Three Tennessee Men Plead Guilty to Killing During Home-Invasion Robbery

Three Clarksville, Tennessee, men pleaded guilty to using a firearm to kill during a home-invasion robbery.  Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.

Cornell Oliver, 23, and Blake Wright, 25, pleaded guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp to use of a firearm in a crime of violence resulting in death.  Jerry Dinkins, 26, pleaded guilty on June 26, 2015, to the same offense.  Wright and Oliver will be sentenced on Nov. 10, 2015, and Dinkins will be sentenced on Oct. 23, 2015.

According to the plea agreements, on Oct. 27, 2010, Oliver, Dinkins and Wright participated in a home-invasion robbery at a crack house in Clarksville, and that the defendants targeted the house and the victim Raymond Caston, aka Black, because he was known to cook and sell substantial amounts of crack cocaine at the house and to have large amounts of cash.

The plea agreements provide that, when the defendants arrived at the house, one of the defendants kicked open the door.  At the time, at least eight people were inside the house.  The defendants then entered and demanded money and drugs from Caston.  One of the defendants proceeded to hit Caston with a gun.  After Caston indicated that he did not have money or drugs, the defendants forced Caston outside.  People inside the house then heard multiple gunshots, but did not see which of the defendants actually fired shots.  The defendants then fled, and Caston, who had been shot three times, was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNA and other physical and forensic evidence collected at the scene and eyewitness accounts also connected the defendants to the murder.

The case was investigated by Clarksville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynne T. Ingram of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Criminal Bid Rigging

Baltimore Attorney Sentenced to One Year in Jail for Bid Rigging at Maryland Tax Lien Auctions Sentenced to Pay an $800,000 Criminal Fine


May 5, 2010 - WASHINGTON—A Baltimore attorney was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore to serve one year and one day in jail and to pay an $800,000 criminal fine for rigging bids at various Maryland tax lien auctions, the Department of Justice announced today.

Harvey M. Nusbaum pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of conspiring to submit non-competitive and collusive bids at tax lien auctions in Maryland on Feb. 23, 2010. Nusbaum along with his business partner, Jack W. Stollof, was originally charged in an indictment filed on June 16, 2009. Stollof pleaded guilty on Jan. 6, 2010 to the same charge. The department charged that the conspiracy began in or around the spring of 2002 and continued until at least Aug. 9, 2007, and involved tax lien auctions conducted by Baltimore City and the counties of Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s. Stollof’s sentencing, which was scheduled to take place today, will be rescheduled.

Tax lien auctions are used by counties and municipalities in Maryland to recover money owed by owners of real property in Maryland on unpaid property taxes. When property owners fail to pay their taxes or fees on time, the county or municipality in which the property is located may attach a lien. If the taxes remain unpaid, the lien is sold at auction. The high bidder for the tax lien has the right to collect the amount of the lien from the delinquent taxpayer, along with interest and fees including attorneys’ fees. If the property owner does not pay the interest and fees, which can amount to thousands of dollars, the lien holder can foreclose on the property.

The department charged that Nusbaum, Stollof and their co-conspirators allocated tax liens among themselves to suppress the amount bid on the liens. By reducing the amount they bid, they were able to secure more liens for less money. In some instances, they were able to foreclose on properties they obtained at non-competitive prices. Tens of millions of dollars in tax lien purchases were affected by the big-rigging conspiracy, the department said.

The sentencing is the result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section and the FBI into anticompetitive conduct at tax lien auctions. Three individuals have pleaded guilty as part of the investigation to date.

Anyone with information concerning bid rigging or other anticompetitive conduct regarding tax lien auctions is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section at 202-307-5777, visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm or the FBI’s Baltimore Office at 410-265-8080.

Miami Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the Export-Import Bank

April 29, 2010 - Miami resident Guillermo Sanchez, 55, pleaded guilty today to charges that he conspired to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) of approximately $854,000, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Osvaldo L. Gratacos, Acting Inspector General of the Ex-Im Bank.

Sanchez pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to one count of conspiracy to defraud the Ex-Im Bank and one count of mail fraud in connection with 10 loans guaranteed by the Ex-Im Bank.

