No-holds-barred on jails

The new commission looking at L.A. County's troubled facilities should turn up the heat on Baca.

December 27, 2011

It took about eight weeks, but the new seven-member commission charged with investigating Los Angeles County's troubled jails is now up and running. Early in the new year, we hope, it will begin in earnest to study just what's gone right and what's gone wrong during Sheriff Lee Baca's tenure as steward of the jails.

Clearly there is a problem. The FBI is investigating multiple allegations of misconduct by sheriff's deputies. The Times has reported on numerous cases of abuse and violence by deputies, including a rookie who resigned after he was allegedly told by his supervisor to beat a mentally ill inmate. And over the last two years, about 30 deputies had to be disciplined for beating inmates or covering up abuse. One jail monitor said she witnessed deputies beating an inmate even after he was obviously unconscious.

The new commission's influence is severely limited. It can't subpoena documents or impose changes on the sheriff. Baca is an elected official — only the voters can fire him. But though it is toothless in some respects, the commission has an important role to play. It can raise public awareness of the problems and pressure the sheriff and the Board of Supervisors to take action. It can provide a road map for change. Perhaps most important, its members — four retired judges, a pastor, a police chief and a jail safety expert — can ask questions long overdue of a department in need of accountability.

They should probe, for instance, whether the Sheriff's Department properly monitors its deputies. The department's database is supposed to provide an early warning system to alert supervisors about deputies who are repeatedly accused of using excessive force, says the monitor who oversees the jails for the Board of Supervisors. But Chief Dennis Burns, who heads the jails' custody division, says the current system does not track inmate complaints by deputy.

The commission should also look into allegations by a 32-year veteran who retired last year, who said he ordered in-depth audits of some complaints. Those reports, he said, concluded that some deputies were crafting narratives "dramatized to justify" force and delaying using weapons such as pepper spray that could end fights "to dispense appropriate jailhouse 'justice.'"

Another question is whether rookie deputies — whose first assignment in the Sheriff's Department is to serve as guards in the jails — receive sufficient training and supervision to keep them from relying on force as the first option in responding to an incident.

The commission can't force change, but a thorough, no-holds-barred investigation could put real pressure on Baca to take action. Clearly, that pressure is needed.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-sheriff-20111227,0,248547,print.story

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From Google News

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Internet escort ads linked to women found dead in Detroit

One week. Two car trunks. Four women dead.

Detroit police may be on the hunt for a killer who might be targeting escorts after it was discovered that three of the four women found dead this month are linked to sex-related advertisements on Backpage.com, police said Monday.

The website includes dozens of come-hithers from metro Detroit escorts offering exotic fantasies and erotic playtime.

"This tie for us is disconcerting," Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said Monday. "We're stopping short of calling it a serial pattern."

The women were found dead in pairs: Demesha Hunt, 24, and Renisha Landers, 23, both of Detroit, were discovered about 3 p.m. Dec. 19 in the trunk of a 2009 Chrysler 300C on the 14900 block of Promenade.

Two more women, their names not yet released by police, were found burned beyond recognition about 1 a.m. Sunday in the trunk of a 1997 Buick LeSabre parked in a garage on the 14900 block of Lannette, according to Godbee. They were 28 and 29.

Detroit police spokeswoman Sgt. Eren Stephens declined Monday to say how police figured out the escort connection or who owned the cars the bodies were discovered in.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, police said, but they are treating the incidents as suspicious deaths and have homicide investigators working the cases.

Godbee said during a news conference Monday that police had a "moral obligation" to share the information about the deaths with the public. "With the vast increase in the utilization of social media and the Internet, we must continue to be vigilant in identifying any website which may potentially pose a threat to individuals," he said.

Backpage.com is like Craigslist, offering ads ranging from pets for sale and computer services to real estate and body rubs. The Detroit Police Department had not made contact with the website's administration, Godbee said Monday.

Chicago attorney Samuel Fifer, a lawyer for Backpage.com, declined to comment Monday night. The website is owned by Phoenix-based Village Voice Media.

Efforts to reach relatives of Hunt and Landers by phone or via Twitter were unsuccessful.

