.

___

Associated Press Writer Marcos Aleman in El Salvador contributed to this story.

Cincinnati Police Foil Workplace Shooting

2009-06-25T05:12:00.001-07:00

A Cincinnati police officer said a landlady's call to 911 headed off a possible "Rambo" shooting at the city's convention center.

John Rosser, 28, allegedly told Joanne Hall he was going to the Duke Energy Convention Center to kill his former boss and stormed off dressed in fatigues and packing a gun.

"It was like a Rambo situation," said Detective Jeff Dunaway said. "He was very angry; it could be the stress of the economy."

The Cincinnati Enquirer Wednesday reported Rosser, who has been unemployed since being let go by the center more than two years ago, was on the verge of being evicted from his apartment.

Hall told the newspaper she believed Rosser wasn't just spouting off and called police. Officers swarmed the area and picked up Rosser without incident about 100 yards from the convention center.

"We were very lucky," Dunaway said.

Rosser was being held on $525,000 bond and faced charges of attempted murder and carrying a concealed weapon.

Court to decide Miranda warning expansion

2009-06-23T08:44:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON The Supreme Court will decide whether a suspect has to be told that he has a right to have a lawyer present during questioning by police.

The court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal from Kevin Dwayne Powell, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

When he was arrested, police gave Powell his Miranda warnings, which officers give at the time of an arrest by informing suspects of their right not to answer questions and obtain a lawyer's help. The Miranda warning that Powell got included telling him he had a right to a lawyer before questioning. Powell's lawyers objected, saying police did not tell him he had a right to have a lawyer during his police interrogation.

The Florida Supreme Court overturned the conviction, saying the police's Miranda warning was insufficient.

The state of Florida appealed to the Supreme Court, saying federal and state appeals court have split on whether a suspect has to be expressly warned that he has a right to a lawyer during interrogation, as well as before.

The case is 08-1175, Florida v. Powell.

9/11: The Need for an American Law Enforcement Transformation

2009-06-23T08:41:00.001-07:00

How We Can Lead the Way

Steve Ramirez
2009 Jun 23

It was an otherwise normal morning in September. The year was 1981 and I was serving as a young Marine with the Diplomatic Security Battalion. A terrorist intelligence report had been delivered to my Marine detachment indicating that our embassy may be the target of an attack. The Abu Nidal Organization and others were actively spreading their own special version of hatred throughout Europe and North Africa. I found myself sitting at my post during the dark and lonely predawn hours, writing in my journal about the frustration that I felt as a warrior who was a target, unable to engage a faceless enemy, and wondering if we would ever be permitted to take the battle to the enemy. I wondered how long it would take the enemy to bring the battle to us.

Twenty years had passed. The year was 2001. The date was September 11th. I was a chief of police. As I walked into the police department dispatch office, I saw the staff staring quietly at a television that showed an image of one of the World Trade Center towers on fire.

"What happened, I asked?"
"There has been a terrible accident," replied the dispatcher.
"A plane has hit the World Trade Center," another said.

We stood there in silence for a moment until I spoke the words that I had been hearing in my head.

"That was no accident," I said.

The second plane exploded inside the second tower a few moments later. Americans were dying en masse on national television. We never really did take the battle to them. Now the jihadists have taken the battle to us. Fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers were dying as we watched. I wondered if my fellow Americans would understand what this meant, or would we forget the pain and move on as we had done before? I knew what it meant. I called my wife to tell her that I loved her.

Now, in the year 2009, some things have changed and some things have not. I am no longer a police chief. Currently I work as a law enforcement trainer and consultant. In all that time the one thing that hasn't changed is the American law enforcement professional identity. Professional identity is how we see ourselves as a profession, and how that reflects in our unified mission. I posit that the American law enforcement professional identity is long overdue for transformation, and that the real threat of terrorism at home creates greater urgency.

There are several theories regarding the process of evolution in biological organisms. The theory of gradual evolution and natural selection is the one in which most of us are familiar. The second theory, which is less commonly known, is called "punctuated equilibrium." Punctuated equilibrium is said to occur when a powerful event causes the need for change as a mechanism for survival. September 11th was a moment of punctuated equilibrium. We can act effectively by changing the way we do business, or we can turn our backs, act as if there is no clear and present danger, and watch our people die in great bleeding numbers once again.

Malignant Inertia: clinging to status quo
It may be of some use at this point to include a brief history of American law enforcement. In order to have a perspective on the journey ahead, we must first understand how far we have not come. The structure and traditions of American law enforcement comes largely from those experienced by the colonists in England and other parts of Western Europe. To this day, we use terms that originate in antiquity, such as Sheriff, which is derived from the title "shire reeve", or keeper of the shire (county). Our constables are derived from the office first described in 1252 as "comestable" or "count of the stables". In fact, the current American police culture is not far removed from that which was first established by Sir Robert Peel in his Metropolitan Police Act of 1829.

Law enforcement history as taught to new recruits indicates that American law enforcement has undergone a transformation through three periods of development. The "political era' which ran from approximately 1850-1940 was characterized by political influence over the police mission, which led to a heavy involvement in the delivery of social services and a common thread of police corruption.

The "reform era," which began somewhere around the 1940s was characterized by the development of rules and regulations as well as the persona of an aloof crime fighter who acted in a detached and unemotional manner. When you think of this era, you should hold the image of Sergeant Joe Friday of Dragnet fame and his immortal words, "just the facts, ma'am" (which were never spoken during the run of two television and a radio series) The reform era focused on "preventative patrol" and rapid response to calls for service. This era also led to the development and expansion of bureaucracy and the accompanying organizational inertia. President Ronald Reagan was once quoted as saying, "the first order of bureaucracy is protect the bureaucracy." This remains very true in current American law enforcement culture.

The final historical era is said to be the "community oriented policing and problem solving era." This style of police administration is intended to focus on taking a holistic approach to working with citizens and other agencies to solve problems related to crime. I would posit that if the reader looks at the evidence at hand they would conclude that although there are some gasping vestiges of proactive problem solving in our current police programs, the overwhelming culture of American policing is still one based upon the images of the antiquated reform era.

Why should we care about the current state of affairs in law enforcement training, organizational structure and culture? Because an antiquated bureaucracy cannot communicate effectively across organizational lines, make and act on decisions quickly, or adapt and improvise to overcome the challenges of a fluid battlefield. Because, eight years after the September 11th attacks we have not significantly changed law enforcement training, leadership, organizational structure, or culture. We should care because we are still trying to respond to events after the fact, and are allowing politics, agendas and short sightedness to set the pace and direction of change. Most of all, we should care because there has been a long silence. The silence is not an indication that the storm has passed. The silence should be whispering to each of us, "get ready, you're in the eye of the storm and the winds are shifting."

A new way of doing business
In order for American law enforcement to change in a significant manner to meet the new challenges of our times, there must be a maturing of the core culture that drives our operations and expectations. The building blocks of this change will be leadership, training and organizational design. I will present a generalized model for each; however, I will focus primarily on training, as it is the intervention that is most likely to be acted upon with the least amount of resistance and pain.

One definition of leadership as proposed by Edgar Schein of the Slone School of Management is that a leader acts as the creator and manager of culture. Dr. Schein posits that leaders create and change cultures, while managers live and work within them. Even a casual observation of the state of American law enforcement today in comparison to as it existed in 2001 will indicate that we seem replete with managers and short on leaders. Those who try to lead are often the voices in the wilderness, tolerated or dismissed by those who love status quo. The leadership of 21st century law enforcement must be an educated, holistic, and forward-thinking leadership based on what Dr. Stephen Covey calls an "abundance mentality." This means that we lead focused on mission and service, not on self-interest. We must lead in such a manner that we promote creative thinking and risk taking among our members. The passions, creative energies and talents of people cannot be mandated into service. People who understand and believe in the mission of the organization or culture must freely give them. American law enforcement is acting on a culture that is out of step with the times. Furthermore, we do not have a national police mission. When asked about what they see as the mission of American law enforcement, police recruits give answers that imitate the images of television cop shows and reform-era, reactionary thinking. If we do not know where we are going, or why we are going there, that is exactly where we are most likely to end up.

It has often been said that leadership sets the tone. American law enforcement needs to have an effective system of cultivating new leaders instead of passively expecting them to sprout up from the ranks like toadstools. The first step in this direction is the setting of mandatory statewide standards for the "Officer Corps" that to some degree mirror those of our military institutions. These standards should include the education, training and demonstrated practical skill levels that are prerequisite to appointment within a law enforcement agency at the rank of lieutenant or above. At a minimum, the appointee should have completed a bachelor's degree in police science, criminal justice, public policy, management, or a similar field of study. In fact, I would submit that a new curriculum of study should be established within the university system that is tailored to the actual needs of law enforcement leaders. This curriculum would include an in-depth understanding of the American criminal justice system, leadership development, strategic planning and budgeting, communications skills and mediation, human resource management and development, issues in homeland security and critical thinking and problem solving. To augment these minimum higher education standards, the appointee should have completed a rigorous Officers Candidate School, and have a minimum of two years' service in the enlisted ranks.

Implied in this first step is the establishment of enlisted and officer career paths. Enlisted peace officers should undergo a rigorous 18-month training and education academy that incorporates both skills training and collegiate level education in police science. This training would culminate in the graduate being certified as a peace officer and receiving an accredited associate's degree in applied police science. In order for this accredited program to exist among proprietary and regional academies, a partnership would need to be established between the state's universities and peace officer training and certification commissions. The establishment of two separate career paths will allow the law enforcement community an opportunity to grow professionally within an established system at the level in which the individual is most naturally inclined. Officers who wish to grow as professionals, yet wish to stay "on the road" can do so as a senior enlisted officers. The bottom line is that there would be an established statewide career path and that it would be up to the individual officer to choose to earn their positions within the peace officer system. If we want to be professionals, instead of just saying we are professionals, we will have to do what Chef Emeril Lagasse says and "kick it up a notch." Bam!