According to court documents and testimony at the plea hearing, from approximately May 2006 through August 2007, Sanchez acted as a purported exporter of construction equipment to South America in 10 different loan transactions. The loans were obtained from a Florida bank and insured by the Ex-Im Bank. Sanchez admitted that he and a co-conspirator prepared and submitted to the Florida bank and the Ex-Im Bank loan documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists and bills of lading falsely reflecting that Sanchez purchased and shipped approximately $854,000 worth of generators manufactured in the United States to South American customers.

According to court documents and testimony, Sanchez’s company, ACE Products, received approximately $853,642 in loan proceeds based on the false representations and Sanchez retained a portion of the money for his own personal benefit and use. In or about August 2007, defaults on the loan transactions caused the Ex-Im Bank to pay the Florida bank’s claim for outstanding principal and accrued interest of approximately $854,161.

The Ex-Im Bank, an independent agency of the United States, is the official export credit agency of the United States and issues loan insurance to U.S. banks on behalf of creditworthy foreign companies for the purpose of purchasing U.S. goods. The Ex-Im Bank issues a loan insurance policy, which provides that if the foreign borrower defaults on its loan repayments to the lending bank, the Ex-Im Bank will reimburse the amount of the outstanding loan principal and interest to the lending bank.

Sentencing for Sanchez is scheduled for Nov. 1, 2010. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and the mail fraud charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. The defendant also faces a term of supervised release following any prison sentence.

The scheme was investigated by special agents of the Ex-Im Bank, Office of Inspector General, after bank staff referred information concerning the loan defaults. This case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick M. Donley of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

The Impact of the Community Court Model on Defendant Perceptions of Fairness

This report presents the results of a research project comparing defendant perceptions of fairness in the Red Hook Community Justice Center (Red Hook) and a traditional centralized criminal court. Nearly 400 defendants, who were seen at either Red Hook or the traditional court in summer 2005, took part in a survey comparing their perceptions of the treatment they received.

The survey evaluated the effects of court location (Red Hook or the traditional court), defendant background (race, ethnicity, sex and socioeconomic status), the outcome of their current court case (dismissed or required to return to court; required to attend drug treatment or not), and the stage of their case at the time of the survey (arraignment or subsequent court appearance).

Structured courtroom observations supplemented the results of the survey and helped to generate richer explanations about why different defendants might have perceived their court experiences as fair or unfair.

Among other outcomes, community courts seek to improve public confidence in the courts and to encourage law-abiding behavior. Previous research shows that when defendants perceive their treatment to be fair, they are more likely to accept the decisions of the court, comply with court imposed sanctions, and obey the law in the future (Tyler and Huo 2002). This study provides the first-ever evaluation of the success of a community court in improving upon the traditional court’s capacity to ensure that defendants leave court believing they were treated fairly.

This research project had two main goals:
1) to compare defendant perceptions of fairness at the Red Hook Community Justice Center and the traditional criminal court and 2) to identify the predictors of defendant perceptions. Since effective communication as well as respectful and fair treatment of defendants are important tenets of the community court model, we focus on how each of these elements affects defendants’ overall perceptions of fairness.

READ ON
http://www.courtinnovation.org/_uploads/documents/Procedural_Fairness.pdf

Public Safety Technology in the News

Colorado to Deploy COPLINK in a Statewide Law Enforcement and Public Safety Information Sharing Initiative
PR Newswire, (10/23/2008)

Colorado is the latest state to deploy COPLINK® for information sharing. COPLINK allows information sharing and collaboration among local, state and national public safety agencies. Colorado agencies will be able to analyze information from databases from across the state. The system can help quickly identify criminal suspects and patterns to deter crime and thwart terrorism. With the addition of agencies in Colorado, COPLINK supports 1,600 jurisdictions in 20 states.
www.marketwatch.com/news/story/colorado-deploy-coplinkr-statewide-law/story.aspx?guid=%7BDF2D11EB-E653-4272-8884-7E1CD0791D4D%7D&dist=hppr

Progress is Minimal in Clearing DNA Cases
New York Times, (10/24/2008), Solomon Moore

