Michigan Man Found Guilty in Florida of Child Sex Tourism Charges

A former Michigan resident was found guilty by a federal jury today in Miami of child sex tourism charges, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge Alysa D. Erichs of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami office.

Matthew Andrew Carter, aka “William Charles Harcourt” and “Bill Carter,” 67, formerly of Brighton, Mich., was found guilty in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida of five counts of traveling in foreign commerce from the United States to Haiti for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children and one count of attempting to do so.  Carter was charged in a second superseding indictment returned on Jan. 12, 2012.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from 1995 to 2011, Carter resided at and operated the Morning Star Center near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, prior to his arrest on May 8, 2011.  The Morning Star Center was a residential facility that provided shelter, food, clothing and school tuition to Haitian children.  The children who lived at the Morning Star Center were from impoverished families that could not feed them, send them to school or otherwise support their children.  The evidence at trial showed that Carter specifically targeted children in need and preyed on their vulnerability.  Between 1995 and 2011, Carter frequently traveled between the United States and Haiti in order to raise funds from churches and donors for the continued operation of the center.  Carter sexually and physically abused the children in his care and custody at the center during this period of time.  According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carter used force to get these children to comply with his sexual demands and required the children to participate in sexual acts in order to receive food, remain at the center and/or continue to receive school tuition payments.

At trial, 16 Haitian victims who resided at the Morning Star Center between 1995 and 2011 testified.  Additionally, four witnesses testified that they were sexually abused by Carter in London during the 1970s.  Carter previously was charged with and acquitted of charges related to the sexual abuse of children in London, Cairo, Egypt and Winter Haven, Fla.

At sentencing, Carter faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on one count and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each of the other five counts.  Carter is scheduled for sentencing on May 20, 2013, in Miami before U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria K. Medetis of the Southern District of Florida and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Trial Attorney Bonnie L. Kane of the Criminal Division.  The case against Carter was investigated by ICE-HSI in Miami, the ICE-HSI Assistant Attaché’s Office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and the ICE-HSI Santo Domingo Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit.  Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Secret Service Miami field office; the Haitian National Police Brigade for the Protection of Minors; Haitian Social Services; the Ministry of the Interior for Haiti; the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Regional Security Office for the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; the London Metropolitan Police Service; the FBI’s Washington, Boston and Miami field offices; and the ICE-HSI Attaché’s Offices in London and Cairo.

Springfield Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Ammunition

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing ammunition.

Tony L. Friend, 45, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 to four years and nine months in federal prison without parole.

On Sept. 12, 2012 Friend pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition. Law enforcement officers, who identified Friend during an investigation into the deaths of Russell and Rebecca Porter of Willard, Mo., seized three shotgun shells when they executed a search warrant at Friend's residence on May 23, 2012.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Friend has prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon and domestic assault.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Nine Current or Former Roxbury Correctional Officers Charged in Connection with Two Assaults on an Inmate

Two separate indictments charging a total of nine current or former officers at Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI) were unsealed today, in relation to two assaults of an inmate, and subsequent obstruction of justice, announced Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

 

In the first indictment, four current or former RCI officers face federal charges in connection with an assault on K.D., an inmate, during the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. (midnight) shift on March 8-9, 2008.   Former RCI Correctional Officers James Kalbflesh and Jeremy McCusker face civil rights and conspiracy charges for their roles in the midnight shift assault on K.D.  

           

In addition, Kalbflesh, McCusker, RCI Correctional Officer Walter Steele and RCI Lieutenant Jason Weicht face conspiracy charges for their efforts to cover up information related to the midnight shift assault on K.D.   RCI Lieutenant Weicht also faces an obstruction of justice charge for encouraging officers to get together to get their stories straight, providing home telephone numbers for the involved officers so that they could arrange for a cover-up meeting, and giving an officer books on interrogation techniques so that he would be prepared to mislead investigators.   Finally, RCI Officer Steele faces two more counts for providing false and misleading information to state and federal authorities.

