Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Afghan Judges Receive First Law Books

By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service

Aug. 28, 2007 - The 37 judges in Afghanistan's Parwan province are the first of more than 450 judges within the Regional Command East area of responsibility to receive complete sets of Afghan law books. Delivered Aug. 25 by the Bagram Reconstruction Team and
Army Lt. Col. Chris Jacobs, a attorney with the Combined Joint Task Force 82 Staff Judge Advocate Office, these books are the first to be distributed as part of an Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and United States Agency for International Development initiative to distribute complete sets of Afghan law books to every judge in the country.

"For the first time since the Soviet era, each judge in Regional Command East will have complete access to up-to-date Afghan laws," said
Army Capt. Ryan Kerwin, another attorney with Combined Joint Task Force 82. "This is significant, because most Afghan judges have either limited or no access to published law. This lack of legal resources made it very difficult, if not impossible, to correctly apply the law and ensure uniformity throughout the Afghan court system. The judges will now have the tools to make rulings based upon the laws of Afghanistan."

Each set of law books consists of 17 volumes that cover both
Criminal Justice and civil law, including the constitution of Afghanistan, penal and civil codes, counternarcotics and human-rights law.

Parwan Chief Judge Fazil Rahmman Habibi and Head
Army Prosecutor Zikria Shitab said they are very glad to receive the law books.

"I cannot remember the last time each judge had his own set of Afghan law books," Habibi said. "We really appreciate getting these books; we've been in need of them, but they are very expensive, so we are grateful to get them."

"We will be sure to distribute the books to all the judges of Parwan, they will gain a lot of knowledge from them," Shitab added.

It took several months to organize the project. To begin, thousands of books were published and prepared for delivery. Provincial reconstruction teams will help distribute the books to provincial courts throughout the country over the next several months.

Combined Joint Task Force 82 is working to improve the Afghan judicial system and help promote the rule of law in Afghanistan in various ways, from building courts and prosecutors' offices, and improving jails to providing legal resources and coordinating with agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development.

"CJTF 82 has taken big steps to help push the rule of law in Afghanistan forward," Kerwin said. "Developing the rule of law in Afghanistan is a difficult task that will take decades. Judge advocates at both the headquarters and task forces have worked hard to help push the Afghan justice system forward."

(
Air Force Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego is assigned to Combined Joint Task Force 82 Public Affairs.)

Monday, August 27, 2007

Police Books from Wisconsin and California

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one police officer from Wisconsin and two from California.

During his over twenty-eight year
law enforcement career, Detective Joseph L. Butts, worked for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (Wisconsin). Joseph Butts worked assignments in the courts, uniformed patrol, the bicycle detail and the detective bureau. He was the first African American Sheriff’s Deputy to be assigned regular patrol duties in several south suburban communities of Milwaukee county; and, the first African American deputy sheriff to be assigned undercover drug assignments in Milwaukee County suburban communities. Moreover, during his career, Joseph L. Butts worked Internal Investigation, the Organized Crime Unit and investigated crimes throughout Milwaukee county. Detective Joseph L. Butts wrote a book about his experiences, Crime and Other Critical Social Ills: As Seen from Behind the Badge.

According to one reader of Crime and Other Critical Social Ills: As Seen from Behind the Badge, “This book shows how things can happen at a moments notice and how individuals react or don't react. This book could pertain to any Law Enforcement Department in the country. Being a member of the same department that Det. (retired) Butts was in, and reading his book, makes me understand crime, justice and the department better. I just wish I knew him personally.”

Larry Ragle is the retired Director of Forensic Sciences in Orange County, California. During his career he has investigated countless high-profile homicides, including lending his expertise to the defense team in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Larry Ragle was a criminalistics major at UC Berkeley where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in 1959. This program focused on laboratory examination of all types of physical evidence and on crime scene investigation techniques. Larry Ragle began his law enforcement career with the Berkeley Police Department in 1956. He was a police officer for the Berkeley Police Department until 1960. Larry Ragle is the author of Crime Scene.

According to the book description of Crime Scene, “Each week, millions of Americans tune in to watch CSI and CSI-Miami. Featuring the latest forensic fads and tools, these shows take a seemingly unsolvable mystery and unravel it in a primetime hour based on minute pieces of evidence to solve the crime. Just how do Forensic Teams and Labs accomplish these amazing feats? How do they turn a stray piece of hair into the key clue that leads police to the criminal? In Crime Scene, Larry Ragle offers the benefit of his 43+ years of experience and walks us through real-life crime cases to explain how different forensic methods are used and applied.”

A former police officer with the
Berkeley Police Department (California), James N. Gilbert joined the University of Nebraska (Kearney) as the Criminal Justice department as Chair in 1988. Dr. James N. Gilbert received his BC from California State University, Long Beach; his MS from Eastern Kentucky University; and, his Ph.D., from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the author of Criminal Investigation and Criminal Investigation: Essays and Cases.

According to the book description of
Criminal Investigation, “With interest in criminal investigation at an all time high, the newest edition of this popular text is particularly useful. One of the most comprehensive reviews of the investigative process available, it covers the fascinating history and future implications of field. A thorough discussion of cutting-edge investigative methods and technology employed to combat emerging crimes prepares readers to enter the next generation of criminal investigation. Using detailed crime scene examples, it links specific investigative techniques and laboratory techniques that are most effective for each particular crime.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 721 police officers (representing 332 police departments) and their 1540
police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Law Enforcement Technology

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, August 23, 2007

"Police Ask That Cameras for Traffic Be Set to Record"
Contra Costa Times (CA) (08/18/07); Fischer, Karl

El Cerrito, Calif.,
Police Chief Scott Kirkland has requested that the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency record the footage generated by around 24 traffic cameras along San Pablo Avenue to help in police investigations. The idea, however, is not attractive to privacy activists, who claim the cameras are not efficient crime deterrents and could be used improperly. The agency will query its 29 partner cities, counties, and transit groups over the coming two months before making a decision. Alameda's congestion council implemented the cameras three years ago to enable traffic planners and the public to determine congestion and additional driving conditions along East Bay roads, including San Pablo Avenue. While the camera images are usually clear enough to make out the color, make, and model of a vehicle, they cannot read license-plate numbers or characteristics of drivers. Law enforcement started requesting recorded footage a short while after the cameras were erected. Kirkland claims his proposal would cost around $50,000, which he says other police agencies in the area could help pay for. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_6657592

"County Focuses on Disaster Prep"
Philadelphia Inquirer (08/19/07); Cook, Bonnie L.

