Graduation from LAPD's 'Boot Camp' comes at a price

"You want to throw up?" shouts an LAPD officer to a young boy complaining of stomach pains. "Stop lagging!" the officer yells.

The video, available on YouTube, show scenes from the LAPD's Juvenile Impact Program, an ongoing military-style camp intended to turn around troubled young people, ages 9-17.

The LAPD officers' aggressive nature surprises some parents as well as those unused to seeing children -- some looking distressed -- being disciplined.

"I couldn't look," said Sonja Serna of watching her 12-year son Marc being ordered around by LAPD officers during this year's class. "My husband told me not to."

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_21182278/van-nuys-graduation-celebrates-kids-triumph-lapd-boot

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July 28, 2012

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From the L.A. Daily News

Coast Guard seizes 8,500 pounds of marijuana 160 miles west of L.A.

SAN PEDRO - Officials seized about 8,500 pounds of marijuana in a bust on a vessel about 160 miles west of Los Angeles, marking a 50-ton milestone for waterborne marijuana seizures in Southern California and the Pacific Southwest border region this fiscal year, the U.S. Coast Guard announced today.

The more than 340 bales seized in the bust Wednesday is worth about $7.7 million, according to Capt. James Jenkins, commander of the Coast Guard's Los Angeles/Long Beach Sector.

Law enforcement officials have seen an increase in waterborne smuggling of illicit drugs from the U.S.-Mexico border as far north as Santa Barbara County, Jenkins said. The illegal cargo often arrives on small boats known as pangas, moving multi-ton loads of marijuana and illegal immigrants from Baja California, Jenkins said.

"Stopping these drugs from reaching our streets is a great accomplishment, but it's just the tip of the iceberg with respect to the impact on the drug trafficking organizations," Jenkins said.

"The money from marijuana trafficking fuels a wider cycle of drug smuggling, crime and violence. We need to do everything possible to stop these destructive, deadly organizations."

The 50-ton quantity, worth about $90.7 million, is the total of 56 seizures of marijuana-laden boats or abandoned loads of drugs since October 1, Jenkins said. This is four times the amount seized in the same area during the entire previous fiscal year.

Anaheim expecting more police-shooting protests this weekend

An officer-involved shooting Friday was Anaheim's third in a week. Demonstrators plan protests near Disneyland on Saturday and at the Police Department on Sunday.

Protests over police conduct have rocked Orange County's largest city since July 21, when police fatally shot an unarmed man, Manuel Diaz, 25, who they said was evading arrest. A day later, police shot and killed Joel Acevedo, 21; police say he fired on officers during a foot chase.

Friday's incident marked the seventh officer-involved shooting in Anaheim this year, five of which have been fatal. The city had four officer-involved shootings in 2011.

The shootings sparked four days of protest that culminated in a violent clash between 1,000 demonstrators and officers outside a packed City Council meeting Tuesday night. By the time it was over, 24 protesters had been arrested, 20 buildings damaged, seven people injured and dozens of less-than-lethal rounds had been fired to disperse the crowd, some of whom started fires in dumpsters and threw rocks at police.

Seeking to calm tensions, Mayor Tom Tait and other city officials met Friday with the FBI and U.S. attorney's office staff and asked them to look into the recent shootings.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0728-anaheim-protest-20120728,0,1437219.story

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From Google News

Police thwart possible attack after Md. man refers to Joker, makes threats

Police said it was the ominous mention of the Joker, the threat to use guns and “blow everybody up” and the lingering memory of the massacre in Colorado a week ago.

It was the “totality” of ominous signals, investigators said Friday, that made them believe that Neil Edwin Prescott, of Crofton, was serious when he threatened mass murder at the Prince George's County business from which he was being fired.

“All of the elements were there to repeat what we've seen across the country,” Prince George's Police Chief Mark Magaw said.

It was the first phone call, the second phone call, “the increasing tenor of the threat .?.?. the demeanor,” Deputy Chief Hank Stawinski said.

“The message here is if you call your business, if you call a loved one, if you call anybody and you threaten to do harm, kill people, we're going to believe you,” he said.

