District of New Mexico Raises Money for Charities During the Combined Federal Campaign

Albuquerque, NM - This year, the United States District of New Mexico participated in the Combined Federal Campaign, the worlds’ largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign. More than 200 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally help to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by federal, civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (Sept. 1 - Dec.15) support eligible nonprofit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. http://www.opm.gov/cfc/

The district personnel also augmented CFC contributions by hosting a silent auction to raise additional funds for donation to local and national charities like the, The Community Pantry which Feeds 4,000 hungry New Mexicans a week through direct programs and to partner soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters. The District also contributed to the “That Others May Live Foundation,” which provides critical support, scholarships, grants and warfighter appreciation for warfighter families ensuring children of fallen Air Force rescue heroes receive every opportunity for success and the “Cancer Research Foundation,” to aid in the bold and innovative laboratory and clinical research. In total the United States Marshals Service in New Mexico raised over $2600.00 for local and national charities.

Tucson Man Indicted for Posing as U.S. Air Force Officer

TUCSON, AZ—A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a seven-count indictment yesterday against Jeffery Lee Bennett, 46, for identification document fraud, falsely presenting himself in an United States Air Force uniform with the rank of Major General, fraudulent use of a department of the United States seal, and entry by false pretenses to real property of the United States.

The indictment alleges that on March 30, 2011, Bennett possessed an identification document produced without lawful authority that appeared to be a United States Air Force Common Access card that he presented to the installation gate guard at Fort Huachuca to identify himself. It is alleged that Bennett was driving a vehicle that had a fraudulent Department of Defense personal vehicle registration sticker with the Department of Defense seal, and that he entered the military installation under false pretenses by wearing a United States Air Force uniform with the rank of Major General. Once on the post it is alleged that Bennett made unauthorized purchases at the post exchange and commissary by pretending to be a general officer. It is alleged that Bennett accessed the post again on April 5, 2011, wearing an unauthorized uniform and driving a vehicle with a fraudulent Department of Defense personal vehicle registration sticker.

Each of the seven counts are felony offenses; the highest charge of Entry by False Pretenses to Real Property of the United States with the intent to commit a felony carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. In determining the actual sentence, the assigned United States District Court Judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Melanie McGhee, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona

Air Force Sergeant Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Federal Child Abuse Conviction

LAS CRUCES, NM—Today in federal court in Las Cruces, Derek Wulf, 35, was sentenced to a three-year term of imprisonment for child abuse not resulting in death. Wulf, who pled guilty to the offense on December 7, 2009, will serve one year of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. Wulf, a technical sergeant in the United States Air Force who currently resides in Montgomery, Alabama, was assigned to Holloman Air Force Base at the time of the offense. Wulf remains on conditions of release until the United States Bureau of Prisons designates the correctional facility at which he will serve his prison sentence.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Wulf’s three-year-old daughter died of dehydration and malnutrition on Holloman Air Force Base on January 26, 2006, after being neglected by her mother, Rebecca Christie. On November 11, 2009, a federal jury sitting in Las Cruces convicted Christie of murdering and abusing her daughter after a three-week trial. On May 23, 2011, Christie was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

In Wulf’s plea agreement, he admitted to neglecting his daughter’s health and not adequately monitoring her medical and nutritional needs despite knowing that the child had health problems and special nutritional needs. Wulf was not in the family home when the child died and had not been in the home since January 17, 2006.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Nathan J. Lichvarcik.

Air Force sergeant sentenced to 46 months for possessing child pornography

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A U.S. Air Force sergeant was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, as a result of a child pornography investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Henry Jager, 33, who is stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, was sentenced Dec. 13 by U.S. District Judge James O. Browning. Judge Browning also sentenced Jager to a lifetime of supervised release, which includes registering as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

ICE HSI special agents arrested Jager on June 1 after a federal grand jury indicted him for possessing a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Jager pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 10. According to a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, ICE HSI special agents contacted Jager at his residence Sept. 15, 2009 after an investigation revealed that Jager possessed child pornography obtained from the website "www.free6.com."

ICE HSI special agents searched Jager's computers with his consent and found images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Jager admitted he knew the website "www.free6.com" was primarily devoted to child pornography, and acknowledged receiving child pornography from that website for about six months. He also admitted that he began viewing child pornography years earlier.

"Homeland Security Investigations will continue to identify child pornographers, including those who use the Internet to prey and victimize innocent children," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in El Paso. "And with the help of our law enforcement partners, we will ensure they are punished to the fullest extent of the law."

Operation Predator is an ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders, and child sex traffickers.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators by calling at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. For more information, visit www.ice.gov.

Air Force Office of Special Investigations

On August 7, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Colonel Michael Angley, USAF (ret.), formerly of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Program Date: August 7, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/08/08/Air-Force-Office-of-Special-Investigations

About the Guest
Colonel Michael Angley, USAF (ret.) is a retired Special Agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). The OSI is the Air Force equivalent of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), was modeled after the FBI, and has dual missions: felony-level criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations.

