Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Locking Up H1N1: CDC and Criminal Justice Join Forces

Dec. 9, 2009, Live Satellite/Internet Broadcast
Event Flyer

Description:
Lately, when you read the paper, watch television or listen to the radio, you hear something about H1N1: The president declares a state of emergency regarding H1N1. The World Health Organization declares a pandemic. Schools close because students and faculty are sick. People line up for immunizations, but not enough are available.

If you run a correctional facility, you can’t close and you can’t send inmates home. How do you deal with H1N1? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and criminal justice agencies have joined forces to provide some practical strategies for prevention and control. On December 9, 2009, the National Institute of Corrections will host a live three-hour satellite/Internet broadcast to provide an overview of opportunities that can help your organization cope with the flu. Participants will be able to:

• Define the current status of the H1N1 pandemic, including perspectives on its effect on criminal justice issues.
• Outline a rational plan for H1N1 prevention and control strategies, including how to plan for a pandemic and how to plan for the seasonal flu.
• Describe methods for ensuring that staff and inmates receive timely and accurate information about H1N1.
• Identify and access information resources on H1N1.
Registration is free and all agencies that register will be accepted. Participants will be able to call in questions using the toll-free telephone number shown during the broadcast. The broadcast is closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Register online at www.nicic.gov/Broadcasts
The deadline for registration is December 8, 2009.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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

Monday, November 16, 2009

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

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

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

Sunday, November 01, 2009

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.