The portion of the transformational trilogy that I believe is least likely to be instituted until another even more tragic moment of punctuated equilibrium occurs, is the total reorganization of America law enforcement. Decades of living with crime levels that fluctuate predominately due to economics and demographics have not been enough to spur on this change. The attacks at the Pentagon and the World Trade center have not been enough to effect this change. I fear that only after terrorist acts of heart-wrenching and economically-devastating magnitude will we be forced to put cultural inertia and private agendas aside for the better good of all.

The current structure of law enforcement in my home state of Texas and nationally is one that has existed since before the inception of our nation. It is quite like our current leadership model in that it consists of a multitude of agencies that came into existence haphazardly rather than being born of any plan. Agencies range in size from small occupying armies to one-officer departments in which the chiefs are not really even in charge of themselves. In fact, we have police agencies that focus on state, county, city, and regional issues. We have school police, university police, railroad police, park police, river police, airport police, and the list goes on ad infinitum . With the exception of the basic training standards and minimal continuing education standards as established by each state's P.O.S.T, every individual agency has a varying degree of required training and expertise for their officers and command staff.

Remember, we began this foray into the need for revolutionary change with the specter of increased frequency and severity of terrorist acts here in the United States. How can we be expected to effectively deal with the issues of terrorist act prevention or aftermath recovery if the first responders are not beginning on an even playing field? To establish continuity of service, we must first establish continuity of training, leadership and organizational operations, including the all-important factor of organizational communications. With 28 years of combined military and civilian law enforcement experience in four regions of this country, including ten years as a chief of police, and five years as the director of a regional training academy, I can attest that we as a nation have not moved very far toward these objectives since September 11th, 2001.

Any state can take a pioneering leadership role by restructuring its law enforcement system into one that is based on current need based objectives rather than on tradition, special interests, and inertia. For example, each state's law enforcement training can be restructured into a state police model where all peace officers must receive their basic, specialized and continuing education training from one of several regional state peace officers academies. In this model, all peace officers are state peace officers that are assigned to one of the various regional subdivisions. This system makes continuity of training, leadership, and organizational operations far more likely than in our current fragmented structure. We will return to the state centralized training model before the end of this article. Let us focus first on the benefits to the state peace officer organizational model.

Under this model, each state peace officer will be able to receive specialized training that prepares them for assignment to the various subdivisions, after achieving the required basic standards. These subdivisions would be established under two parameters: geographic/demographic, and task orientation. The geographic/demographic orientation would include major municipalities (more than 250,000 residents), municipalities (50,000 to 250,000 residents), regional police based on a regional council of governments system, and specialized statewide law enforcement (state police investigations) such as the Texas Rangers, FDLE or a similar model. The task orientation would include specialized functions such as patrol, investigations, training; counterterrorism, and school and university police. Under this system, each officer has the same basic training, but can choose to develop their careers in any one of several directions based on the advanced training and education they seek and earn. Similarly, each officer may choose throughout their careers to seek regional or task-oriented transfer without any loss of rank, status, or accompanying pay and benefits. Funding for this shift is derived by redirecting current local, state, and federal funding towards regional/state law enforcement service. Current law enforcement officers and command staff would retain their positions with the caveat that they would have to meet all required standards within a nationally predetermined time and demonstrate consistent improvement each year until that goal is reached. Yes, this would require accountability and commitment to excellence. Yes, it will mean that we as a profession will have to be excellent, not just talk about being excellent. Funds derived via court fees as well as federally designated homeland security funding (this will require a new commitment by the federal government) could be used to support statewide scholarship opportunities for those officers and command staff who are willing to do the work to meet educational, training, skill, and physical fitness standards. Yes, this will take money. How much are we losing, or are we in danger of losing economically to crime, including the inevitable crime of catastrophic terrorism within our borders?

This organizational model makes sense in that it is focused on current mission-related goals and is a positive step forward for the members of the professional law enforcement community. So we may ask, "Why won't it come into being?" Even as I write these words, I know that it will not happen. There are too many players in this game that will fight this change into extinction. There are too many organizations and individuals who have too much personally and emotionally invested in the status quo.

What does terrorism have to do with it?
Why should an article that began with the concept of jihadist terrorism be focused on a theme of change for the structure, leadership, culture, and training of America's police? Because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and the peace officer in the field is often the first link in the chain that is supposed to make up our national security system. Currently, eight years after September 11, 2001 and 24 years after the attacks of my Marine Corps days, there are still no national or state standards for training our law enforcement professionals about their expected role in homeland security. We will continue to spend huge sums of money on unnecessary equipment and develop plans to clean up the mess after the attack. Little of consequence is being done to strengthen the first link in the chain. We need to change in a revolutionary manner because current American law enforcement culture is still more focused on someone carrying a dime bag of marijuana than it is someone shooting our children in schools or detonating a suicide bomb in a church, hospital, or shopping center. Finally, because when it does happen it may be a far sight worse than the aforementioned atrocities.

As a discipline chair on academy and training standards for Texas, I insisted on addressing the need for the establishment of a dynamic standard of basic and in-service recertification training for Texas law enforcement officers in the area of homeland security. Several subject matter experts were recruited to add their perspective to the project. Former military counter terrorism expert Michael Giddings stated in the final report,

Training for peace officers should at a minimum focus on developing an understanding of the terrorist mindset, methods of operation, increased emphasis on recognition and reporting of pre-incident indicators, suspicious activities, terrorist weapons and tactics, attack in progress recognition, and appropriate response options."

I posit that none of this currently exists in any meaningful format and that the current law enforcement culture and system does not support or enforce its integration into the fabric of our professional being.

Walking along the cutting edge, and sometimes falling off
President Theodore Roosevelt was once quoted as saying,

...the credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worthy cause; who at best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Texas has not and should never be the home of timid souls. Throughout our history, Americans have strove valiantly for a worthy cause. We cannot let history record that our friends and neighbors died and suffered while we stood silent. The times have changed and with the changing of these times come new challenges to our safety, our economy and our collective future. We must hold true to the spirit that has originally defined us. We must step forward to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We can never be among the timid souls.

Pittsburgh SWAT uses Challenge Coins to help families of fallen heroes

2009-06-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

Since April 4, 2009, when an ambush incident in the Stanton Heights section of Pittsburgh took the lives of officers Eric Kelly, Paul J. Sciullo II, and Stephen J. Mayhle, their police family has been not only mourning their loss, but working to help the families of these fallen heroes.

In particular, the Pittsburgh PD SWAT team has put together a campaign to raise money for the families through the sale of Pittsburgh Memorial Challenge Coins.

“We wanted to do more than just donate money,” said Detective Chris Marks, who has been in contact with PoliceOne in recent days regarding the fundraising effort. “We wanted something that would memorialize the Officers... and also something for people to have to remember that they too helped out. Rather than our SWAT team simply donating money to the fund, we came up with the idea of selling these coins instead. We all donated an amount and had these minted. We can then sell them as many times over to continue to contribute, rather than a one time deal,” Marks told PoliceOne.

Already the sale of these coins has been successful – Marks tells PoliceOne that he received a couple dozen e-mails after Assistant Chief Mike Williams included an announcement in his news headlines earlier this week – and as officers and citizens across the country learn about the effort, many more are certain to show thier support.

“The out pouring of support for our Officers and their families has been a miracle,” said Marks. “It actually made me rethink the popular Police opinion that we are in an ‘us versus them’ battle. Every segment of our area – neighborhoods, the City, the surrounding communities, etc. – has stepped up to offer anything they can to help heal the wounds and aid and assist in driving on. In addition, hundreds of businesses have had Police Officer Appreciation nights in many ways. One place even had a ‘hey we can't offer much – but how about a free haircut?’ deal. The public support has changed my opinion of society. It’s just a shame it took a tragedy to bring everyone together.”

Sheriff to sell submachine guns

2009-06-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

By Josh Jarman

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Guernsey County Sheriff Mike McCauley is proposing to sell three antique Thompson submachine guns, commonly known as Tommy guns, to raise money for new vehicles during the economic downturn. The fully functioning weapons were made famous by Hollywood depictions of 1920s gangsters who were known to use them during the prohibition era.

McCauley recently approached the county about authorizing the sale of the guns, said Commissioner Steve Allen. He said McCauley's budget was cut from $2.7 million to $2.5 million this year, and there's no room for the purchase of new vehicles.

The majority of the sheriff's cruisers have more than 100,000 miles on them, Allen said.

He said the commissioners approved the sale, but McCauley is still researching the weapons' potential value. Allen said he's heard the guns could be worth as much as $50,000 each to collectors.

"I think the sheriff is being practical," Allen said. "Right now they're just hanging on the wall, and I think he sees they have a value that could be better spent in the service to his constituents."

More Stupid Things said to a cop

2009-06-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Officers clocked a Red Honda at 68 in a 25, as the car passed the patrol vehicle, officers observed a woman in a very heated argument on the phone, the officers activated the car's lights and siren and proceeded to pull the speeding vehicle over, as officers approached the vehicle the woman shouted loudly, "Don't you have any real criminals to catch?" The officer asked for her information and returned to the police car, after running the drivers information both officers returned to car, asking the driver to step out of the vehicle, when she refused, asking why, she was informed that she had over 20 warrants for her arrest most of which were felonies.
I guess they did catch a real criminal......