During Colonel Michael Angley’s 25-year OSI career, he has literally “seen it all.” When he was a young Special Agent in northern California he worked a number of undercover narcotics operations targeting Air Force jet mechanics that were using, selling, and distributing a variety of narcotics. Following a firm grounding in criminal investigations, to include, murder, arson, and child crime cases, Michael Angley began to specialize in counterintelligence operations. During his career he held thirteen different assignments worldwide, with most of his overseas time in the Far East and Middle East. In 1996 Michael Angley took command of all OSI units in the Middle East where he was responsible for operations in 23 countries. He established groundbreaking concepts for the conduct of counterterrorism programs that led the way to current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Michael Angley retired in 2007, he was the Commander of OSI Region 8, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado. He was responsible for all OSI criminal investigations and counterintelligence operations at thirteen Air Force Space Command locations in the United States. Colonel Michael Angley is the author of Child Finder.

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, Public Safety 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/2009/08/08/Air-Force-Office-of-Special-Investigations

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

Afghan National Police Training Continues Despite Obstacles

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio
Special to American Forces Press Service

June 13, 2008 - Surrounded by Afghan National Police, the U.S. Army staff sergeant moved the water-bottle caps around in the dirt, as if on a checkerboard. But, there was no board, and this was no game. It was training. With different obstacles facing the trainers at Forward Operating Base Scorpion, unconventional methods of training are common. The language barrier may seem to limit the training, but the trainers and mentors are committed to mission execution, no matter what the means.

Army Staff Sgt. James Parks, a police mentor team member from Buffalo, N.Y., uses the bottle caps to demonstrate a wedge formation, a type of patrolling technique. That day, his group was working on the "rush and roll," the "low crawl," and other basic combat reactions under fire. This training usually is for soldiers; however, due to the counterinsurgency environment, the Afghan National Police need these skills to survive and defeat the enemy.

"We train them in basic combat skills so they can stay alive out there," Parks said. "It seems basic to us, but it's stuff that they just don't know to do when there is enemy contact."

The majority of the police training at the Regional Training Center in Kandahar is Afghan-led, but the three American and three coalition mentors work with Afghan police commanders and trainers to coach and advise the new recruits on basic combat skills.

"The language barrier is the biggest obstacle we face," Parks said.

Just like the bottle caps, the U.S. mentor team used colored blocks to demonstrate how to clear a building. They assigned colored blocks to each police officer on the clearing team and set corresponding colored blocks on the inside of the building. That way, the police would know by looking at the colored blocks where they needed to position themselves once inside the building.

Once the police officers finish the eight-week course at the RTC, they are sent out to districts in southern Afghanistan. But their training doesn't stop once they're in the field.

Regional Police Advisory Command South, with headquarters at FOB Scorpion, acts as a command post for several police mentor teams spread out through Afghanistan's southern districts. Nearly 10,000 ANP officers work in the field, and the mentor teams travel from district to district to train, advise and mentor the police.

Army Col. John Cuddy, Regional Police Advisory Command South commander, oversees training for the RTC and the police mentor teams.

"The mentors and the PMTs are the front-runners of our mission here," he said. "It's amazing what these men are doing with what they have."

Cuddy said the mentor teams visit the district police after they have left the regional training center and ensure they sustained those skills learned during training and are conducting their basic function as police officers: to serve and protect. The PMTs also ensure the police are getting paid and fed.

"If the ANP aren't paid, they go AWOL. If they aren't armed, they get killed in the night," he said.

Cuddy said reports of real progress come from the districts.

"We are getting feedback that the Taliban doesn't recognize the ANP they fight now," he said. "The ANP are starting to fight back. Before, they didn't have the training in basic fighting or survival skills, so they would surrender or run."

Afghan Brig. Gen. Nassurullah Zarifi, commander of the Afghan National Police Kandahar Regional Training Center, has more than 35 years of experience, including time with the Afghan National Army. He worked for 16 years as an instructor in the ANA before he was transferred to the RTC.

"We have 350 students here, but not enough instructors. The American and coalition instructors help us to educate our people," he said. "While they are here, my instructors, deputies and myself work hard to ensure the students are trained properly and will do their job correctly when they leave the RTC to go to their communities."

He said he receives positive feedback from the provinces about the police who graduated from the eight-week training program at the RTC.

"They are happy to have the new ANPs in their community," Zarifi said. "This is a long process, not a short-term answer. We are working on the security for the future of Afghanistan."

(Air Force Staff Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio serves with Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan Public Affairs.)

Turner, Robar and Kennedy

May 1, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three law enforcement officials from the State of Florida.

Allan Turner began his law enforcement career after he graduated high school and joined the Air Force becoming an Air Policeman. After four years in the military he joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) where he spent the bulk of his career as a criminal investigator. After resigning from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office he became a private investigator. Allan Turner is the author of four books: The Christian & the State; The Christian & Idolatry; The Christian & Calvinism; and, The Christian & War.