Clearing the nationwide backlog of cases awaiting DNA analysis is progressing slowly in some areas. According to status reports filed by more than 100 agencies with the National Institute of Justice, progress varies among state and local law enforcement agencies who received federal money to reduce DNA backlogs beginning in 2004. About one-fourth of the 105 agencies received less money this year because they failed to meet spending goals. The problem is especially acute in Los Angeles, where the police department has an estimated backlog of 7,000 cases. In October, federal legislation was enacted that includes an additional $1.6 billion over six years to speed DNA analysis through hiring temporary crime lab workers, overtime pay and lab renovation.
www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/us/25dna.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Cities See Decrease in Crime With ShotSpotter
Norwalk Citizen-News, (10/24/2008), David Hennessey

One city police department in the Northeast that is using ShotSpotter is seeing a marked reduction in gunfire. ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System technology can pinpoint the location of a weapon discharge or explosion down to the foot. The technology triangulates the location of a sound and transmits data about the incident to computers. police in Rochester, N.Y., said the city has seen a 43 percent reduction in gunfire since they began using the technology in July 2006.
www.norwalkcitizen-news.com/topstories/ci_10805511

Reverse 911 System Used in Search for 77-Year-Old Woman
Brenham Banner-Press, (10/23/2008), Angela Hahn

Authorities recently used Reverse 911 to help search for an elderly Texas woman who had wandered away from home. Reverse 911 allows emergency services to quickly contact citizens with information. The family had been searching for the woman for a couple of hours before notifying police. After searching without success during the night, authorities activated the city of Brenham's Reverse 911 system. Residents who received the reverse 911 calls notified the communications department if they had seen the woman. She was later found unharmed.
www.brenhambanner.com/articles/2008/10/23/news/news02.txt

Retailers Use E-Mail Alert System to Thwart Theft Rings
Patriot Ledger, (10/25/2008), Steve Adams

New England retailers are fighting back against shoplifting by using an e-mail system to alert each other and law enforcement to sophisticated theft rings. Organized retail crime is costing merchants $30 billion a year. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts and retailers' groups from five other states have formed the law enforcement Retailer Alliance of New England. In the theft rings, shoplifters work in teams; some thieves act as lookouts while others pilfer merchandise. Retail groups want tough new laws to address the problem. Currently retail theft is not a felony under federal law unless the merchandise exceeds a value of $5,000 and are transported across state lines.
www.patriotledger.com/business/x1904370820/Retailers-use-e-mail-alert-system-to-thwart-theft-rings

Washington Seeks Tools to Fight Identify Thieves
Insurance Journal, (10/24/2008)

Washington state officials are seeking innovative ways to deter identity theft. At a meeting in October, 90 law enforcement officials, victims' advocates and representatives from the financial and retail industries discussed actions taken to date and ways to improve on those efforts. Suggestions made during the meeting include applying facial recognition software to all Washington driver's license photos and business licenses, appointing a special prosecutor to handle organized retail identify theft cases, developing a shared database for identify theft cases, and developing a new identity theft educational campaign targeting seniors, youth and businesses.
www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2008/10/24/94977.htm

Prison Officials Looking at Cell Phone Tracking technology
American Statesman, (10/30/2008), Mike Ward

The Texas Department of criminal Justice is reviewing technology to detect cell phones in prisons after inmates used cell phones to make thousands of calls. During a recent contraband sweep of the state's 112 state prisons, officials found 71 cell phones, including five from death row, and 65 chargers. A variety of detection systems are on the market. John Moriarty, the prison system's independent inspector general, said some systems use hard-wired antennas that intercept cell signals; others use portable equipment to locate the origin of the signal.
www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/30/1030cellhones.html

New Communications Tools Help Emergency Responders
CNN, (10/29/2008), Marsha Walton

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and technology (NIST) are working to improve emergency communications during disasters. Search-and-rescue robots used to help find survivors in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 could not go far into the debris because radio signals were lost. NIST researchers have deployed a robot in an old silica mine tunnel in northern California to test how far the robot could go before the communications signal failed. The tunnel research discovered a "sweet spot," which is a frequency in mines, subways and tunnels where radio signals travel farthest. The information could help researchers design wireless systems that are more likely to function in a disaster.
edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/29/disaster.communication/

Atlantic Beach Crime Information Will Be Online
The Leader, (10/25/2008), Jennifer Knoechel

Citizens in Atlantic Beach, Fla., will be able to keep track of crime in their community online. Using Crimereports.com, a map of Atlantic Beach will provide the type of crime and the block where it occurred. Photos of registered sex offenders living in the community will also be available. The city had considered developing its own system but found a vendor that could deliver the service for less money. The city's cost for the services is $99 per month.
www.beachesleader.com/articles/2008/10/24/beaches_leader/news/doc4901cf516134d906105116.txt

Public Safety Technology in the News

New Device Can Sniff Out Dirty Bombs, Other Radiation
Contra Costa Times, (10/02/2008), Mike Taugher

Law enforcement and other agencies have a new tool to alert them to small amounts of radiation. The devices, called adaptable radiation area monitors, can detect small amounts of radiation and identify what type it is. The device can be placed inside vehicles to patrol highways or survey stadium entrances, or set up on a road. It could be used in a variety of ways, for example, in a vehicle to inspect a parade route. The New Jersey State Police have installed the detectors in a fleet of vehicles. The equipment is small enough to pack into a SUV. The software allows authorities to immediately know whether the source of the radiation is from natural, industrial or medical sources or from materials that could be used in a dirty or nuclear bomb. The technology can detect tiny amounts of radioactive material at about 40 miles per hour, within 12 feet of the material. The technology was developed at Livermore National Laboratory in California.
www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/ci_10611239

Tiny Cameras Going With Seattle Cops Out on the Street
Seattle Times, (09/11/2008), Jennifer Sullivan

Some Seattle police officers are now using tiny video cameras to record events as they perform their duties. The cameras, which weigh about 3.5 ounces, are made by VIEVU, a company founded by former Seattle police officers Steve Ward. He said video provides an accurate account of events during an incident and can be useful in determining liability. The devices can be worn on an officer's uniform, helmet or belt and can store more than four hours of video. Seattle police have used the cameras during demonstrations.
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008172390_cameras11m.html

Dog to Sniff Out Phones in Prisons
Tampa Tribune, (10/04/2008), Josh Poltilove

The Florida Department of Corrections will soon be using a dog's powerful sense of smell to deter smuggling of cell phones into prisons. Razor, a 14-month-old Malinois, is trained to smell cell phones and will report for duty in November. Cell phones can help inmates commit a variety of illegal activity, including dealing drugs, planning escapes and harassing victims. Between July 2007 and June 2008, authorities confiscated 336 cell phones from Florida prison inmates. A state law took effect in October making it illegal to smuggle cells phones into prisons.
www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081004/ARTICLE/810040364/-1/newssitemap

North Charleston Police Take Step into the Future
The Post and Courier, (09/25/2008), Noah Haglund

The police department in North Charleston, S.C., is the latest Law enforcement agency to use a wireless device that allows officers to quickly check criminal histories and vehicle registration. The handheld unit allows police to check a national database for warrants and vehicle information, before they confront a driver. Previously, officers had to call dispatchers to obtain that information. The device is made by the Atlanta-based American Law enforcement Network and costs about $400. The monthly subscription fee is $30 per unit. About 500 departments in five states are using the device.
www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep/25/north_charleston_police_take_step_into_f55749/

State Buying DNA-Testing Robots to Speed Up Results
Coloradoan, (09/05/2008), Trevor Hughes

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is turning to robotic analyzers to speed up processing of DNA evidence samples. CBI has a backlog of DNA evidence requiring testing, partly due to more samples being submitted from property crimes in addition to violent crimes such as rape and homicide. CBI already has one robotic analyzer, which is used to develop DNA profiles from convicted felons. Three new analyzers will be used for evidentiary samples taken from crime scenes and suspects. The new analyzers are to be installed by the end of 2008, with technicians trained and using them by May 2009.
www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/UPDATES01/80905017

Grant to Help Solve Crimes
The Troy Messenger, (10/04/2008), Holli Keaton

The Troy University Forensic Science Institute is using a U.S. Department of Justice grant to expand its services for Law enforcement. The institute offers training to Law enforcement and helps with computer crime research. The university also uses its computer forensic science lab to help local, state and federal Law enforcement obtain digital evidence. The $463,000 grant will allow the university to offer more in-depth training, increase cybercrime work and expand the lab.
www.troymessenger.com/news/2008/oct/04/grant-help-solve-crimes

FEMA Awards $17.6 Million in Equipment and Training to Smaller Emergency Response Agencies Nationwide
Media-Newswire.com, (09/29/2008)

More than 1,000 emergency response agencies in the United States will receive equipment and training under $17.6 million in grants awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grants are awarded through the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). FY 2008 CEDAP funds are to be used for extrication devices; thermal imaging, night vision and video surveillance tools; chemical, biological and radiological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and vehicle tracking tools. Of the 1,045 grant awards, 79 percent were awarded to Law enforcement agencies. The rest went to fire departments, emergency medical service, emergency management and public safety agencies.
www.desastres.org/noticias.php?id=29092008-09

GM Introduces technology to Slow Down Stolen Vehicles for Police
Canadian Press, (10/02/2008)

technology to remotely slow down stolen vehicles may soon be available. General Motors of Canada is introducing the technology through its OnStar service beginning with some 2009 model year cars. An On-Star adviser can locate a vehicle using a global positioning system and send a remote signal to slow a vehicle down to help police make an arrest. Police say it will help them catch car thieves and possibly reduce the number of high-speed chases. The owner of the vehicle must first contact the police and an OnStar adviser and request the service before it can be activated. Once activated, the suspect car's parking lights flash to alert police to the correct vehicle, which is slowed to a crawl so police can easily pull it over. The car's brakes and steering will still work; the accelerator will not.
www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/10/02/6959481.html

Public Safety Technology in the News

New Law to Set Voluntary Standards for 911 Dispatchers
Tallahassee.com, (08/03/2008), Nic Corbett

A new Florida State law, effective October 1, 2008, mandates that the Florida Department of Health establish criteria for certification of 911 dispatchers. The city of Tallahassee and Leon County are waiting to see what requirements are spelled out as part of the certification program. At present, the new standard calls for slightly more than 1 month of training for dispatchers. City police dispatchers, however, receive 6 months of training, which includes 4 to 6 weeks of classroom work. County dispatchers receive 4 months of training and officials are about to include classroom instruction as part of the county training. Construction of a new joint dispatch center for city and county dispatchers continues, which officials believe will make the system more efficient.
www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200808030200/BREAKINGNEWS/80717010

DHS Plans to Unify Emergency Communications
FCW.COM, (08/01/2008), Alice Lipowicz

The National Emergency Communications Plan mandates that cities most at risk for terrorist attacks must be able to demonstrate interoperability among agencies by 2010. The plan has been in development since 2002 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Goals for the plan include that by 2010, 90 percent of the 60 high-risk areas designated under the Urban Area Security Initiative demonstrate interoperability within 1 hour after a multijurisdictional event. By 2011, 25 percent of all urban jurisdictions must demonstrate communications capabilities 1 hour after a routine event. Finally, by 2013, 75 percent of all jurisdictions must have demonstrated response level communications 3 hours after an event. This plan is in line with the National Response Framework, National Incident Management System, National Preparedness Guideline, and Target Capabilities List, and was developed with input from practitioners and manufactures in the area of communications.
www.fcw.com/online/news/153354-1.html

Information Sharing Effectiveness Questioned by GAO
Homeland Security Today, (07/24/2008), Anthony L. Kimery

Nearly 7 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, State and local agencies are not the only entities questioning the impact of Federal information sharing initiatives, as well as other related reform programs. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the government cannot in fact assess the impact of information sharing or its effectiveness at preventing terrorism. The government needs to create milestones, results, and an overall program definition in order to implement the program successfully. According to GAO, steps have been taken to better implement the Information Sharing Environments (ISE) scope, but elements still require implementation.
hstoday.us/content/view/4394/149/

Fingerprints Provide Clues to More Than Just Identity
Science News, (08/07/2008)

Staff at Purdue University have developed a new technology that is capable of analyzing fingerprints gathered at a crime scene to determine what other materials were left behind with the fingerprint. Along with this development, the technology is also capable of differentiating between two overlapping fingerprints left at a scene. The technology relies on the compounds that comprise a fingerprint; some compounds are natural while others are based on what was handled by the person leaving the print. It is because of this uniqueness of these compounds that the technology is capable of separating multiple prints. The Purdue team's findings will be published in the August 8, 2008 issue of Science.
esciencenews.com/articles/2008/08/07/fingerprints.provide.clues.more.just.identity

West Midlands police Launch 'Untouchables' Team to Tackle Gangsters
SundayMercury.com, (08/02/2008), Ben Goldby

The Serious and Organized Crime Unit, established by West Midlands police, is tasked with the mission of apprehending the most dangerous criminals in the area. The group will be used to target gang leaders, money launderers, street thugs, and drug dealers, and can use whatever laws are at its disposal to apprehend these individuals. The task force can use crimes such as littering or driving while disqualified to make a successful arrest and subsequent prosecution. Since the unit's inception it has already made progress in the region by making two successful gun seizures and the region's largest marijuana bust. The unit consists of five teams that are not based solely in one location, but rather are capable of moving to those areas where the need exists. The unit stresses it will work with those people trying to leave the gang lifestyle, but will go after all members of organized crime with all legal means.
www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2008/08/02/west-midlands-police-launch-untouchables-team-to-tackle-gangsters-66331-21455817/

City Would Photograph Every Vehicle Entering Manhattan and Sniff Out Radioactivity
The New York Times, (08/12/2008), Al Baker

The New York Police Department is developing a proposal dubbed Operation Sentinel to further protect the city against terrorist attacks. The program would rely on technologies, such as cameras for still photos, license plate scanners, and radiation sensors. Each vehicle crossing into the city via bridge or tunnel will be photographed and have its license plate scanned and will be checked for radioactive materials. The captured information will be time stamped and the data will then be relayed to the command post in Lower Manhattan, where it will be indexed for at least 1 month storage. If the data is linked to a suspicious vehicle or to a case, the data will be stored longer, but if no connections are made the data will be erased. The proposal is part of a 36-page plan for security at the site of ground zero, and it is hoped to be a step toward adoption of a plan similar to the system implemented in London.
www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/nyregion/12cars.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

police, Firefighters Get New Tool in Responding to Emergencies
phillyBurbs.com, (08/14/2008), Melissa Hayes

First responders in Burlington County, Pennsylvania, will have the ability to view three-dimensional images of locations throughout the county. The county purchased the software from Pictometry International, Inc. Users will have the ability to view properties or areas from multiple angles and be able to zoom in and out on the building, which can help save time and lives during an emergency. Countywide leasing was offered by Pictometry so that other county agencies and municipalities can take advantages of the software. County 911 dispatchers will be trained immediately on the new system.
www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-08142008-1576662.html

GE Security Advanced technology Video Surveillance Solutions Help Support Reduction in Crime at LA's MacArthur Park
Centredaily.com, (08/13/2008)

In an effort to provide a safer environment and efficient response during the 2008 May Day Immigration Rally, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) worked with GE Security to upgrade the security system. The upgrade includes the latest in video management and in stationary and pan, tilt, and zoom cameras to help capture footage of the MacArthur Park area. According to LAPD, surveillance posted at the park has resulted in a steady decline of criminal activity in the area. The system used to update MacArthur Park includes cameras hooked to a wireless system using fiber optic cable. Information is transferred to Rampart Station, located several miles from the park, on the wireless system. The system allows police and other first responders to be more efficient with personnel deployment.
www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/773913.html

Va. DNA Project Is in Uncharted Territory
The Washington Post, (08/17/2008), Maria Glod

Thirty-three years after a rape and murder case had been closed and a man convicted, newly discovered DNA evidence has led to the arrest of another person in relation to the crime. This finding is part of a 3 year, $1.4 million project by the Virginia State Police to reexamine bodily fluid samples from roughly 400 cases involving rape, murder, or other serious crimes from more than 30 years ago. As of yet, no determinations have been made regarding anyone being wrongly convicted. However, there have been at least eight instances in which the convicted persons' DNA does not match evidence from the scene. Defense lawyers and legal scholars are trying to help make the process more clear and open to those convicted.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081602216.html

police Cameras Scan Plates for Stolen Cars
Azcentral.com, (08/14/2008), Michael Ferraresi

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Vehicle Theft Task Force has been using Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras and software to help investigators do their job more efficiently. According to staff, on a good day an officer may be able to manually process 400 plates, but with the new system in place an officer can now process 5,000 plates a day. Phoenix police share a unit between two precincts, and one precinct is attempting to get grant funding to purchase its own unit. The Arizona Department of Public Safety hopes to be able to deploy an additional 25 mobile ALPR cameras during the next 2 months.
www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/08/14/20080814phx-autotheft0815.html

Criminal Intelligence Analyst Course

The Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service, Vancouver, BC is hosting an intensive 5-day Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course for intelligence officers and crime and intelligence analysts from October 20th to October 24th 2008. The course will be presented by the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis and taught by Warren Sweeney, a thirty-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and former Intelligence Analysis Coordinator for the RCMP Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

This will be a "hands-on" course that takes a "learn-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform tasks associated with intelligence analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of The Intelligence Analyst's Sourcebook. Written by Warren Sweeney, this manual explains how to conduct, prepare, and present intelligence to enhance the investigative and decision-making process.

Participants will be taught how to turn data into information; how to distinguish differences between Tactical, Strategic, and Operational Intelligence; how to overcome resistance to the intelligence process, how to establish links between people, organizations, and events; how to chart events, commodity flow, and activities within the Criminal organization; how to present intelligence effectively in oral and written reports; how to use the power of the computer to assist the intelligence function; and money laundering secrets and techniques.

Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the text, and related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the California Department of Justice Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program and may be used for Certification purposes. It is beneficial, but not required, to bring a laptop computer with you, which will permit the installation of a graphics program: ABC SnapGraphics 1.0.

To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com or contact Cst Ron Chomyn, Canadian Pacific Railway Police Service, SK, 306-931-7414, fax 306-931-7412 email ron_chomyn@cpr.ca Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com

Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course

The Richardson Police Department, TX, is hosting an intensive 5-day criminal Intelligence Analysis Course for intelligence officers and Crime and intelligence analysts from November 17th to November 21st 2008. The course will be presented by the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis and taught by Warren Sweeney, a thirty-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and former Intelligence Analysis Coordinator for the RCMP Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

This will be a "hands-on" course that takes a "learn-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform tasks associated with intelligence analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of The Intelligence Analyst's Sourcebook. Written by Warren Sweeney, this manual explains how to conduct, prepare, and present intelligence to enhance the investigative and decision-making process.

Participants will be taught how to turn data into information; how to distinguish differences between Tactical, Strategic, and Operational Intelligence; how to overcome resistance to the intelligence process, how to establish links between people, organizations, and events; how to chart events, commodity flow, and activities within the criminal organization; how to present intelligence effectively in oral and written reports; how to use the power of the computer to assist the intelligence function; and money laundering secrets and techniques.

Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the text, and related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the California Department of Justice Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program and may be used for Certification purposes. It is beneficial, but not required, to bring a laptop computer with you, which will permit the installation of a graphics program: ABC SnapGraphics 1.0.

To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com or contact Patricia Huesca-Dorantes PHd, Richardson Police Service, TX, 972-744-4742, fax 972-744-5921 email patricia.huesca-dorantes@cor.gov. Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com.

Criminal Investigative Analysis Course

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, FL, is hosting an intensive 5-day Advanced Criminal Investigative Analysis (Psychological Profiling) course for rape and homicide investigators September 22 - September 26, 2008.

The course will be taught by Phoebe L.Kelsoe, Ph.D., of the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Training. A professional profiler and the former Manager of the Crime Analysis Unit, Special Investigations Bureau for the Riverside County, California Sheriff's Department, Dr. Kelsoe currently consults and instructs on practical applications of Criminal investigative analysis techniques for law enforcement organizations throughout theUnited States and Canada.

Designed primarily for investigators and crime analysts who are responsible for investigating or assisting in the investigation of homicide, in-class projects also deal with the crime of rape. Other relevant issues are examined as well. For example, you will learn how to identify the personality and behavioral characteristics of the victim and the offender in child abductions, how to identify the physical, behavioral, and personality characteristics of the victim and the offender in child abductions, how to identify the physical, behavioral, and personality characteristics of offenders who attack and kill elderly women, and how to analyze information contained in police reports to actually develop a profile that describes the type of offender who most likely committed the crime.

