Thursday, January 18, 2007
"Officer's Body Armor Stops Bullet"
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (01/15/07); Diedrich, John
A teenage assailant shot a Milwaukee police officer during an attempted carjacking in the city. The officer's vest prevented the bullet from piercing his chest. The 17-year-old shooter fired at point-blank range at the 36-year-old officer, who was not identified. Police have two 17-year-old suspects in custody--one of which is believed to have fired the shot. In addition, police also arrested an 18-year-old who was driving the suspects in a van and two other people at the scene of where the suspects were hiding. The suspects and the driver took off by foot after the shooting, but police were able to follow their tracks in the snow. Deputy Chief Brian O'Keefe said the two 17-year-olds quickly confronted the officer while he attempted to purchase gas for his Mitsubishi Montero SUV and road salt at a Citgo. The officer was in uniform, but he had on a civilian coat that covered the upper half of his police attire. The assailants ordered the officer at gunpoint to drive to an alley. The assailants reportedly did not give any indication that they were aware that the man they held hostage was a police officer. The officer began to struggle with one of the young men when he attempted to search him after he was ordered out of the vehicle at the alley. The officer was shot during the altercation, but was able to shoot both young men as they fled.
http://www.jsonline.com
/story/index.aspx?id=552930
"Mesa Moving Forward With Anti-Crime Project"
Associated Press (01/12/07)
The city of Mesa, Ariz., wants to launch a technology-based initiative to reduce crimes linked to illegal aliens, according to police officials. They said the project would potentially involve hundreds of thousands of dollars to acquire such equipment as portable digital fingerprint scanners, license plate reading cameras, and remote cameras. Additionally, data-mining software would enable cross-searches within several federal, state, and local law enforcement databases. City leaders said federal agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms would be assigned to work with local police officers to solve crimes, swap data, and enhance communications with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Such a move could help uncover illegal aliens who had been deported or arrested previously. The city is also mulling the creation of red-curb zones to indicate places where parking a vehicle is prohibited.
http://kvoa.com
/Global/story.asp?S=5929412
"Livingston Police Go High-Tech in Their Cruisers"
Merced Sun-Star (CA) (01/12/07) P. B1; Jason, Scott
The Livingston, Calif., police department's 14 officers can now file reports, check license plates, and look into a suspect's background from their police cars. Eight in-car computers were implemented in the cruisers at the end of last month, and an additional half-dozen computers will be installed in the unmarked administration and detective vehicles by this month's end. The $242,690 for the system was approved in August by the City Council in an attempt to improve the department's technology. Although the touch-screen computers utilize the same systems the officers use at their desks, they also have GPS that can help officers study Livingston's layout. The department is still awaiting California's approval to access the state Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, which houses driver's license, firearms, and warrant databases. In addition, the system links with other states, providing officers with more search choices. The system means "we will be able to quickly identify criminals, make more arrests and ultimately have a larger number of convictions," notes city manager Richard Warne. Besides helping police dispatchers, Councilman Rodrigo Espinoza says he believes the additional time police are in public can lessen the level of crime.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com
/local/story/13189613p-13830880c.html
"Speedy Traffic Tickets Urged"
Baltimore Sun (01/12/07); Fenton, Justin
The Maryland legislature is considering a program that would allow law enforcement officials to issue e-citations to traffic violators, getting them back on the road more quickly and minimizing the amount of time officers have to stand in traffic. The electronic citations would let officers swipe driver's licenses and registrations to automatically generate a computerized ticket, which could then be transmitted electronically to the courts. Local police departments would be able to switch to the electronic systems when they were ready; many departments have already developed in-house software that allows them to handle e-citations. The state police says that it is currently ready to make the switch. State police say they would prefer a system which would eliminate the need for drivers to sign the citations, but it is unclear if this preference will make it into the final draft of any legislation. The proposal was discussed in a hearing of the state's Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 11.
http://www.baltimoresun.com
/news/local/bal-md.tickets12ja
n12,1,4274894.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
"GPS Finds Its Way Into Nassau Patrol Vehicles"
Newsday (01/11/07); Cassese, Sid
The Nassau County, N.Y., police department has installed global positioning systems (GPS) in 207 of its squad cars, a move that county officials say will allow officers to respond to incidents more quickly by enabling emergency dispatchers to contact whichever vehicle is closest to the scene of an incident. The system will work in conjunction with the Computer Aided Dispatch System in order to locate and dispatch officers. However, some critics of the systems are concerned that criminals may be able to hack into a GPS and thus track where police officers are at all times. However, a similar system set up in neighboring Suffolk County in 2000 has not yet had any such security problems.
http://www.newsday.com
/news/local/longisland/ny-lig
ps115047833jan11,0,4918778.story
"Taser Unveils Latest Stun Gun"
Arizona Republic (01/09/07) P. 1; Johnson, Andrew
On Jan. 8, Taser International started accepting Internet orders for its new consumer stun gun that the firm hopes will heighten its sales, which are primarily fueled by its devices for law enforcement officials. The company introduced on Jan. 8 its Taser C2 model at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show, which ran through Jan. 11. Taser selected that venue to demonstrate the gun, which is compact enough to fit inside a purse and is available in black, silver, pink, and blue. The C2 is the follow-up to the X26C model, which was launched in 2004. Taser intends to begin shipping the initial orders of the new gun in April. The company will sell two versions of the gun: The first has a laser function and costs $350, while the other comes without a laser and goes for $300. Analysts claim the new model has numerous features that will expand a Taser's appeal to retail distributors and consumers. Besides costing a lot less than earlier consumer models, the C2 is outfitted with a proprietary technology known as SureCheck, in which the guns are inactive until a consumer submits to a background check either over the Internet or by calling a number.
http://www.azcentral.com
/arizonarepublic/business/artic
les/0109biz-taser0109.html
"Sheriff Gets Grant for Major Upgrading of Radio Systems"
Ashtabula Star-Beacon (01/15/07); Cook, Doris
The Ashtabula County Sheriff's Department has received in excess of $127,000 in grants from the federal Department of Homeland Security for connecting its radio system with others used by regional law enforcement agencies. The department lacked the funding needed to upgrade radio equipment in cruisers until it received the grants, according to Sheriff William Johnson. The department currently uses different frequencies from other local law enforcement agencies. The grant will also pay for acquisition of Motorola portable radios and mobile charger units in cruisers that are operated by police supervisors.
http://www.starbeacon.com
"Most Law Enforcement Agencies Don't Require Bulletproof Vests"
WESH NewsChannel 2 (Central Florida) (01/16/07)
Police have arrested two suspects believed to be involved in the shooting death of a Florida Highway Patrol trooper. The shooting happened when the trooper pulled over a vehicle on U.S. Highway 27. The trooper was not wearing his bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting. The Florida Highway Patrol does not require troopers to wear protective vests, but does urge its troopers to do so. Some police personnel believe that the trooper have may survived the shooting if he had worn the vest. Most police agencies in the region give their officers the option not to wear a bulletproof vest.
http://www.wesh.com/news/10754887/detail.html
"Squad Car Computers Would Fill Variety of Needs in Dodge Sheriff's Department"
The Reporter Online (01/12/07) P. 7A; Nehls, Todd
Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls wants to acquire portable data computers and make other improvements to the Wisconsin-based Sheriff's Department. Some of Nehls' other goal include establishing substations, consolidating the dispatch system, and restructuring the records system. Nehls also cites the equipping of police cruisers with Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) as an important step. The MDCs can serve as a platform for future technological enhancements and will give officers the ability to search databases. Officers and detectives are currently restricted to making information requests on a suspect using the radio, but they could conduct information searches instantaneously using MDCs.
http://www.fdlreporter.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007701120449
"City Hall Pushed to Buy $1.5 Million System to Track Gunshots"
Boston Globe (01/06/07); Smalley, Suzanne
Boston City Hall is being pressured by Boston city councilors, law enforcement officials, and community leaders to find the $1.5 million to install a gunshot detection system called ShotSpotter. The system, produced by ShotSpotter Incorporated of Santa Clara, Calif., uses a network of audio sensors, about the size of a coffee can, to triangulate the position of a gunshot, and is believed to be intended to cover parts of Dorchester, Mattapan, Roxbury, and the South End. The system is so sophisticated that it can determine the location of a shot from as far as 1.5 miles away within seconds, can isolate gunshots from other sounds, and even distinguish between shots fired from different types of weapons. Last year Boston had 74 homicides, 54 from gunshot wounds, almost identical to 2005 which had a 10-year high of 75 homicides, with 51 from gunshots. The number of shootings in 2006 increased from 2005 to 377 shootings, an rise of more than 10 percent. Similar gunshot detection-systems are being used in Chicago, Ill., Minneapolis, Minn., Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Oakland, Calif., Gary, Ind., Charleston, S.C., and Rochester, N.Y. Last October in D.C. the system led police to a suspect only minutes after the shooting and Minneapolis has several success stories including an officer-involved shooting, the recovery of a discarded gun, the arrest of a convicted felon with a gun, and an arrest for a shooting that was never reported to the police.
http://www.boston.com/news
/local/articles/2007/01/06/cit
y_hall_pushed_to_buy_15m
_system_to_track_gunshots/
"New Orleans Mayor Seeks Solutions for Growing Violence on City Streets"
Associated Press (01/09/07); Foster, Mary
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) on Jan. 9 suggested ways the federal government could help reduce crime in New Orleans. This included installing a camera surveillance system in the city and within police vehicles. Landrieu said the surveillance cameras would help apprehend offenders as well as make sure that officers carry out their duties appropriately. She also wants more agents from the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as an emergency grant similar to the one given to New York City after the Sept. 11 attacks. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has estimated that nationwide, the average period of time it takes for a legally purchased gun to become implicated in a crime is five years, but in New Orleans that period is only six months, according to bureau agent Austin Banks.
http://news.lp.findlaw.com
/ap/o/51/01-09-2007/ab8e001cc4633fd8.html
"New Model for Computer Forensics: Champlain College and Law Enforcement Team Up on Digital Investigations in Vermont"
AScribe Newswire (01/10/07)
A ground-breaking new partnership between a college and law enforcement agencies is helping police process more digital evidence and fight cybercrime in Vermont. The Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation, which received a $650,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, is enabling two new Champlain faculty members to work with federal, state and local law enforcement investigators, performing digital investigations and adding capacity to law enforcement agencies in Vermont. Based at the Burlington Police Department, these investigators sift through digital evidence found on computers, cell phones, iPods and other digital devices so that crucial pieces of evidence can be applied to criminal investigations. The professors also share their professional experience as they teach courses in Champlain's Computer & Digital Forensics program. The grant also enables the college to create online training opportunities that will be available to members of law enforcement in Vermont and across the country. "Computer forensics and digital investigations have become an integral part of police work in the new millennium," said Professor Gary C. Kessler, director of the new center. "Computers are now as much a part of the modern law enforcement officer's daily routine as the baton, sidearm, radio and handcuffs."
http://newswire.ascribe.org
/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid
=20070110.090318&time=
10%2045%20PST&year=2007&public=0
"It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a...DHS Drone"
Washington Technology (01/09/07) Vol. 1, No. 1,; Lipowicz, Alice
To help patrol the border between the United States and Canada, the Department of Homeland Security plans to launch test flights of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)--also known as drones--later in 2007. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced Jan. 8 it intends to use the drones in a pilot program by Sept. 30. The program would take place in Grand Forks, N.D., because of its proximity to the country's border with Canada. "As unmanned aircraft have proven to be effective on our southern border, this first step in North Dakota will lay the foundation to expand unmanned aerial system operations along the nation's northern border," said Michael Kostelnik, assistant commissioner for CBP's Office of Air and Marine, in a press release. UAVs feature cameras that can observe and detect motion, and they will complement law enforcement and critical incident responses, the agency said. In addition, CBP plans to restart drone flights over the U.S.-Mexico border using Predator B aircraft in November. That program was halted in April 2006 after the first Predator drone crashed as a result of a navigation error, according to government probes. CBP also announced it will incorporate satellite infrastructure at its Air and Marine Operations Center in Riverside, Calif., in 2007. http://www.washingtontechnology.com
/news/1_1/daily_news/29943-1.html
"Social Networking Sites in the Cross Hairs?"
