Good Cops Develop Safe Habits

Police officers rely on their training and experience to get through a single tour of duty. No matter what shift an officer is assigned to, the day tour, four-to-twelve, or midnight tours, the one thing keeping law enforcement officers attentive and careful is the desire to go home at the end of their shift. Much of the training recruits receive in the academy is focused on remaining alert and vigilant while on routine patrol. The ability to concentrate on details such as suspicious vehicles or individuals behaving in an unusual way, or hearing cries for help, are key aspects of effective policing. However, it is human nature to become lax, careless, and tired; this could be dangerous. Boredom and a fatigue are huge factors leading to poor performance, and to combat this, officers can develop good habits while on patrol.

There are techniques cops can use which will keep them safe even when they are suffering from exhaustion and there seems to be no activity in their sector. An officer can enter a dangerous situation and need emergency backup while on foot patrol or in a marked sector car quite unexpectedly. Calling for assistance on the radio and while unaware of one’s precise location can prove fatal. When chasing a suspect into a building, failure to take note of the address and losing track of which floor you’re on will prevent you from getting backup. An experienced officer will be able to inform the central dispatcher of their street address, the floor they are on, apartment number, and the nearest cross street without having to think about it. The ability to recite vital information under duress comes from not only becoming familiar with the area where the officer is assigned, but from taking note of the street name, direction of travel, and numbers of the businesses or homes. By keeping a running, internal monologue of these details, especially during periods of inactivity, cops can save themselves and citizens in need when a call for urgent backup is necessary.

Another technique employed by experienced officers in urban locations is to always look up before entering a building. Veteran cops will take the time to scan the structure from the top down from a safe distance to notice anyone who may be on the roof, or at the windows, and to also observe any items tossed at them from above by individuals willing to hurt them. As a rookie New York City police officer, I was taught by senior officers in my squad to beware of debris tossed from rooftops and out of windows at unsuspecting officers. While many in the community welcome police patrols in their neighborhoods, the sad reality is that there are those who do not. As such, there are individuals who will harm police officers by such means, and often they can escape arrest by retreating anonymously into the building.

Reciting aloud license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles, before pulling them over helps cops remember them more effectively in case the officer needs to provide this information to the central dispatcher if the driver pulls away. Saying the description of a vehicle (color, year, make, model, etc.) or a suspect (their clothing, hair color, height, build, etc.) audibly helps an officer recall these details efficiently. Getting into the habit of speaking the numbers, a person’s description, and even one’s location, increases your ability to remember them.

Finally, monitoring the radio for activity outside your sector is of extreme importance while on patrol. In busy precincts, officers have all they can do to pay attention to what is going on in their immediate surroundings. However, staying aware of the activity in neighboring sectors and precincts is crucial because often times officers will call for backup and you may need to come to their aid. There are also scenarios where other units are in pursuit of a vehicle or a suspect on foot who is heading in your direction and you will find yourself in position to intercept them. Also, if an officer informs the central dispatcher that they have a vehicle stopped at a certain location, and later on you hear that officer calling for assistance, knowing that officer’s last known location is vital to being able to respond to their call for backup.

Police work is inherently dangerous, and when performed with due diligence while utilizing proper training one can still fall victim to harm. However, if officers develop good habits while on patrol, they reduce the risk associated with their duties and may return home safely after a successful tour of duty. 

About the author: Michael J. Kannengieser is the author of the police thriller, The Daddy Rock. He is a retired New York City police officer who lives on Long Island with his wife and two children. Michael worked as the Managing Editor for Fiction at The View from Here magazine, a U.K. based literary publication. Currently, he is employed at a performing arts college as an Instructional Technology Administrator. He has been published at The View from Here, and in Newsday, a Long Island newspaper. Michael speaks as a guest lecturer on campus.

Beyond the Badge: Life After the Police Department

Back in the early 1990’s when I was a member of the now-defunct, New York City Housing Police Department, I sat with a group of NYPD officers in a routine Borough Based Training class. These are bi-annual meetings where officers are taught new laws and are brought up to date on departmental policy. In one particular session, a sergeant asked the cops in the room if they had any plans for employment after retiring.