Prescott remained at the Anne Arundel County Medical Center late Friday undergoing a psychiatric evaluation, as prosecutors weighed what charges, if any, to file against him.

As of Friday evening, he had not been arrested, and had not been charged with a crime, police said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/police-thwart-possible-attack-after-phone-threats/2012/07/27/gJQAYJnqEX_story.html

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Seattle reaches police reform deal with government

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Seattle officials and the Department of Justice reached a sweeping agreement on Friday to refine the use of force by police officers under a plan to be overseen by an independent, court-appointed monitor.

The settlement, which grew out of a federal investigation of the city's police department, will allow the city to avoid a civil rights lawsuit that U.S. officials threatened to bring over complaints of excessive force by officers.

Such a lawsuit would have put Seattle, considered one of the most liberal cities in the nation, among only a handful of municipalities singled out for police misconduct lawsuits by the federal government.

Instead, Seattle police will operate under a far-reaching plan that covers use of force, police stops and work bias.

The city's police were criticized in 2010 for the shooting death of an American-Indian woodcarver who appeared to pose no threat. A Department Of Justice report in December 2011 said Seattle police in the previous two years had displayed a pattern of using excessive force.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/28/us-usa-police-seattle-idUSBRE86R02920120728

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New Jersey

2 troopers charged in 100-mph caravan escort

TRENTON — Two state troopers charged Friday with records-tampering turned a state highway into a "virtual speedway" when they gave a caravan of luxury cars a high-speed escort, taping over their own license plates to conceal their involvement, the attorney general said.

"No one is above the law," Attorney General Jeff Chiesa said. "We will not tolerate officers who endanger the public they are sworn to protect."

Administrative charges also were brought against four other members of the state police in connection with a high-speed escort in 2010, and a fifth trooper for his handling of a ticket issued to the driver of a Lamborghini clocked at 116 mph, also in 2010.

Sgt. 1st Class Nadir Nassry and Trooper Joseph Ventrella sought to conceal their involvement in the March escort, which reached speeds exceeding 100 mph, by using black electrical tape to alter their plates, the attorney general said.

Nassry also is accused of instructing other drivers in the caravan of high-performance vehicles to conceal or partly conceal their license plates using tape or other means.

By hiding their plate numbers, the drivers were able to speed through tolls on the Garden State Parkway without paying, the attorney general said, creating what he described as a "mirage."

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120728/NEWS02/207280312/2-troopers-charged-100-mph-caravan-escort

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July 27, 2012

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From Google News

Colorado shooting: Police pleaded for ambulances

Radio traffic from last Friday's shooting in Aurora, Colo., showed emergency personnel struggling to grasp both the scope of the tragedy and mobilize a response.

While some ambulances were quickly called to duty, it took dispatchers more than 20 minutes into the crisis to ask the Cunningham Fire Protection District and other nearby agencies to provide aid at the multiplex in suburban Denver.

By the time the Cunningham crew arrived, it was more than a half hour after authorities got first word that a gunman opened fire at a packed midnight showing of the new Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises," killing 12 people and injuring dozens of others.

The ambulance delays came during crucial minutes for the injured victims, though it's not clear whether a faster response would have saved more lives.

Officials have declined so far to release call records of the response, and the Aurora Fire Department declined to discuss the handling of ambulances from that night.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=8751078

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New Jersey

Volunteers Sought for Community Policing Program

The Newark Police Department is pleased to announce the formation of the R.A.V.E.N. (Ready & Active Volunteers Engaged in Newark) program.

Police Chief James Leal initiated this program as part of the department's commitment to the community and in response to our citizens' willingness to assist the police department as extra "eyes and ears" to help prevent and solve crime.

The goal of R.A.V.E.N. is to creat a strong, reliable group of volunteers who can augment and assist the police department in a variety of tasks designed to free up valuable time of sworn officers and non-sworn police staff, which will allow them to peform higher priority tasks.

In addition, the program provides services to the community otherwise not currently offered due to resource limitations. R.A.V.E.N. volunteers will be given the opportunity to utilize their unique skills and experiences.

