Police @ MindSay

By Army Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson

Special to American Forces Press Service

 

May 16, 2008 - More than 300 former members of "Sons of Iraq" graduated to Iraqi police officers during a ceremony at Kirkuk Police Academy on May 15. The students graduated after eight weeks of training here.

 

"The Kirkuk province has shown tremendous progress in the last year. Events like this prove we are taking the necessary steps to show the world this province will stand together to defeat terrorists and establish rule of law," Army Col. David Paschal, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, told the graduating class.

 

All the graduates are residents of Hawijah district, about 60 miles southwest of Kirkuk city. This area saw the region's worst violence against civilians, Iraq security forces, and coalition forces. Officials reported 10 to 15 attacks daily.

 

"This is a great day," a student names Badri, 22, said. "I am so grateful to the coalition forces and Lieutenant Colonel Vanek who gave us an opportunity to join our Iraqi security forces and serve our country and our people."

 

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher Vanek is commander of 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment. The unit's area of operation covers Hawijah district, which has a Sons of Iraq program with more than 7,500 members.

 

The new recruits will be returning to fill Iraqi police vacancies within Hawijah district, filling a critical need for police there. For many, this milestone is the direct result of the security gains in the region, specifically in Hawijah, which has seen an 80 percent drop in violent attacks since December's inception of the Sons of Iraq program, Paschal said.

 

"I was once a farmer unable to earn enough to feed my family. I had no choices," Ghafli, 29, another student, said. "I will now return home with my head held high with a job and in a [Iraqi police] uniform."

 

"I would never have considered becoming an IP a year ago," Badri said.

 

"And if we did," Ghafli added, "we would never wear the uniform. It was a mark of death."

 

The students of the predominantly Sunni-Arab graduating class lauded the multi-ethnic environment at the academy. Instructors include Kurdish, Turkman, Christian and Arab ethnicities.

 

"We took an oath to serve and protect Iraqis. That is what we are, and it is our responsibility to uphold the rule of law. What you are does not matter," Monir, 28, said. "We are all brothers."

 

(Army Staff Sgt. Margaret C. Nelson is assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Mountain Division.)

Perspectives and Practical Solutions for Implementing Change, Making Reforms, and Handling Crises for Managers and Union Leader

 

The purpose of this project was to create a practitioner’s guide for police managers and police unions that seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding the two sides of policing, and offer some principled and practical solutions to surviving in the 21st century world of policing that is becoming more and more complex and complicated. The basic goals of the project were the following:

 

Survey police unions and police management on the current state of labor-management relations in their agencies with an emphasis on implementing change in the direction and operations of the law enforcement agency or reform in the agency

 

Analyze the survey data to determine those aspects of the labor-management relationship that would appear to be the most cooperative and those aspects that would appear to be the least cooperative when the law enforcement agency is desirous of change or reform, i.e., what is working and what is not

 

Create a model police labor-management process to implement change and reform the law enforcement agency

 

Develop an educational and training program for police union leaders and police management in how to implement change in a law enforcement agency in a cooperative manner

 

Establish methods to encourage police unions and police management to work together to make the reduction of crime a part of their relationship (with or without the right to collective bargaining) and to develop a shared vision of a safer community.

 

This project was not designed to be a “how to” book on collective bargaining, grievance handling, arbitration, or bargaining impasse resolutions. Change or reform of a law enforcement agency would include, but not be limited to such traditional change agents as the use of force by police, corruption in the agency, ineffectiveness or inefficiency of the agency, racial profiling and other minority complaints, diversity in promotions and in hiring, and mismanagement of agency personnel and resources. The project was to include information on how to gain the cooperative implementation of community-oriented policing concepts by creating ownership in the program for the police union and police management. The most serious problem facing the police profession in the 21st century is how to implement change or reform in a law enforcement agency in the most cooperative manner with the least amount of disruption to the operations of the agency.

 

The police are one of the most powerful and visible arm of the government.

Individual police officers are empowered to detain, arrest, subdue, and under justifiable circumstances, injure or kill a citizen in order to perform their duties. Police officers are reluctant and resistant to change or reform, especially when the officers perceive the change or reform as politically motivated. A case in point is that despite an obvious hue and cry for citizen control of the police by elected officials, the media, and the public, the few existing citizen review boards in the United States generally are powerless to investigate or charge individual police officers with misconduct or implement reforms in a police department.

 

DOWNLOAD THE BOOK

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/e07063417.pdf

 

By Gerry J. Gilmore

American Forces Press Service

 

May 15, 2008 - Iraqi and U.S. forces are making progress while performing counterinsurgency and reconstruction missions across Iraq, a senior U.S. military officer posted in Iraq said yesterday.  Iraqi and coalition forces continue to make gains in establishing security and enforcing the rule of law in Baghdad, Mosul and Basra over the past week, Army Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.

 

In Basra, Iraqi forces involved in an operation dubbed "Sawlat al Fursan," or "Charge of the Knights," are busily removing illegal weapons, fighting and arresting insurgents and other criminals and providing assistance to local citizens.

 

"The Iraqi security forces are maintaining a strong presence" in Basra, Bergner reported, noting Iraqi soldiers and police are setting up security stations throughout the city and chasing down insurgents.

 

About 3,000 Basra residents are involved in cleanup operations as part of a nearly $60 million program designed to improve the city's health care system, municipal services, electricity provision capability, public communications and youth services, Bergner said.

