Thursday, April 30, 2009

Semper Fi

Note: The following excerpt is from Sergeant Greg Doyle's new book on faith due for release on June 20, 2009, called The Stinging Salve. Greg is a 28-year veteran with the Upland Police Department, Upland, California.

The Marine Corps Model

As a formerly trained Army bullet-catcher (Company B, 2nd Battalion, 60th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division), I can honestly say I do still profess to be a soldier, after thirty years since my honorable discharge from the service. First and foremost, I am a soldier in Christ in the midst of a spiritual war being waged by an evil Enemy here on Earth. In my capacity as a police sergeant, I am a soldier of my trade dealing with battles on the streets with violent lawbreakers and criminals. At home, I am an old soldier at my post, guarding and protecting my family to the best of my abilities.

But the truth remains, because I never had the opportunity to serve my country in a war zone, I am a American veteran, but not a combat veteran. I have a deep and abiding respect for any man or woman who wore or still wears an American military uniform, especially those who have served in combat zones, and particularly those who came under fire in combat zones. Who cannot be moved at the assembly of U.S. war veterans at a military memorial service? Who can fully recognize and understand the burden of freedom they shouldered for the rest of us by stepping into harm’s way?

I mention the United States military and my former affiliation to illustrate a principle that most folks would recognize, but rarely discuss openly. For the purpose of discussion, I will call this particular concept The Marine Corps Model. It has a direct application to faith and helps to explain, in part, why Christianity is what it appears to be.

I have a great affection for the Marine Corps, though I have never served in that uniform. While all of the military branches have some form of basic training, the ground-fighting branches (namely the Army and the Marines) have the most rigorous and intensive physical training standards among the five branches of service. I have never witnessed a former American Army soldier stand up in a crowded movie theater and salute when the Army theme song, “The Caissons Go Rolling Along,” was being played as part of any particular movie. But I swear I have been privy to observe old marines leap to their feet at the first few bars of “The Halls of Montezuma,” throw a salute, and suffer cat-calls and ridicule through the entire song (especially from movie-goers who were seated directly behind them).

The principle is quite simple: once a marine, ALWAYS a marine. Semper Fi (short for Semper Fidelis) in Latin means always faithful. And to what or whom are marines always faithful? To the Marine Corps and the country they serve. The spirit of camaraderie and of belonging to the best of the best (from the marine outlook) is what makes the Marine Corps one of the most respected and fearless fighting forces on the face of the planet; ever.

As one might rightly guess, not everyone who enlists in the U.S. Armed Forces completes the training or earns the right and privilege to wear the uniform. Fewer still make it through Marine Corps training to call themselves marines. Of course, there are those in non-military circles who don fatigue shirts or camouflage pants or combat boots, but no one in their right mind would mistake them for military personnel, let alone real marines.

That is the point I wish to present to you concerning Christianity. While there are many detractors these days concerning the issue of whether or not God exists (while they are generally very loud, rude, and obnoxious about their opinions) they are NOT among the
majority who have some inkling there must be a higher power. Those unbelieving detractors disqualify themselves from membership in the family of God because they refuse to enlist and participate in the exercise of faith.

Then there are those who believe there must be something out there (spiritually speaking) but are unwilling to make a commitment as to what that something might be. Perhaps they pray to that something on occasion, but in reality, it is more out of habit (as a superstition) than a real exercise of faith (much like wearing a military insignia, having never been in the service.) Spiritual bench-warmers never get picked to play on either team. Much like a vehicle transmission, which is perpetually stuck in neutral, non-committal types never get in gear to go anywhere with their faith.

Christianity draws some of its greatest criticism from those who have other belief systems. If, as he has declared, Jesus is the only way to God, then where does that leave everyone who does not believe in Jesus? Again, I refer to The Marine Corps Model.

You can bomb an objective on the ground from an airplane with precision accuracy and inflict casualties. You can bombard an enemy’s defenses and weaken them with the biggest artillery shells (known to mankind) from a ship offshore. You can even drop paratroopers in hundreds of sticks from the sky into enemy-controlled territory to disrupt communication and delay reinforcements. But you will never establish a viable supply line to make any serious gains into enemy-held territory until you establish a beachhead. And if you want a breakthrough in the first line of the enemy-held defenses (to hold and secure that beachhead), you send in the Marines. A well-trained Marine regiment is a force to be feared and reckoned with.