Some of the duties participants could perform include vacation home checks, extra patrols requested by a member of the community or determined by current crime trends, safety presentations and staffing of community event booths, administrative tasks, and traffic control.

http://newark.patch.com/articles/volunteers-sought-for-community-policing-program

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New Jersey

Police reach out to mobile home park

VINELAND — Police officers commended the Berryman's Branch mobile home community for being a safe neighborhood and urged the residents to get involved with law enforcement to help keep it that way.

The city's police department hosted its third in a series of community outreach meetings at the Pennsylvania Avenue complex Thursday. The goal of the gatherings is to forge relationships with the public and then work as partners in building safe communities.

Instead of reaching out to an officer when there is an emergency, Officer Joe Pagano said, the community policing unit is focused on being proactive. They are in the neighborhoods problem-solving with residents in an attempt to ward off any potential trouble.

“We need your help. We need your eyes. We need your ears,” Pagano told the crowd of more than 50 residents gathered in the community center. “Without your help, we can't do our job effectively.”

“Don't sit back, get to know your neighbors,” Pagano suggested. “Don't sit locked in your house.”

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20120727/NEWS01/307270036

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July 26, 2012

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From Google News

Businesses raided in nationwide crackdown on synthetic drugs

Police and federal agents raided dozens of businesses suspected of selling drugs such as "K2" and "Spice" in nearly 100 cities Wednesday as part of the first-ever nationwide crackdown on synthetic drugs.

The drugs, often marketed as herbal incense or bath salts, mimic highs from cocaine, marijuana and LSD and remain widely available in convenience stores, smoke shops and online despite a July 9 federal ban.

• In Columbus, Ohio, a drug task force raided three shops and a convenience store, seizing hundreds of packets of K2 and Spice, and arresting two people, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott said. The packets of chemical-coated herbs sold for $35, Scott said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration raided a business in Worthington, Ohio, that agents believe supplied the stores, he said.

• In Duluth, Minn., federal agents executed search warrants at a shop called Last Place on Earth, which is suspected of selling the synthetic drugs, said Jeanne Cooney, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-25/bath-salts-crackdown/56492486/1

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Attorney General Eric Holder's speech to the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives

Thank you, Assistant Chief Bryant, for those kind words; for your leadership as First National Vice President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; and – most of all – for your exemplary service to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police over the past three and a half decades. I'd like to congratulate you on your upcoming installation as NOBLE's next President. And I'd particularly like to thank President Ship, Interim Executive Director Akers – and NOBLE's entire executive board and staff for their stewardship of this organization's critical mission, and for all they've done to bring us together for this important annual training conference and exhibition.

As a result of your leadership, especially in recent years, NOBLE has made great strides in expanding its reach – and rallying new allies, supporters, and partners to the cause of ensuring equity, accountability, and fairness in the administration of justice – for communities both large and small – across the country. As the “conscience of law enforcement,” you've consistently lent your collective voice – and played an indispensable advocacy role – in advancing opportunity and promoting diversity at every level. As public servants on the front lines of our nation's struggle against crime and violence, you've proven your dedication to the highest standards of integrity – and your commitment to the citizens you've sworn to protect. And – in the sacrifices you make every day you wear the badge; the threats you face as you work to ensure public safety; and the selfless actions you routinely take to improve – and even save – the lives of those around you – you've demonstrated a relentless drive not merely to make arrests or facilitate successful prosecutions – but to achieve, as this organization always has, “justice by action.”

http://blackstarnews.com/news/135/ARTICLE/8365/2012-07-25.html

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Police Officer: ‘Black People Could Care Less About Me, Until They Need Me'

NewsOne: What led you to law enforcement?

Officer Nicalle Edwards: Ah! The age-old question. The truth? My mother married a man who beat us and molested me. I vowed to never be a victim again. I want to save some child that can't save his/herself. So yes, I became a cop to make a difference. It may be a cliche, but as the young people would say, “It's real talk.”