 

McCusker faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.   Kalbflesh and Weicht face a maximum of 25 years in prison.   Steele faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison.

 

In the second indictment, five current or former RCI officers are charged.   RCI Lieutenant Edwin Stigile and former Correctional Officers Tyson Hinckle, Reginald Martin, and Michael Morgan were charged with conspiring to have officers assault K.D. during the 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (daylight) shift on March 9, 2008.   RCI Sergeant Josh Hummer and former Correctional Officers Hinckle, Martin, and Morgan also were charged with a civil rights violation for the daylight assault on K.D.   The indictment alleges that RCI officers kicked and punched inmate K.D. inside his cell in order to punish K.D. for a prior incident involving another officer.   K.D. had to be transported to a local hospital following this beating.  

 

All of the defendants in the second indictment are charged with conspiring to obstruct the investigation into assault.   In addition, the indictment alleges that Lieutenant Stigile obstructed justice when he used a magnetic device to destroy and alter surveillance tapes related to the assault on inmate K.D.   Sergeant Hummer also faces two obstruction of justice counts for making false and misleading statements to state and administrative authorities.

 

Lieutenant Stigile faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.   Sergeant Hummer faces a maximum of 55 years in prison.   Hinckle, Morgan, and Martin each face a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years.

 

These cases, which are ongoing, are being investigated by the Frederick Resident Agency of the FBI, and are being prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Forrest Christian and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.  

 

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Weather Forecaster Supports Counterdrug Ops

By Air Force Senior Airman Natasha Stannard
52nd Fighter Wing

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany, Feb. 26, 2013 – He didn't know where it was to or what it was for, and he’d been on station here for only two months, but when Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrian Jackson heard about a short-notice tasking to deploy, he volunteered immediately.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrian Jackson rides in an Army helicopter during his deployment to Apiay Air Base, Colombia. Jackson is a member of the 52nd Fighter Wing weather flight at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. He volunteered to deploy and is supporting U.S. soldiers as they work with Colombian forces to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance missions against terrorism and drugs. Courtesy photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"Because he was new to base, he was ineligible to deploy for six months; however he wanted to go, so he worked to make it happen," said his supervisor, Air Force 1st Lt. Richelle Greer, 52nd Fighter Wing weather officer. With his supervisor's approval, Jackson got a waiver to deploy.

Jackson found out he was going to Apiay Air Base, Colombia, to support the Colombian air force with the U.S. Army's 204th Military Intelligence Battalion as a weather operator. The battalion works with Colombian forces to conduct counterdrug operations.

To prepare, he had to act fast. Greer said Jackson worked seven days a week and completed computer-based training while on leave to get all pre-deployment tasks completed in time.

Jackson now is deep in the Colombian countryside where little to no English is spoken, supporting the 204th MIB by providing up-to-the-minute weather data, forecasts and analysis so the battalion can conduct reconnaissance and surveillance operations successfully.

Greer, who previously had deployed to Apiay Air Base, said she thought Jackson was a good candidate for the job. She described him as a very competent noncommissioned officer and a detailed weather forecaster, which she said is important in any weather shop, but especially in a two-person shop.

"Forecasting the weather in Colombia is a challenge for many reasons," Jackson said. The weather that includes severe thunderstorms, cyclones, unpredictable winds and extreme temperatures, he explained.

"The mountainous terrain, radar coverage, language barriers, different combat operations and hostile ground forces only add to the challenges,” he said. “Weather forecasters here must use all of their training to provide sound, proficient support to accomplish the mission."

Because the weather changes so frequently and affects the mission so heavily, the shop is always on-call. This means that one of the two forecasters must always be on the base, Jackson said. When they do go off base, they must be accompanied by Army counterintelligence officers and must be in an up-armored vehicle, because the mission poses a threat to narcoterrorist groups in the area, he added.

"If he is called to forecast for a mission and finds there is going to be a thunderstorm, the mission is most likely a no-go, so the weather dictates the mission for the most part," Greer said. "You have to have a reliable forecaster to know if it's safe to do the mission. For him to be able to adjust his knowledge and portray his expertise is testament to his abilities.

