On September 4, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole features a discussion with former Army First Lieutenant and retired Oakland Police Department Sergeant Robert Searle.
Program Date: September 4, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Confessions of an Oakland Cop
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/09/05/Confessions-of-an-Oakland-Cop
About the Guest
Lieutenant Robert Searle, served in the United States Army for three years, including a tour in Vietnam, “spent approximately 23 years in law Enforcement after serving in the Vietnam War. Most of that time was with the Oakland California Police Department. There he worked as a Patrol Officer; as a Field Training Officer; Undercover Agent for The Federal Organized Crime Task Force; Sergeant in Patrol; and as a Sergeant in Major Narcotics Violators Unit of The Vice Squad.” Robert Searle is the author of Streets of Fire: Confessions of an Oakland Cop.
According to the book description of Streets of Fire: Confessions of an Oakland Cop, “The release of Streets of Fire could not be better timed; we need his story now! If you are COP (i.e., Constable on Patrol) Bob understands you. If you like intrigue, grit, excitement and nail biting action, read on! If you are a father, Bob's a great example: his three sons prove that. If you are a young person looking for a role-model, Bob's book is for you. If you are a hooker being controlled by your pimp, or an addiction, please read on. If you are a College student looking for a quick and exciting read, this is it! Or, if you are simply tired of insipid books that don't carry much weight nor deliver much punch, and you are looking for a book that delivers entertainment, counsel, intrigue, suspense, and-the occasional shock factor--then this book is for you!”
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/2009/09/05/Confessions-of-an-Oakland-Cop
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
How to Undress a Cop
On June 12, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with author Sarah Cortez and Liz MartÃnez.
Program Date: June 12, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: How to Undress a Cop
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/06/13/How-to-Undress-a-Cop
About the Guest
Sarah Cortez has been in law enforcement since 1993. During her career she has worked as a patrol officer, field training officer and sexual assault investigator. After her writing career began, she continued in law enforcement as a reserve police officer and been assigned as a juvenile bailiff, worked undercover during alcohol stings and assisted with the service of civil processes. Sarah Cortez is the author of How to Undress a Cop: Poems and a coauthor/editor of Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery.
Liz MartÃnez’ short stories have appeared in the anthologies Manhattan Noir, Queens Noir, and Cop Tales 2000, and in publications including COMBAT: the Literary Expression of Battlefield Touchstones and Police Officer’s Quarterly. Her short story “Kris Kringle” was Orchard Press Mystery’s Christmas 2000 feature. She is also the author of the non-fiction book The Retail Manager’s Guide to Crime and Loss Prevention, and her articles about security and law enforcement have appeared in publications around the world. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, and the Public Safety Writers Association. She and Sarah Cortez are also co-editors of the anthology Indian Country Noir from Akashic Books (Brooklyn).
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/2009/06/13/How-to-Undress-a-Cop
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: June 12, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: How to Undress a Cop
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/06/13/How-to-Undress-a-Cop
About the Guest
Sarah Cortez has been in law enforcement since 1993. During her career she has worked as a patrol officer, field training officer and sexual assault investigator. After her writing career began, she continued in law enforcement as a reserve police officer and been assigned as a juvenile bailiff, worked undercover during alcohol stings and assisted with the service of civil processes. Sarah Cortez is the author of How to Undress a Cop: Poems and a coauthor/editor of Hit List: The Best of Latino Mystery.
Liz MartÃnez’ short stories have appeared in the anthologies Manhattan Noir, Queens Noir, and Cop Tales 2000, and in publications including COMBAT: the Literary Expression of Battlefield Touchstones and Police Officer’s Quarterly. Her short story “Kris Kringle” was Orchard Press Mystery’s Christmas 2000 feature. She is also the author of the non-fiction book The Retail Manager’s Guide to Crime and Loss Prevention, and her articles about security and law enforcement have appeared in publications around the world. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers, and the Public Safety Writers Association. She and Sarah Cortez are also co-editors of the anthology Indian Country Noir from Akashic Books (Brooklyn).
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/2009/06/13/How-to-Undress-a-Cop
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Monday, December 29, 2008
Criminal Justice Jobs
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau within the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is the largest overt collector of financial intelligence in the United States. The mission of FinCEN is to safeguard the financial system from the abuses of financial crime, including terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit activity. We achieve this mission by administering the Bank Secrecy Act; supporting law enforcement, intelligence, and regulatory agencies through sharing and analysis of financial intelligence; building global cooperation with our counterpart financial intelligence units; and networking people, ideas, and information.
If you are you looking for a diverse opportunity where you can use your knowledge, skills, and expertise, an exciting career with FinCEN may be waiting for you. Please visit the links below to view the current job announcements. It is important to remember that when applying for a job at FinCEN, please be sure to follow all instructions contained in the job announcement to ensure that your application receives full consideration.
MORE INFORMATION
http://www.fincen.gov/careers/jobposting.html
If you are you looking for a diverse opportunity where you can use your knowledge, skills, and expertise, an exciting career with FinCEN may be waiting for you. Please visit the links below to view the current job announcements. It is important to remember that when applying for a job at FinCEN, please be sure to follow all instructions contained in the job announcement to ensure that your application receives full consideration.
MORE INFORMATION
http://www.fincen.gov/careers/jobposting.html
Friday, October 03, 2008
Geography and Public Safety Bulletin
The third issue of the Geography and Public Safety Bulletin newsletter is now available.
This issue examines how the nationwide home foreclosure crisis has affected crime, police practice, and public policy. Articles show that geographic information systems can assess how foreclosures influence crime trends and improve city cleanup of graffiti and blight. Additionally, the issue describes the tenets of the broken windows policing theory, and how this theory explains why police and public planners must react quickly, before crime has a chance to escalate.
Access Issue III of the Geography and Public Safety Bulletin: Volume 1, Issue III - Fall 2008 (pdf, 20 pages).
This issue examines how the nationwide home foreclosure crisis has affected crime, police practice, and public policy. Articles show that geographic information systems can assess how foreclosures influence crime trends and improve city cleanup of graffiti and blight. Additionally, the issue describes the tenets of the broken windows policing theory, and how this theory explains why police and public planners must react quickly, before crime has a chance to escalate.
Access Issue III of the Geography and Public Safety Bulletin: Volume 1, Issue III - Fall 2008 (pdf, 20 pages).
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Coquitlam, BC, will host a Crime Analysis Applications Course from October 6th to October 10th 2008. The course will be presented by Steve Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Training, and may be used for Certification purposes in the Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Program offered by the California Department of Justice and the California State University system.
This will be a "hands-on" applications course which takes a "learning-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform the tasks associated with Crime Analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's book, "Crime Analysis: From First Report to Final Arrest," a textbook over 600 pages which explains how to design, implement, and operate a Crime Analysis program, and how to use a wide variety of analytical techniques to forecast when and where criminals are likely to strike again. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's 150-page step-by-step "Crime Analysis Study Guide and Workbook," which will be used throughout the class. Tuition is $525.00 and includes the week of instruction, the text, workbook, and a wealth of handout materials.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact remittance Cpl Robert McDonald, RCMP, 2986 Guldford Way, Coquitlam, BC, Canada.You may also register by phone by calling Cpl McDonald at (604)945-1472 by faxing your registration form to him at (604)552-7303 or by email to: Robert.mcdonald@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com. Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com
This will be a "hands-on" applications course which takes a "learning-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform the tasks associated with Crime Analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's book, "Crime Analysis: From First Report to Final Arrest," a textbook over 600 pages which explains how to design, implement, and operate a Crime Analysis program, and how to use a wide variety of analytical techniques to forecast when and where criminals are likely to strike again. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's 150-page step-by-step "Crime Analysis Study Guide and Workbook," which will be used throughout the class. Tuition is $525.00 and includes the week of instruction, the text, workbook, and a wealth of handout materials.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact remittance Cpl Robert McDonald, RCMP, 2986 Guldford Way, Coquitlam, BC, Canada.You may also register by phone by calling Cpl McDonald at (604)945-1472 by faxing your registration form to him at (604)552-7303 or by email to: Robert.mcdonald@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com. Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com
Friday, August 08, 2008
Criminal Intelligence Analyst Course
The Dearborn Police Department, MI, is hosting an intensive 5-day Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course for intelligence officers and Crime and intelligence analysts from November 3 to November 7th 2008. The course will be presented by the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis and taught by Warren Sweeney, a thirty-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and former Intelligence Analysis Coordinator for the RCMP Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
This will be a "hands-on" course that takes a "learn-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform tasks associated with intelligence analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of The Intelligence Analyst's Sourcebook. Written by Warren Sweeney, this manual explains how to conduct, prepare, and present intelligence to enhance the investigative and decision-making process.
Participants will be taught how to turn data into information; how to distinguish differences between Tactical, Strategic, and Operational Intelligence; how to overcome resistance to the intelligence process, how to establish links between people, organizations, and events; how to chart events, commodity flow, and activities within the Criminal organization; how to present intelligence effectively in oral and written reports; how to use the power of the computer to assist the intelligence function; and money laundering secrets and techniques.
Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the text, and related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the California Department of Justice Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program and may be used for Certification purposes. It is beneficial, but not required, to bring a laptop computer with you, which will permit the installation of a graphics program: ABC SnapGraphics 1.0.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com or contact Cpl Jeffrey Ball, Dearborn Police Department, MI, 313-943-2116, fax 313-943-3048 email jaball@ci.dearborn.mi.us. Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website www.alphagroupcenter.com.
This will be a "hands-on" course that takes a "learn-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform tasks associated with intelligence analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of The Intelligence Analyst's Sourcebook. Written by Warren Sweeney, this manual explains how to conduct, prepare, and present intelligence to enhance the investigative and decision-making process.
Participants will be taught how to turn data into information; how to distinguish differences between Tactical, Strategic, and Operational Intelligence; how to overcome resistance to the intelligence process, how to establish links between people, organizations, and events; how to chart events, commodity flow, and activities within the Criminal organization; how to present intelligence effectively in oral and written reports; how to use the power of the computer to assist the intelligence function; and money laundering secrets and techniques.
Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the text, and related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the California Department of Justice Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program and may be used for Certification purposes. It is beneficial, but not required, to bring a laptop computer with you, which will permit the installation of a graphics program: ABC SnapGraphics 1.0.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com or contact Cpl Jeffrey Ball, Dearborn Police Department, MI, 313-943-2116, fax 313-943-3048 email jaball@ci.dearborn.mi.us. Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website www.alphagroupcenter.com.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Criminal Investigative Analysis Course
The Murfreesboro Police Department, TN will host a Criminal Investigative Analysis Course from September 22nd to September 26th 2008. The course will be presented by Wayne Porter of the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Training, and may be used for Certification purposes in the Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program offered by the California Department of Justice and the California State University system.
Mr. Porter is an FBI-certified Police fellow profiler who for 11 years profiled serial rape and homicide cases as a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, several of which have been featured on television's A&E's Investigative Reports and Court TV. Currently maintaining his sworn status as a Reserve Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Mr. Porter, who retired with 32 years in Law Enforcement, now consults and instructs on violent Crime topics along with practical applications of Criminal investigative analysis techniques for Law Enforcement organizations throughout North America.
Designed for both investigators and Crime analysts who are responsible for investigating or assisting in the investigation of rape, homicide, and violent Crime cases, this course takes a very practical "learn-by-doing" approach to training that, through lectures and demonstration, provides students with numerous opportunities to walk through the analytical process in the analysis of serial rape and homicide. Participants learn how to analyze Crime scene patterns, recognize the all-important signatures of serial violent crime such as homicide and rape, identify the behavioral, physical, and personality characteristics of offenders who commit these crimes. They'll also be shown how to determine the offender's obsessions and motivations, how to determine if, when, and where offenders may strike again. In addition the course will address the target selection process of offenders, sexual deviants behaviors exhibited by the offender, how female serial killers differ from male serial killers, and how social and environmental factors shape an offender's life.
Each participant will receive a copy of "The Criminal Investigative Analysis Study Guide and Workbook," a manual of over 700 pages of class notes and supplemental reading material, and a CD of "Managing Death Investigations," by Arthur Westveer, Jr., containing over 600 pages of material for the investigation of many types of violent deaths. This is an unique opportunity to become more aware of the investigative analysis process currently preformed by the Police-fellow and F.B.I. profilers. The student will learn the importance of walking in the shoes of both the suspect and the victim.
Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction and all related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysts Program and may be used for certification purposes.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact remittance Lt Steve Teeters, Murfreesboro Police Department, 324 S.Church St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.You may also register by phone by calling Lt Teeters at (615) 895-3874 by faxing your registration form to him at (615) 849-2628 or by email to: steeters@ci.murfreesboro.tn.us or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com
Mr. Porter is an FBI-certified Police fellow profiler who for 11 years profiled serial rape and homicide cases as a Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, several of which have been featured on television's A&E's Investigative Reports and Court TV. Currently maintaining his sworn status as a Reserve Special Agent with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Mr. Porter, who retired with 32 years in Law Enforcement, now consults and instructs on violent Crime topics along with practical applications of Criminal investigative analysis techniques for Law Enforcement organizations throughout North America.
Designed for both investigators and Crime analysts who are responsible for investigating or assisting in the investigation of rape, homicide, and violent Crime cases, this course takes a very practical "learn-by-doing" approach to training that, through lectures and demonstration, provides students with numerous opportunities to walk through the analytical process in the analysis of serial rape and homicide. Participants learn how to analyze Crime scene patterns, recognize the all-important signatures of serial violent crime such as homicide and rape, identify the behavioral, physical, and personality characteristics of offenders who commit these crimes. They'll also be shown how to determine the offender's obsessions and motivations, how to determine if, when, and where offenders may strike again. In addition the course will address the target selection process of offenders, sexual deviants behaviors exhibited by the offender, how female serial killers differ from male serial killers, and how social and environmental factors shape an offender's life.
Each participant will receive a copy of "The Criminal Investigative Analysis Study Guide and Workbook," a manual of over 700 pages of class notes and supplemental reading material, and a CD of "Managing Death Investigations," by Arthur Westveer, Jr., containing over 600 pages of material for the investigation of many types of violent deaths. This is an unique opportunity to become more aware of the investigative analysis process currently preformed by the Police-fellow and F.B.I. profilers. The student will learn the importance of walking in the shoes of both the suspect and the victim.
Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction and all related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysts Program and may be used for certification purposes.
To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact remittance Lt Steve Teeters, Murfreesboro Police Department, 324 S.Church St, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.You may also register by phone by calling Lt Teeters at (615) 895-3874 by faxing your registration form to him at (615) 849-2628 or by email to: steeters@ci.murfreesboro.tn.us or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Public Safety Technology in the News
Mapping Technology Used to Curb Drunk Driving
9news.com, (06/28/2008), Adam Chodak
The Weld County (Colorado) Sheriff's Office is using GIS Technology to reduce drunken driving incidents. The agency has the responsibility of patrolling and monitoring 3,000 miles of roads. In an effort to prevent and reduce DUI incidents, the agency is using GIS Technology to help generate "hotspot" maps that key on DUI-related traffic reports. Officers then use the information as a guide when conducting DUI checkpoints. Prior to the use of GIS Technology, the agency relied on word-of-mouth reports or used officers to review traffic reports to assess where to place the checkpoints. Agency officials say the use of GIS Technology has led to more effective use of agency resources and staff.
www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=94655&catid=188
Police Get High-Tech Help
Opelika-Auburn News, (07/07/2008), Katie Stallcup
Veteran law enforcement officers have the ability and perspective to see firsthand how Technology has affected their jobs. Technology advancements include the use of mobile data terminals (MDTs) in police cruisers versus officers having to return to the station to work at a desktop computer, or in some cases a typewriter, to fill out forms or search for information. Another equipment advancement is the use of lightweight body armor, as opposed to body armor of the 1970s that was big, bulky, and very rigid. Technology advancements in other aspects of law enforcement have led to the conclusion that technology is becoming an important aspect of an officer's job; however face-to-face human contact is still important for the communities they serve.
www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/police_get_high_tech_help/21761/
McCain Pushes for Public Safety Network
Cnet.com, (07/02/2008), Marguerite Reardon
Senator John McCain has indicated his support for the establishment of a National Public Safety Network. Speaking at the National Sheriff's Association's annual conference in July, McCain, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, said his plan is to have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) make more radio spectrum available for public safety, while limiting the amount of spectrum available for the private sector. The FCC auctioned off a portion of the spectrum that will be vacated as a result of the transition of TV broadcasts from analog to digital in 2009. The auction, however, did not provide the anticipated results, so a second auction may occur. The FCC is also exploring a possible auction of "white space" spectrum, the area between broadcast TV channels. Internet and computer companies have indicated that this portion of the spectrum could be used for wireless broadband networking.
news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-9983187-94.html
Police Wnt U to Fight crime w/txt Msgs
Associated Press, (07/02/2008), Mitch Stacy
Since police agencies in Boston and Cincinnati began accepting text messages about a year ago, the number of agencies that have adopted or plan to adopt similar Technology has grown to more than 100. The option has already proved useful for a hearing-impaired man in Boston who used text messaging to file a domestic violence report. For citizen tipsters, the system allows anonymity by routing messages through a server that encrypts the tipster's cell phone number. Rewards for successful tips are still offered; the text message tip provider is issued a code to provide to the bank issuing the reward. Agencies acknowledge that just like crime hotlines, text messaging may take time to catch on, and officers need time to become fluent in text message shorthand, but the potential exists for success.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_hi_te/police_text_messages
Hernando: Interactive crime Tracking
Tampa Bay's 10 News, (07/07/2008), Elizabeth Gold
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office in Florida is the first county in the State, and one of five nationally, to implement an online crime mapping system available to the public. Citizens with computer access can view an interactive map of the agency's service area and zoom in to get details of various crimes by clicking on an icon. The site statistics and information go back only 30 days to reduce volume, and the information will be updated every morning. Florida law prohibits the agency from providing data that could put a victim's safety at risk in cases like child abuse, stalking, or other sex crimes.
www.tampabays10.com/news/local/crime/story.aspx?storyid=84279&catid=82
Non-Lethal Weapons: Police Technology Targets Enhanced Safety
News.inventhelp.com, (07/08/2008), Shad Connelly
Tools for law enforcement that make apprehension of suspects safer for all parties involved are being developed for many scenarios. For example, the StarChase System mounts inside the grill of a patrol car. It uses a compressed air launcher with a laser targeting system to launch at the fleeing vehicle a GPS device that contains a transmitter, a receiver, and a power supply. Once the device is deployed, dispatchers and other qualified agency personnel can track the car and use the data to facilitate an intercept of the suspect vehicle. They can also decide that officers should discontinue the pursuit and track the vehicle to a better location for apprehension. For foot patrol officers, a LED Incapacitator is available that works the same way as a flashlight. It uses an extremely bright flashing sequence in multiple colors and patterns that makes it difficult for a human brain to adjust. This disorients the suspect, temporarily providing the officer with cover and the chan! ce to apprehend the suspect.
news.inventhelp.com/Articles/Security/Inventions/starchase-12468.aspx
Dogs' New Trick: Finding Cell Phones
The Washington Post, (07/10/2008), Dan Morse
The Maryland Department of Corrections has enlisted the services of three dogs to thwart smuggling of cell phones into prisons. Cell phones in prison provide inmates the opportunity to continue to carry on illegal activity outside the prison, threaten or intimidate witnesses relating to their case, or conduct activity within the prison. The part of the cell phone that dogs key on for searches is not clear, but for dogs cell phone detection is harder that marijuana detection. Also employing this technique is the Virginia Department of Corrections, which currently has six dogs trained.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902174.html?hpid=topnews
Company Designs law enforcement Tool
The Stamford Times, (07/10/2008), Stephanie Paulino
A new product will help law enforcement gather cell phone forensic. Developed by iCard Forensics, Trace can extract data from one of the 1,300 cell phones it is compatible with and then generate a report for use by investigators. The report can detail inbound and outbound calls, e-mail, phone location in relation to cell towers, and text and photo messaging. The unit employs write blocker to prevent damage to the cell phone and possible evidence during extraction. Trace is capable of interacting with Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, and AT&T phones. The product will be distributed to agencies on a case-by-case basis, and includes a 1-year license that will have to be renewed.
www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/360418338572963.php
OnStar Can 'Catch' Stolen Vehicles
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, (07/09/2008), Jill King Greenwood
New antitheft Technology from OnStar will serve to keep citizens safe and help law enforcement end pursuits in safely. The Pennsylvania State Police received a demonstration of how the product works. Once the vehicle is reported stolen or identified by police as stolen, the OnStar dispatcher can enable the hazard lights to alert other drivers that the car is experiencing a problem and to alert law enforcement that the car is equipped with OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Technology. The hazard lights are only visible outside the vehicle; the thief will see nothing on the console. The officers can then contact OnStar to activate the system, which will allow the driver to steer and brake, but the car will slow down regardless of how hard the driver presses the gas pedal. Once the situation is declared clear by police OnStar will reactivate the car.