TechNewsWorld (01/03/07); LeClaire, Jennifer
As the popularity of social networking sites grows, so do the threats posed to them and the entire Web 2.0 community, but growing public awareness could be the best defense against this trend. The worm and phishing attack against MySpace in early December 2006 called attention to this new venue for cybercrime. Malicious tactics being employed include changing user settings, viewing account information, and implanting cookies with malicious code, all of which are made possible by exploiting the confidence users have in each other. Face Time Security Labs Chris Boyd says, "Social networking sites are goldmines of information, and a social engineer's dream. You don't even have to go dumpster diving anymore." A study conducted by CA and the National Security Alliance found that 57 percent of social networking site users admitted to being concerned about security threats, but personal information is still being posted, with no signs of slowing down. Boyd says that no matter the approach used by attackers, the goal is financial, "even if they're stealing login data, they're only doing it to spam Web sites that install adware, such as the recent MySpace worm." Attacks like this one leave users no options for defense but to not use the site at all. As social engineering scams gain more attention, so will the danger posed to Web 2.0, because its content is constantly changing, which means Web filtering applications that use URL databases or honeypots are ineffective; URLs would have to be scanned in real time. However, CTG's Ed Moyle thinks social networking sites are relatively safe, having experienced few actual attacks, since they are centralized and feature community enforcement.
http://www.technewsworld.com
/story/54932.html
"How to Buy Rifle Optics"
Police (01/07) Vol. 31, No. 1, P. 34; Smith, Scott
Rifle optics these days include both telescopic sights used by snipers, and aiming-related devices called compact optics. Combat optics use a red-dot laser to help an officer aim his weapon, and this technology first caught on with competition shooters. Today every U.S. Army soldier with an M16 or M4 rifle has a combat optic sight as well. Two inexpensive but trustworthy red-dot sights that retail for around $125 are TruGlo Dual Color and Tasco ProPoint. Mil-Spec sights begin at $300 and these are military-tailored. For police officers who wear glasses, they must use holographic sights for best results. Bushnell, EoTech, and C-More specialize in this field, with Bushnell specializing in holographic sights with night-vision. Trijicon ACOG is the leading combat optics company of magnifying red-dot sights that enlarge a target between three and five times its true size. Before any purchase, one should fully understand installation issues unique to each sight and gun model.
http://www.policemag.com
"Digital Cameras for Cops"
Police (12/06) Vol. 30, No. 12, P. 28; Spraggs, David
Digital cameras have dropped in price during the last few years, making this upgraded technology a reasonable purchase for many police departments. Furthermore, digital cameras have produced higher-quality results for police departments than manual cameras, not in the least because digital photographers can view their pictures on the camera screen and therefore reshoot any mishaps. Point-and-shoot digital cameras are great tools for a patrol officer, but forensic photographers shooting fingerprints or footwear impressions need better technology. A serviceable point-and-shoot digital camera should have between four and seven megapixels, have an optical zoom, offer low-light capability, image stabilizations, and macro-setting for close-up photos. At $200, Fujifilm's F20 offers a very serviceable camera that is officer-friendly, with solid after-sale support and service. Nikon is a top-of-the-line brand, and the Nikon L5 digital delivers the whole package, plus an especially long telephoto lens, for $275. Pentax Optio E10 is a solid choice at the bargain price of $150, and Sony's DSC-W70 has great low-light features and a good zoom lens at $275. One should also remember that digital cameras require batteries, and Nickel Metal-Hydride rechargeable batteries are the best at providing a renewable, rechargeable energy source.
http://www.policemag.com
Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become authors; and criminal justice leadership online.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
OLETC Mock Prison Riot
Date: May 6-9, 2007
Location: Moundsville, West Virginia
The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center (NCLETTC) and the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation (WVHTCF) annually host a Mock Prison Riot on the grounds of the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville. The purpose of the riot is to showcase emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and to give corrections officers and tactical team members an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios.
The event helps determine the effectiveness of the technologies by placing them in realistic situations and allows for suggestions for modification of the technologies. It also provides corrections personnel from throughout the country significant training on how to best approach and handle a riot situation. Corrections officials from all over the world, including the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Her Majesty's Prison in London, England, have participated in the event.
Registration
The Riot is free of charge to participating teams and observers. You and/or your team are responsible for paying for your transportation to and from, your lodging, and your food. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.oletc.org/riot/.
Point of Contact
Office of Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
1-888-306-5382
info@oletc.org
Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become authors; and criminal justice leadership online.
Location: Moundsville, West Virginia
The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center (NCLETTC) and the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation (WVHTCF) annually host a Mock Prison Riot on the grounds of the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville. The purpose of the riot is to showcase emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and to give corrections officers and tactical team members an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios.
The event helps determine the effectiveness of the technologies by placing them in realistic situations and allows for suggestions for modification of the technologies. It also provides corrections personnel from throughout the country significant training on how to best approach and handle a riot situation. Corrections officials from all over the world, including the West Virginia Division of Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Federal Bureau of Prisons, The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Her Majesty's Prison in London, England, have participated in the event.
Registration
The Riot is free of charge to participating teams and observers. You and/or your team are responsible for paying for your transportation to and from, your lodging, and your food. For additional information and to register online, please visit www.oletc.org/riot/.
Point of Contact
Office of Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
1-888-306-5382
info@oletc.org
Article sponsored by military and police personnel who have become authors; and criminal justice leadership online.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Humor, Vintage Aircraft and the Windy City
January 15, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com added five new police officers to the growing list of state and local police officers who have authored books. Police-Writers.com now lists 258 police officers turned writers and their 658 books. Added during this round here Charles Shafer, Richard Solita, Lou Fugaro, Terry Roger and Joseph Kozenczak.
Charles Shafer retired from the Chicago Police Department after 28 years, of which 25 were spent as a detective. His short fiction and articles have appeared world wide, in such magazines as Crime Time, Crime Factory, Mystery Scene, and Murderous Intent. His first novel, “On Cabrini Green,” was published in 2000. His second novel, “Chicago Stretch,” was released in 2003.
According to Kerry J. Schooley, “On Cabrini Green is not just yuks. Shafer fashions a solid plot that depicts victims drawn to their fates through their own rapacious greed. Narration shifts points of view to keep the story moving briskly. Readers get a broad-shouldered tour that reveals even tourist-familiar sections of the Windy City from sharply different angles.”
After retiring from the Chicago Police Department, Richard Solita, wrote a humorous, insider’s tale of his journey from “rookie to veteran” in “Twenty Years of Vaudeville and a Pension: What Really Happens Behind the Badge Based on True Stories of Chicago's Finest.” Earl Zuelke, Commander Chicago Police Department, Marine Unit, said, “ Having over thirty-five years in law enforcement, I found this book to be quite amusing, as well as bringing back memories of many similar past experiences. I recommend this book to those who have lived the job and anyone that would like to get an insiders perspective on it.”
Lou Fugaro is a past member of the prestigious Chicago Crime Commission, pilot by passion, police officer and licensed private detective by vocation. Indeed, he dabbled in investigations to the age of seventy-one.
In the early months of the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force. Although he is a combat veteran, he describes his four medals insignificant. Upon return to the states he began a career in law enforcement. Most of his twenty-six years as a police officer were spent on the street as a Detective Sergeant. However, he retired as a Deputy Chief on the Downers Grove Police Department. Post policing career, he spent ten years as a private detective in four Midwest states and he dabbled in investigations for a second ten years in eight Southeast states.
An avid pilot, he has owned several aircraft from a 175 HP cabin Fairchild, (The R46 and Little Louie) up to a 3400 HP twin engine B-25, (Barbie III and Company). His latest book, “Giants Over Korea: A Sky Too Far” takes the reader to the early B-29 air war over North Korea with remarkable depth and frightening detail. His book on investigations takes the reader into the world of an authentic licensed private detective. Not only does he provide invaluable insights into being a private investigator, but he explores the world of a private investigator as a small business owner.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 258 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 657 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Charles Shafer retired from the Chicago Police Department after 28 years, of which 25 were spent as a detective. His short fiction and articles have appeared world wide, in such magazines as Crime Time, Crime Factory, Mystery Scene, and Murderous Intent. His first novel, “On Cabrini Green,” was published in 2000. His second novel, “Chicago Stretch,” was released in 2003.
According to Kerry J. Schooley, “On Cabrini Green is not just yuks. Shafer fashions a solid plot that depicts victims drawn to their fates through their own rapacious greed. Narration shifts points of view to keep the story moving briskly. Readers get a broad-shouldered tour that reveals even tourist-familiar sections of the Windy City from sharply different angles.”
After retiring from the Chicago Police Department, Richard Solita, wrote a humorous, insider’s tale of his journey from “rookie to veteran” in “Twenty Years of Vaudeville and a Pension: What Really Happens Behind the Badge Based on True Stories of Chicago's Finest.” Earl Zuelke, Commander Chicago Police Department, Marine Unit, said, “ Having over thirty-five years in law enforcement, I found this book to be quite amusing, as well as bringing back memories of many similar past experiences. I recommend this book to those who have lived the job and anyone that would like to get an insiders perspective on it.”
Lou Fugaro is a past member of the prestigious Chicago Crime Commission, pilot by passion, police officer and licensed private detective by vocation. Indeed, he dabbled in investigations to the age of seventy-one.
In the early months of the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force. Although he is a combat veteran, he describes his four medals insignificant. Upon return to the states he began a career in law enforcement. Most of his twenty-six years as a police officer were spent on the street as a Detective Sergeant. However, he retired as a Deputy Chief on the Downers Grove Police Department. Post policing career, he spent ten years as a private detective in four Midwest states and he dabbled in investigations for a second ten years in eight Southeast states.
An avid pilot, he has owned several aircraft from a 175 HP cabin Fairchild, (The R46 and Little Louie) up to a 3400 HP twin engine B-25, (Barbie III and Company). His latest book, “Giants Over Korea: A Sky Too Far” takes the reader to the early B-29 air war over North Korea with remarkable depth and frightening detail. His book on investigations takes the reader into the world of an authentic licensed private detective. Not only does he provide invaluable insights into being a private investigator, but he explores the world of a private investigator as a small business owner.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 258 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 657 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Chicago: the reality and the fiction
January 14, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com added three Chicago police officers to the listing of state and local police officers who have authored books. Added were William O’Shea, C.M. Russell and Daniel Schrager.
William O’Shea began his public service career in 1968 when, as a Chicago Police Cadet, he was assigned to the infamous Democratic National Convention. In the ensuing decades as a Chicago Police Officer he had many adventures, some of which are chronicled in his first novel, “The Foot Post.”
In 1992, Bill moved to southern Illinois with his wife, Susan, and established a detective agency under his private investigator’s license. In recent years, he has been active as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, working with children who find themselves mired in the court system. His experiences as a CASA volunteer moved him to write “The Advocate” and create the advocacy project.
Bill is now a relentless advocate for the rights of abused and sexually exploited children and fears that it will be a life long endeavor.
C. M. Russell was born and raised in Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois/Chicago Campus, he began his career with the Chicago Police Department. He has drawn upon numerous real-life experiences from this urban city to depict the situations officers face on a daily basis. This, his first book, takes the reader on a virtual ride-a-long with the officers. His account is action packed, suspenseful, and keeps the adrenaline pumping right to the very end.
According to his book, Thin Blue Line is about power and control in the city of Chicago. The drama asks, “who is really running the streets of Chicago? A high-ranking gang member’s trial is less than a week away. Determined not to go back to the penitentiary, he decides to “tie up some loose ends”. An officer, on patrol in the area, interrupts those plans and pays the ultimate price. Now, two veteran police officers lead the manhunt to bring this killer to justice. There’s only one problem; too much red tape! Ultimately, they must choose between what is legally right and morally right.”
Daniel Schrager was a member of the Chicago Police Department for twenty-eight years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant in 1998. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer in the Cabrini-Green housing project; spent eight years as a vice officer in the Rush Street entertainment area; three years as a sergeant in a special unit created by then-mayor Jane Byrne to investigate misconduct in the Chicago Transit Authority; and, several years as a patrol sergeant. During his last five years on the Chicago Police Department, he was the Acting Watch Commander in the 24th Patrol District.
For eighteen months, in an unofficial capacity, he assisted as a bodyguard and driver for a mayoral candidate during a re-election bid.
Prior to joining the Chicago Police Department, he served fourteen months in Vietnam assigned to the U.S. Army First Infantry Division, including the period of the Tet offensive in 1968.
His book “The Code” is the story of a Chicago cop, Jake Harmon, who stumbles across an unidentified man carrying $250,000. While struggling to adhere to the "Cop Code of Behavior," he attempts to uncover the source of the money. Aided by his girlfriend and fellow officer, Aranda Gonzalez, he makes a shocking discovery that pushes him to the limits of the Code. His second book, “On The Edge” is the story of two Chicago cops, the investigative reporter they've teamed up with, and their investigation into the seamy world of drugs, politics and corruption.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 253 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 647 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
William O’Shea began his public service career in 1968 when, as a Chicago Police Cadet, he was assigned to the infamous Democratic National Convention. In the ensuing decades as a Chicago Police Officer he had many adventures, some of which are chronicled in his first novel, “The Foot Post.”
In 1992, Bill moved to southern Illinois with his wife, Susan, and established a detective agency under his private investigator’s license. In recent years, he has been active as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, working with children who find themselves mired in the court system. His experiences as a CASA volunteer moved him to write “The Advocate” and create the advocacy project.
Bill is now a relentless advocate for the rights of abused and sexually exploited children and fears that it will be a life long endeavor.
C. M. Russell was born and raised in Chicago, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois/Chicago Campus, he began his career with the Chicago Police Department. He has drawn upon numerous real-life experiences from this urban city to depict the situations officers face on a daily basis. This, his first book, takes the reader on a virtual ride-a-long with the officers. His account is action packed, suspenseful, and keeps the adrenaline pumping right to the very end.