Some of the officers stated that prior to joining the force they were carpenters, plumbers, electricians, or licensed in another skilled trade. However, they were in the minority. Most of the men and women in the room couldn’t see that far into the future to consider what life would be like without a gun on their hip and a shield pinned to their uniform. A general uneasiness filled the classroom. Some fidgeted with the papers on their desk and others sank back in their chairs.

The sergeant’s demeanor became serious. He placed his hands behind his back and pursed his lips. “The good news is that when you retire, there will be plenty of jobs waiting for all of you,” he said. “Employers love hiring ex-cops. But, the skills you bring to the table are hard to qualify in the civilian world. You can drive a truck, work as a guard, and become a bartender or a bus driver, but unless you have another skill like the electricians or carpenters in this room, you better get an education.” The sergeant nodded his head, satisfied that he got through to all of us and began talking about the subject matter at hand.

Police officers don’t want to talk about life after “the job.” Once a cop, always a cop, that’s what we’re told. Television shows, movies, and even books portray officers as die-hard civil servants who live police work as opposed to merely performing their duties. Being a cop denotes a certain attitude, an innate suspicion, a dispassionate appearance, and a jaded view of society as seen from its underside. Police are the community’s protectors, yet they’re the first in line to receive complaints for enforcing the very rules society puts in place. A thick skin is necessary to deal with seeing the human tragedy witnessed on a routine basis and for handling the trauma of losing fellow officers in the line of duty. Cops insulate themselves from others outside their vocation to guard against criticism and to commiserate with their colleagues.

When retirement finally comes, it takes a while to shed the habits of a law enforcement officer. The retiree has no authority. Even in the field of private security, the luster of fighting crime has dimmed. Others call you by your first name and the word “officer” no longer applies to you. Any employment you find does not have the same level of excitement and boredom becomes commonplace. A sense of dissatisfaction dulls the accomplishments at a civilian job, except where earning a paycheck is concerned. There are those who will congratulate you on your years of service, and others who will ask you for a good cop story from your experiences on patrol; but, as the years pass, your connection to police work and the honor of wearing the uniform fades. In spite of joining police fraternities and hanging around with your retired cop buddies, no one calls you in the middle of the night to investigate a suspicious noise.

Working as a bartender, a security guard, a truck driver, or any of the professions the sergeant mentioned in his cautionary monologue long ago in the classroom where I sat and listened with alarm, are fine jobs to have. Financially, a retiree should be able to raise a family with the wages earned while working such a job in conjunction with a police pension, but, looking back, I think the sergeant was projecting his own fears on room full of officers before him. Perhaps the message he wanted to get across is that there is no other job in the world like being a police officer.

Wearing a police shield, carrying a gun, donning the uniform, driving a sector car, and being a hero to those who call nine-one-one in an emergency are all positive, tangible aspects of a fine and noble profession. Losing the privilege of being called “officer,” and the respect one is extended while serving is difficult for most. Becoming a civilian after decades of wielding authority is an adjustment that takes a lot of getting used to. An education for another professional position where one is able to earn a lucrative salary or achieve success on a level an ordinary cop cannot aspire to without that education is a lofty goal; yet, after separating from the department, no matter what a retiree decides to do for a living, the title “retired police officer” is an honor well deserved.

About the Author:
Michael J. Kannengieser is a retired New York City police officer who lives on Long Island with his wife and two children. Michael worked as the Managing Editor for Fiction at The View from Here magazine, a U.K. based literary publication. Currently, he is employed at a performing arts college as an Instructional Technology Administrator. He has been published at The View from Here, and in Newsday, a Long Island newspaper. Michael speaks as a guest lecturer on campus.

Click Here to buy Michael J. Kannengieser's new novel, "The Daddy Rock," at Amazon

Ex-NYPD Officer Receives Over 21 Years at Bedside Sentencing for Transporting Three Minors Across State Lines for Purposes of Illegal Sex

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that United States District Judge KENNETH M. KARAS sentenced TRENT YOUNG, 42, a former New York City police officer, to 262 months’ imprisonment for his transportation of three different minors across state lines for purposes of engaging in illegal sexual activity. The sentencing took place at the prison ward of the Westchester Medical Center, where YOUNG is being treated for a terminal illness.