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_576648.html
New Pornography-Detection Tool Makes It Difficult for Sex Offenders and Teens to Hide Pornography
PRWeb.com, (07/10/2008)
A tool originally developed for and used by law enforcement to investigate pornography is being expanded for use by parents, schools, and businesses. SurfRecon 2008, developed by SurfRecon, Inc., is a portable, rapid-image-analysis tool that can identify pornographic material on most computers systems. The package provides law enforcement with the ability to quickly scan a computer to locate, group, report on, and delete files from the computer. The company felt the Technology is a tool that could benefit parents and business. Local, State, and Federal law enforcement and adult parole and probation officers currently use the product, which comes preinstalled on a thumb or flash drive for portability.
www.prweb.com/releases/surfrecon/tool/prweb1015174.htm
9news.com, (06/28/2008), Adam Chodak
The Weld County (Colorado) Sheriff's Office is using GIS Technology to reduce drunken driving incidents. The agency has the responsibility of patrolling and monitoring 3,000 miles of roads. In an effort to prevent and reduce DUI incidents, the agency is using GIS Technology to help generate "hotspot" maps that key on DUI-related traffic reports. Officers then use the information as a guide when conducting DUI checkpoints. Prior to the use of GIS Technology, the agency relied on word-of-mouth reports or used officers to review traffic reports to assess where to place the checkpoints. Agency officials say the use of GIS Technology has led to more effective use of agency resources and staff.
www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=94655&catid=188
Police Get High-Tech Help
Opelika-Auburn News, (07/07/2008), Katie Stallcup
Veteran law enforcement officers have the ability and perspective to see firsthand how Technology has affected their jobs. Technology advancements include the use of mobile data terminals (MDTs) in police cruisers versus officers having to return to the station to work at a desktop computer, or in some cases a typewriter, to fill out forms or search for information. Another equipment advancement is the use of lightweight body armor, as opposed to body armor of the 1970s that was big, bulky, and very rigid. Technology advancements in other aspects of law enforcement have led to the conclusion that technology is becoming an important aspect of an officer's job; however face-to-face human contact is still important for the communities they serve.
www.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/police_get_high_tech_help/21761/
McCain Pushes for Public Safety Network
Cnet.com, (07/02/2008), Marguerite Reardon
Senator John McCain has indicated his support for the establishment of a National Public Safety Network. Speaking at the National Sheriff's Association's annual conference in July, McCain, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, said his plan is to have the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) make more radio spectrum available for public safety, while limiting the amount of spectrum available for the private sector. The FCC auctioned off a portion of the spectrum that will be vacated as a result of the transition of TV broadcasts from analog to digital in 2009. The auction, however, did not provide the anticipated results, so a second auction may occur. The FCC is also exploring a possible auction of "white space" spectrum, the area between broadcast TV channels. Internet and computer companies have indicated that this portion of the spectrum could be used for wireless broadband networking.
news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-9983187-94.html
Police Wnt U to Fight crime w/txt Msgs
Associated Press, (07/02/2008), Mitch Stacy
Since police agencies in Boston and Cincinnati began accepting text messages about a year ago, the number of agencies that have adopted or plan to adopt similar Technology has grown to more than 100. The option has already proved useful for a hearing-impaired man in Boston who used text messaging to file a domestic violence report. For citizen tipsters, the system allows anonymity by routing messages through a server that encrypts the tipster's cell phone number. Rewards for successful tips are still offered; the text message tip provider is issued a code to provide to the bank issuing the reward. Agencies acknowledge that just like crime hotlines, text messaging may take time to catch on, and officers need time to become fluent in text message shorthand, but the potential exists for success.
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_hi_te/police_text_messages
Hernando: Interactive crime Tracking
Tampa Bay's 10 News, (07/07/2008), Elizabeth Gold
The Hernando County Sheriff's Office in Florida is the first county in the State, and one of five nationally, to implement an online crime mapping system available to the public. Citizens with computer access can view an interactive map of the agency's service area and zoom in to get details of various crimes by clicking on an icon. The site statistics and information go back only 30 days to reduce volume, and the information will be updated every morning. Florida law prohibits the agency from providing data that could put a victim's safety at risk in cases like child abuse, stalking, or other sex crimes.
www.tampabays10.com/news/local/crime/story.aspx?storyid=84279&catid=82
Non-Lethal Weapons: Police Technology Targets Enhanced Safety
News.inventhelp.com, (07/08/2008), Shad Connelly
Tools for law enforcement that make apprehension of suspects safer for all parties involved are being developed for many scenarios. For example, the StarChase System mounts inside the grill of a patrol car. It uses a compressed air launcher with a laser targeting system to launch at the fleeing vehicle a GPS device that contains a transmitter, a receiver, and a power supply. Once the device is deployed, dispatchers and other qualified agency personnel can track the car and use the data to facilitate an intercept of the suspect vehicle. They can also decide that officers should discontinue the pursuit and track the vehicle to a better location for apprehension. For foot patrol officers, a LED Incapacitator is available that works the same way as a flashlight. It uses an extremely bright flashing sequence in multiple colors and patterns that makes it difficult for a human brain to adjust. This disorients the suspect, temporarily providing the officer with cover and the chan! ce to apprehend the suspect.
news.inventhelp.com/Articles/Security/Inventions/starchase-12468.aspx
Dogs' New Trick: Finding Cell Phones
The Washington Post, (07/10/2008), Dan Morse
The Maryland Department of Corrections has enlisted the services of three dogs to thwart smuggling of cell phones into prisons. Cell phones in prison provide inmates the opportunity to continue to carry on illegal activity outside the prison, threaten or intimidate witnesses relating to their case, or conduct activity within the prison. The part of the cell phone that dogs key on for searches is not clear, but for dogs cell phone detection is harder that marijuana detection. Also employing this technique is the Virginia Department of Corrections, which currently has six dogs trained.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/09/AR2008070902174.html?hpid=topnews
Company Designs law enforcement Tool
The Stamford Times, (07/10/2008), Stephanie Paulino
A new product will help law enforcement gather cell phone forensic. Developed by iCard Forensics, Trace can extract data from one of the 1,300 cell phones it is compatible with and then generate a report for use by investigators. The report can detail inbound and outbound calls, e-mail, phone location in relation to cell towers, and text and photo messaging. The unit employs write blocker to prevent damage to the cell phone and possible evidence during extraction. Trace is capable of interacting with Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, and AT&T phones. The product will be distributed to agencies on a case-by-case basis, and includes a 1-year license that will have to be renewed.
www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/360418338572963.php
OnStar Can 'Catch' Stolen Vehicles
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, (07/09/2008), Jill King Greenwood
New antitheft Technology from OnStar will serve to keep citizens safe and help law enforcement end pursuits in safely. The Pennsylvania State Police received a demonstration of how the product works. Once the vehicle is reported stolen or identified by police as stolen, the OnStar dispatcher can enable the hazard lights to alert other drivers that the car is experiencing a problem and to alert law enforcement that the car is equipped with OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Technology. The hazard lights are only visible outside the vehicle; the thief will see nothing on the console. The officers can then contact OnStar to activate the system, which will allow the driver to steer and brake, but the car will slow down regardless of how hard the driver presses the gas pedal. Once the situation is declared clear by police OnStar will reactivate the car.
www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_576648.html
New Pornography-Detection Tool Makes It Difficult for Sex Offenders and Teens to Hide Pornography
PRWeb.com, (07/10/2008)
A tool originally developed for and used by law enforcement to investigate pornography is being expanded for use by parents, schools, and businesses. SurfRecon 2008, developed by SurfRecon, Inc., is a portable, rapid-image-analysis tool that can identify pornographic material on most computers systems. The package provides law enforcement with the ability to quickly scan a computer to locate, group, report on, and delete files from the computer. The company felt the Technology is a tool that could benefit parents and business. Local, State, and Federal law enforcement and adult parole and probation officers currently use the product, which comes preinstalled on a thumb or flash drive for portability.
www.prweb.com/releases/surfrecon/tool/prweb1015174.htm
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Public Safety Technology in the News
Military WrapsTM Unveils New Camouflage Technology PIRATETM
Stockhouse.com, (06/13/2008)
To aid law enforcement and military personnel in achieving realistic training exercises, Military WrapsTM, Inc., which specializes in camouflage concealment, has created Photo-Immersive Realistic Aides for Training Environments (PIRATETM). The system is designed to accurately create and depict situations based on high-megapixel images that can be altered to enhance the perception of scale and perspective for the user, and then the images are printed to special vinyls. These vinyls can be used to make rooms, offices, city blocks, schools, or parade routes and then be applied to the interior or exterior of the agencies training facility.