More Stupid Things said to a cop

2009-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

While working grave yard shift, officers stumbled across a homeless man sleeping on the steps of a local business, as they approached the man, he quickly jumped up and said " Don't Taze me man, the sixties were bad enough!" The officers confused by his statement asked if he was alright, the homeless man suddenly grabbed for his sleeping bag, during the ruckus, officers watched a small handgun fall from the sleeping bag, as the homeless man reached for it officers were forced to use the tazer, the handgun was found to be unloaded

Court Strikes Down Philadelphia Gun Laws

2009-06-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

By PATRICK WALTERS
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA --

A state appeals court ruled Wednesday that the city cannot enforce an assault weapons ban and a law prohibiting guns bought by one person and given to another, measures passed by City Council in an effort to combat persistent gun violence.

The 6-1 ruling marked the latest setback for Philadelphia officials, who have fought for years for the right to pass their own gun legislation. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has previously upheld the state's exclusive right to enact gun laws.

The National Rifle Association challenged a series of measures that were passed by City Council in April 2008 and signed by Mayor Michael Nutter. Both sides expect the case to end up before the state's highest court again.

"The bottom line is, we won," NRA attorney C. Scott Shields said of the ruling.

In Thursday's ruling, the court said the city could not ban assault weapons or pass the law prohibiting straw purchases, in which one person fills out forms and buys a gun for someone else - often convicted felons who can't legally own guns.

In a dissenting opinion, Commonwealth Judge Doris A. Smith-Ribner asserted the city does have the right to pass its own gun laws, citing the hundreds of residents killed by gun violence every year.

The NRA has also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down strict gun control laws in the Chicago area. The NRA wants the court to rule that last year's decision invalidating a handgun ban in the District of Columbia also applies to local and state laws. The justices likely won't decide before late September whether to hear the NRA's case.

That appeal came after a federal appeals court in Chicago said this month that it is bound by earlier Supreme Court decisions that held the Second Amendment applies only to federal laws. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor was part of an appeals court panel in New York that reached a similar conclusion in January.

Judges on both courts - Republican nominees in Chicago and Democratic nominees in New York - said only the Supreme Court could decide whether to extend last year's ruling throughout the country. Many, but not all, of the constitutional protections in the Bill of Rights have been applied to cities and states.

The framers of the Constitution intended "to protect the right to keep and bear arms and other rights from state infringement," the NRA said in a filing to the Supreme Court.

In Pennsylvania, the state appeals court also ruled Thursday that the NRA lacked standing in challenges to three other measures, saying the plaintiffs failed to show that they suffered "injury."

Those three laws require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 48 hours; allow police to confiscate guns from people who are considered a danger; and prohibit anyone subject to a protection-from-abuse order from possessing a gun. Only the lost-or-stolen gun ordinance is currently being enforced.

A 1974 state law says that only the General Assembly can regulate guns, but the Philadelphia case is being watched by other cities in the state, including several that have passed measures requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen guns.

Review alleges questionable payroll spending by Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police

2009-06-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

By Dean Narciso
The Columbus Dispatch

The Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police amassed almost $3 million in questionable payroll spending and its executive director likely overpaid himself by at least $800,000, according to an independent accounting review of federal anti-terrorism grants administered by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety, which oversees the EMA, is working to clean up the mess.

From 2004 to 2006, the agency handled more than $21 million in grants from the Law Enforcement Terrorist Prevention Program to the association.

It is the Public Safety Department's responsibility to recoup any misspent money for the state or federal government, said Tom Hunter, the department's spokesman. The state is negotiating with association attorneys to resolve the issues, he said.

In addition, dozens of vendors hired by the association to build a statewide information network to prevent terrorist attacks were never paid and are pressuring the state and the association for compensation.

"These are companies, good local companies, that have been suffering through all this," Hunter said.

Data Management Consulting, for instance, is owed $200,000, said Michael McBride, a partner with the Dublin-based firm.

"We've been assured by (the chiefs association) we're going to be paid. We're just not sure when," McBride said.

Others have been less patient. Precise Resource of Westerville sued the association for $43,000 it was owed. "I'm tired of waiting," said Janis Mitchell, company president.

Because of the scope of federal funds, the state commissioned Crowe Horwath, a Columbus accounting firm to determine whether the association met qualifying guidelines for the grant money. The yearlong review was completed earlier this year. The report was released Tuesday.

Questioned expenses include the printing of a lavish book about the history of law enforcement and communications in Ohio, along with T-shirts, brochures and pens that Crowe Horwath could not justify as benefiting the terrorist-prevention grant program.

In 2006 alone, 93 percent of the organization's $3.4 million payroll was unsupported by time sheets, as required by federal grant rules. Other years had no supporting paperwork.

Among the more extravagant costs was the salary of Todd Wurschmidt, the organization's long-term director. Because his contract with the association entitled him to bonuses tied to the group's revenue, his salary grew as federal money poured in.

The review tallied $862,002 of salary and benefits for Wurschmidt charged to the grants that were inappropriate and unreasonable.

Wurschmidt could not be reached for comment yesterday.

His Web site states, "The increase in gross revenues for the (chiefs') Association from $500K in 1985 to $3 (million) per annum demonstrates Dr. Wurschmidt's fund-raising prowess."

Arthur Weber, an attorney for the chiefs association, would not answer questions about the review, citing negotiations with state officials.

The report raises, but doesn't answer, the question of how the nonprofit Dublin-based chiefs association qualified for the grant money intended solely for "local government units."

A 2004 legal opinion by James Canepa, then-chief deputy attorney general for criminal justice, stated that the group — which trains and educates law-enforcement officials — qualified because it acted as a "regional planning commission."

Kid who impersonated officer in even more hot water

2009-06-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

By Rummana Hussain
The Chicago Sun-Times

In yet another episode, a teenage boy who embarrassed the Chicago Police Department by impersonating an officer has allegedly threatened to beat up a sheriff's officer so he could escape from custody.

The 15-year-old has pleaded guilty to impersonating a Chicago Police officer and swiping a used Lexus from a South Side dealership after convincing the owner he was an adult with a job.

The boy, who was in Cook County Juvenile Court on Friday, will be sentenced June 26 by Judge Andrew Berman.

But before the hearing, a sheriff's officer told Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Rutkowski the boy had threatened to escape.

No one was hurt, and the boy went back into custody.

In January, the boy, then 14, made national headlines when he walked into the Grand Crossing District station dressed in a police uniform and announced he was assigned to traffic patrol there. He signed out a police radio and joined another officer in a patrol car for five hours, police and prosecutors said.

Mexican Drug Fugitive Arrested in Ohio

2009-06-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio --

Federal immigration officials say they've arrested a Mexican fugitive who is nicknamed the Ghost and is accused of trafficking high-potency heroin throughout the Midwest.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls says Jose "Carlos" Hernandez Salazar was taken into custody Tuesday in central Ohio. He says Salazar was among the Drug Enforcement Administration's Top 10 most wanted fugitives.

Authorities say Salazar is an illegal immigrant wanted in connection with several overdose deaths. He recently was featured on the television show "America's Most Wanted."

He was picked up by police in Columbus on local charges. He's being held by U.S. marshals and can't be contacted.

He's scheduled for an initial court appearance in West Virginia, where he was charged last year with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

More Stupid Things you've said to a cop

2009-06-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

So, I've started writing the next segment of the book, and I've decided I want someone to write an opener to the book, but I've got no idea who to ask, it's got to be a cool forward since the book is going to be a hit. Now the big question is who to ask.... any ideas email me or leave a comment

thanks

Chris

Ohio County Wants Any Profit from DUI Bar Stool

2009-06-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

In this photo released Tuesday, March 31, 2009, by the Newark (Ohio) Police Department, a motorized bar stool is shown. Police in Newark, 30 miles east of Columbus, say when they responded to a report of a crash with injuries on March 4 2009, they found a man who had wrecked a bar stool powered by a deconstructed lawn mower. Police say Kile Wygle, 28 was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he told an officer at the hospital that he had consumed 15 beers. Wygle told police his motorized bar stool can go up to 38 mph. (AP Photo/Newark (Ohio) Police Department)

The Advocate
2009 Jun 18

NEWARK, Ohio -- If an Ohio man sells the motorized bar stool that got him arrested for drunken driving, a child support agency will get the money.

The Licking County Child Support Enforcement Agency filed a court petition after hearing an entertainment company was interested in buying Kile Wygle's unusual vehicle. A judge agreed that if Wygle makes any profit from the stool, it should go toward back child support. Court records show he owes $37,000.

Wygle was charged with driving under the influence after he crashed his contraption in March. He pleaded guilty and spent three days in jail.

He calls the interest in his bar stool from child support officials "pretty goofy." But he says they're welcome to take it and sell it themselves.

100,000 Visitors

2009-06-18T19:42:00.001-07:00

My Blog topped 100,000 visitors, thank you to the LE Community for supporting this blog and also for supporting my Book 101 of the dumbest things you have ever said to a cop, we'll help the lives of officers families!

More Stupid Things you've said to a cop

2009-06-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

This could possible be my favorite of all times!

Officers observed a driver that appeared to be under the influence, as they got closer they could see a female driver, she was having a hard time maintaining lanes of travel, after watching the vehicle for a couple miles, officers decided to pull the vehicle over and see if the driver was drunk, as the officers approached the car, they could see a young woman in the drivers seat, when the officer asked if she knew why they were stopping her she replied " Well I've been eating bacon all day, I just figured you caught my scent!"

Thanks Maggi!

Facebook Postings Cost Indiana Trooper

2009-06-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Please remember, what we put on the net stays on the net, we are professionals we need to act that way.

INDIANAPOLIS --

An Indiana state trooper has resigned following an investigation into postings on a social networking Web site in which he referred to himself as a "garbage man," called those he arrests "trash" and bragged about heavy drinking.

Christopher Pestow resigned Wednesday before Superintendent Paul Whitesell could enter a final finding and order, state police said in a news release.

