Murder Behind the Badge: True Stories of Cops Who Kill

Former Police Detective Publishes Second Book

Stacy Dittrich (Mansfield, OH) is an award-winning veteran law enforcement officer, author, media consultant, and former detective specializing in sex crimes. In 2002, she received the Victims of Crime Award from former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro and, in 2009, received a commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives for her “countless inspiration to others.” She is the author of the CeeCee Gallagher thriller series about a female detective. She has appeared as a commentator on Fox’s The O’Reilly Factor, HLN’s Nancy Grace show, Fox’s Geraldo at Large, and other programs including hundreds of national radio shows. Her commentary has appeared in the pages of The Boston Herald, The UK Observer, The Miami Herald, SELF Magazine, and Women’s World Magazine to name a few. She is currently writing a new true crime book on the murder of California 8-year old, Sandra Cantu. See www.stacydittrich.com for media reel short.

According to the book description, “Most men and women who aspire to be police officers begin their careers with a noble dream of community service, upholding the law, and helping those in need. Yet over time the rigors and emotional strain of dealing with society’s worst element wear on even the most idealistic officers like a sheet of sandpaper, until what used to be a compassionate human being is slowly rubbed away. A few become corrupted and slip into criminal behavior, directly contradicting their oath to guard the public. Even worse, there are some who hide behind their badges to commit the most heinous crimes imaginable.

In a shocking true-crime narrative that reads like a thriller, former police officer, former detective, and mystery writer Stacy Dittrich tells eighteen stories about cops who kill. From the brutal to the bizarre, the senseless to the extreme, these men and women abused their power, took human life, and are now (except for one) paying the consequences.

Some killed for love, others for money, and still others because of seemingly trivial personality conflicts. Dittrich profiles, among others:

• New Orleans cop Antoinette Frank, who brutally murdered three innocent people, including a fellow officer
• Canton, Ohio police officer Bobby Cutts Jr., who murdered his former girlfriend when she was nine-months pregnant
• California highway patrolman Craig Peyer, who pulled over San Diego State college student Cara Knott over a frivolous traffic violation, then murdered her.
• Columbia, Missouri officer Steven Rios, who slit the throat of his gay lover, after he threatened to tell everyone of their relationship.

MORE INFORMATION

Police plan register of serial domestic violence offenders

Police chiefs have proposed a domestic violence register to track an estimated 25,000 men in England and Wales who move from one relationship to another serially abusing their partners.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) is also pressing for the creation of a "course of conduct" offence that would enable prosecutions to be brought against serial offenders even if the evidence is insufficient in each individual case.

The police say a register of serial abusers would allow new partners and others at risk of violence to be told of a man's history. Controversially, this could include information short of convictions, including a pattern of unproved allegations by different women.

READ ON
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/16/domestic-violence-police-register-database

And Rhode Island Makes 19!

Ocean State Becomes 19th to Ban Texting While Driving

Yesterday, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri signed a law banning all drivers from text messaging while driving. The Ocean State becomes the 19th state with this law. In 2009, twelve new states have passed broad texting while driving bans, bringing the total to 19, plus the District of Columbia. As of December 2008, only seven states plus D.C. had enacted similar legislation.

GHSA expects this number to continue to grow quickly. According to GHSA Executive Director Barbara Harsha, "There's a tremendous amount of interest in addressing distracted driving at both the state and national levels. I expect an additional 20-25 states could pass this legislation within the next year."

Regardless of state laws, GHSA continues to urge drivers to hang up and drive. According to Harsha, "Texting and conversations on a cell phone have been shown to greatly increase risk of a crash. We need to restore some common sense to driving."

Current state cell phone and text messaging bans as well as a variety of distracted driving background is posted at www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)® is a nonprofit association representing the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. GHSA provides leadership and representation for the states and territories to improve traffic safety, influence national policy and enhance program management. Its members are appointed by their Governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans. Contact GHSA at 202-789-0942 or visit www.ghsa.org.

The Holidays are Coming

Twas the Night Before Christmas
http://www.police-writers.com/night_before_christmas.html

Use of force

A recent event in my hometown in Florida involved a police office shooting his taser while driving his police car. The subject, who was riding a bike, fell and was subsequently run over by the officer. He tragically died at the scene. As a result, the city police have adopted a new policy that tasers can't be fired from a moving vehicle.

I relate this story because it our community as well as the country have stepped on this bandwagon of trying to ban the use of the taser. Without different tools to control different situations and differnt people, soon we will find our officers having to choose between their fists or their Glock. If I weren't a law-abiding citizen, I would truly want the taser to stay an option.

