Former Jeffersonville Police Officer Sentenced to 15 Months for Making False Statements During Purchase of Firearms

NEW ALBANY - Todd Wilson, 52, of Charlestown, Indiana, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. 

According to court documents, Todd Wilson was a sworn police officer with the Jeffersonville Police Department (“JPD”), where he also served as the department’s evidence custodian. In that role, Wilson was entrusted with the careful receipt, storage, tracking, and release of evidence and property collected during investigations.

From 2020 to 2021, Wilson abused his position by lying during the purchases of nine firearms on eight separate occasions from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Under ATF regulations, law enforcement officers may purchase firearms without completing ATF Form 4473 (Firearms Transaction Record), which is typically required for purchases from federal firearms licensees. To utilize this exemption, officers must submit a certification on agency letterhead, signed by an authorized official, affirming the firearm will be used for official police duties and that the officer has no convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. Firearms dealers are required to retain these certifications in their permanent records.

Wilson purchased firearms through this program by submitting certifications on JPD letterhead in which he forged the signatures of the authorized official. Contrary to his claims on the certifications, Wilson intended to use the firearms for personal use, not his official duties, or to transfer or resell the firearms to third parties.

Wilson gifted two Glock 48 9mm pistols and a Glock 43x 9mm pistol to two individuals and sold a fourth firearm to another individual for $400.  eTracing was conducted on the firearms, which showed only the JPD, not Wilson or any of the other owners.

“The power entrusted to police officers demands an unwavering commitment to truth. When that trust is broken through deliberate dishonesty, it undermines the very foundation of justice and the safety of our communities. This offense wasn’t a momentary lapse, but a grave betrayal by someone sworn to uphold the truth,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “ATF Forms serve the critical purpose of ensuring law enforcement can trace crime guns. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold accountable those who misuse their authority.”

“Lying to obtain a firearm is a serious crime, and wearing a badge does not place anyone above the law,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This sentence underscores that when law enforcement officers choose to break the law and mislead the system, they will be held fully accountable. The officer’s own department initiated the investigation, reflecting its commitment to justice and the rule of law.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jeffersonville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.    

U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Wood, who prosecuted this case.

Former Oklahoma Police Officer Convicted of Sexual Assault and Obstruction of Justice

Former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for sexually assaulting a woman during a traffic stop and obstructing justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera. This landmark case marks the first conviction under the enhanced penalties of the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the Justice Department's commitment to holding accountable those who abuse their authority by engaging in sexual assault. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke underscored the gravity of sexual assaults perpetrated by law enforcement officers and pledged to seek justice for all victims of these crimes.

According to evidence presented at trial, on Nov. 2, 2022, during his first solo shift for SPD, Smith conducted a traffic stop and subsequently sexually assaulted the victim, K.H., after deactivating his body-worn and dashboard cameras. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison for the civil rights count and an additional 20 years for each obstruction of justice count.

The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office led the investigation with support from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Compton and Nicole Paladino, alongside Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division, are prosecuting the case.

This conviction sets a precedent for accountability in cases of sexual assault involving law enforcement officers and reinforces the Justice Department's commitment to protecting the rights and safety of all citizens.

Modified Shotgun Linked to Alamogordo Police Officer Fatality

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Dominic Cruz De La O, 27, of Alamogordo, appeared in federal court on charges related to possessing an unregistered weapon made from a shotgun. The weapon, a modified 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel length of 16 inches and an overall length of 25.5 inches, was allegedly used in the shooting death of Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson during a traffic stop on July 15, 2023. De La O will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Feb. 22, 2024.

On July 26, 2023, ATF agents received information implicating Jonah Apodaca, 32, of Alamogordo, in providing the modified shotgun to De La O. Apodaca appeared in federal court on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon on Feb. 12, 2024. Both De La O and Apodaca are facing serious charges, with De La O potentially facing up to 10 years in prison and Apodaca facing up to 15 years if convicted.

The investigation into this case involved cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison.

It's important to note that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Hogsett Announces Sentencing of Man Who Possessed Gun Used to Kill Officer Brent Long

Final Defendants Sentenced Today; Seven Individuals Prosecuted for Roles in Murder

TERRE HAUTE—“Today marks the conclusion of a difficult chapter in Terre Haute’s history, but we will not rest in our continued effort to honor the life and service of Officer Brent Long,” said Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, in announcing the sentencing of Brad “Pappy” Keller, age 48, to 18 months in federal prison today by District Judge William T. Lawrence. This follows Keller’s guilty plea to charges of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, a weapon which was subsequently sold to and used by Shaun Seeley in the killing of Terre Haute Police Officer Brent Long on July 11 of last year.

