| NEWS of the Day - September 28, 2011 |
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on some issues of interest to the community policing and neighborhood activist across the country
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following group of articles from local newspapers and other sources constitutes but a small percentage of the information available to the community policing and neighborhood activist public. It is by no means meant to cover every possible issue of interest, nor is it meant to convey any particular point of view ...
We present this simply as a convenience to our readership ... |
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From the Los Angeles Times
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Escaped killer is caught after 41 years
A convicted killer who escaped prison in 1970 and then joined with other members of a militant group in hijacking a Delta Airlines jet to Algeria has been arrested in Portugal after 41 years on the lam, the FBI announced Tuesday.
U.S. officials have asked for fugitive George Wright's extradition to New Jersey, where he was imprisoned on a murder conviction when he broke out of prison with three other men on Aug. 19, 1970. Two years later, authorities say Wright surfaced again when five members of the Black Liberation Army, a militant black nationalist group, commandeered a Delta Airlines flight en route to Miami from Detroit.
The jet landed in Miami, where the hijackers demanded $1 million ransom to free the passengers. After the money was handed over and the passengers released, the jet was forced to fly to Algeria. The group sought political aslyum there, and most dropped from sight after being briefly detained by Algerian authorities.
A statement from the FBI said that four of the five hijackers were caught in Paris in 1976 but that Wright remained free. The initial FBI announcement did not give details of his arrest beyond saying he was caught in Portugal on Monday and was expected to be returned to New Jersey to serve the remainder of his 30-year prison term for having shot and killed a man during a gas station robbery.
"The crime left two young girls without a father. Despite the passage of time, justice has been served, and George Wright will pay for his crime," said Gary M. Lanigan of the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/
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From Google News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Passionate views at policing forum
Albany residents say they also bear a responsibility to "fight for what is right"
by JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST
ALBANY -- Corri Terry , a registered nurse and self-described Clinton Avenue resident by choice, says she welcomes the police department's newfound interest in her community.
She says she hopes officers will learn her 17-year-old son's name not because they suspect him of a crime -- or he becomes the victim of one -- but because he is a thriving student at Green Tech High Charter School and an aspiring state trooper and lawyer.
But at a forum in which police brass gathered Tuesday night to hear from residents about how their efforts to foster community policing are playing out in Albany's streets, where they matter most, Terry directed her most passionate advice to her fellow parents and neighborhood leaders.
Terry -- a co-founder of the new group MAMAS, Mothers Against Murders and Shootings -- urged her neighbors to join her each month in tending the streetside memorials of those slain as a reminder of their own roles in quelling violence she said the police alone cannot stop.
"We need to do this ourselves. We need to take back our community," Terry said. "How many more children do we put in jail or bury? ... How dare we expect the police to fix a problem we created?"
The two-hour forum at Sheridan Preparatory Academy in Sheridan Hollow was the second of at least four that will take place throughout the city before year's end as the department and the community advisory committee charged with overseeing the implementation of community policing take stock of the progress so far -- most notably the roll out of the new Neighborhood Engagement Unit, which assigned beat officers to every neighborhood in the city.
They heard success stories, like that of Gail and Jules Gendreau, who have lived off of Second Avenue for four decades and said they were at wit's end dealing with a raucous, hard-drinking neighbor until the first community forum in June, where they were put in touch with their neighborhood officers.
"Now it's in the hands of the courts," Gail Gendreau said, urging others to follow their example.
"Please don't give up. Go to your police officers. Fight for what is right," Gendreau said.
They also heard suggestions, like that from Livingston Avenue resident Warren Mackey, who urged the department to take the small but significant step of removing the thick glass barriers that separate officers from the public in police stations, forcing residents to twist to speak into a small cut-out circle.
"When you walk in, there's an immediate separation between you and the police department," Mackey said.
Victoria Slade, whose family has lived on Colonie Street since 1975, cautioned her neighbors not to get so wrapped up in the most singularly shocking acts of violence, like the 2008 murder of 10-year-old Kathina Thomas in West Hill, that the scores of others fade from view.
"That little girl Kathina is not the only one that passed away," Slade said. "She's not the only one. It's thousands of us."
Jacqui Williams, who represents the South End on the Albany Community Policing Advisory Committee, praised the evolution of the dialogue from the first meeting, which she said focused largely on quality-of-life issues.
"This one felt more personal. Our children are at risk," she said, adding: "Some of this work is in the community itself."
Police Chief Steven Krokoff opened the meeting by saying the department, for all the institutional changes it is making as it moves toward a team-based model of neighborhood problem solving, will not be able to succeed without help.
After the meeting, he said he was gratified that residents seem to share the same sense of responsibility.
"People are starting to stand up and talk about their role in improving some of the issues that are plaguing their community," he said.
The next forum is scheduled for Oct. 11 at the LaSalle School on Western Avenue in Pine Hills, with another to follow later this year in the city's west end.
http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Passionate-views-at-policing-forum-2192113.php
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California
Martinez council gives neighborhood policing program high marks
by Lisa P. White
Contra Costa Times
MARTINEZ -- The City Council recently gave high marks to the four-month-old neighborhood policing initiative.