To prepare for a
terrorist attack, officials in Upper Merion Township, Pa., have voted to outfit their caucus room with new antiterror gear. The township is one of 61 in Montgomery County that are taking steps to improve their emergency preparedness. The county has already allocated $18.1 million to disaster readiness and is preparing to open a new antiterrorist and weapons-training facility in mid-September that will serve at the site of the county's first public-safety campus. County officials say the building will allow first-responders to train at the same site, using the same set of rules. "The coordination and training has to be led by the county," says Montgomery County Commissioner Tom Ellis. "So when there is an emergency, people aren't falling all over themselves. You can have all the equipment you want, but if you don't know what to do when you get to the scene, it doesn't work."
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/montgomery/
nabes/20070819_County_focuses_on_disaster_prep_2.html

"Policing Helped by Sketches"
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) (08/19/07) P. B1; Williamson, Danielle M.

Law enforcement officials in the Worcester, Mass., region recently met and talked about their employment of artists and computer programs that manufacture images of suspects. The most discussed case was that of a 16-year-old girl who was abducted in June 2000 from a pond in Warren. The girl's mother gave a leading sketch artist a description of the suspect, who was arrested earlier in August 2007 on a separate abduction charge. Police still do not frequently retain nationally known sketch arts to assist with an investigation. What is more typical is the employment of computer programs such as Identi-Kit, which provides numerous choices for facial characteristics that can be brought together to make a composite. While the majority of sketches have some similarities to their subject of focus, they are not often "a dead ringer," notes Northboro Police Chief Mark K. Leahy. Gardner Det. William Crockett points out that the more people who see a crime, the better the possibility that a realistic drawing will be made, as police can compare similar aspects of each description. http://www.telegram.com/article/20070819/NEWS/708190454/1008/NEWS02

"N.J. Gives Big Boost to Gun Tracking"
Philadelphia Inquirer (08/16/07) P. B1; Ung, Elisa

New Jersey will become the first state in the nation to share a federal gun database. It will have real-time electronic access to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives database, which lists a gun's initial buyer, sale date, and the store from where it was bought. This would provide the state with a formidable way to study illegitimate gun violence and trafficking trends, authorities said, and possibly enable law enforcement to rapidly connect crimes in multiple towns. The tracing data is gathered from area police records of firearm purchases. Last year, 4,743 individuals were arrested in New Jersey for having illegal guns. Of the 3,100 guns presented for tracing in 2006, just 26 percent were bought in the state. New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram stated on Aug. 15 that she was ordering all area law-enforcement groups in the state to submit their tracing data, which will be placed in a database shared by all law enforcement in New Jersey.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/9191527.html

"New E.V. Central Crime Database Aims for Quicker ID, Arrests"
East Valley Tribune (AZ) (08/16/07); McDevitt, Katie

The new East Valley Gang and
Criminal Information Fusion Center in Mesa, Ariz., is set to open this autumn at the Mesa Police Department. The center's staff will collect and study crime-related data so it can be shared among law enforcement agencies in the East Valley. Authorities note that sharing information will make it easier and faster to catch criminals, who frequently cross city borders. Right now, when a crime is investigated in several jurisdictions, police have to contact another official and determine who is handling the case. In the fall, however, when an agency finds out about a crime, it will send the data electronically to the fusion center, where the data will be studied to determine if the crime is occurring in other cities. All of the information is merged and transmitted to participating entities so police can study the material prior to going out on the streets. In addition, the center can monitor gang members and other individuals police need to know about. An important tool that will assist in the procedure is COPLINK, a new technology that will provide police with the capability to look through thousands of internal records in seconds. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95217

"Sheriff Mike Blakely Requests More Than $7 Million"
Decatur Daily News (Ala.) (08/16/07); Hollman, Holly

The Decatur Sheriff's Department has asked the county for an extra $1.6 million in funding. The department received $5.8 million for fiscal 2007, but Sheriff Mike Blakely has petitioned the Limestone County Commission for another $1.6 million, pushing the total request for fiscal 2008 to almost $7.5 million. Blakely said the additional money, which be used for the Sheriff's department, work release, school resource officers, and courthouse security, is necessary to keep the department and auxiliary services up and running. "We're the largest agency you have, with 40 to 50 percent of the county's employees," Blakely said. "And we operate 24 hours and seven days a week." The money would also help finance major equipment purchases, including a
computer-aided dispatch system and a digital recorder upgrade that cost $235,210 and $20,000, respectively. The dispatch system would let the department enter information--caller complaints, for instance--into the computer system, which would then retrieve information from all departments on the caller, a suspect, or an address. Phone call recordings would be facilitated by the recorder system.
http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/070816/budget.shtml

"ShotSpotter System to Be Deployed in Illinois Municipality"
Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal (08/16/07)

Bellwood, Ill., is implementing ShotSpotter's gunshot location system with a wireless surveillance camera network. The village is employing the system to offer police real-time information regarding gunshot incidents, exact information about the events, in-depth intelligence and forensic analysis for arrest and prosecution, and data about a shooter's location, including drive-by shooters on the run. ShotSpotter states that its gunshot location system has easy-to-use sensors that can locate gunfire in big urban regions. The firm caters to
law enforcement, homeland security, and military groups.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/
2007/08/13/daily62.html?ana=from_rss

"New Crimefighters for Newark"
Star-Ledger (NJ) (08/15/07) P. 15; Parks, Brad; Mays, Jeffery C.; Marsico, Ron

A new program, called Community Eye, will be helping police in Newark, N.J., fight crime. The program is made up of a combination of video cameras and gunshot-sensors strategically placed in about a third of the city where 80 percent of recent shootings have occurred. The system is set to cost a total of $3.2 million. By the time it is finished, Community Eye will include 127 bullet-proof, tamper-proof cameras. It will also include a number of sensors designed to specifically detect the sound of a gunshot. When a gun is fired, the sensors allow
police to use global-positioning technology to locate the source of the noise. They also direct any cameras in the area to point in the direction of the sound.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/
base/news-7/1187152081197510.xml&coll=1

"Sky Harbor Adds Black Lights, Magnifying Glasses to Security"
East Valley Tribune (AZ) (08/21/07); Hogan, Donna

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says that a pilot program at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) designed to boost security through the use of trained TSA inspectors at checkpoints rather than airline contract workers has been a success and will be replicated at airports nationwide. According to TSA spokesman Nico Melendez, the TSA inspectors are better at spotting fake identification documents and receive updated government watch lists before each shift. The inspectors are using magnifying glasses and black lights to find fake passports and driver's licenses. PHX has further enhanced security through the addition of backscatter scanning machines that serve as an alternative to pat-downs for travelers setting off alarms when walking through metal detectors. TSA says it will test more backscatters, as well as millimeter wave imaging
technology, at PHX, Los Angeles International, and John F. Kennedy International.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/95565

"Belleville Police Will Soon be Able to Shoot ... Video"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (08/15/07) P. C1; Pistor, Nicholas J.C.