“These convictions represent a groundbreaking legal strategy,” Hogsett added. “I pledge that our office will continue to use every means available to hold accountable all those who put law enforcement officers in harm’s way.”

On July 11, 2011, Officer Brent Long and his K-9 partner, Shadow, entered a Terre Haute residence while serving a warrant on Shaun Seeley for a felony probation violation. Gunfire was heard outside the residence, and after law enforcement officers entered the house, Officer Long was recovered and Seeley, dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, was identified. Officer Long passed away as a result of his injuries.

After discovering that state law did not provide an effective path of prosecution against those involved in the killing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office assisted with the opening of a federal investigation into Officer Long’s death. Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), this effort resulted in last year’s indictment of seven Terre Haute residents.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthias D. Onderak, who prosecuted the case for the government, seven defendants have now been sentenced for their roles in the shooting. That includes five individuals—Heather Elkins, 23; Charles Elkins, 23; Roberta Utterback, 51; Jenny Torres, 23; and Jesse Padgett, 21—who all admitted to making a material false statement to law enforcement in relation to the events of that day.

Two individuals, Scott Griffy and Brad “Pappy” Keller, pleaded guilty to charges in connection with their alleged illegal possession and sale of the weapon used in the shooting. Specifically, Keller admitted to illegally possessing the 9mm pistol used by Shaun Seeley in killing Officer Long. That firearm was later obtained by Scott Griffy, also a convicted felon, who was sentenced to seven years in prison in August on charges relating to the illegal sale of the weapon to Seeley shortly before the shooting.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthias D. Onderak, who prosecuted the case for the government, Keller is a five-time convicted felon, including prior convictions for burglary and attempted burglary in Vigo County. Keller was on probation for drug charges relating to the possession and production of methamphetamine when he was arrested.

Since filing these charges, the United States Attorney’s Office has used the “Terre Haute” prosecution strategy in two other police-related shootings. In January 2011, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Moore was gunned down by an illegally armed convicted felon during a routine traffic stop. Last week, Hogsett announced charges against an individual alleged to have illegally possessed and sold the firearm used by the convicted felon to murder Officer Moore.

Similarly, Hogsett recently announced charges against another individual who is alleged to have illegally sold a firearm to a convicted felon who later used that weapon to wound IMPD Officer Dewey Runnels during a routine traffic stop.

“Our commitment is real, and our resolve is unwavering,” Hogsett added. “This office simply will not tolerate violence against our law enforcement officers, just as we will not allow the lawless behavior that enables such tragedies to go unpunished.”

Firefighter Fatality

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality:

Name: Edward Steffy

Rank: Fire Police Officer
Age: 71
Gender: Male
Status: Volunteer
Years of Service: 30+
Date of Incident: 11/10/2011
Time of Incident: 1030hrs
Date of Death: 11/10/2011

Fire Department: Rothsville Volunteer Fire Company
Address: 2071 Main ST, Rothsville, PA 17543-3029
Fire Department Chief: Claude G. Young, Jr.
Fire Department POC: Chief Claude G. Young, Jr.
Fire Department Website: http://rvfc.com/wp/

Incident Description: Fire Police Officer Steffy responded to a vehicle accident. While directing traffic at the scene, he began to feel ill and sat in the seat of his truck. A few moments later, he went into cardiac arrest and passed away at the scene of the vehicle accident.

Incident Location: Intersection of Rothsville Road and Route 772.

Funeral Arrangements: The viewing and funeral will be held at the Lititz United Methodist Church, 201 East Market ST, Lititz, PA 17543. The viewing will be Monday, 11/14/11, 1800hrs-2000hrs. There will also be a viewing Tuesday, 11/15/11, 0900hrs-1000hrs. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, 11/15/11 at 1000hrs.

Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Memorial contributions may be made to the Salem United Methodist Church, Attn: Mission Fund, 1744 Old Rothsville RD, Lititz, PA 17543 or to the Rothsville Fire Company, 2071 Main ST, Rothsville, PA 17543-3029.

Tribute is being paid to Fire Police Officer Edward Steffy at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/.

To date, 78 firefighter fatalities have been reported to USFA in 2011; 72 from incidents that occurred in 2011 and six from previous years' incidents. Year-to-date monthly and annual USFA firefighter fatality reports are posted online @ http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/statistics/ff_stats.shtm.