By comparison, mankind has been held in enemy-controlled territory since Adam and Eve fell from grace and sinned in the Garden of Eden. And, in this spiritual war between the forces of Heaven (God) and the forces of Earth (Satan), God has selectively bombed His objectives from the skies (through His Word), and God has bombarded Satan’s strongholds using some pretty big guns (the Law of Moses.) God has dropped messengers (the Prophets) behind the lines to disrupt communications between the Enemy (Satan) and those trapped by the occupation (us.)

But when God needed to establish a beachhead He sent the best; He sent the toughest; He sent the most respected; He sent the fearless; He sent the force to be reckoned with; God sent Jesus. Unlike the Marine Corps motto, Jesus is more than a slogan. Jesus is Semper Fidelis incarnate. Jesus is the I AM! Faithful to the Father and to the mission God assigned to him, Jesus stormed the beach to rescue you and me from sin’s captivity.

Because of the spiritual beachhead, the breach in the Enemy’s defenses on Earth was established and held secure through Jesus’ death on a cross and by his divine resurrection from the tomb in victory over Death. If you are content to remain a captive, then believe what you will. But Christians stand and sing our tributes to Jesus because he is our liberator. We love Jesus to the core!

Oo-rah! Jesus! Oo-rah!

(excerpt from The Stinging Salve, by The Gadfly, (2009) Publish America, Baltimore Maryland, pp 25-29, reprinted by permission.)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Crash Scene Technologies Training

NLECTC-Rocky Mountain will once again offer sessions of "Crash Scene Technologies," a free week-long course that mixes classroom presentations with hands-on exercises and is designed for experienced crash scene investigators dealing with major accidents. It presents a broad spectrum of technologies without promoting specific products and covers three basic areas:

Mapping technology, including tools that capture data on the scene, and computer-aided drafting or mapping software that diagrams the scene; Black box technology, including a field trip to a salvage yard to extract data from a black box onboard a wrecked vehicle; Depending on the manufacturer, the black box yields such information as how many people were in the car, how fast it was going on impact and whether or not the seatbelts were buckled; and, Reconstruction management and calculation software that performs the calculations and analysis of field data.

Sessions are being offered at:

Lakewood (Colo.) Police Department May 11-14;
Las Cruces (N.M.) Police Department, June 15-18;
Topeka (Kan.) Police Department, August 3-6.

For more information, contact Mandy Jones at NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, (800) 416-8086, or Mandy.Jones@du.edu

What I learned in the first hundred days

1. Piracy is not a career choice.
2. Too big to fail means you already have.
3. While smoking may be dangerous to your health, it certainly is to your wallet.
4. Rich and powerful people tend to avoid paying their taxes.
5. The California legislature is unfamiliar with the Rico Statutes.
6. US Senators would rather switch than fight.
7. Iraqis are going to need to learn to speak Persian.
8. Large private firms sometimes financially reward greed; large previously private firms owned by the government financially reward incompetence.
9. Saving money is good for me and bad for you.
10. My public speaking class in college should have included a portion on teleprompters.

The editor is the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style, www.pokerleadership.com

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

John Petropoulos Memorial Fund seeks to raise awareness and prevent injuries to emergency service personnel

April 28, 2009 - In honor of National Police Week (May 10 - 16, 2009) the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) brings its message of the importance of workplace safety for police, fire, and EMS workers to the American public. The JPMF raises awareness about building and traffic safety issues through public service announcements, educational initiatives and community partnerships.

The JPMF was set-up after Constable John Petropoulos of the Calgary Police Service passed away in the line of duty while investigating a break & enter complaint at a warehouse on Sept. 29, 2000. He died from brain injuries sustained after falling through a false ceiling, as there was no safety railing to warn him of the danger. The Memorial Fund raises public awareness that workplace safety for police, fire and EMS workers is a shared responsibility, and delivers the message that when communities work together, many risks to these workers can be minimized.

"Police are out there every day, paying the ultimate price and dealing with the worst that society has to offer," says Maryanne Pope - Constable Petropoulos' widow, and spokesperson for the Fund. "At this time of year, we ask everyone to pay their respects to police officers in the U.S. and elsewhere for their commitment to keeping the world a safe and better place."