"They're devastated," Godbee said, describing the reaction of the victims' families.

At the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, an unidentified employee declined to comment on any details surrounding the four deaths.

This is not the first time Backpage.com has turned up in a criminal matter.

Earlier this month, a woman was indicted in federal court in Detroit after police said she sent a 16-year-old girl on hundreds of sex dates and pocketed 40% of her earnings.

The FBI learned about the woman, Satoria Youngblood, after responding to an ad on Backpage.com that read: "New To Your Town -- Hot! Sexy! & The Best Around."

Turned out, the escort was a minor, who was caught in an undercover operation Nov. 4 at the Extended Stay Hotel in Southfield, records show.

Her arrest triggered child pornography charges against Youngblood, who remains incarcerated pending trial.

Backpage.com was not charged in the incident.

A similar tale recently unfolded in Missouri. However, in that case, a minor sued Backpage.com, saying the website aided in child prostitution by allowing her pimp to post nude photos of her in ads, records show.

In August, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, holding that while the minor endured "horrific victimization" at the hands of her pimp, Backpage.com was protected by the Communications Decency Act, which shields online companies from liability for what others post online.

Meanwhile, the pimp in the Missouri case was sentenced last December to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to prostitution charges.

Tampa attorney Paul DeCailly, who represents escort services in a variety of litigation, said he strongly doubts that Backpage.com will face any liability in the Detroit deaths, should it turn out the women were targeted because they were escorts.

"The ads are what bring two people together," he said. "To start holding everyone liable for what happens in response to that ad would be quite an extension of liability."

Last September, Craigslist yanked its ad section for sex-related services after years of pressure, including a letter from 17 state attorneys general who argued the site was rampant with prostitution ads.

With Craigslist out of the picture, Backpage.com became the new leader in adult services ads, making $24.3 million in the last 12 months in revenues from those ads, according to research from the Advanced Interactive Media Group in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

In October, 36 clergy ran a full-page ad in the New York Times, demanding Village Voice Media remove the adult ads from Backpage.com. A coalition of 21 attorneys general, including Michigan's, made a similar request in a 2010 letter.

Backpage.com refused and contended on its website: "Backpage.com is committed to preventing those who are intent on misusing the site for illegal purposes."

On Monday, Godbee advised that if you are thinking about meeting someone from the Internet, tell someone you know exactly when and where you plan to meet the person -- and then do so in a public place.

"Deciding to meet unknown persons via the Internet can be extremely dangerous," he said. "Our sole purpose is for the public to be cognizant of this website when engaged in adult activities."

At 7:57 p.m. Monday, someone posted a warning on Backpage.com. In part: "Never go any where with just anybody ... If U no some crazy person that U have seen recently & he tried to really harm U, I would contact the Detroit Police Department."

More than two dozen women who posted ads on Backpage.com did not return calls from Free Press reporters seeking comment.

http://www.freep.com/article/20111227/NEWS05/112270362/Internet-escort-ads-linked-to-women-found-dead-in-Detroit

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Holyoke Police Dept. creates new community station

"They're going to be very vested in the community and they're going to be boots on the ground," said Holyoke Police Chief, James Neiswanger, "We're here, we're here to stay."

"This particular office is going to be our home away from home," said Officer Patrick Leahy.

Officer Leahy is a Holyoke native, that's why cutting crime back in the city means so much for him and the other officers in the community policing unit.

"All of us here that are working are born and raised "holyokers" so it really helps, you feel that pride," said officer Leahy.

City pride is what many are hoping will lessen the city's crime - block by block, year by year.

"The idea is to set up shop, set up camp, take the area and then hold it. And then when we succeed, grow it," said Chief Neiswanger.

So far this year Holyoke has seen three murders and hundreds of crimes throughout the city's neighborhoods but to these officers it's more motivation to do their jobs and serve for the residents that do obey the law.

"There are 1,000 great residents here and there are two or three or four people that just don't get it. So we just informed them that we're here to stay," said Officer Leahy.

The Maple street office has been in operation for a couple of weeks and officers say they've noticed a dip in crime already.

"We've already seen an impact," said Officer Leahy.