In the Line of Duty: 56 Officers Feloniously Killed in 2010

Fifty-six law enforcement officers in 22 states and Puerto Rico were feloniously killed in 2010, and more than 53,000 officers were assaulted during the same period, according to statistics released by the FBI.

The annual Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report released today offers the most complete public picture of the fatal circumstances that officers faced in 2010. In chilling detail, the report summarizes most of last year’s fatal confrontations and illustrates a reality that every officer continually trains to recognize: that there are no routine engagements. Among the scenarios:

■Two West Memphis Police Department officers were killed during a traffic stop when a 16-year-old passenger exited the vehicle and opened fire with a semiautomatic rifle.

■A Chicago Police Department officer at the end of his shift was removing his gear near his car in the department’s parking lot when a man ambushed the 43-year-old officer and shot him with his own weapon.
■A 62-year-old deputy sheriff in Mississippi was shot and killed by an uncooperative suspect while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

Information in the report, which is collected each year through the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, is intended to provide law enforcement agencies with detailed descriptions of the circumstances leading up to officer fatalities. The data can then be incorporated into tactical training.

“Only when detectives, use-of-force investigators, supervisors and administrators examine the various components of the deadly mix will a greater understanding of these encounters emerge,” FBI researchers wrote in a study called Violent Encounters, an in-depth look at years of fatal altercations like those in today’s report. “To make an objective assessment of each case, it is necessary to carefully and completely examine all aspects of the incident thus allowing the facts to surface.”

The 56 officers killed is an increase over 2009, when 48 officers were killed. However, significant conclusions may not be drawn from year-to-year comparisons given the nature of the statistics. Ten years ago, for example, 70 officers were killed in the line of duty (excluding the events of 9/11), and five years ago 48 officers were feloniously killed.

The 2010 report also shows 72 officers were accidently killed in the line of duty, almost all of them involving vehicles. Meanwhile, 53,469 officers were assaulted while on duty—a figure that amounts to one in 10 of the sworn officers in more than 11,000 agencies that reported data.

All told, the figures illustrate the inherent dangers of law enforcement. Here’s a look at some of the data contained in the report:

■Offenders used firearms to kill all but one of the 56 victim officers; one officer was killed by a vehicle used as a weapon.

■Of the 56 officers feloniously killed, 15 were ambushed, 14 were in arrest situations, seven were performing traffic stops, and six were answering disturbance calls.
■One in three officer assaults occurred while responding to disturbance calls; 14.7 percent occurred while officers were attempting arrests.
■The average age of officers killed feloniously and accidentally was, respectively, 38 and 39.

The UCR Program, part of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division, has been collecting and publishing law enforcement statistics since 1937, most notably the annual Crime in the United States reports. In 1972, the FBI began producing detailed reports on officer fatalities after the larger law enforcement community sought the Bureau’s involvement in preventing and investigating officer deaths.

Police Officer Guilty

Woonsocket Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Civil Rights Violation


June 23, 2010 - PROVIDENCE, RI—Former Woonsocket Police Officer John H. Douglas pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Providence to a federal criminal civil rights charge for assaulting a juvenile who was in his custody.

The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha and the U.S. Justice Department, which was entered before U.S. District Court Chief Mary M. Lisi.

On September 15, 2009, Douglas and two other Woonsocket Police Officers escorted a juvenile in police custody to a small hallway inside the Woonsocket Police Station. Once inside the hallway, Douglas, who was angry at the juvenile because he believed the juvenile had earlier injured a fellow Woonsocket Police Officer, repeatedly punched the juvenile. As a consequence of this beating, the juvenile suffered blunt force trauma and bone fractures in the area of his face.

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, “Police officers serve the people of Rhode Island with dedication and distinction every day, often putting their lives on the line to protect others. This case serves as a reminder, however, that no one is above the law, and when a police officer abuses his authority and violates the civil rights of a person he or she is supposed to protect, such conduct will not be tolerated.”

“Law enforcement officers who use their badges as an excuse to commit egregious acts of violence are an affront to the rule of law,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute officers who abuse their power in this manner.”

Douglas faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10, 2010.

Under the plea agreement, an additional count in the indictment of obstructing justice will be dismissed.

This case was investigated by Special Agent James Pitcavage of the FBI. The case is being jointly prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Terrence P. Donnelly and John P. McAdams and Trial Attorney Avner Shapiro of the Civil Rights Division.

New Body Armor Standard

Body armor (which is commonly but inaccurately called "bulletproof" vests) has saved the lives of more than 3,000 law enforcement officers since 1975. NIJ has revised the standard for body armor to require rigorous testing of the vests that now includes conditions of high heat, humidity and mechanical wear before ballistic testing. The standard ensures that the vests police officer wear will continue to protect them as the material ages.