Pope's recently released book, A WIDOW'S AWAKENING, recounts her experience in coming to terms with John's death. Twenty-percent of the proceeds from the book (available through www.jpmf.ca and through Amazon) go to the JPMF. "I share my story because it sheds light on the immense personal loss associated with the on-duty death of a police officer."

"As emergency workers," says Staff Sergeant Darren Leggatt of the Calgary Police Service, "we are tasked with protecting our community in environments that are never predictable, always volatile, and often beyond our control. John's death and Maryanne's life bring to the forefront the issue of workplace safety." Leggatt was working with Petropoulos the night he died.

As National Police Week underscores the importance of the work being done by members of America's law-enforcement community, the JPMF's message could not come at a better time. The recent shooting deaths of four police officers in Oakland, and three police officers in Pittsburgh, reinforces the ultimate sacrifice officers make in protecting the public.

For more information on the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, including information about partnerships and educational opportunities, visit www.jpmf.ca.

About the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund
Constable John Petropoulos, a police officer with the Calgary Police Service in Canada, passed away on September 29, 2000 at the age of 32. John passed away in the line of duty while investigating a break & enter complaint. He died from brain injuries sustained after falling through a false ceiling, as there was no safety railing to warn him of the danger.

After his death, several of John's recruit classmates set up the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF) and raised monies through the sale of memorial pins to fellow officers. Subsequent pin sales, grants and ongoing donations continue to sustain the Fund.
The JPMF creates partnerships which strive to eliminate preventable workplace fatalities and injuries to emergency services personnel. In the spirit of John's dedication to helping make his community a safer place, the JPMF promotes the message to the public that workplace safety for emergency services workers is a shared responsibility. When communities work together, many risks to these workers can be minimized. Go to www.jpmf.ca for more information.

About Maryanne Pope
Maryanne was married to Const. John Petropoulos and is the Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund, an organization committed to educating the public that workplace safety for emergency services personnel is a shared responsibility. She is the author of the creative non-fiction book, A WIDOW'S AWAKENING. She is also an award-winning playwright and filmmaker, as well as an environmental educator and motivational speaker. Maryanne is the founder & CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions Inc. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Go to www.pinkgazelle.com for more info.

About A WIDOW'S AWAKENING
Eight years in the making, this extraordinary and true story of soul mates, saints, saviors, suicide and safety in the workplace charts a young woman's emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual journey through the first year of grief after the on-duty death of her husband, a police officer. A WIDOW'S AWAKENING is a heart-wrenching, humorous and honest portrayal of the excruciating process of accepting the unacceptable. Twenty-percent of the book proceeds go to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. "This compelling account of personal tragedy and its aftermath is told with brutal honesty and a sense of humor uniquely her own. The dangers and consequences of policing, its effect on family, friends and comrades, as well as the author's determination to improve workplace safety in memory of her husband, results in a fascinating and thought provoking book." - Chief Rick Hanson, Calgary Police Service

Media Contact:
Tracy Stewart, Publicist
Ph: 647-262-0173
Email: tracy.stewart@pulpinc.ca
www.pulpinc.ca

Sunday, April 26, 2009

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

13TH NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ADULT & JUVENILE FEMALE OFFENDERS OCTOBER 10 – 14, 2009 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

We are actively soliciting workshop proposals for the 13th National Workshop on Adult & Juvenile Female Offenders to be held in Jackson, Mississippi from October 10 through 14, 2009. This conference is co-sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Association on Programs for Female Offenders.

All Workshop proposals must be mailed or sent electronically no later than May 31, 2009 to:

Tina Ladner, Chairperson
13th National AJFO Conference
P.O. Box 2934
Jackson, MS 39207-2934
TLadner@mdoc.state.ms.us

Conference Description: This conference will provide a forum for those who work with high-risk girls prior to their entry into the juvenile or criminal justice system. Workshops will also focus on Female Offenders incarcerated in jail, federal prisons, treatment centers, community corrections, and institutions. Our desire is to showcase emerging programs that target prevention, crime reduction, incarceration, and re-entry programs. At this conference participants from across the nation will also be afforded the opportunity to meet one another, exchange ideas, deepen alliances, celebrate successes, analyze failures, and promote promising practices on behalf of women, girls, and communities.