The Belleville, Ill.,
Police Department is outfitting 12 of its police cars with high-resolution digital video recorders that will allow officers to record everything that happens during incidents such as high-speed chases and routine traffic stops. The cameras, which will be paid for with a $47,000 grant from the Department of Justice, will begin recording as soon as officers turn their red and blue police lights on. The video could be used in court to allow judges and juries to see what happened during a particular incident. Don Sax, a captain with the Belleville Police Department, said the ability to present video evidence in court would be particularly helpful during high-profile cases. For example, video would have been helpful in a case last year involving a St. Clair County, Ill., judge who was spotted by a police officer at the scene of a traffic accident with a beer can--which later disappeared.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/
story/F30CB0EC9968BF398625733800101454?OpenDocument

"Gun ID Bill Takes a Shot at Illegal Weapons Market"
Los Angeles Times (08/15/07) P. B6; Hsu, Tiffany

The California state Senate is considering a bill that would require all new handguns to be stamped with microscopic identification tags. The bill, known as the Crime Gun Identification Act, would also require that handguns be equipped with lasers that imprint a "microstamp" of the gun's make, model, and serial number onto shell casings when the weapon is fired. The new requirements would take effect January 1, 2010, if the bill is passed. According to California Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D), who authored the bill, the legislation would help
law enforcement officials trace shell casings back to a gun's registered owner. The legislation would also deter gun owners and retailers from selling to unlicensed purchasers, which would in turn reduce the number of armed criminals, Feuer said. However, opponents of the bill claimed the technology is prone to tampering and does not prevent unlicensed criminals from using the stamped guns. In addition, the microstamping technology could cause crime scenes to "easily be contaminated by a criminal throwing down a handful of shell casings he picked up from the local gun range," the Golden State 2nd Amendment Council wrote in letters to Assembly members.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/
la-me-guns15aug15,1,2366525.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

"Clearing Emergency Radio Waves"
Wall Street Journal (08/07/07) P. A4; Boles, Corey

Sprint Nextel admits it has played hard ball in negotiations with local public-safety agencies regarding its pledge to pay at least $4.86 billion to separate the frequency channels used for its service from the airwaves used for emergency communications. The effort is an ambitious one, everyone agrees, requiring modifications to the wireless-network equipment of public-service agencies across the nation, as well as the radio communications devices they employ. It all must be accomplished while maintaining online public-safety networks. "People's lives are hanging on this," says an official with the Utah Communications Agency Network, which is supervising the channel switch in Utah. "You're having to redesign and rebuild the airplane while it's still flying." Sprint Nextel says by year's end it will have spent some $1.5 billion toward the effort and notes it has committed to spending at least $4.86 billion, meaning anything over that amount would be absorbed by the company. An official with Chester County, Pa., emergency services says he has been negotiating for three years with Sprint Nextel just to agree on funding for a preliminary study on how much it would cost to upgrade its emergency communications equipment. Presently, Sprint Nextel's offer of $400,000 is $250,000 shy of what the county requested. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118644768507989972.html

"Fit and Clean for Life"
Police (07/07) Vol. 31, No. 7, P. 40; Fahl, Keith

Body armor used by
law enforcement needs to fit properly, in order to provide maximum comfort and protection, writes Armor Holdings Products Group armor technical specialist Keith Fahl. The front panel of the vest should rise above an officer's duty belt when sitting down so that it does not wrinkle or roll at the bottom of the vest, and the top neck edge needs to fit within an inch beneath the clavicle notch at the top of the sternum. The vest also needs to come slightly above the duty belt, but not touch any of the equipment connected to that belt. In addition, the vest needs to be in line with the points of the wearer's shoulders, and the vest's sides should come together or overlap to shield side areas. When cleaning the vest, the ballistic panels need to be taken off first, with both elements of the vest cleaned individually. The protective panels of the vest can be wiped down with a damp cloth or sponge, using cold water and a gentle soap. When cleaning the carrier, employ a soft bristle brush or cloth to get rid of loose dirt from the surface of the carrier and the hook-and-loop fasteners, Fahl recommends. The carrier should be washed by hand or in the machine in warm or cool water on the gentle cycle utilizing detergent or mild soap. http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2007/07/Fit-and-Clean-for-Life.aspx

"The Valley of Surveillance"
Governing (07/07) Vol. 20, No. 10, P. 38; Perlman, Ellen

Phoenix, Ariz., has acquired a surveillance camera system that allows police to keep an eye on the city's activities. The nearly $500,000 system allows
Phoenix police to follow camera images from police headquarters, in patrol cars, or via handheld gadgets. The system allows police to rotate the cameras 360 degrees and have enough bandwidth to obtain almost real-time video. In addition, the cameras can perform "smart searching" of the video, without having to view the entire footage. While opponents contend that erecting cameras just moves violators to another location to avoid being caught on film, authorities note that it throws criminals off-balance, and that forcing them to uncharted areas places them at a disadvantage and enables police to possibly apprehend them as they are making errors. Phoenix's cameras are moved on a regular basis and are set up in regions where criminals are predicted to attack next. The cameras employ mesh technology, which transports images and information to the online nodes erected around a region. The mesh structure manufactures coverage "umbrellas" and information moves from one umbrella to another. http://www.governing.com/articles/7cameras.htm

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Law Enforcement Technology

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, August 16, 2007

"Iris Scan Boosts Jail Security"
Fort Collins Coloradoan (08/10/07) P. 3A; Reed, Sara

The Larimer County, Colo., Detection Center is now utilizing iris scanning to increase prison security and improve efficiency. Employing a handheld scanner, deputies at the facility scan the irises of everybody who is booked into the prison on top of fingerprint and photographing them. "One of the strong reasons we bought into the system is that someone might pose as someone else at release," explained Lt. Pat McCosh. He recalled how a prisoner was set for release but a different prisoner who had a similar name was set free instead. The scanner captures a black-and-white photo of the individual's eye, digitizes it, and stores it for later comparison. Irises do not change over time, are as individual as fingerprints, and the scan is not impacted by glasses or contacts. Money paid by people booked into the prison financed the $88,000 system, McCosh stressed. He added that the scans are not connected to any personal data besides a name and a file number. http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070810/NEWS01/708100342/1002

"Crime-Tipping Technology Updated"
Contra Costa Times (CA) (08/08/07); Gokhman, Roman

When a passer-by saw a man attempting to kidnap his girlfriend, he used his cell phone to videotape the crime in action and shot an image of the vehicle's license plate number.
Law enforcement have noticed the accessibility of the public to assist police with such witness-supplied evidence, so some agencies have created ways for the public to submit and post footage on the Web to assist with arresting criminals. Yet some say the initiative is a matter of credibility, as in the case of individuals holding grudges and falsifying information. The Pismo Beach Police Department has launched the "E-Tip" program, where the public can email video footage to an address monitored by emergency dispatchers. Police Chief Joe Cortex says the department wanted "to get more timely crime-tip info" so the initiative was instated. He added that at first there was apprehension about receiving prank tips, but he noted such instances have not been an issue. Knox County sheriff's communications specialist Drew Reeves says the program has been successful at his department, and although the evidence does not supplant the work of officers, it is an effective tool for assisting with crime solving. http://www.contracostatimes.com/alamedacounty/ci_6571801