According to the book description of The Christian & War, “Since the Vietnam era, there has arisen, in America and the whole of Western society, a way of thinking that argues against all war. Consequently, a book discussing the question of a Christian's participation in war and other related issues in light of this emerging consensus seems not just appropriate but necessary.”

Neil Robar retired at the rank of lieutenant from the Hollywood Police Department (Florida), where he either commanded or worked in every division and unit. For five years he was the coordinator of the Institute of Police Technology and Management’s Traffic Crash Investigation and Reconstruction section. Neil Robar is now a private consultant in traffic crash investigation and reconstruction and he continues to teach at all levels in the area as an adjunct for the Institute of Police Technology and Management. Neil Robar is the author of Inspection of Motorcycles after Impact; Motorcycle Helmet Inspection after Impact and the co-author of Advanced Traffic Accident Investigation and Advanced Traffic Crash Analysis.

According to the book description of Advanced Traffic Crash Analysis, it is “filled with the latest technology, techniques and information in the field of traffic crash investigation. The IPTM’s Advanced Traffic Crash Analysis is an expanded and updated version of its predecessor, our popular Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation manual.”

Walter Kennedy served in the US Army from 1965 to 1968. Shortly after his discharge he joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (Florida). During his 17 year law enforcement career he has worked patrol, traffic and training. In 1983, he was awarded a Medal of Merit for Bravery. Between 1986 and 1992, he was a full-time instructor at the Institute of Police Technology and Management (Florida). Walter Kennedy is the author Conservation of Linear Momentum Using Vector Sum Analysis and Impact Velocity from Conservation of Linear Momentum for the Traffic Accident Investigator and reconstructionist.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 996 police officers (representing 417 police departments) and their 2107 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Civilian, Military Defenders Gather for Vehicle Bomb Demonstration

By Jennifer M. McCarthy
Special to American Forces Press Service

April 11, 2008 - Federal and state law enforcement personnel joined servicemembers at the explosive ordnance range here April 9 for a vehicle bomb demonstration. FBI agents based in New York and New Jersey, New Jersey State Police, Defense Department police, and Army and Air Force personnel saw a large box truck, a sport utility vehicle, two sedans, and a minivan ripped asunder by explosives and sent soaring into the air.

The vehicles were rigged with controlled explosive devices detonated as part of a week-long joint training course that helped hone the law enforcement officials' skills in the tools and techniques used to identify and neutralize vehicle bombs.

As well as allowing participants a chance to earn a certificate from the FBI Bomb Data Center, the course provided real-world experience, particularly to soldiers and airmen deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The training was good. It is useful in principle," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Bramble of the 305th Civil Engineer Squadron's explosive ordnance disposal flight. Bramble recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan. "This training is geared towards populated areas," he said. "It decreases collateral damage."

Terrorists have adopted vehicle bombs as a prominent weapon of choice, but they are not a new tactic. One of the earliest uses of a car bomb was the attempted assassination of Sultan Abdul Hamid II in Istanbul in 1905 by Armenian separatists. Since then, terrorist groups have used vehicle bombs as a way to try to cause chaos and destruction.

Don Breecre, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and environmental bomb technician, said the Fort Dix demonstration was "a chance for bomb techs, EOD, to train on the tools we use to defeat vehicle bombs."

"Perfect practice makes perfect," he said.

(Jennifer M. McCarthy works at Fort Dix Public Affairs.)

Marlo, Bollinger and Winston

April 4, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers from California law enforcement agencies.

John Marlo was a San Jose Police Department (California) police officer from 1955 to 1961. In in1961, he became the City Attorney for the City of Capitola (California). In 1973, he became a Superior Court Judge and was the Presiding Judge of the Santa Cruz County Superior Court four times during his judicial career. John Marlo is the co-author of The Police Officer and Criminal Justice.

Pete Bollinger first became interested in law enforcement while serving in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. While in the military, he obtained AA Degrees in Industrial Security from the College of the Air Force and Criminal Justice from Devils Lake College in North Dakota. After honorable discharge, Mr. Bollinger continued his education, obtaining a BS Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne and a Masters Degree in Management from the University of Phoenix.

Pete Bollinger has been a police officer with the Santa Ana Police Department since 1988 and has worked a variety of assignments throughout his career. First and foremost, he is proud that the majority of his work history has been on patrol. He has served in an undercover capacity, both purchasing and selling narcotics, in vice programs with prostitutes, transvestites and other dregs of society. Pete Bollinger was fortunate enough to earn an assignment in Personnel, specifically in the background unit. He attained the rank of Sergeant and now supervises a team of Officers. Pete Bollinger is the author of 45 Days of Perfection; And God Made Eve; First, Kill the Lawyers; Man Landers; and, Rx for Justice.