NewsOne: Do you ever feel compelled to speak out about police brutality? If not, why not? If so, how?

Officer Edwards: Fortunately, I haven't had to deal with any police brutality cases. It is not as prevalent as you might think. The few cases that I've seen from neighboring departments have been dealt with expeditiously. I hold myself and my fellow officers to a high standard, and I personally don't have an issue with reporting behavior that is unbecoming of an officer.

http://newsone.com/2026539/nicalle-edwards-police-brutality-against-blacks/

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From the FBI

‘Play How You Practice'
FBI's WMD Training Workshop Tests Massive Response

On May 18, a carrier ship bound for the Port of New Orleans left a Caribbean nation weighted with 12,000 tons of ammonium nitrate. Intelligence later revealed that two of the ship's crew members were on terrorist watch lists. Meanwhile, a few miles outside New Orleans, police received a report of someone suspiciously circling a chemical plant in a car while taking pictures.

What may have appeared at first to be isolated incidents were actually parts of an elaborate drill to test how well local, state, federal, and even international emergency responders would coordinate and communicate in the fog of an unfolding terror plot. The mock scenario, which played out in a day-long tabletop exercise in New Orleans last May, was a cascade of escalating disasters that involved the revelation of the plot, multiple shootings, a chemical leak, hostage-taking, and the release of nuclear radiation. The object of the exercise was to overwhelm the region's elaborate web of responders and investigators and force them to turn a critical eye to how prepared they are for a real disaster involving weapons of mass destruction, or WMDs.

“We are training to identify what the WMD threat is around the critical infrastructures and around our key resources,” said John Perren, assistant director of the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate , which sponsored the three-day training workshop. “What we do is we identify what our roles are, what our responsibilities are, and how we bring that to the table as a force-multiplier to handle this WMD.”

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2012/july/wmd-training-workshop-tests-massive-response/wmd-training-workshop-tests-massive-response

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July 25, 2012

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From Google News

United Kingdom

Manchester Airport: 11-year-old schoolboy's stowaway flight to Rome prompts Government investigation

Transport Secretary launches investigation into "serious breach" of security after 11-year-old boy flies from Manchester to Rome on his own without a passport, ticket or boarding pass.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening has announced several high-level investigations after 11-year-old Liam Corcoran flew to Rome on his own from Manchester Airport without a passport, ticket or boarding pass.

The schoolboy passed through security without being checked, before boarding the Jet2.com flight yesterday. Liam had travelled less than three miles from a nearby shopping centre, before evading five security checks to successfully board flight LS791 to the Italian capital.

The captain was only alerted to the extra passenger when holidaymakers raised concerns during the flight. Liam's 1,500 mile "adventure" ended last night when he returned to Britain unharmed and was reunited with his family.

Today, at least three separate investigations were underway while several staff have been suspended over the security breach. The incident comes as more than two million people arrive in Britain ahead of the Olympic Games, which open in London on Friday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9425737/Manchester-Airport-11-year-old-schoolboys-stowaway-flight-to-Rome-prompts-Government-investigation.html

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'What?' Confused 911 caller outs NYPD spying in NJ

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — It's an audiotape the New York Police Department hoped you would never hear.

A building superintendent at an apartment complex just off the Rutgers University campus called the New Brunswick Police 911 line in June 2009. He said his staff had been conducting a routine inspection and came across something suspicious.

"What's suspicious?" the dispatcher asked.

"Suspicious in the sense that the apartment has about — has no furniture except two beds, has no clothing, has New York City Police Department radios."

"Really?" the dispatcher asked, her voice rising with surprise.

The caller, Salil Sheth, had stumbled upon one of the NYPD's biggest secrets: a safe house, a place where undercover officers working well outside the department's jurisdiction could lie low and coordinate surveillance. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the NYPD, with training and guidance from the CIA, has monitored the activities of Muslims in New York and far beyond. Detectives infiltrated mosques, eavesdropped in cafes and kept tabs on Muslim student groups, including at Rutgers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/APc4a05f37a89041189ca2c4bd63e5e234.html

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Arpaio shows none of his trademark swagger

Sheriff testifies in trial over racial profiling

“Bath salts” ban could curb use of some legal drugs linked to violent behavior, but not all

Over the past two years, the U.S. has seen a surge in the use of synthetic drugs made of legal chemicals that mimic the dangerous effects of cocaine, amphetamines and other illegal stimulants.