According to his book, Thin Blue Line is about power and control in the city of Chicago. The drama asks, “who is really running the streets of Chicago? A high-ranking gang member’s trial is less than a week away. Determined not to go back to the penitentiary, he decides to “tie up some loose ends”. An officer, on patrol in the area, interrupts those plans and pays the ultimate price. Now, two veteran police officers lead the manhunt to bring this killer to justice. There’s only one problem; too much red tape! Ultimately, they must choose between what is legally right and morally right.”
Daniel Schrager was a member of the Chicago Police Department for twenty-eight years, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant in 1998. During his career, he worked as a patrol officer in the Cabrini-Green housing project; spent eight years as a vice officer in the Rush Street entertainment area; three years as a sergeant in a special unit created by then-mayor Jane Byrne to investigate misconduct in the Chicago Transit Authority; and, several years as a patrol sergeant. During his last five years on the Chicago Police Department, he was the Acting Watch Commander in the 24th Patrol District.
For eighteen months, in an unofficial capacity, he assisted as a bodyguard and driver for a mayoral candidate during a re-election bid.
Prior to joining the Chicago Police Department, he served fourteen months in Vietnam assigned to the U.S. Army First Infantry Division, including the period of the Tet offensive in 1968.
His book “The Code” is the story of a Chicago cop, Jake Harmon, who stumbles across an unidentified man carrying $250,000. While struggling to adhere to the "Cop Code of Behavior," he attempts to uncover the source of the money. Aided by his girlfriend and fellow officer, Aranda Gonzalez, he makes a shocking discovery that pushes him to the limits of the Code. His second book, “On The Edge” is the story of two Chicago cops, the investigative reporter they've teamed up with, and their investigation into the seamy world of drugs, politics and corruption.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 253 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 647 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Christian Law Enforcement Summit
On April 3, 2007 through April 6, 2007, a Christian Law Enforcement summit will be held at the LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico. The mission of the Christian Law Enforcement Summit is to provide tools for character and ministry. The summit was designed by police officers and will be delivered by police officers for police officers. The Law Enforcement Summit provides an interactive process where Christian police officers and their spouses, by talking about their own life experiences, can share strengths and successes in maintaining their faith - faith in themselves, faith in others, faith in the SYSTEM and faith in a loving God. According to event organizers, “Often the only place a law enforcement officer feels safe is with fellow officers. It is easy to see how - given the day to day assault on these officers, that without God's strength - they can become bitter, disillusioned and even abusive veterans. This conference is designed to say, "It is okay to be a cop and be a Christian."
Workshops include:
The Road To Financial Freedom
Critical Incident Stress Management for the Family
Spiritual Leadership
Responding to the Call w/ Christ’s Spirit
My Marriage at Work & Home
Defining the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy
Recovering From Stress
To register for the Glorieta Law Enforcement Summit, call 1.800.797.4222, or visit their website here.
Workshops include:
The Road To Financial Freedom
Critical Incident Stress Management for the Family
Spiritual Leadership
Responding to the Call w/ Christ’s Spirit
My Marriage at Work & Home
Defining the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy
Recovering From Stress
To register for the Glorieta Law Enforcement Summit, call 1.800.797.4222, or visit their website here.
Friday, January 12, 2007
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, January 11, 2007
"Recognizing Odd Behavior"
Baltimore Sun (01/05/07); Roylance, Frank D.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and other facilities across the country are developing behavior recognition software that, in conjunction with video surveillance systems, alerts authorities to suspicious behaviors. This research has applications in security, anti-terrorism, and surveillance, among other sectors, and the Homeland Security Department and Pentagon have taken notice. The software developed by Johns Hopkins allowed authorities to arrest robbery suspects during an armed robbery that occurred near the campus of Johns Hopkins in June 2006. During the incident, the Hopkins software singled out an image from one of the campus's 89 security cameras; the software highlighted the image because it recognized that one of the suspects was engaging in suspicious behavior on the street, with aberrant movements. The security system automatically alerted an on-duty security guard, placing the image of the suspect on the security guard's computer screen, allowing the security guard to zoom in on the image and record a license plate number.
http://www.baltimoresun.com
/news/health/bal-hs.gait05jan
05,0,1884420.story?coll=bal-health-headlines
"Study Will Examine Cops' Gun Training"
New York Daily News (01/05/07) P. 8; Naspretto, Ernie; Gendar, Alison
The Rand consulting firm will evaluate how the New York Police Department (NYPD) trains officers in using firearms. Rand will assess the Police Academy's initial weapons training, the yearly re-qualification training, in-service training, and the department's shooting review process. The $500,000 study, being funded by the Police Foundation, will last six months, and will not specifically examine the controversial November shooting of Sean Bell. However, the report will utilize any data found by a Queens, N.Y., grand jury responsible for investigating the incident, according to NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly. The NYPD's training offerings consist of such things as video simulations, physical firings, and paint-ball guns. In addition, scenarios are used to train officers about using their weapons. Jack Riley, acting director of the Rand Center on Quality Policing, says Rand will also examine if the psychology involved in the training scenarios is appropriate.
http://www.nydailynews.com
/front/story/485905p-408971c.html
"Do We Really Need a New Huber Jail?"
Madison Capital Times (WI) (01/05/07) P. A1; Novak, Bill
A couple of Madison, Wis., County Board members are challenging the need to construct a proposed work-release prison, contending that with existing prisoner monitoring technology, buildings for overnight jailing could be a thing of the past. The proposed building would replace a work-release prison close to the Alliant Energy Center, and would include as well an alcohol and drug treatment facility. It is predicted to cost $34 million to $38 million. New positioning technology could allow county jailers to have more control of minimum-security prisoners than they now have, since under the present set-up prisoners are sent into the community daily without supervision, with the agreement they will come back to the facility at night. Sometimes the inmates do not come back when they are supposed to, and county law enforcement authorities have to search for them. "With new technology, such as GPS tracking and electronic bracelets, we can be absolutely pinpoint accurate where the inmates are at all times," notes County Board Supervisor Dennis O'Loughlin, who along with Chairman Scott McDonell is protesting the new facility.
http://www.madison.com
/tct/news/index.php?ntid=113777&ntpid=1
"Stun-Gun Use Deemed Reasonable"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (01/03/07); Reynolds, Julia
A Monterey County grand jury has ruled that Taser guns are a sensible weapon for law enforcement, but recommends the use of new video technology in conjunction with it. In a report, the grand jury concluded that Taser stun guns are "an effective and reasonable non-lethal" tool for police officers, but would be more effective if paired with new video technology called "Taser Cam." Only one of the county's 12 law enforcement agencies use the technology. According to the grand jury report, Tasers have been used in Monterey for the last three years; however, a rash of wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against the county and stun gun manufacturers in protest of how police officers use Tasers in the line of duty. The deaths and suits led to the grand jury investigation, which found that each of the 12 county agencies that use Tasers provide sufficient training to officers and have policies in place to ensure proper use of the weapons.
http://www.montereyherald.com
/mld/montereyherald/news/16372666.htm
"Computers for Police in Largo Long Overdue"
St. Petersburg Times (FL) (01/05/07) P. 2
After waiting years to get in-car computers for police cruisers, the Largo Police Department in Pinellas County, Fla., finally saw 90 vehicles equipped with computers approximately a week before Christmas. The $3.5 million system performs a number of functions for officers, such as tracking the location of all on-duty officers. They can also monitor what types of incidents are occurring across the city by observing the computer screen. Officers also have instant access to the criminal records, driving records, and outstanding warrants of individuals, and can determine if a vehicle was stolen by inputting the license plate number. Previously, officers had to wait for dispatchers to handle their requests for such data. Funding for the system was originally allocated by city managers and the City Commission in 2004 after Chief Lester Aradi made a special, direct request to commissioners.
http://www.sptimes.com
/2007/01/05/Northpinellas
/Computers_for_police_.shtml
"Proposal Expands DNA Use by Police"
Charleston Post and Courier (01/03/07) P. A1; Wenger, Yvonne M.
State lawmakers in South Carolina are weighing legislation that would allow police officers to obtain DNA samples from anyone arrested for any crime, regardless of the severity of the crime. Under the measure, law enforcement officials would be permitted to take samples before the felon is tried for the crime. The proposal is being sharply criticized by some civil rights advocates, who complain that the measure exceeds legal boundaries. But supporters of the measure counter that the bill does not withhold due process to arrestees, arguing that in restricting access to the databank and requiring the destruction of samples if charges are dropped, the measure makes sure that the civil rights and personal privacy of suspects are preserved. "It is no more invasive than fingerprinting", says Senate Pro Tem Glenn McConnell. "I see a tremendous amount of benefit for the law-abiding public." South Carolina already has a DNA databank; however, if passed, the bill would be the strictest DNA sampling protocol in the country.
http://www.charleston.net
/assets/webPages/departm
ental/news/Stories.aspx?se
ction=localnews&tableId=124943&pubDate=1/3/2007
"Britons to Be Scanned for FBI Database"
Guardian Unlimited (UK) (01/07/07); Harris, Paul; Doward, Jamie; Gallagher, Paul
The Department of Homeland Security plans to begin testing new airport technology that will scan all ten fingertips of passengers in a bid to make the data compatible with the FBI database. Currently, just two fingerprints are scanned. The new policy will apply equally to countries on friendly and unfriendly terms with the United States. Travelers from Briton and other E.U. nations as well as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand will be affected. Testing will begin this summer at 10 airports before being implemented across the United States by the end of 2008. Fingerprinting is a major component of the federal government's anti-terrorism efforts. "A fingerprint that is left ... in the training camp or in the safe house is, in fact, a powerful tool," says Homeland chief Michael Chertoff. "'We will have a world in which any terrorist who has ever been in a safe house or has ever been in a training camp is going to ask himself or herself this question: have I ever left a fingerprint anywhere?"
http://www.guardian.co.uk
/usa/story/0,,1984649,00.html
"Prisons Need More Funds, Report Says"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (01/03/07); Reynolds, Julia
In Monterey County, Calif., prisons and jails have reached a problematic degree of overcrowding and will require an infusion of funds to meet "projected county jail incarceration needs," says a local grand jury report. The report recommends jail staff "enhance communications" with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to more expediently process and deport detained illegal immigrants. The report also recommends that video and audio surveillance equipment be purchased, new jail facilities be created, and new technology be brought in for fingerprint and iris scanning and identification. Monterey County has two state prisons which contain twice as many inmates as stipulated in their design capacity, according to the report.
http://www.montereyherald.com
/mld/montereyherald/news/16372
670.htm?source=rss&channel=montereyherald_news
"Triangle Fire-Police Radio Better Than Most"
News & Observer (01/04/07); Beckwith, Ryan Teague
During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, New York City police officers could not warn firefighters inside the Twin Towers to evacuate because their agency radios were not standardized and interoperable to talk directly with each other. Today only six out of 75 major U.S. cities have standardized communication among various law enforcement and emergency agencies, reports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For instance, Johnston County, N.C., has its police and firefighters on the same radio wavelength, so to speak. However, many Raleigh, N.C., agencies--such as the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Raleigh police, and Orange County fire and police departments--cannot connect to statewide radio systems. These agencies around Raleigh today communicate by channeling messages through a central 911 system, which is a cumbersome process. N.C. Highway Patrol Maj. Woody Sandy says, "The problem we're trying to fix is that every day there's a fire truck, an ambulance and a law enforcement officer responding to a call and they can't talk to each other." The N.C. Highway Patrol alone needs $190 million to create a statewide communication network, and to date has amassed about $80 million in total funding for that purpose. They are exploring using a computer system to centralize communication and shrink data transport across an 800 MHz frequency. http://www.newsobserver.com
/102/story/528372.html
"BR Officials Say Report Biased"
2theAdvocate (01/04/07); Shields, Gerard
Emergency response leaders in Baton Rouge, La., have rejected the findings of a recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that rated the region's radio communications systems as one of the worst among 75 metropolitan areas in the country. Baton Rouge officials say that despite variances in equipment compatibility and financing, the region is making progress in achieving interoperability. For example, the local governments of eight parishes last summer tested their systems and found only a few glitches, according to participants. The exercise will help officials uncover "weaknesses and make adjustments accordingly," says Mark Smith of the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. But Travis Prewitt, emergency response director of East Feliciana Parish, says there is room for improvement. For instance, local police rely on 450 MHz radios, compared to the State Police's 700 MHz radios, he notes. The DHS report asserted that the Baton Rouge area lacks a strategic plan to steer interoperability targets and funding, and also relies too much on mobile phones in emergencies. On Jan. 3, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff promised that by 2009, all 75 metropolitan areas surveyed in the report would have modern disaster communications systems in place, according to the Associated Press. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/5080951.html
"Control of Water Vapor and Mold Using a New Type of Epoxy Coating"
Sheriff (12/06) Vol. 58, No. 6, P. 31; Reed, Angus
Controlling moisture problems and the mold growth that results can be quite a challenge in a jail. Eliminating moisture problems often requires consultation with an experienced contractor to identify the problem and develop a plan for correcting it. Such a plan may involve coating the exterior foundation wall with waterproofing compounds and a membrane. However, water vapor exerts a great deal of pressure on anything that stands in its way of moving through material. Products such as solvent-based epoxy paints do not have enough adhesion to withstand this pressure. In addition, the difference in expansion between the wall material and the paint creates a shearing action that loosens the paint from the wall. As result, some jails are turning to water-based epoxy coatings that claim not peel off and not allow mold to grow. In a test of such a product at the Bristol County, Mass., Jail in February of 2006, no mold growth appeared on surfaces coated with the water-based epoxy. The test of the product impressed the Bristol County Sheriff's department enough to apply it in additional areas of the jails and other facilities.