Police began an investigation after discovering questionable entries on Pestow's Facebook.com page. They also were investigating whether he had posted any of the material while he was on duty.

Some of the entries showed Pestow with a .357 Magnum pointed at his head and drinking beer with friends. He also posted picture of a crash involving his police cruiser and wrote that a person who resists arrest and threatens police officers would "probably end up shot."

Pestow was investigated on allegations of conduct unbecoming an officer, violation of department policy and improper use of department equipment.

He had been assigned to administrative duties pending the investigation.

No phone listing for him was available. His Facebook page has been removed.

Camera Captures Man With Shotgun Robbing Starbucks

2009-06-18T11:50:00.001-07:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Police said a man with a shotgun was caught on surveillance camera robbing a Starbucks early Thursday morning.

The man may also be responsible for several other robberies at coffee shops and restaurants, 10TV's Patrick Bell reported.

Investigators said the man walked into the Starbucks, located at 650 S. Third Street, at about 7 a.m. He had a sawed-off shotgun and threatened to shoot the employees if they did not cooperate.

The man was described as skinny, 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and possibly a black wig, Bell reported.

Police said the same Starbucks was robbed last week with a man that fits the same description. He may have also robbed three gas stations, a drug store and a Tee Jaye's restaurant.

Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4545.

Jury Convicts Man For Punching K-9 Deputy

2009-06-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

By Donna Willis
Web Content Coordinator
Published: June 18, 2009

DELAWARE, Ohio—A man was found guilty of injuring a K-9 deputy by punching the dog several times in the face.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

Jeffrey L. Metz, 45, was found guilty Wednesday in the Delaware County Common Pleas Court, according to Prosecutor David Yost.

Metz was driving more than 90 miles per hour on U.S. Route 42 northbound last January, according to Delaware County sheriff’s deputies.

When deputies attempted to pull over Metz, he continued to speed, and a high-speed pursuit ensued.

He spun out and stopped in a field.

Metz refused to listen to deputies’ orders to get out of his vehicle. After numerous commands, K-9 deputy Thor was sent in to remove Metz.

Metz punched Thor several times in the head and throat, breaking the dog’s tooth.

He was charged and convicted on one count failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony, and one count of assaulting a police dog, a fourth-degree felony.

Metz’ sentencing was scheduled for Monday, July 27, before Common Pleas Judge Everett H. Krueger.

He faces up to six-and-a-half years in prison.

It was the first felony conviction involving a K-9 assault in Delaware County’s criminal history.

Injured Wisc. officer out of hospital, fundraiser set

2009-06-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

By Linda Spice
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

One of the two Milwaukee police officers shot during a confrontation with a man in Walker's Point on Tuesday has been released from the hospital.

Officer Bryan Norberg, 21, left Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa on Thursday night and can expect a visit soon from Chief Edward Flynn, who will honor him with a Medal of Valor.

Officer Graham Kunisch, 26, who records indicate lost an eye in the attack, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Flynn pinned a Medal of Valor to Kunisch's hospital pillow Thursday.

Both officers were shot multiple times Tuesday afternoon on the sidewalk in front of a tavern in the 800 block of S. 2nd St. after they stopped a man on a bicycle. Julius C. Burton, 18, of Milwaukee has been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon.

A court commissioner set bail at $1 million and ordered Burton to undergo a psychiatric evaluation when he made his initial appearance in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Thursday.

Flynn delivered another Medal of Valor to a third officer, Vidal Colón, on Thursday, according to Police Department spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz. Colón, 30, a seven-year veteran of the department, suffered three gunshot wounds in April during a shootout on the south side with a suspect.

The community, meanwhile, plans to launch an all-day party to benefit Norberg and Kunisch. The "Thank You Milwaukee Police Department!" event will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 20 at S. 2nd St. and W. National Ave. in the Walker's Point neighborhood.

Organizers have already determined that money raised for the officers and their families will be put into the nonprofit Police Officer Support Team, or P.O.S.T., fund.

A Web site for the event, www.tympd.com, has been set up to feature the day's activities and allow visitors to make contributions.

Details on Donating
Those interested in contributing to the police officer fund by mail may make checks payable to Police Officer Support Team Officers Fund at TYMPD.com c/o Bell Ambulance, P.O. Box 070550, Milwaukee, WI 53207-0550.

Milwaukee police trade shotguns for tactical rifles

2009-06-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

By Linda Spice
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Milwaukee police are trading shotguns for rifles in an effort to even the odds against criminals who Chief Edward Flynn said are increasingly likely to be toting their own assault-style weapons.

Flynn and Mayor Tom Barrett cited mass shootings in the United States, including recent killings of police officers in Oakland, Calif., and Pittsburgh, in explaining why Milwaukee officers are adopting the new .223-caliber, semiautomatic Smith & Wesson rifles.

"We cannot have a situation in this city where our police officers are being outgunned by the bad guys," Barrett said at a news conference Thursday.

Police displayed tables piled with some of the firearms confiscated so far this year, a total that includes 359 pistols, 142 revolvers, 111 rifles and 83 shotguns, six of which were sawed off.

"You know what's going on around the country," Flynn said. "I can't pretend it's not going to happen here."

Officers will undergo 32 hours of training with the rifles and must be certified at the department's training academy before being able to use them.

Sgt. Joseph Seitz, a range master at the academy, said the 52 guns won't cost anything because Smith & Wesson is accepting the department's shotguns in trade.

The rifles will allow officers tactically to "engage their target with greater distance, with more accuracy, with greater ammunition, and also give them the ability to penetrate armor," Seitz said. The rifles have a 25-shot capacity.

Other large police departments using such rifles or planning to include Oakland; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago; El Paso, Texas; Miami; Cincinnati; San Jose, Calif.; Minneapolis; and Denver, according to Flynn.

Charity Fund Raiser

2009-06-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

This is a great opportunity to show a true hero that we care......

Chesapeake Police Officer Sean Fleming was shot 4 times by AK-47 automatic weapon fire. He was not on duty but responded to the scene. His personal vehicle (Jeep Wrangler) was riddled with bullets and totaled by his Insurance Company. They have declined to pay for the replacement of his vehicle, because they do not cover AK-47 fire.

So, “NO BS Just Jeeps” is holding a Charity Fund Raiser . We will be at Sears on Independence at the Pembroke Mall

Saturday June, 20th from 10am to 4pm. We will be washing cars and selling food. 100% of all money raised will go directly to Officer Fleming via the Chesapeake Coalition of Police

Come on out and get your ride clean, fill your stomach, and help out a local hero.
Washing your car is not mandatory. All are welcome to drop off a donation or mail it to:

Chesapeake Coalition of Police

P.O. BOX 1775

Chesapeake, VA 23327

Ohio Police Chiefs Suspected In High-Profile Case Involving Hollywood Stars

2009-06-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

KAY SEDGMER, Times Leader Staff Writer
Published: June 17, 2009

MARTINS FERRY, Ohio—A high-profile case involving a pair of major Hollywood stars and a local woman is under investigation by a special prosecutor.

An alleged break-in at a home in Martins Ferry has led to the investigation.

The home belongs to a Martins Ferry woman who is said to be the surrogate mother carrying twins for actress Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick.

Authorities now believe the woman has left the area in order to avoid the public eye.

Harrison County Prosecutor T. Shawn Hervey has been assigned to investigate the matter due to a conflict of interest with Belmont Prosecutor Chris Berhalter.

Several sources have confirmed that Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter and Bridgeport Police Chief Chad DoJack are under investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

The two are suspected of entering the woman’s home to obtain information to sell to a tabloid reporter.

The tabloids have reportedly been attempting to confirm the identity of the surrogate mother and the actions have “outraged” Parker, according to numerous published reports.

In a television interview, Parker called the activities as an “unprecedented invasion of her privacy” referring to the surrogate and the actions of reporters.

She said the woman’s phone had been hacked along with her personal computer information.

Parker also contended the woman had been threatened and harassed along with her family and friends.

Carpenter was unavailable for comment earlier today while DoJack refused to make a comment in reference to the matter. However, both men have previously claimed their innocence.

Story and photos courtesy of The Times Leader

St. Charles Police Officer’s Association to help boy suffering from brain tumors

2009-06-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

A fund raiser will be held July 11 to help the sick child of a St. Charles police officer.

Officer Juan Wilson’s 4-year-old son, Elijah, is at St. Louis Children’s Hospital where he is receiving extensive treatment for brain tumors.

The “mouse racing” fund raiser will be at 6:30 p.m. July 11 at St. Robert Bellermine Parish, 1424 South First Capitol Drive in St. Charles. The St. Charles Police Officer’s Association is running the event.

Tickets are $20, which pays for live music, drinks and snacks. A silent auction also will be held.

For more information or to donate, call 314-713-5455 or 314-346-8893.

Police Try To Scam Sarah Jessica Parker

2009-06-17T11:08:00.001-07:00

Sources are saying that a pair of police officers in Ohio were planning a severe criminal act, rather than stopping one.

The duo, Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter and Bridgeport Police Dept. Chief Chad DoJack were allegedly planning on breaking into the home of Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate mother, in order to gain information marketable for the tabloids.

Shocking!

Though the plans never went through, the authorities have seized several computers as evidence. It was believed that the men were after photographs displaying the living conditions of the home.

As of now, only one of the two officers has released a statement. Police Chief Barry Carpenter said: "I'm 100% innocent in this and my department is as well."

People can be so ruthless! We're glad it will get sorted out before any real damage was done! http://www.perezhilton.com/

More Stupid things you've said to a cop

2009-06-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

Since were on a roll, here's another good one.......