The course takes a very practical "learn-by-doing" approach to training, which, through lectures and class exercises, provides students with numerous opportunities to actually profile serial rape and homicide suspects. Each participant will receive a copy of the "Advanced Criminal Investigative Analysis Study Guide and Workbook." This manual provides numerous pages of class notes and supplemental reading material that will be used extensively throughout the course. Students will also be provided with a copy of "Case Management for Missing Children homicide Investigation." This booklet provides a wealth of information about offenders who commit child homicides, their victims, crime scene patterns, violent acts, and their motivations for committing such violent crimes.

Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the Study Guide, the booklet, and related course materials. The course also may fulfill your state's peace officer commission (POST, TCLOSE, etc.) requirements for continuing education or training hours.

To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Dana Raufiefen, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, by phone 561-688-3598 (fax 561-688-3586), or by email at raufeifend@pbso.org Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com

Crime Analysis Applications Course

The Sandy City Police Department, Utah in conjunction with Utah Law Enforcement Analysts Association, will host a Crime Analysis Applications Course from August 4th to August 8th 2008. The course will be presented by Steve Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis Training, and may be used for Certification purposes in the Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Program offered by the California Department of Justice and the California State University system.

This will be a "hands-on" applications course which takes a "learning-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform the tasks associated with crime analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's book, "Crime Analysis: From First Report to Final Arrest," a textbook over 600 pages which explains how to design, implement, and operate a crime analysis program, and how to use a wide variety of analytical techniques to forecast when and where criminal are likely to strike again. Each participant will also receive a copy of Mr. Gottlieb's 150-page step-by-step "Crime Analysis Study Guide and Workbook," which will be used throughout the class. Tuition is $525.00 and includes the week of instruction, the text, workbook, and a wealth of handout materials.

To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact remittance B.L.Smith Training Coordinator, Sandy City Police Department, 10000 South Centenial Parkway, Sandy, Utah, 84070. You may also register by phone by calling Mr. Smith at (801) 568-7240, or by faxing your registration form to him at (801) 568-7226. blsmith@sandy.utah.gov or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com.

Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course

The Anderson Police Department, SC, is hosting an intensive 5-day Criminal Intelligence Analysis Course for intelligence officers and crime and intelligence analysts from August 18th to August 22nd 2008. The course will be presented by the Alpha Group Center for Crime and Intelligence Analysis and taught by Warren Sweeney, a thirty-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and former Intelligence Analysis Coordinator for the RCMP Canadian Police College in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

This will be a "hands-on" course that takes a "learn-by-doing," practical approach to training. Students will actually perform tasks associated with intelligence analysis work. Each participant will also receive a copy of The Intelligence Analyst's Sourcebook. Written by Warren Sweeney, this manual explains how to conduct, prepare, and present intelligence to enhance the investigative and decision-making process.

Participants will be taught how to turn data into information; how to distinguish differences between Tactical, Strategic, and Operational Intelligence; how to overcome resistance to the intelligence process, how to establish links between people, organizations, and events; how to chart events, commodity flow, and activities within the criminal organization; how to present intelligence effectively in oral and written reports; how to use the power of the computer to assist the intelligence function; and money laundering secrets and techniques.

Tuition for the course is $525 and includes the week of instruction, the text, and related course materials. The course also fulfills the requirements of the California Department of Justice Certified Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program and may be used for Certification purposes. It is beneficial, but not required, to bring a laptop computer with you, which will permit the installation of a graphics program: ABC SnapGraphics 1.0.

To obtain a course brochure or to register for the course, please contact Katie Brown, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, 305 Camson Rd, Anderson SC 29625. You may also register by phone by calling Ms Brown at (864) 222-6601, or by faxing your registration form to her at (864) 260-4354. email contact is kgbrown@andersonsheriff.com. or Diana Olson of the Alpha Group at (909) 484-2169 or contact by e-mail at: crimecrush@aol.com.

Additional information about the content of the course can also be found on the Alpha Group website at www.alphagroupcenter.com