www.stockhouse.com/News/USReleasesDetail.aspx?n=6939185
Tasers Getting More Prominent Role in Crime Fighting in City
The New York Times, (06/15/2008), Al Baker
One of the Nation's largest police forces is re-evaluating the use of the Taser as a less-lethal option for the department. However, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) isn't just putting the units out on the streets; it is using a study from the RAND Corporation, using feedback from department personnel about the study, and using an internal study between two similar departments (one with the Taser and one without) as a guide for the implementation of the Taser. The RAND study was commissioned in 2007 after a police-involved shooting found two things: that additional study would be needed based on current available Taser use data, and the department's 455 fatal police-involved shootings may have ended differently had a Taser been an alternative. For now, NYPD's plan is to move Tasers from the trunks of certain vehicles to the gun belts of the agency's 3,500 sergeants while continuing to analyze full implementation of the Taser units.
www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/nyregion/15taser.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
GE Security's MobileTrace Helps Iredell County Sheriff Identify Narcotics-Tainted Cash
BusinessWire.com, (06/16/2008)
Iredell County Sheriff's Office officers using GE Security, Inc's MobileTrace were able to seize almost $300,000 cash from a rental car stop. The MobileTrace technology is portable and capable of detecting explosive and narcotics at the same time. The information collected by the units can be used as evidence and allows officers to evaluate findings in a timely fashion while in the field.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080616005275&newsLang=en
DuPont Announces New Kevlar Technology
Forbes.com, (06/16/2008), Randall Chase
The development of a more demanding National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard for body armor has resulted in DuPont, Inc., producing a new Kevlar product. The new product is a lighter woven material coupled with a new process for coating the fibers. According to DuPont, the new material will stop the projectile sooner with less layers, allowing the remaining layers to protect against backface deformation. The new material will have a broad range of applications for the company, but initially the aim is greater protection for law enforcement against high-caliber handguns.
www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/16/ap5121589.html
Tech-Savvy: Mineral Co. Sheriff's Office Gets New Equipment
News-Tribune, (06/13/2008), Bobbie Carpenter
The Mineral County Sheriff's Office is purchasing laptops to be installed in 6 of the agency's 12 cruisers. These laptops must be in place and be used to transmit electronic traffic reports by 2009 in order to comply with a State mandated law. The first six laptops were purchased using a Federal grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program, and additional laptops for the remaining cruisers will hopefully be funded through the county's budget. The sheriff's office used concealed weapons funding to purchase the mounts for the first six vehicles to be equipped with the laptops.
www.newstribune.info/news/x822800157/Tech-savvy-Mineral-Co-Sheriff-s-Department-gets-new-equipment
Police Use GPS-Equipped Bait Car to Catch Car Thieves
Government Technology, (06/09/2008), Jim McKay
Catching car thieves using a bait car began in the late 1990s, but required much police manpower to monitor the vehicle. Times have changed, and now officers can go about their regular duties instead of monitoring the vehicle. In Sacramento, California, the bait car is equipped with GPS that activates should the car be tampered with or started, and alerts police dispatch at the command center so they can track the vehicle's location and notify nearby officers to respond. Should the thief try to run when officers attempt to stop the vehicle, the dispatcher will be notified and has the ability to activate the car's kill switch, which will gradually slow down and shut off the vehicle. For added measure, the dispatcher can also lock the car to prevent the thief from running away on foot. Benefits of this type of system are huge, both for police and the public because it eliminates and/or significantly reduces the opportunity for a high-speed chase.
www.govtech.com/gt/366274?topic=117680
CSI: Anchorage-Summertime Sleuths
Anchorage Daily News, (06/16/2008), Megan Holland
Riding the popularity wave of the "CSI" series and subsequent spinoffs, a summer camp started by a South Anchorage High biology teacher draws on the popularity to teach students and maybe develop future forensic specialists. Students participate in mock crime scenes to gather and analyze evidence to help solve the "crime." Along the way, and without noticing because of the fun they are having, students learn biology, chemistry, and physics. The camp is operated by the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers.
www.adn.com/crime/story/437803.html
DNA Evidence Gains Acceptance as a Key Tool in Robbery Cases
The Wall Street Journal, (06/19/2008), Gautam Naik
DNA evidence more commonly used for serious offenses like rape or murder is now being considered as an option for helping to solve property crimes. However, the down side to what seems to be an effective tool is the cost associated with such analysis. Analysis may be or can be more than some jurisdictions can afford. A five-city pilot project funded by the National Institute of Justice indicated that DNA evidence can have a powerful and positive affect on property crime investigations. According to Steve Allison of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center at Denver University, "People committing serious crimes usually start on smaller ones. So through this process you can get these people identified and in the system earlier." This concept is now new in Great Britain, which has embraced a broader use of DNA evidence, and because of the results the U.S. Department of Justice funded this five-city project.
online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121384113207187445-lMyQjAxMDI4MTEzOTgxNDkxWj.html
Tracking the Event Horizon
Corrections.com, (06/17/2008), Ann Coppola
The 9th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections conference highlighted the latest innovations in tools for offender monitoring, as well as risk assessment and testing, but it also showcased tools and technology not yet available to practitioners. Conference attendees involved in various aspects of community corrections came from several foreign countries and 44 U.S. States. One technology on display was hybrid GPS tracking that incorporated cellular communications to ensure indoor tracking and monitoring. The conference sponsor, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-Rocky Mountain, introduced the newest version of Field Search and discussed the future release of a Macintosh compatible version. Of particular note was the increase in law enforcement attendees. Agencies are seeing advantages to working with those in the community corrections field due to the information produced as a result of offender monitoring.
www.corrections.com/news/article/18816
Pistol Cam: When Cops Draw This Point-and-Shoot, Say Cheese
Wired.com, (06/23/2008), Vince Beiser
The SWAT team of the Orange County (New York) Sheriff's Office has recently begun using the PistolCam. The PistolCam is a small device, combining a video camera, a flashlight, and a laser sight, that attaches to the underside of a gun barrel. The camera begins recording when the gun is drawn and can store an hour of video. Developed by Legend Technologies, the PistolCam is priced at $695.
www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/16-07/st_pistolcams
Stockhouse.com, (06/13/2008)
To aid law enforcement and military personnel in achieving realistic training exercises, Military WrapsTM, Inc., which specializes in camouflage concealment, has created Photo-Immersive Realistic Aides for Training Environments (PIRATETM). The system is designed to accurately create and depict situations based on high-megapixel images that can be altered to enhance the perception of scale and perspective for the user, and then the images are printed to special vinyls. These vinyls can be used to make rooms, offices, city blocks, schools, or parade routes and then be applied to the interior or exterior of the agencies training facility.
www.stockhouse.com/News/USReleasesDetail.aspx?n=6939185
Tasers Getting More Prominent Role in Crime Fighting in City
The New York Times, (06/15/2008), Al Baker
One of the Nation's largest police forces is re-evaluating the use of the Taser as a less-lethal option for the department. However, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) isn't just putting the units out on the streets; it is using a study from the RAND Corporation, using feedback from department personnel about the study, and using an internal study between two similar departments (one with the Taser and one without) as a guide for the implementation of the Taser. The RAND study was commissioned in 2007 after a police-involved shooting found two things: that additional study would be needed based on current available Taser use data, and the department's 455 fatal police-involved shootings may have ended differently had a Taser been an alternative. For now, NYPD's plan is to move Tasers from the trunks of certain vehicles to the gun belts of the agency's 3,500 sergeants while continuing to analyze full implementation of the Taser units.
www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/nyregion/15taser.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
GE Security's MobileTrace Helps Iredell County Sheriff Identify Narcotics-Tainted Cash
BusinessWire.com, (06/16/2008)
Iredell County Sheriff's Office officers using GE Security, Inc's MobileTrace were able to seize almost $300,000 cash from a rental car stop. The MobileTrace technology is portable and capable of detecting explosive and narcotics at the same time. The information collected by the units can be used as evidence and allows officers to evaluate findings in a timely fashion while in the field.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080616005275&newsLang=en
DuPont Announces New Kevlar Technology
Forbes.com, (06/16/2008), Randall Chase
The development of a more demanding National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard for body armor has resulted in DuPont, Inc., producing a new Kevlar product. The new product is a lighter woven material coupled with a new process for coating the fibers. According to DuPont, the new material will stop the projectile sooner with less layers, allowing the remaining layers to protect against backface deformation. The new material will have a broad range of applications for the company, but initially the aim is greater protection for law enforcement against high-caliber handguns.
www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/16/ap5121589.html
Tech-Savvy: Mineral Co. Sheriff's Office Gets New Equipment
News-Tribune, (06/13/2008), Bobbie Carpenter
The Mineral County Sheriff's Office is purchasing laptops to be installed in 6 of the agency's 12 cruisers. These laptops must be in place and be used to transmit electronic traffic reports by 2009 in order to comply with a State mandated law. The first six laptops were purchased using a Federal grant from the Governor's Highway Safety Program, and additional laptops for the remaining cruisers will hopefully be funded through the county's budget. The sheriff's office used concealed weapons funding to purchase the mounts for the first six vehicles to be equipped with the laptops.
www.newstribune.info/news/x822800157/Tech-savvy-Mineral-Co-Sheriff-s-Department-gets-new-equipment
Police Use GPS-Equipped Bait Car to Catch Car Thieves
Government Technology, (06/09/2008), Jim McKay
Catching car thieves using a bait car began in the late 1990s, but required much police manpower to monitor the vehicle. Times have changed, and now officers can go about their regular duties instead of monitoring the vehicle. In Sacramento, California, the bait car is equipped with GPS that activates should the car be tampered with or started, and alerts police dispatch at the command center so they can track the vehicle's location and notify nearby officers to respond. Should the thief try to run when officers attempt to stop the vehicle, the dispatcher will be notified and has the ability to activate the car's kill switch, which will gradually slow down and shut off the vehicle. For added measure, the dispatcher can also lock the car to prevent the thief from running away on foot. Benefits of this type of system are huge, both for police and the public because it eliminates and/or significantly reduces the opportunity for a high-speed chase.