The revised standard is the fruit of the Justice Department's Body Armor Safety Initiative. The initiative followed the failure of a vest worn by a police officer in Forest Hills, Pa. While the officer survived the shooting, he had serious injuries. The shooting was the only case ever reported to NIJ in which body armor compliant with the standard failed to prevent penetration for a bullet it was designed to defeat.

Download the new standard from NIJ's web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/223054.htm.

Become a Police Officer

On July 11, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Lieutenant Barry Baker, Baltimore Police Department (ret.), on how to become a police officer.

Program Date: July 11, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Become a Police Officer
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/12/Become-a-Police-Officer

About the Guest
Detective Lieutenant Barry Baker retired from the Baltimore Police Department in 2004. During his thirty-two year career, Barry Baker served as a patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant, as well as a special operations lieutenant and detective lieutenant. Lieutenant Barry Baker is the author of Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement.

According to Barry Baker’s book, Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement “is a serious examination of police work that is directed toward young people who are contemplating a career as a police officer. Author Barry Baker draws on over thirty-two years of experience from some of the most violent streets of any city in the United States to show you the unembellished truths of law enforcement.

Barry Baker describes the self-satisfaction that can be found in police work while identifying its pitfalls and how to avoid them. Before ending his career as a detective lieutenant, Baker spent his first twenty years on the force as a patrol officer, making him uniquely qualified to speak from a breadth and depth of experience.

Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement covers topics a newly trained police officer must appreciate—and master—to ensure success and safety, including the following: Self-evaluation for a police career; Recognizing and ignoring bad advice; Rapid advancement toward self-sufficiency; The immeasurable importance of integrity; and, Matters of life and death.

Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is a valuable insight for those seeking a career in the honorable and important profession of law enforcement.”

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

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

Police Omerta

May 28, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On June 4, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature an interview with Joe Sanchez a former NYPD police officer and the author of Latin Blues: A Tale of Police Omerta from the NYPD and A Tale of the Enemy Within.

Program Date: June 4, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: An Interview with Joe Sanchez
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

About the Guest
In 1965, Joe Sanchez was drafted into the United States Army, at the age of 18. On his twentieth birthday, he found himself with the First Air Cavalry Air Mobile Division deployed near the village of Phantiet in South Vietnam. On that day, his unit was engaged in a firefight with Viet Cong. Joe Sanchez and three of his comrades were wounded by a grenade during that firefight.

After discharge, Joe Sanchez served three years as a police officer with the New York Port Authority Police Department. He then applied for, and was accepted, as a police officer for the New York City Police Department. Joe Sanchez battled crime on the streets of New York, not realizing the most vicious enemy was within the NYPD.

In October of 1983, Joe Sanchez was indicted by a Special and Extraordinary Grand Jury in Manhattan for one count of Burglary in the First Degree; one count of Grand Larceny in the first Degree; one count of Grand Larceny in the second Degree; six counts of Grand larceny in the Third Degree; and, one count of assault in the Third Degree. Joe Sanchez would ultimately be exonerated of the charges because the true betrayal wasn’t Joe’s, it was his enemies within the NYPD that had set him up.

For a time, Joe Sanchez became a letter carrier and then reentered the criminal justice field as a correctional officer serving in both Sing Sing and Coxsackie State Prisons. If you ask Joe Sanchez, he will tell you, “It's a true story. I've been trying to tell it for a long time. It's my story, but not mine alone. It is also the story of those who lived and died alongside me, in Viet Nam and in that other battle, for justice and safety under the shield of the law; that is fought daily in the streets of every big city by every honest cop. In this case, the city is the Naked City, and the cop [namely, me] is a Latino. And the battle is neither for the civilians alone, nor just against the bad guys in the street. Some times the bad guys are in the Department. And sometimes the people who need protection are the honest cops.”

Joe Sanchez is the author of Latin Blues: A Tale of Police Omerta from the NYPD and A Tale of the Enemy Within.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement

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

Two locals and a Fed

May 17, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added two local law enforcement officials and one federal law enforcement official.

Randy Dickinson was a full-time officer with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department (Texas) during the 1970s and 1980s. It was while with the Smith County Sheriff’s Department that he became involved in a fatal shooting wherein he and his partner interrupted an armed robbery. This event provided Randy Dickinson with some of the fundamental insight that led him to teaching and writing about trauma mitigation.