The drugs are often sold at small, independent stores in misleading packaging that suggests common household items like bath salts, incense and plant food. But the substances inside are powerful, mind-altering drugs that have been linked to bizarre and violent behavior across the country. Law enforcement officials refer to the drugs collectively as “bath salts,” though they have nothing in common with the fragrant toiletries used to moisturize skin.

President Barack Obama signed a bill into law earlier this month that bans the sale, production and possession of more than two dozen of the most common bath salt drugs. But health professionals say that there are so many different varieties of the drugs that U.S. lawmakers are merely playing catch up.

“The moment you start to regulate one of them, they'll come out with a variant that sometimes is even more potent,” said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bath-salts-ban-could-curb-use-of-some-legal-drugs-linked-to-violent-behavior-but-not-all/2012/07/25/gJQA147Y8W_story.html

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New Jersey

Murder Sparks Calls For More Community Policing

Councilor Baskerville said she will hold a meeting on the need for community policing in early August.

Brian Schiavetti, 21, was shot and killed in what police called a “targeted” incident this past Sunday on William Street in Montclair, an area just off Valley Road not known for violent crime.

As a result of the murder, which is still being investigated, many Montclair residents have called for more community policing—or police patrols visible on the streets. The same sorts of demands were made following the shooting death of a young man on Mission Street in February.

But many argue that community policing is an idea that isn't always well-defined or easy to implement.

"We try very hard not to be reactionary. Sometimes it is necessary to let folks know that we are aware of certain situations in various areas across the entire township which require our special attention," said Councilor Renee Baskerville on Tuesday. "We have been working with folks in town to try to figure out what is the most expeditious way to get community policing visible at all times on our streets. I think that we will hear from the Montclair police in the next few days to help us with this."

Baskerville said that she and other don't have a lot of information about the William Street shooting other than to say that there is an investigation underway.

http://montclair.patch.com/articles/murder-sparks-calls-for-more-community-policing

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Anaheim community attacked by police—the people fight back

People abandon fear, confront police

The writer was on the scene within fourteen hours of the incident interviewing victims, witnesses, and activists. For a brief moment on the evening of July 21, the people of a small Latino community in Anaheim, Calif., came together, abandoned their fear of the police and fought back in self-defense.

The bourgeois media has attempted to paint the incident as an “unruly riot” and the crowd as “gang members,” but these characterizations could not be further from the truth. A video released by KCAL the night of the incident shows a crowd of working families, mostly women and children, being shot with rubber bullets and bean bags as a vicious dog is unleashed on them by dozens of police officers. Nearly two dozen people were injured and five were arrested during the assault from Anaheim police.

Manuel Diaz, another victim of police terror

The crowd of families, nearly 100 people, had come out to protest the murder of 24-year-old Manuel Diaz, an unarmed man, by Anaheim police just a few hours before.

Manuel Diaz had grown up in the neighborhood and was visiting his friends' house to help move some furniture when the incident occurred. Police and media in the initial reports have claimed that Manuel was in an alleyway with two other "suspects" when he fled on foot for over a block before being shot in the front courtyard of an apartment complex on the 700 block of North Anna Drive.

http://www.pslweb.org/liberationnews/news/anaheim-police-attack.html

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California

Sheriff's Community Academy will introduce public to law enforcment

The Community Academy has been designed by Sheriff's Office personnel to introduce members of our community to the Sheriff's Office and the Kern County criminal justice system. The twelve week course will cover topics such as the history of the department, what it takes to become a deputy sheriff, use of force and laws of arrest, patrol procedures, gang investigations, Air Support operations, narcotics investigations, jail operations, force option simulator training, and volunteer services.