According to the charges in the indictment to which YOUNG pled guilty and statements made in court at the guilty plea proceeding on July 2009 and at the sentencing today:

YOUNG operated a martial arts studio out of his home in Middletown, New York. In or about the Spring of 2006, YOUNG opened "Iron Tiger Martial Arts" ("Iron Tiger"), a martial arts studio in West Milford, New Jersey. On an occasion in or about October or November 2006, Young brought a 14-year-old minor from Middletown to Iron Tiger and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. In or about November or December 2006, Young brought a second minor, who was then 16 years old, to Iron Tiger and engaged in sexual intercourse with her as well.

Prior to these indictments, in or about April 2003, YOUNG drove another 14-year-old minor from her home in Brooklyn, New York, to YOUNG's home in Middletown, New York, traveling through New Jersey, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her.

In pleading guilty, YOUNG admitted that he transported each of the three minors across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity and that, after transporting the minors across state lines, he engaged in sexual intercourse with each of them. He also admitted that he exercised supervisory control over each of the three minors.

Following his arrest in January 2008, YOUNG was detained without bail.

In imposing the 262-month sentence on YOUNG, Judge KARAS underscored that the "extraordinarily high" sentence was appropriate in light of what YOUNG did to the girls he chose as his victims. According to KARAS, the "magnitude of the conduct here outweighs the medical issues" faced by YOUNG.

Mr. BHARARA praised the efforts and assistance of the FBI, the Middletown Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the Rockland County Sheriff's Department, the West Milford, New Jersey, Police Department, and the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's White Plains Division. Assistant United States Attorney MARCIA S. COHEN is in charge of the prosecution.

Statement of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara on the Arrest of Ann Pettway

"Ann Pettway was arrested this afternoon in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in connection with the 1987 alleged kidnapping of Carlina White from the Harlem Hospital in Manhattan. Pettway is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court tomorrow to face federal kidnapping charges. I commend the swift and efficient work of the FBI and the NYPD in this important case, and also extend my thanks to law enforcement authorities in North Carolina and Bridgeport, Connecticut, for their assistance."

FBI Asks For Public’s Help in Identifying the “Red Coat Bandit,” Who Threatened to Blow up a Manhattan Bank

On January 4, 2010, as bank managers and tellers were preparing to close and as many New Yorkers were commuting home, a brazen “Red Coat Bandit” entered a Manhattan Citibank branch located at

411 5th Avenue. At approximately 6:15 p.m., he displayed a hoax bomb equipped with wires and a detonator, threatened to blow up the device, and robbed the bank.

The “Red Coat Bandit” was described as an Indian male, approximately 30 years old, and 5’10’’ tall. He was seen wearing a boonie hat, black scarf or ski mask, a red hooded jacket, black gloves, light blue jeans, and beige or tan work boots. He was also carrying a black backpack or messenger bag and may have been seen at a check cashing location nearby earlier in the day.

“It takes blatant disregard for the law and the safety of the public to pull a stunt like this. These hoax bombs are particularly dangerous. We need the public to take a close look at this photo and pick up the phone if they know something or have a tip,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Belle Chen.

"The public can play an important role in capturing fugitives by alerting law enforcement if they have information. We use the Internet, wanted posters, and even electronic billboards to publicize fugitives. The media often publishes the pictures as a public service. We encourage everyone to sign up for our e-mail alerts so they can receive the latest information from the FBI's New York Office on breaking news, arrests, and fugitives," said Special Agent Richard Kolko.

Information can be submitted anonymously and anyone with information is encouraged to call the FBI at 212-384-1000. There is a cash reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case.

The robbery is being investigated by the Joint Bank Robbery Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents and NYPD detectives. Operating since 1979, it is the longest continually operating task force in the history of the FBI and investigates major violent crime.

RUDY GIULIANI running scared?

DECORATED NY COP’S New Book, NYPD Blue Lies, sends “AMERICA’S MAYOR” RUDY GIULIANI running scared?

(New York, NY)—Is it possible that the hard hitting, book which has sold out at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, NYPD Blue Lies; by former NYPD Sergeant Charles Castro has send Rudy Giuliani running scared?

Rudy Giuliani has announced that he will not run for office, instead he will give his support to the weak Republican Rick Lazio. Lazio who was defeated years ago by Hillary Clinton is set to challenge a top democrat, either U.S. Senator Gillibrand or the equally weak NY Gov. David Paterson.