http://www.sheriffs.org
"Cameras Free Police to Patrol Other Crimes"
Virginian-Pilot (01/02/07) P. B8
The editors of the Virginian-Pilot say police officers in Chesapeake, Va., as well in other areas of Virginia could stop drivers who run red lights if they employed "photo red cameras." The editors explain that state localities turned off the cameras two years ago, after Virginia lawmakers rejected renewing the law that allowed them. The editors state that currently there is a bill that will be proposed in the next legislative session that would permit localities to resurrect the cameras, and that it "deserves a vote in the full House." They add that legislators who are financially conservative, support law enforcement, and are concerned about traffic safety have even more incentive to vote to return the cameras. The editors note that since cameras are not permitted at intersections, Chesapeake police sometimes have an officer track motorists who pull into traffic intersections after the light is red and then radio ahead to a different officer who pulls the driver over. The editors point out that Chesapeake wrote over 1,500 tickets for red-light violations in 2006. The editors stress that these police officers should have the burden of this task removed from them so they can deal with other crimes. "Where the technology is available and affordable, red-light cameras are a smart option, and a cheap one," the editors conclude.
http://content.hamptonroads.com
/story.cfm?story=116921&ran=163705
"To Catch a Thief, a Police Department Puts a Video on YouTube"
InformationWeek (12/20/06); Gardner, W. David
In order to catch two men allegedly purchasing items worth hundreds of dollars at a Home Depot with a stolen credit card, the Franklin, Mass., police department posted a surveillance video of the crime on YouTube and the department's Web site. Officers hope someone will recognize the men from the video, which has been viewed almost 800 times on YouTube. Additionally, the department's site, www.franklinpolice.com, features alerts on such topics as traffic measures and winter parking bans, and the department also offers occasional podcasts and an e-mail blast system. The Franklin police serve 32,000 residents.
http://www.informationweek.com
/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=AZB
4Z0L40J5T0QSNDLPSKH0CJUN
N2JVN?articleID=196701199&queryText=gardner
"High-tech Weapon in Graffiti War"
Whittier Daily News (CA) (12/31/06); Esparza, Araceli
The Pico Rivera Sheriff's Department began using Graffiti Tracker in September to help arrest graffiti writers. The city allocates $18,000 annually to operate the system, but the sheriff's department provides $130,000 each year to have deputies operate the system. The technology allows deputies to submit photographs taken of graffiti into a large database that compares the pictures to others taken for the purpose of identifying the graffiti writer. City spokesman Bob Spencer said that the system dissuades some graffiti writers from vandalizing local structures. Violators can face as much as five years in prison. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_4930131
"Counties Work to Hide Personal Data"
Computerworld (12/15/06); Vijayan, Jaikumar
Several counties across the nation are following in the footsteps of Florida's Orange County Comptroller's office by removing personally identifiable information from official records on their Web sites. Back in April 2005, Orange County reviewed over 30 million pages of public records, searching for Social Security numbers, credit cards numbers, and bank account information. Several counties and local governments are now blacking out personal information from documents or taking the documents off their Web sites altogether. Florida, New York, and Washington have already passed laws requiring recorders to redact personal information from online records. Public concern over personal data has still not caught the attention of several county governments, says B.J. Ostergren, a privacy advocate. A Grant County, Indiana, recorder's office removed documents from the Internet only after a lawsuit was filed related to identity theft. Travis County, Texas, pulled all document images of its Web site this past June and recently put them back online after redacting sensitive data. "The more publicity this has gotten the more people are getting to know about the issue," says Ostergren. "I think a lot of people are beginning to put the skids on this sort of issue."
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9006148
"Emerging Technologies: Computers Watching Over Us"
Government Technology (12/20/06); Harris, Chandler
Though it may seem Orwellian, surveillance technologies in use today are seen as tools for enhancing security rather than instruments of repression. The global video surveillance industry is valued at $160 billion, with its spectacular growth largely stimulated by homeland security initiatives after Sept. 11. About 30 million surveillance cameras are estimated to be in the United States, shooting 4 billion hours of footage every week; in cities such as New York and Chicago, these cameras are wirelessly networked. Municipalities that implement Wi-Fi networks can frequently use the infrastructure to substantially lower urban camera deployment costs, and police and emergency responders are going to rely on mobile video capabilities more and more. The problem of staffing the feeds from an astronomical number of cameras may be addressed by video analytics software, which tracks live feeds, locates video images that meet specified criteria, and alerts the appropriate authorities. The technology has carried the most benefits for security systems thanks to its ability to identify problems and notify the correct security staff. Frost and Sullivan's "Video Analytics: The Ground Reality" report estimates that federal and state governments comprise more than 50 percent of the video analytics market, while the second biggest video analytics software market is the retail, banking, and gaming industries. Frost and Sullivan analyst Dilip Sarangan says the parties expressing the most interest in video analytics are government agencies looking for something that can recognize license plates and faces, although the technology needs to be more reliable in natural settings and better able to identify constantly moving objects; the cost of video camera upgrades is another impediment to the wide adoption of video analytics technology. http://www.govtech.net
/digitalcommunities/story.php?id=102986
"Personal Defense Weapons: Considerations on Their Potential Role"
Police and Security News (12/06) Vol. 22, No. 6, P. 43; Ijames, Steve
Well-armed criminals and the potential for further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil necessitates a switch to higher-powered and more accurate weapons for U.S. law enforcement personnel. Highlighted are three such personal defense ultracompact shoulder weapons. The M16 AR15 Ultracompact is used by the U.S. military and numerous U.S. police agencies but is lacking when it comes to reliability of mechanical function and terminal ballistic performance due to its supershort barrel. The Remington 870P Sage International Compact model, though not the most accurate weapon of the group, offers unparalleled stopping power. The semiautomatic FN PS90-SBR offers ease of handling and near zero recoil and is a very short nonpistol caliber shoulder weapon.
http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
"Recognizing Odd Behavior"
Baltimore Sun (01/05/07); Roylance, Frank D.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, and other facilities across the country are developing behavior recognition software that, in conjunction with video surveillance systems, alerts authorities to suspicious behaviors. This research has applications in security, anti-terrorism, and surveillance, among other sectors, and the Homeland Security Department and Pentagon have taken notice. The software developed by Johns Hopkins allowed authorities to arrest robbery suspects during an armed robbery that occurred near the campus of Johns Hopkins in June 2006. During the incident, the Hopkins software singled out an image from one of the campus's 89 security cameras; the software highlighted the image because it recognized that one of the suspects was engaging in suspicious behavior on the street, with aberrant movements. The security system automatically alerted an on-duty security guard, placing the image of the suspect on the security guard's computer screen, allowing the security guard to zoom in on the image and record a license plate number.
http://www.baltimoresun.com
/news/health/bal-hs.gait05jan
05,0,1884420.story?coll=bal-health-headlines
"Study Will Examine Cops' Gun Training"
New York Daily News (01/05/07) P. 8; Naspretto, Ernie; Gendar, Alison
The Rand consulting firm will evaluate how the New York Police Department (NYPD) trains officers in using firearms. Rand will assess the Police Academy's initial weapons training, the yearly re-qualification training, in-service training, and the department's shooting review process. The $500,000 study, being funded by the Police Foundation, will last six months, and will not specifically examine the controversial November shooting of Sean Bell. However, the report will utilize any data found by a Queens, N.Y., grand jury responsible for investigating the incident, according to NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly. The NYPD's training offerings consist of such things as video simulations, physical firings, and paint-ball guns. In addition, scenarios are used to train officers about using their weapons. Jack Riley, acting director of the Rand Center on Quality Policing, says Rand will also examine if the psychology involved in the training scenarios is appropriate.
http://www.nydailynews.com
/front/story/485905p-408971c.html
"Do We Really Need a New Huber Jail?"
Madison Capital Times (WI) (01/05/07) P. A1; Novak, Bill
A couple of Madison, Wis., County Board members are challenging the need to construct a proposed work-release prison, contending that with existing prisoner monitoring technology, buildings for overnight jailing could be a thing of the past. The proposed building would replace a work-release prison close to the Alliant Energy Center, and would include as well an alcohol and drug treatment facility. It is predicted to cost $34 million to $38 million. New positioning technology could allow county jailers to have more control of minimum-security prisoners than they now have, since under the present set-up prisoners are sent into the community daily without supervision, with the agreement they will come back to the facility at night. Sometimes the inmates do not come back when they are supposed to, and county law enforcement authorities have to search for them. "With new technology, such as GPS tracking and electronic bracelets, we can be absolutely pinpoint accurate where the inmates are at all times," notes County Board Supervisor Dennis O'Loughlin, who along with Chairman Scott McDonell is protesting the new facility.
http://www.madison.com
/tct/news/index.php?ntid=113777&ntpid=1
"Stun-Gun Use Deemed Reasonable"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (01/03/07); Reynolds, Julia
A Monterey County grand jury has ruled that Taser guns are a sensible weapon for law enforcement, but recommends the use of new video technology in conjunction with it. In a report, the grand jury concluded that Taser stun guns are "an effective and reasonable non-lethal" tool for police officers, but would be more effective if paired with new video technology called "Taser Cam." Only one of the county's 12 law enforcement agencies use the technology. According to the grand jury report, Tasers have been used in Monterey for the last three years; however, a rash of wrongful death lawsuits have been filed against the county and stun gun manufacturers in protest of how police officers use Tasers in the line of duty. The deaths and suits led to the grand jury investigation, which found that each of the 12 county agencies that use Tasers provide sufficient training to officers and have policies in place to ensure proper use of the weapons.
http://www.montereyherald.com
/mld/montereyherald/news/16372666.htm
"Computers for Police in Largo Long Overdue"
St. Petersburg Times (FL) (01/05/07) P. 2
After waiting years to get in-car computers for police cruisers, the Largo Police Department in Pinellas County, Fla., finally saw 90 vehicles equipped with computers approximately a week before Christmas. The $3.5 million system performs a number of functions for officers, such as tracking the location of all on-duty officers. They can also monitor what types of incidents are occurring across the city by observing the computer screen. Officers also have instant access to the criminal records, driving records, and outstanding warrants of individuals, and can determine if a vehicle was stolen by inputting the license plate number. Previously, officers had to wait for dispatchers to handle their requests for such data. Funding for the system was originally allocated by city managers and the City Commission in 2004 after Chief Lester Aradi made a special, direct request to commissioners.
http://www.sptimes.com
/2007/01/05/Northpinellas
/Computers_for_police_.shtml
"Proposal Expands DNA Use by Police"
Charleston Post and Courier (01/03/07) P. A1; Wenger, Yvonne M.