"You can send him anywhere in the world, and he'll do great things," she said.

Local Guardsman becomes Niagara Falls Police Lieutenant

by Tech Sgt. Brandy Fowler
107th Airlift Wing

2/22/2013 - Niagara Falls, N.Y. -- Family friends and even Members of the area's block club gathered at the city hall along with members of the Niagara Falls Police Department (NFPD) to promote one of our 107th security force troops. Ronnie Cirrito was promoted to grade of lieutenant today. He has been with the department since 1990. "Ron is very professional and constantly displays supervisory and leadership skills", said Brian Dalporto, Superintendent, NFPD. "He is working in the community every single day to keep people safe. Road patrol officers are the backbone of our police force and we are happy to promote him."

With this promotion comes greater responsibility for Lieutenant Cirrito, but he's ready for the challenge. "It's always good to keep moving forward and to know that my hard work is paying off", said Cirrito. "It's another step in the career ladder and I am eager to help out younger officers to move toward this point in their career also."

Ronnie is known as Master Sgt Cirrito for the 107th Airlift Wing's Security Forces Squadron at Niagara Falls Air Force Base. He has been serving the state of New York and his country for more than 28 years. "Ron possesses skills and character traits that cross over from his military experience", said Niagara Falls Mayor, Paul Dyster. "His military training is so valuable to our force and we couldn't ask for more. He is truly dedicated to the city."

Member of Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Sentenced to 55 Months in Prison

Louis Fazzini was sentenced today to serve 55 months in prison for his participation in a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and theft from an employee benefit plan, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and John Brosnan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division.

Fazzini, 46, of Caldwell, N.J., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  In addition to his prison term, Fazzini was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

On Oct. 5, 2012, Fazzini pleaded guilty to conspiring to conduct and participate in the affairs of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family through a pattern of racketeering activity.  At the time of the plea colloquy, he admitted that, as a “made” member of the North Jersey crew of the Philadelphia LCN Family, he operated a sports bookmaking business and devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain health benefits through a “no show” job controlled by the LCN in furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy.  As a “no show” employee, Fazzini performed no work or productive services, while still receiving health benefits.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration.  Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.

Evidence and Document Modules Added To Equipment and Inventory Manager For Law Enforcement

February 21, 2013/Redmond, Washington/ Dynamic Systems, Inc., a leader in data collection applications has announced 2 new modules for The Checkmate Law Enforcement Equipment & Inventory Manger. This solution can be used by public safety agencies such as Sheriffs, SWAT, Police, FBI, CIA, and Corrections. 

About Dynamic Systems (DSI) 

For over 30 years DSI has been providing reliable and innovative systems that enable departments to work safely and efficiently. The Evidence and Document Tracking have been added to the Checkmate suite of barcode tracking solutions that include Inventory, Equipment Tracking, Fixed Assets, Document Tracking, and ID Badge Printer Systems. Bar code data collection has been proven to be the most accurate and efficient method of tracking or counting items.

Checkmate Evidence Module Improves Productivity

DSI Checkmate Evidence module provides Law Enforcement Agencies a better way to track chain of custody, decrease time to process evidence and make it easy to produce case documents and evidence for prosecuting attorneys. The program also tracks destruction of evidence, how it was disposed of and who was involved. The system will easily interface with existing RMS and other Programs and assures the integrity and status of items in the Property Room. The system can use color coded labels in the Evidence Room to distinguish categories of evidence.

Checkmate Document Tracking

DSI Document Tracking will allow agencies to quickly know what paper work and documents have been checked out to courts and labs, what eviction notices have been served, accident reports, and where civil papers are. The system saves time, makes it easier for prosecuting attorneys to find case files and allows officers to get back to serving the community.  The Checkmate system is flexible and can be customized to for any agency’s requirements.  

“It’s affordable for almost all agencies, even those with just a few employees,” stated Bill Allen, Process Control Consultant.