Although Castro thinks that Giuliani would have been a stronger candidate he feels that Rudys past is “not all that pretty”.

In Castro’s book he exposes the harmful effects of Giuliani’s lack of leadership, the violation of citizen’s rights, racial tension caused by Rudy, and about how Rudy condoned police corruption. “The Giuliani administration gave the appearance that they were holier than thou, yet they were just as dirty as any administration before them. Cops that committed sickening crimes against women, Latinos, and blacks were treated with kid gloves”. “I dare anyone to challenge my claims”.

“I think Rudy will wait for along time before he considers running for office again, his exploitation of September 11, abuse of power and weakness against dirty cops has come back to haunt him”.

Charles Castro led the fight thirteen hundred blacks & Latinos and ultimately won—a $27 million anti-discrimination class action lawsuit against Giuliani and the city of New York.

Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations

On December 17, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Vernon J. Geberth, NYPD (ret.) on Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations.

Program Date: December 17, 2009
Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific
Topic: Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/forensic_science_homicide_investigations.html

About the Guest
Vernon Geberth is a retired lieutenant-commander of the New York Police Department. As the commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task Force, his investigators handled more than four hundred murder investigations every year. Vernon Geberth is recipient of over sixty awards for bravery and exceptional work during twenty-three years of service. He has personally investigated, supervised, assessed, researched and consulted on over eight thousand homicides.

Vernon Geberth has master's degrees in both psychology and professional studies, is a graduate of the FBI's National Academy. Over the past twenty-five years, he has taught over 50,000 police officers his comprehensive course in Practical Homicide Investigation.

Geberth’s book, Practical Homicide Investigation has been referred to as the "Bible of Homicide." His subsequent works, “The Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide” and “Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives,” demonstrate his professional ability and subject matter expert command over homicide investigations. In addition to his own works Geberth has been an editor in over forty other textbooks. He has devoted his life to the study of murder and was the first law enforcement professional to devise standard guidelines and protocols for proficient death inquiries. Currently he is president of P.H.I. Investigative Consultants, Inc., a New York-based corporation that provides state-of-the-art instruction and consultation regarding homicide investigations to police officers.

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. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hole, where it is 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:
www.americanheroesradio.com/forensic_science_homicide_investigations.html

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

Quintin Peterson PSWA writing competition award winner

The Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) held its annual conference at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada from June 18-21, 2009. The annual conference is open to anyone writing crime and mystery fiction or non-fiction, technical writing for public safety magazines in print or online, or anyone interested in writing. On Sunday, June 21st, the winners of PSWA’s 2009 Writing Competition were announced at an award luncheon.

Crime fiction author Quintin Peterson, who has been a police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC for almost 28 years, took 2nd Place in the Short-Story Published category for A Dark Place, the story of a serial killer and the D.C. homicide detective tasked to track him down. It is available exclusively from Amazon.com as an Amazon Short.

Quintin Peterson has been writing crime fiction for a number of years. He is the author of two novels, SIN and The Wages of SIN, and several short stories, one of which, Cold as Ice, is featured in the George Pelecanos edited crime fiction anthology, D.C. Noir. He is also a contributor to the anthology, Bad Cop, No Donut, edited John L. French, which is scheduled to be published in 2010.

When his award-winning A Dark Place was first published in November of 2006, many contemporary crime writers praised Peterson’s work.
“Quintin Peterson, a working police officer and natural born writer, pens crime fiction that is earned and alive.”
– George Pelecanos, author of THE NIGHT GARDENER and DRAMA CITY
"Quintin Peterson writes with authenticity and honesty won from years of being a street cop, and in his chilling A Dark Place, he takes readers past the boring CSI or 'profiling' of a serial killer to show us the heart and soul of the badges who bring such monsters to justice."
– James Grady, author of MAD DOGS and SIX DAYS OF THE CONDOR
“Quintin Peterson takes his readers into the dark places that only cops are compelled to enter. Then he shows them how such terrible access darkens the souls of those who enter too often. This dark, and well detailed, story is so real and so believable that it becomes a trip you won't soon forget.”
– Retired NYPD Lt. Ed Dee, author of THE CON MAN’S DAUGHTER and LITTLE BOY BLUE
“You want to know how it's done? Read Quintin Peterson's A DARK PLACE. Of all the crime writers out there, he's the one wearing the badge. He writes with a sure hand and is certain to please. Sit back and get chilled....”
– Ridley Pearson, author of CUT AND RUN and THE BODY OF DAVID HAYES
"A Dark Place is a chilling, expertly crafted thriller."
– Jim Patton, author of THE SHAKE and DYING FOR DANA
“With a serial killer who'll make your skin crawl, and a REAL inside look at how cops work by this talented Washington, D.C. cop/novelist, 'A Dark Place' is the latest from Quintin Peterson's fertile, rooted-in-reality mind. He's the real deal.”