State lawmakers in South Carolina are weighing legislation that would allow police officers to obtain DNA samples from anyone arrested for any crime, regardless of the severity of the crime. Under the measure, law enforcement officials would be permitted to take samples before the felon is tried for the crime. The proposal is being sharply criticized by some civil rights advocates, who complain that the measure exceeds legal boundaries. But supporters of the measure counter that the bill does not withhold due process to arrestees, arguing that in restricting access to the databank and requiring the destruction of samples if charges are dropped, the measure makes sure that the civil rights and personal privacy of suspects are preserved. "It is no more invasive than fingerprinting", says Senate Pro Tem Glenn McConnell. "I see a tremendous amount of benefit for the law-abiding public." South Carolina already has a DNA databank; however, if passed, the bill would be the strictest DNA sampling protocol in the country.
http://www.charleston.net
/assets/webPages/departm
ental/news/Stories.aspx?se
ction=localnews&tableId=124943&pubDate=1/3/2007
"Britons to Be Scanned for FBI Database"
Guardian Unlimited (UK) (01/07/07); Harris, Paul; Doward, Jamie; Gallagher, Paul
The Department of Homeland Security plans to begin testing new airport technology that will scan all ten fingertips of passengers in a bid to make the data compatible with the FBI database. Currently, just two fingerprints are scanned. The new policy will apply equally to countries on friendly and unfriendly terms with the United States. Travelers from Briton and other E.U. nations as well as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand will be affected. Testing will begin this summer at 10 airports before being implemented across the United States by the end of 2008. Fingerprinting is a major component of the federal government's anti-terrorism efforts. "A fingerprint that is left ... in the training camp or in the safe house is, in fact, a powerful tool," says Homeland chief Michael Chertoff. "'We will have a world in which any terrorist who has ever been in a safe house or has ever been in a training camp is going to ask himself or herself this question: have I ever left a fingerprint anywhere?"
http://www.guardian.co.uk
/usa/story/0,,1984649,00.html
"Prisons Need More Funds, Report Says"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (01/03/07); Reynolds, Julia
In Monterey County, Calif., prisons and jails have reached a problematic degree of overcrowding and will require an infusion of funds to meet "projected county jail incarceration needs," says a local grand jury report. The report recommends jail staff "enhance communications" with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to more expediently process and deport detained illegal immigrants. The report also recommends that video and audio surveillance equipment be purchased, new jail facilities be created, and new technology be brought in for fingerprint and iris scanning and identification. Monterey County has two state prisons which contain twice as many inmates as stipulated in their design capacity, according to the report.
http://www.montereyherald.com
/mld/montereyherald/news/16372
670.htm?source=rss&channel=montereyherald_news
"Triangle Fire-Police Radio Better Than Most"
News & Observer (01/04/07); Beckwith, Ryan Teague
During the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, New York City police officers could not warn firefighters inside the Twin Towers to evacuate because their agency radios were not standardized and interoperable to talk directly with each other. Today only six out of 75 major U.S. cities have standardized communication among various law enforcement and emergency agencies, reports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. For instance, Johnston County, N.C., has its police and firefighters on the same radio wavelength, so to speak. However, many Raleigh, N.C., agencies--such as the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the Raleigh police, and Orange County fire and police departments--cannot connect to statewide radio systems. These agencies around Raleigh today communicate by channeling messages through a central 911 system, which is a cumbersome process. N.C. Highway Patrol Maj. Woody Sandy says, "The problem we're trying to fix is that every day there's a fire truck, an ambulance and a law enforcement officer responding to a call and they can't talk to each other." The N.C. Highway Patrol alone needs $190 million to create a statewide communication network, and to date has amassed about $80 million in total funding for that purpose. They are exploring using a computer system to centralize communication and shrink data transport across an 800 MHz frequency. http://www.newsobserver.com
/102/story/528372.html
"BR Officials Say Report Biased"
2theAdvocate (01/04/07); Shields, Gerard
Emergency response leaders in Baton Rouge, La., have rejected the findings of a recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that rated the region's radio communications systems as one of the worst among 75 metropolitan areas in the country. Baton Rouge officials say that despite variances in equipment compatibility and financing, the region is making progress in achieving interoperability. For example, the local governments of eight parishes last summer tested their systems and found only a few glitches, according to participants. The exercise will help officials uncover "weaknesses and make adjustments accordingly," says Mark Smith of the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. But Travis Prewitt, emergency response director of East Feliciana Parish, says there is room for improvement. For instance, local police rely on 450 MHz radios, compared to the State Police's 700 MHz radios, he notes. The DHS report asserted that the Baton Rouge area lacks a strategic plan to steer interoperability targets and funding, and also relies too much on mobile phones in emergencies. On Jan. 3, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff promised that by 2009, all 75 metropolitan areas surveyed in the report would have modern disaster communications systems in place, according to the Associated Press. http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/5080951.html
"Control of Water Vapor and Mold Using a New Type of Epoxy Coating"
Sheriff (12/06) Vol. 58, No. 6, P. 31; Reed, Angus
Controlling moisture problems and the mold growth that results can be quite a challenge in a jail. Eliminating moisture problems often requires consultation with an experienced contractor to identify the problem and develop a plan for correcting it. Such a plan may involve coating the exterior foundation wall with waterproofing compounds and a membrane. However, water vapor exerts a great deal of pressure on anything that stands in its way of moving through material. Products such as solvent-based epoxy paints do not have enough adhesion to withstand this pressure. In addition, the difference in expansion between the wall material and the paint creates a shearing action that loosens the paint from the wall. As result, some jails are turning to water-based epoxy coatings that claim not peel off and not allow mold to grow. In a test of such a product at the Bristol County, Mass., Jail in February of 2006, no mold growth appeared on surfaces coated with the water-based epoxy. The test of the product impressed the Bristol County Sheriff's department enough to apply it in additional areas of the jails and other facilities.
http://www.sheriffs.org
"Cameras Free Police to Patrol Other Crimes"
Virginian-Pilot (01/02/07) P. B8
The editors of the Virginian-Pilot say police officers in Chesapeake, Va., as well in other areas of Virginia could stop drivers who run red lights if they employed "photo red cameras." The editors explain that state localities turned off the cameras two years ago, after Virginia lawmakers rejected renewing the law that allowed them. The editors state that currently there is a bill that will be proposed in the next legislative session that would permit localities to resurrect the cameras, and that it "deserves a vote in the full House." They add that legislators who are financially conservative, support law enforcement, and are concerned about traffic safety have even more incentive to vote to return the cameras. The editors note that since cameras are not permitted at intersections, Chesapeake police sometimes have an officer track motorists who pull into traffic intersections after the light is red and then radio ahead to a different officer who pulls the driver over. The editors point out that Chesapeake wrote over 1,500 tickets for red-light violations in 2006. The editors stress that these police officers should have the burden of this task removed from them so they can deal with other crimes. "Where the technology is available and affordable, red-light cameras are a smart option, and a cheap one," the editors conclude.
http://content.hamptonroads.com
/story.cfm?story=116921&ran=163705
"To Catch a Thief, a Police Department Puts a Video on YouTube"
InformationWeek (12/20/06); Gardner, W. David
In order to catch two men allegedly purchasing items worth hundreds of dollars at a Home Depot with a stolen credit card, the Franklin, Mass., police department posted a surveillance video of the crime on YouTube and the department's Web site. Officers hope someone will recognize the men from the video, which has been viewed almost 800 times on YouTube. Additionally, the department's site, www.franklinpolice.com, features alerts on such topics as traffic measures and winter parking bans, and the department also offers occasional podcasts and an e-mail blast system. The Franklin police serve 32,000 residents.
http://www.informationweek.com
/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=AZB
4Z0L40J5T0QSNDLPSKH0CJUN
N2JVN?articleID=196701199&queryText=gardner
"High-tech Weapon in Graffiti War"
Whittier Daily News (CA) (12/31/06); Esparza, Araceli
The Pico Rivera Sheriff's Department began using Graffiti Tracker in September to help arrest graffiti writers. The city allocates $18,000 annually to operate the system, but the sheriff's department provides $130,000 each year to have deputies operate the system. The technology allows deputies to submit photographs taken of graffiti into a large database that compares the pictures to others taken for the purpose of identifying the graffiti writer. City spokesman Bob Spencer said that the system dissuades some graffiti writers from vandalizing local structures. Violators can face as much as five years in prison. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_4930131
"Counties Work to Hide Personal Data"
Computerworld (12/15/06); Vijayan, Jaikumar
Several counties across the nation are following in the footsteps of Florida's Orange County Comptroller's office by removing personally identifiable information from official records on their Web sites. Back in April 2005, Orange County reviewed over 30 million pages of public records, searching for Social Security numbers, credit cards numbers, and bank account information. Several counties and local governments are now blacking out personal information from documents or taking the documents off their Web sites altogether. Florida, New York, and Washington have already passed laws requiring recorders to redact personal information from online records. Public concern over personal data has still not caught the attention of several county governments, says B.J. Ostergren, a privacy advocate. A Grant County, Indiana, recorder's office removed documents from the Internet only after a lawsuit was filed related to identity theft. Travis County, Texas, pulled all document images of its Web site this past June and recently put them back online after redacting sensitive data. "The more publicity this has gotten the more people are getting to know about the issue," says Ostergren. "I think a lot of people are beginning to put the skids on this sort of issue."
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9006148
"Emerging Technologies: Computers Watching Over Us"
Government Technology (12/20/06); Harris, Chandler
Though it may seem Orwellian, surveillance technologies in use today are seen as tools for enhancing security rather than instruments of repression. The global video surveillance industry is valued at $160 billion, with its spectacular growth largely stimulated by homeland security initiatives after Sept. 11. About 30 million surveillance cameras are estimated to be in the United States, shooting 4 billion hours of footage every week; in cities such as New York and Chicago, these cameras are wirelessly networked. Municipalities that implement Wi-Fi networks can frequently use the infrastructure to substantially lower urban camera deployment costs, and police and emergency responders are going to rely on mobile video capabilities more and more. The problem of staffing the feeds from an astronomical number of cameras may be addressed by video analytics software, which tracks live feeds, locates video images that meet specified criteria, and alerts the appropriate authorities. The technology has carried the most benefits for security systems thanks to its ability to identify problems and notify the correct security staff. Frost and Sullivan's "Video Analytics: The Ground Reality" report estimates that federal and state governments comprise more than 50 percent of the video analytics market, while the second biggest video analytics software market is the retail, banking, and gaming industries. Frost and Sullivan analyst Dilip Sarangan says the parties expressing the most interest in video analytics are government agencies looking for something that can recognize license plates and faces, although the technology needs to be more reliable in natural settings and better able to identify constantly moving objects; the cost of video camera upgrades is another impediment to the wide adoption of video analytics technology. http://www.govtech.net
/digitalcommunities/story.php?id=102986
"Personal Defense Weapons: Considerations on Their Potential Role"
Police and Security News (12/06) Vol. 22, No. 6, P. 43; Ijames, Steve
Well-armed criminals and the potential for further terrorist attacks on U.S. soil necessitates a switch to higher-powered and more accurate weapons for U.S. law enforcement personnel. Highlighted are three such personal defense ultracompact shoulder weapons. The M16 AR15 Ultracompact is used by the U.S. military and numerous U.S. police agencies but is lacking when it comes to reliability of mechanical function and terminal ballistic performance due to its supershort barrel. The Remington 870P Sage International Compact model, though not the most accurate weapon of the group, offers unparalleled stopping power. The semiautomatic FN PS90-SBR offers ease of handling and near zero recoil and is a very short nonpistol caliber shoulder weapon.
http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Ninth Crime Mapping Research Conference
About the conference
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis techniques have become prominent tools for analyzing criminal behavior and the impacts of the criminal justice system on society. Classical and spatial statistics have been merged to form more comprehensive approaches in understanding social problems from research and practical standpoints. These methods allow for the measurement of proximity effects on places by neighboring areas that lead to a multi-dimensional and less static understanding of factors that contribute to or repel crime across space.
The Ninth Crime Mapping Research Conference will focus on the use and development of methodologies for practitioners and researchers. The MAPS Program is anticipating the selection of key accepted presentations for further development of an electronic monograph on GIS, Spatial Data Analysis and the Study of Crime in the following year. Its purpose will be to demonstrate the fusing of classical and spatial analysis techniques to enhance policy decisions. Methods should not be limited to the use of classical and spatial statistics but also demonstrate the unique capabilities of GIS in preparing, categorizing and visualization of data for analysis.
The Crime Mapping Research Conference is about more than mapping crime locations. Participants will discuss a range of issues including policy decisions, research methods to identify and dispel hot spots, and other applied practice solutions. The conference is about the study of society and elements of mapping technology that contribute to both crime and justice.
Agenda
The conference will include workshop and panel sessions, as well as some plenary sessions. One plenary session will be about the "Coming Wave of GPS". The conference also includes a Map competition, Pre-conference workshops, and provides an excellent opportunity for researchers and practitioners to network with each other.
For more information:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/maps/pittsburgh2007/index.html
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial data analysis techniques have become prominent tools for analyzing criminal behavior and the impacts of the criminal justice system on society. Classical and spatial statistics have been merged to form more comprehensive approaches in understanding social problems from research and practical standpoints. These methods allow for the measurement of proximity effects on places by neighboring areas that lead to a multi-dimensional and less static understanding of factors that contribute to or repel crime across space.
The Ninth Crime Mapping Research Conference will focus on the use and development of methodologies for practitioners and researchers. The MAPS Program is anticipating the selection of key accepted presentations for further development of an electronic monograph on GIS, Spatial Data Analysis and the Study of Crime in the following year. Its purpose will be to demonstrate the fusing of classical and spatial analysis techniques to enhance policy decisions. Methods should not be limited to the use of classical and spatial statistics but also demonstrate the unique capabilities of GIS in preparing, categorizing and visualization of data for analysis.
The Crime Mapping Research Conference is about more than mapping crime locations. Participants will discuss a range of issues including policy decisions, research methods to identify and dispel hot spots, and other applied practice solutions. The conference is about the study of society and elements of mapping technology that contribute to both crime and justice.
Agenda
The conference will include workshop and panel sessions, as well as some plenary sessions. One plenary session will be about the "Coming Wave of GPS". The conference also includes a Map competition, Pre-conference workshops, and provides an excellent opportunity for researchers and practitioners to network with each other.
For more information:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/maps/pittsburgh2007/index.html
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military writers who have become authors of books.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
250 Police Officers
January 10, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com reached 250 state and local police officers who have written books. The five newly added police officers are all from the Chicago Police Department.