The theme of the conference is “Harmony Beyond Boundaries – Blending new challenges with emerging Ideas”. Your presentation will expand the conference theme by offering participants best practices. We want and need your input: Faith based communities, prevention programs, pre-trial, mentoring programs, educational system, public health, mental health systems, employment programs, human services, medical and dental issues, social services, housing programs, drug treatment services, probation, parole, legal system, domestic violence, shelter settings, parenting programs, diversion programs, reentry, jail, community work programs, Federal , State, Native American facilities, Hispanic population, music & art programs and programs focused on girls and women.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Heroes All Without Question

A website hosting information on two books about working dogs. According to the description of Heroes All Without Question, “192 stories and photos & information about working dogs. Heroic stories connected to each working dog, also mounted patrol horses. Photos, and what life is really like being a partner of these heroes. Every working dog and horse has his/her own story.

Visit the Site
http://www.k9heroesbook.com/

Reader Comments:
“A K9 handler gains a profound respect and admiration for his working dog because during their time together, the handler crosses over into his partners four-legged view of the world. As a result, the dog teaches his master how to communicate with him and to trust his judgment in many situations. When the handler learns to accept the dog's level of intelligence and natural instincts for finding things, protection and survival, the handler enters into a domain of animal and human relationship that forges a bond of loyalty unlike anything ever felt before. When a handler's four-legged partner dies, it is a devastating experience and the emotions run deep. God Bless Louise Krause for writing this book and creating a unique K9 memorial web site (www.k9memorialcards.com) to ensure that these working dogs are honored for who they were in life and memorialized forever when they pass on.”
John C. Burnam, Vietnam Veteran (GSD) Scout Dog Handler, Author of “A Soldier's Best Friend"

"This book is an extraordinary testament not only to the K9 dogs and the K9 officers, but also to the endless devotion of Louise Krause to dedicate a memorial to honor them. It recognizes the officers and their canines in their devoted work to their communities and their nation. It is a one of a kind exceptional book and the fruit of Louise's tireless efforts to that cause. It is a spectacular gift that will become a piece of our history and a recorded document in recognition of the importance of our K9 dogs and their officers in law enforcement. Congratulations to Louise for producing such a tireless and timeless work!"
Jim Cortina, CPWDA, Director, Connecticut Police Work Dog Association, Inc. Waterford, CT

“The author, whom everyone just knows as Lulu, continues to support working dogs everywhere. This book continues from her web page work of documenting grave human conflict that propels a special partner, the police service dog, into the life and death struggle that has this special partner giving their life so the officer can return home to their family. Whether in line of duty death or natural causes, Lulu makes the loss bearable. She is truly the "Guardian Angel of K9". A great book, a must read for any age.”
Russell Hess, Director USPCA,- United States Police Canine Association, PO Box 80, Springboro, Ohio 45066, Ph: 1.800.531.1614

"I grieve for all those that I knew, I grieve for those that I never knew, but I grieve the most for the best partner a Police Officer could ever have. Sirius gave his life so I could save others...." After the tragedy of "9/11/01," I met this wonderful person (online) who showed me that there was a world within ours that truly loved our service dogs and appreciated the work that they did for our nation. This person went on to create the most beautiful "Internet" Memorial to my fallen partner, K9 Sirius #17 PAPD, that many had ever seen. I can never thank her enough for her caring and understanding. I speak for K9 Units around the country when I say that "Lulu Krause has been an inspiration and a God-send to all Police K9 handlers that have had partners that made the ultimate sacrifice." Dave "Out on a" Lim
Officer David W. Lim #1219, (DWLim@aol.com) Port Authority Police Department, 241 Erie St.,
Jersey City, NJ 07310

“The K9 memorial book is, like the web site, (www.k9memorialcards.com) is a great achievement of Louise Krause. She gives the working dogs, all over the world, the honour and respect he/she deserves. The K9-unit of the Rotterdam-Rijnmond Police Department (The Netherlands) wants to congratulate her with the result of years of hard work and dedication to the K9s. Especially in Holland, where the Royal Dutch Police Dog Organization exists for more than 100 years. We know how important the K9 is for Law Enforcement. "They give us loyalty, bring us joy and keep us safe. What more can we wish of them and how much we do owe them...."
Officer Dick van Leenen , K9-Unit, Rotterdam-Rijnmond Police Department, The Netherlands

“Lulu (Louise Krause) has, in this book, exposed and also healed some of the deep wounds which we suffer when we loose a partner. Shadow lived a long and wonderful life. Her death hurt as badly as though I had lost a member of my family (which, indeed she was). This book is long over due as a celebration of the lives and loves we shared with our partners. Regardless of whether we are Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, or Military Handler, our hearts are here with "Those Who Have Gone Before.”
Tom Johnston, Editor - Louisville, KY

Monday, April 20, 2009

Security Officer Injuries and Deaths Study

A two year study of security officer deaths and injuries by the National Association of Private Officers was released on Tuesday, December 16 2008. In the study, the association monitored all on-the-job injuries and deaths of employees who fell within the classification of security officer for twenty four months. The N.A.P.O. a professional organization of private security and law enforcement personnel based in Atlanta Georgia looked at and collected statistical data on loss prevention agents, guards, public safety officers, bouncers, uniform security officers, patrol officers, private police officers, and others who performed security related duties but whose jobs classified them as positions other than security officers. During the study, 169 security officers were confirmed to have died in the line of duty and the N.A.P.O. estimates that actual death totals were in the 220 range or higher.

http://www.police-writers.com/articles/security_officer_injuries_death_study.html

The Virginia COMLINC System: Achieving Communications Interoperability

When an incident occurs it is vital that public safety agencies respond quickly with the proper personnel and equipment. It is essential that the interoperability system be extremely "user friendly" and intuitive. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) provided by the RIGS requires only three "clicks" of the mouse: (1) select the function,(2)select the radios to be patched and (3) confirm. When an emergency occurs, citizens expect their emergency calls to be answered and that emergency be handled in the most expeditious and professional manner possible. The general public does not worry if their emergency occurs in overlapping jurisdictions; they only know that when they call, they want their situation handled properly.

READ ON
http://www.police-technology.net/myfiles/virginiacomlink.pdf

Justice PowerPoints

Hi Tech Criminal Justice has release over 30 PowerPoint presentations that cover a wide variety of criminal justice subjects. The presentations include subjects such as police tactics, public policy, hate crimes, criminal investigations and law enforcement technology. These presentations are available at no cost to law enforcement trainers, criminal justice instructors and students. Simply download and use!

More Information
http://www.hitechcj.com/police-technology-instructor-resources/id42.html

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Personal Protective Equipment

There are many challenges and conflictions when trying to select Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and full body PPE suits. The equipment needs to fit well and stop the bullets in and ever growing society of hostilities directed towards law enforcement officers. With these increasing numbers of personal attacks on the law enforcement community have forced many officers to follow their first intuition to don their PPE body armor prior to working the streets.

READ ON
http://www.police-writers.com/articles/personal_protective_equipment_basics.html

The Path to a Counterterrorism Doctrine

On February 26, 1993, Islamic terrorists detonated a truck bomb in the basement garage of Tower One of the World Trade Center. Within days, master bomber Ramzi Yusuf was hunted as a fugitive and three coconspirators were identified and arrested. This prompt and definitive resolution of a stunning act of terrorism on United States soil seemed to demonstrate that existing authorities and procedures were sufficient to address the “terrorism problem.” But our understanding of the terrorism threat was flawed, and the lessons we took from the attack and subsequent investigation were flawed as well.

Download the Document

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Public Safety Technology in the News

Study: Enforcement Spurs Rise in Web Sex Arrests
Associated Press, (03/30/2009), Anick Jesdaunun

A rise in arrests for sexually soliciting youths online is due to better law enforcement, rather than an increase in the number of offenders, according to a new study. The study, conducted by the University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center, found a fivefold increase in arrests for soliciting undercover investigators who posed as juveniles, rising from 644arrests in 2000 to 3,100 in 2006. Arrests for solicitation of actual children increased 21 percent during the same time period, from 508 arrests in 2000 to 615 in 2006. David Finkelhor, director of the center, said the disparity in the rate of growth indicates that the increase in the number of arrests results from tighter law enforcement rather than an increase in the number of offenders. Otherwise, the rate of growth for the two groups would be more similar. Researchers noted that in recent years solicitations have shifted from chat rooms to online social networking sites, but that youth often ! were actively seeking relationships with people they knew to be adults.
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/financial/f210311D26.DTL&type=business

Report Gives Scope of Cybercrime
Richmond-Times-Dispatch, (04/05/2009), Iris Taylor