Susan Anderson
former police officer and writer of Cold Case in Ellyson
available on Amazon

Spring 2010 Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute

May 2-7, 2010, Coronado (San Diego), Calif.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2010

Description:

For the eighth year, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is sponsoring a Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute. This technology institute will be held May 2-7, 2010, in Coronado (San Diego), Calif., and is targeted/designed for the command staff/supervisory personnel of rural and small law enforcement agencies containing fewer than 50 sworn officers. Law enforcement personnel will learn about and discuss technology initiatives and issues affecting the rural and small law enforcement community. Participants will receive information and assistance on existing and developing technologies, work through problems relating to technology implementation, and exchange technology lessons learned that are important to the rural and small law enforcement community.

As part of the program, participants are required to give a brief (no more than 15 minutes) PowerPoint presentation on a technology issue that their department has encountered or is in the process of implementing (e.g., implementation of a crime mapping program, new communications system or automated booking station). The presentation can be either an “issues to be dealt with” or a “lessons-learned” format, depending on whether the program has been completed, and must be submitted on CD-ROM with the application.

There is no registration cost and all travel, food and lodging expenses are paid. However, only 35 individuals will be selected to attend. Previous attendees of the NIJ Rural Law Enforcement Technology Institute or the NIJ Technology Institutes for Law Enforcement or Corrections are not eligible to attend.

For a copy of the application form go to:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/training/rural-institute.htm

The deadline for submitting an application is February 1, 2010. Applications not received by that date and/or applications submitted without a CD-ROM containing the PowerPoint presentation will not be considered. The application and PowerPoint CD-ROM should be mailed to the following address:


Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center
ATTN: Rural LE Tech Institute
101 Bulldog Lane
Hazard, KY 41701
For additional information, please contact Scott Barker, Deputy Director-Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center, at (866) 787-2553 or e-mail ruletc1@aol.com.

Part Badge, Part Tights: All Hero

On November 5, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with former Ellis County Sheriff’s Department deputy sheriff Dr. Brian A. Kinnaird.

Program Date: November 5, 2009
Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific
Topic: Part Badge, Part Tights: All Hero
Listen Live:
www.americanheroesradio.com/part_badge_part_tights_all_hero.html

About the Guest
Brian A. Kinnaird “is an internationally recognized scholar, author, and trainer in the fields of criminal justice and social psychology. As a commissioned law enforcement officer, Dr. Kinnaird served as Deputy Sheriff in Ellis County, KS where he held assignments in field training, use of force instruction, and tactical team operations. Following almost a decade of police duty, Kinnaird went on to serve as a tenured professor, director, and department chair of Justice Studies at Fort Hays State University (KS). In 2007, Dr. Brian A. Kinnaird returned to his hometown of Salina, KS where he has released his third book. He continues to teach university courses and train law enforcement officers & agencies.

Dr. Kinnaird earned his Ph.D. in human services/criminal justice from Capella University (Minneapolis, MN) preceded by a B.A. in sociology and M.L.S. in criminal justice from Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS). Kinnaird is published in a wide variety of outlets including peer-reviewed journals, books, book chapters, trade publications, reviews, and columns. He is a Policy Fellow with the Docking Institute of Public Affairs and has had policy work featured as best practices by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.”

Brian A. Kinnaird is the author of Use of Force: Expert Guidance for Decisive Force Response; Exploring Police Liability Profiles: Proximate Cause Analysis of Police Misconduct in the San Francisco, CA Police Department; and, Part Badge. Part Tights. All Hero.

According to the book description of Part Badge. Part Tights. All Hero, “Metropolis and Gotham City have always had watchful guardians. Comic book civilizations are full of them—extraordinary people who choose to share their authentic gifts to help others. Superheroes, as pop culture symbols of justice, have long been known in our law enforcement community to be a source of inspiration and moral guidance for a life served to protect. From Superman and The Lone Ranger to our men and women in blue, Brian Kinnaird examines the spirit of heroism and the human instinct to seek order and meaning in a dangerous world where today’s superheroes wear a badge and gun.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hole, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Police Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
www.americanheroesradio.com/part_badge_part_tights_all_hero.html

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Can you predict lethal intimate partner violence?

November 12, 2009
3 pm - 5 pm (Eastern Time)

Of all women murdered in the United States, 40-50 percent are murdered by their intimate partners and 45 percent are murdered when they are trying to leave an abusive partner. Women threatened with a gun are 20 times more likely to be murdered.

Approximately 1.3 million women are physically assaulted by an intimate partner per year in the United States.

Practitioners and researchers have built strong partnerships to understand and prevent intimate partner violence. In this expert chat you will learn about the Danger Assessment (DA) and how this tool is changing the way police in Baltimore, Maryland, are addressing domestic violence. What Baltimore is doing may help your jurisdiction.