Contact:  Rob Freeman, V.P. Business Development

800-342-3999; robf@dsisales.com

Two National Institute of Justice-Funded Firearms Studies Released

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), has made the following reports available:

• New Approaches to Understanding and Regulating Primary and Secondary Illegal Firearms (pdf, 177 pages). https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/241021.pdf. Modified abstract: This report confirms previous study results demonstrating the usefulness of trace data in policing illicit firearms. Jurisdictions with gun regulations appear to recover fewer illicitly distributed weapons compared to jurisdictions without regulations. The authors present conclusions suggesting more regulation will reduce the availability and distribution of illicit firearms.
• Strategies for Disrupting Illegal Firearms Markets: A Case Study of Los Angeles (pdf, 92 pages) https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/241135.pdf. Modified Abstract: In 2001, RAND initiated a research and program development effort to understand the nature of illegal gun markets operating in Los Angeles. The primary goal of this project was to determine whether a data-driven, problem-solving approach could yield new interventions aimed at disrupting the workings of local, illegal gun markets serving criminals, gang members and juveniles. The authors created a new software tool to help law enforcement analyze patterns in crime-gun data, and identify and trace illicit pathways by which criminals acquire guns. The findings were incorporated into an interagency working group process that developed a community-based intervention designed to disrupt the illegal flow of guns to Los Angeles-area criminals; this intervention may had an impact on straw purchasing. The authors also assessed the utility of retail ammunition purchase records in identifying prohibited firearm possessors, recommending a cost-benefit analysis on this measure.

These reports are the results of NIJ-funded projects but were not published by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cadet's research aims to bust spice users

by Don Branum
Air Force Academy Public Affairs

2/20/2013 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- A senior cadet's summer research, which earned her recognition from Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Mark Maybury at an awards ceremony Feb. 1, will help catch users of spice and similar products several weeks after they've ingested the substance.

Cadet 1st Class Alexa Gingras, working with two doctors at the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, improved the sensitivity of the Air Force's drug tests four-fold and devised a method of preparing urine samples that drastically shortened the sample preparation time.

"Her work is important for a couple of reasons," Maybury said. "She had a good understanding of not only the basic science that was happening and the practical methods, but she also had a very insightful perspective on how she could improve existing practices. That's what's really extraordinary."

THE RESEARCHER

Gingras, the daughter of Academy graduates Jeffrey and Tina Gingras, almost didn't attend the Academy.

"I actually wasn't planning on applying here, but my mom, two days before the application was due, said, 'Oh, you should put in an application,'" she said. "I came and visited once I got my acceptance, and I really liked it. I've always wanted to go to medical school, and this was a great opportunity to do that."

Her senior cadet summer research program project originally involved biofuel research at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., but budget cuts meant the Academy could no longer send her there on temporary duty. So her research adviser, who had connections to the Air Force Drug Testing Lab, arranged for Gingras to spend her three weeks in San Antonio.

"It was kind of funny: They didn't know exactly what to do with me at first, so it was kind of a scramble ... to figure out what I would be doing," she said.

She teamed up with two researchers, Drs. Dennis Lovett and Enrique Yanes, who were conducting research on how to improve the sensitivity of drug tests for synthetic cannabinoids, which include substances like spice and K2. The Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 made possession of these substances illegal, though commanders had acted as early as 2010 to place spice off-limits to Airmen.

THE RESEARCH

Their research included a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, which is a standard method for testing samples, Gingras said. Liquid chromatography forces a solution containing an unknown substance through a horizontal column. Different substances of interest, known as analytes, filter through the column at different speeds.

Next, the solution is nebulized into a mist and passed into the mass spectrometer, which separates chemicals based on their mass-to-charge ratio.

"Based on the time it takes to get through the column and then to the detector, you can figure out what the substance is," Gingras said. "At that point, they have a limit of quantitation, and for legal purposes, that's the limit at which the test can pop positive."

The existing limit of quantitation, or LOQ, at the time was 4 nanograms per milliliter of urine, or enough to indicate a positive result within one or two weeks of spice use, Gingras said.