Steve Winston was hired in law enforcement in 1981 and has worked in several assignments. For the last nine years he has been a background investigator with the Santa Ana Police Department and involved in the hiring of over 1,000 employees, including both police and firefighters. Steve Winston and Pete Bollinger are the co-authors of How to Get Hired in Law Enforcement & Fire.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 927 police officers (representing 391 police departments) and their 1941 police books in 33 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Cops and Veterans

April 3, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. Each of the police officers newly listed on the website is also a former servicemember.

In 1954, Robbie Waters enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, completing his tour of duty in 1957. In 1958, he joined the Sacramento Police Department. His law enforcement career with the Sacramento Police Department included assignments in patrol, detectives, and administrative functions. Retiring at the rank of lieutenant, he was elected sheriff of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

In addition to serving as a member of the law enforcement community for over 28 years, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from California State University at Sacramento. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He retired from the Sacrament County Sheriff’s Department in 1987 and was subsequently elected to the Sacramento City Council. Robbie Waters is the author of An Introduction to Law Enforcement.

Arthur Knuckey was a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy. Discharged in 1951, he returned to his life as a professional rodeo cowboy. In 1954, he joined the San Bernardino Police Department (California), retired 22 years later at the rank of lieutenant. A law school graduate, he was ultimately appointed as a Superior Court Commissioner in 1988 and retired in 1999. He is the author of Me and Other Great Hunters: A Humorous Look at True Events in the Sport of Hunting; Recollections of a Rodeo Cowboy: We May Not Have Been; and, The Odor of Death.

According to the book description of The Odor of Death, “With its cast full of brawny, bright, and beautiful characters, this book is a thrill a minute! The Odor of Death is a must for anyone who loves a modern adventure. The author has crafted a compelling and thoroughly entertaining story that includes wonderfully accurate depictions of cowboys, cops, and civilians.”

Richard Carlson is a veteran of the US Army and who joined the San Diego Police Department in 1969. During his 35 year law enforcement career, Richard Carlson worked patrol, crime prevention and detectives. He spent eight years a homicide detective and five years assigned to the Violent Crime Task Force. Richard Carlson is the author of I'm in the Tub, Gone.

According to the book description of I'm in the Tub, Gone, “We now live in a time of comfort, convenience and opportunity such as mankind has never known. With all the great things we are provided, we also get many side effects that some thrive on and others do not welcome. Some of these are expectations, added or unwanted responsibility, inconvenience, or extreme supervision to name a few. We all deal with these pressures in a different manner. Then we add another factor, our personal lives. Most people have the ultimate goal to make their personal lives better. We want a happy, normal life at home, no matter what our status is in the community. Some choose suicide as an option to get relief. These are true stories of those final thoughts. Could they have been helped? We will never know. Can we help others in desperate need? Maybe, if we provide a little kindness and understanding. At least we can try.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 921 police officers (representing 390 police departments) and their 1931 police books in 33 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

All Crooks Welcome, and other stories.

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three police officers: John “Jack” Miller, Robert Sims Reid and Marc C. Barry.

John "Jack" Miller applied his first career in Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations to his second career of Casino Games and their protection. Jack Miller was a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) conducting investigations of felony crimes. These investigations also included counter-intelligence and counter-espionage investigations.

After retiring from the military, Jack Miller joined the Clark County District Attorneys office as a Special Investigator of "white collar" and conspiratorial crimes. He worked with undercover teams from the local Police and the FBI conducting burglary stings. He then joined the Nevada State Gaming Control Board (GCB) as an Enforcement Agent. He was certified by Nevada State and Federal Courts as an Expert witness during trials of gambling cheats.

John “Jack” Miller is the author of Cold War Warrior, All Crooks Welcome and Master Cheat! According to the book description of the true story, All Crooks Welcome, “the Las Vegas police are plagued with burglaries. Two detectives devise an ingenious scheme to combat the thieves and burglars. Pose as fences and buy the evidence from the crooks. With the help of the District Attorney’s office and the FBI, the sting is on. Join with the undercover law enforcement personnel as they solve the problems associated with a scheme never tried before. Be there as the crooks arrive with their ill-gotten gains. Enjoy the wrap-up party where the thieves expect one thing and get another.”

Robert Sims Reid was a detective for the Missoula Police Department (Montana). He is the author of six novels: Benediction, Cupid, Wild Animals, The Red Corvette, Max Holly and Big Blue Sky. According to Publisher’s Weekly, The Red Corvette is about “Old murder, old men and a sleepy Midwestern town whose French name suggests deep-rooted evil frame Reid's latest well-crafted mystery featuring retired Rozette, Montana, policeman Leo Banks. Sarah and Gerry Heyman, who were, respectively, Leo's major love and his best friend in college in the '60s, unexpectedly visit Rozette during a summer trip out West with their children. A few months later, Sarah calls to ask Leo to investigate Gerry's murder in the southern Illinois town of Mauvaisterre. Lots of small-town atmosphere, another death and the sins of fathers and sons lead to a rousing nighttime stampede during a harvest fair and a credible resolution”

Marc C. Barry was a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years. He started his career in July of 1989 as a patrolman on the streets of Las Vegas. Throughout his career he has been assigned to various select details such as: Organized Crime Bureau, Undercover Street Crimes Unit, Violent Crimes Federal Task Force and many others.