Jack Muller served on a minesweeper in World War II, as a rookie cop he was shot in the head and he became known as the uncompromising Chicago Police Officer who wrote traffic tickets to Mayor Richard Daily, sportscaster Jack Brickhouse and Mobster Sam Giancanna. Once, he even cited Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame, for drunk and disorderly. He retired in 1981 and not only did he win a $1.6 million dollar lottery, but he wrote “I, Pig: Who the World’s Most Famous Cop, Me, is Fighting City Hall.”
Edward Nowicki is the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Training Council (NCJTC) and 33 year law enforcement veteran, in addition to being one of the founders and the first Executive Directors of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET). He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Management. A recipient of many prestigious awards, Ed has been judicially recognized as a Use of Force Expert in many courts across the nation and he has taught various use of force programs both across the nation and internationally. He developed the Use of Force Program and is a Master Instructor in both the OCAT Program and the Handcuffing Program, in addition to being an Instructor Trainer with the Tasertron TASER. Ed is a survivor of six separate shooting incidents, and he has authored a number of books and over 200 law enforcement articles. His books include “True Blue: True Stories about Real Cops” and “Total Survival: A Comprehensive Guide for the Physical, Emotional and Professional Survival of Law Enforcement Officers.
Thomas J. Keevers, a former homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies. One of them, "Thanksgiving Day in Homicide," was featured on National Public Radio's "Stories on Stage." He has published two books in the “P.I. Mike Duncavan Mystery Series:” “What the Hyena Knows” and “Music Across the Wall.” According to Booklist, “His flawed hero, Mike Duncavan, has been rejected by almost everyone: two ex-wives, the police department, and the Chicago Bar Association. About all that's left is PI work and staring at girls walking under his downtown office window. With his hot temper and fondness for Stolie on the rocks, Duncavan is a disaster waiting to happen--and you don't have to wait too long.”
William Getz’ 1977 book is the inside story of police work. Starting at the beginning of a policeman's career, the police academy, where the new recruit is expected to learn just about everything there is to know about police work and then some. According to the review, “From there, he's put on a beat, usually riding with another man in a squad car, and then the "fun" begins - once in the street, he is at its mercy, never able to predict what he may face during his eight-hour stint: could be a drunk having a fit on a downtown corner; could be a crazed husband threatening his wife with a baseball bat; or it could be a man with a shotgun who's just blown the top of a robbery victim's head off. Whatever, the life of a patrolman is unique and his stories can either bring tears to your eyes, or make you retch - something, believe it or not, cops are capable of experiencing themselves.”
Thomas Krupowicz retired from the Chicago Police Department with over 33 years on the job. He was an expert in Latent Fingerprint work and supervised of the Latent Print Unit for 12 years. Six books: Fingerprints: Innocence or Guilt: The Identity Factors; Dead Men Don't Drink Vodka; The Lincoln Dollars; First Line Defense; Death Danced at the Boulevard Ballroom; and, Murder In The Fourth Dimension.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 250 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 642 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Jack Muller served on a minesweeper in World War II, as a rookie cop he was shot in the head and he became known as the uncompromising Chicago Police Officer who wrote traffic tickets to Mayor Richard Daily, sportscaster Jack Brickhouse and Mobster Sam Giancanna. Once, he even cited Jack Webb, of Dragnet fame, for drunk and disorderly. He retired in 1981 and not only did he win a $1.6 million dollar lottery, but he wrote “I, Pig: Who the World’s Most Famous Cop, Me, is Fighting City Hall.”
Edward Nowicki is the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Training Council (NCJTC) and 33 year law enforcement veteran, in addition to being one of the founders and the first Executive Directors of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET). He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.A. in Management. A recipient of many prestigious awards, Ed has been judicially recognized as a Use of Force Expert in many courts across the nation and he has taught various use of force programs both across the nation and internationally. He developed the Use of Force Program and is a Master Instructor in both the OCAT Program and the Handcuffing Program, in addition to being an Instructor Trainer with the Tasertron TASER. Ed is a survivor of six separate shooting incidents, and he has authored a number of books and over 200 law enforcement articles. His books include “True Blue: True Stories about Real Cops” and “Total Survival: A Comprehensive Guide for the Physical, Emotional and Professional Survival of Law Enforcement Officers.
Thomas J. Keevers, a former homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. His short stories have appeared in literary magazines and anthologies. One of them, "Thanksgiving Day in Homicide," was featured on National Public Radio's "Stories on Stage." He has published two books in the “P.I. Mike Duncavan Mystery Series:” “What the Hyena Knows” and “Music Across the Wall.” According to Booklist, “His flawed hero, Mike Duncavan, has been rejected by almost everyone: two ex-wives, the police department, and the Chicago Bar Association. About all that's left is PI work and staring at girls walking under his downtown office window. With his hot temper and fondness for Stolie on the rocks, Duncavan is a disaster waiting to happen--and you don't have to wait too long.”
William Getz’ 1977 book is the inside story of police work. Starting at the beginning of a policeman's career, the police academy, where the new recruit is expected to learn just about everything there is to know about police work and then some. According to the review, “From there, he's put on a beat, usually riding with another man in a squad car, and then the "fun" begins - once in the street, he is at its mercy, never able to predict what he may face during his eight-hour stint: could be a drunk having a fit on a downtown corner; could be a crazed husband threatening his wife with a baseball bat; or it could be a man with a shotgun who's just blown the top of a robbery victim's head off. Whatever, the life of a patrolman is unique and his stories can either bring tears to your eyes, or make you retch - something, believe it or not, cops are capable of experiencing themselves.”
Thomas Krupowicz retired from the Chicago Police Department with over 33 years on the job. He was an expert in Latent Fingerprint work and supervised of the Latent Print Unit for 12 years. Six books: Fingerprints: Innocence or Guilt: The Identity Factors; Dead Men Don't Drink Vodka; The Lincoln Dollars; First Line Defense; Death Danced at the Boulevard Ballroom; and, Murder In The Fourth Dimension.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 250 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 642 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Fiction, Rap and Life
January 9, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com added five new authors to the growing list of police officers who have written books.
Lou Campanozzi was born and raised in Rochester, New York. As a young man he joined the Rochester Police Department and for 22 years he commanded the homicide and robbery squad, worked undercover narcotics, and eventually became the city’s District Commander. He was one of the three founders of BowMac Educational Services, a police training consulting firm formed in 1980. The company was designed to teach police officers how to properly interrogate criminal suspects. Lou’s techniques were adapted by police officers around the country and resulted in thousands of criminal justice convictions.
After retiring as a Captain from the Rochester Police Department, Lou relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While in Albuquerque he worked with the New Mexico State Police and continued to educate police officers throughout the country. He also assumed the position of Chief of Police for the Sandia Indian Reservation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to his death in October 2002, Lou completed three books in the Mike Amato Detective Series: Killing Cards, Ground Lions and his final work, Justice.
In the late 1990s, a trio of Chicago Police Department police officers, Eric Davis, Randy Martin and Randy Holcomb created a positive message through music and ultimately writing. According to Amazon.com, “the Slick Boys were three undercover Chicago cops who moonlight as rappers with an upbeat message. "We tour elementary schools and junior and senior high schools," writes Eric Davis. Their agenda envisions the police officer's job as social work rather than gunplay, values education and respect, and urges kids to ditch stereotypes and "dream extra large." In addition to the musical presentation the police officers authored the book “The Slick Boys: A Ten Point Plan to Rescue your Community by Three Chicago Cops who are Making it Happen.”
In 2005, Mark Davis, of the Chicago Police Department published “Race Traitors.” According to Dennis Banahan, a retired Chicago Police Department detective, and the author of Threshold of Pain, in his review of Davis’ book remarked, “In the 1970's, Don Cornelius, the host of a very popular dance show called Soul Train, and a former policeman himself, ended every episode of the program with the optimistic words, "Peace, Love and Soul". On the streets of Southside Chicago, however, there was anything but peace and love. The Black Stone Rangers street gang, still in its infancy, had a stranglehold on the black community. Extortion, drugs and shootings permeated the fabric of everyday life in the black community. The leading cause of death for black males between the ages of 18-25 was murder. And there were more murders in any given year than had occurred during the entire Al Capone era. Mark Davis does an outstanding job reconsturcting the era and giving us some insight as to what it was like for a working black policeman. Not the Hollywood, rebellious, anti-establishment black policeman stereotype, just a hard working stiff trying his best to do the right thing for the right reasons. A guy who has to endure the dichotomy of sometimes being called an "Uncle Tom" by the community he loves while still not being fully accepted by his white brothers in blue. Mark Davis walked that walk, talked that talk, and now, wrote that book. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Race Traitors". Peace, Love and Soul.”
While Police-Writers.com hosts 244 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 627 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Lou Campanozzi was born and raised in Rochester, New York. As a young man he joined the Rochester Police Department and for 22 years he commanded the homicide and robbery squad, worked undercover narcotics, and eventually became the city’s District Commander. He was one of the three founders of BowMac Educational Services, a police training consulting firm formed in 1980. The company was designed to teach police officers how to properly interrogate criminal suspects. Lou’s techniques were adapted by police officers around the country and resulted in thousands of criminal justice convictions.
After retiring as a Captain from the Rochester Police Department, Lou relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While in Albuquerque he worked with the New Mexico State Police and continued to educate police officers throughout the country. He also assumed the position of Chief of Police for the Sandia Indian Reservation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Prior to his death in October 2002, Lou completed three books in the Mike Amato Detective Series: Killing Cards, Ground Lions and his final work, Justice.
In the late 1990s, a trio of Chicago Police Department police officers, Eric Davis, Randy Martin and Randy Holcomb created a positive message through music and ultimately writing. According to Amazon.com, “the Slick Boys were three undercover Chicago cops who moonlight as rappers with an upbeat message. "We tour elementary schools and junior and senior high schools," writes Eric Davis. Their agenda envisions the police officer's job as social work rather than gunplay, values education and respect, and urges kids to ditch stereotypes and "dream extra large." In addition to the musical presentation the police officers authored the book “The Slick Boys: A Ten Point Plan to Rescue your Community by Three Chicago Cops who are Making it Happen.”
In 2005, Mark Davis, of the Chicago Police Department published “Race Traitors.” According to Dennis Banahan, a retired Chicago Police Department detective, and the author of Threshold of Pain, in his review of Davis’ book remarked, “In the 1970's, Don Cornelius, the host of a very popular dance show called Soul Train, and a former policeman himself, ended every episode of the program with the optimistic words, "Peace, Love and Soul". On the streets of Southside Chicago, however, there was anything but peace and love. The Black Stone Rangers street gang, still in its infancy, had a stranglehold on the black community. Extortion, drugs and shootings permeated the fabric of everyday life in the black community. The leading cause of death for black males between the ages of 18-25 was murder. And there were more murders in any given year than had occurred during the entire Al Capone era. Mark Davis does an outstanding job reconsturcting the era and giving us some insight as to what it was like for a working black policeman. Not the Hollywood, rebellious, anti-establishment black policeman stereotype, just a hard working stiff trying his best to do the right thing for the right reasons. A guy who has to endure the dichotomy of sometimes being called an "Uncle Tom" by the community he loves while still not being fully accepted by his white brothers in blue. Mark Davis walked that walk, talked that talk, and now, wrote that book. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Race Traitors". Peace, Love and Soul.”
While Police-Writers.com hosts 244 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 627 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Monday, January 08, 2007
NYPD leads LAPD, 77 to 47
January 8, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com added ten Los Angeles Police Department police officers who have written books. This brings the LAPD total to 47 authors whereas NYPD leads police agencies world-wide with 77 authors.
This round of writers leads off with three “tell-all” police writers. First, a look at LAPD domestic spying in “L.A. Secret Police: Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Network.” The work is co-written by Michael Rothmiller, a former detective inside the LAPD Organized Crime Intelligence Division.
In LAPD’s “Rouge Cops: Cover up and the Cookie Jar,” Vince Carter, a 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, separates fact from fiction in a look at one of America’s most celebrated, and publicized, police departments. Vincent A. Carter and his Uncle Herb Carter, between them, patrolled the streets of Los Angeles for nearly fifty years. In these memoirs Sergeant Carter describes the birth and early years of a political/financial/newspaper syndicate which ruled Los Angeles with dictatorial power from the late 1880s until recent times.
The author of C.U.B.O. (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer), Don Lucier, enlisted in the United States Army after high school. He served in Vietnam as an infantryman. He was a Los Angeles Police Officer from 1970 to 1980.
Robert Houghton began his career in law enforcement in 1937 when be joined the Beverly Hills Police Department. In 1942, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department, rising to the rank of Chief of Detectives. His book, “Special Unit Senator,” tells the story of the LAPD’s investigation into the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Editors Note: The editor’s father was the first Los Angeles Police Officer on scene at the Ambassador Hotel.
Pierce R. Brooks began his police career in 1959, as a beat cop in Los Angeles. Twenty years later he retired as a captain with the reputation as one of the best detectives in the United States. After the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Brooks served as the Director of Public Safety in Lakewood, Colorado. Brooks gained famed as the detective in Joseph Wambaugh’s book, “The Onion Field,” a true story of a brutal police killing. An acknowledged expert on police survival, he has conducted many seminars and lectures through the country. Brooks firm belief that most police killings could have been avoided motivated him to write, “…officer down, code three.”