After spending most of a week reading through existing research, Gingras decided to see how adding ammonium bicarbonate -- which is sometimes used instead of baking powder in cooking recipes -- to the testing process. She tested two methods: In the first, she introduced ammonium bicarbonate to the liquid chromatography process. In the second, she added the ammonium bicarbonate to the test just before the solution was nebulized so that the two substances would be nebulized together. The first method increased the test's sensitivity by up to 138 percent. The second method, however, increased the sensitivity by as much as 442 percent.

Next, she tested how the rate of ammonium bicarbonate injection would affect the test results.

"I tested from 0 to 30 milliliters per minute at 5-milliliter-per-minute increments," she explained. "I found there's a significant peak at 20."

After these changes, the test can now produce a LOQ of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter of urine, Gingras said.

"This is just guesstimation, but we determined that increased our window of detection from one to two weeks to six to eight weeks, which is so significant," she said.

Gingras wasn't done. The scientists also brought her up to speed on the process of preparing samples.

"A lot of people think you take this urine and just put it in a melting pot and add some chemicals, and if it turns green, it's popped positive," she joked. "But it's a really complicated process to prepare the urine for testing. You're trying to remove all the other stuff that might interfere with testing."

At the time, the process took three to five hours -- "and that's with someone who's been doing it for five or six years, doing it as fast as they can," she said.

She and the researchers looked at an extraction method called salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction, which uses organic and water-based solutions to pull analytes out of the urine.

"Once I got good at pipetting, that took me 10 minutes," she said.

DOWN THE ROAD

Gingras hasn't slowed down. Her capstone research project involves using fluorescent proteins as sensors to detect the presence of illegal drugs in a person's system.

"The mechanism they use to fluoresce can be inhibited," she explained. "You can 'quench' it, basically. So, in the presence of some molecule, the fluorescence is quenched, so you know a substance is there because the protein isn't fluorescing anymore."

Among those quenching agents are some of the active ingredients in many illegal drugs.

"First, we have to determine, do these drugs quench the fluorescent proteins? That's what I'm in the process of doing right now," she said.

Gingras' biochemistry instructor, Dr. Barry Hicks, praised Gingras' work ethic and enthusiasm.

"After the election in November, when Colorado passed Amendment 64 ... I said, kind of flippantly, 'I wonder if drugs of abuse can be used in this sensing application.' She said, right off the bat, 'I want to pursue that. I want to do this,'" Hicks recalled.

The Academy has applied for Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 licenses from the Drug Enforcement Agency to support Gingras' research and future research based on Gingras' work, Hicks said. The National Institutes of Drug Abuse has agreed to provide samples.

Possible applications of Gingras' research could include portable drug-testing kits for law-enforcement agencies and breathalyzer tests for marijuana, Hicks said.

After graduation, Gingras plans to attend medical school. She already has a scholarship.

"I'm just waiting on acceptance," she said. "I'm constantly checking my emails."

"She's going to do great in medical school," Hicks said, confident that she will be accepted. "She's that kind of person, really gangbusters. We're proud of all our graduates, but she's stellar. Even among her year group in this department, she's one of the best."

Former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Pleads Guilty in Tennessee to Bribery Scheme

 A former U.S. Army staff sergeant pleaded guilty today to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors while he was deployed to Iraq, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee William C. Killian.

Richard A. Gilliland, 44, of Fayetteville, Tenn., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee in the Eastern District of Tennessee to a criminal information charging him with one count of conspiracy to accept illegal bribes.

According to court documents, from October 2007 until November 2008, Gilliland was a U.S. Army staff sergeant who worked with the Civil Affairs Unit at Camp Victory in Iraq and also was assigned as a pay agent responsible for U.S. government funds.  As a pay agent, Gilliland was responsible for paying contractors to perform work in accordance with civil development objectives set forth by U.S. Army commanders in furtherance of the strategic mission of Coalition Forces in Iraq.