"Jones Studies Cameras in Use at Virginia Beach"
Charleston Daily Mail (WV) (08/09/07) P. 4C; Pettit, Zack

Charleston, W.Va. Mayor Danny Jones and other city
leaders recently traveled to Virginia Beach to see how that city has benefited from the use of surveillance cameras. According to Charlie Meyer, the chief operating officer for Virginia Beach, there is not as much hard facts and figures as there is anecdotal evidence that surveillance cameras deter crime. He that he could not say that any one factor affected crime rates in Virginia Beach. Nonetheless, Meyer said he is a big supporter of using surveillance cameras because they can monitor more effectively than an officer on patrol and because they can gather evidence. Virginia Beach's emphasis on improving street lighting also seems to have helped deter crime and has prevented the cameras from being ineffective, Meyer said. Jones noted that Charleston needed to improve lighting as well. He added that Charleston's camera initiative would not likely get underway until next year, after officials obtain and learn to use the ca! meras and resolve public concerns about invasion of privacy. http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007080968/Mayor-and-police-chief-have-eye-opening-trip-to-check-out-surveillance-cameras/

"Grant Will Aid Care of Copters"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (08/09/07) P. G1; Sanchez, Edgar

The Department of Justice has granted $475,880 to the Sacramento City Council to improve the city's two
police helicopters. Aire One and Aire Two will receive night-vision goggles, infrared cameras, and a thermal-imaging camera that will assist law enforcement in spotting individuals from the craft during the night. Sgt. Mike Hutchins says that the new model infrared camera will be especially beneficial because it has a low-light color capability that makes seeing suspects considerably easier at night. The camera will take high-definition photographs of an individual that exhibits the color of the clothing the suspect is wearing; pilots can then relay the information to officers on the ground. Additionally, the cameras' infrared features will thwart attempts from suspects to resort to hiding places such as the bushes or garbage cans, because the camera's technology will capture a glow around the suspect. Lt. Sylvia Moir said the cameras will also be able to assist in searching for missing persons, while the technology can be used by weather specialists in the winter to detect trouble spots in the case of flooding. The federal funding will also pay for replacement main rotor blades for Air One and a reconstructed engine for Air Two. http://www.sacbee.com/city/story/312943.html

"Courthouse Security Upgrades Near Completion"
Kokomo Tribune (IN) (08/08/07); de la Bastide, Ken

Howard County, Ind., authorities have scheduled a tentative date of Aug. 20 to install increased security measures at the courthouse. County authorities had earlier hoped the improved security initiatives would be enacted by April 20, 2007. The county got $30,000 from the state Department of Homeland Security to buy equipment and has spent another $110,000 for additional security improvements and a pair of security officers. Although courthouse staff will have access to the facility's west door, other county workers and public members will be mandated to come in through the east door. Extra cameras costing $44,000 were ordered for the building after a recent failed break-in. Any individual breaching Howard County's security regulations, which include a weapons ban, could be fined as much as $2,500.
Law enforcement officers who are off-duty will be mandated to keep their weapons in the security office. A frequent-visitor pass will be given to attorneys and other individuals who have regular courthouse business. http://www.kokomotribune.com/local/local_story_220220537.html

"Houston OKs High-Tech Tracking of Probationers"
Macon Telegraph (GA) (08/08/07); Crenshaw, Wayne

On Aug. 7, the Houston County Board of Commissioners voted to use new
technology to monitor people on court probation. The board voted to alter the agreement with Sentinel, its probation firm, to permit for tracking of certain probationers utilizing GPS technology and alcohol-tracking bracelets. Sentinel had formerly been contracted to follow as many as 50 probationers with electronic ankle brackets and phone checks. Every day, data from the bracelets is downloaded over the phone, and it would inform probation officers whether an individual had violated probation. County administrator Steve Engle explained that the advantage of using GPS technology is that it would permit officers to monitor the location of a probationer at any time. He added that the sheriff's department asked for the new service mostly to monitor child molesters. The alcohol-tracking gadgets would be employed for DUI violators and other people mandated by the court to not drink alcohol. The devices, attached to the wrist, detect alcohol consumption through sweat, and would instantly inform the individual's probation officer if alcohol is discovered. http://www.macon.com/197/v-print/story/107254.html

"Homeland Security Tests Strobe-like 'Puke-Ray' to Safely Subdue Suspects"
USA Today (08/08/07) P. 1A; Hall, Mimi; Moreno, Eric

The Department of Homeland Security has invested $1 million for testing of the LED (light-emitting diode) Incapacitator that would blind any individual staring into the beam of light. The tool could be used to abet authorities in their capture of a criminal or to handle belligerent airline passengers. The light will be tested at Pennsylvania State University's Institute of Non-Lethal Defense Technologies this fall, and if the technology receives the green light, the incapacitator could be in the hands of law enforcement by 2010. Program manager Gerald Kirwin says the device would also be used by air marshals, border patrol agents, and other Transportation Security Administration officials. Intelligent Optical, the company that is developing the beam, says the effect of the LED induces "a real disorientation [ranging] from vertigo to nausea" or as the online publication The Registrar deems it, the "puke-ray." Although Intelligent Optical President Bob Lieberman says the device is undergoing medically supervised tests, human rights groups say they are concerned the LED would be used on illegal immigrants. Other issues include the potential for the lights being sold on the black market if they get into the hand of criminals, or whether
law enforcement would have to wear protective gear to prevent the devices from being used against them. http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070808/1a_bottomstrip08.art.htm

"Police Arrest Intruders Near Fallen Bridge, Boost Security"
CNN.com (08/09/07)

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is taking over the responsibility of providing security at the site of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, which authorities consider a death-scene investigation site. Security is being increased after
Minneapolis police announced that they arrested 16 people for trespassing at the site and interfering with the investigation. Stressing the need to "maintain the honor and the dignity" of the site where five people died and eight people are still missing, Minneapolis police announced that they are deploying security technology at the site, including surveillance cameras and motion detectors. The technology will notify police if intruders are detected. http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/08/08/bridge.collapse/index.html
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"City Council Proposes Split of 911 Center"
Dallas Morning News (08/09/07); Eiserer, Tanya

