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California

Viral sensations seen as community policing for SFPD

The community is acting as 'Big Brother' using camera phones, social media

by PoliceOne Staff

SAN FRANCISCO — Viral photos and videos are being hailed as a useful tool in catching suspects in the wake of violence that erupted in the wake of the San Francisco Giants' World Series celebrations.

The suspect who smashed a Muni bus windshield using a police barrier in downtown San Francisco was arrested two days after the incident, thanks to photos and video taken that instantly went viral.

"His photo went all over the world," said Susan Giffin, a civilian employee who manages the computer crime data warehouse for the SFPD.

"There was a post in the United Kingdom that said, 'If this is what Americans do when they win, what do they do when they lose?' Giffin told SFGate.

It's instances like this that have turned the privacy debate upside down. The notion to place police surveillance cameras at high-crime locations in the city was turned down seven years ago but, according to the article, cell phone cameras have essentially filled that void.

The community, rather than law enforcement, is inadvertently acting as Big Brother by posting live content to social media outlets.

Search warrants aren't necessary to probe the material, because it becomes public information, Giffin said.

"This is giving the public a place to go to report," says Giffin. "People don't want to get involved physically, but they do want to post on a blog anonymously."

However, Police Chief Greg Suhr cautioned bystanders to use discretion while filming.

"Do it discreetly," he said. "If someone sees you and confronts you, don't fight to hang on to your phone."

http://www.policeone.com/community-policing/articles/6028763-Viral-sensations-seen-as-community-policing-for-SFPD/

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From ICE

ICE arrests 40 during 3-day operation targeting criminal aliens and immigration fugitives in Indianapolis area

INDIANAPOLIS – As part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) ongoing commitment to prioritizing the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators, 40 convicted criminal aliens, immigration fugitives and immigration violators were arrested during a three-day operation in the greater Indianapolis area.

This operation concluded Sunday and was conducted by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations teams in Indianapolis.

Of the 40 arrested, 25 had prior convictions for crimes such as: assault, domestic battery, drunken driving, and drugs. Thirteen of the 40 were immigration fugitives who had been previously ordered to leave the country but failed to depart; the majority of these also had criminal convictions. Four of those arrested had been previously removed from the country and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony.

Following is the nationality breakdown of the 37 men and three women arrested: Mexico (33), El Salvador (2), Cuba (1), Guatemala (1), Honduras (1), India (1), and Peru (1). The majority of the arrests (34), occurred in Indianapolis. Additional arrests were made in the following Indiana communities: Brownsburg, Camby and Westfield.

Following are summaries of two individuals arrested during this operation:

• A 31-year-old Mexican national has a prior criminal conviction for driving drunk and endangering a person. He is also an immigration fugitive with an outstanding deportation order. He was arrested Nov. 4 at his residence in Indianapolis and remains in ICE custody pending removal.
• A 34-year-old Mexican national has a prior conviction for drug possession. He was previously deported and illegally re-entered the United States, which is a felony. He was arrested Nov. 4 at his Indianapolis residence and remains in ICE custody pending removal.

"ERO is committed to making our communities safer by arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives," said Ricardo Wong, field office director for ERO Chicago. "By targeting our efforts on these egregious offenders, we are improving public safety while making the best use of our resources."

This enforcement action was spearheaded by ICE's National Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for investigating, locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives.

ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ICE also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1211/121105indianapolis.htm

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From the FBI

Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy Raises Potential for Disaster Fraud

In the wake of natural disasters, many people want to contribute to victim assistance programs and organizations across the country&mdashhowever, there is always a potential for disaster relief fraud in these situations. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) are asking the public to apply a critical eye and do due diligence before giving to anyone soliciting donations on behalf of hurricane victims. Solicitations can originate as e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, telephone calls, and other similar methods.

Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with Hurricane Sandy should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.

For more information, including tips to avoid being victimized before making a donation of any kind, read the press release issued by the Department of Justice.

Frauds from A to Z

http://www.fbi.gov/news/news_blog/aftermath-of-hurricane-sandy-raises-potential-for-disaster-fraud