The mission of the initiative is to increase direct communication between police officers and residents with the goal of building partnerships, solving neighborhood problems and improving the quality of life in Martinez, said Chief Gary Peterson in a progress report to the City Council.
"The piece that will drive this initiative is the community and the citizens and business owners," he said. "If they participate, this is going to be a success."
Across the state, police departments of all sizes use neighborhood policing, also known as community policing. Benefits of this approach include creating a strong sense of ownership and a personal connection to an area of the city among officers, and building trust with residents and business owners, according to law enforcement experts.
In Martinez, one police officer is assigned to each of the 24 neighborhood policing areas in the city. In addition to patrols, officers hold neighborhood meetings to share information about crime in the area and crime prevention strategies.
The city's website includes a map of the neighborhood policing areas with links so residents can email officers about concerns in their neighborhood.
Peterson promoted five officers in July as part of a department reorganization to support the program. He also changed the department's performance evaluation
to reflect the need for officers to participate in neighborhood policing activities.
So far, officers have held 33 neighborhood meetings and conducted six K9 demonstrations, according to Peterson. Officers also have worked with homeowners' associations, updated contact lists for the large and small shopping centers in the city, attended Main Street Martinez meetings and worked with Amtrak on issues related to the city's homeless population, Peterson said.
"I'm happy with the progress that we've made thus far. Our officers are working hard to develop relationships. I don't think they've been out of their cars more than they have in the past four months," he added.
Councilwoman Lara DeLaney encouraged Peterson to do more to publicize the program, including using social media.
"I'm really glad to know that this is being not just rolled out and implemented but that it's being institutionalized by the change in the structure of the organization and incorporating these requirements into the evaluation," she said.
Councilman Mike Menesini praised the program but he also suggested that in the future, Peterson consider assigning two or three officers to each area in the city so residents can get to know more than one police officer.
To view a map of the neighborhood policing areas and get contact information for the assigned officers, visit the city website at www.cityofmartinez.org
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18988473
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Utah
Provo Police kick off community volunteers program
by Genelle Pugmire
PROVO -- Residents of Provo neighborhoods should feel a little safer in the coming days thanks in part to a new community volunteer program launched Tuesday by the Provo Police Department.
Known as the Volunteers In Police Service, the program provides the police department with extra eyes and helping hands in the community. According to Chief Rick Gregory, community police volunteerism isn't new, but it has taken a giant leap around the country since 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.
In discussing the need for community volunteers Gregory said, "The Provo Police Department is driven by three principles: problem solving, partnerships and prevention. I believe the VIPS program satisfies each of these goals."
"We are excited for the opportunity to work in partnership with the community and believe in providing high-quality policing services and are thankful for volunteers and their willingness to contribute and make this community a better and safer place," volunteer coordinator Lt. Todd Grossgebauer said.
Residents 18 and older who complete criminal and other background checks and undergo some training will be allowed in the program. Currently there are six certified volunteers with 20 letters of request.
The department renovated three police cars that are too worn for patrol use for the volunteer program.
According to Grossgebauer, the cars have been retooled for the volunteers. They will have white and yellow lights, carry traffic cones and other items to assist officers and carry the VIPS logo, with "community volunteers" on the trunk of the car.
"We envision volunteers will lower patrol call volumes," Grossgebauer said. "They will assist in non-criminal calls."
VIPS volunteer Jim Barrett says he likes to help out wherever and whenever he can. Barrett, an employee with XANGO, was one of the first volunteers in the program.
"I like to help people and assist them," Barrett said. "Officers are too busy to do little things that we can help with."
Barrett also has recruited his son and a friend to join.
Also contributing to the volunteers is the department's Explorer Unit that trains young men and women up to age 21.
Explorer Aubree Durrant thinks programs like community volunteering and the Explorer Unit are important and a good way for young people to learn about criminal justice careers.
"These programs I think are great because they really get the community more involved. Also, for people like me who are interested in this field, Explorers is a great way to find out what it's all about," Durrant said.
She added, "We do little training activities and they really teach us how the police department works. Now with this new volunteer police program, we are able to extend on these things. To me, helping others is very important. I also think that's a key factor in the people who want to volunteer for the police. You have to be doing these things for the right reasons. I really look forward to this program to get up and running."
Durrant won't have to wait too long -- the volunteers went right to work.
"We are thrilled beyond words to be a part of the program," Mayor John Curtis said. "We have the highest rate of volunteerism in the country. I'm glad the department has found a way to harness the spirit of service in this community to maximize our city resources."
The police department is waiting to hear from a police department study it anticipates will address the need for several more officers. Financially the city may not be able to hire many; however, according to Gregory and Grossgebauer, the volunteer program could help offset some of that need.
For more information on the VIPS program, contact the police department at www.provo.org/ppd.main.html or call (801) 852-6250.
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/article_d419ab9d-57c4-54f8-abb8-d2de9323621a.html?print=1 |