www.govtech.com/gt/366274?topic=117680
CSI: Anchorage-Summertime Sleuths
Anchorage Daily News, (06/16/2008), Megan Holland
Riding the popularity wave of the "CSI" series and subsequent spinoffs, a summer camp started by a South Anchorage High biology teacher draws on the popularity to teach students and maybe develop future forensic specialists. Students participate in mock crime scenes to gather and analyze evidence to help solve the "crime." Along the way, and without noticing because of the fun they are having, students learn biology, chemistry, and physics. The camp is operated by the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers.
www.adn.com/crime/story/437803.html
DNA Evidence Gains Acceptance as a Key Tool in Robbery Cases
The Wall Street Journal, (06/19/2008), Gautam Naik
DNA evidence more commonly used for serious offenses like rape or murder is now being considered as an option for helping to solve property crimes. However, the down side to what seems to be an effective tool is the cost associated with such analysis. Analysis may be or can be more than some jurisdictions can afford. A five-city pilot project funded by the National Institute of Justice indicated that DNA evidence can have a powerful and positive affect on property crime investigations. According to Steve Allison of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center at Denver University, "People committing serious crimes usually start on smaller ones. So through this process you can get these people identified and in the system earlier." This concept is now new in Great Britain, which has embraced a broader use of DNA evidence, and because of the results the U.S. Department of Justice funded this five-city project.
online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121384113207187445-lMyQjAxMDI4MTEzOTgxNDkxWj.html
Tracking the Event Horizon
Corrections.com, (06/17/2008), Ann Coppola
The 9th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections conference highlighted the latest innovations in tools for offender monitoring, as well as risk assessment and testing, but it also showcased tools and technology not yet available to practitioners. Conference attendees involved in various aspects of community corrections came from several foreign countries and 44 U.S. States. One technology on display was hybrid GPS tracking that incorporated cellular communications to ensure indoor tracking and monitoring. The conference sponsor, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-Rocky Mountain, introduced the newest version of Field Search and discussed the future release of a Macintosh compatible version. Of particular note was the increase in law enforcement attendees. Agencies are seeing advantages to working with those in the community corrections field due to the information produced as a result of offender monitoring.
www.corrections.com/news/article/18816
Pistol Cam: When Cops Draw This Point-and-Shoot, Say Cheese
Wired.com, (06/23/2008), Vince Beiser
The SWAT team of the Orange County (New York) Sheriff's Office has recently begun using the PistolCam. The PistolCam is a small device, combining a video camera, a flashlight, and a laser sight, that attaches to the underside of a gun barrel. The camera begins recording when the gun is drawn and can store an hour of video. Developed by Legend Technologies, the PistolCam is priced at $695.
www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/16-07/st_pistolcams
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Case Organization and Presentation Training Program
The Computer, Financial and Intelligence Division (CFI) of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Glynco, Ga is sponsoring the Case Organization and Presentation Training Program (COPTP).
CFI has been actively monitoring the development of computer software that can assist criminal investigators to electronically organize and manage complex cases. Over the past few years, incredible strides have been made which allow the investigator to collect, store and retrieve information and evidence electronically through the use of specialized computer applications originally designed for the business community. This same digitized data can be used to create visually informative records and charts for use in investigative team briefings and/or presentations to a prosecutor or jury.
More importantly, the gradual transformation of the courtroom from traditional to high-tech is changing the way cases are presented. The new "Computer Integrated Courtroom" permits judicial participants to electronically present their evidence in a more efficient and expedient manner through the use of computers, monitors and document cameras.
Evidence presented at trial or to a grand jury can now be highlighted or enlarged for a more thorough review by the jury or adjudicating official. Criminal Investigators must stay abreast of these changes in order to remain at the forefront in the fight against crime.
COPTP will continue to change and evolve with each offering based on the innovation of computer technology trends. The goal of this program is to provide students with the ability to identify and select the case organizational tools best suited for their particular needs and to be skillful in successfully presenting their findings in an effective and professional manner.
Length: The COPTP is a five (5) day program. It begins on Monday and ends on Friday at noon of the same week.
Curriculum
Major Case Management
Prosecutors' Perspective
Case Organization and Excel Spreadsheets Database Inventories Emerging Software Electronic Courtroom RFFlow Drawing Software Integrating Audio and Video in Case Presentation Digital Evidence Creating Link Analysis Using PowerPoint Creating Timelines Scanning and OCR Electronic Bates Stamp and Bar-coding Documents Database Options for Case Organization - Investigative File Inventory Student Presentations
Students will be evaluated by the creation and presentation of a case using skills and technology taught in the program. A sample case is provided, but Students are encouraged to bring current or past case materials to use in the preparation of their case.
Prerequisites for Attendance
The participant needs to have basic computer skills prior to enrolling in this program.
The next progrma is in Houston, TX from August 18, 2008 to August 22, 2008. For more information contact Mike Darnell @ (912) 267-2377 or via mike.darnell@dhs.gov
CFI has been actively monitoring the development of computer software that can assist criminal investigators to electronically organize and manage complex cases. Over the past few years, incredible strides have been made which allow the investigator to collect, store and retrieve information and evidence electronically through the use of specialized computer applications originally designed for the business community. This same digitized data can be used to create visually informative records and charts for use in investigative team briefings and/or presentations to a prosecutor or jury.
More importantly, the gradual transformation of the courtroom from traditional to high-tech is changing the way cases are presented. The new "Computer Integrated Courtroom" permits judicial participants to electronically present their evidence in a more efficient and expedient manner through the use of computers, monitors and document cameras.
Evidence presented at trial or to a grand jury can now be highlighted or enlarged for a more thorough review by the jury or adjudicating official. Criminal Investigators must stay abreast of these changes in order to remain at the forefront in the fight against crime.
COPTP will continue to change and evolve with each offering based on the innovation of computer technology trends. The goal of this program is to provide students with the ability to identify and select the case organizational tools best suited for their particular needs and to be skillful in successfully presenting their findings in an effective and professional manner.
Length: The COPTP is a five (5) day program. It begins on Monday and ends on Friday at noon of the same week.
Curriculum
Major Case Management
Prosecutors' Perspective
Case Organization and Excel Spreadsheets Database Inventories Emerging Software Electronic Courtroom RFFlow Drawing Software Integrating Audio and Video in Case Presentation Digital Evidence Creating Link Analysis Using PowerPoint Creating Timelines Scanning and OCR Electronic Bates Stamp and Bar-coding Documents Database Options for Case Organization - Investigative File Inventory Student Presentations
Students will be evaluated by the creation and presentation of a case using skills and technology taught in the program. A sample case is provided, but Students are encouraged to bring current or past case materials to use in the preparation of their case.
Prerequisites for Attendance
The participant needs to have basic computer skills prior to enrolling in this program.
The next progrma is in Houston, TX from August 18, 2008 to August 22, 2008. For more information contact Mike Darnell @ (912) 267-2377 or via mike.darnell@dhs.gov
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Public Safety Technology in the News
SmartBadge Techs Up U.S. Police
iTnews, (05/13/2008), Liz Tay
A new type of police officers' badge will include a camera, Bluetooth technology, global positioning system technology, and radio, with possible future upgrades to include facial recognition for cross-checking motorists' licenses against police database records. Its developers have dubbed it the "SmartBadge" and hope that the tool will appeal to the law enforcement community because of the low cost, off-the-shelf technology. The tool was designed with foot patrol officers in mind to provide them access to the types of tools often available in cruisers that can make their jobs easier. The Albany, New York, police will be involved in testing this tool in late 2008.
www.itnews.com.au/News/75917,smartbadge-techs-up-us-police.aspx
Prisons Use RFID Systems To Track Inmates
Government Technology, (05/07/2008), Jim McKay
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which is used extensively by retail establishments and other commercial businesses, is now being used by developed for use in correctional facilities to track inmates and staff and to prevent problems before they occur. Facilities in states such as California, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota have implemented RFID inmate tracking systems. The use of RFID provides an added level of security to facilities, allowing staff to know where everyone inside the RF perimeter is at any time. Also, having this level of tracking and identification within a facility allows staff to keep known members of rival gangs away from each other. Furthermore, the system's capabilities can be used to expedite investigations involving inmates or staff by identifying individuals in the area at the time of an incident.
www.govtech.com/gt/312938
Online Maps Plot Crime in Dalton
Chattanooga Times/Free Press, (05/07/2008), Ryan Harris
Tyrone, Georgia, was a police department that used pushpins on a city map to plot criminal activity in its jurisdiction, but as of October 2007, the agency began using CrimeReports.org to plot that information. This change allows the agency to share the pushpin map with citizens of the community. The CrimeReports.org site allows users to register for e-mail alerts regarding crime activity in their area and to use the Google Maps feature to see visually where crimes are taking place. The city of Dalton, Georgia, joined the service last month at a cost of $100 per month; jurisdictions larger than 50,000 will be charged $200 per month. The service allows agencies to keep their citizenry involved and informed as to things happening in the city and it may allow citizens to help the police solve more crimes.
www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1375007/online_maps_plot_crime_in_dalton/
Sypherlink Introduces Out-of-the-Box Enhancement to Its NIE Gateway Solution for Law Enforcement; NIEM Harmonizer Enables Quick, Cost-Effective Data Sharing and NIEM Standards Conformance
FoxBusiness, (05/05/2008), Business Wire
Sypherlink, creator of the National Information Exchange (NIE) Gateway solution for law enforcement, has developed the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Harmonizer, an off-the-shelf enhancement to the original product. This add-on will expedite the sharing of vital information in accordance with the NIEM standard. The Harmonizer will work behind the scenes to automate the sharing and conversion of data, which will allow agency staff and vendors to focus on their day-to-day tasks.
www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/technology/sypherlink-introduces-box-enhancement-nie-gateway-solution-law-enforcement-niem/#
NYPD Plans Surveillance Data Network
Byte and Switch, (05/07/2008), James Rogers
In support of the New York Police Department's Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI), the agency is anticipating a massive storage upgrade to capture and carry streaming video from the area. The project will cover Manhattan's financial institutions such as Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as Ground Zero and city hall. Cameras will be deployed on roughly 1,000 buildings in the area and an undisclosed number of police cruisers. The LMSI system will handle the feeds from these locations, as well as from NYPD's Real Time Crime Center and other cruisers from around the city. This project will also involve the creation of two data centers, facial recognition software, and the use of Microsoft's Virtual Earth. Another aspect of LMSI is the installation of satellite dishes on all police precincts to ensure communications and network capabilities in the event of a flood or other natural disaster.
www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=153218&WT.svl=news1_1
Norwalk Police To Examine Gunshot Detection Device
Greenwich Time, (05/11/2008), John Nickerson
To reduce and better investigate an increasing amount of reports regarding shots fired in the city, the Norwalk Police Department is considering the acquisition of gunshot location/detection technology. It is hoped that the technology, if proven to be applicable in Norwalk, will help the department respond more quickly to shots fired calls, which have recently increased to three to four calls a week. Presently, officers respond to these calls by starting at the origin of the complaint and working out from that point. With this technology, they hope to be able to focus their investigations more accurately on the location of the shots.
www.greenwichtime.com/ci_9221947
How Can CCTV Spot Suspects by Clothing Logos?