The Dallas City Council last week received a proposal from City Manager Mary Suhm that aims to overhaul the city's troubled call center. The call center has been beset with a number of problems recently, including incomplete and sometimes incorrect information being passed from call-takers to police and understaffed overworked operators struggling to keep up with the large volume of calls.
Police have also been dispatched to nonpolice matters, such as a fallen tree in a roadway. Under Suhm's plan, the emergency 911 operation and the nonemergency operations--such as 311 service calls--will be split into two next fiscal year. Suhm's plan also provides money for four new supervisors for 311 and six new 911 operators. But according to Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle, the problems at the call center cannot be corrected until 911 operations are moved from the Fire Department's control to the Police Department's control--something Suhm's plan does not call for. However, Suhm said the city is probably going to move 911 operations back to the police department after the center has been split between 911 and 311, and after a new dispatch system gets off the ground this month. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews
/stories/080907dnmet911.36262a3.html

"New Crime Lab Planned for Triad"
High Point Enterprise (08/11/07); Kimbrough, Pat

Earlier in August,
North Carolina legislators sanctioned money to help form the Piedmont Triad Regional Crime Laboratory. The $567,911 will be employed to lease space and hire new employees for a State Bureau of Investigation lab that will facilitate forensic crime-scene evidence study for law enforcement groups in the area. The new lab would mean investigators would not have to depend as much on state labs in Raleigh and Western North Carolina, where it can take weeks or months to analyze evidence. Triad sheriffs have tentatively consented to offer federal forfeiture money from their various agencies to the lab to assist with start-up and operating expenses. Though a location has not been selected, Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes reported that Greensboro is a likely setting and that the tentative scheduled opening date is April 2008. The new lab will offer drug chemistry and toxicology study, latent evidence analysis, and computer forensics, although it will not provide DNA study. Barnes noted that although local police agencies were contacted about the new facility, it will mostly be a function of area sheriff's offices. http://www.hpe.com/

"Dispatchers Face Challenges in Tracking Emergency Calls"
Houston Chronicle (08/09/07) P. 9; Stauffer, Kimberly

Emergency dispatch workers in Montgomery County,
Texas, are working to alter the way they accept and deal with emergency calls. Nearly 60 percent of 911 calls are made from cell phones, which means they are often dropped or contain static, and if callers cannot provide dispatchers with an address and other data, finding them can be difficult. A deal between cell-phone companies and the FCC mandates wireless carriers to provide location data and technology. Montgomery County Sheriff's Department executive director Bob Gunter notes that with the carriers' aid, emergency dispatchers can find a person around 80 percent of the time. He notes, however, that a large part of the technology's bill is footed by law enforcement. Within the next few years, the sheriff's department will start installing new technology permitting the public to call emergency services from any location. Gunter states that the National Emergency Number Association is working will all cell-phone providers in the creation of next-generation technology--namely, IP-based Internet-style technology. For example, he says, if somebody sees a shooting and employs a cell phone or camera to take a picture of the event, he or she can upload and send it to dispatch and call 911. http://www.chron.com/

"Officials Laud Unmanned Weapons, See Challenges"
ABC News (08/07/07); Shalal-Esa, Andrea

Speaking during AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America 2007 conference in Washington, D.C., Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman said the
U.S. military sees increasing value in the use of unmanned planes, boats, and ground vehicles. "I see this as an explosive arena," Hoffman said, noting that unmanned, high-altitude surveillance planes like the Global Hawk have a number of advantages over their human-operated counterparts. Not only can unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) stay in the air for up to 24 hours, they also have potential applications in the area of "near space," which is unreachable by manned planes. Other UAVs include the Reaper, a faster, deadlier version of the Predator that is capable of flying twice as high. UAVs are not without their drawbacks; however, plans are already in the works to overcome concerns about their fueling and the bandwidth needed to operate the UAVs. The Navy plans to further develop its use of unmanned aircraft with a $2 billion contract this fall for maritime surveillance. In addition, the Navy has outfitted the Littoral Combat Ship with the equipment necessary to control unmanned boats. http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3456951

"Taser Gets Personal"
East Valley Tribune (AZ) (08/07/07); Hogan, Shanna

The latest Taser model is more stylish and less expensive than prior models. The Taser C2 Personal Protector is lightweight and comes in an array of new colors and sizes, including metallic pink, titanium silver, electric blue and black pearl. Like older models, the C2 delivers 50,000 volts of electricity, leaving an attacker incapacitated for up to 30 seconds. But Taser representatives hope the new colors and compact size of the C2 will attract a wider range of consumers, including women. "For the last seven years, we've been making
law enforcement our No. 1 priority," says Taser International Chairman Tom Smith. "Everything we did looked like a firearm, felt like a firearm, it was very aggressive. People didn't want that 'Dirty Harry' look." Still, Smith adds that "some law enforcement officials" have misgivings about increasing the accessibility of Tasers to civilians. http://www.eastvalleytribun! e.com/

"Teens Help Clovis Police Get a New Set of Robot Eyes"
Fresno Bee (CA) (08/07/07) P. B1; Benjamin, Marc

The Clovis
Police Department recruited a couple of high school students to build a remote-controlled surveillance device. The device features a camera to allow SWAT to see inside their target with a closed-circuit camera. "It can be the eyes in there first and then the commanders and chiefs can make a tactical decision without risking a body," explains officer Dave Grotto, who recruited his 18-year-old nephew and his friend to build the remote-controlled device. The robot the teens built runs on tank treads and is outfitted with a camera on a scissor lift that can turn 360 degrees. Scenes captured by the camera are relayed to a five-inch television monitor affixed to the remote control. The camera can operate for two hours before needing to be recharged. http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/105826.html

"Digital Age Gives Police an Edge in Identifying Victims"
Beaumont Enterprise (08/06/07); Myers, Ryan

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Child Victim Identification Program, which was begun five years ago, employs facial recognition to compare digital pictures in what could be the biggest collection of child pornography in the world. Local, state, and
law enforcement groups, as well as law enforcement agencies from other countries, have donated images to the program. Since 2002, 8.6 million image files have been downloaded, helping locate 1,100 child victims. The program's most important function is locating children whose images are given for the first time. If a child has not been witnessed previously in the program, he or she could be a present abuse visit. Law enforcement is devising new ways to investigate individuals found with child pornography. The most significant change in recent years has been cooperation between various law enforcement organizations via the Child Victim Identification Program, claims program manager Jennifer Lee. http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18667104&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

"Upkeep of Security Devices a Burden"
Washington Post (08/13/07) P. A1; Sheridan, Mary Beth

Emergency preparedness officials across the country say they are facing mounting costs related to the upkeep and maintenance of security equipment they purchased via homeland security grants since the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. Local officials believe they will be forced to spend a significant percentage of any future homeland grants on maintaining the equipment they have now, instead of purchasing new equipment. In many cash-strapped jurisdictions, expensive equipment is gathering dust because the equipment costs too much to maintain. For example, the FBI used a $25 million grant in 2003 to equip about 400 state and local bomb squads with a $12,000 high-tech bomb kit. The wireless laptop-based bomb kits allow U.S. bomb squads to communicate and share data about weapons of mass destruction and other explosives, and the kits even come with digital cameras that allow bomb squad members to take photos of suspicious devices, send the photos to the FBI, and get immediate advice. The initial $25 million grant included a prepaid wireless card and three-year service agreement, but once the prepaid subscriptions ran out, the local squads were forced to foot the bill. As a result, many bomb squads across the country have stopped using the devices. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/12/AR2007081201244.html?hpid=topnews