While deployed to Iraq in October 2007, Gilliland worked closely with two Iraqi contracting companies and their American representatives.  Gilliland admitted to receiving approximately $27,200 and a laptop in bribes from American representatives of the contracting companies in return for his attempt to influence contracts for the Iraqi-based contractors and his assistance in acquiring used and non-working generators from the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office.  After receiving the bribes, Gilliland wired the cash payments he received back to the United States.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Trial Attorney Mark Grider of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, on detail from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), and Assistant U.S. Attorney John MacCoon of the Eastern District of Tennessee.  The case was investigated by SIGIR.

Justice Department and Town of East Haven, Conn., Select Kathleen O’toole as Joint Compliance Expert for Police Reform Agreement

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced today, together with the town of East Haven, Conn., and the East Haven Board of Police Commissioners, they have selected Kathleen O’Toole as the Joint Compliance Expert (JCE) to assess and report on the implementation of a comprehensive settlement agreement to reform the East Haven Police Department (EHPD).  The district court approved the agreement on Dec. 21, 2012.

 

Under the agreement, the JCE will assist in determining whether the terms of the agreement have been fully and timely implemented.   The JCE’s assessment will include a thorough review of EHPD’s policies, training curricula, standard operating procedures, plans, protocols and other operational documents related to the agreement.   The JCE will also assess whether the implementation of the agreement is resulting in constitutional policing, increased community trust, and the professional treatment of individuals by EHPD officers.  

 

Following a joint review that included multiple candidates, the parties selected Ms. O’Toole to serve as JCE.   She brings extensive policing experience and a collaborative compliance framework that will assist the parties, the court, and other stakeholders to evaluate the implementation of critical reforms by EHPD.   Ms. O’Toole is an internationally-recognized leader in the law enforcement field and recently completed a six-year term as Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, an oversight body responsible for bringing reform, best practice, and accountability to the Irish national police service.   Previously, she worked her way up the ranks of the Boston Police Department, beginning as a patrol officer and eventually serving as Boston Police Commissioner.   Ms. O’Toole also served as Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety.   Ms. O’Toole intends to hire several other police experts to assist her in assessing compliance with the agreement.   She will begin her work as JCE immediately.

 

“We are pleased to have worked collaboratively with the town to select Ms. O’Toole, who we believe is uniquely positioned to assess and report on the East Haven Police Department’s reform efforts,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.  “We look forward to working together with Ms. O’Toole and the town to ensure effective and constitutional policing by the East Haven Police Department.”

 

U.S. Attorney David Fein commented, “I am pleased that the joint selection of Kathleen O’Toole as the Joint Compliance Expert will now allow the real work to begin on the implementation of the settlement agreement approved by the court.”

Writing the Police Procedural

The February 28, 2013, episode of American Heroes Radio features a conversation with retired New York City Police Department Lieutenant Michael Grant on writing the police procedural.

Program Date: February 28, 2013

Program Time: 1500 hours, PACIFIC

Topic: Writing the Police Procedural

Listen Live:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lawenforcement/2013/02/28/writing-the-police-procedural

About the Guest

Michael Grant is a former member of the NYPD. He worked as a police officer in the Tactical Patrol Force and the Accident Investigation Squad. Upon being promoted to sergeant, he was assigned to the 63rd Precinct, the Inspections Division, and finally the Police Academy. As a lieutenant, he worked in the 17th Precinct and finished up his career as the Commanding Officer of the Traffic Division's Field Internal Affairs Unit. He retired in 1985 and went to work for W.R. Grace Company as a Security Coordinator.

He has a BS in Criminal Justice and an MA in psychology from John Jay College. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

In 1990, he moved to Florida where he wrote his first three novels: Line of Duty; Officer Down and Retribution. In 2006 he returned to Long Island where he has written ten more novels: The Cove; Back To Venice; When I Come Home; In The Time Of Famine; Dear Son, Hey Ma; Krystal; Appropriate Sanctions; Who Moved My Friggin' Provolone?; The Stalker; and Precinct.

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:

Listen from the Archive:

Program Contact Information

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA

editor@police-writers.com

909.599.7530

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