The class will be taught by Sheriff's personnel including deputies, detectives, sergeants and command staff. Participants will have an opportunity to ride along with a deputy sheriff on patrol and experience police work from an entirely new perspective.

The course will begin on Tuesday, September 25 and classes will be held every Tuesday evening from 6:30 pm until 9:30 pm. The only exception will be week 8 which will be held on Saturday, November 17 for a SWAT, K-9, and pistol range demonstration. Graduation from the Community Academy is scheduled for December 18th.

http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/article/20120724/NEWS/120729904

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Canada

Volunteering helps Hamilton kids ride their way to new bikes

Lending a helping hand can result in riding off into the sunset. Hamilton Police Service's Community Policing Centres and Tim Hortons gave away 130 brand new mountain bikes as part of the Earn-a-bike program.

New rides and safety helmets were given to local children ages 9-12 Tuesday morning. The kids earned their new set of wheels for completing 30 hours of community service work which included cleaning up schools, parks or helping out in local community organizations.

Shady Oram, 11, was thrilled to pedal her new set of wheels. "It's awesome. I rode my old bike yesterday and the light fell off. This one is pretty," she said.

Oram volunteered at an Early Years centre helping play with the children and clean toys. "In this program, the kids earn their bike and at the same time gain a sense of pride knowing they have contributed to their community," explained police volunteer co-ordinator Marg Marshall.

This is the 16th year for Earn-a-bike in Hamilton. To view photos taken at the event, visit our Facebook photo album where you can tag, download and comment.

Deer Park Police accepting applications for Citizens Police Academy

The Deer Park Police Department is currently accepting applications for the upcoming FREE Citizen's Police Academy. Classes will begin Thursday, August 16, 2012 from 6:30p.m.-9:30p.m. The CPA is 14 weeks of interactive, informative fun getting to know the inner workings of the police department.

Each Thursday, officers and police employees cover their area of expertise regarding the how's and why's of policing. Topics range from Community Policing, SWAT, defensive tactics, firearms, investigations, dispatch and much more.

If you are 18 or older, live, work, attend school or church in Deer Park, we welcome your participation. There are no physical requirements for attending the classes, however we do complete background checks on each applicant.

If you have questions pertaining to the Citizen's Police Academy, please feel free to contact Sheila Plovanich, Deer Park Police Department Community Liaison, 2911 Center, Deer Park, Texas 77536 or call 281-930-2118.

The deadline to turn in applications is Monday, August 13.

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July 24, 2012

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From the L.A. Daily News

Sally Ride, first American woman in space, dies at 61

Sally Ride, an Encino native who nurtured her interest in science by playing with a chemistry set and telescope and went on to become the first American woman in space, died Monday after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.

Ride soared into history on June 18, 1983, when she blasted off as a member of the crew aboard the space shuttle Challenger. | See photo gallery

"Sally Ride broke barriers with grace and professionalism, and literally changed the face of America's space program," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "The nation has lost one of its finest leaders, teachers and explorers. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sally's family and the many she inspired. She will be missed, but her star will always shine brightly."

President Barack Obama called Ride "a national hero and a powerful role model."

"She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools," Obama said. "Sally's life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve, and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure for years to come."

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_21139210/sally-ride-first-american-woman-space-dies

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From Google News

In Aurora massacre, trial may not shed much light on motive

While relatives of the victims of last week's movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colo. – and the public at large – are understandably fixated on why the crime was committed, the criminal justice system to a large extent will ignore that question in determining guilt and punishment.

It appears that the alleged shooter, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes, acted alone, so there apparently is no conspiracy or anyone else directly to blame. Nor is there any indication that this was the act of a terrorist organization or individual attempting to advance a political agenda of some sort. The crime allegedly was committed by a single human being who explained himself to police as being a character from the Batman comics – the Joker.

But in deciding whether a person should be punished – and how much – the law will inquire into a very limited set of questions.