Chief William L. Williams worked his way up from rookie patrolman at age twenty in 1964 to become commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department in 1988. In 1992, William Williams became the fiftieth chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and the first African-American chief of the department. According to the Library Journal, “That Los Angeles police chief Williams is upbeat shines through everything he has to say about his four years' tenure in L.A., his service before that in Philadelphia, and the country's prospects for fighting urban crime. Only a hopeful, positive, and competent person would sign on for a police department and a city wracked by the Rodney King trial riots and the exodus of elected officials from the city. Even as Williams was uplifting and retraining his demoralized police and giving the public renewed confidence in them, his department has faced a whole series of new traumas: the second King trial and its threat of riot; the Reginald Denny trial; the earthquake; the Michael Jackson child molestation probe; the Heidi Fleiss prostitution case; and the O.J. Simpson trial.”
While Police-Writers.com focuses on the 239 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 622 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees; and, international police officers who have written books.
This round of writers leads off with three “tell-all” police writers. First, a look at LAPD domestic spying in “L.A. Secret Police: Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Network.” The work is co-written by Michael Rothmiller, a former detective inside the LAPD Organized Crime Intelligence Division.
In LAPD’s “Rouge Cops: Cover up and the Cookie Jar,” Vince Carter, a 25-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, separates fact from fiction in a look at one of America’s most celebrated, and publicized, police departments. Vincent A. Carter and his Uncle Herb Carter, between them, patrolled the streets of Los Angeles for nearly fifty years. In these memoirs Sergeant Carter describes the birth and early years of a political/financial/newspaper syndicate which ruled Los Angeles with dictatorial power from the late 1880s until recent times.
The author of C.U.B.O. (Conduct Unbecoming an Officer), Don Lucier, enlisted in the United States Army after high school. He served in Vietnam as an infantryman. He was a Los Angeles Police Officer from 1970 to 1980.
Robert Houghton began his career in law enforcement in 1937 when be joined the Beverly Hills Police Department. In 1942, he joined the Los Angeles Police Department, rising to the rank of Chief of Detectives. His book, “Special Unit Senator,” tells the story of the LAPD’s investigation into the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Editors Note: The editor’s father was the first Los Angeles Police Officer on scene at the Ambassador Hotel.
Pierce R. Brooks began his police career in 1959, as a beat cop in Los Angeles. Twenty years later he retired as a captain with the reputation as one of the best detectives in the United States. After the Los Angeles Police Department, Chief Brooks served as the Director of Public Safety in Lakewood, Colorado. Brooks gained famed as the detective in Joseph Wambaugh’s book, “The Onion Field,” a true story of a brutal police killing. An acknowledged expert on police survival, he has conducted many seminars and lectures through the country. Brooks firm belief that most police killings could have been avoided motivated him to write, “…officer down, code three.”
Chief William L. Williams worked his way up from rookie patrolman at age twenty in 1964 to become commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department in 1988. In 1992, William Williams became the fiftieth chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and the first African-American chief of the department. According to the Library Journal, “That Los Angeles police chief Williams is upbeat shines through everything he has to say about his four years' tenure in L.A., his service before that in Philadelphia, and the country's prospects for fighting urban crime. Only a hopeful, positive, and competent person would sign on for a police department and a city wracked by the Rodney King trial riots and the exodus of elected officials from the city. Even as Williams was uplifting and retraining his demoralized police and giving the public renewed confidence in them, his department has faced a whole series of new traumas: the second King trial and its threat of riot; the Reginald Denny trial; the earthquake; the Michael Jackson child molestation probe; the Heidi Fleiss prostitution case; and the O.J. Simpson trial.”
While Police-Writers.com focuses on the 239 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 622 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees; and, international police officers who have written books.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
LAPD’s not so secret Hollywood connections
LAPDAuthors.com, a website dedicated to listing Los Angeles Police Department police officers who have written books added four listings of officers who have unusual insights into Hollywood.
Jim Dougherty’s book is described as “the sensitive and touching story of the four-year marriage of Jim Dougherty and Norma Jeane Baker before her Hollywood transformation to Marilyn Monroe. This is a very unusual book about Norma Jeane, because it isn't just another book about Marilyn Monroe. It's a completely different, and very sensitive, view of a young girl married at 16 who is very much in love with her husband, Jim Dougherty, a long-time, veteran Los Angeles Police Officer and firearms instructor.
Fred Otash was a legendary LAPD officer in the 1940s. A clash with the brass motivated him to resigned and ultimately become one of the most notorious Hollywood Private Investigators. He tells all in “Investigation Hollywood.” In the book, Lana Turner’s Bedroom, Gaby Wood wrote, “…..suggested to Lana that she call the most celebrated criminal lawyer in Los Angeles, Jerry Giesler. Giesler was nicknamed 'the magnificent mouthpiece'; he had got Errol Flynn cleared of two rape charges and Bugsy Siegel cleared of murder. He arrived with a private eye, Fred Otash, who was a former vice cop and fed stories to Confidential magazine on the side. By now the house was surrounded—by medics, policemen and neighbors in bathrobes.” Fred was everywhere and into everything.
John O’Grady, a Los Angeles area top private investigator was with the Los Angeles Police Department for over 20 years. For 12 of those years he was in charge of the Hollywood Narcotics Detail. Additionally, he spent eight years teaching police science, was a member of the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, California State Narcotics Association and a nationally recognized polygraph expert. In his book, “O’Grady: The life and Times of Hollywood’s No. 1 Private Eye,” he gives the reader names, dates and details of investigations in the 1960s and 1970s.
Detective Leon Smith, a thirty-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and a lifelong movie buff guides the reader on a nostalgic journey to famous Hollywood movie and television locations. His investigations reveal exact addresses of these historical sites; and, feature his present-day photographs compared with production stills showing how the locations appeared in the original film. His first book, “Famous Hollywood Locations,” contains descriptions and photographs of 382 sites involving 289 films and 105 television series.” He followed up with a second book that does not repeat any locations; “Hollywood Goes on Location.”
LAPD Authors.com lists 47 Los Angeles police officers and their books in five categories. The sister-site at www.police-writers.com lists 229 state and local police officers and their over 600 books.
Jim Dougherty’s book is described as “the sensitive and touching story of the four-year marriage of Jim Dougherty and Norma Jeane Baker before her Hollywood transformation to Marilyn Monroe. This is a very unusual book about Norma Jeane, because it isn't just another book about Marilyn Monroe. It's a completely different, and very sensitive, view of a young girl married at 16 who is very much in love with her husband, Jim Dougherty, a long-time, veteran Los Angeles Police Officer and firearms instructor.
Fred Otash was a legendary LAPD officer in the 1940s. A clash with the brass motivated him to resigned and ultimately become one of the most notorious Hollywood Private Investigators. He tells all in “Investigation Hollywood.” In the book, Lana Turner’s Bedroom, Gaby Wood wrote, “…..suggested to Lana that she call the most celebrated criminal lawyer in Los Angeles, Jerry Giesler. Giesler was nicknamed 'the magnificent mouthpiece'; he had got Errol Flynn cleared of two rape charges and Bugsy Siegel cleared of murder. He arrived with a private eye, Fred Otash, who was a former vice cop and fed stories to Confidential magazine on the side. By now the house was surrounded—by medics, policemen and neighbors in bathrobes.” Fred was everywhere and into everything.
John O’Grady, a Los Angeles area top private investigator was with the Los Angeles Police Department for over 20 years. For 12 of those years he was in charge of the Hollywood Narcotics Detail. Additionally, he spent eight years teaching police science, was a member of the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association, California State Narcotics Association and a nationally recognized polygraph expert. In his book, “O’Grady: The life and Times of Hollywood’s No. 1 Private Eye,” he gives the reader names, dates and details of investigations in the 1960s and 1970s.
Detective Leon Smith, a thirty-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department and a lifelong movie buff guides the reader on a nostalgic journey to famous Hollywood movie and television locations. His investigations reveal exact addresses of these historical sites; and, feature his present-day photographs compared with production stills showing how the locations appeared in the original film. His first book, “Famous Hollywood Locations,” contains descriptions and photographs of 382 sites involving 289 films and 105 television series.” He followed up with a second book that does not repeat any locations; “Hollywood Goes on Location.”
LAPD Authors.com lists 47 Los Angeles police officers and their books in five categories. The sister-site at www.police-writers.com lists 229 state and local police officers and their over 600 books.
Corruption, incompetence and gritty fiction
Police-Writers.com continued to add to the listing of state and local police officers who have authored books. Added were BJ Bourg, Charles Stoker, Tom Lange and Phillip Vannatter.
BJ Bourg began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. He worked dispatch while attending the academy and, upon graduation was assigned to patrol. He worked patrol for about two years; and, in February of 1993, was promoted to detective. BJ worked as a detective for over ten years. He was promoted to sergeant and in 2003, became a full-time instructor at the police academy. In 2004, became the Chief Investigator for the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office. He still teaches at the police academy. He began to take his life-long passion for writing seriously in 2003. Since that time, he has published nearly 100 short stories in publications like Future’s Mystery Magazine, Mysterical-E, Bewildering Stories, Apollo’s Lyre, Writer’s Post Journal, Amazon Shorts, and Chippewa Publishing. Additionally, his short stories appear in four books, “Absent the Soul” (a collection of my first twelve shorts), “The EX Factor” (a multi-authored anthology), “Stories of Strength” (a multi-authored anthology, the proceeds of which benefit victims of hurricane Katrina and other disasters), and “Seven By Seven” (a multi-authored anthology).
Former Los Angeles Police Department police officer Charles Stoker blasted 1940s corruption in the LAPD. In 1951, Charles Stoker published “Thicker’n Thieves.” According to the book cover, “where corrupt police officers, venal politicians and office-holders claimed to have been fighting the underworld, Stocker fought it personally, furiously and with everything at his command to the point where he was framed and fired for “CONDUCT UNBECOMING A POLICE OFFICER” because he testified to the fact before the 1949 Los Angeles Grand Jury. Aside from being a cold steel account of what transpired during his tenure as an officer, this is the highly human story of young Texan, Stoker.” Stoker’s 1951 bombshell is now a 2006 collectable, selling for as much as $500.
“Evidence Dismissed” is “the inside story of the police investigation of O.J. Simpson.” The authors, Detective Tom Lange and Detective Phillip Vannatter, were the lead detectives during the infamous case. Detective Tom Lange joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1967 after earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. In nearly 29 years with the LAPD, he was awarded more than 60 commendations from various law enforcement agencies. During his career, he was involved in more than 250 murder investigations. He retired in 1996. His partner, Phillip Vannatter, entered the Los Angeles Police Department in 1969 after serving on the United States Army Peacekeeping force in Korea. In 27 years with the LAPD he investigated more than 250 homicides, and became a court expert in highly sensitive officer-involved shootings and homicides. Throughout his career, he received more than 60 commendations from law enforcement and over 200 from civilians. He retired in 1996.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 229 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 611 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
BJ Bourg began his law enforcement career in 1990 with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. He worked dispatch while attending the academy and, upon graduation was assigned to patrol. He worked patrol for about two years; and, in February of 1993, was promoted to detective. BJ worked as a detective for over ten years. He was promoted to sergeant and in 2003, became a full-time instructor at the police academy. In 2004, became the Chief Investigator for the Lafourche Parish District Attorney’s Office. He still teaches at the police academy. He began to take his life-long passion for writing seriously in 2003. Since that time, he has published nearly 100 short stories in publications like Future’s Mystery Magazine, Mysterical-E, Bewildering Stories, Apollo’s Lyre, Writer’s Post Journal, Amazon Shorts, and Chippewa Publishing. Additionally, his short stories appear in four books, “Absent the Soul” (a collection of my first twelve shorts), “The EX Factor” (a multi-authored anthology), “Stories of Strength” (a multi-authored anthology, the proceeds of which benefit victims of hurricane Katrina and other disasters), and “Seven By Seven” (a multi-authored anthology).
Former Los Angeles Police Department police officer Charles Stoker blasted 1940s corruption in the LAPD. In 1951, Charles Stoker published “Thicker’n Thieves.” According to the book cover, “where corrupt police officers, venal politicians and office-holders claimed to have been fighting the underworld, Stocker fought it personally, furiously and with everything at his command to the point where he was framed and fired for “CONDUCT UNBECOMING A POLICE OFFICER” because he testified to the fact before the 1949 Los Angeles Grand Jury. Aside from being a cold steel account of what transpired during his tenure as an officer, this is the highly human story of young Texan, Stoker.” Stoker’s 1951 bombshell is now a 2006 collectable, selling for as much as $500.