It's good news for Rene Bomales, a father who lives in Holyoke's Churchill neighborhood. He's relieved to see the police presence on his street and hopes it means a safer city for him and his daughters.

"Their presence, honestly, I'd say it is felt. You can tell there's been a sense of safety since they've been here. I want to say I appreciate what they do," said Bomales.

http://www.cbs3springfield.com/story/16386763/holyoke-police-dept-creates-new-community-station?

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From the FBI

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Cyber Alerts for Parents & Kids

Tip #1: Be Prudent When Posting Images Online

12/22/2011

With the explosive popularity of smartphones and social media platforms, sharing photos has never been easier. Millions of pictures are uploaded to the web every day, and camera-enabled mobile phones are the perennial top-selling consumer electronic devices. So it's a safe bet that even more photos will be cropping up on image-hosting communities and personal websites.

But what exactly is being shared?

In some cases, you might unwittingly be letting others know where you live and work and your travel patterns and habits. These details can be revealed through bits of information embedded in images taken with smartphones and some digital cameras and then shared on public websites. The information, called metadata, often includes the times, dates, and geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) where images are taken.

While the geospatial data can be helpful in myriad web applications that plot image locations, it also opens a door for criminals, including burglars, stalkers, and predators. It's not a stretch to imagine young teens' images of their ventures to the mall or beach being culled by web predators and meticulously plotted on online maps.

“It's not something we think is happening. We know it's happening,” said Kevin Gutfleish, head of the Innocent Images Intelligence Unit in the FBI's Cyber Division. The unit provides analysis and assessments of emerging threats for the operational arm of the Innocent Images National Initiative, which targets child pornography and sexual predators.

“The way that images are being posted in real time allows others who have access to see the metadata and see where the photos were taken and reveal their location at that time,” Gutfleish said.

An intelligence analyst in the FBI Criminal Division's Crimes Against Children Unit said these details can reveal a “pattern of life,” particularly when images posted over time are clustered in geographic locations.

“It doesn't have to be in real time to be dangerous,” said the analyst. “Historical data can tell you a lot about individuals' day-to-day habits and may indicate where they are most likely to be at a certain time.”

Some popular social media sites automatically scrub metadata from images before they are published. On the other hand, some leverage the data to display location information beside the images. An amateur sleuth could easily pinpoint a location using the available latitude and longitude coordinates.

“Even if they don't intentionally say where they are, the photos could reveal that,” Gutfleish said. “And that could present a potential danger.”

Gutfleish said he has seen an increase in intelligence reports and complaints about the potential misuse of the metadata embedded in photos. He said the proliferation of online tools that aggregate personal information from social networking and image hosting sites is enough to urge a level of caution.

He suggests mobile phone users at the very least check the “options” or “settings” on their phones (and any applicable mobile applications) to see if they are sharing location information. In many cases, the default setting is to share location information.

“It's just a best-practice if you don't want to give out your location,” Gutfleish says. “We simply want to make sure people know this is happening.”

This story is the first in an occasional series aimed at providing practical web advice and tips for parents and their kids.

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/december/cyber_122211/cyber_122211

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From the Department of Homeland Security

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Secretary Napolitano Highlights DHS' Progress in 2011

WASHINGTON—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Monday toured operations and received briefings at DHS facilities in the National Capital Region. The Secretary toured Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection operations at Washington Dulles International Airport, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Center in Virginia, the Secret Service's James J. Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Md. and the FEMA IMAT and the Fairfax USAR team in Herndon, Va. - highlighting the major steps the Department has taken this year to enhance America's capabilities to guard against terrorism; secure the nation's borders; engage in smart enforcement of our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; and to mature and strengthen the homeland security enterprise.

“This year, as we observed the 10th anniversary of the attacks that gave rise to our department, we continued to strengthen the safety, security, and resilience of our nation,” said Secretary Napolitano. “As we move into 2012, we will continue to work together with our federal, state, local, tribal and private sector partners to address new and emerging challenges while maturing and strengthening the homeland security enterprise.”