Throughout the 1990s, Randy Dickinson was employed by the Austin Police Department in a non-sworn role within the Crisis Response Unit. The unit provides a broad range of services including crisis intervention, suicide intervention, post-incident support for officers and other first-responders, and services to victims and witnesses. Randy Dickinson is a co-author of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques.

According to the book description of Officer-Involved Shootings and Use of Force: Practical Investigative Techniques, it “continues to provide sound and sober models, protocols, and procedures to handle the highly charged fall-out from officer involved shootings. Written by cops for cops, it is designed to address the needs of the agency, the rights of the employee, and the concerns of the public, and give law enforcement the policies and tools to properly investigate and document this high profile area.”

Neville Cramer served more than twenty-six years as a law enforcement officer with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). At the time of his retirement in 2002, he was one of the most experienced INS Special Agents in the U.S. Department of Justice. He began his career in 1976, as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent after serving four years as a police officer in Arizona and Florida. After his tour of duty on the Mexican border, Cramer served eight years as both a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent in Chicago, Illinois and Washington D.C. District Offices. Neville Cramer is the author of Fixing the INSanity – America’s Immigration Crisis and Immigration Chaos – Solutions to an American Crisis.

According to the book description of Fixing the INSanity – America’s Immigration Crisis, “Former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) special agent Neville Cramer divulges the real causes of America's seemingly uncontrollable immigration problems. He explains the issues, describes common-sense solutions, and shocks the reader with facts about working in the lunacy of the former INS. From the 9/11 attacks to President George W. Bush's Guest Worker Program, Cramer covers it all . . . and then some.”

Kevin Ferguson is a retired Deputy Sheriff Richmond City Sheriff’s Office. He was injured on the job assisting a co-worker. The injury left him with two plates and twelve screws in his right arm; and, six pins in his wrist. Kevin Ferguson is the author of Generosity or Justice.

According to the book description, “This book is based on a true story about a Deputy Sheriff who was injured and wrongly accused of an incident while on duty. Terminated from a 14-year career, he was forced to prove his innocence and clear his name.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 1002 police officers (representing 421 police departments) and their 2113 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Soldiers, Airmen Help Afghan Police Hone Skills

By Army Sgt. Jessica R. Dahlberg
Special to American Forces Press Service

May 13, 2008 - The sound of idling Humvees resonated in the air as the police mentoring team commander briefed his team on convoy operations. With their orders received, the team mounted up and prepared to roll out, bound for Dandar, a small village in Afghanistan's Parwan province. Army Capt. Mark Moeckli and his team rolled out of Bagram Air Base and embarked on a scenic and treacherous journey over winding mountain roads.

Their task was to instruct the Afghan National Police on hand-to-hand combat, community policing, coordination-cell training, and criminal investigation.

Moeckli's team is made up of servicemembers who were trained in an array of military occupational specialties. With their combined expertise, they make a highly skilled and effective team, ready to tackle the task of teaching the skills Afghan police officers need to remain effective, he said.

The confident commander seemed secure in his team, which began work immediately.

"Some of the Afghan people do bad things, but most of the Afghan people want to see the Taliban gone and their country safe, just like we do," Moeckli said after returning from a meeting with Afghan National Police Col. Masoum Farzaie to discuss the day's objectives.

While the police mentoring team leadership met with the Afghan police colonel, the remaining team members prepared for a class on techniques for physical apprehension and restraint.

"We took it upon ourselves to give these training classes," said Army Capt. Donald Young, an Idaho National Guardsman and police mentoring team leader.

The teams of soldiers and airmen teach a variety of classes based upon the needs of the police in each district, Young explained. The day's classes were taught by the team's airmen, who are charged with training police in two provinces and 17 districts, and who recently taught police officers how to search personnel and control access to resources.

"The training is very good for us," Dawa Jan, an Afghan National Police officer, said. "Our main goal is security, and the classes the Americans give us help prepare us for that goal."

During the hands-on part of the class, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chris Padron, deployed from Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., coached the police officers and gave them useful tips to help master the techniques.

"I love doing what I do," Padron said. "Teaching the Afghanistan National Police has been a great experience."

To become an Afghan National Police officer, applicants must have a high school education, go through testing and then attend a six-week course at one of the country's four academies. U.S. forces augment their training, helping them to retain the training they received at the academy.

"It is good for my policemen to learn from the Americans," Farazie said. "They have improved greatly since the Americans have come to teach them."

As the police mentoring team travels all over Parwan province, its goal is to give the Afghan National Police training and confidence they'll need to work without the assistance of coalition forces.