From NYPD

Officers working patrol observed a man take a Black and Mild cigar and empty out all the tobacco, (this is common where the individual will re-fill the cigar with Marijuana. This way it appears that there smoking a cigar instead of a joint) Officers continued to watch this go on right next to the police car, they continued to watch in disbelief when the driver of the vehicle fired up the Marijuana cigar taking a big puff, slowly the driver turned his head towards the patrol car, and looking at the officers asked "Want a hit?" The officers unamused arrested the individual and as they checked the car found three pounds of Marijuana in the back seat. The driver now arrested stated that it was for medical reasons, his dog has cataracts.........

More Stupid things you've said to a cop

2009-06-17T10:32:00.000-07:00

New from our Nations Capital

Officers were on foot patrol on the mall, when a very intoxicated individual walked towards them, The man having trouble standing, pointed at the one officer and said " I see the force runs strong within you" and proceeded to pass out, falling flat on his face, the officers picked up the drunk man and sat him on a park bench, officers made sure he was safe before leaving.

More Stupid things you've said to a cop

2009-06-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

This one is new, from California

Officers observed a car traveling at a high rate of speed, when they activated the patrol units radar, the radar showed 86mph, this was a bit of a shock seeing how the officers were sitting in a 25mph zone, as the car sped by they saw a single male driver, turning on the cars lights and siren, the driver pulled over after a minute or two. The officers approached the vehicle, and asked the driver if he knew why they were stopping him, he replied no and the officers proceeded to explain the problem, they explained that he was going 86 in a 25 when asked why he was going so fast, the driver replied "Listening to Snoop and didn't see no signs" Well the driver was cited for speed and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

101 of the dumbest things you have ever said to a cop

2009-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

More good Stuff!!!

#89
Fast food restaurants have become a staple in most American’s lives. A woman, who had just stopped at McDonalds, was traveling northbound when she flicked something out her window. Officers were not amused when a large pickle covered with mustard and ketchup hit the windshield of their patrol car. The woman offered little excuse when asked about the pickle stating, “At least your windows weren’t open, or the pickle might have hit you.” Hopefully next time, she’ll tell them to hold the pickles.

CPD Officer Flips Cruiser Off I-70

2009-06-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

By Amanda Murphy

Published: June 17, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A CPD officer was involved in an overnight crash, and the officer kicked his or her way out of the cruiser.

NBC 4 gives you the FAST FACTS.

The crash happened shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

The officer was driving eastbound on Interstate 70 when he or she lost control.

The cruiser crashed into the freeway railing, rolled down an embankment and came to rest on its top.

The officer kicked out a window to get out of the upside-down cruiser.

The officer was not injured in the crash but was transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

CPD said wet weather likely was a factor in the crash.

No more immediate information was available, including the officer’s identity or sex.

A CPD officer and cruiser were involved in a crash overnight Tuesday, too. Click here for Tuesday’s story.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.

Underwear As Armor

2009-06-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

Written by Jose Torres

It turns out that the most effective way to use a bra as body armor are to either stuff it with cash or wear the ones with the wires in them. According to the Associated Press, the metal underwire in a Detroit woman's bra is being credited with deflecting a bullet fired at her during a break-in at a nearby neighbor's home.

Detroit police Officer Leon Rahmaan says the 57-year-old woman apparently looked out her window Tuesday when shots rang out. Officer Rahmaan said that the slug smashed through her window pane before hitting the bra's underwire. The round did not penetrate her skin.

Police say she may have gone to the window after a burglar alarm at the house next door went off. Three suspects, all male, drove away after the shooting.

Pataskala Police Dept. Could Disappear

2009-06-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

By Tom Brockman
Reporter
Published: June 16, 2009

PATASKALA, Ohio—A tense police situation put an already strapped force to the test over the weekend.

A local police chief said his department needs help or it could be out of business.

Patrolling officers create a sense of security in our communities and neighborhoods, right? What if there weren’t any patrolling officers?

It’s the situation one Central Ohio community could find itself in soon.

A home on Oxford Drive in Pataskala almost became the scene of a tragedy last Saturday.

Police responded to the home after they received a call from a woman who said her estranged husband, Phillip Swanagin, had a knife to her throat.

“He clearly went there, with the evidence we were able to find, with the intention of killing her and having us take care of him,” Pataskala Chief of Police Chris Forshey said.

When this all happened, Forshey said the department only had two officers on the streets—the result of an already strained department.

Officers alongside Licking County deputies were able to subdue Swanagin and take him into custody.

Tanya Swanagin, 41, was transported to a local hospital for lacerations to her leg, neck, and hands.

Phillip faces charges, including felonious assault and kidnapping.

The Pataskala Division of Police has a staff of 16 currently, down from 21 officers. Eleven of those 16 are uniformed officers.

The department isn’t at risk of losing more officers; it’s at risk of going under itself.

An existing levy that helps fund the department expires this year, and Forshey said an 8-mill replacement levy would be necessary to restore the department to a staff of 21.

“If there’s no money to run the department, obviously it can’t exist,” Forshey said.

City council is currently taking up the matter, and city officials told NBC 4 a levy of some kind likely will be placed on the November ballot.

The current levy will pay through next year, but Forshey said if the department doesn’t get more money and soon, it and about 17,000 Pataskala citizens will be in trouble.

“The city has a responsibility to provide basic services,” he said. “If we would disappear and no additional funding—with the sheriff’s office, they’re going to get a very, very basic service.”

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.

Man Leads Florida Police Pursuit for Fun

2009-06-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

BRONSON, Fla. --

Authorities said a 22-year-old man told investigators that he led them on a high-speed chase through two north Florida counties for fun. According to the Levy County Sheriff's Office, Philip Pennypacker is facing charges of high-speed fleeing and eluding and three counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers with a deadly weapon.

He has been released on bond. A message left with the Public Defender's Office was not immediately returned Saturday night.

Deputies said Pennypacker led authorities on a chase that ended Thursday night in southern Levy County. According to a sheriff's office report, Pennypacker told investigators: "Once I knew I was going to jail, I decided to have some fun."

Pennypacker was arrested without incident after the car he was driving ran out of gas.

Miami-Dade Officer Killed in Crash

2009-06-16T10:19:00.001-07:00

SW MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ― A section of the Florida turnpike in southwest Miami-Dade has reopened hours after a deadly police involved accident. The accident occurred just after 4:00 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the Turnpike near SW 152 Street.

Miami-Dade police say a police cruiser and a dump truck collided in the southbound lanes but it's not known who was at fault.

The accident destroyed the front end of the patrol car. A yellow tarp was thrown over the driver's side as Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel worked to free the officer trapped inside the vehicle.

Unfortunately, the 23-year old officer was killed, according to Miami-Dade Police spokeswoman Det. Rebeca Perez. Perez told CBS4's Marybel Rodriguez that the officer had been on the force for a year and a half and worked out of the Kendall District.

His name has not been released.

A short distance away from the heavily damaged cruiser a dump truck was pulled off onto the shoulder. The truck's passenger side and rear bumper showed signs of damage.

All southbound lanes of the turnpike from SW 120th Street to SW 152nd Street were shutdown for about six hours.

Officer Injured In Crash

2009-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A police officer was injured late Monday when his cruiser struck a pole.

The officer was responding to a call on the city's north side shortly before midnight. Police said a vehicle failed to yield to the officer at the corner of Fourth Street and First Avenue, 10TV News reported.

The officer swerved to avoid the car and crashed into a pole, police said.

He was transported to The Ohio State University Medical Center. The officer, whose name was not immediately released, was expected to be OK.

Police were searching for the other vehicle.

Ticketing off duty officers: P1 Members speak out

2009-06-15T13:26:00.001-07:00

If you have not been to www.policeone.com I recommend it highly, great articles, great information and one of the best Police web sites on the web today!

PoliceOne recently polled our Members with the question: "Would you give an off duty officer a ticket for a traffic violation?" and invited you to e-mail us with your thoughts. All responses have been approved by each officer who is quoted. Add your own thoughts to the mix in the comments field below. Also, be sure to check out Professional courtesy, the debut column by our newest contributor, Officer Duane Wolfe of the Parkers Prairie (Minn.) Police Department.

“It would depend on the severity of the offense, and the all-important attitude displayed on the stop by the violating officer.”
— Investigator Scott Richards / Motor Vehicle Enforcement

“I thought ‘Blue was Blue’ but it appears from the poll that isn't the case anymore!! Glad I'm retired after 31 years in LE. The job isn't the ‘brotherhood’ it used to be.”
— Ken Frisbie, Retired from Chicopee (Mass.) Police Dept. since Sept. 2003

“I’ve got more important things to do than cite a fellow officer. I haven’t found a need to do so in 37 years on the job.”
— Sgt. Brian Stover

“Sorry, but to the officers that issue citations to other officers, I have to say: If you’re on a traffic stop and you’re getting your but kicked, you had better pray an off-duty officer is driving by. We need to take care of each other because the general public is most likely not going to.”
— Officer Mike Ely, Aurora (Ill.) Police Dept.

“I can only speak as a retired police field supervisor. Officers are underpaid and risk their lives every day, receiving few benefits. I believe officers should show professional courtesy to officers in most cases. The exceptions would be for DUI or reckless driving.”
— Dennis Obert, Retired Los Angeles (Calif.) Police Dept.

“Law enforcement officers need to stick together, now more than ever! Petty nonsense like writing other cops is ridiculous and it should be taught in all police academies that you don’t write [up] cops!”
— Detective Gary Olivier, Rye (N.Y.) Police Dept.