BBC News Magazine, (05/07/2008)
The vast and established network of video surveillance used in the United Kingdom means the odds of committing a crime and not being caught on tape either before, during, or after the fact are very low. However, capturing a clear image of a perpetrator's face is not always guaranteed in spite of the amount of surveillance being used. But, thanks to software used by the sponsors of sporting events to track the visibility of their brand during television coverage of an event, police may be able to increase the odds of conviction in instances where the perpetrator's identity is obscured. For example, a crime is committed by an individual wearing clothing that has the Adidas logo on it. A still image of that individual is provided to the software to begin the search. The software searches police data and images from other cameras located near the crime scene for a match to that logo image, which could in turn result in a better image of the individual's face. The advantage fo! r law enforcement is a reduction in time spent manually viewing footage hoping for a hit.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7386337.stm
Police, Fire Departments Making the Upgrade
Abilene Reporter-News, (04/28/2008), Celinda Emison
Governor Rick Perry recently handed down the Texas Radio Communications Interoperability Plan, which orders all counties and cities to have communications equipment capable of interoperability by 2015. Counties and cities that are part of the West Central Texas Council of Governments (WCTCOG) have for the past 5 years been making use of grant funds to improve out-of-date systems; improve interoperability between police, fire and emergency services; and purchase equipment capable of regional usage in the event of a disaster. A needs assessment study conducted in 2001 identified $93 million in equipment needs, and from 2002 to 2007, $10 million in grant funds have been expended to update and improve systems. However, the biggest hurdle remains outdated analog equipment, which agencies have been urged to update to digital. For the 19 counties that make up the WCTCOG, communications issues remain a top priority.
www.reporternews.com/news/2008/apr/28/police-fire-departments-are-making-the-upgrade/
City to Remove 'Blue Light' Crime Cameras
Baltimore Sun, (05/16/2008), John Fritze
The Baltimore City Police Department will soon begin replacing 102 of its 454 closed circuit street surveillance cameras. The 102 portable overt digital surveillance system "pods" were installed in 2005; the technology has become outdated, and the manpower needed to render them effective deemed too significant. The city uses other cameras tied to a system that can be monitored at central location; however, the pods must be monitored on location using a laptop-style controller. The pods, by design, were meant to be seen and that visibility meant to contribute to their deterrent value. The city of Chicago is also making plans to replace this type of unit as part of an effort to have all of its cameras networked to a central location.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.cameras16may16,0,2866474.story
Local Law Enforcement Tap into LInX
WHQR, (05/13/2008), Peter Biello
Twenty agencies in North Carolina, including the Wilmington Police Department and sheriff's offices in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Onslow, have joined the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) initiative. The project, initiated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), has been established in nine regions nationally and is allowing officers from 20 North Carolina agencies access to that information network. Program Manager Brian Stampe likened the network to "Google for police officers." Agencies can use the network to search for potential leads in other agencies' information databases.
www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1277210§ionID=1
iTnews, (05/13/2008), Liz Tay
A new type of police officers' badge will include a camera, Bluetooth technology, global positioning system technology, and radio, with possible future upgrades to include facial recognition for cross-checking motorists' licenses against police database records. Its developers have dubbed it the "SmartBadge" and hope that the tool will appeal to the law enforcement community because of the low cost, off-the-shelf technology. The tool was designed with foot patrol officers in mind to provide them access to the types of tools often available in cruisers that can make their jobs easier. The Albany, New York, police will be involved in testing this tool in late 2008.
www.itnews.com.au/News/75917,smartbadge-techs-up-us-police.aspx
Prisons Use RFID Systems To Track Inmates
Government Technology, (05/07/2008), Jim McKay
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which is used extensively by retail establishments and other commercial businesses, is now being used by developed for use in correctional facilities to track inmates and staff and to prevent problems before they occur. Facilities in states such as California, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota have implemented RFID inmate tracking systems. The use of RFID provides an added level of security to facilities, allowing staff to know where everyone inside the RF perimeter is at any time. Also, having this level of tracking and identification within a facility allows staff to keep known members of rival gangs away from each other. Furthermore, the system's capabilities can be used to expedite investigations involving inmates or staff by identifying individuals in the area at the time of an incident.
www.govtech.com/gt/312938
Online Maps Plot Crime in Dalton
Chattanooga Times/Free Press, (05/07/2008), Ryan Harris
Tyrone, Georgia, was a police department that used pushpins on a city map to plot criminal activity in its jurisdiction, but as of October 2007, the agency began using CrimeReports.org to plot that information. This change allows the agency to share the pushpin map with citizens of the community. The CrimeReports.org site allows users to register for e-mail alerts regarding crime activity in their area and to use the Google Maps feature to see visually where crimes are taking place. The city of Dalton, Georgia, joined the service last month at a cost of $100 per month; jurisdictions larger than 50,000 will be charged $200 per month. The service allows agencies to keep their citizenry involved and informed as to things happening in the city and it may allow citizens to help the police solve more crimes.
www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1375007/online_maps_plot_crime_in_dalton/
Sypherlink Introduces Out-of-the-Box Enhancement to Its NIE Gateway Solution for Law Enforcement; NIEM Harmonizer Enables Quick, Cost-Effective Data Sharing and NIEM Standards Conformance
FoxBusiness, (05/05/2008), Business Wire
Sypherlink, creator of the National Information Exchange (NIE) Gateway solution for law enforcement, has developed the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Harmonizer, an off-the-shelf enhancement to the original product. This add-on will expedite the sharing of vital information in accordance with the NIEM standard. The Harmonizer will work behind the scenes to automate the sharing and conversion of data, which will allow agency staff and vendors to focus on their day-to-day tasks.
www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/technology/sypherlink-introduces-box-enhancement-nie-gateway-solution-law-enforcement-niem/#
NYPD Plans Surveillance Data Network
Byte and Switch, (05/07/2008), James Rogers
In support of the New York Police Department's Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI), the agency is anticipating a massive storage upgrade to capture and carry streaming video from the area. The project will cover Manhattan's financial institutions such as Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as Ground Zero and city hall. Cameras will be deployed on roughly 1,000 buildings in the area and an undisclosed number of police cruisers. The LMSI system will handle the feeds from these locations, as well as from NYPD's Real Time Crime Center and other cruisers from around the city. This project will also involve the creation of two data centers, facial recognition software, and the use of Microsoft's Virtual Earth. Another aspect of LMSI is the installation of satellite dishes on all police precincts to ensure communications and network capabilities in the event of a flood or other natural disaster.
www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=153218&WT.svl=news1_1
Norwalk Police To Examine Gunshot Detection Device
Greenwich Time, (05/11/2008), John Nickerson
To reduce and better investigate an increasing amount of reports regarding shots fired in the city, the Norwalk Police Department is considering the acquisition of gunshot location/detection technology. It is hoped that the technology, if proven to be applicable in Norwalk, will help the department respond more quickly to shots fired calls, which have recently increased to three to four calls a week. Presently, officers respond to these calls by starting at the origin of the complaint and working out from that point. With this technology, they hope to be able to focus their investigations more accurately on the location of the shots.
www.greenwichtime.com/ci_9221947
How Can CCTV Spot Suspects by Clothing Logos?
BBC News Magazine, (05/07/2008)
The vast and established network of video surveillance used in the United Kingdom means the odds of committing a crime and not being caught on tape either before, during, or after the fact are very low. However, capturing a clear image of a perpetrator's face is not always guaranteed in spite of the amount of surveillance being used. But, thanks to software used by the sponsors of sporting events to track the visibility of their brand during television coverage of an event, police may be able to increase the odds of conviction in instances where the perpetrator's identity is obscured. For example, a crime is committed by an individual wearing clothing that has the Adidas logo on it. A still image of that individual is provided to the software to begin the search. The software searches police data and images from other cameras located near the crime scene for a match to that logo image, which could in turn result in a better image of the individual's face. The advantage fo! r law enforcement is a reduction in time spent manually viewing footage hoping for a hit.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7386337.stm
Police, Fire Departments Making the Upgrade
Abilene Reporter-News, (04/28/2008), Celinda Emison
Governor Rick Perry recently handed down the Texas Radio Communications Interoperability Plan, which orders all counties and cities to have communications equipment capable of interoperability by 2015. Counties and cities that are part of the West Central Texas Council of Governments (WCTCOG) have for the past 5 years been making use of grant funds to improve out-of-date systems; improve interoperability between police, fire and emergency services; and purchase equipment capable of regional usage in the event of a disaster. A needs assessment study conducted in 2001 identified $93 million in equipment needs, and from 2002 to 2007, $10 million in grant funds have been expended to update and improve systems. However, the biggest hurdle remains outdated analog equipment, which agencies have been urged to update to digital. For the 19 counties that make up the WCTCOG, communications issues remain a top priority.
www.reporternews.com/news/2008/apr/28/police-fire-departments-are-making-the-upgrade/
City to Remove 'Blue Light' Crime Cameras
Baltimore Sun, (05/16/2008), John Fritze
The Baltimore City Police Department will soon begin replacing 102 of its 454 closed circuit street surveillance cameras. The 102 portable overt digital surveillance system "pods" were installed in 2005; the technology has become outdated, and the manpower needed to render them effective deemed too significant. The city uses other cameras tied to a system that can be monitored at central location; however, the pods must be monitored on location using a laptop-style controller. The pods, by design, were meant to be seen and that visibility meant to contribute to their deterrent value. The city of Chicago is also making plans to replace this type of unit as part of an effort to have all of its cameras networked to a central location.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.cameras16may16,0,2866474.story
Local Law Enforcement Tap into LInX
WHQR, (05/13/2008), Peter Biello
Twenty agencies in North Carolina, including the Wilmington Police Department and sheriff's offices in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Onslow, have joined the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) initiative. The project, initiated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), has been established in nine regions nationally and is allowing officers from 20 North Carolina agencies access to that information network. Program Manager Brian Stampe likened the network to "Google for police officers." Agencies can use the network to search for potential leads in other agencies' information databases.
www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1277210§ionID=1
Friday, May 16, 2008
THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN COMMUNITY SAFETY
Increasing numbers of people no longer view the safety of their neighborhoods as the sole responsibility of the police. Throughout the world, citizens in areas plagued by crime and violence are uniting to work with local government. Together, they have the knowledge and resources to identify and remove the sources of crime, drug use, and juvenile delinquency in their communities.