To prevent terrorism and enhance security , DHS continued to collaborate with our international partners, forging agreements focused on strengthening aviation security; facilitating information-sharing; and securing the global supply chain. The Department also began new risk-based security measures through prescreening of passengers; deployment of new technologies; and training of airport security and law enforcement personnel to better detect behaviors associated with terrorism. In addition, the Department continued to enhance and streamline its vetting and screening capabilities, strengthen the national network of fusion centers, and support state and local partners through training, technical assistance and grant funding. The Department also continued expansions of the “If You See Something, Say Something TM " public awareness campaign through partnerships with sports teams and leagues, transportation agencies, private sector partners, states, municipalities, and colleges and universities.

To secure and manage our borders , DHS has continued to deploy historic levels of personnel, technology, and resources to our borders to reduce the flow of illicit drugs, cash, and weapons; expedite legal trade and travel through trusted traveler and trader initiatives; and, as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan, collaborated with our Canadian partners to strengthen security while advancing economic competitiveness. Border Patrol apprehensions—a key indicator of illegal immigration—have decreased 53 percent in the last three years and are less than 20 percent of what they were at their peak. In the maritime domain, the United States Coast Guard secures our borders through a layered security system that provides mobile surveillance coverage, engages smugglers at the earliest point possible, and addresses potential threats before they can cause harm to the United States.

To enforce and administer our immigration laws , DHS removed more criminal aliens from the country than any year in the agency's history, highlighting DHS' commitment to focusing on threats to public safety, repeat immigration law violators, recent border entrants, and immigration fugitives while continuing to strengthen oversight of the nation's immigration detention system and facilitate legal immigration. In 2011, USCIS held more than 6,000 naturalization ceremonies for approximately 692,000 lawful permanent residents who became U.S. citizens, including more than 10,000 members of the U.S. Armed Forces and launched a series of initiatives to spur economic competiveness by attracting foreign entrepreneurial talent who can create jobs, form startup companies, and invest capital in areas of high unemployment. DHS also launched E-Verify Self-Check, an online service that allows individuals to check their employment eligibility status before formally seeking employment.

To safeguard and secure cyberspace , DHS responded to over 100,000 incident reports and released more than 5,000 cybersecurity alerts and information products for federal, state, local, international and private sector partners; worked to combat electronic crimes such as identity theft, network intrusions and a range of financial crimes; launched law enforcement operations targeting those who prey on children online; announced new Stop.Think.Connect. TM partnerships with DARE America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and YMCA; and released the Blueprint for a Secure Cyber Future: The Cybersecurity Strategy for the Homeland Security Enterprise , which outlines a coordinated effort for cybersecurity across the homeland security community.

To ensure resilience to disasters , DHS trained thousands of local, state and tribal responders; released the country's first-ever National Preparedness Goal, which identifies the core capabilities necessary to achieve preparedness; and awarded more than $2.1 billion in federal preparedness grants to assist states, urban areas, tribal and territorial governments, non-profit agencies, and the private sector in strengthening our nation's ability to prevent, protect, respond to, recover from, and mitigate terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies. In 2011, FEMA supported 96 major disaster declarations, 29 emergency declarations, and 116 fire management assistance declarations, including the response to Hurricane Irene, fires in the Southwest, severe flooding in North Dakota, and devastating tornadoes that hit the Midwest and South, including Joplin, Mo.

To mature and strengthen the homeland security enterprise , DHS met its veterans hiring goal of 50,000 employees with veterans comprising 25 percent of the Department's civilian workforce in addition to nearly 50,000 active and reserve members of the U.S. Coast Guard. In recognition of DHS' efforts to cut costs and reinvest in mission critical operations, the Department's Efficiency Review was highlighted as a model effort for agencies across the Federal government. The Department also received a qualified opinion on its balance sheet for FY 2011 which is a pivotal step in DHS' financial management, highlighting efforts to increase transparency and accountability, and to accurately account for the Department's resources.

Additionally, this past year, DHS conducted unprecedented outreach to state, local, tribal and private sector partners, in an effort to engage communities across the country in DHS core missions. This outreach focused on information sharing, promoting civil rights and civil liberties, increasing access to DHS programs, and strengthening the homeland security enterprise.

For more information regarding DHS' progress in 2011, click here.

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/20111222-dhs-progress-2011.shtm

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