"Robotic Insect Takes Off for the First Time"
Technology Review (07/19/07); Ross, Rachel

Harvard University researchers have created a life-size robotic fly that could one day be used as spies or to detect harmful chemicals. The robotic fly weighs only 60 grams, has a wingspan of three centimeters, and has its movements modeled after those of a real fly. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding the research on the robotic fly, which still has a significant amount of work left to be done, in the hope that it will lead to stealth surveillance robots. Recreating a fly's efficient movements in a robot about the same size was difficult because existing manufacturing processes do not make the sturdy, lightweight parts necessary. The research team developed its own fabrication process, using laser micro-machining to cut thin sheet of carbon fiber and polymers into two-dimensional patters. After more than seven years of working and improving parts, the robotic fly finally flew this spring. The robot still needs significant work, as it is currently held on a tether that keeps it moving in a straight, upward direction. The researchers are working on a flight controller so the robot can fly as instructed. The fly is also currently connected to a external power source, so an onboard power source needs to be developed. Leader of the robotic fly project Robert Wood said a scaled-down lithium-polymer batter would provide less than five minutes of flight time. Tiny sensors and software routines need to be developed and integrated as well so the fly can detect dangerous conditions and be able to avoid flying into obstacles. http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19068/

"Ground Vehicles a Larger Presence at Unmanned Vehicle Exhibition"
Defense News (08/06/07); Osborn, Kris

There were more unmanned ground systems at this year's Unmanned Systems North America exhibition show--which was held by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland--than in years past, according to exhibitors and
military officials. "In previous years, there were few unmanned ground vehicles at this show," said iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner. "This year, about one-third are ground." One of those robots was the 9-foot, 3,500-pound Mobile Detection Assessment Response System (MDARS), a security-guard robot from General Dynamics Robotics Systems (GDRS) that is capable of walking a beat without human control, avoiding both fixed and moving obstacles and detecting intruders up to 300 meters away. According to a Defense Department official with the Physical Security Action Group, MDARS would be the Army's first land-based semi-autonomous robot. GDRS is currently negotiating a $70 million deal t! o provide the Army with 24 to 30 robots, said Brian Frederick, manger of the MDARS program at GDRS. http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2951265&C=america

Counter-Terrorism/Medical Disaster Preparedness: A Pro-Active Approach

Saturday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Campus Center

The mission of this symposium is to educate the public on counter-
terrorist prevention strategies and disaster response; this symposium will have a particular emphasis on response resources, looking at real scenarios run in a major medical center environment.
The latest in a series of seminars hosted by the NJ
Marine Corps Reserve Association/ Military Order of the Purple Heart focusing on different aspects of terrorist prevention and disaster response.

More Information
http://www.criminaljustice-online.com/forum1/852.html

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Three Police Books

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 700 state and local police officers who have written books. Police-Writers.com added three police officers and their three police books: James A. Forrest; William Gately; and, William Vanderberg.

Lieutenant
James A. Forrest is employed by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (Florida). He is the author of Eye of the Storm. According to the book description, Eye of the Storm “charter Captain Jack Foster tries to live a simple life and leave his past as a cold case investigator behind him, but when he finds the body of his friend Capt. Tom in the mangroves it's not that easy. When Capt. Tom's killers learn of Jack's interest in the investigation they decide to take care of him and his daughter, Katelyn, before they are discovered. While defending against attack, trying to figure out clues, and protecting his daughter, massive Hurricane Lynn churns in the Gulf of Mexico and is bearing down on them. Out numbered and out gunned, will Jack be able to solve the murder and evade the wrath of Mother Nature or are his and Katelyn's fates sealed like Capt. Tom's?”

According to one reader of Eye of the Storm, “This is a quick paced, thrilling, action packed book. It's a great read for traveling through airports or sitting home recovering from surgery.
James A. Forrest's "Eye of the Storm" is one novel that any reader could enjoy and appreciate. However, native Floridians--and even fishing enthusiasts--could glean even more out of this perfect "made for TV movie" type novel. Someone--if not all--members of your family will enjoy this read.”

William Gately is a Vietnam veteran and former vice-cop from the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, DC). In 1970, after a three year enlistment in the Marines and tour in Vietnam he took the oath of police officer in the nation's capital. For the next eight years he served as a member of the Metropolitan Police Department. On June 17, 1972, William Gately was assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department tactical unit that surprised the Watergate Burlgars. After leaving the joined the U.S. Customs Service, eventually rising to the rank of assistant Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Customs in Los Angeles.

William Gately co-authored Dead Ringer: An Insider's Account of the Mob's Colombian Connection. According to publisher’s weekly, “Gatley, an employee of the U.S. Customs Service; Joe Caffaro, a Sicilian-born businessman with Mafia ties; and Leo Fraley, an American career criminal who became involved in Colombian drug-smuggling--these men are an unlikely trio to be the subjects of the same book. Yet all played major roles in court cases which tied the Medellin drug cartel to the mafia in Sicily and thence to the U.S. mafia. That the tie exists is no revelation to those who read news stories about organized crime, so this volume by Gately and freelancer Fernandez is hardly eye-opening; nor are their portraits of American mobsters as stupid and greedy and Columbian drug lords as cruel and merciless anything new. What readers will find informative is the depiction here of inter-bureau rivalry among the FBI, the DEA and Customs, bureaucratic infighting which does not augur well for the drug war.”

William R. Vanderberg is a decorated veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington DC). While with the force, Bill Vanderberg was a street cop working one of the most violent and deadly areas of our nation's capital, the Northeast section of the city. William Vanderberg is the author of Thrill Kill. According to the book description, “many of the incidents in this novel are based on actual experiences which Bill either participated in or personally witnessed.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 712 police officers (representing 327 police departments) and their 1530
police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

The Gangs of Los Angeles

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 700 state and local police officers who have written books. The website announced that LAPD police officer and author William Dunn published his second book, The Gangs of Los Angeles.

William Dunn, a Detective Sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department and a former CRASH officer and renowned gang expert, has published his second book The Gangs of Los Angeles. William Dunn has instructed law enforcement nationwide regarding the current MS-13 gang epidemic. William Dunn is also the author of Boot: An L.A.P.D. Officer's Rookie Year.