Developing and sustaining these partnerships requires strong local leadership from mayors, city managers, city planners, and other elected local officials. This monograph was prepared to help create that leadership by chronicling how local public officials have used community safety partnerships to build healthier communities. A framework for using community-local government partnerships to reduce crime now exists based on the experiences of public officials in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australasia. This framework includes the following:
• Recognizing crime and safety as a quality-of-life issue.
• Working across jurisdictional boundaries.
• Recognizing the crucial role of political leadership.
• Developing tools and measures of success that involve the community and victims of crime.
The programs examined in this monograph illustrate that this framework works best when adapted to the specific needs of a community. Good governance requires that mayors and other key local officials develop the capacity to respond to those needs.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/184218.pdf
Developing and sustaining these partnerships requires strong local leadership from mayors, city managers, city planners, and other elected local officials. This monograph was prepared to help create that leadership by chronicling how local public officials have used community safety partnerships to build healthier communities. A framework for using community-local government partnerships to reduce crime now exists based on the experiences of public officials in North America, Europe, Africa, and Australasia. This framework includes the following:
• Recognizing crime and safety as a quality-of-life issue.
• Working across jurisdictional boundaries.
• Recognizing the crucial role of political leadership.
• Developing tools and measures of success that involve the community and victims of crime.
The programs examined in this monograph illustrate that this framework works best when adapted to the specific needs of a community. Good governance requires that mayors and other key local officials develop the capacity to respond to those needs.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/184218.pdf
The Police-Based Victim Services Focus Group
On February 10-11, 2003, the International Association of Chiefs of Police held a focus group on the status of victim services and law enforcement that was attended by law enforcement leaders, line officers, detectives, victim advocates, and victims themselves. The concurrent goals of the focus group meeting, which consisted of general and breakout group sessions, were to: (1) identify critical and emerging issues, barriers and challenges facing law enforcement regarding victim services; and (2) recommend strategies to resolve these issues, overcome barriers and meet the identified challenges.
The focus group evolved from the IACP’s 1999 Summit on Victims of Crime, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, which brought together law enforcement leaders, representatives from the criminal justice system, victim advocates and victims to develop an action agenda in order to improve police response to victims. The participants of the summit identified seven critical needs of crime victims. These seven needs create, in turn, a set of criteria for effective victim services:
Access – Helping victim feel comfortable contacting the investigating officer to obtain or offer new information in their case helps ensure the victim will not feel left out of the system
Continuity – Coordination with local victim service providers and the prosecutor’s offices helps to ensure continuous service to the victim after the initial report is taken
Information – Availability of information in languages predominant in the community and in large print for the elderly should include resource sheets or brochures and relevant police and victim service contact numbers
Justice – Cooperation, communication and support through the entire criminal justice process will help ensure the satisfaction of all parties involved in a case: victims, police officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, etc.
Safety – Understanding the crisis reaction of victims and protecting the victim from future intimidation and harm helps enhance the victim’s sense of security
Support – Helping the victim feel comfortable to discuss the crime and letting the victim know that the police are concerned about their needs will create an atmosphere of support that may encourage improved cooperation with criminal justice agencies
Voice – Allowing victims to express their needs and concerns ensures their feedback is addressed when agencies determine how to respond to future victims
Using these criteria as a starting point, focus group participants discussed not only the general obstacles agencies face in developing effective victim services, but also the specific needs of different levels of law enforcement leadership, including chiefs and sheriffs, middle managers, first-line supervisors, line officers and detectives, field training officers (FTOs) and recruit officers, and training and certification agencies. This report will clarify those needs and strategies identified by focus group members to improve victim services in law enforcement agencies and provide a directional tool for law enforcement to use in advancing its approach to victim services.
Generally, focus group members concluded that the biggest impediments to enhancing the effectiveness of victim assistance programs in law enforcement agencies are 1) negative institutional forces and 2) lack of training for all levels of law enforcement. Attendees recommended that law enforcement receive specific training on communication and sensitivity issues to address these hurdles. With respect to the roles of different levels of leadership, participants stressed that superiors must clarify their expectations of subordinates, and officers must be held accountable for providing quality services to victims. Additionally, attendees suggested ways law enforcement can have a positive influence on prosecutors to improve victim services and can engage the public in ways that will raise awareness about the need for effective victim services. Focus group participants also noted that departments do not need a victim services unit to provide effective victim services; assistance to victims can be offered in ways that are appropriate to individual agencies.
READ ON
http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/Publications/PoliceBasedVictimFocusGrp.pdf
The focus group evolved from the IACP’s 1999 Summit on Victims of Crime, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, which brought together law enforcement leaders, representatives from the criminal justice system, victim advocates and victims to develop an action agenda in order to improve police response to victims. The participants of the summit identified seven critical needs of crime victims. These seven needs create, in turn, a set of criteria for effective victim services:
Access – Helping victim feel comfortable contacting the investigating officer to obtain or offer new information in their case helps ensure the victim will not feel left out of the system
Continuity – Coordination with local victim service providers and the prosecutor’s offices helps to ensure continuous service to the victim after the initial report is taken
Information – Availability of information in languages predominant in the community and in large print for the elderly should include resource sheets or brochures and relevant police and victim service contact numbers
Justice – Cooperation, communication and support through the entire criminal justice process will help ensure the satisfaction of all parties involved in a case: victims, police officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, etc.
Safety – Understanding the crisis reaction of victims and protecting the victim from future intimidation and harm helps enhance the victim’s sense of security
Support – Helping the victim feel comfortable to discuss the crime and letting the victim know that the police are concerned about their needs will create an atmosphere of support that may encourage improved cooperation with criminal justice agencies
Voice – Allowing victims to express their needs and concerns ensures their feedback is addressed when agencies determine how to respond to future victims
Using these criteria as a starting point, focus group participants discussed not only the general obstacles agencies face in developing effective victim services, but also the specific needs of different levels of law enforcement leadership, including chiefs and sheriffs, middle managers, first-line supervisors, line officers and detectives, field training officers (FTOs) and recruit officers, and training and certification agencies. This report will clarify those needs and strategies identified by focus group members to improve victim services in law enforcement agencies and provide a directional tool for law enforcement to use in advancing its approach to victim services.
Generally, focus group members concluded that the biggest impediments to enhancing the effectiveness of victim assistance programs in law enforcement agencies are 1) negative institutional forces and 2) lack of training for all levels of law enforcement. Attendees recommended that law enforcement receive specific training on communication and sensitivity issues to address these hurdles. With respect to the roles of different levels of leadership, participants stressed that superiors must clarify their expectations of subordinates, and officers must be held accountable for providing quality services to victims. Additionally, attendees suggested ways law enforcement can have a positive influence on prosecutors to improve victim services and can engage the public in ways that will raise awareness about the need for effective victim services. Focus group participants also noted that departments do not need a victim services unit to provide effective victim services; assistance to victims can be offered in ways that are appropriate to individual agencies.
READ ON
http://www.theiacp.org/documents/pdfs/Publications/PoliceBasedVictimFocusGrp.pdf
Specialized Gang Units: Form and Function in Community Policing
Between 1980 and the mid-1990s, the number of specialized gang units in American law enforcement agencies appeared to increase substantially. The rise in specialized gang units coincided with the widespread adoption of community policing. In many ways, the increased number of gang units appeared inherently in conflict with the move to community- and problem-oriented policing, since the latter emphasizes decentralization and despecialization. This research examined whether community policing and specialized gang units are complementary or conflicting approaches, either in principle or practice. The research approach consisted of qualitative examination of police department procedures and practices, and extensive field observation of gang personnel. The research was conducted in two community policing agencies with gang units: Indianapolis, IN, and San Diego, CA. The project included extensive interviews with police leaders and other personnel in each agency to determine the rationale for gang-control policies. Over 500 hours of observation were conducted in the two sites of gang unit activities.