“Evidence Dismissed” is “the inside story of the police investigation of O.J. Simpson.” The authors, Detective Tom Lange and Detective Phillip Vannatter, were the lead detectives during the infamous case. Detective Tom Lange joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1967 after earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. In nearly 29 years with the LAPD, he was awarded more than 60 commendations from various law enforcement agencies. During his career, he was involved in more than 250 murder investigations. He retired in 1996. His partner, Phillip Vannatter, entered the Los Angeles Police Department in 1969 after serving on the United States Army Peacekeeping force in Korea. In 27 years with the LAPD he investigated more than 250 homicides, and became a court expert in highly sensitive officer-involved shootings and homicides. Throughout his career, he received more than 60 commendations from law enforcement and over 200 from civilians. He retired in 1996.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 229 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 611 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Pushing past 600
With the addition of four new authors, Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to police officers turned authors, reached 225 state and local police officers who have written books; and, pushed the total number of books written by those officers to 606.
Retired NYPD Captain Tom Walker’s Fort Apache, Bronx, NY was written during the early 1970's. According to one reviewer, “Fort Apache captures in vivid detail what it was like to work in the then busiest and deadliest precinct in New York. Walker describes the neighborhood and the cops who police it with uncanny accuracy. You will ride along with him to shootings, stabbings, muggings, and homicides. Walker captures the frustration and the dedication of the cops assigned to the 41st as they race from call to call in the seemingly endless parade of crime. A must read for those who enjoy true police stories.” Walker followed up years later with “Death of a Bronx Cop,” a true story about survival and love in the face of tragedy by a fourth-generation New York city police officer. In this book, Walker writes: "In the days, months and years to come, more New York City police will die. The official cause of death will be listed as suicide, heart attack, even homicide. In truth, the death certificate should read 'Organizational Murder--N.Y.C.P.D.'"
The author of 7 books, Bob Weir is a New York Police Department sergeant, with over ten years of undercover investigations and over 500 felony arrests to his credit. His first book, “City To Die For” chronicles the attempted takeover of Dallas, Texas by the Mafia in the 1940's. Bob also wrote, “Powers That Be,” a story of government collusion with organized crime, and “Ruthie's Kids,” his account of growing up poor in NYC; as well as three other powerful novels.
B. J. Whalen is a father and son writing team. The son, Bernard Whalen, is a lieutenant in the New York Police Department with more than eighteen years of service. During his career he has worked in New York City's Harlem, East Side, and Chinatown and in the plainclothes Anti-Crime Unit. He has sixteen department recognition awards, including two Commendations, and is a member of the NYPD Honor Legion.
His father, Jon Whalen, retired as a teacher from Manhasset High School on Long Island after thirty years in the classroom. While attending college, he worked as a New York State corrections officer at Sing Sing and Auburn prisons. He served four years in the U.S. Army 3rd Armored Cav. Regt. in Germany. Together, the father and son teamed pen their first novel, “Justifiable Homicide.”
Leo Whittlesey published his first novel entitled, End of Tour. The book is a fast-paced, suspense-filled tale of a New York mob kid, Frank Horan, turned cop who finds himself trapped in a massive corruption scheme and the main suspect in multiple murders. Frank is forced to use his mob connections and street smarts to extricate himself from the morass that his life has become at the hands of gangsters, cops and his own poor judgment. Leo lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two sons. He is an attorney and has also been a New York City police officer and small business owner.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 225 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 606 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Retired NYPD Captain Tom Walker’s Fort Apache, Bronx, NY was written during the early 1970's. According to one reviewer, “Fort Apache captures in vivid detail what it was like to work in the then busiest and deadliest precinct in New York. Walker describes the neighborhood and the cops who police it with uncanny accuracy. You will ride along with him to shootings, stabbings, muggings, and homicides. Walker captures the frustration and the dedication of the cops assigned to the 41st as they race from call to call in the seemingly endless parade of crime. A must read for those who enjoy true police stories.” Walker followed up years later with “Death of a Bronx Cop,” a true story about survival and love in the face of tragedy by a fourth-generation New York city police officer. In this book, Walker writes: "In the days, months and years to come, more New York City police will die. The official cause of death will be listed as suicide, heart attack, even homicide. In truth, the death certificate should read 'Organizational Murder--N.Y.C.P.D.'"
The author of 7 books, Bob Weir is a New York Police Department sergeant, with over ten years of undercover investigations and over 500 felony arrests to his credit. His first book, “City To Die For” chronicles the attempted takeover of Dallas, Texas by the Mafia in the 1940's. Bob also wrote, “Powers That Be,” a story of government collusion with organized crime, and “Ruthie's Kids,” his account of growing up poor in NYC; as well as three other powerful novels.
B. J. Whalen is a father and son writing team. The son, Bernard Whalen, is a lieutenant in the New York Police Department with more than eighteen years of service. During his career he has worked in New York City's Harlem, East Side, and Chinatown and in the plainclothes Anti-Crime Unit. He has sixteen department recognition awards, including two Commendations, and is a member of the NYPD Honor Legion.
His father, Jon Whalen, retired as a teacher from Manhasset High School on Long Island after thirty years in the classroom. While attending college, he worked as a New York State corrections officer at Sing Sing and Auburn prisons. He served four years in the U.S. Army 3rd Armored Cav. Regt. in Germany. Together, the father and son teamed pen their first novel, “Justifiable Homicide.”
Leo Whittlesey published his first novel entitled, End of Tour. The book is a fast-paced, suspense-filled tale of a New York mob kid, Frank Horan, turned cop who finds himself trapped in a massive corruption scheme and the main suspect in multiple murders. Frank is forced to use his mob connections and street smarts to extricate himself from the morass that his life has become at the hands of gangsters, cops and his own poor judgment. Leo lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife and two sons. He is an attorney and has also been a New York City police officer and small business owner.
While Police-Writers.com hosts 225 police officers (representing over 70 police departments) and their 606 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors and international police officers who have written books.
Friday, January 05, 2007
U.S. Department of Justice grant funds creation of the Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation
Champlain College has created a regional center for computer forensics with major funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). On December 28, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who helped secure the funding, joined Champlain College President David F. Finney on campus to discuss the important role of the new Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation (C3DI), which received a $650,000 grant from the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The new center has been developed to advance three major initiatives. First, two new Champlain faculty members work with federal, state and local law enforcement investigators, performing digital investigations and adding capacity to law enforcement agencies in Vermont. Based at the Burlington Police Department, these investigators sift through digital evidence found on computers, cell phones, iPods and other digital devices so that crucial pieces of evidence can be applied to criminal investigations.
Secondly, these two new faculty members also share their professional experience as they teach courses in Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program. And lastly, the College is creating new online training opportunities that will be available to members of law enforcement in Vermont and across the country.
”Local, state and federal law enforcement officials have seen an explosion of complex electronic crimes,” said Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy also is the incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees federal anti-crime programs, and he has led on digital security and privacy issues. “In a time when computers hold the key to everything from terrorist plots to accounting scandals, understanding e-crime and digital forensics is crucial for today’s federal, state and local law enforcement officers and our civilian cyber security personnel. The digital forensics education curriculum that Champlain College has put together is right on point in helping law enforcement professionals succeed in countering cyber criminals. This grant will help the College expand its outreach to the public sector, building a rare and important partnership between academia and law enforcement to improve our effectiveness against these crimes.”
Champlain College President David F. Finney said, “We’re thrilled that the federal government is supporting Champlain’s efforts to both educate professionals in computer forensics and directly support law enforcement activities. Senator Leahy and his staff have been extremely helpful in furthering our outreach. It’s clear that our country needs innovative programs to fight crime today, and Champlain is well-positioned to deliver leading-edge programs both face-to-face and over the Internet.”
The director of the new center is Associate Professor Gary C. Kessler, who also directs Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics and Information Security degree programs. Robert Edwards, director of Champlain’s Criminal Justice program, was named associate director of C3DI.
“Computer forensics and digital investigations have become an integral part of police work in the new millennium,” Kessler said. “Computers are now as much a part of the modern law enforcement officer’s daily routine as the baton, sidearm, radio and handcuffs.”
The Center funds two part-time digital forensics examiner positions to assist Vermont law enforcement in criminal digital investigations. Reporting to the Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force and housed at the Burlington Police Department, these new positions increase the state’s digital evidence examination capacity by about 20 percent, Kessler estimated.
Today, many crimes have computer-based evidence and Vermont has just a handful of examiners. Burlington Police Chief Thomas Tremblay said, “This program and partnership are innovative and necessary given the limited resources and funding available to local law enforcement to take on new and highly technical responsibilities.”
The new, part-time examiners spend the other part of their week on the Champlain campus teaching students in the College’s three-year-old Computer & Digital Forensics program -- the first bachelor’s degree program of its kind in New England and the only such program in the nation offered online. These instructors teach on campus and online in positions that are funded for three years.
The grant also supports an online training initiative that allows Champlain College to share its expertise with law enforcement from Seattle to Boston. The College is creating online programs that train law enforcement in computer forensics through the Vermont Police Academy and Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force, as well as through two national law enforcement training organizations.
These organizations currently conduct face-to-face training -- which requires officers to travel to major cities for training. “We all agree that it’s possible to reach about 98 percent of American law enforcement if we create online training in appropriate topics, and it’s more cost effective when it is provided online,” Kessler said.
Currently, Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program enrolls approximately 150 students -- nearly half are traditional, on-campus students and the rest are enrolled online from as far away as California and Texas. Some of the online students are already members of the law enforcement community and they work their online education around their careers.
This is Champlain’s second federal grant for computer forensics education. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice awarded Champlain College a $185,000 grant to further develop the college’s digital forensics program. Champlain’s program was hailed as the national educational model for undergraduate computer forensics education.
Article reprinted with permission (K. Surette) and sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have written books.
The new center has been developed to advance three major initiatives. First, two new Champlain faculty members work with federal, state and local law enforcement investigators, performing digital investigations and adding capacity to law enforcement agencies in Vermont. Based at the Burlington Police Department, these investigators sift through digital evidence found on computers, cell phones, iPods and other digital devices so that crucial pieces of evidence can be applied to criminal investigations.
Secondly, these two new faculty members also share their professional experience as they teach courses in Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program. And lastly, the College is creating new online training opportunities that will be available to members of law enforcement in Vermont and across the country.
”Local, state and federal law enforcement officials have seen an explosion of complex electronic crimes,” said Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy also is the incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees federal anti-crime programs, and he has led on digital security and privacy issues. “In a time when computers hold the key to everything from terrorist plots to accounting scandals, understanding e-crime and digital forensics is crucial for today’s federal, state and local law enforcement officers and our civilian cyber security personnel. The digital forensics education curriculum that Champlain College has put together is right on point in helping law enforcement professionals succeed in countering cyber criminals. This grant will help the College expand its outreach to the public sector, building a rare and important partnership between academia and law enforcement to improve our effectiveness against these crimes.”
Champlain College President David F. Finney said, “We’re thrilled that the federal government is supporting Champlain’s efforts to both educate professionals in computer forensics and directly support law enforcement activities. Senator Leahy and his staff have been extremely helpful in furthering our outreach. It’s clear that our country needs innovative programs to fight crime today, and Champlain is well-positioned to deliver leading-edge programs both face-to-face and over the Internet.”
The director of the new center is Associate Professor Gary C. Kessler, who also directs Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics and Information Security degree programs. Robert Edwards, director of Champlain’s Criminal Justice program, was named associate director of C3DI.
“Computer forensics and digital investigations have become an integral part of police work in the new millennium,” Kessler said. “Computers are now as much a part of the modern law enforcement officer’s daily routine as the baton, sidearm, radio and handcuffs.”
The Center funds two part-time digital forensics examiner positions to assist Vermont law enforcement in criminal digital investigations. Reporting to the Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force and housed at the Burlington Police Department, these new positions increase the state’s digital evidence examination capacity by about 20 percent, Kessler estimated.
Today, many crimes have computer-based evidence and Vermont has just a handful of examiners. Burlington Police Chief Thomas Tremblay said, “This program and partnership are innovative and necessary given the limited resources and funding available to local law enforcement to take on new and highly technical responsibilities.”
The new, part-time examiners spend the other part of their week on the Champlain campus teaching students in the College’s three-year-old Computer & Digital Forensics program -- the first bachelor’s degree program of its kind in New England and the only such program in the nation offered online. These instructors teach on campus and online in positions that are funded for three years.
The grant also supports an online training initiative that allows Champlain College to share its expertise with law enforcement from Seattle to Boston. The College is creating online programs that train law enforcement in computer forensics through the Vermont Police Academy and Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force, as well as through two national law enforcement training organizations.
These organizations currently conduct face-to-face training -- which requires officers to travel to major cities for training. “We all agree that it’s possible to reach about 98 percent of American law enforcement if we create online training in appropriate topics, and it’s more cost effective when it is provided online,” Kessler said.
Currently, Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program enrolls approximately 150 students -- nearly half are traditional, on-campus students and the rest are enrolled online from as far away as California and Texas. Some of the online students are already members of the law enforcement community and they work their online education around their careers.
This is Champlain’s second federal grant for computer forensics education. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice awarded Champlain College a $185,000 grant to further develop the college’s digital forensics program. Champlain’s program was hailed as the national educational model for undergraduate computer forensics education.
Article reprinted with permission (K. Surette) and sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have written books.
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