According to the book description, The
Gangs of Los Angeles describes that “there is no gang turf more desperately unique than that hidden among the 464 square miles which make up the City of Los Angeles. It is a fragile place; both tantalizing and repulsive, where wild fires can scorch hill-top celebrity homes as easily as gang members decimate a housing project with automatic rifle fire. The Gangs of Los Angeles is a classic, real life account of American crime. From the early Tomato Gangs of 1890's Boyle Heights to the modern Crips and Mara Salvatrucha, with side trips through an Irish Dogtown, the gang wars of "Happy Valley", Sleepy Lagoon and the yellow journalism of the Hearst Press, and a tragic murder at Sunset and Vine, Dunn recounts the events and notorious denizens that spawned LA's gang subculture.”

For more information on The Gangs of Los Angeles visit
www.police-writers.com/dunn.html.

According to the Library Journal, Boot: An L.A.P.D. Officer's Rookie Year, “is a refreshingly unpretentious first-person account of a rookie cop's experiences on the mean streets of L.A. Dunn tells of his first days: learning the ropes from more experienced officers, feeling the rush of adrenaline when confronting dangerous situations, learning the codes and behaviors of street gangs, confronting the fact of death, and developing the uniquely strong bonds that exist among individuals working under hazardous conditions. What sets this apart from many other cop narratives is Dunn's avoidance of self-aggrandizement and his ability to portray incidents realistically and dramatically.”

One reader of Boot: An L.A.P.D. Officer's Rookie Year, said, “I was skeptical, I am of most law enforcement related books that I read. Mr. Dunn, as you will see, has a very thoughtful and easy to understand approach to explaining something that no book will ever really accomplish. If you are interested in this as a career, buy it, it'll give you a clue and its worth your time. If you are already in the profession, buy it, you will learn something, and its worth your time. (you also wont be disappointed, trust me!)”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 705 police officers (representing 325 police departments) and their 1522
police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Iraqi Criminal Justice System, Police Institute Rule of Law, Officials Say

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

Aug. 13, 2007 - Establishing the necessary components to enable the rule of law to function across Iraq's society is vital to creating stable institutions and lasting security in that country, a
U.S. military lawyer said in Baghdad today. The Iraqi government is making measurable progress toward that goal by providing fair and impartial courts, professional lawyers, judges and police, and modern and humane detention facilities, Army Col. Mark Martins, Multinational Force Iraq's senior legal official, told reporters at a news conference.

"The rule of law is a principle of governance which holds that your fate depends not on who you are, what religious sect, what region, what tribe, but on what you did," Martins explained.

The rule of law stipulates "that all citizens, institutions, entities, public and private, including the state itself, are accountable to laws, laws that have been publicly passed by a body representative of the people," Martins said.

Laws are to be enforced equally by the police, who are themselves trained to follow the law, Martins said. An impartial, independent and evenhanded judiciary system interprets the law, he said.

A new judicial facility recently opened in Baghdad illustrates progress the Iraqi government is making to establish the rule of law, Martins said.

"This Rule of Law complex now provides a secure place in the heart of Baghdad for all participants in the
criminal justice system," Martins explained, including police, investigators, witnesses, judges, court personnel and detainee guards.

Members of Baghdad's
criminal justice system now "can work free from attack or intimidation," Martins pointed out. About 30 judges are expected to preside over court cases at the complex, which also features nearly 5,000 modern detention cells, he said.

The rule of law stipulates that citizens are not to take the law into their own hands, Martins pointed out. So, for the rule of law to succeed in Iraq, he said, its citizens need to accept it and put aside ages-old tribal and sectarian animosities.

Much progress is being made each day to establish the rule of law across Iraq, but more work needs to be done, Martins conceded.

"It will require the government, and eventually the people, to reject revenge and terror, which is the use of spectacularly violent attacks on civilians, to achieve a political end," Martins observed. "It will require acceptance of the rule of law."

Martins saluted Iraqi judicial officials' efforts in promoting the rule of law across Iraq, like Higher Judicial Council spokesman Judge Abdul Satar Bayrkdar, who accompanied the colonel at the news conference.

Hundreds of new Iraqi investigators and judges have been hired in recent months, Bayrkdar said, noting there are now about 1,000 judges presiding at courts located across the country. The new judges, he said, are lawyers with 10 or more years of courtroom experience who are vetted for loyalty and integrity by the government. The Iraqi legal system also provides oversight to ensure that all prisoners receive fair and humane treatment, he added.

Iraq's new legal system is obviously fairer and more efficient than the despotic, haphazard courts operated by late dictator Saddam Hussein's regime, Bayrkdar said. For example, 96 percent of all court cases heard in Iraqi courtrooms in 2006 were resolved, he said.

"This is the highest percentage in the history of the Iraqi courts," Bayrkdar said.

Iraq's judiciary system plays "a key part in the rule of law in ensuring that justice is delivered in a fair, expeditious and evenhanded manner" during civil and criminal trials, Jim Santelle, justice attache at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, said at the news conference.

Without an independent, fair and efficient
criminal justice system, "the rule of law cannot stand and cannot survive," Santelle pointed out.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Undercover Angel Tour

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 700 state and local police officers who have written books. The website announced that one of the authors, a former Chicago Police Department police officer has begun a nationwide book tour.

Lisa Lockwood, motivational speaker, life coach and recent author of her memoir Undercover Angel: From Beauty Queen to SWAT Team…A True Story is strutting across the nation, leaving inspired readers and critics in her wake. The stunning blonde beauty has been actively promoting her new book, while fielding potential movie and TV pilot deals about the highs and lows experienced during her whirlwind, fairytale life as a welfare child turned beauty pageant contestant, war veteran, undercover SWAT detective and law enforcement officer.

Real-life superhero
Lisa Lockwood has long since hung up her tiara and gun belt to inspire others with her bold accomplishments by becoming a writer, inspirational speaker and life coach. Her memoir serves as a reminder to readers that they too can get past a life destined for failure by remaining upbeat and optimistic.

“Undercover Angel focuses on my personal achievements and transformation, as well as showing readers the power of determination and perseverance,” says the former beauty queen.

“This book is a well thought out masterpiece. The truth this brave woman shared with the world is nothing short of amazing. Her heroic effort and successes need to be commended. I believe this book shows us that you can be a beautiful and successful woman at the same time by working towards it ethically,” says one reader, a Drill SGT in the
US Military.

Undercover Angel covers the diversity of
Lisa Lockwood’s toughest experiences as an undercover officer and SWAT member, such as infiltrating drug rings, posing as a prostitute and catching pedophiles. The book also serves as a diary of her personal life - a childhood riddled with welfare dependence and beatings, a bad first marriage to a verbally abusive drunk, her experiences dealing with the competitiveness of beauty pageants, and various relationships leading to Mr. Right who encouraged her to retire from law enforcement and follow her dreams.

The saga of
Lisa Lockwood’s life lends itself perfectly to screenplays or reality shows, challenging viewers to follow the life coach’s lead and create the best possible lives for themselves.