This report describes the missions and functions of the gang units in each jurisdiction and the specific types of activities engaged in by gang units-- documenting the time expended by gang unit personnel on each. The project compared and contrasted the two approaches, but the ultimate objective was to examine whether and how the tactics and strategies of the gang units fit with the community-oriented mission of the two police agencies. The results suggest that gang units can have an important role in modern policing. There is little evidence that specialized gang units conflict with community policing in principle or practice. The use of discriminate strategies and strategic approaches to gangs in both cities appears to reflect the influence of community and problem-oriented policing. Also reflecting the influence of community and problem-oriented policing are the agencies’ reliance on data and attention to the mechanisms through which police efforts could be expected to influence of crime and criminality.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/207204.pdf
This report describes the missions and functions of the gang units in each jurisdiction and the specific types of activities engaged in by gang units-- documenting the time expended by gang unit personnel on each. The project compared and contrasted the two approaches, but the ultimate objective was to examine whether and how the tactics and strategies of the gang units fit with the community-oriented mission of the two police agencies. The results suggest that gang units can have an important role in modern policing. There is little evidence that specialized gang units conflict with community policing in principle or practice. The use of discriminate strategies and strategic approaches to gangs in both cities appears to reflect the influence of community and problem-oriented policing. Also reflecting the influence of community and problem-oriented policing are the agencies’ reliance on data and attention to the mechanisms through which police efforts could be expected to influence of crime and criminality.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/207204.pdf
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Quality-of-Life Policing: Do Offenders Get the Message?
In the 199Os, the New York City Police Department increased patrols and enforcement of laws against quality-of-life [QOL] offenses. Many have heralded this focus as the prime cause for the decline in the City’s crime rate citing the fixing broken windows argument that disorder breeds crime. However, the underlying mechanics of the broken windows paradigm have not yet been systematically explored. This paper assesses one aspect of the broken windows line of reasoning, that QOL policing sends a message to offenders that QOL misbehaviors will not be tolerated.
Responses fiom 539 New York City arrestees interviewed in 1999 indicate that almost all of them were aware that police were targeting various QOL offenses. Among those active in QOL misbehaviors, about half reported that they had seriously cut back or stopped their involvements in the past six month, and about half had not. Those reducing their involvement cited general police presence as the most important factor, suggesting that for them QOL policing had served as a general deterrent. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196673.pdf
Responses fiom 539 New York City arrestees interviewed in 1999 indicate that almost all of them were aware that police were targeting various QOL offenses. Among those active in QOL misbehaviors, about half reported that they had seriously cut back or stopped their involvements in the past six month, and about half had not. Those reducing their involvement cited general police presence as the most important factor, suggesting that for them QOL policing had served as a general deterrent. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196673.pdf
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Good to Great Policing: Application of Business Management Principles in the Public Sector
In his best-selling book Good to Great, Jim Collins gives business executives advice about how to push their companies from the “merely good” to the rarefied world of greatness. This PERF report explores how the principles of Good to Great might be applied to policing.
It is important to understand that Collins is extremely careful in how he uses the word “great.” His criteria for greatness in business, based on stock market performance, are so stringent that he could find only 11 companies that qualified as great. To make a rough translation of Collins’ principles into the policing environment: A police chief striving for greatness might set a goal of reducing violent crime in his jurisdiction by, say, 50 percent. It would not matter to the chief if crime were going up everywhere else in the country, because great executives do not look for excuses; they look to get things done. And to be truly great, the chief not only would need to meet his target; he would need to ensure that the reduction in crime would be sustained even if he retired.
In Collins’ view, great executives focus their ambition not on personal glory, but on making the organization great, and that includes “setting up their successors for success.”
So Collins has set high standards for greatness. And if greatness in policing can be achieved, it certainly would be a powerful force for good in the world. Good to Great first came to my attention in 2002. I was shuttling back and forth from Washington, D.C., to work with the Chicago Police Department (CPD), and everyone in Chicago seemed to be talking about “getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.” I asked what that meant, and the CPD’s Good to Great fans referred me to the book. They explained that one of Collins’ key findings was that in the companies with the most impressive records of success, executives began their quest for greatness not by setting goals, but by hiring the right people, dismissing those who would thwart change, and finding the best positions for everyone who remained.
Once the right people were on the bus, then the leader and his team began deciding where to direct the bus in order to find greatness. I read Good to Great, was intrigued, and wondered whether the analysis of how to make a business successful could be applied to policing. I tracked Collins down, and he was amazingly approachable for a man who had a book on the nonfiction bestseller lists for months. He invited me out to Boulder and before I knew it, I was on a plane to Colorado. A short time later, I found myself in a Boulder deli with Collins and Milliken, Colorado Chief of Police Jim Burack. What an amazing day we had! Collins was intrigued with how his principles might apply to policing and other parts of government, as well as to nonprofit groups, social service agencies, even churches. While his research was in the field of business, he already was beginning to speculate that the ability to overcome obstacles seemed to be the key to greatness for police executives and other government leaders. (Collins has noted that in some ways, police executives face more obstacles than do business leaders. For example, throwing anyone “off the bus” can be far more difficult for police executives than for many business leaders.)
READ ON
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/good_to_great.pdf
It is important to understand that Collins is extremely careful in how he uses the word “great.” His criteria for greatness in business, based on stock market performance, are so stringent that he could find only 11 companies that qualified as great. To make a rough translation of Collins’ principles into the policing environment: A police chief striving for greatness might set a goal of reducing violent crime in his jurisdiction by, say, 50 percent. It would not matter to the chief if crime were going up everywhere else in the country, because great executives do not look for excuses; they look to get things done. And to be truly great, the chief not only would need to meet his target; he would need to ensure that the reduction in crime would be sustained even if he retired.
In Collins’ view, great executives focus their ambition not on personal glory, but on making the organization great, and that includes “setting up their successors for success.”
So Collins has set high standards for greatness. And if greatness in policing can be achieved, it certainly would be a powerful force for good in the world. Good to Great first came to my attention in 2002. I was shuttling back and forth from Washington, D.C., to work with the Chicago Police Department (CPD), and everyone in Chicago seemed to be talking about “getting the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats.” I asked what that meant, and the CPD’s Good to Great fans referred me to the book. They explained that one of Collins’ key findings was that in the companies with the most impressive records of success, executives began their quest for greatness not by setting goals, but by hiring the right people, dismissing those who would thwart change, and finding the best positions for everyone who remained.
Once the right people were on the bus, then the leader and his team began deciding where to direct the bus in order to find greatness. I read Good to Great, was intrigued, and wondered whether the analysis of how to make a business successful could be applied to policing. I tracked Collins down, and he was amazingly approachable for a man who had a book on the nonfiction bestseller lists for months. He invited me out to Boulder and before I knew it, I was on a plane to Colorado. A short time later, I found myself in a Boulder deli with Collins and Milliken, Colorado Chief of Police Jim Burack. What an amazing day we had! Collins was intrigued with how his principles might apply to policing and other parts of government, as well as to nonprofit groups, social service agencies, even churches. While his research was in the field of business, he already was beginning to speculate that the ability to overcome obstacles seemed to be the key to greatness for police executives and other government leaders. (Collins has noted that in some ways, police executives face more obstacles than do business leaders. For example, throwing anyone “off the bus” can be far more difficult for police executives than for many business leaders.)
READ ON
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/good_to_great.pdf
Evolving Strategy of Policing: Case Studies of Strategic Change
Orlando W. Wilson was the most important police leader of the 20th century. His thinking and writing singularly dominated policing from the 1940s through the 1970s. His mentor, August Vollmer, may achieve similar status in the future, since his practice, as against his later writings, was prescient of many of the late 20th century trends in policing. Vollmer’s patrol officers as “chiefs of their beats,” “college cops” (the majority of his officers were either college graduates or in college), and his “Friday crab club” meetings (meetings of off-duty officers to discuss their work with him and their peers) were the first stirrings of genuine professionalism in policing. What Vollmer practiced, however, was a road not taken by policing, at least until the 1980s with the development of community policing.
0. W. Wilson’s preeminence is based on his practical, creative, and original thinking and his ability to put that thinking into clear and precise writing. His texts on police administration and on planning became the standards of the field, used in generations of training, education, and civil service examinations. No other book on policing was as influential as Poke Administration in its various editions in shaping policing’s basic strategy.
During the era dominated by 0. W. Wilson and his colleaguesy roughly the 1920s through the 1970s, police departments shifted from being an integral part of urban political machines with a broad service mandate, to autonomous “professional” organizations narrowly focused on “serious” crime. Allied with the Progressives, reformers struggled to extricate policing at all levels from the influence of late 19th and early 20th century urban politics. In doing so, they developed a strategy of police that emphasized bureaucratic autonomy, efficiency, and internal accountability through command and control systems.
The business of police was serious crime as defined by the Uniform Crime Reports (developed by Wilson’s colleagues under the auspices of the International Association of Chief of Police). The organizational structure and administrative processes of police departments were patterned after the classical models developed by Frederick Taylor, the great organizational theorist of the early 20th Century.
The methods for dealing with serious crime included criminal investigation, random preventive patrol by automobile, and rapid response to calls for service. 0. W. Wilson emerged as the primary architect of both the administrative/organizational and tactical elements of this strategy. His administrative texts, conceived and written during the 1940s and 1950s, remained basic police lore until well into the 1980s.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/198029.pdf
0. W. Wilson’s preeminence is based on his practical, creative, and original thinking and his ability to put that thinking into clear and precise writing. His texts on police administration and on planning became the standards of the field, used in generations of training, education, and civil service examinations. No other book on policing was as influential as Poke Administration in its various editions in shaping policing’s basic strategy.
During the era dominated by 0. W. Wilson and his colleaguesy roughly the 1920s through the 1970s, police departments shifted from being an integral part of urban political machines with a broad service mandate, to autonomous “professional” organizations narrowly focused on “serious” crime. Allied with the Progressives, reformers struggled to extricate policing at all levels from the influence of late 19th and early 20th century urban politics. In doing so, they developed a strategy of police that emphasized bureaucratic autonomy, efficiency, and internal accountability through command and control systems.
The business of police was serious crime as defined by the Uniform Crime Reports (developed by Wilson’s colleagues under the auspices of the International Association of Chief of Police). The organizational structure and administrative processes of police departments were patterned after the classical models developed by Frederick Taylor, the great organizational theorist of the early 20th Century.
The methods for dealing with serious crime included criminal investigation, random preventive patrol by automobile, and rapid response to calls for service. 0. W. Wilson emerged as the primary architect of both the administrative/organizational and tactical elements of this strategy. His administrative texts, conceived and written during the 1940s and 1950s, remained basic police lore until well into the 1980s.
READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/198029.pdf
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