"We want to make the Afghanistan National Police sufficient, because in the end, it is not about us at all," Young said. "It is all about them."

(Army Sgt. Jessica R. Dahlberg serves with 382nd Public Affairs Detachment.)

Australia to Alhambra

March 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added police officers from Alhambra (California), San Francisco (California) and Australia.

David Savage is a former member of the Australian Federal Police, having served for 19 years in a range of areas including General Policing, Criminal Investigations, Close Personal Protection, and as a member of the police Special Operations Team. He has also served as a Civilian Police Officer on United Nations missions in Mozambique, East Timor twice and as a Truce/Peace Monitor in Bougainville. He currently works for the United Nations. David Savage is the author of Dancing with the Devil: A Personal Account of Policing the East Timor Vote for Independence. According to the book description, “Dancing with the Devil is a UN police officer memoir of the independence ballot in East Timor. With compassion and humor, David Savage tells the simple truth about the horrific events he witnessed, and the triumph of a quiet, resilient people.”

Chief of Police William Palmini’s thirty-four year law enforcement career was spent mostly with the Albany Police Department (California). Chief William Palmini is currently the chief of police for the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Department of Safety and Security. He holds a masters degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Chief William Palmini is a past recipient of the J. Stannard Baker Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the author of Murder on the Rails.

Publisher’s Weekly wrote about Murder on the Rails, “Retired California police detective Palmini's account of the career murderer Robert Silveria Jr., dubbed the Boxcar Serial Killer, is long on splatter and short on insight. Palmini himself is like a figure from a David Lynch movie—a veteran cop who received a government grant to "do Elvis impersonations to promote traffic safety among California teens and their families" through a group called Elvis and the Lawmen. After a Vietnam vet is brutally slaughtered in a transient camp near Albany, Calif., Palmini's investigation leads him to the vicious underworld community of the Freight Train Riders of America, a little-known national criminal association.”

Alvin Vaughan was a member of the U.S. Navy during WWII. Surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor we went on to served on the USS. New Orleans, the USS Lexington and the USS Enterprise. Alvin Vaughan joined the Alhambra Police Department (California) in the late 1940s and served 18 years until medically retired. Alvin Vaughan is the author of Tales from Alvin’s Place, Sharon’s Loves and Elcor. According to the book description of Sharon’s Loves, “Sharon a California girl has a life filled with difficulty through three marriages. She exhibits strength of character beyond her years and is an example and role model for her two sisters.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 887 police officers (representing 387 police departments) and their 1853 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

New York State Troopers

March 20, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three New York State Police troopers.

James Eagan, a trooper with the 20 years of expereince with the New York State Police is the author of A Speeders Guide to Avoiding Tickets. According to the book description, “Regardless of your record as a driver, everyone speeds sometimes. You are on the open road, no one around for miles, and so you step on the gas pedal. Then you experience a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach -- and in your wallet -- when you see a flashing red light in the rearview mirror. Now you can ease on down the road without paying the high price of traffic tickets, inflated insurance premiums and expensive lawyer's fees.”

John V. Elmore is a practicing Criminal Defense Attorney with offices in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York. He was co-counsel with Attorney James Harrington in Western New York’s first Death Penalty case in forty years. Their efforts resulted in a life sentence for Jonathan Parker, convicted in the shooting of Buffalo Police Officer Charles McDougald. He is a former New York State Trooper, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney and New York State Assistant Attorney General. John Elmore has taught Criminal Justice Administration at Buffalo State College and Medaille College. John Elmore has lectured at various continuing legal seminars sponsored by the New York State Capital Defender’s Office, the Erie County Bar Association, and the New York State Bar Association.

John Elmore is the Author of Fighting For Your Life; An African-American Criminal Justice Survival Guide. According to the book description, “Powerfully written by John V. Elmore, Esq. and edited by Yvonne Rose, with a foreword by Tony Rose, Publisher of Amber books, FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE Will Teach You: How to Choose the Best Attorney to Help You Win Your Personal Fight for Justice; Understand Your Rights and Know What to Do if You Are Arrested; Survive if You Get Caught up in the Criminal Justice System.

Todd Keister is a lieutenant in the New York State Police, currently serving in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation commanding the anti-corruption unit at an upstate Indian casino. He has previously served as a trooper, field-training officer, sergeant, academy instructor, station commander, assistant zone commander, and director of field investigations for the governor’s office. He also served as a U.S. Navy Reserve Intelligence Specialist for the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2000-2005. Lieutenant Todd Keister holds associate and bachelor degrees in criminal justice and history, respectively, and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.