Marc Barry holds a number of accredited instructor certifications such as: Police Officer Standards Training/State Law Enforcement Instructor, NRA Tactical Police Firearms Instructor, Close Quarters Battle Instructor, H&K Master Sub-Machine Gun Instructor, State Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism Instructor, Urban Assault Tactics Instructor and various others. Marc Barry has directly trained over 2500 police officers, law enforcement agents and military Special Forces world-wide. Marc Barry is the author of Society's Warrior Class: Inside a Policeman's Mind.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 637 police officers (representing 281 police departments) and their 1363 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Exercise Tests NORAD, NORTHCOM Cooperation, Communication

By Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braymen, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 16, 2007 – The commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command said he is "very pleased" with the federal agency interoperability displayed in Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge '07, an emergency-response training exercise that began April 30 and will continue through tomorrow. "Because we had good participation from all of the federal agencies, it allowed us to not only stress them -- to put them in a position where they had to evaluate and make decisions based on a fluid scenario and a fairly catastrophic one -- but also to see how all of us interface," Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart said in an interview today.

The exercise helps NORAD and NORTHCOM identify any seams and gaps in their relationships with their agency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and to then make any necessary improvements, Renuart said.

"It's also allowed us to validate the incredible amount of planning that has gone on since (Hurricane) Katrina, not only to respond to things like a hurricane, but also to ensure that the agencies responsible for homeland security and homeland defense really can work together under a series of demanding scenarios," he said.

The exercise began two weeks ago with a simulated Category 3 hurricane devastating the northeastern coast of the United States. At the request of the secretary of defense, NORTHCOM provided support to civil authorities in search-and-rescue and humanitarian-relief efforts in the area.

"We transitioned to a series of intelligence injects that had us think about things like terrorist infiltration across our borders, terrorist attacks against some of the national infrastructure in Alaska -- the pipelines and other things -- and tracking vessels at sea," Renuart said. "(The exercise) really does span the entire scope of the missions that we train for every day at U.S. NORTHCOM and that we execute every day, as well."

Exercise participants currently are dealing with the aftermath of a simulated nuclear explosion in Indianapolis. Each of the several Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge '07 scenarios is designed to improve interagency cooperation and strengthen existing relationships among the agencies and leaders who respond to actual crises in the homeland.

"It is certainly important to U.S. NORTHCOM to be able to test ourselves and really stress ourselves against not just one scenario, but multiple scenarios," Renuart said. "It allowed us to really, not just simulate, but to exercise the participation of senior officials responsible for homeland security and homeland defense in realistic scenarios."

All agencies with roles in the exercise will participate in a comprehensive review immediately after the exercise ends to determine what went well and what could be improved.

"Many of the lessons will be technical," Renuart said, "in that we've got to figure how to get local responders, the National Guard first responders and the federal forces connected more easily, more quickly, and in a way that is responsive to the governors of whatever state might be affected."

(Army Sgt. 1st Class Gail Braymen is assigned to the Public Affairs Office for North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.)

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.

New Systems Test Military, Civilian Communications During Exercise

Editor's Note: As most know, domestic law enforcement is essentially mandated to use ics/nims; while the air force is just adopting the command and control system, the Coast Guard has been using it for quite a while.

By 1st Lt. Erika Yepsen, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 15, 2007 – Ardent Sentry/Northern Edge 2007, a two-week national-level exercise involving local, state and federal government agencies, is proving the capabilities of the Incident Command System. The system is designed to provide effective communication and organization between different emergency responders, which could include civilian authorities as well as military.

The Incident Command System is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Incident Management System, which is being implemented nationwide. It's a unified command-and-control system driven by a presidential directive that covers the Department of Defense and civilian federal government agencies, explained Air Force Maj. Darren Deroos, 3rd Wing chief of inspections and exercises.

"The Air Force took the National Incident Management System and customized it, which is how we came up with ... the Air Force Incident Management System, which the Air Force implemented across the service in February," Deroos said.

The 3rd Wing has been using the Air Force Incident Management System and the Incident Command System since January 2006.

The Incident Command System is a combination of facilities, equipment, operators, procedures and communications designed to aid in domestic incident-management activities. It can be used for a broad spectrum of emergencies, according to FEMA's National Incident Management System Web site.

"It really clarifies lines of communication and who has command of what in an emergency," Deroos said. "This exercise is our biggest full-scale test of ICS including civilian counterparts."

The system is finding wide use during this year's Alaska Shield/Northern Edge exercise, which is specifically designed to test communication and streamline response efforts between government agencies at all levels. Throughout the exercise, military and civilian first responders work together as they react to crisis scenarios, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks or other emergency situations.

On May 8 and 9, military, civilian and federal authorities partnered to respond to two incidents: a simulated train collision involving hazardous materials and mass casualties here, and a simulated terrorist attack on the North Pole Refinery Complex, in nearby North Pole, Alaska.

During both incidents, emergency responders used ICS to coordinate their efforts.

"This exercise is the perfect opportunity to test the capabilities of AFIMS and ICS and the ability of the Air Force to integrate with its civilian counterparts during an emergency," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser, Alaska Command commander. "Alaska is uniquely equipped to put this system through its paces because the state is leading the country in implementing the National Incident Management System."

Civilian organizations are already finding ICS to be exceptional in its use, creating more effective communication and improving response efforts.

"The fire department and emergency medical service have been using the system for a long time, but it's new to law enforcement, and we needed this opportunity to train with it," said Brad Johnson, Fairbanks deputy police chief. "We want to be able to work a small or large scale incident with ICS."

In addition, the Alaska Railroad Corporation has been using the system for years, said Ernest Piper, the Alaska Railroad Corporation assistant vice president of operations.

"At first, people were skeptical about it, but now we have the smoothest ICS process in the state," said Piper, who participated in the May 8 train collision exercise. "We use it for everything. It's perfect because you can use it for almost any kind of short-term emergency management situation."

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. David Hudson, 3rd Wing Inspector General's superintendent of readiness and emergency management, echoed Piper's praise for the system.

"It's been a slow implementation, but I think it was the right thing to do," Hudson said. "It streamlined a process and made a better process for the Air Force that we were able to meld with our civilian counterparts."

While Elmendorf has been operating under the AFIMS and ICS systems since last year, the rest of the Air Force is scheduled to achieve initial capability by December and final capability by December 2009, according to the AFIMS Senior Leader Guide to Implementation and Sustainment.

(Air Force 1st Lt. Erika Yepsen is assigned to Joint Task Force Alaska Public Affairs.)

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.

Use 'R-Triple-A' to Lead, Enlisted Leader Urges NCOs

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

April 11, 2007 – The Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy here gives students the tools to lead, but they need to use these tools in a way that works for them individually, the Defense Department's top NCO told graduates here today. Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told 75 Air Force noncommissioned officers that an "R-triple-A" approach is what up-and-coming servicemembers expect and need from their leaders.

The "R" means leaders should respect their subordinates by giving them responsibility, Gainey told the graduates.

"They crave to ... be 'Responsible' for something," he said. "Give it to them. They're not going to let you down. Give them all the responsibility they can hold."

But giving people responsibility isn't enough, Gainey warned.

"The hard thing for us as leaders is the first 'A' -- to give them the 'Authority' to be responsible," he said.

Gesturing to the flags adorning the stage, Gainey explained that a leader who gives people responsibility for the flags, but tells them not to do anything without first asking for his or her approval isn't being an effective leader. "What have you given them?" he asked. "Nothing."

If authority is properly granted, Gainey said, the second "A" then comes into play.

"Hold them 'Accountable' for their actions, as they're going to hold you accountable for your actions," he told the graduates, adding that it's necessary not only for when subordinates fall short, but also when they succeed.

When they do fall short, he said, it's time for the third "A" - "Assist" them when they stumble.

"Everyone stumbles," he said. "It depends on who's there to help you."

When the inevitable stumbles occur, Gainey told the graduates, a good leader will help the person recover, but then must coach, teach, mentor and train so the individual learns from the experience and can succeed.

At that point, he said, it's important to express pride in the person's accomplishment and show confidence. "They need you to look them in the eye and ... (let them know you) care about them," he said.

Exhorting the graduates to move forward with their ambitions, Gainey advised them not to let anyone get in their way as long as they can answer "no" to five questions about their ambitions.

"The first thing (to ask yourself) is, 'Is it going to hurt somebody else?' No? Go for it," he said. "Is it going to hurt you? No. Go for it. Is it illegal? No. Go for it. Is it immoral? No. Go for it. Is it going to bring disgrace to your name or the unit or your country? No. Then you go for it, and don't let anybody tell you that you can't do it."

But if the answer to any of the five questions is "yes," he said, that has to be resolved.

Gainey used the desire to climb a mountain as an example. While the person might be able to say "no" in answer to four of the questions, the answer would have to be "yes" to the second question if the person lacked the proper training or equipment.

"Stop, take a step back, reassess what you want to do, get the proper training, get the proper equipment, and make it a 'no,'" he said.

The graduation culminated a day in which Gainey met with servicemembers all over the largest U.S. installation in the Pacific theater. He'll remain on Okinawa for the rest of the week, visiting servicemembers at other bases on the island and meeting more people at Kadena.

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.

A Police and Military Writer

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books added a writer who has served in both the military and domestic law enforcement.

Robert S. Stering served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. He enlisted again, in the USAF(R) in 1982. He served as a Special Agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigation; and, was honorably discharged as an E-5 in 1985. In addition to his military service, Robert S. Stering was a police officer for the Waltham Police Department (Massachusetts) for 25 years.

Robert S. Stering has a Masters degree in Criminal Justice and is a certified criminal intelligence analyst. In addition to his writing, Rob Stering is an adjunct professor for several colleges teaching Profiling Serial Offenders, Crime Analysis, Intelligence Analysis, Introduction to Terrorism and other courses. He is also a consultant to the Municipal Police Training Committee (Massachusetts) as the state coordinator for patrol procedures.

His first book, a Police Officer's Handbook “provides you with an understanding of the situations, problems, and conflicts that police officers face daily. This is an indispensable resource for law enforcement students and professionals. The Police Officer's Handbook is divided into two parts. Part One discusses what police officers do and how they accomplish their tasks. It also takes a closer look at the role of the police officer today. Part Two offers you an opportunity to put yourself into the role of the police officer. Through scenarios you will examine some of the day-to-day incidents that police officers face on the street. After reading this text, you will gain practical knowledge and understand how to resolve a variety of conflicts.”

Robert S. Stering’s second book, Imagen: A Serial Killer Leaves Puzzling Clues, is a fictional work that takes the reader inside the mind of both the killer and the victim. According to the book description, “A serial killer is stalking the community. He leaves subtle clues. Or are they? The murders are perfect, the clues and evidence left, break all traditional investigative formalities. The book is unique in the way you interpret the emotions. With a clever switching of tenses, the author allows you the reader to be the victim and the killer. You feel the pain, and emotions of the victim. You experience the excitement, the thoughts and the reasoning of the Killer. Both visions bring you to the point of death. With the author’s experiences and knowledge of the field, the book offers a close-up and front seat realistic view of the investigative process.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 401 police officers (representing 171 police departments) and their 864 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books. Military-Writers.com now lists 20 active, retired and former military personnel who have authored 20 books.

A bear of a cop and others

Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books added three police officers: Dexter H. Mast, Robert Downey and Larry Murphy.

Dexter H. Mast was an Oakland Police Department police officer for over 30 years, According to the back cover of his first book, Six Gold Stars, “Chuckles and tears from the notebooks of Oakland’s legendary police officer during a career that began in 1939, in the depression. Even the gamblers and whores who were jailed by this bear of a cop liked him. But one day he wrote a ticket to the man who could make or break anyone in Oakland.”

Robert Downey began his law enforcement career with the Oakland Police Department. After his Air Force service during the Korean War, he joined the Beverly Hills Police Department. He advanced through the ranks to Lieutenant and eventually moved to San Juan County, Washington as Undersheriff. He closed out his career as a Senior Special Agent with the Treasury Department U.S. Customs Service. According to the book description of his book, “Beverly Hills Detective, “The magic city of Beverly Hills conjures up images of movie stars, Rodeo Drive, big homes and even the neighboring town of Hollywood. During the late 1950's and 1960's, Robert Downey found himself in the detective bureau of this fascinating city investigating an odd assortment of crimes. This is the story of Robert Downey who goes from rookie cop to seasoned veteran and the cases and people who took him there.”

Larry Murphy was an Oakland Police Department police officer. According to his bio, “he has broad experience in Administration of Justice and, notably, made significant contributions toward revising police recruiting and police training standards following the riots that shook America's cities during the latter part of the 1960s. He was awarded the Oakland, California, Police Department's Medal of Merit for contributions to police training innovations and earned the coveted advanced certificate for law enforcement preparedness issued by the California Department of Justice.”

Larry Murphy’s book, Blackjack and Jive-Five, is the true story of “the day-to-day pressures experienced by a unit of black cops and their white sergeant confronting a white-dominated police culture.” According to Jon J. Sparks, Chief of Police (ret.), “Blackjack and Jive-Five should be required reading for all incoming police recruits. Not only is there a strong social message but the book includes many textbook solutions to a variety of typical disturbance situations and tactical maneuvers for handling potentially dangerous contacts with criminal suspects. I know of no formal written training instrument that tackles these difficult situations with such detail and insight to the human factors involved.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 353 police officers (representing 146 police departments) and their 785 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Military Playing Down Long Runs, Adopting More Diverse Fitness Programs

Editor’s Note: Will police training and Law Enforcement Training follow the course?

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

Feb. 26, 2007 – If a little bit of running is good for keeping warfighters in top form, then a lot of running is better, right? "Wrong!" say officials here at the Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force have come to recognize that as beneficial as running can be to overall fitness, health and military readiness, too much of a good thing causes injuries that leave troops less fit, less healthy and less ready, Army Lt. Col. Steve Bullock, the center's health promotion policy program manager, told American Forces Press Service.

As a result, the services are tailoring their physical training regimes to reduce the emphasis on "pounding the pavement." Instead, they're replacing regular long-distance runs with other forms of exercise, he said.

The goal is to reduce overuse injuries that translate military-wide to more than 8 million days of limited duty a year, said Keith Hauret, an epidemiologist for the Army's injury prevention program. Fractures, sprains, strains and other musculoskeletal conditions, many resulting from physical training, take an even greater toll on the force in terms of lost- or limited-duty days.

"Injuries have a direct effect on readiness and a soldier's ability to perform his duties, whether in training or while deployed," Hauret said. "It has a direct impact on the soldier's ability to perform, and that has a direct impact on that unit's readiness."

The services' new approach to physical training aims to bring injury rates down while ensuring a fit military force.

"We're not going soft," Bullock said. "What we're doing is increasing the intensity of the training, and the effect on heart, lungs and overall strength is actually better."

The Army, for example, is reducing the miles troops run, breaking soldiers into "ability groups" for distance runs, adding speed drills to its PT regime and substituting grass drills and other forms of exercise for running.

"We have recommended no more than 30 minutes of running, and no more than three or four times a week," Bullock said.

Higher-intensity, shorter-distance runs and interval training increase troops' speed and stamina with less risk of injuries, he said. At the same time, this more balanced approach to PT actually improves their ability to perform in combat.

"What we do in the military is explosive energy," Bullock said. "Soldiers need to be able to move quickly. They need balance and coordination. That's not something they're going to get through lumbering, long, slow runs."

For their running programs, Bullock advises units to incorporate these training elements into their programs:

-- Follow a standardized, gradual and systematic progression of running distance and speed. Begin with lower mileage and intensity, especially in programs for new recruits, people changing units or those returning to PT after time off for leave or an injury.

-- Structure injury-prevention programs to target troops of average or below-average fitness levels who are at the greatest risk of injury, and ensure they're running appropriate mileages.

-- Place troops in ability groups based on PT scores and measure their runs by time, not distance. This will reduce the risk of injury among the least-fit troops without holding back the higher performers.

-- Avoid remedial PT programs that require the least-fit troops to do more training than fit ones. This increases their injury risk, often with little or no improvement in their fitness.

-- Substitute higher-intensity, shorter-distance runs like repeated sprints, "Fartlek" training and other interval training activities for some distance runs.

-- Build in time for troops' bodies to recover and rebuild following demanding PT sessions to reduce the risk of overtraining injuries.

"Injuries are the biggest threat to our forces and our readiness," Bullock said. "Our goal is to help the military understand the burden of injuries and refocus their approach to physical training to reduce injuries in a way that actually improves readiness."

Sponsors of the article include criminal justice online leadership; and, military and police personnel who have written books.

Humor, Vintage Aircraft and the Windy City

January 15, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com added five new police officers to the growing list of state and local police officers who have authored books. Police-Writers.com now lists 258 police officers turned writers and their 658 books. Added during this round here Charles Shafer, Richard Solita, Lou Fugaro, Terry Roger and Joseph Kozenczak.

Charles Shafer retired from the Chicago Police Department after 28 years, of which 25 were spent as a detective. His short fiction and articles have appeared world wide, in such magazines as Crime Time, Crime Factory, Mystery Scene, and Murderous Intent. His first novel, “On Cabrini Green,” was published in 2000. His second novel, “Chicago Stretch,” was released in 2003.

According to Kerry J. Schooley, “On Cabrini Green is not just yuks. Shafer fashions a solid plot that depicts victims drawn to their fates through their own rapacious greed. Narration shifts points of view to keep the story moving briskly. Readers get a broad-shouldered tour that reveals even tourist-familiar sections of the Windy City from sharply different angles.”

After retiring from the Chicago Police Department, Richard Solita, wrote a humorous, insider’s tale of his journey from “rookie to veteran” in “Twenty Years of Vaudeville and a Pension: What Really Happens Behind the Badge Based on True Stories of Chicago's Finest.” Earl Zuelke, Commander Chicago Police Department, Marine Unit, said, “ Having over thirty-five years in law enforcement, I found this book to be quite amusing, as well as bringing back memories of many similar past experiences. I recommend this book to those who have lived the job and anyone that would like to get an insiders perspective on it.”

Lou Fugaro is a past member of the prestigious Chicago Crime Commission, pilot by passion, police officer and licensed private detective by vocation. Indeed, he dabbled in investigations to the age of seventy-one.

In the early months of the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force. Although he is a combat veteran, he describes his four medals insignificant. Upon return to the states he began a career in law enforcement. Most of his twenty-six years as a police officer were spent on the street as a Detective Sergeant. However, he retired as a Deputy Chief on the Downers Grove Police Department. Post policing career, he spent ten years as a private detective in four Midwest states and he dabbled in investigations for a second ten years in eight Southeast states.

An avid pilot, he has owned several aircraft from a 175 HP cabin Fairchild, (The R46 and Little Louie) up to a 3400 HP twin engine B-25, (Barbie III and Company). His latest book, “Giants Over Korea: A Sky Too Far” takes the reader to the early B-29 air war over North Korea with remarkable depth and frightening detail. His book on investigations takes the reader into the world of an authentic licensed private detective. Not only does he provide invaluable insights into being a private investigator, but he explores the world of a private investigator as a small business owner.

While Police-Writers.com hosts 258 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 657 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.