Cybercrime robbed consumers of $265 million in 2008, $25 million more than the previous year, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. California logged the most consumer complaints. The center is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Consumers can use the center to report cybercrime. It also provides law enforcement with a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet-related crimes.The increase in complaints means not only that illegal activity has increased, but that consumers are more aware of the center, according to spokesman Craig Butterworth. One-third of the complaints received in 2008 involved nondelivered merchandise or payments. Internet auction fraud accounted for 26 percent of complaints. Other complaints involved computer fraud, check fraud, identify theft and threats.
www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/columnists/article/IRIS05_20090404-180502/249062/

Record Number of Meth Labs Resurface
WSMV Nashville, (03/31/2009), Sara Dorsey

Tennessee police say the methamphetamine problem in the state is on the rise. Meth labs are now smaller, mobile and harder to detect. The state saw a decline in meth lab activity after the legislature passed the Meth-Free Tennessee Act in 2005, which required items containing meth's main ingredients, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine tablets, to be sold behind the counter in pharmacies. Anhydrous ammonia, another key ingredient, became harder to find when farmers began locking up their fertilizer tanks. But in 2008, the state saw the re-emergence of the meth problem, with 815 labs found. Authorities say meth producers began using new ingredients, such as a common household ice pack, to make the drug. Authorities want to close a loophole in the law that requires ephedrine/pseudoephdrine tablets to be sold in pharmacies, but allows gelcaps and liquids to be sold and purchased anywhere.
www.wsmv.com/news/19045733/detail.html

Rochester Draws the Line on Graffiti
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, (03/30/2009), Brian Sharp

Rochester, N.Y., is considering using sensors to detect graffiti and alert police. The sensors can detect the "sound signature" of paint being sprayed and signal police. If approved by the city council, the city plans to buy 20 sensors using a $25,000 federal grant. The sensors are produced by the California-based Broadband Discovery Systems Inc. Michael Neely, the company's vice president, says the sensors will detect spray painting that is taking a bit of time, but won't catch a quick "hit and run" spray paint offender. Watsonville, Calif., has cataloged graffiti and matched vandals' signatures, allowing authorities to combine prior instances and level felony charges. Rochester began assembling a similar database in 2008.
www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090330/NEWS01/903300332/1002/NEWS

Ripon Police Testing Budget Defense Simulators
KXTV Fox40News (03/24/09), Lonnie Wong

Police in Ripon, Calif., are taking part in a test of budget firearm training simulators for the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center. The units being tested cost under $20,000. Small police departments like Ripon, with fewer than 30 officers, could have a hard time justifying buying the more expensive standard simulators. The budget simulators allow officers to look at a six-foot-high screen and practice 400 scenarios that test decision making and shooting skills.
www.fox40.com/pages/landing_local_headlines/?Ripon-Police-Testing-Budget-Defense-Simu=1&blockID=248357&feedID=190

U.S. Warns Truckers on Border
The Wall Street Journal, (03/27/2009), Cam Simpson

U.S. truckers working in Mexico or near the border are being warned to establish special security procedures because of a surge in drug-related violence. The Highway Information Sharing Analysis Center issued an advisory in March. The center is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and run by the Transportation Security Administration. Violence from Mexico's drug activity has spilled over into border states such as Arizona. The advisory said truckers are at risk because they are involved in operations that might interest the drug criminals. The center urged trucking companies to establish special signals and internal reporting procedures, and said drivers should be "extremely conscious of your environment." The Obama administration recently proposed a plan to hinder drug shipments into the U.S. and limit weapons and cash smuggling into Mexico.
online.wsj.com/article/SB123819855556161969.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Text Messaging, Internet, Toll-Free Tip Service Launched by Middletown PD
Mid-Hudson News Network, (04/04/2009)

Middletown, N.Y., has joined the ranks of police departments allowing residents to provide anonymous tips via text message, Internet and a toll-free numbers. The Middletown program also allows police to respond by text message to the originating cell phone without knowing the identity of the tipster, whose information is always given an alias and unique ID number.
www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/April09/04/MtwnPD_text-04Apr09.html

Cold Case Homicide Cards: A Huge Hit Behind Bars
KSEE News, (03/19/2009), Preston Phillips