Panelists include:

Andy Klein, Ph.D. - Moderator, Senior Research Analyst with Advocates for Human Potential, Inc.
Marci Van De Mark, LCSW-C - Assistant Director, Adult & Community Services Division, Baltimore County Department of Social Services
Jacquelyn Campbell, Ph.D., RN - Researcher; Anna D. Wolf Chair & Professor, Department of Community Public Health at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
Rene Renick, MA, LPC, EMBA - Director of Programs and Operations, National Network to End Domestic Violence
Register today!
http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/spotlight.html?id=2407

Free Forensic Biological Screening Workshops for Crime Scene Investigators in Training

Description: This event is for crime scene investigators in training, or with less than one year of experience. Candidates with more experience may be selected on a case‐by‐case basis and as space allows. This National Institute of Justice workshop will be held at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) in Largo, FL (Tampa Bay area) in January, February and March. Deadlines are coming up, so please register in advance.

Biological Screening Workshop attendees will learn:

Screening techniques for blood and semen
Use of alternative light source for locating biological stains
Evidence collection, documentation, and case processing skills
The workshop curriculum includes a written and a practical assessment, see the attached draft agenda. Travel arrangements and hotel accommodations are included and participants will be reimbursed at the standard government per diem for the duration of the workshop.

For more information and to register, visit www.nfstc.org/meetings.

Title: Essentials of Crime Scene Investigation Training Announcement

Description:
In partnership with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) is pleased to announce that Essentials of Crime Scene Investigation training will be provided at no-cost to eligible applicants under Cooperative Agreement Award (#2008-DN-BX-K201).

This training program is designed to introduce law enforcement personnel to the fundamental principles of crime scene investigation, including techniques used to recover a variety of high value items of evidence. The 40 hour course includes 16 hours of prerequisite online theoretical course work and 24 hours of hands‐on instructor led practical activities conducted at the NFSTC in Largo, FL. Participants will be required to complete online course work, assignments, and assessments prior to attending the onsite practical instruction.

Who should attend?

Newly-assigned crime scene investigators
CSI examiners with less than 3 years experience who have not attended a formal crime scene training course
Law enforcement first responders
Applications are being accepted for the following training sessions: Session Off-site Online Prerequisite Course Work
and Assessment Completion On-site Practical Instruction (Largo, FL)
1 Opens: 1/6/10 Closes: 1/15/10 January 20-22, 2010 (W, Th, F)
2 Opens: 1/6/10 Closes: 1/15/10 January 25-27, 2010 (M, T, W)
3 Opens: 2/3/10 Closes: 2/12/10 February 17-19, 2010 (W, Th, F)
4 Opens: 2/3/10 Closes: 2/12/10 February 22-24, 2010 (M, T, W)


Application Process

Applications will be accepted through Sunday, November 29, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.

Complete and submit application online by following the steps listed below:


Navigate to the NFSTC Event Portal (http://www.nfstc.org/meetings)
If this is the first time using the NFSTC Event Portal, click on the Create New Account link and complete requested information to establish a user account.
Existing users login to the NFSTC Event Portal using assigned Username and Password
Locate the Essentials of Crime Scene Investigation Training Application event listed under Event Name and click on the Register button.
Enter “CSI” (case sensitive) in the Enter Your Invitation Code field.
Complete the Application for Essentials of Crime Scene Investigation Training Program in its entirety.
Only fully completed applications will be eligible for selection consideration
Click on the Submit button to complete the application process.
Application information may be edited at any time up to November 29, 2009, 11:59 PM EST by logging into the NFSTC Event Portal and clicking on the Edit My Details link displayed next to the Essentials of Crime Scene Investigation Training Application event.

Questions related to the application process should be directed to:


Diane Gruenloh National Forensic Science Technology Center
Training Program Support Associate
Diane.Gruenloh@nfstc.org
727-549-6067, Ext: 155

Expenses

Training program participants will be provided travel, lodging, per diem and transportation to/from hotel and NFSTC training facility with the following requirements/restrictions:


- Training participants who live within 50 miles of the NFSTC training facility are not eligible for lodging accommodation reimbursement; roundtrip daily mileage from home to the NFSTC will be reimbursed
- Travel mileage reimbursement for driving in lieu of flying must be approved and will be based upon cost of a matching flight itinerary obtained through the NFSTC travel agency; meal per diem is based on the flight itinerary as well
- Only one roundtrip (home to airport/airport to home) will be reimbursed per training session; original receipts required
- Only one roundtrip airport to hotel shuttle service will be reimbursed per training session; original receipts required
- Maximum reimbursement for excess luggage is $40 regardless of number of luggage items
- Maximum reimbursement for excess luggage weight is $25 regardless of number of luggage items
- Travel-related tipping maximum is 10% of the bill/receipt
- Luggage handling and housekeeping/hotel gratuities are not reimbursable
- Reimbursement for those who do not attend the entire training session will be adjusted accordingly
Applicants will be notified of their selection status no later than December 2, 2009.