“It depends on the circumstances. It really bothers me when I stop a vehicle running over the posted speed limit (25-35 mph over), and the first thing I see as I approach the driver’s side window is a badge holder hanging out and an immediate request for professional courtesy. I try to give breaks when I feel comfortable but this situation puts a bad taste in my mouth. I don’t mind being made aware that the person I stopped is an officer, but the more subtle it is and the more humility that is used, the better.”
— W.B. Knott, Dinwiddie County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office

“Working in Southeast Florida, I've encountered vacationing police officers from all over the world. I generally let them go with a warning about the bad areas of town. There were a few cases when circumstances took away my discretionary options.”
— Sgt. Van Hamlin, Ret., Broward (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office

“Whether or not an officer receives a citation depends on the type of violation, the vehicle the officer is driving, and the officer’s comportment. Officer discretion plays a huge role in the outcome of most traffic stops. If the detained officer steps out and is impaired by drugs or alcohol, s/he is subject to arrest. Conversely, if s/he is 2 miles over the speed limit or has a license plate dangling from one bolt, a verbal warning is the likely outcome. A third consideration is if the officer is driving a police issued vehicle and if s/he is taking off-duty enforcement action at the time of the violation.
The behaviors in the situation and not the occupation of the driver are the factors for consideration. The public takes a dim view of government entitlement issues and ‘law enforcement courtesy’ undermines public trust and professionalism. The people must trust and respect law enforcement officers for policing to be effective in any community. Ask yourself, ‘Would I ticket this person if s/he hadn’t flashed a badge? What would be the effect if I treated everyone this way for this offense?’ It will give you the ethical answer which is ultimately defensible, regardless of outcome.”
— Commander Corinne Garrett, Ret., Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office

“If you’re honest with me, and you have a good driving record, you get a warning. If you lie, and your record shows it, time to see the judge again!”
— Sgt. Doug Teichert, Canyon County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office

“Although I am in my 40s, I am very new to policing; I've only been working on my own for about a month now. That said, I think whether or not I ticket an off-duty officer would depend on their attitude. If they mention it in conversation or in explaining why they have a weapon, that's one thing… but to identify yourself for the sole reason of getting out of the ticket? I would probably write them. Give ME the discretion, don't try to influence me.”
— Officer Richard D. Kepple, Connell (Wash.) Police Dept.

“For me to cite another officer, the violation would have to be pretty severe and be accompanied by a really bad attitude. In 24 years of duty, I have never felt the need to issue a ticket to a guy that may someday be the only one available to come to my aid.”
— Officer J.B. Ellis, Harris County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office

“I spent 30+ years in law enforcement and can say without reservation that ‘Police work is an art and not a science,’ and that the way one handles a call or traffic stop can dramatically change when handling the same call or traffic stop at another time. So with that said, it would be a lie to say that I would ticket everyone, because that doesn’t happen, even when I stop violators that are not police officers. And I can't say that I would let them necessarily slide either, so like the majority who responded to your poll, I'd have to say it would depend on the severity.”
— Lt. John Doan, Ret., Glendora (Calif.) Police Dept.

“I'm a Sgt. with my department with 18 years of service. Normally, I do not give other officers traffic tickets, but I have done so in the past.”
— Sgt. Guy Finney, La Coste (Texas) Police Dept.

“Anyone can screw up, and in talking to the off-duty person, I make a decision whether or not to ticket. A lot depends on his attitude, which in most cases is ‘I made a mistake.’ If he is a total jerk, I write him. In the case of officers who feel it is their duty to write everyone, including other off-duty officers, the word got around, and one officer found himself in the bad position of almost losing his license as he had so many violations. His captain came to our office and requested our officers quit writing him.”
I treat the public as a case by case offense, and wrote only people who thought they were above the law, had a bad attitude, or were a real threat to the general public. Of course I was not a traffic officer, working mostly criminal units, and felt it was my right to pick and choose who I could write a ticket.”
— Lt. Ron Cole, Ret., Sacramento (Calif.) Sheriff’s Dept.

“I agree, it depends on the severity of the violator, as well as his or her attitude. I know our recruits are being taught that one should never base a decision to cite or arrest on the attitude of a violator. I still believe it's a valuable part of police discretion though. If that is now considered corrupt, so be it. I plead guilty. On the other hand, I have been stopped for traffic offenses and have never displayed my badge, so I don't expect professional courtesy. Nearly always though, my attitude has allowed me to skate with a warning. The other times, I knew I had it coming.”
— Steve Evans, Oregon Dept. of Justice

“I feel there are two things to consider. 1) An off-duty officer will help you if he is driving by and you need help. 2) We should treat our brother/sister officers like we want to be treated. If we would want professional courtesy when we get pulled over then we should pay the same respect back. The bottom line: we should not be giving other cops tickets, period.”
— Officer Anthony Signore, Redding (Conn.) Police Dept.

“It definitely depends on the severity AND the officer’s attitude. If you’re going to be an idiot, then you certainly deserve one. It’s the old adage, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’
Politeness will even work with the public on certain occasions; this also depends on the severity and the situation at hand. Sometimes, due to your specific assignment, you may not be able to be as lenient.”
— Sgt. Elizabeth M. Delewski, Reading (Pa.) Police Dept.

“I have let officers slide on minor traffic offences; however I have also ticketed some. I have also ticketed family members. Over my 27 years of service I have become more stringent on being fair to everyone and I am more likely to ticket an officer now than I was years ago. Just because we have a badge does not give us the right to flagrantly disregard traffic safety laws. We, of all people, should have a higher regard for these laws than the public in order to set a good example to the public. When I drive my patrol car, I do not exceed the posted speed limit by more than one or two miles per hour and I do not allow those who think it is OK to exceed the speed limit by five or 10 miles per hour to pass me. There are others in my agency who believe that it is a cardinal sin to write another cop or his family. [In the cases of] the family members that I have written, I have told them that they should know better because their husband or father is a cop.”
— Sgt. G.D. Fink, Albemarle County (Va.) Police Dept.

“No, but that could change depending on the officers’ attitude.”
— Curtis Fortner, Ret. Dallas (Texas) Police Dept.

“Severity of the offense is a big issue. I try to base my views on how I would like to be treated given a reversal of the circumstances. We all know better and should not put ourselves in the position of having someone decide whether to give or whether not to give a citation. In the event it does happen, attitude will play a big part in my decision. I believe in taking care of officers but show me an attitude and I have to do what I have to do. All I ask, is please don’t EXPECT me to look the other way. Treat me and other officers with respect and chances are I’ll help you out if it isn’t anything major. After all, if we don’t take care of each other, who will?”
— Lt. Dennis King, Gulf Shores (Ala.) Police Dept.

As theft rises, stores step up anti-crime efforts

2009-06-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Dan Sewell
2009 Jun 15

CINCINNATI With shoplifting on the rise—including organized teams sweeping through stores and lifting scores of items in minutes—retailers are beefing up plainclothes patrols and video surveillance, and competitors are working together to prevent crime.

Stores are running online stings and sending security guards onto sales floors posing as customers. The FBI helped create a database for trading notes on suspects and their methods. Minneapolis-based Target Corp. even has a forensic lab and tracks video feed from its 1,700 stores at regional hubs.

"In light of today's economy and the expense pressure, it is an investment that shows good return," said Brad Brekke, a former FBI special agent who heads assets protection for Target. "There is definitely economic pressure generating more activity across the board—fraud, theft, cyber crime. The intensity has gone up as the economy has gone down."

The National Retail Federation, a trade group, says nearly half of 115 retailers it surveyed are spending more on crime-fighting—some companies spend more than $1 million a year just on personnel hired to stop crime rings. The NRF, which opens a loss prevention conference Monday in Los Angeles, says 92 percent of the surveyed retailers were victims of organized theft teams last year, an 8 percent increase, even as many saw slumping sales.

More individuals are shoplifting, as in several steak-stealing incidents in Kroger Co. grocery stores across the country this year. But retailers say the vast majority of their losses are from thefts by organized rings that usually send in a small group including a getaway driver, an in-store lookout and several "shoppers."

Joe LaRocca, a senior adviser for the retail federation, said it only makes sense to cooperate with competitors to fight the problem, which officials peg at $35 billion a year and rising.

"You know you're getting hit and your neighbor is getting hit and, by working together, you have a much better rate of identification and prevention," LaRocca said.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Saks Inc., Ann Taylor Stores Corp. and others share information in the 2-year-old national database with the hope of stopping organized teams that take medicines, popular-brand clothes, video games and electronics—items that can be quickly resold in small shops, flea markets and online.

"I'm even amazed sometimes at what these guys do," said Jerry Biggs, who heads anti-organized crime efforts for the Walgreen Co. drugstore chain. "They're in and out in four minutes. They can go from store to store, do this all day long."

In what Florida authorities dubbed "Operation Hot Milk," 21 people were arrested in March in connection with a multimillion-dollar baby formula theft ring. Generally, men acted as lookouts and getaway drivers while women slipped cans of powdered formula worth about $25 each into their bags. Polk County Sheriff's deputies began investigating in late 2008 after finding stolen baby formula during a traffic stop.

Biggs said the rings know more households are looking harder for bargains—often online, where many high-volume thefts are fenced, or in flea markets and small shops—during the recession.

"It's created a larger demand for product at lower price," he said. "People just think they're getting good deals."

Stores are trying to slow the theft rings with new packaging, less-accessible display cases, and electronic gizmos. But how many precautions to take is a delicate issue for retailers, who risk alienating customers by making them wait while items are retrieved from locked cases or embarrassing them when exit alarms go off. Customers could also be turned off by increasingly intense surveillance.

"You've got to balance the value you get from that," said Michael Brown, a retail strategist for the consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates. "You don't want your loss prevention department to become your sales prevention department."

Art Wulfeck, director of loss prevention for Cincinnati-based Kroger, says it trains employees to be regularly engaging customers around the store—asking whether they need help or have questions—which also reduces theft opportunities.

Some Kroger stores have begun using the "Lane Hawk," a shopping-cart electronic device that alerts cashiers to items on the bottom, avoiding accidental or intentional failure to ring them up. Wulfeck said Kroger is experimenting with a display rack for selling infant formula that has an automatic delay before another item can be removed—so a thief can't quickly grab several cans.

"The typical shopper isn't there to buy 10 cans of formula," he said.

Shopper Pat Girod, whose son-in-law is a police officer, knows the crime prevention efforts are all around, seen and unseen, in her Kroger store in central Ohio.

She chuckled about the Lane Hawk: "It's a great idea ... I wish they had that in the parking lot, too, so I don't forget to load something in my car."

Five LAPD Officers Hurt in Melees After Lakers Win

2009-06-15T13:20:00.001-07:00

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES --

Downtown celebrations after the Los Angeles Lakers' championship win turned ugly as darkness fell, with some throwing rocks and bottles that left five police officers with minor injuries.

Police also said Monday that police cruisers were damaged, windows on public buses were smashed and fires were set in the street. Seventeen people were arrested Sunday night after police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, authorities said.

Five officers had minor injuries, Sgt. Andy Mathes said. One of the officers was taken to a hospital and the others were treated at the scene.

Reinforcement officers were called in from throughout the city to help disperse the crowd, officer Karen Rayner said.

Television footage showed people jumping on police cars, rocking vehicles attempting to pass through the crowd, setting small trees on fire and throwing bricks at empty buses. A gas station and a shoe store were looted, police said.

Chief William Bratton told KNX radio Monday that police planned to watch the video in an attempt to identify vandals and make further arrests.

Bratton commended his officers for showing restraint despite "a lot of provocation from a number of knuckleheads," he told KTTV-TV.

"It's not easy to stand there when cowards in the middle of the crowd are throwing rocks and bottles at them," Bratton said.

The 17 arrests were for disturbing the peace, arson, outstanding warrants and other infractions, Rayner said.

Across the country in Florida, the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA finals Sunday night to win their 15th championship and first in seven years.

Man Charged With Shooting Milwaukee Officers

2009-06-14T13:18:00.001-07:00

MILWAUKEE --

A Milwaukee man was charged Thursday with two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting of two Milwaukee police officers on Tuesday afternoon in the Walker's Point neighborhood.

Each count carries a maxiumum of 60 yers in prison.

Julius Burton, 18, was arrested about an hour after the shooting. Officers recovered a 40-caliber handgun neaby that they believe he used.

Heroes Found Amidst Shooting Of OfficersShooting, Condition Of Two Officers UpdatedMayor Calls For Tightened Gun Laws

Officers Bryan Norberg and Graham Kunisch tried to question Burton following some muggings a few blocks away in recent days committed by someone on a bicycle. They were both shot multiple times as they struggled with the man.

Norberg, 21, is in good condition. Kunisch, 26, remains in critical condition but is expected to pull through, Milwaukee police Chief Ed Flynn said Wednesday afternoon.

Flynn said that he pinned a purple star of valor on Kunisch's pillow on Thursday.

Flynn said he spoke with Norberg and said that he was still in a lot of pain, but was fully rational about what happened. Flynn said Norberg promised "to be out there on the beat as soon as I can again."

Norberg has been an officer for just six months, and Kunisch has been on the force for 15 months.

'It's not often when you get to thank two everyday heroes," Barrett said.

American United Taxi driver Anthony Thompson called 911 and held the hand of one of the wounded officers.

UPS driver Mike Charbonneau drove his truck around the neighborhood and tried to find the suspect. His father was a Milwaukee police officer.

Milwaukee police said crime has gone down in the Walker's Point neighborhood.

"We are doing every thing we can to keep the neighborhood safe," Capt. Donald Gaglione said.

But Barrett stressed the importance of getting handguns out of the hands of teenagers.

"For whatever reason at all, they thought it was a great idea to give an 18-year-old a handgun. And now we have two police officers out at Froedtert because he had that gun," Barrett said.

Shakedown artist was cop imposter

2009-06-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

Written by APB Staff

A USA Today article recently pointed out that a new study claims that one in ten kids who play video games are probably psychologically addicted to what is commonly referred to as “gaming.” Another activity that might just be habit forming is police impersonation. Some folks just can’t seem to get that cop monkey off their back. An Elmhurst, Illinois man claiming to be a lawyer and private investigator with a history of impersonating police was arrested recently and charged with impersonating an officer, according to Chicago police. It’s his second such arrest in a one-month period.

Raul Eiseman, 44, was charged with aggravated impersonation of a police officer and armed robbery, according to a police report. Eiseman is a quick study. He knows illegal undocumented aliens carry cash and are scared of the cops. That makes extortion a breeze.

Police said the more recent arrest involves a different victim than a similar one a few weeks before where Eiseman was charged with trying to extort $400 per week from a Polish immigrant. He told the victim he was a Chicago police officer and would make him “disappear” if he didn’t pay up, police said. Eiseman isn’t interested in pretending to be a police officer exclusively. He also pretends to be a lawyer and a private eye.

The police report indicates that in the most recent incident, Eiseman wore a belt with a pistol in a holster and an unidentified type of police badge. He demanded $150 from a man in his 30s and threatened to arrest and take him to the police station. Eiseman told the man he was a private investigator, a lawyer and a police officer, according to the report.

In the March incident, the extortion allegedly went on for about a year before the victim cried out for help because he couldn’t pay his rent. He told his landlord he was coming up short because he was the victim of what he thought was extortion by a police officer. The landlord called the Chicago P.D. Police arranged to go with the victim to meet with Eiseman the night of March 12.

At the meeting, the real cops asked Eiseman who he was, and he allegedly told them he was a cop. The cops turned out to be a little harder to fool than an immigrant worried about getting deported. Eiseman was immediately arrested and police found a loaded 9mm handgun, a baton, the badge and handcuffs.

Eiseman was charged with aggravated impersonation of a police officer and a weapons violations, the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said. “He took advantage of the fact that the victim was an immigrant and was unfamiliar with the Chicago Police Department,” Chicago Police Sgt. Charles Daly told the Chicago Sun Times in an interview.

Shootings show threat of 'lone wolf' terrorists

2009-06-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

By Devlin Barrett and Eileen Sullivan
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — An elderly man enters a crowded museum carrying a rifle and begins shooting. A young man in Arkansas pulls outside a military recruiting office. Another man opens fire in a Kansas church.

Three chilling, unconnected slayings in less than two weeks. One gunman was a white supremacist, one a militant Muslim, one a fervent foe of abortion.

Each suspect had a history that suggested trouble. Each apparently was driven to act by beliefs considered by some as extreme. Each shooter fits the description of a "lone wolf" terrorist, a killer whose attack, authorities say, is harder to head off than if planned by a trained terrorist network.

"It could be anyone. It could be the guy next door, living in the basement of his mother's place, on the Internet just building himself up with hate, building himself up to a boiling point and finally using what he's learned," said John Perren, head of the counterterrorism branch at the FBI's Washington field office.

Perren described the difficulty of hunting a lone wolf suspect in an interview with the Associated Press just two days before white supremacist James von Brunn allegedly shot and killed a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

"The lone wolf is what concerns the Washington field office, what concerns the FBI the most," he said.

Von Brunn had a criminal record and a Web site preaching virulent racism. Yet authorities say it is difficult to predict when someone will put down a laptop and pick up a gun.

When investigating a terrorist network, FBI agents can often access e-mails, phone records and documents to build a case. In some cases, they can develop informants to penetrate the group and provide intelligence.

But a killer acting alone rarely tells anyone what he's planning, let alone when or how. That makes it hard for authorities to determine who is prepared to commit a criminal act in furtherance of a perceived cause.

Trying to counter that threat, the FBI has created what it calls "tripwires." These are programs that seek tips from businesses whenever someone buys significant amounts of materials that can be used to make explosives, or large amounts of weapons or ammunition.

Such precautions seem to have worked in the case of a man who cleaned out his savings account in Utah and told the bank teller he was on a mission to kill President Barack Obama. The man, who relatives said suffers from mental illness, triggered a criminal investigation and he was eventually arrested.

In Washington, the white supremacist Von Brunn apparently skirted such tripwires by using a vintage rifle from the early 20th century. With that single, small-caliber gun, a museum security guard was killed before other guards opened fire and disabled von Brunn.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks white supremacists, says the number of hate groups in the United States has risen 54 percent since 2000, fueled by opposition to Hispanic immigration and, more recently, by the election of the nation's first black president and the economic downturn.

"Today the vast majority of domestic terrorist attacks are in fact lone wolf or so-called leaderless resistance attacks," said the center's Mark Potok. "There are very few ways to prevent them ... short of assigning a police officer to every person in America."

The number of angry white men in America is getting larger, said Chip Berlet, senior analyst with Political Research Associates in Somerville, Mass., a think tank that studies right-wing extremists.

In particular, the heterosexual, white, Christian men in America feel they've been pushed out of the way, Berlet said. Attacking the Holocaust Museum is a no-brainer, he said, because white supremacists blame Jews for the advancement of black people.

"The idea that blacks are put in positions of power by crafty Jews is central to their conspiracy theory," Berlet said.

Other experts contend the white supremacist climate has not changed much over the years.

Charlie Allen, the former top intelligence officer at the Department of Homeland Security, said such hatred has been embedded in small parts of American communities. Under Allen's leadership, the department created an analysis branch that looked at extremist groups across the country.

A department assessment of domestic extremism found about 2,400 white supremacist Web sites; 72 blogs; 30 mailing lists; 213 user groups and clubs; and 25 online racist video games.

The agency says white supremacist organizations rarely publicly call for attacks.

Fallen N.M. police pilot remembered

2009-06-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

Sgt. Andrew Tingwall, one of two people killed in a helicopter crash in New Mexico on June 9, 2009, was remembered with a mile-long procession consisting of police officers from agencies throughout the state. This video from a local television station chronicles the procession.

Tingwall, who received a medal of valor after he single-handedly rescued a man from a river last summer, had been with the New Mexico state police since 1995 and had logged some 1,300 hours of flying time. Tingwall and fellow officer Wesley Cox had picked up a hiker who was lost in the mountains, and were returning to Santa Fe when their aircraft crashed into a 12,000-foot-high mountain. Despite serious injuries, officer Cox was able to walk a mile from the crash site to reach searchers Wednesday morning. Cox is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

The Book 101 of the dumbest things you have ever said to a cop

2009-06-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a lot of questions about the book. The fastest way to get it is directly through the publisher at lulu.com I'm working with Barnes and Noble and Borders to get the books in there stores, you can so see my TV interview at www.nbc4i.com in the video section....

Thank you for all your support!!!!!

(Cut and paste the entire link below) it should take you right to the book it's $10.99

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/
101-of-the-dumbest-things-youve-said-to-a-cop/6643590

From the mouths of children

2009-06-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Written by Cynthia Brown

Sometimes a little kid makes all of us so-called grown-ups look pretty childish. When was the last time any of us went out of our way to thank a stranger even though we had just been visited by a personal tragedy? In Sacramento, California recently, doctors told a little girl that her mother wasn't coming home or waking up. The girl's mother had collapsed on the kitchen floor of her home. It's the kind of thing that happens to lots of families every day. But what made this tragedy different was the strength and class displayed by a nine-year-old girl who just lost her mother. The girl's first instinct was to personally thank the police officer that had been called to the scene.

She even told the cop she was sorry that she had to watch her Mom die. "I'm really grateful that you guys came and helped my family," the girl told Sacramento Police Officer Sunny Cranford. "You kept trying, even though you couldn't do anything." According to a story by the Associated Press in the Sacramento Bee, the girl's bravery and compassion has touched an entire department which makes its living by being brave and compassionate.

A small part of the emotions in Sacramento have to do with fact that "thanks for trying to help as best you could" is not something cops hear a lot, or at all. That goes double in neighborhoods like the rough and tumble Meadowview section of Sacramento - one of the city's high-crime areas. But the story here is the amazing display of respect and gratitude from a girl who lost her Mom.

The officer who responded to the scene where the girl's mother was on the kitchen floor said that it's a pretty emotional thing when you get a call like that: "When you get a call like this, it pulls on your heartstrings a bit," Cranford said. Officers were so impressed with the girl that they felt they had to do something to help. Recently Officer Cranford and some of her colleagues stopped by the girl's 10th birthday party to deliver a truckload of gifts. They bought the girl, whose name is being withheld for privacy issues, a brand new glittery purple bike and matching helmet.

The cops also gave the girl's father, a 39-year-old El Salvadoran immigrant laid off from his job as a minimart clerk three weeks before his wife's death, $3,660 in cash to help the family in their time of need. "I don't know what to say," the father told the officers according to the AP. "You don't have to say anything," they told him. The Bee is not naming the family to protect the children and prevent the family from being victimized.

The experience of Officer Cranford in this heart-breaking tale is a part of police work that gets scarce attention. At the hospital, when doctors told the girl and her father the mother wasn't going to make it, Officer Cranford held the couple's seven-month-old as her older sister and their father absorbed the news.

Even then, the little girl was worrying about everyone else. She showed tremendous concern for everyone involved except herself. She worried about her father, the officers who responded and her grandmother, who, the child said, had a bad heart. It's not easy to for an immigrant family to sort out what's going on these days when a team of uniformed cops approach a ten-year-old's birthday party.

The girl's family is no different. When officers pulled up to the girl's birthday party, some family members looked startled to see so many blue uniforms coming their way. But then the little girl came bouncing out of the garage.

"It's OK," she said, beaming. "These are my friends."

Reporting for this article was done by the Associated Press.

Cannonball Run

2009-06-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

An Oregon State Police (OSP) trooper cited the drivers of six exotic sports cars for speed racing recently when he spotted the vehicles at a high rate of speed on Highway 18 near Grand Ronde. Over two hours later, one of the same vehicles was stopped again by OSP in the Columbia River Gorge for a high speed violation. OSP Senior Trooper David Peterson received a driving complaint from OSP Northern Command Center dispatch of about ten exotic-style vehicles passing in no pass zones and traveling at high rates of speed on Highway 18 just west of Grand Ronde.

Senior Trooper Peterson set up on Highway 18 east of Grand Ronde and observed 5 of the vehicles pass by him at a high rate of speed.

As he accelerated onto Highway 18, a sixth vehicle passed his patrol car at high speed.

Senior Trooper Peterson stopped all six vehicles and cited the drivers for Speed Racing.

The drivers were cooperative and told the trooper there was a total of 20 similar vehicles traveling together on an annual road trip.

One of the stopped drivers was from Washington State and the other drivers were from Canada.

Over two hours later one of the same vehicles stopped by Senior Trooper Peterson, a 2004 Lamborghini with Alberta license plate “BADBUL,” was stopped about 1:45 PM on Interstate 84 eastbound near Multnomah Falls by OSP Sergeant Tom Worthy for going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone.

www.wivesbehindthebadge.org

2009-06-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

Wives Behind the Badge

Voice for the Law Enforcement Community

Wives Behind the Badge is an all-volunteer national non-profit organization providing much needed resources, emotional support and essential benefits to law enforcement families and agencies and serves in a positive manner as a voice for the law enforcement community, directly impacting public safety in the community.

This program is without doubt the best thing I've heard of ... Please support this organization, they do trememndous work for the LE community!

H.A.L.O.S (Helping Aid Lost Officers) Condolence Program

In addition to the support and friendship we have to offer, we also are very proud of our H.A.L.O.S. (Helping Aid Lost Officers Survivors) condolence program. Our verified members are "Angels" to the wives of fallen officers - helping them cope with the loss of their officers - something we all fear.

In 2007 we expanded our HALOS program to include K-9's killed in the line of duty.

Help for mourning families

2009-06-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Help for mourning families

Written by Scott Barthelmass

When a police officer dies in the line of duty, shouldn’t the individuals and the badge they wear receive the proper respect? If the officers and their grieving families were to be forgotten, that would only make the hurt more painful. Unfortunately, many police agencies do not have the resources to undertake large-scale official funerals. Since the state of Missouri was established in 1821, it has suffered more than 620 line-of-duty deaths, many of them in recent years.

When two policemen were murdered in the suburban St. Louis community of Kirkwood on February 7, 2008, a group of officers came together to begin creating the Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team. Over the last year, these officers have devoted hundreds of hours to research and to planning this new organization.

They have assembled a Missouri-specific law enforcement funeral guide, have put in place a structure to establish funeral response teams, and have developed training criteria for volunteers who will assist police departments and officers’ families through the aftermath of a line-of-duty death. The Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team responds only when the agency that sustained the loss requests help.

The team serves in a behind-the-scenes capacity, offering suggestions based on the needs of the department and the fallen officer’s family. This includes providing personal support as well as help with logistics and planning for a funeral. The team utilizes the incident command system and prepares incident action plans.

A key strength of the team is its professionalism, tied in with a genuine dedication to properly honoring a fallen officer. The Assistance Team also can assist the fallen officer’s family in obtaining the benefits they are due. This effort is led by members of the Missouri Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), who have been trained in completing the Public Safety Officer Benefits application process.

The Team will also help plan and carry out services for active-duty officers who pass away while off duty, and for retired officers. Initial steps have been undertaken to establish a response team in the Kansas City area, with personnel from the Gladstone Department of Public Safety leading such efforts. We hope to have this response team ready by mid-2009. Our long-term goal is to have four or five response teams with equipment trailers across the state.

Our team received its first request for assistance from the University City Police Department following the murder of Sgt. Michael King on October 31. The Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team, along with an existing Fire Service team in Missouri, helped plan and carry out the funeral services. The Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team was established in 2005, and, unfortunately, has been involved in planning funerals for numerous line-of-duty deaths across the state.

At Sergeant King’s funeral, the police and fire teams worked side by side, with law enforcement officers taking the lead and fire service personnel serving as mentors. This was a valuable learning experience and was helpful in ensuring that all the necessary arrangements were made and needs met. Personnel from the Brentwood, Clayton, Crestwood, Eureka, Maplewood and Overland Police Departments represented the Missouri Law Enforcement Funeral Assistance Team.

“Planning funerals of this magnitude is an incredible task,” wrote Susan King, widow of Sergeant King. “After being part of one, I am still overwhelmed by the sheer size and logistics involved. And yet I am amazed at how flawlessly everything worked together and was absolutely perfect…a fitting tribute to my husband. Needless to say, I was very distraught at the time and they took care of everything down to the last detail.

“The members of the team that I worked with were kind and compassionate; they brought me comfort during that difficult time. I cannot thank them enough for all the time and effort they put into honoring my husband.” Kelly McGee, a member of the University City Police Department and a liaison to the fallen officer’s family, recently wrote, “I cannot thank you enough for helping us through this tragedy.

We are dealing with a nightmare; however, you guys really came through for us and we truly appreciate you. “It helped me to stay busy during this time and to be a part of honoring my friend, but it had its moments of being overwhelming. When those moments hit me, you and the other team members really helped pull everything together.” In February 2009, the funeral team assisted the Vinita Park Police Department with funeral arrangements after Chief Michael Webb lost his battle with cancer.

Just weeks later, the Jennings Police Department lost Det. Sgt. David Joyce, who suffered a fatal heart attack. That agency handled the funeral arrangements after obtaining planning documents from our team.

Cpl. Scott Barthelmass is with the Overland, Missouri Police Department.