Lieutenant Todd Keister is the author of the Center for Problem-Orientated Policing Guide No. 46, Thefts of and from Cars on Residential Streets and Driveways. According to the introduction, “This guide begins by describing the problem of theft of and from cars in residential neighborhoods and by reviewing factors that increase its risks. It then identifies a series of questions to help you analyze your local problem. Finally, it reviews responses to the problem and what is known about these from evaluative research and police practice.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 876 police officers (representing 383 police departments) and their 1839 police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

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

Public Safety Technology in the News

Fusion Centers: New York State Intelligence Strategy Unifies Law Enforcement
The Police Chief, (02/2008), Colonel Bart R. Johnson (retired) and Shelagh Dorn

Law enforcement investigations have in the past have been affected by political and jurisdictional issues among all levels of agencies. Multiple agencies could be conducting an investigation on the same crime, but no tools were in place to promote information sharing. The end result could be important information or evidence being found by one agency and not being shared with other agencies on the case. Intelligence is the key to impeding organized crime, as well as terrorism. That is why information sharing between agencies across levels should not be pigeon holed to just terrorism, but must be viewed across the entire spectrum of criminal activity. With those challenges in mind, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) worked to develop solutions to govern information sharing. The exchange of this information relies on "fusion centers," which pool together agencies and resources in one location to develop comprehensive information regarding crime. To fur! ther support the establishment of information sharing and fusion centers, IACP developed three publications: The National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (NCISP), The National Strategy for Information Sharing, and Fusion Center Guidelines: Developing and Sharing Information and Intelligence in a New Era. The New York Intelligence Fusion Center is New York State's solution. The center incorporates Federal, State, and local law enforcement to help with the accurate exchange of information at all levels.
www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=1419&issue_id=22008

Tracking Sex Offenders Made Easy With New State Computer Program
Enterprise News, (03/01/2008), Maureen Boyle

The ability of Massachusetts police officer to investigate a possible child abduction or sex crime has been enhanced by new software known as Sex Offender Registry Information System (SORIS) created by xFact. Using specific search fields such as vehicle color, location of incident, and approximate height and weight of the suspect, within minutes an officer can have access to records for registered offenders matching any of the searched fields. Instead of processing 350 names a day, like the previous system did, the xFact system can cruise through 10,000 names in 30 minutes. Plus, it has the additional fields capable of helping narrow the field of possible suspects and assisting law enforcement develop quick leads. Eighty departments throughout Massachusetts have been trained on the system, and new departments are being trained weekly.
www.enterprisenews.com/news/x2052203702

Zemerick Software Provides Free Software to Law Enforcement
PR.com, (03/02/2008)

SPEAR Forensic, a suite of investigative software from Zemerick Software, Inc., is now available to members of the law enforcement community free of charge. Law enforcement agency staff simply register online at http://www.spearforensics.com to receive the software. Products available include Chat Watch SPEAR Edition for investigations involving instant messaging. Another product is Forensic P2P for peer-to-peer file sharing investigations. A third product is Forensic Web Screenshot, which is a utility that captures a snapshot of the entire length of a webpage. The SPEAR Forensics suite also offers resources to departments that conduct Internet safety seminars where parents can obtain Chat Watch software to monitor their children's instant messaging, and SaferSpace software to block social-networking sites on the family computer.
www.pr.com/press-release/72572

San Jacinto Police Use Electronic Tickets To Track and Save Time
The Press Enterprise, (03/02/2008), Steve Fetbrandt

Using many pieces of technology, including electronic citations pads, laptops with specialized software, wireless aircards, and the Internet, the San Jacinto Police Department has created a unique public-safety system capable of almost real-time reporting. The public benefit of this system is the ability to receive accident reports via e-mail at a small fee, rather than having to go to the police station to pick up the report. The citation pads have small keyboards, but are capable of swiping driver's licenses to capture data, then wirelessly generating a citation on a remote printer located in the officer's cruiser or motorcycle. The system reduces time spent on the street for officers, which allows them to be more active with enforcement, and the reduced time helps with officer safety. From a management standpoint, the system is a useful tool for analyzing data to identify emerging trends in accident locations, or areas indicating speed enforcement issues that need to b! e addressed.
www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_H_htickets02.42623e3.html

Regional Crime Lab in Works
Longmont Times-Call, (03/03/2008), Pierrette J. Shields