– Donald Bain, author of the MURDER, SHE WROTE mystery series, his memoir Murder HE Wrote: A Successful Writer's Life, and the Amazon Shorts selection, Ronnie and Me

All winners of the various categories of the PSWA writing competition receive plaques or certificates and publicity and recognition via a wide variety of public safety-related publications.

Founded in 1997 as the Police Writers Club, the PSWA is open to both new and experienced, published and not yet published writers. Members include police officers, civilian police personnel, firefighters, fire support personnel, emergency personnel, security personnel and others in the public safety field. Also represented are those who write about public safety including mystery writers, magazine writers, journalists and those who are simply interested in the genre. The association also welcomes publishers, editors, agents and others who help writers realize their writing goals.

More Information
http://www.police-writers.com/peterson.html

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

2000 Police Books

April 6, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. With the addition of three NYPD authors and their work, the website now lists 2000 books written by state and local law enforcement officials.

Patrolman John Hickey retired from the New York Police Department around 1915. He is the author of Our Police Guardians.

In 1985, James Johnson joined the New York Police Department and served for 20 years. During his law enforcement career, James Johnson worked as undercover in the Narcotics Division, Zodiac Killer taskforce, The Mayor’s Social Club Task Force, and other units within the police department. However, he considers his greatest accomplishment the creation and implementation a gang crime reduction strategy.

In 1995, the New York Police Department experienced a shift in manpower that created a shortage in the community affairs division. In 1996, James Johnson with the assistance of Denise Johnson founded and ran the Sixty-Ninth Precinct Law Enforcement Explores Youth Program. James Johnson is the co-author of a children’s book, The Adventures of Little Nina.

According to the book description of The Adventures of Little Nina, “This was a very special day for Nina; it was her eighth birthday. When trains in Trainville turned eight they are expected to deliver packages from station to station. Today Nina was going to do it on her own. Her father gave her all the advice she needed and warnings against distractions, but even with the best advice sometimes distractions are too hard to resist.”

Philip Mahony joined the New York Police Department in the early 1980s. As of 1998, he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant. He is the author of volumes of poetry, Catching Bodies and Supreme – Poems. His an BA and MA in English Literature, has taught at New York University, and was the editor of From Both Sides Now: The Poetry of the Vietnam War and Its Aftermath.

According to a reader of Catching Bodies, “With the blast of a 12 gauge point blank. His work comes straight off the street, undiluted by romanticism or the glorification of violence. Its an attempt to convey the life of a beat coop without cliché or comedy. Mahoney’s poetry is a self defense reaction against the unbearable senselessness of suffering. He cannot save souls, he can only catch the bodies”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 939 police officers (representing 394 police departments) and their 2000 police books in 33 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

City, Transit and State Police

March 16, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added New York police officers from the City, Transit and State agencies.

From 1962 to 1970, Richard H. Ward was a member of the New York Police Department, rising to the rank of detective. After the leaving the NYPD, Richard Ward began an academic career as the Coordintor of Student Activities with the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Currently, Richard Ward is the Associate Bice President for Reseach and Special Programs with the Sam Houston State University (Texas).

Richard Ward is the author of Countering Terrorism: A Manual for Law Enforcement and Introduction to Criminal Investigation. Richard Ward is the co-author of Homeland Security, Criminal Investigation: A Method of Reconstruction of the Past; Quest for Quality; An Anti-Corruption Manual for Administrators in Law Enforcement; and, Police Robbery Control Manual. Richard Ward is the editor of Extremist Groups: An Inernational Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements; Terrorism and the New World Disorder; International Terrorism: Operational Issues; Managing Police Corruption: International Perspectives; International Terrorism: The Domestic Response; Police and Law Enforcement; and, Foundations of Criminal Justice.

According to the book description of Criminal Investigation: A Method of Reconstruction of the Past, “This text presents the fundamentals of criminal investigation and provides a sound method for reconstructing a past event (i.e., a crime) based on three major sources of information—people, physical evidence and records. More than a simplistic introductory text, yet written in an easy-to-read, user-friendly format, it offers a broad approach to criminal investigation. Updates to this edition include reorganization of the material into three sections, the merging of some chapters, and a new chapter on Increasing Threats and Emerging Crime.”

James Lowney a retired New York City Transit Police Department police officer is the author of Hey Mom, Is Daddy Off?. According to the book description, he “tells the tales of his youth and growing up in the Bronx during the 1940s and 50s in Hey Mom, Is Daddy Off? He shares his experience of living in the shadows of Yankee Stadium, as well as attending baseball games there and at the Polo Grounds. He describes how it was growing up on the streets of the Bronx, playing street games and leaving the Bronx for Queens to attend high school. Lowney also tells how he met the love of his life, Anita, got married and raised a family while working for the New York City Transit Police Department.”

Daniel Carlson began his law enforcement career in 1967 as a patrolman with the City of Poughkeepsie, New York Police Department, where he served for two years before joining the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department. In 1970, he joined the New York State Police and progressed through a range of ranks and assignments including Trooper, Sergeant, Zone Sergeant, Lieutenant (Zone Commander), and Uniform Captain. He retired in June, 1988, as the Assistant Director of Training for the New York State Police, in order to assume the position of Manager at the North Central Texas Regional Police Academy in Arlington, Texas. In November, 1992, Daniel Carlson became Associate Director of the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration in Richardson, Texas, where he was appointed Director in September, 2005.

Daniel Carlson is author of When Cultures Clash: The Divisive Nature of Police-Community Relations and Suggestions for Improvement and the co-author of Reputable Conduct: Ethical Issues in Policing and Corrections.

According to the description of Reputable Conduct: Ethical Issues in Policing and Corrections, “This book looks at the peculiar ethical demands in the policing and corrections professions, with particular emphasis on sub-cultural constraints, and how loyalty to colleagues can sometimes cause a sacrifice of individuality. It contains a unique discussion on whether ethics can be taught, covers sensitive, real-life moral dilemmas and the ever-increasing ethical demands placed upon police and corrections professionals. For Chiefs of Police, Jail Wardens/Superintendents, and Principals of Justice Academies.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 873 police officers (representing 383 police departments) and their 1836 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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

Over 1800 Police Books

March 9, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. With the addition of four NYPD police officers, the website now lists 870 police officers and 1819 police books.

Rufus Schatzberg, Ph.D. is a retired New York Police Department detective first grade and the author of Black Organized Crime in Harlem: 1920-1930; and, co-author of African American Organized Crime and Handbook of Organized Crime in the United States.

According to the description of Handbook of Organized Crime in the United States, “This handbook discusses the definitions and historical background of organized crime, theories and research, specific crime groups and their operations, and law enforcement strategies to counter organized crime. Both the excellent introduction and 21 chapters provide background and analysis for each subject.”

Carey Spearman joined the U.S. Army in 1965. He served in Vietnam in 1967, assigned to the 44th Medical Group, 616th Medical Company. After his discharge, he would join the New York Police Department in 1973. He was promoted to detective, and to the rank of Sergeant in the police department and distinguished himself in undercover narcotics work and as supervisor of NYPD's Staten Island Community Affairs Division. Carey Spearman retired from the New York Police Department in 1995 with twenty-five years of service. In 1997 he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from St. John's University, New York. Carey Spearman is the co-author of Vietnam Veteran's Homecoming: Crossing the Line and 36 Years and a Wake-up: An American Returns to Vietnam.

According to the book description of Vietnam Veterans' Homecoming: Crossing the Line “is a thoughful and moving account of the impact that the Vietnam War had on one veteran's life. Medic Carey Spearman's emotional message will resonate in the hearts and souls of each and every veteran that picks up this book, and enlighten anyone that did not live through the war.”

Jerry Strollo, CPP, is a security consultant and retired NYPD Captain. He owns/operates REMS Training, Inc a certified FSD and security guard training school. Jerry Strollo is the co-author of Management and Supervision of Law Enforcement Personnel.

William F. Walsh, Ph.D. is the director of the Southern Police Institute and professor in the Department of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville. William Walsh has a BA in Behavioral Sciences, MA in Criminal Justice and a PhD in Sociology. Dr. William Walsh is responsible for all educational and professional development course offerings of the Southern Police Institute.

Dr. William Walsh’s is a former member of the New York Police Department where he served for 21 years. He is the author of Supervision of Police Personnel: A Performance Based Approach; and, a co-author of Police Administration; Strategic Management in Policing: A Total Quality Management Approach; and, Organizational Behavior and Management in Law Enforcement.

According to the description of Organizational Behavior and Management in Law Enforcement, “This absolutely outstanding book overcomes the obstacles and impediments that beset so many others in the field of police management. Its clear, concise presentation and realistic and very thorough overview of contemporary law enforcement organizations and managerial issues make this a tightly written book that manages to cover all the relevant major topics in contemporary law enforcement management.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 870 police officers (representing 383 police departments) and their 1819 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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

Over 1800 Police Books

February 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three NYPD authors who brought the total number of books by police officers to over 1800.

Steven Gure is a former New York City Police Department police officer and the author of Life: A True Story. According to the book description, “His is a remarkable story. Born into a family of wealthy European Jews, Steven found his life filled with horror and upheaval after the Nazi occupation of his native Lithuania when he was five years old. All of his family except his older sister, Ann, perished in the Holocaust. Eventually, Steven and Ann managed to make their way to the United States, where further insecurities awaited in the form of a series of foster homes, orphanages, and the like. With determination and perseverance, however, Steve managed to survive and even to prosper. He served in the military, worked his way through college, got married and had children, and joined the New York City police force.

Stephen Leinen is a former New York City Police Department lieutenant. After leaving the NYPD he became a professor of sociology at Manattan College. Ulitmately, in 2006 he retired as the Chair, Department of Sociology, Manhattan College. Stephen Leinen is the author of Gay Cops and of Black Police, Whie Society.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, “In the first book-length study of gay police officers, Leinen, a sociologist, author of Black Police, White Society and a former NYPD lieutenant, reports on the coping and surviving strategies of 41 homosexual New York City police officers, both male and female. The author, who is heterosexual and was on the force when he began this study, attended Gay Officers Action League meetings, dances and gay pride parades. He describes the tense passage from being a law enforcement agent who potentially threatens the secrecy of gay officers still in the closet to being a researcher observing their lifestyle.”

William Majeski had a 21 year career with the New York City Police Department where retired as a Detective. His law enforcement expertise encompasses a vast array of criminal and internal investigations, from Homicides through to Political Corruption. During his tenure as an NYPD Detective, William Majeski focused on complex Investigations. Periodically, he took on other assignments; serving as a Panel Member of the Civilian Complaint Board, as a Delegate for the Detective Endowment Association and was selected as a Committee Member to evaluate current and develop new departmental investigative procedures.

William Majeski has a BS Degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Over the years he has successfully completed numerous complex investigations, becoming a recognized specialist in areas of corporate litigation, white-collar crime, internal corruption, personal solutions and interviewing techniques. He developed the Power Interview. William Majeski is the President of Majeski Associates Inc., an Investigative Firm in operation since 1988, creating solutions and serving the needs of clients worldwide. He is the co-editor of Corporate Investigations and the author of The Lie Detection Book.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 856 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1802 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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

Criminal Justice Authors

February 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three NYPD authors who made significant contributions to the field of criminal justice.

Joseph Fink’s 30 year law enforcement career with the New York City Police Department culminated with his retirement at the rank of Deputy Inspector. Joseph Fink received his education at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and would return there after his retirement to serve as a professor of Police Science. Joseph Fink is the co-author of The Community and the Police: Conflict or Cooperation.

Lloyd George Sealy became a New York City Police Officer in 1942. While working full-time he earned a BA degree in sociology and a law degree from Brooklyn law School. In 1962, Lloyd George Sealy was promoted to the rank of captain and he ultimately became the first African American New York City Police Officer to take command of a precinct in Harlem. In 1966, he became the first African American Chief Inspector and the first African American commander of the Brooklyn North Patrol Area.

In 1969, Lloyd George Sealy left the NYPD to become an Associate Professor of Law and Police Science at John Jay College. Later, he would serve three terms as the chair of that department at John Jay College. Lloyd George Sealy is the author of The Problems of Black Police Executives and Minority Recruitment for the State of Tennessee, Department of Safety; and, the co-author of The Community and the Police: Conflict or Cooperation.

Robert Gallati, a depression era lawyer, turned to police work as an alternative to hard times. When he began the police academy, he already had a law degree from Fordham University and a Master’s from St. John’s University. By 1962, he had risen to the rank of Assistant Chief Inspector and was named the NYPD Chief of Planning.

In 1964, he took a leave of absence from the NYPD to become the first director of the New York State Identification and Intelligence System. For the next eight years he developed the computerized fingerprint system that would become the model for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Robert Gallati returned to the NYPD, retiring in 1973. He then served as a Deputy Police Commissioner in Mount Vernon (New York) and later as a the Chief of Police for the Brockton Police Department (Massachusetts). Robert Gallati died in 1996. He is the co-author of Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and co-author of Criminal Interrogation; and, the author of Introduction to Private Security and A plan for the Utilization of Lieutenants as Platoon Commanders in Selected Precincts in the Police Department, city of New York.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 853 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1798 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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

NYPD Academics to Gunfighters

February 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three NYPD cops who have looked at law enforcement from the street as well as from the classroom.

Jim Cirillo was a member of the New York City Police Department Stake-Out Squad. According to one biographer, “his job was to confront the worst in the criminal world. He lived through no less than seventeen separate shootouts. He was involved in many more armed confrontations. He later moved on to U.S. Customs. After retirement from law enforcement, Jim Cirillo took up writing. His book, Guns, Bullets, And Gunfights: Lessons And Tales From A Modern-Day Gunfighter is a compilation of articles he wrote over the years.

According to the book description of Guns, Bullets, And Gunfights: Lessons And Tales From A Modern-Day Gunfighter, “As member of the NYPD, Jim Cirillo survived more gunfights than Wild West legends Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and "Wild Bill" Hickok combined. Learn what it takes to survive a real gunfight from someone who's been in many - Jim Cirillo, top gun in the New York City Police Department stakeout unit. Read about the stress and intensity of an actual shoot-out and how to maximize your training, ammo and weapons to prevail.”

John Eterno has been employed by the New York City Police Department for over 20 years. As Commanding Officer of the Mapping Support Unit, he makes policy recommendations and handles sensitive assignments for the Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives and the Assistant Commissioner of Programs and Policies. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sociology at Queens College in New York. He has written book chapters and journal articles on various topics within the field of policing. John Eterno is the author of Policing within the Law: A Case Study of the New York City Police Department.

According to the description of Policing within the Law : A Case Study of the New York City Police Department, “at a time when police abuses and errors make the headlines, it is important to understand just what goes into the decisions that police make when they are confronted with various crime scenarios in the line of duty. Required to respond within the law, many officers are able to respond in a legal manner to crime situations in which court decisions are written clearly and with easily applied guidelines. But what happens when those decisions and laws are written in a way that invites interpretation and varies from situation to situation? Based on a case study of New York City police officers, this important volume analyzes how officers contend with often-ambiguous laws in the face of specific crime scenarios. In addition, the author explores other influences on police decision making, including officer characteristics and attitudes, and makes policy recommendations in an effort to encourage the reinforcement of legal guidelines so that the rights of individuals are appropriately balanced with the duty to control crime.”

Frank Day retired from the New York City Police Department after 21 years of service. In May 1953, he joined the staff of the Southern Police Institute where he became the Associate Director of Training. He is the co-author, A. C. Germann (formerly of the Los Angeles Police Department) of Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. As of 1988, that book had gone into its 33rd printing. Frank Day is the author of Criminal Law and Society.

Police-Writers.com now hosts 847 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1789 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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