For more information about Lisa Lockwood, please visit
http://lisalockwood.com

About Lisa Lockwood
Lisa Lockwood, a retired Chicago Police Department police officer is a first Gulf War veteran, former beauty pageant contestant, SWAT team officer and undercover detective. She is now a successful writer, speaker, and life coach. Her latest book is “Undercover Angel: From Beauty Queen to SWAT Team…A True Story.” Lisa Lockwood is currently giving interviews in print, on TV and radio. For more information about Lisa Lockwood and her new book, “Undercover Angel,” please visit http://lisalockwood.com; Or, contact Lisa Lisawood at lisa@lisalockwood.com, or by telephone at (514) 620-4224

About Police-Writers.com
Police-Writers.com now hosts 702
police officers (representing 323 police departments) and their 1510 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Over 700 Police Officers

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists over 700 state and local police officers who have written books. With the addition of Timothy A. Perry, Neil Moloney and Howard A. Monta, the website now lists 702 state and local law enforcement officials who have written books.

Timothy A. Perry is currently the undersheriff of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (Washington) and has more than 35 years of law enforcement experience. He served twenty-five years with the Seattle Police Department; working in patrol, investigations and training. After retiring from the Seattle Police Department, he was the Chief of Police for the Clyde Police Department (Washington). Tim Perry has a BS in Police Science and the Administration of Justice; and, is the author of two law enforcement books: Basic Patrol Procedures and The Practical Mock Scene Manual: A Complete Manual to Aid the Police Trainer

According to the book description of Basic Patrol Procedures, it “has been revised and updated throughout! It includes sections on community oriented policing, law enforcement ethics, vehicle pursuits and other timely subjects. Basic Patrol Procedures, 2/E is reader friendly, yet packed with important information for the
law enforcement student or police department recruit. It is perfect for a foundation for the law enforcement student of as an effective guide for training recruits. It is widely used in community college police training courses, it works well in criminal justice courses as a policing supplement, and it was written by an experienced street officer for his fellow officers.”

Neil Moloney’s law enforcement career has included Chief of the Washington State Patrol, Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Chief of Police of the Port of Seattle Police Department. Neil Moloney is the author of Renaissance Cop; Class of Twenty-Eight; and, Cops, Crooks and Politicians.

According to the book description of Renaissance Cop, it is “a story of political corruption and violence that Scott Allan Jackson and his city police colleagues encounter on the streets of a major city in the United States. While assigned to a beat in China Town, Jackson and Officer Pete Petersen are both shot. Officer Petersen dies from his wounds. Investigators identify the suspects as a group of renegade law enforcement officers. While assigned to the mayor’s security detail, Jackson is again injured in what the press describes as an attempt to assassinate the mayor. The officer kills the assailants. A newly elected reform mayor selects Jackson and his colleagues to root out the corruption that has existed in their hometown for more than a century. When the investigation is complete, a grand jury indicts the former mayor, the chief of police and the district attorney. However, three police officers die violent deaths before the case comes to trial.”

Howard A. Monta is a retired sergeant with the Seattle Police Department. He is the author of three law enforcement related books: How Police Officers Get Hired: The Key to Getting the Cop Job and Keeping It; Survive Low Morale, Stress and Burnout in Law Enforcement: (Identify & Manage the Eight Elements of Job Burnout); and, his autobiography, Like a Cat with Nine Lives

According to the book description of Like a Cat with Nine Lives, “This is the story of
Howard A. Monta’s evolution from a picked-on, chubby kid, to a risk-taking adventurer who was drawn to a long career as an aggressive law enforcer. The saga spans his life from childhood in a poor Seattle neighborhood, to his retirement from the Seattle Police Department in 1997.The colorful narration of his infatuation for a New York girl whom he cajoled into marrying him, despite his outrageous behavior, will bring a smile to the face of even the most somber reader.”

Howard Monta said of How Police Officers Get Hired (Formerly entitled, Cops Who Succeed), the book “provides insight into the most exciting, most controversial, most scrutinized, and the most important occupation in our society. In addition to vividly describing the public expectations and actual duties of police officers, Chapters One through Four identify the personal qualities of those who are "cut out" to be cops. The application, testing, and training processes are meticulously described. Chapters Five through Eleven describe those elements of the law enforcement profession that cause stress, low morale, and eventual job burnout. Helpful methods of surviving the stress and trauma of police duties are offered. This information is not only directed toward prospective officers, it is also invaluable for experienced officers. The book will never be outdated. Similar requirements and problems that exist for cops today, existed in the 1960s, and will continue to be relevant for generations to come.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 702
police officers (representing 323 police departments) and their 1510 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Law Enforcement Technology

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists nearly 700 state and local police officers who have written books. The website added Captain Robert L. Snow’s latest book on law enforcement technology.

Captain
Robert L. Snow is a 30 year veteran of the Indianapolis Police Department. He has served throughout the ranks as a police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. As a police executive, he has been the Indianapolis Police Department’s Commander of Planning and Research, the Chief’s Administrative Assistant, Executive Officer and Captain of Detectives. His current assignment is as the Commander of the Homicide.

Robert Snow graduated from Indiana University summa cum laude with degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. He has been a publishing writer for well over 20 years, with dozens of articles and short stories in such national magazines as Playboy, Reader’s Digest, LAW & ORDER, Action Digest, Police, and the National Enquirer.

Captain
Robert Snow has written ten books including his newest, Technology and Law Enforcement: From Gumshoe to Gamma Rays. According to the description of Technology and Law Enforcement: From Gumshoe to Gamma Rays, “Beginning with the Night Stalker case, the Robert Snow illustrates how the use and reliance on new technologies in solving crimes has made policing and detective work more accurate and efficient in capturing and convicting criminals (and courts more recently in releasing innocents convicted of crimes). Capitalizing on the interest in all things forensic, this book illuminates the behind the scenes technologies that go into solving crimes and keeping dangerous criminals off the street. Robert Snow covers DNA and fingerprint technologies, vehicle technologies, undercover work, bomb detection, and other methods. Using many real life examples and first hand anecdotes, he shows how technology has become part and parcel of criminal justice efforts to solve crimes.”

The forward to
Robert Snow’s book was written by Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA, the author of Police Technology. Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities. According to one college professor, “I recently taught a police technology course at a local community college using Raymond Foster's Police Technology book as the base reference for the course and then punctuated the book will information and exercises from the accompanying website. Outstanding! The website is very informative, current and relevant. Several of the practicing law enforcement personnel including senior supervisors and managers had their eyes opened to the technology available to them now and the future potential for the technology to improve the service they provide their communities, understand contemporary issues in law enforcement and may compelling arguments to their respective governing counsels for funding and technology initiatives. Great book - understood and applied by students at all levels of experience.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 699
police officers (representing 321 police departments) and their 1502 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.