To assist the backlogged Colorado Bureau of Investigations with the processing of DNA evidence, Weld County Sheriff John Cooke and other regional law enforcement managers want to combine resources to create the Northern Colorado Crime Lab. The lab's purpose would be to process DNA evidence from various types of crime quickly. Because the present turnaround time for DNA evidence is lengthy, even for a homicide, the use of DNA as evidence is time prohibitive. With implementation of the new lab, managers hope that law enforcement will be able to make more arrests for property crime and prevent more serious crimes. Staff for the lab would come from the various cooperating agencies. Sheriff Cooke is working to secure funding for a facility to house the lab.
www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=6948

City Police Receive Grant To Purchase Cameras for Vehicles
El Defensor (03/05/08), Audry Olmsted

The Socorro Police Department has received a $7,475 grant from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to purchase removable in-car video cameras, which will allow officers to videotape all traffic stops. Video documentation of a traffic stop can then be used as evidence in a courtroom, providing additional weight to officer testimony. The department anticipates video evidence will be particularly useful in documenting field sobriety tests.
www.dchieftain.com/news/78297-03-05-08.html

National Dragnet Is a Click Away
Washington Post, (03/06/2008), Robert O'Harrow and Ellen Nakashima

Regional networks created by State and local law enforcement are the groundwork for a domestic intelligence system that would help law enforcement share and analyze information to combat crime and terrorism. While localities and regions wait for an information-sharing solution from Federal agencies, they have proceeded with uploading case and criminal records to storage areas, or "data warehouses," giving investigators and analysts a tool for finding nuances that may otherwise go unnoticed. Some of the several thousand local and regional networks already established will be incorporated later this month into the National Data Exchange (N-Dex), a U.S. Department of Justice system. This system will provide Federal authorities with access to vast amounts of information from local and State records housed in the smaller networks.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503656.html?hpid=topnews

Liberty Hill Fire First Big Test of Digital Emergency Radios
Austin American-Statesman, (03/07/2008), Michael R. Jeffers

In January, the first big test for a new digital radio system for Williamson County came as a result of a 1,500-acre wildfire that threatened 100 Liberty Hill homes. Since implementation in November, the system has had some glitches in the software and poor reception in some areas of the county. However, the fire was the real test and the departments involved were able to communicate without any problem. Digital radio communications allows various departments from different jurisdictions to communicate without the use of a central dispatch, making operations quicker and more responsive. For the areas that are experiencing poor reception, research will be conducted to determine if the purchase of an additional tower will help. Until then, police and fire departments are capable of communicating via other devices.
www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/03/07/0307scanners.html

Police Test Out Cameras Mounted on Handguns
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, (03/07/2008), Domingo Ramirez, Jr.

In an effort to better understand and see the circumstances faced by law enforcement officers when they have to draw their weapons, three New York police department will be using PistolCam. A miniature camera, about the size of a pager, will be mounted on officers' service pistols. The units are sold with a specially designed holster that use magnetic strip technology to activate the camera as the officer pulls the weapon. The unit will then begin taping, and as it nears memory capacity, it will switch and take still photos until full. Police hope that the video captured by PistolCam units can be a useful tool and provide evidence when an officer-involved shooting occurs. Video and images captured by the cameras are encrypted to prevent alteration or erasing of footage.
www.officer.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=1&id=40520

The Camera Doesn't Lie, But It Can Get Confused
The New York Times, (03/08/2008), Jim Dwyer

In a controlled experiment at a Manhattan laboratory, an initial camera captures a face, then after preliminary analysis identifies the face as male. Below the image on the screen appears a meter displaying various human emotions that the system can recognize. Final analysis is done by a second camera that conducts a spatial analysis of the face by measuring distance between features, such as eyes, ears, cheekbones, and mouth. From the information captured by both cameras, the system builds a composite and runs it against other facial images in the database. The analysis shows the subject has a 51 percent probability of matching another person in the database, but a positive match cannot be made. This exercise was conducted in the controlled environment of a lab operated by International Biometrics Group, which tests biometric technologies and manages the National Sensors, Surveillance, and Biometric Technologies Center of! Excellence on behalf of the National Institute of Justice. Facial recognition that is capable of long-distance image capture and analysis is an elusive and highly sought after technology. This type of recognition, if functional, could scan large crowds or individual faces one at a time in a technique known as "mass covert data capture." Casinos can use this technology thanks to clear facial captures of guests as they check in, but outside controlled environments, everyday life does not present an opportunity for good facial capturing. Other types of technology that can be used to provide identification are iris scans or vein recognition of a subject's hand.
www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/nyregion/08about.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin