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March, 2014 - Week 2
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Search for Malaysia Airline plane widens, becomes more difficult
by Ed Payne, Chelsea J. Carter and Jim Clancy
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (CNN) -- Nine days in, things have gotten a whole lot more difficult in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
"This is a significant recalibration of the search," Malaysia's acting Transportation Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said Sunday. "The number of countries involved in the search and rescue operation has increased from 14 to 25, which brings new challenges of coordination and diplomacy to the search effort."
The new developments come as U.S. intelligence officials are leaning toward the theory that "those in the cockpit" -- the pilots of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 -- were responsible for the mysterious disappearance of the commercial jetliner, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the latest thinking told CNN.
The official emphasized no final conclusions have been drawn and all the internal intelligence discussions are based on preliminary assessments of what is known to date.
Other scenarios could still emerge. The notion of a hijacking has not been ruled out, the official said Saturday.
The Boeing 777-200 ER disappeared March 8, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The airline's CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said Sunday the missing passenger jet took off with its normal amount of fuel needed for the route, and did not have extra fuel on board that could have extended its range.
A study of the flight's cargo manifest also showed there were no dangerous materials on board that concerned investigators, he told reporters.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told reporters on Saturday that the plane veered off course due to apparent deliberate action taken by somebody on board.
'Someone acting deliberately'
The first clue that perhaps one or both of the pilots were involved stem from when the plane made a sharp, deliberate turn from where it last communicated with Kuala Lumpur air traffic controllers, and before it would have to communicate with Vietnamese controllers, according to the U.S. official with knowledge of the latest intelligence thinking.
"This is the perfect place to start to disappear," the official said.
Adding to the intrigue, ABC News reported that the dramatic left turn was preprogrammed into the plane's navigation computer. It's a task that would have required extensive piloting experience to complete.
Two senior law enforcement officials also told ABC that new information revealed the plane performed "tactical evasion maneuvers" after it disappeared from radar. CNN was unable to confirm these reports.
Military radar showed the jetliner flew in a westerly direction back over the Malaysian peninsula, Najib said. It is then believed to have either turned northwest toward the Bay of Bengal or southwest elsewhere in the Indian Ocean, he said.
"Evidence is consistent with someone acting deliberately from inside the plane," the Prime Minister said, officially confirming the plane's disappearance was not caused by an accident. "... Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, we are investigating all major possibilities on what caused MH370 to deviate."
Kazakhstan to Indian Ocean
As the focus of the investigation shifted, so, too, has the focus of the search.
Information from international and Malaysian officials indicate that the jet may have flown for more than seven hours after the last contact with the pilots.
Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur at 12:41 a.m. on March 8. The last satellite communication from the plane occurred at 8:11 a.m., Najib said, well past the scheduled arrival time in Beijing.
That last communication, Najib said, was in one of two possible traffic corridors shown on a map released to the press. A northern arc stretches from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, and a southern arc spans from Indonesia to the southern Indian Ocean.
"Due to the type of satellite data, we are unable to confirm the precise location of the plane when it last made contact with the satellite," Najib said.
Because the northern parts of the traffic corridor include some tightly guarded airspace over India, Pakistan, and even some U.S. installations in Afghanistan, U.S. authorities believe it more likely the aircraft crashed into waters outside of the reach of radar south of India, a U.S. official told CNN. If it had flown farther north, it's likely it would have been detected by radar.
The pilots
On Saturday, Malaysian police searched the home of pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53. Shah lives in an upscale gated community in Shah Alam, outside Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur.
The Ministry of Transport said Sunday that police were examining a flight simulator found at the pilot's house a day earlier.
Two vans were loaded with small bags, similar to shopping bags, at the home of the co-pilot, 27-year-old Farq Ab Hamid, according to a CNN crew who observed activities at the residence. It was unclear whether the bags were taken from the home, and police made no comment about their activities there.
Najib made clear in a press conference that in light of the latest developments, authorities have refocused their investigation to the crew and passengers on board.
Undoubtedly, they will scour through the flight manifest and look further to see whether any of the passengers on board had flight training or connections to terror groups.
A senior U.S. law enforcement official told CNN that investigators are carefully reviewing the information so far collected on the pilots to determine whether there is something to indicate a plan or a motive.
That would seem supported by preliminary U.S. intelligence reports, which the U.S. official said show the jetliner was in some form of controlled flight at a relatively stable altitude and path when it changed
The search
Malaysia's Ministry of Transport said Sunday that both the northern and southern corridors are being treated with equal importance. Malaysian officials are working with 25 countries, many of them along the corridors. They include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Afghanistan's Ministry of Transport says it has joined the search, but said there is no evidence the plane flew over Afghan soil.
Separately, India has "temporarily halted" its search for the missing plane while Malaysian authorities reassess the situation, according to a top military official.
"We are conserving our assets for now," Rear Admiral Sudhir Pillai, the chief of staff of India's joint Andaman and Nicobar command, said Sunday. "We are on a standby."
He said the Malaysians are reviewing India's deployment.
Meanwhile, according to Najib, new satellite information leads authorities to be fairly certain that someone disabled the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System, or ACARS, just before the aircraft reached the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.
"Shortly afterward, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control," Najib said, "the aircraft's transponder was switched off."
ACARS is the system that routinely transmits information like turbulence and fuel load back to the airline. A transponder is a system controlled from the cockpit that transmits data about the plane via radio signals to air traffic controllers. It combines with ground radar to provide air traffic controllers with details about the plane, including its identification, speed, position and altitude.
The last voice communication from the cockpit a week ago were these words: "All right, good night."
They were uttered at the Vietnam air traffic control border at about the same time the transponder was shut off, Najib said. That suggests the incident on the plane began sooner than initially thought.
But some have questioned the Prime Minister's account, given the dearth of information available.
Malaysia investigation criticized
In the days since the flight disappeared, the Malaysian government has been under intense scrutiny for its handling of the investigation. The government has been criticized by some U.S. officials for not sharing information or accepting more offers of help.
Shortly after Najib delivered his remarks, China demanded Malaysia provide more information on the investigation. Of the 239 people aboard the plane, 154 were Chinese.
"Today is the 8th day of the missing MH370, and the plane is still yet to be found," said a statement from the foreign ministry. "Time is life."
The criticism was more pointed in an editorial published by China's state-run news agency Xinhua.
"And due to the absence -- or at least lack -- of timely authoritative information, massive efforts have been squandered, and numerous rumors have been spawned, repeatedly racking the nerves of the awaiting families," the editorial said.
Malaysia Airlines defended its actions, saying there has never been a case where information gleaned from satellite signals alone could potentially be used to find the location of a missing airliner.
"Given the nature of the situation and its extreme sensitivity, it was critical that the raw satellite signals were verified and analyzed by the relevant authorities so that their significance could be properly understood," the airline said in a statement. "This naturally took some time, during which we were unable to publicly confirm their existence."
Transcript: Malaysian Prime Minister's statement on Flight 370
Families at boiling point
For the families and loved ones of those aboard Flight 370, tensions boiled over Sunday in Beijing at the daily briefing by Malaysia Airlines.
Nine days after the plane went missing, patience is running thin with officials.
Before a packed room, one man told them that the families have already lost faith.
"A liar can lie once, twice or three times, but what's the point (to) keep lying?" he said. "What we ask for is the truth. Don't hide things from us."
A majority of the people in the room stood up when the man asked how many had lost trust in the airline and the Malaysian government.
Another man rushed the front of the room and tried to throw a punch, but was stopped.
The airline has been picking up the tab for families of the 154 Chinese passengers to stay in Beijing during the ordeal.
China is sending technical experts to join the investigation, and two Chinese search vessels headed for the Strait of Malacca, according to Xinhua.
Plane was taking 'strange path'
U.S. officials have told CNN the flight had made drastic changes in altitude and direction after disappearing from civilian radar.
Malaysian military radar showed the plane climbing to 45,000 feet -- which is above its approved altitude limit -- soon after disappearing from civilian radar screens and then dropping to 23,000 feet before climbing again, a U.S. official familiar with the investigation said.
The jetliner was flying "a strange path," the official said on condition of anonymity. The details of the radar first reported by The New York Times on Friday.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/16/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/
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Canada
Police carding loses its sting: Editorial
Toronto Police Services Board sets reasonable limits on the collection of personal information by street cops.
The Toronto Police Services Board has made commendable progress in the last two years curtailing the use of carding, the controversial police practice of stopping people on the street and collecting personal information. This trend was reinforced on Thursday by the release of a draft policy that limits when and how officers stop individuals who are not suspected of any crime.
The new rules, to be finalized by the police oversight body on April 10, do not ban carding, as civil libertarians and the Black Action Defence Committee have demanded. Nor do they go as far as the Star would like to see. But they are vast improvement over excessive and discriminatory carding that prevailed from 2000 to 2012.
Most of the credit belongs to Alok Mukherjee, chair of the seven-member board. He responded positively to a Toronto Star investigation showing that officers filed hundreds of thousands of cards year, disproportionately stopping young black young men. Police Chief Bill Blair, who long defended carding as an indispensable tool, has shown welcome flexibility of late. He has indicated his willingness to implement the procedures set out in the draft policy. And Frank Addario, the criminal lawyer hired by the board to draft the new policy, did an estimable job.
At the operational level, deputy police chief Peter Sloly has reduced carding by 90 per cent in the last year. What was once a raw sore in the black community is now a treatable wound.
Under the policy released last week, police officers would be required to inform tell people they approached that they are free to leave (unless they are detained or arrested). They would be trained to use “respectful language” in a non-intimidating way in these encounters. And those in leadership positions would ensure that street checks are not used as a “pretext” to get the information police need to detain an individual.
The information collected by officers would be entered anonymously into statistical database to be analyzed for racial patterns, used for setting professional standards and evaluating the performance of police officers, but kept out of the database used for criminal investigations. Officers would be measured on the quality – not the quantity – of their interactions.
Efforts to train police officers “the value of disengagement and the value of rights knowledge,” as Addario recommends, have produced disappointing results. To give this policy teeth, Blair would have to link the way officers behave on the street to their eligibility for promotion. Supervisors would have to monitor their interactions rigorously. And people who complained about being targeted would have to see their concerns being taken seriously.
Welcome as this new policy is, the Star would like to see an explicit requirement that the police to purge their files of personal information not required for investigative purposes within five years of its collection. (The police board has suggested seven years.) We would like to see the criteria used for performance evaluations changed, making clear the number of names an officer collects will no longer be used as a basis for promotion. And we would like some assurance that the policy will deter street cops from questioning black youth who have done nothing wrong. This is the wrong way to do community policing, the wrong way to treat innocent citizens and the wrong way to wrong way to make the city's streets safer.
There is still time for Torontonians to comment. A public meeting on the draft policy will be held at police headquarters on April 8.
As it stands, the plan is a step in the right direction and the attitude of Blair and his deputies is encouraging.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2014/03/16/police_carding_loses_its_sting_editorial.html
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South Carolina
Crime, public safety study prompts overhaul for Walterboro police
by Glenn Smith
WALTERBORO - Maj. Ken Dasen smiled broadly as he welcomed a group of visitors into his cramped office in City Hall, extending a hand to an inquisitive second-grader who had been chosen to serve as mayor-for-a-day.
Drew Rushton, 8, paused for just a second to think, then vigorously shook his head. "No, nothing today."
Dasen chuckled. If only real life were that simple.
As interim public safety chief, Dasen has spent months working on a top-to-bottom overhaul of the city's police and fire agency after a consultant's review determined that the department had "an urgent need for highly skilled leadership" and required extensive improvements to its policies, tactics, training and equipment.
Dasen's predecessor, former chief Otis Rhodes, was fired in the midst of the review, conducted by the International City/County Management Association. Jeff Lord, the city manager who dumped Rhodes, then resigned his post as questions about the public safety department mounted.
Dasen, a 17-year veteran of the department, has earned high marks from many in the community since taking the helm in May, and city leaders said they believe Walterboro is making solid strides in addressing the shortcomings identified by the consultant.
"We are using this report to make things better," Mayor Bill Young said.
But more work needs to be done, and the 140-page report illustrates the daunting task they've faced.
Among other things, the consultant found that:
Despite spending substantially more on law enforcement than similar communities its size, Walterboro's violent-crime rate was 69 percent higher than the state average, and its property-crime rate more than triple the state average.
While investigators were effective in clearing cases, nearly 50 percent of the warrants the department issued in 2013 were later dismissed without indictment.
Police were "almost entirely reactive" to crime, demonstrating a need for a more aggressive approach to analyzing crime and pinpointing strategies for addressing it.
The public safety department operated with an outdated and somewhat haphazardly assembled set of policies and procedures, insufficient training for supervisors and no meaningful recruitment system, strategic plan or annual evaluation process for officers.
The reality and fear of crime in Walterboro were high, resulting in a "palpable sense of frustration in the community" with the public safety department. "Residents have fear," the report stated, "and rightfully so."
Moving past denial
Walterboro officials didn't agree with every point made in the unflattering report, which cost the city more than $40,000 and contained 54 principal recommendations for change. But officials posted the report online - warts and all - for the public to see, and they have embarked on a number of improvements the consultant suggested.
"There were some difficult things in the report, but that's what it took to make things better," Dasen said. "It's a good guidebook to get us moving in the right direction."
City Councilman Tom Lohr agreed. "Whatever has gone on has gone on. We just hope to learn from it and move on."
This rural community of some 5,400 people has struggled with its approach to crime since a string of gang-related violence erupted here in 2006. Things finally came to a head in November 2009, when two adults and a 20-month-old girl were killed in a drive-by shooting near the corner of Gerideau and McDaniel streets.
Police intensified their efforts with aid from the State Law Enforcement Division and others. A state grand jury investigation followed, culminating in a June 2010 raid that targeted 20 members of rival gangs.
The violence, which has ebbed and flowed since that time, caused the city to take a hard look at its crime problem and how well-equipped it was to deal with that challenge. Some officials saw the gang violence as an aberration and an unfair taint on the city's image; others, as a sign of deeper problems in the community and its police department.
After much discussion, the city decided to hire ICMA to conduct a thorough review of the public safety department, which has a $2.5 million annual budget and a staff of 36 officers, of which 10 are full-time firefighters.
About two months after the consultant's began work in March, Rhodes, who led the department for nine years, was fired with little explanation to the public. He declined to comment for this article, citing pending litigation, though he has not brought suit against the town.
Lord, who fired Rhodes before reaching an agreement with the city to resign his own post, could not be reached for comment.
In a recent interview, Dasen steered clear of criticizing his former bosses. He said a variety of issues contributed to the problems identified in the consultant's report, including an unwillingness by many in the community to accept that Walterboro had a gang problem until the violence got out of hand.
"For a long time, there was denial of the gangs," he said. "Folks just didn't want to believe it."
City Councilman Paul Siegel said he was one of those folks until the facts convinced him otherwise. "I didn't want to admit it," he said. "But the fact is, it was true."
Siegel said the ICMA report provided the town with some uncomfortable insights, but it has spurred positive change as a result.
Barry Moore, publisher of the local Press and Standard newspaper, agreed, saying the openness and willingness of the community to discuss its challenges and work together to fix them "has been terribly refreshing."
Making changes
Siegel and others credit Dasen for the speed and authority with which he has tackled the report's recommendations. Some, like posting a sign in front of police headquarters to let people know where it is, were fairly simple. Others have been more complicated.
Among other things, Dasen has rewritten the public safety department's policies and procedures, using the manuals of several nationally accredited law enforcement agencies to guide him. He established a clear chain of command to eliminate confusion, firmed up evaluation, promotion and discipline procedures, and he's working to improve training and leadership opportunities in the department, officials said.
The public safety department also is developing a strategic plan and working with the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office to address ways to shore up cases and prevent charges from being dismissed.
The city signed a contract with Colleton County to combine 911 dispatch centers to improve communications, inked a mutual-aid agreement with the county for fire calls, and Dasen and county Sheriff Andy Strickland are working closely to address shared crime issues, boosting cooperation between the two departments, officials said.
More far-reaching changes likely will be on hold until a new public safety director is named in the coming months. Dasen has thrown his name in the hat, but there is no guarantee he will get the job. That will be up to new City Manager Jeff Molinari, who just came on board in recent weeks.
Money also will be an issue for some recommendations, including the consultant's suggestion that the department add a data analyst, an accreditation manager and two other new positions. Also recommended are the purchase of at least two "quick response vehicles," which can be used for police and fire response. The vehicles cost $107,000 each, Siegel said.
Solicitor Duffie Stone also is asking the city for $87,000 to help fund a career-criminal prosecution unit for Colleton County, to allow his office to focus on putting away the offenders causing the most problems.
City officials said it's too early to say which, if any, of these projects will end up in next year's budget.
Residents are watching the progress with cautious optimism, but some also are wary of big-ticket items that could burden taxpayers.
"They have to keep in mind that we've only got so much money here," local antique shop owner Ed Casler said, "and people aren't going to put up with a big tax increase just for the police department."
Prosecutor says few cause majority of crime
Prosecutor Duffie Stone contends that Walterboro can make a noticeable dent in crime by focusing hard on a core group of bad actors who cause a disproportionate amount of crime in the region.
It's a strategy the 14th Circuit Solicitor said he has used in Beaufort and Jasper counties with impressive results. Since 2009, his career-criminal unit has prosecuted more than 300 offenders, with a conviction rate exceeding 90 percent, he said.
It's going to cost Walterboro some money to get in on the action, however, and city leaders say they aren't quite ready to pull out the checkbook just yet.
A consultant hired by the city recommended last year that Walterboro police develop a career-criminal monitoring system. Stone said he can help with that, as his team already has a crime analyst trained by the State Law Enforcement Division who scours jail logs and gathers information on hard-core criminals from state and national databases.
That information is sent each morning to prosecutors so they can flag repeat offenders and hustle to bail hearings in an effort to keep them locked up, Stone said. His office then works to fast-track those cases for trial, win convictions and move the culprits on to state prisons so they won't be a drain a local jail resources, he said.
"If you take those folks out of the equation, your community gets safer," he said. "That's how it works."
Stone already has a prosecutor and an investigator from the team in Colleton County, but they assist with cases in other counties as well. He wants to hire another prosecutor who can focus on Walterboro, whose offenders account for 53 percent of the career-criminal docket in Colleton County.
The cost would be about $87,000 annually, Stone said.
Ken Dasen, Walterboro's interim public safety director, said his investigators already work closely with Stone's office, and he has seen the advantages of collaborating with the career criminal unit. In fact, one case involving an accused hotel robber with a lengthy rap sheet is scheduled for trial this week.
Still, city officials said it's too early in the budget process to say whether there is enough money available to fund the new prosecutor position.
City Councilman Tom Lohr, who is heading the budget committee this year, said he sees merit to Stone's proposal, if the city can afford it.
"We've got to do something a little beyond what we've been doing," he said. "This is not a panacea that is going to cure everything, but I really do think this is one of those additional things we can try."
"You're the boss," Dasen said. "Do you have any orders for me? Anything you want me to do today?"
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140315/PC16/140319511/1005/crime-prompts-overhaul-of-police
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New Jersey
Egg Harbor City plans meeting on police, minority relations
by MICHELLE BRUNETTI POST
EGG HARBOR CITY — City officials will meet with community members to discuss improving relations between minorities and police, after about 40 people associated with Pastors United for Community Service came to Thursday's council meeting to ask for help.
“There is a growing concern there appears to be unwarranted aggressive police tactics used,” said Bishop John Gandy, of Abundant Life Worship Center Church. “We've seen an increase in the number of complaints expressed to our members.”
Pastors United is a coalition of about 15 mostly minority congregations in Egg Harbor City and surrounding towns.
Gandy said the group wants to defuse tension and decrease mistrust and resentment, about “real or perceived aggression” by city police officers.
“We are asking you to partner with us to take proactive action,” he said, “to ensure that all citizens enjoy a peaceful, safe community.”
Council President Ed Dennis immediately set a public meeting for 7 p.m. March 20 to discuss how to improve relations, and said he will ask council members and representatives of the police department and school district to attend.
Gandy asked the city to:
Establish a state certified police chaplaincy program to assist police as chaplains when called;
Hold community information forums to educate the members of the public about their rights when dealing with police, and about proper conduct to ensure the safety of police and citizens;
Hold monthly meetings between Pastors United and city representatives;
Explore the possibility of hiring more minority officers.
“We are not anti-police or anti-crime-fighting,” Gandy said. “Sometimes bad policing occurs if police are not familiar with or respectful of a culture of a minority community, or when an unhealthy mistrust exists on both sides.”
Mayor Lisa Jiampetti said the city welcomes Gandy's concerns and has already taken steps to increase community policing by having officers spend more time in the city's schools.
“We want them to come and interact with students as much as they can,” she said, “and get more involved in the community.” Jiampetti said two of the city's 12 police officers are African American.
She said the police department has a four-year strategic plan set up to increase community policing and make a priority of treating people with fairness.
“Thank you to everyone who came out tonight,” Jiampetti said. “This is how government is supposed to work.”
Egg Harbor City's population of 4,243 people is about 18 percent black and 26 percent Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/absecon_galloway_port-republic/egg-harbor-city-plans-march-meeting-on-police-minority-relations/article_552c376a-abbf-11e3-ad5d-001a4bcf887a.html
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New Jersey
Trenton Police Department implements Coffee with a Cop program
by Ashley Sword
The Trenton Police Department is starting up Coffee with a Cop, a program that offers an opportunity to meet local officers and discuss community issues.
Residents are invited to build relationships with the officers over coffee at McDonald's, 3355 West Road at 8 a.m. March 27.
“The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations,” said Officer Mike Hawkins. “Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community.”
The Coffee with a Cop program was created to break down barriers and allow for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
“We hope that community members will feel comfortable with this program that is being used across the country and in some neighboring cities,” said Police Chief Steven Voss. “We are always looking for new opportunities to enhance community partnerships.”
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services in the United States Department of Justice. Similar events are being held across the country, as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.
“The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time,” said Hawkins.
For more information, contact Officer Mike Hawkins at 1-734-341-8689 or at mhawkins@trenton-mi.com
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2014/03/15/news/doc53233e69c33a0487720549.txt
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New York
Public safety forum focuses on crime prevention
by Lucian McCarty
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Crime prevention was the theme of Thursday evening's Public Safety Forum in City Hall where city police and the executive director of Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services joined together to talk about what Saratogians could do to prevent crime in the community.
“It's a real problem and something people need to be aware of in the community,” Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen said.
DVRCS Executive Director Maggie Fronk said her organization assisted 803 victims of domestic violence in 2012 and another 870 last year.
Fronk said her office also fielded nearly 2,000 phone calls to the domestic violence hotline both years as well.
She said statistically speaking one in four women will be the victim of relationship violence.
“We often don't know the extent of it,” Fronk said. “Most people never reach out for help.”
Fronk said the office is focused on two major areas of prevention: awareness and early intervention.
“Very often a victim of abuse may not see the red flags and not seek help until they are well into (abuse),” Fronk said.
Often early signs of abuse are not physical, they can be emotional, psychological, sexual or someone exerting financial control over a victim, “but it doesn't rise in their minds to abuse because they haven't been hit.”
Awareness can help victims get help earlier, before it becomes more serious.
“If people knew the prevalence of domestic violence, that could reduce the stigma about talking about it and getting help,” she said.
Police Chief Greg Veitch said each of his officers underwent four hours of training with DVRCS personnel on handling domestic violence cases. “This isn't just something we respond to and forget about,” he said.
In terms of other kinds of crime prevention, Veitch said it often comes down to common sense, but it means taking the time to think about it.
“The whole idea of crime prevention is to dissuade an offender from committing an offense,” he said. That means keeping doors locked, keeping hedges around a house trimmed back so they could not provide cover for someone breaking in and keeping a porch light on. He said it can prevent a burglar from targeting your house.
In terms of personal safety, he said the first step to preventing becoming a victim is self-awareness. He said someone walking down the road with headphones on listening to music “can be completely oblivious to what's going on just much as someone who has gotten so drunk they don't know where they are.”
The Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Services 24-hour domestic violence hotline is 584-8188. For those who would like to visit the office for an appointment, call 583-0280.
http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20140314/public-safety-forum-focuses-on-crime-prevention
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Connecticut
Police not seizing firearms, public safety commissioner says
by Greg Smith
Despite rumors to the contrary, state police have made no effort to go door-to-door and confiscate firearms in the wake of the new laws banning certain assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, according to Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Dora B. Schriro.
Schriro sent a letter to state legislators on Friday to ease concerns of some who had been hearing from their constituents.
"This law will be enforced by state law enforcement in the same manner and using the same discretion as would apply to every other criminal law," Schriro wrote.
More than 200 people who tried to register their assault-style guns or declare ownership of high-capacity magazines but missed the Jan. 1 deadline started getting rejection letters last month.
The letter informs the applicant that their paperwork was not submitted in time and outlines options for the now illegal firearms and magazines: Render the weapon or magazine permanently inoperable, sell it to a licensed gun dealer, remove it from the state or make arrangements to hand it over to local or state police.
http://www.theday.com/article/20140314/NWS12/140319734/1070/FRONTPAGE
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New York
NY police commissioner: NYPD-FirstNet a ‘match made in heaven'
by Donny Jackson
New York City would be an “ideal” location for an early FirstNet deployment, based on the police department's technological advances and the existence of supporting physical infrastructure, New York Police Commissioner William Bratton told FirstNet board members this week.
Bratton made the statements during Tuesday's FirstNet board meeting, which the New York police department (NYPD) hosted in its headquarters at One Police Plaza. FirstNet Chairman Sam Ginn said board members wanted to tour the NYPD facility, where many cutting-edge public-safety applications that FirstNet plans to support already are being used.
“We know that, at One Police Plaza, you're innovating,” Ginn said during the meeting, which was webcast. “If we want to see what law enforcement is going to be, you come here.”
New York City has operated a real-time crime center for almost a decade and is establishing the Domain Awareness System that is designed to sort through information from multiple databases and provide officers with information relevant to the scene of an incident, according to Jessica Tisch, acting deputy commissioner of information and technology.
While such tools are useful to personnel conducting research at their desks, the potential benefits will be realized fully when officers in the field are able to access applications via handheld smart devices, Bratton said.
“Having the best technology without a public-safety broadband network, in some respects, is like having a bullet train with no tracks to ride on,” he said. “You can have a bullet train—the best technology in the world—but if it can't get down the track, what good is it? In some respects, we're outpacing ourselves, in that we're developing so much. But we need a delivery system, and [FirstNet is] that delivery system.”
Two years ago, Congress established FirstNet and charged the organization with deploying a nationwide broadband network for first responders, but many questioned what public-safety applications would run over the network. Bratton pledged New York City's support of FirstNet and noted that NYPD's applications would be an excellent example of the capabilities that could become a reality with a dedicated broadband network.
“The capacity to use what you create is currently there,” Bratton said. “It's not something that needs to be built. It is there. It's waiting for you; it's waiting with urgency for what you're going to build.
“I believe New York City would certainly be ideal for the FirstNet initiative, and many other cities around the country also are moving very quickly to be in that type of position. The NYPD, with its technology-driven approach to law enforcement, and FirstNet is effectively a match made in heaven.”
One advantage that New York City has compared to many other jurisdictions is NYCWIN, the wireless network owned by the city that delivers broadband communications to municipal workers while leveraging spectrum at 2.5 GHz. Charles Dowd, NYPD deputy chief and a FirstNet board member, has noted that NYCWIN sites and backhaul —two key components to any LTE deployment—could be shared with FirstNet, making the rollout easier than in other areas.
Bratton echoed this sentiment.
“ I'm confident that FirstNet would have a big head start here in New York City to show the rest of American law enforcement—indeed, international law-enforcement agencies—the way to go,” Bratton said. “We don't know when our next big, unexpected event is going to hit that will push our existing commercially built networks to the limit—i.e. Hurricane Sandy. But the reality is that we're going to have those events, whether they be weather, crime or terrorism. That's the nature of the world we're living in, and we need to prepare.
“[FirstNet is] an essential element of that preparation. We need a broadband network that can be built to mission-critical standards. We need a network that can survive a natural disaster and won't be subject to problems of commercial overload. In short, we need you. We need FirstNet.”
http://urgentcomm.com/public-safety-broadbandfirstnet/ny-police-commissioner-nypd-firstnet-match-made-heaven
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Georgia
Harlem Dept. of Public Safety seizing cars from habitual DUI violators
by Laura Warren
HARLEM, Ga.--In Georgia, if you are stopped for a DUI and you've been placed in the 'habitual violator category, officers can seize your vehicle. In Harlem, they're doing just that, in hopes of sending a clear message.
The Harlem Department of Public Safety is in the process of seizing their first car from a DUI case. The suspect is accused of leading them on a chase through the county before being arrested for his 4th DUI.
Dash cam video shows a Harlem Public Safety Officer trying to pull over a vehicle, when it starts crossing over the center line. But, the car won't stop. Chief Gary Jones says, "The chase lasted about 12-14 minutes."
The chase continues with the driver swerving across the road, reaching high speeds before he finally runs out of gas. The suspect was taken into custody and charged with his 4th DUI. Harlem is in the process of filing paperwork with the D.A. to seize the vehicle.
"We hope it sends a clear message that it's not going to be tolerated, and it will deter them from driving, because a habitual DUI violator on the road with a 4th DUI, in my opinion, is like a murder weapon going up the road," Chief Jones said.
And, it's a win for everyone except the suspect, unless the car isn't paid for.
"What you have to be concerned about is what is owed, or what the lien on the vehicle you seize," Chief Jones said.
In that case, it depends on how much is owed, and if the difference in profit is worth it. The proceeds from whatever is earned will go to alcohol training, in hopes of preventing others from getting behind the wheel drunk
"We actually put on an alcohol awareness class for teenagers last summer. So we might be able to incorporate something like that again," he said.
http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Harlem-Dept-of-Public-Safety-seizes-car-from-DUI-arrest--250395611.html?ref=611
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Some prosecutors fighting effort to eliminate mandatory minimum prison sentences
by Sari Horwitz
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric H. Holder's broad effort to eliminate mandatory minimum prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and reduce sentences for defendants in most drug cases is facing resistance among federal prosecutors and district attorneys nationwide, with some vigorously opposing his plans.
Opponents of Holder's initiatives argue that tough sentencing policies provide a critical tool to dismantle drug networks by getting cooperation from lower-level defendants and building cases.
Longer prison sentences for more criminals have led to a significant decline in the crime rate over the last 20 years, these critics insist, and they also argue that Holder's reforms are driven by federal budget constraints, not public safety.
"Rewarding convicted felons with lighter sentences because America can't balance its budget doesn't seem fair to both victims of crime and the millions of families in America victimized every year by the scourge of drugs in America's communities," said Raymond Morrogh, Commonwealth's attorney in Fairfax County, Va., and director at large for the National District Attorneys Association, in testimony Thursday to the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Holder on Thursday endorsed an amendment to federal sentencing guidelines that would reduce sentences for defendants in most of the nation's drug cases. The proposal is being considered by the commission, an independent agency that sets sentencing policies for federal judges. This followed the attorney general's announcement in August that low-level, nonviolent defendants would not automatically be charged with federal offenses that carry mandatory minimum sentences.
"This straightforward adjustment to sentencing ranges - while measured in scope - would nonetheless send a strong message about the fairness of our criminal justice system," Holder said Thursday. "And it would help to rein in federal prison spending while focusing limited resources on the most serious threats to public safety."
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20140314_Some_prosecutors_fighting_effort_to_eliminate_mandatory_minimum_prison_sentences.html
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Louisanna
BR police to share timelier information on crime patterns
by Ben Wallace
Many Baton Rouge residents soon will receive information from city police about patterns of predatory crimes in their neighborhoods shortly after they occur.
In a partnership propelled by a recent string of home invasions targeting elderly women, the Baton Rouge Police Department announced Thursday it will send information about crimes such as clusters of burglaries and home invasions directly to the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations.
The federation then will disseminate the notices to the many homeowners associations that belong to the organization.
“We will reach 100,000 people in a very quick amount of time,” said Gary Patureau, a federation board member and a leader of the Sherwood Forest Citizens' Association.
Patureau said he took the recent home invasion in his neighborhood personally.
In response, he said, he and others worked to develop the speedier communication system announced Thursday.
Police will send Patureau information about specific crimes, and Patureau will pass that information on to whichever homeowner's associations might be affected by them.
The homeowners associations then will share the information with members through an alert system.
“It's going to be a work in progress,” said Federation President Nancy Curry. “We have to smooth out some of the wrinkles as it progresses.”
If it works, Patureau hopes to spread the system to the rest of the parish by bringing the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office in on the deal.
Many homeowners associations already have alert systems in place that text or email residents when a resident reports a crime to the association. But with the partnership, police will send out information about crimes as soon as possible after they happen, providing credibility and timeliness, Patureau said.
Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa, a Baton Rouge police spokeswoman, told representatives of several dozen Baton Rouge homeowners associations at a meeting at BREC's Independence Park on Thursday night that one of the goals of the partnership is to improve community policing.
Godawa said the days when police knew everyone that lived in their patrol area are long gone, as Baton Rouge has grown over the decades.
She said she was hopeful that the partnership will improve police relations with neighborhoods and cut down on wild rumors during times of crisis.
Johnny Covington, director of security for the Runnymede Homeowner's Association off Old Hammond Highway, said he's glad police are getting actively involved with community policing. “I like this idea,” Covington said. “I hope they follow through with it.”
Rosa and Leroy Hill, of the Park Forest Homeowners Association off Greenwell Springs Road, said the alert system would have come in handy a few months ago when there was an incident at one of the neighborhood's two schools.
Many neighbors didn't know what was going on, and an alert system would've been nice, they said.
http://theadvocate.com/news/police/8623057-123/br-police-to-share-timelier
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The Police and The People: A Unity of Effort
by Vincent J. Bove
A police department is most effective when dedicated to properly upholding community policing, which promotes a unity of effort between the police and the people. This collaboration is critical to New York City and to communities across the globe.
William J.Bratton returned to New York City as police commissioner on Jan. 1. During remarks at a Dec. 5 press conference, he stressed bringing the police and community together. “I will work very hard and very quickly to bring legitimacy and trust between the citizens and the police department,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted his goals:
• Maintaining low crime rates
• Preventing terrorism
• Bringing the NYPD and its 50,000 members and 8.5 million New Yorkers together with mutual trust and respect. |
He also emphasized public safety—with focus on safe streets, safe subways, and traffic safety—as the foundation of democracy. He stated that the police will serve constitutionally, respectfully, and compassionately.
Bratton showed a children's book titled “Your Police” that he has cherished since he was a 9-year-old boy. He read its final words: “We must always remember that whenever you see a policeman he is your friend. He is there to protect you. He has dedicated his life to the preservation of the laws, properties, civil rights and people he serves. He would not hesitate to save your life at the cost of his own.”
Bratton concluded with a thought from Sir Robert Peel, the father of modern policing, who wrote ethical mandates in 1829 in his Nine Principles of Policing. Bratton stressed two of those principles: “The basic mission for which police exist is to prevent crime and disorder. The prevention of crime should be accomplished without intruding unnecessarily into the lives of citizens.” Bratton held the Nine Principles in his hand and he stated it as his philosophy for policing throughout his career.
These principles are critical for enhancing a unity of effort between the police and the people not only in New York but also in cities across the globe:
Sir Robert Peel's Nine Principles
The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.
The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police actions.
Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.
Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient.
Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
Vincent J. Bove, CPP is a national speaker on issues critical to America and recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for combating crime and violence. His newest book is “Listen To Their Cries.” Additional Information: www.vincentbove.com
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/560629-the-police-and-the-people-a-unity-of-effort/?photo=2
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Pennsylvania
Bethlehem foot patrols return in police department restructuring
by Sarah M. Wojcik
The Bethlehem police force is renewing a focus on community policing — putting more cops on the street and reinstating the old-fashioned beat cop, Chief Mark DiLuzio and Mayor Bob Donchez announced today.
"The objective here is to have more cops on the street when you need them," DiLuzio said. "We're trying to get back to some basics. The way you learn things from your community is from the people in your community."
The strategy is one that Donchez said would help bolster safety in the city, his No. 1 responsibility of the job.
"Public safety is a key component of economic development," said Donchez, who was sworn-in in January. "It is my belief that public safety serves as an important catalyst in promoting the city's livability and its ability to attract further economic growth."
As part of the department restructuring announced, beat officers on foot will be patrolling the city's business districts and nearby neighborhoods for the first time since the 1990s. DiLuzio said he plans to start the patrols next month and didn't mention names of who the officers would be.
"This is simply a return to an idea that worked and an idea that the citizens liked," DiLuzio said.
It will take a couple of months to effect the rest of the changes, according to the chief. This summer, when 10 new police cadets graduate from the Allentown Police Academy, DiLuzio said, they will bring the department's ranks to 153 officers. By the time the new recruits hit the streets, DiLuzio hopes to have successfully redeployed officers to better cover the city's busiest times for crime: 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The chief said the redistribution of manpower could save the city on overtime costs and will ensure police are available when they're most needed.
Horses still play a role
The city's mounted unit will be on patrol instead of or in addition to the foot patrols depending on the season and manpower available, DiLuzio said. Lehigh University police also plan to work with the city around the school's South Side campus.
The point is to increase visibility of law enforcement, connect with residents and deter crime, DiLuzio said.
"We don't live in every neighborhood in this city," DiLuzio said. "We want to know what your problems are and we want to address them."
The police substation at 60 W. Broad St. will be used to its fullest extent, DiLuzio said, and will be the base of a number of north side street crime officers as well as the north side beat officer.
The restructuring also includes an update of civil service rules to ensure that the best possible candidate is hired and promoted within the ranks of the force, DiLuzio said. Legal issues have arisen during promotional testing, Donchez said, because of outdated policy. The department's union agrees on the need for an update, DiLuzio said.
Police in schools
Starting in August, six federally funded city officers will be assigned as school resource officers to ensure that every middle and high school in the Bethlehem Area School District is staffed, DiLuzio said. Bethlehem Township police will staff Freedom High and Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical schools, DiLuzio said.
Block watches also play a role in the restructuring, Donchez said, and the city plans to reach out to past and present groups.
"These groups are extremely important because they are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood," he said. "We'll be reaching out to find out what makes some so successful and how we can keep that going."
DiLuzio said members of the police administration that already attend meetings will continue to network with the community to keep connections thriving.
Bethlehem Deputy Chief Todd Repsher said the renewed focus on community policing will be especially valuable to all the newer officers getting the hang of the job.
"When you get out of the academy, all you want to do is catch the bad guy," Repsher said. "They're full of vim and vinegar. But you start to learn there are more sides to it all than chasing somebody down. You need that human connection.
"Even if it's just doing something that can make someone's day — it will, overall, improve the quality of life."
A NEW FOCUS
The Bethlehem Police Department is placing a renewed focus on community policing in changes announced today by Chief Mark DiLuzio and Mayor Bob Donchez. Among the changes are:
• Redeployment of manpower to the busiest days and hours.
• Increased community involvement through block watch programs and networking.
• Updating the department's civil service rules.
• Ensuring a school resource officer in every middle & high school in the Bethlehem Area School District.
• Return of a beat officer to cover the south and north sides of the city.
• Use of the police substation at 60 W. Broad St. in Center City.
• The addition of more "boots on the ground" with a wave of new hires. |
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/03/bethlehem_police_department_an.html
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FBI hunt for most-wanted domestic terrorist narrows to Hawaii
by Jana Winter
The FBI's decade-long hunt for a suspected environmental terrorist believed to have bombed two buildings in California has narrowed to Honolulu, where authorities are aggressively advertising a $250,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Daniel Andreas San Diego, 36, a Berkeley, Calif.,-born hard-core vegan and self-styled "animal liberationist," is believed to have headed a domestic terror cell that bombed a California biotech corporation in August 2003, then set off a nail bomb a month later at a nutritional products corporation in the state.
“He may or may not actually be on Hawaii Island, but we are taking this lead seriously out of genuine concern for local residents,” said Honolulu FBI Special Agent Tom Simon. “It's important to recognize that this guy is considered armed and dangerous. If you know where he is, please just call it in. We don't want anyone getting hurt trying to be a hero.”
In 2009, San Diego became the first alleged domestic terrorist to make the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List. Since that time, the FBI has received tips placing him throughout California and as far east as Northampton, Mass. He also has ties to Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Costa Rica and Bolivia.
The bombs San Diego is alleged to have set did not kill or injure anyone, but authorities believe that was only by luck. On Aug. 28, 2003, two homemade explosives described at the time as "sophisticated," exploded one hour apart, at Chiron Corp., in Emeryville. FBI officials believe the second bomb was timed to kill or injure responders. A third bomb was set off on Sept. 26, 2003, at the Shaklee Corp., in Pleasantville. That bomb was powered by ammonium nitrate and was wrapped in nails.
In both incidents, a group called the Animal Liberation Brigade sent emails to authorities claiming credit. Investigators believe the two targets were chosen because both were clients of Huntingdon Life Sciences, a U.K.-based biotechnology company that animal rights activists have long accused of abusing animals in its research. .
San Diego disappeared a week after the September bombings, even as authorities had him under 24-hour surveillance in San Francisco. He was later profiled several times on the television crimefighting show, "America's Most Wanted."
While San Diego has a distinctive tattoo on his chest that shows a round image of burning hillsides with the words "It only takes a spark," and tattoos of burning and collapsing buildings on the sides of his abdomen and back, it is his behavior that could give him away. At the time of his disappearance, he ate neither meat nor any food containing animal products. The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit believes if he has maintained this discipline, people around him may notice that he avoids consuming or wearing anything made with animal products.
A wanted poster distributed by the FBI tells more about San Diego.
"He is also known to cook and bake vegan and vegetarian foods and has an interest in sailing," the poster states. "In the past, he has worked as a computer
network specialist and with the operating system LINUX. He may be using these skills as a form of income, specifically for cash to avoid using banks, checks and credit cards."
San Diego is wanted for illegal use of explosives and domestic terrorism. Anyone with any information is urged to call (800) CALL-FBI (225-5324).
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/03/13/fbi-hunt-for-most-wanted-domestic-terrorist-narrows-to-hawaii/
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Holder Backs Shorter Terms for Nonviolent Drug Offenders
by Del Quentin Wilber
Attorney General Eric Holder will endorse proposed changes to U.S. sentencing guidelines aimed at reducing the average prison term of a nonviolent drug offender by about 11 months, according to the Justice Department.
The proposed changes by the U.S. Sentencing Commission would affect about 70 percent of all drug cases brought by federal prosecutors and reduce the prison population by about 3 percent, or 6,500 inmates, in five years.
“Certain types of cases result in too many Americans going to prison for too long, and at times for no truly good public safety reason,” Holder will say in testimony before the commission, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks released by the Justice Department.
The Obama administration has sought shorter sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, a concept backed by Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, and other U.S. lawmakers. Holder announced last year that low-level, nonviolent drug offenders would no longer be charged with federal crimes that impose strict mandatory minimum sentences.
In December, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of eight people convicted and sentenced on crack cocaine offenses, saying their prison terms were too long as a result of disparities in the law.
The commission is holding a public hearing near the end of a 60-day comment period on proposed amendments to sentencing guidelines that it issued in January. The guidelines help judges determine proper and fair sentences.
In his testimony, Holder will say that reductions in sentencing ranges for nonviolent drug offenders are needed because the “overreliance on incarceration is not just financially unsustainable, it comes with human and moral costs that are impossible to calculate.”
Federal and state governments spent $80 billion on incarceration in 2010, the attorney general will say.
Holder has also pressed states to restore voting rights to felons who have served their sentences, saying that laws barring ex-offenders from voting disproportionately affect minorities.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-13/holder-backs-shorter-sentences-in-nonviolent-u-dot-s-dot-drug-offenses
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COPS Office Highlights Depth of Community Policing Resources
COPS Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is currently highlighting four of its popular resources as examples of the variety of topics that can be addressed through a community policing philosophy. All the resources were developed through cooperative agreements awarded under the Community Policing Development and Tribal Resources Grant Programs.
These resources include:
All COPS Office resources can be downloaded from the Resource Center and many can be ordered at no-cost either through the Resource Center or by contacting the U.S. Department of Justice Response Center at 800.421.6770.
http://www.officer.com/news/11320095/cops-office-highlights-depth-of-community-policing-resources
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Oklahoma
Firefighters Push To Use Drones For Public Safety
by Justin Dougherty
OKLAHOMA CITY - The FAA has endorsed specific guidelines when it comes to civilian drone use, but drones used by public safety officials still needs a green light.
"The way I see it, it's technology, and technology that can save lives and property," said Fireflight owner, Jerry Stuckey.
The heat is on for March. In just the past three days, News 9 has reported around 15 wild fires in the Metro.
"The overhead view is priceless," said Stuckey.
Firefighters, so far, can only see the fire when it's right in front of them.
"We fought without knowing for sure what was going on," said Stuckey.
When it comes to battling wild fires, Stuckey has been there and done that.
"They have to speculate that because they don't know what is actually there," said Stuckey.
So he wants to change the way current firefighters survey the blazing acres by introducing unmanned aerial systems for public safety.
"Give live video instantly to that commander," said Stuckey.
A camera equipped surveillance system flying from 8 to 400 feet is a benefit state fire marshal Robert Doke looks forward to.
"If we can get a unit up in the air, it gives the commander great decision-making tools," said Doke.
It is something that Doke feels is priceless with the unpredictability of a grass fire.
"Not only does it trap our firefighters, but it traps our citizens and their livelihoods," said Doke.
So while the fire marshal waits on regulations from the FAA and policies from the capitol, Stuckey has seen light up UAS conversations across the state.
"We're ready to implement," said Doke.
"The cry for public safety UAS is huge," said Stuckey.
One bill is ready to be heard on the House floor. If it is passed it will require publicly safety officials to obtain a search warrant when conducting surveillance.
http://www.news9.com/story/24959827/firefighters-push-to-use-drones-for-public-safety
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U.S. Senate Passes Military Sex Assault Bill, May Take Months in House
by Reuters
(Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted 97-0 on Monday to pass reforms in how the military handles sexual assault cases, but it probably will be months before the changes become law.
The measure must still be approved by the House of Representatives, where Democratic and Republican aides said it is unlikely to be up for a vote until later in 2014.
Backed by Senator Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, the bill includes significant changes such as eliminating the "good soldier" defense allowing a court to reduce the sentences of offenders who have strong military records.
It also strengthens prosecutors' role in advising commanders on whether to go to court martial. But it falls short of shifting the decision on whether to pursue assault cases from top commanders to independent military prosecutors.
That proposed change in the military justice system was part of a separate bill on sexual assault in the military, backed by another Democratic senator, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, which failed in the Senate last week.
Lawmakers and the military have been debating for months how to handle sex crimes in the ranks after a report almost a year ago that unwanted sexual contact, from groping to rape, had jumped by 37 percent in 2012, to 26,000 cases.
Despite deep divides in Congress over how best to deal with the issue, lawmakers passed reforms late last year in the 2014 defense authorization law. Those included stripping commanders of their power to overturn jury convictions and assigning an independent legal counsel to victims who report assaults.
McCaskill said she hoped the Senate's strong support for her bill would help get the measure through the House. "I'll continue fighting ... to get this bill across the finish line," she said in a statement.
'CANCER' IN THE RANKS
High-profile military sexual assault cases, some involving defense officials responsible for prosecuting sex crimes, also contributed to charges that the Pentagon has not been serious enough about stopping an epidemic of sexual assaults seen as a "cancer" in the armed forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Morse, a top Army sexual assault prosecutor, was suspended recently pending an investigation into allegations he groped a female colleague, a military spokesman said last week.
And Brigadier General Jeffrey Sinclair pleaded guilty last week to having an adulterous affair, asking female officers for nude photos and possessing pornography on his laptop. A military trial is under way over sexual assault charges, which he has denied.
The bill that was passed on Monday is unlikely to go to the House as a standalone measure. Instead it is likely to be included as part of a bill expected later this year that authorizes Pentagon spending.
"Right now we're looking at the most likely vehicle for getting it passed in the House, which is probably as an amendment to the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act)," a Democratic aide said.
A Republican aide said the defense bill could be passed out of the House in June. But it would have to get through the Senate before becoming law, a process that has taken months.
President Barack Obama - who has ordered a review of the military's handling of sexual assault cases - signed last year's defense authorization bill into law in late December.
http://www.newsweek.com/us-senate-passes-military-sex-assault-bill-may-take-months-house-231452#.Ux84-E5pMfw.email
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From the Department of Justice
(Video on site)
Attorney General Holder Calls Rise in Heroin Overdoses 'Urgent Public Health Crisis,' Vows Mix of Enforcement, Treatment
March 10, 2014
Calling the rise in overdose deaths from heroin and other prescription pain-killers an “urgent public health crisis,” Attorney General Eric Holder vowed Monday that the Justice Department would combat the epidemic through a mix of enforcement and treatment efforts. As an added step, the Attorney General is also encouraging law enforcement agencies to train and equip their personnel with the life-saving, overdose-reversal drug known as naloxone.
• Download this video (MP4)
http://www.justice.gov/agwa.php
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From ICE
ICE participates in second annual international anti-gang conference and training in Mexico City
MEXICO CITY — Leadership from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are participating this week in the second annual International Anti-Gang Conference and Training in Mexico City. The weeklong training includes more than 300 participants from throughout the region including law enforcement officials from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.
The training, taught by instructors from the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, is designed to enhance the ability for law enforcement personnel to respond to and identify potential threats emanating from gang members and their associates who operate throughout the region.
"We are committed to working with our law enforcement counterparts in Mexico and throughout Central America to combat gangs operating in the region," said HSI Deputy Assistant Director Waldemar Rodriguez. "Keeping our communities safe is at the core of our joint efforts."
"This conference represents the advances we have made in our regional cooperation to combat gangs, a threat that knows no borders," U.S. Embassy Chargé Laura Dogu told the group. "The work we are doing together to combat street and prison gangs and disrupt their illicit activities is significant and will benefit the citizens in all of our nations."
The Anti-Gang Initiative, a program coordinated by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides training and capacity building for law enforcement officers to combat and prevent gang activities. Funded through the Merida Initiative, the Anti-Gang Initiative works in partnership with the government of Mexico and has expanded to include over 30 law enforcement agencies from throughout the region.
Through ICE's Office of International Affairs and the State Department, HSI has 67 attaché offices in 48 countries around the world. This presence includes an on-the-ground relationship-building effort of HSI special agents working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies, and through a robust network of specialized vetted units known as Transnational Criminal Investigative Units. Additionally, HSI brings personnel from host countries to the United States to train at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, Ga.
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1403/140311mexicocity.htm
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"Securing the Homeland – ICE" exhibit opens at Crime Museum in DC
WASHINGTON — The Crime Museum today unveiled a new exhibit entitled "Securing the Homeland – ICE," offering insight into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its efforts to promote homeland security and public safety through the enforcement of more than 400 federal laws governing homeland security, customs, trade and immigration.
The exhibit educates the public on the role and work of ICE. Museum guests will have the opportunity to read about some high profile ICE cases, learn about the impact of counterfeit goods on U.S. security, understand how ICE protects our homeland and test their knowledge of ICE at the Crime Museum.
"This exhibit provides ICE with a new venue to showcase how the dedicated men and women of this agency work to keep our nation and its people safe every day," said ICE Deputy Director Daniel Ragsdale. "As we protect America from the cross-border crime and unlawful migration that threatens public safety, we hope to inspire people to join our team and help us keep our nation safe."
A variety of items that ICE has confiscated are among the artifacts in the exhibit, along with uniforms and part of the agency's history. Some highlighted objects include:
Reproductions of the 9/11 hijackers' passports and other 9/11 artifacts
Drug smuggling paraphernalia and drug tunnel digging tools
Seized counterfeit goods including fake Super Bowl tickets and merchandise
A stuffed bear and a highway road sign that helped special agents solve cases and rescue endangered children
"Our mission at the Crime Museum is to educate, utilizing interactive and entertaining experiences," said Janine Vaccarello, chief operating officer of the Crime Museum. "We are pleased to team with ICE to present this informative exhibit that underscores the role the organization plays in public safety on a daily basis."
"Securing the Homeland – ICE" at the Crime Museum is scheduled to run through summer. The museum is located at 575 7th Street, NW (between E and F Streets) in downtown Washington, D.C., less than a block from the Gallery Place Metro Station.
Regular business hours are Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (202) 621-5550 or (202) 870-2343 to verify daily hours, or visit www.crimemuseum.org
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1403/140305washingtondc.htm
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From the FBI
The Gangs of Los Angeles
Part 5: The Power of Partners and Intelligence
In Los Angeles and the sprawling metropolitan area that surrounds the city, there are approximately 800 different gangs, each of them engaged in various levels of violence and criminal activity.
“There was a time when we talked about gangs in terms of individuals standing on street corners selling rocks of crack cocaine,” said Robert Clark, an assistant special agent in charge in our Los Angeles Division who supervises the Bureau's gang program there. “But the threat has evolved,” he said. “We now have gangs that are involved in regional, national, and international criminal enterprises.”
There are still open-air drug markets in certain neighborhoods, Clark explained, but the gangs have grown more sophisticated, branching out to extortion, money laundering, identity theft, and human trafficking. All of that can exact a heavy toll on the community.
To counter the threat, the FBI partners with local and state law enforcement organizations and numerous federal agencies. Through a variety of task forces and intelligence platforms, the goal is to leverage all of law enforcement's resources to dismantle the worst gangs from the top down.
“The most significant threats that impact the communities—the shootings, murders, and robberies—are easy to see,” Clark said. “But we also look at the entire criminal enterprise, the infrastructure that allows gangs to control neighborhoods and extort and intimidate people who live there.”
Intelligence gathering and sharing is critical to law enforcement's success, Clark noted. “And good intelligence happens when you have strong partnerships.” The Bureau's international gang investigations may be helped by intelligence gleaned from a local gang case. “We may be able to recruit new sources or open new investigations based on what we learn locally,” he said.
And the information flows both ways. The Los Angeles City Attorney's office, for example, is able to fight the gang threat through a unique initiative that benefits from its partnership with the FBI.
“Traditionally,” said Jonathan Cristall, a supervising city attorney who runs the Federal and Local Special Abatement Operations Program, “prosecutors deal with problem people. Our program targets problem places that serve as bases of operations for the gangs and negatively impact public safety.”
The city attorney's office obtains injunctions requiring property owners to implement improvements to properties. They can also obtain court orders that prohibit gang members from setting foot back in the neighborhood. “If they come back,” Cristall added, “they can be arrested on sight.”
In the civil courts, the city attorney often moves against gang members and the properties they control on the same day the FBI makes criminal arrests. That requires close coordination—and the Bureau's willingness to share sensitive information about its operations. “Today, we work with many of the federal law enforcement agencies,” Cristall said. “But one of the first agencies to bring us on board as a trusted partner was the FBI.”
He added that when his office first started this type of work, “there were so many spots in L.A. where the gangsters felt like they owned that neighborhood. Those areas are harder to find now,” said Cristall. “The remarkable progress we've made has to do with partnerships, and the FBI has been a leader in bringing us together.”
Clark sees the abatement program as one more tool in law enforcement's fight against gangs. “Collectively, when we apply all of our resources,” he said, “we can bring justice to the people in communities hard hit by gangs.”
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/march/the-gangs-of-los-angeles-part-5-the-power-of-partners-and-intelligence/the-gangs-of-los-angeles-part-5-the-power-of-partners-and-intelligence
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Shoe Bomb Plots Revealed at Bin Laden Son-in-Law's Trial
by Patricia Hurtado
A U.K. man who admitted he plotted to bomb passenger jets with explosives hidden in his shoes told a Manhattan federal jury he “brainstormed” with Osama bin Laden and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Saajid Badat, 34, testified today via a closed-circuit television hookup from an undisclosed location in the U.K. in the terrorism case of bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghayth. Prosecutors say Abu Ghayth, the most senior al-Qaeda member to be tried in U.S. civilian court, acted as a spokesman for the group and had advance knowledge of its plots to attack Americans by various methods, including detonating shoe bombs on commercial jetliners.
Badat's testimony comes amid renewed scrutiny of potential terrorist threats against jetliners as authorities search for Malaysian Airline System Bhd.'s Flight 370, which vanished from radar screens on March 8 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people. Two passengers used passports that were reported stolen by Austrian and Italian nationals in Phuket, Thailand, the Royal Thai Police said.
Airlines were warned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in mid-February of credible threats about shoe bombs. The cause of the Malaysian Airline flight's disappearance hasn't been determined.
Badat, who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges in the U.K. and is in protective custody, said he had discussions with al-Qaeda's top leadership while in Afghanistan from October 2001 and December 2001, and worked with another man he met there, Richard Reid.
Life Term
During the trial, jurors have seen photographs and videos in which Abu Ghayth appeared after the 2001 attacks with the same men Badat consulted, including one on Sept. 12, 2001, with bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Badat testified Reid was a “co-conspirator” in the airline plot and said he met with him to discuss planning after leaving Afghanistan and returning to the U.K. Reid was convicted in the U.S. of attempting to blow up a transatlantic flight with a bomb hidden in his shoes during a flight from Paris to Miami in December 2001 and is serving a life prison term.
Under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Lewin, Badat said he withdrew from the plot in late 2001 and was arrested by U.K. authorities in 2003. He told jurors he doesn't want to come to the U.S. to testify because he's under indictment by federal prosecutors in Massachusetts and faces possible life imprisonment if he's convicted.
Badat testified there were three plans; the first was to bomb a domestic U.S. aircraft in American airspace. The second was to set off explosives on a plane traveling from Europe to the U.S. and the third was to detonate a bomb on an aircraft as it traveled over Europe.
‘Brainstorming of Ideas'
“There were discussions with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed,” Badat testified. “It was more what I'd call it brainstorming of ideas.”
Badat said he was later released from prison after he agreed to cooperate with British and American authorities and testify in terrorism cases, especially after hearing that Mohammed, who he referred to as “KSM,” had been captured and would be tried in the U.S. for the Sept. 11th attacks.
“I heard KSM was to be put on trial for 9/11,” Badat said. “That was the primary reason, I wanted to provide evidence against him for this.”
Mohammed is now being prosecuted in a military tribunal in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after the Obama administration reversed its plan to put Mohammed on trial in a civilian court.
Abu Ghayth, 48, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to the terror group and aiding al-Qaeda by bringing in recruits for further attacks. Abu Ghayth, who has pleaded not guilty, faces as long as life in prison if convicted.
Hijacked Planes
Just before Badat testified, the jury was shown videos prosecutors said Abu Ghayth made on behalf of al-Qaeda in October 2001, referring to the hijacked planes on Sept. 11, 2001, and promising similar attacks.
“The storms shall not lessen,” Abu Ghayth said in an Oct. 13, 2001, video. “Especially the storm of airplanes. These storms will not calm down until you withdraw from Afghanistan in defeat.”
He also said: “We strongly advise Muslims in America and Britain not to board airlines, not to live in high-rises and tall buildings.”
The case is U.S. v. Abu Ghayth, 98-cr-01023, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-03-10/shoe-bomb-plots-revealed-at-bin-laden-son-in-law-s-terror-trial
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Michigan
Actress decries delay in Detroit rape kit testing
DETROIT — Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Monday enlisted some star power in her push for funding and legislation to help clear a backlog of thousands of untested Detroit rape kits.
Mariska Hargitay, from NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," said during a news conference that the roughly 11,000 untested rape kits found in a Detroit police warehouse in 2009 are part of a nationwide problem and an outrage.
"To me, this is the clearest and most shocking demonstration of how we regard these crimes," said Hargitay, founder and president of the Joyful Heart Foundation, which advocates for rape victims and has made clearing the national rape kit backlog — estimated at 400,000 kits or more — its major priority. "One would assume that if someone endures a four- to six-hour invasive examination, that that evidence would be handled with care."
Worthy said her office, with the help of federal grants and the Michigan State Police and others, has results of DNA testing for 2,000 of the kits, and that testing has already linked the kits to nearly 100 serial rapists, including DeShawn Starks, 32.
Starks — whose DNA linked him to several sexual assaults — was sentenced Monday by a Wayne County circuit judge to serve 45 to 90 years in prison for the crimes.
Starks was charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct as a result of testing performed on untested rape kits found abandoned in a Detroit police warehouse in 2009.
Prosecutors, though, discovered that rape kits linking Starks to sexual assaults had been tested in 2005, but Detroit police did not submit warrant requests for him at the time, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
"The police did not submit the warrants in 2005; we don't know the reason why," Miller said.
Police acknowledged that warrant requests were not submitted in 2005, despite results from tests linking Starks to two of the cases. One of the cases was retested in 2009 and again connected Starks, but a warrant request was not submitted then either.
"The department missed an opportunity to keep a serial rapist behind bars," Detroit police spokesman Sgt. Michael Woody said.
Police said there are now protocols in place. "In no way would we allow our department or this administration to run without the accountability in place," Woody said.
Starks was in prison when the results came back, serving time for home invasion and weapons offenses, according to the state's online offender database.
Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said the agency was not notified in 2005 that Starks was a suspect in sexual assault cases. If the department is notified someone is a felony suspect, that is something that would come to the attention of the parole board, he said.
Starks was paroled in March 2013. He was arrested in connection with the sexual assaults in August, Marlan said.
Under plea agreements, Starks pleaded no contest to three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in connection with the cases.
During Starks' sentencing, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Tanya Abdelnour read aloud a statement submitted by one of his victims, who said she has nightmares.
"But as of today, the Lord has blessed me with some closure, knowing that the person that created this bad dream is going to pay for his actions," the woman wrote. "So from this day forward, even if I continue to have the nightmares, I can wake up from it knowing that this is over."
After the sentencing, Starks' attorney Carl Jordan called the sentence a "fair, just and reasonable resolution" for everyone involved. Asked about the push to test rape kits, Jordan said: "Anytime that the prosecutor can get to the truth, I think that's a benefit to society."
Jordan said questions still have to be answered, though, about why kits were not tested when they should have been.
"When you have a rape kit that is tested so long after the incident was supposed to have occurred, well that can cause problems for both sides — not just the prosecutor, but also the defense," he said.
Worthy said her office, with the help of federal grants and the Michigan State Police and others, has results of DNA testing for 2,000 of the kits, and that testing has already linked the kits to nearly 100 serial rapists, including Starks.
The state of Michigan recently appropriated $4 million to send the last roughly 7,400 kits to private labs for testing, and the State Police recently said all the kits should be tested by the end of this year.
Worthy said testing the kits is only part of the work. Even when there is a DNA hit with a named suspect, much police work — including finding victims from crimes that are in some cases 25 years old — must be completed before an arrest can be made.
"Right now, we've got over 200 rape kit hits that we've gotten that we haven't gotten to" for further follow-up investigation, Worthy said.
Worthy said she's met with state lawmakers and representatives of the governor and the attorney general, and legislation soon will be introduced in Lansing to provide more speedy processing of rape kits and allow for more victim input. Worthy said she also wants legislation to make Michigan the first state to track all rape kits as they go through the criminal justice system.
If the technology exists to track packages after making a purchase online, it should also be available to track rape kits, Worthy said.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/11/detroit-rape-kits-backlog/6283049/
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Community Policing Is A Right To Life
by Nadra Enzi
Community policing is supposed to be an alternative to the ”Lock up every Negro in sight !” pathology afflicting American law enforcement. In a modern era where even a sitting ” post racial “ US president can (correctly) call arresting a wealthy, liberal, Ivy League-employed Black man in his home ”acting stupidly“, it's clear the Black community/law enforcement divide needs bridging. I'm in favor of inner citizens and Black folks generally finally being treated as fellow stakeholders in public safety. Balkanized relations allow criminals in and out of uniform safe harbors to hide in plain sight while wreaking havoc among populations with little or no percieved political clout. I do community policing because I'm pro-life, in this context meaning Black citizens in the inner city have as much right to live safely as the First Family. By the way I'm also traditionally pro-life too.
A recent trip through a TSA ( Terrible Security Administration ) checkpoint underscored the need for upgrade in this arena. A screener more suited to slinging fast food than frontline duty in the War On Terror began opening my carry-on bag. I asked her, ”Why ?” Clearly this question isn't often asked to members within this relic of Bush II homeland security pantomime. Her response was, ”Why? You don't want me to search your luggage ” as if having my belongings rifled by a high school drop out was a dream come true. I looked down at her and said, “I'm with the NAACP. We ask questions like this.” to underscore a concern this seemed an episode of selective enforcement. One Black male passenger subjected to extra scrutiny out of dozens of lighter skinned faces added not one iota more safety for all involved. Such is what passes for protective policy in this country.
Security is what I do, both as a concerned citizen and practitioner. Community policing is often a tough sell to folks who've given up any semblance of belief that the system values their lives and property. My job is convincing them that valuing their lives and property enough to protect the same is step number one. Step two is holding government employees accountable who are paid by Black folks taxes just like anyone else! The process becomes particularly fun when the aforementioned government employees are also Black but discount inner city residents at the behest of prejudiced higher ups in the department and local community. I do know that absent steps one and two thugs on the public payroll and off it continue using the ‘Hood as a playground. Denzel Washington's movie ”Training Day” fabulously illustrates this point.
Honest Black citizens find ourselves referees between often hostile police and often hostile inhabitants. There's a logic to giving up and letting things remain the same. It's seductive and less hassle than wringing respect from a law enforcement establishment still resembling upgraded episodes
of either Sydney Pointers' classic movie ”In The Heat of The Night” or Carrol O'Connor's TV series by the same title. Silence only ensures more of the same. Prejudiced police and street thugs respond to made up minds. We assist them by not documenting and publicizing misconduct. We lend aid and comfort to people who see the inner city as a plantation ripe for the picking.
The ultimate goal of community policing by active Black residents is serving notice to would-be urban hostages; corrupt officers and neighborhood assailants that the free ride is over. I've seen enough minor victories to keep trying.
Otherwise someone else dictates how much or how little safety we experience. Policing our community expresses our right to live free from intimidation whatever the source.
They hope we'll just stay quiet and keep taking their abuse.
Official Websites;
http://www.captblack.info
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/nadraenzi
http://thyblackman.com/2010/04/05/community-policing-is-a-right-to-life-%E2%80%8F/comment-page-1/
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US Network to Scan Workers With Secret Clearances
by STEPHEN BRAUN
U.S. intelligence officials are planning a sweeping system of electronic monitoring that would tap into government, financial and other databases to scan the behavior of many of the 5 million federal employees with secret clearances, current and former officials told The Associated Press.
The system is intended to identify rogue agents, corrupt officials and leakers, and draws on a Defense Department model under development for more than a decade, according to officials and documents reviewed by the AP.
Intelligence officials have long wanted a computerized system that could continuously monitor employees, in part to prevent cases similar to former National Security Agency analyst Edward Snowden. His disclosures bared secretive U.S. surveillance operations.
An administration review of the government's security clearance process due this month is expected to support continuous monitoring as part of a package of comprehensive changes.
Privacy advocates and government employee union officials expressed concerns that continuous electronic monitoring could intrude into individuals' private lives, prompt flawed investigations and put sensitive personal data at greater risk. Supporters say the system would have safeguards.
Workers with secret clearances are already required to undergo background checks of their finances and private lives before they are hired and again during periodic re-investigations.
"What we need is a system of continuous evaluation where when someone is in the system and they're cleared initially, then we have a way of monitoring their behavior, both their electronic behavior on the job as well as off the job," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told Congress last month.
Clapper provided lawmakers with few details but said the proposed system would extend "across the government," drawing on "six or seven data streams." Monitoring of employees at some agencies could begin as early as September and be fully operational across the government by September 2016. The price tag, Clapper conceded, "is going to be costly."
In separate comments last week, retiring NSA Director Keith Alexander said intelligence, Defense and Cyber Command officials are collaborating on "insider threat" planning. Recently declassified federal documents show that the NSA is already conducting electronic monitoring of agency staffers involved in surveillance operations.
Budget documents released this week show the Pentagon requesting nearly $9 million next year for its insider threat-related research.
Current and former officials familiar with the DNI's planning said the monitoring system will collect records from multiple sources of information about employees. They will use private credit agencies, law enforcement databases and threat lists, military and other government records, licenses, data services and public record repositories. During random spot checks, the system's software will sift through the data to spot unusual behavior patterns.
The system could also link to outside databases to flag questionable behavior, said the officials, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the plans. Investigators will analyze the information along with data separately collected from social media and, when necessary, polygraph tests, officials said.
The proposed system would mimic monitoring systems already in use by the airline and banking industries, but it most closely draws from a 10-year-old Pentagon research project known as the Automated Continuous Evaluation System, officials said. The ACES program, designed by researchers from the Monterey, Calif.,-based Defense Personnel and Security Research Center and defense contractor Northrop Grumman, has passed several pilot tests but is not yet in full operation.
The ACES project and clearance-related Defense Department research cost more than $84 million over the past decade, documents show.
Gene Barlow Jr., a spokesman for the Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive, the DNI agency coordinating the system's development, said ACES would be part of the DNI's "continuous evaluation solution." The DNI's system would extend across the executive branch, he said.
Clapper and other senior administration officials cited the ACES program in a February 2010 report laying out the government's plan for improving security clearances. Former Adm. Mike McConnell, who headed the DNI during the Bush administration, was an early proponent of electronic monitoring research.
"If one guy has a Jaguar on a (government) GS-12 salary, that's a red flag," McConnell said.
According to project documents, ACES links to up to 40 databases. While many are government and public data streams already available, ACES also taps into the three major credit agencies — Experian, Equifax and Trans Union.
One former official familiar with ACES said researchers considered adding records from medical and mental health files but due to privacy concerns left that decision unresolved for policy makers.
The government's inability to review information from local police reports, his employer, family and personal health records was cited as a glaring weakness in background checks on computer specialist Aaron Alexis, who fatally shot 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard last September before killing himself.
The Alexis case and the Snowden disclosures raised concerns about the flawed or inadequate work of outside contractors in background checks.
A federal official acknowledged that outside contractors would likely be used to support electronic monitoring. It was not clear whether Northrop Grumman, the company that helped develop ACES, would have a role in its government-wide deployment.
Critics worry about the potential misuse of personal information. Private contractors supporting the monitoring system would have access to sensitive data. Credit agencies and other outside data sources would know the identities of government employees under scrutiny.
"The problem is you're spreading all this private data around to more and more people, both inside and outside," said David Borer, general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees.
The union represents federal workers with top secret clearances but recently joined in a lawsuit against the government to prevent lower-level employees from being reclassified into jobs requiring clearances.
"As a result of the Snowden disclosures I think we're seeing what an open book workers' lives are becoming," Borer said.
Lee Tien, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Freedom Foundation, a civil liberties group, said workers' free speech, political allegiances and outside activities could be chilled under the threat of constant monitoring. Some workers might face scrutiny because of inaccurate reporting, Tien said.
Officials familiar with the DNI's system said internal guidelines, audits, encryption and other precautions built into the proposal were designed to minimize abuses of private information. A 2007 Homeland Security review of the ACES project concluded that "the system contains security and procedural controls to ensure that data is made available to only those with a legitimate need as defined by the underlying legal authorities."
Congressional officials said the DNI already has sufficient permission under U.S. law to launch the new electronic monitoring on its own, but a bill recently introduced by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, would provide additional legal support. Collins' bill calls for at least two random computerized reviews every five years for each of the 5 million government workers with a secret clearance.
Intelligence community veterans said electronic monitoring was designed to detect lavish spending and discipline problems that can go undetected during the years between a worker's first background check and re-investigation — every 5 or 10 years, depending on the clearance level.
The Intelligence and National Security Alliance, a consortium of public and private national security interests, called for continuous monitoring in a new report released last week.
Intelligence veterans say rogue agents John Walker, Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen might have been exposed much earlier by such a system.
"We have to be willing to look at indications of behavior," said Joel Brenner, former senior counsel at the NSA and head of counterintelligence for the DNI. Brenner pointed to Hanssen as the sort of "serial rule-breaker" who might have been quickly detected by electronic monitoring.
Brenner cautioned that the success of electronic monitoring depends on those manning its controls. "The system only works well," he said, "if it has thoughtful, educated, careful human beings behind it."
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/us-plans-scan-workers-secret-clearances-22842685
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Texas
'We are burying a body,' teen suspect tells Texas police
by Ralph Ellis and Joe Sutton
Ask a simple question.
Police in Wylie, Texas, wanted to know what two teenagers were doing in the woods Saturday night.
"We are burying a body," one of them said.
They weren't kidding. When police looked in the woods northeast of Dallas they found the corpse of 17-year-old Ivan Mejia of Wylie. The two 16-year-olds were charged with murder.
Police first became interested when they checked out a suspicious, unoccupied vehicle backed up to the treeline, according to a department statement. Officers went into the woods and saw two suspects running from the area.
Police returned to the car and the 16-year-olds walked up and answered the question that set off bells, the statement said.
Mejia was killed behind Wylie East High School, where all three teenagers were students, and taken to the wooded area, police said. No motive has been released, but police say the killing was planned.
The school system said the incident was not connected to a school-sponsored activity.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/10/us/texas-juveniles-charged/
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Arizona
Literacy day shines spotlight on public safety
by Adam Curtis
SIERRA VISTA — When U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Chatlos was deployed to Kuwait for 15 months, his son was just 3 years old.
“There wasn't a book to explain to somebody so young, ‘hey I'm leaving but I'm coming back,'” Chatlos said.
So he wrote one.
Illustrated by former Marine Sgt. Michael Knight, whom Chatlos met while deployed, “Because Daddy's Coming Home Today” describes the day his son was waiting for.
On Friday, Chatlos shared his book with students at Town and Country Elementary School as part of its second-ever law enforcement literacy day. The Army soldiers were a new addition this year, joining police officers, firefighters, sheriff's deputies, Border Patrol agents and LifeNet helicopter pilots as they read to the students and taught them about what they do.
“I love it, I love the questions … You never know what the kids are going to say,” Chatlos said.
Organized by the school's PTO, the event capped off a week of literacy activities, honoring Dr. Seuss's birthday and national Read Across America Day.
“With literacy week, we really wanted to make reading fun,” PTO President Christy Gridley said. “It's a great opportunity for our students to see law enforcement in a positive setting. We can mix those good safety messages with reading.”
Plus kids are suckers for uniforms and toys.
“I like the ATV,” first-grader Daniel Raygoza said. He thought the Border Patrol agents were awesome.
“They, like, have gadgets,” he said.
After looking through a pair of night-vision binoculars, first-grader Nick Reeves said it looked blue and red.
“You could see people in the night, when they're hiding,” he said.
Reeves thinks the Border Patrol agents are important, “because they help our community,” he said.
“It's great, we love working with kids,” Border Patrol Agent Craig Hayes said. Promoting reading is a big plus too.
“They're going to need literacy for everything they do in life,” Hayes said.
Gridley said reading is the foundation of education. Earlier in the week, parents came in to read with their kids and share lunch. With some Title I dollars, the school was able to give them a book to take home.
“Books open doors for the imagination,” Gridley said.
The events also help expose parents to the school's Accelerated Reading program and reinforce preparation for the AIMS test.
An Army dad
Chatlos said he's had it easy.
“My kids, I lucked out, they love to read,” he said.
Still, being an Army dad can be tough. When he was deployed to Kuwait he didn't just leave his 3-year-old son at home, he also had to part with his 4-day-old daughter for the next 15 months.
“Skype is a wonderful thing,” Chatlos said.
Every night, as he prepared for bed, his family, back in Alaska, was just starting the day. “So, every morning, I would have breakfast with them,” he said.
Six years later, his son still values the book Chatlos wrote for him and brings copies to the library every time they move to a new post. His son did find fault with one detail.
The artist envisioned the story coming from the perspective of a daughter, not a son.
“He's nine now and he still gets mad at me,” Chatlos said.
http://www.svherald.com/content/adam-curtis/2014/03/09/368747
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Florida
Authorities honor four-legged partners
by Amanda Banks
PARKER – Jaz, a seven-year-old bloodhound, has tracked down missing children and sniffed out criminals. She has lived, trained and worked with her handler, Deputy Nick Hall, since she was a puppy.
“She does it for the praise. She doesn't like toys; she doesn't even have a toy in the house that she likes to play with. It's all about me getting excited and loving on her,” said Hall.
The Bay County Sheriff's Office honored police, military, search and rescue team and other service dogs like Jaz on Sunday in its sixth annual K9 Veterans Memorial Service.
“Any working dog from the past up to the present time, we want to honor them,” said Lt. Kevin Francis, who first had the idea to hold the annual service and has been in charge of it ever since.
This year's service was held in Parker's Memorial Park. Parker Mayor Richard Musgrave read a proclamation declaring March 13, the birthday of the United States K9 Corps, as K9 Veterans Day.
Previous services have been held in every Bay County city except Springfield, where it will be held next year.
“At that point, every city within this county has gone through the proclamation process of March 13 as K9 Veterans Day,” Francis said. That is his ultimate goal for the service; Francis may step down from heading it up every year once that goal is met, but he said the sheriff's office will still hold the yearly service.
The Warriors Watch Riders came out to honor the dogs as well. The group honors veterans in parades, at funerals and other memorial services. About a dozen members lined up with American flags at the park.
“These four-legged guys are also veterans … Just because they have four legs doesn't mean they aren't deserving of the honor and respect that they're entitled to,” said Ken Mouzon, a Warriors Watch Rider member.
Mouzon is a veteran himself and a former corrections officer who has worked with service dogs.
“They do their job and they're good at it,” he said of the dogs.
Several K9s stood quietly with their handlers as BCSO Lt. Dennes Hutto and Greg May, director of Gulf Coast State College's criminal justice program, spoke and read poems in ode to service dogs. Francis and a representative from Bay County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team read the names of service dogs that have retired or passed on.
The service closed with a shotgun salute and playing of “Taps.”
http://www.newsherald.com/news/crime-public-safety/authorities-honor-four-legged-partners-1.288887
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Massachusetts
Public safety plan, rules for spectators at Boston Marathon to be released
by Associated Press
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Public safety officials are getting ready to release more details about enhanced security for this year's Boston Marathon.
Local, state and federal agencies, the Boston Athletic Association and leaders from the eight communities that make up the marathon route are expected to reveal the new security measures during a news conference Monday at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency's headquarters in Framingham.
Authorities have been meeting for months to come up with a plan to beef up security for the April 21 marathon following last year's deadly terror attack. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the race.
This year, police are expecting about 36,000 runners and up to a million spectators.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/249230401.html
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New Hampshire
Opinion
Time to change a law that harms kids and public safety
by Rep. Kenneth L. Weyler
In 1995, I was serving my 4th term in the Legislature when New Hampshire lowered the age of juvenile jurisdiction so that 17-year-olds, no matter how minor the charges against them, would be prosecuted as adults. Those of us who favored the change, including then-Governor Steve Merrill, the Attorney General, state corrections officials and local law enforcement, were motivated by a desire to make our communities safer.
I am now serving my 13th term as a state legislator, and while it sometimes seems that things don't change that much at the Statehouse, or in society as a whole, some things do. While I am still motivated by a desire to keep communities safe, I have realized that it is time to return 17-year-olds to the juvenile justice system and treat kids as kids.
In 1995, treating 17-year-olds as adults seemed like sound policy, but two decades of new information, research and experience has changed my view on this issue. We should change the law and raise the age to 18 this year.
One reason is that the states around us have raised the age, so arguments we heard in the 1990s that drug dealers from Massachusetts and other states would take advantage of our laws and send juveniles here to commit crimes are not valid. We are one of only ten states in the nation that still prosecute children under 18 in the adult system. Another compelling reason is that we know a lot more about brain development than we did twenty years ago. Anyone who has raised teenagers knows that adolescents often have a limited capacity to think through the consequences of their actions. Teenagers are risk-takers and are highly susceptible to peer pressure. Neuroscience tells us that the human brain continues to develop into the mid-twenties, and the last area to reach maturity is the frontal cortex — the seat of judgment. So law breaking as an adolescent does not necessarily lead to a life of crime. Most kids will reform, under the right circumstances.
Research shows that young offenders who are handled in the juvenile justice system are less likely to repeat their crimes than those who go to the adult system. Adult prosecution also increases the likelihood that young offenders will escalate into violent crime. A 1996 study found that the recidivism rate went up 90 percent for kids who did time in adult facilities. The same study showed that processing in adult court increased by 80 percent the likelihood of being subsequently arrested for a weapons offense. Multiple studies in various states have shown similar results.
Something else that has changed measurably since 1995 is the prevalence of youth crime, which was a large part of the argument for lowering the age to 17. Both nationally and in New Hampshire, juvenile delinquency is on the decline. In 2003, the state processed 5,800 delinquency cases; by 2012, the number fell to 2,880, a drop of just over half. We have the capacity to add 17-year-olds to our juvenile justice system; and even with the addition of 17-year-olds, the juvenile justice system will still be smaller than it was in 2003.
The vast majority of offenses committed by people under 18 are misdemeanors, and if the age is raised, judges will still have the option of transferring any juvenile accused of a felony to adult court. Even 17-year-olds who receive long sentences will eventually be released. The younger the offender, the more important it is that our policies promote rehabilitation. Adult prosecution does the opposite.
I am a firm believer that young people should be held accountable, but it should be within the juvenile justice system where they'll be mandated to go to school, have counseling and participate in other rehabilitative activities. We know that most adolescents who engage in delinquent acts do not persist in crime long into adulthood. The juvenile justice system capitalizes on adolescents' capacity for rehabilitation, while the adult system diminishes it. Putting children in an adult prison gives them a new peer group — adult criminals — which exposes them to horrific danger.
Returning 17-year-olds to the juvenile system is the right thing to do, for our kids and for the safety of our communities. It's time for New Hampshire to join 40 other states and raise the age to 18.
Rep. Kenneth Weyler (R) represents the towns of Kingston and Hampstead.
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