The first is guilt. With a multitude of witnesses inside the theater able to testify about the black body armor worn by the gunman and Holmes arrested just outside the theater moments afterward wearing an identical ensemble, defense attorneys appear to have little chance of persuading a jury that their client did not pull the triggers of the weapons – all of which he had legally purchased – used in the crime. And the fact that he apparently booby-trapped his apartment immediately before the slaughter, with the apparent intent of creating a diversion, only adds to the evidence against him.

If Holmes is convicted in connection with the crime, an insanity defense will almost certainly be contemplated. But the legal question raised by an insanity defense is relatively straightforward: Did the defendant understand the difference between right and wrong?

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/24/12910443-in-aurora-massacre-trial-may-not-shed-much-light-on-motive?lite

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PHOENIX – The Arizona sheriff who has made headlines across the country for his tough stance on undocumented immigrants is expected to take the witness stand today amid allegations that his trademark immigration sweeps amounted to racial profiling against Latinos.

Lawyers who say that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office disproportionately singled out Latinos in the patrols accused him of launching some sweeps based on emails and letters that don't allege crimes, but complain only that "dark-skinned people" are congregating in a given area or speaking Spanish.

A group of Latinos who say they have been discriminated against filed the civil lawsuit against the sheriff, who makes jail inmates sleep in tents and wrote an autobiography titled "America's Toughest Sheriff."

Undocumented immigrants accounted for 57 percent of the 1,500 people arrested in the 20 sweeps conducted by Arpaio's office since January 2008, according to figures provided by the sheriff's department, which hasn't conducted any such patrols since October. Arpaio has long denied racial profiling allegations. He declined to comment Monday through a spokesman.

During the sweeps that are at the center of the case, sheriff's deputies flood an area of a city — in some cases, heavily Latino areas — over several days to seek out traffic violators and arrest other offenders.

Undocumented immigrants accounted for 57 percent of the 1,500 people arrested in the 20 sweeps conducted by Arpaio's office since January 2008, according to figures provided by the sheriff's department, which hasn't conducted any such patrols since October.

The plaintiffs aren't seeking money in the suit. They are seeking a declaration that Arpaio's office racially profiles Latinos and an order requiring policy changes.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/07/24/arizona-sheriff-joe-arpaio-to-take-stand-in-profiling-trial/

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New Jersey

Cinnaminson Police to Hold First Ever National Night Out Event

The event, celebrated across the country, is aimed at community policing and crime prevention in neighborhoods.

by Christina Paciolla

In an effort to boost residents' involvement in community policing, the Cinnaminson Police Department is holding its first National Night Out on Aug. 7.

Held on that date across the country, National Night Out is a crime and drug prevention event that promotes neighborhood spirit.

Public Safety Director Michael P. King brought up the idea to the department whose officers are helping plan the event.

“We want to make sure everybody is aware of what's going on in their neighborhood,” said Officer Michael Czarzasty.

This year's theme for National Night Out in Cinnaminson is safety. Township police officers and local businesses will be on hand to give out safety advice.

“We want to talk to [the residents],” Czarzasty said. “It's to make people more away of what's going on in their community. And hopefully get to know people in the area.”

http://cinnaminson.patch.com/articles/cinnaminson-police-to-hold-first-ever-national-night-out-event

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July 23, 2012

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From the L.A. Daily News

Seven fugitives nabbed at L.A., Orange County airports

Six of the suspects were caught at Los Angeles International Airport and one was collared at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Customs and Border Patrol spokesman Jaime Ruiz said.

The suspects were wanted in California, New York, New Jersey, Nevada, Virginia and Ohio for sexual assault, child neglect, burglary, trademark counterfeiting, traffic violations, drug possession and drug trafficking, he said.

All but one, a South Korean, are U.S. citizens.

"The men and women of CBP work extremely hard every day behind the scenes, securing our nation's borders," said Todd C. Owen, CPB director of field operations in Los Angeles. "The apprehension of these fugitives highlights CPB officers' keen analysis of intelligence and their determination to safeguard our citizens."

In 2011, CPB agents in Los Angeles apprehended 499 suspects - wanted for such crimes as murder, child molestation, drug trafficking and larceny, among others, Ruiz said.

.