Valley Crime Stoppers is trying a new, low-tech approach to solving cold homicide cases. Playing cards showing homicide victims in unsolved cases are being sold to inmates at the Fresno County Jail and other correctional facilities in Central Valley area of California. One side of the card shows the victim; the other side has information on who to call if a person has information about the case. Funds for the cold case homicide cards is provided through a grant from the National Institute of Justice, according to crime stoppers.
www.ksee24.com/internal?st=print&id=41477707&path=/news/local

New Eye Scan Technology Installed by Scott County Sheriff's Department
Southeast Missourian, (03/23/2009), Bridget DiCosmo

The Scott County Sheriff's Department is the first law enforcement agency in Missouri to install iris recognition software to identifying missing persons. The technology, which is being used in about 300 agencies in the United States, could eventually replace fingerprinting as a main way of identifying missing or abducted children. The software purchased by Scott County includes two packages, Senior Safety Net and Child Project. Both systems take a photograph of a person's irises and stores the image in a national database. If a senior or child is reported missing, once an individual is found police could made a positive identification in a few seconds.
www.semissourian.com/story/1524246.html

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Smiley Face Killers

“Could a national gang of killers that leaves smiley-face calling cards be getting away with murdering dozens of male college students by making all the deaths look like accidents?” (MSNBC 4/29/08)

On April 10, 2009, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature and interview with Kristi Piehl and Bill Szostak.

In the past 12 years, more than 70 young men have either drowned or gone missing under similar circumstances. These are men with vibrant personalities and bright futures. Despite what you’ve heard, not all the men were intoxicated when they were last seen.

Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Kristi Piehl first exposed the possible connection between the mysterious drowning deaths in 2008 on Good Morning America. Piehl is now working closely with several families of the victims including, Bill Szostak, the father of Josh Szostak.

Program Date: April 10, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Smiley Face Killers
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/04/11/Smiley-Face-Killers

About the Guests
Kristi Piehl broke the Smiley Face Killer story the same week Josh Szostak was buried. Bill Szostak heard Kristi on Good Morning America and contacted her. The two worked independently over the summer. Bill focused on Josh’s case and Kristi followed up on tips and pursued leads on victims and suspects.

Bill and Kristi realized in August that they each held key pieces of a bigger puzzle and began talking everyday and sharing evidence. Several weeks before Christmas 2008, a round of newsroom layoffs ended Kristi’s 12 year career in television news. It gave her an opportunity to work full-time on these drowning cases. Her goal is to expose the evidence and keep the victim’s stories alive.

Bill is a retired
firefighter and licensed fire investigator. His motivation is to give Josh justice and to ensure no other parent will have to watch their son’s body recovered from a river.

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. 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, Law Enforcement 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:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/04/11/Smiley-Face-Killers

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

Friday, April 03, 2009

Recovery Act: Evaluation of Internet Child Safety Materials Used by ICAC Task Forces in School and Community Settings

This grant program is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) (the “Recovery Act”). The stated purposes of the Recovery Act are: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive State and local tax increases.

The Recovery Act places great emphasis on accountability and transparency in the use of taxpayer dollars. Among other things, it creates a new Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board and a new Web site—Recovery.gov—to provide information to the public, including access to detailed information on grants and contracts made with Recovery Act funds.

NIJ seeks to fund an evaluation of internet child safety materials used by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces that receive funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) under the Recovery Act. Specifically, the successful grantee will conduct a multisite evaluation of internet child safety materials used by ICAC task forces in school and community settings to examine the effectiveness of these materials and identify gaps that may exist in this field. The information is needed to help ICAC task forces make informed decisions about the best materials available to meet their missions of promoting public awareness and prevention. The results will be made available to other ICAC task forces to enhance their efforts to address internet crimes against children.

MORE INFORMATION
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000875.pdf

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Mock Prison Riot, May 3-6, 2009

The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center (NCLETTC) annually host a Mock Prison Riot on the grounds of the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville. The purpose of the riot is to showcase emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and to give corrections officers and tactical team members an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios. The next Mock Prison Riot is scheduled for May 3-6, 2009.

The event helps determine the effectiveness of the technologies by placing them in realistic situations and allows for suggestions for modification of the technologies. It also provides corrections personnel from throughout the country significant training on how to best approach and handle a riot situation. Corrections officials from all over the world, including the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Her Majesty's Prison in London, England, have participated in the event.

For additional information regarding the Mock Prison Riot go to mockprisonriot.org/mpr/index.aspx