 

Iraqi soldiers and coalition troops recently provided medical services to residents of Basra's Qibla district, Bergner reported. And, at the Umm Qasr port, Iraqi sailors increased water-borne patrols by 20 percent, he added.

 

In Baghdad, Operation Enforcing the Law, or "Fardh al-Qanoon" in Arabic, continues onward, Bergner said, with Iraqi and coalition forces working in tandem with residents to increase security, restore essential services such as water, sewage and electricity, open businesses, build schools, and repair streets and dwellings.

 

A recent economic seminar held in Baghdad's Hurriya sector drew more than 150 local businesses, Bergner said. Members of the neighborhood council told budding entrepreneurs how to obtain micro-loans to start up businesses, he said.

 

A Baghdad-based school for gifted students was reopened after being closed for seven months, Bergner said, and a new public works substation was opened in the Ghazaliyah district. The substation will provide four more sewage-collection trucks, six trash trucks, and other equipment to provide essential services.

 

However, Baghdad continues to be plagued by insurgent violence, Bergner acknowledged.

 

"Criminal violence continues to disrupt efforts by the government of Iraq and coalition forces to restore services, encourage business development, and ensure the safety of schools and other municipal activities," Bergner said.

 

For example, an Iraqi army detachment in Sadr City was recently attacked by an insurgent's roadside bomb, the general said.

 

"These attacks have caused loss of life and considerable hardship for innocent Iraqis, and seeing the attacks stop would be heartening," Bergner said.

 

In Mosul, Iraqi forces have launched a new counterinsurgency offensive, Bergner reported.

 

The initial phase of the Mosul effort "has featured intensified operations by the Iraqi security forces and it is building on the operations that have been under way for the past several weeks," Bergner explained.

 

"These Iraqi-planned, Iraqi-led operations have established bases and checkpoints in Mosul," he continued, "and have featured numerous raids on al-Qaida in Iraq cells that are using indiscriminate violence to intimidate, assassinate and wound innocent people in the city."

 

For example, the Iraqi and coalition forces-conducted Operation Lion's Roar in Mosul has resulted in the detention of some 500 terrorists and criminals, Bergner reported. Scores of enemy weapons caches containing explosives, machine guns, mortars and ammunition, and more have been uncovered across the city, he added.

 

"Much of the recent progress we have seen in Basra, Baghdad and Mosul is due to the efforts of Iraqi security forces," Bergner said.

 

Iraqi police posted in Baghdad's Kut, Yusufiyah and Radwaniyah districts have embarked on security patrols in recent weeks to uncover corruption and to improve neighborhood security and police station operations, Bergner said.

 

And recent police and recruiting drives for "Sons of Iraq" citizen security groups across Baghdad have shown Iraqis from all communities volunteering to protect their country, Bergner observed, adding that nearly 500 new Iraqi police officers recently graduated from the Baghdad police academy.

 

In addition, about 43,000 new Iraqi soldiers completed basic combat training this year, Bergner said. In April, some 700 Iraqi army engineers completed six months of extensive training in electrical and pipeline repair and explosives ordnance disposal, he added.

 

Several Iraqi military engineering graduates helped to build two floating bridges in Beiji that connect Salahuddin and Kirkuk, Bergner said.

 

By these accomplishments, Iraqi military forces demonstrated "that they are not only improving security, but they are also providing reconstruction support to help local communities," Bergner told reporters.

 

Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces continue to gain the confidence of the citizens they serve, while "increasing their capacity to hold onto hard-fought gains," the general said.

Idaho Lab Develops a Quicker Way to Catch a Thief

The Columbian, (04/28/2008), Todd Dvorak

 

A faster and possibly cheaper method of human identification using antibodies, unique to everyone, has been developed by Federal researchers. However, proponents want to stress this new method is not designed to replace present DNA testing. These antibodies can be found in bodily fluid and are used by the body to fight disease or assist in any number of other bodily functions. The technology to conduct this testing has been licensed to Identity Sciences LLC, and by fall 2009 the company anticipates providing testing kits and training to the law enforcement, military, and forensic communities worldwide.

news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP04282008news310529.cfm?modifyFont=L

 

Microsoft Helps Law Enforcement Get Around Encryption

PC World, (04/29/2008), Nancy Gohring

 

Encryption software use by cyber criminals is increasing, and in an effort to assist law enforcement in getting around such technology, Microsoft has developed the Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE) toolkit. Microsoft first released the product last June for free and it is now in use by roughly 2,000 agents worldwide. This software, made up of 150 tools, can be stored on a USB flash drive for use at the scene of a crime. This mobility and portability can prevent officers from having to turn off a computer, which can result in lost data. Also, processing a computer with COFEE can take about 20 minutes, versus previous methods that produced results in 3 to 4 hours.

www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145318/microsoft_helps_law_enforcement_get_around_enc

 

Dallas-Area Law Enforcement Agencies Unveiling Online Services to Share Local Crime Reports

The Dallas Morning News, (05/02/2008), Richard Abshire

 

The Plano Police Department hopes that keeping the community informed regarding crimes that occur near churches, homes, or schools will be key in developing strong working relations with the citizens they serve. Citizens can sign up to receive e-mail alerts using a system that is accessible through the crimereports.com website. The system can also provide the public with access to incident reports by location on a map, along with a description of the crime and other related information. This can be useful for Neighborhood Watch groups and coordinators, as well as free up time relating to routine requests for records.

www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/plano/stories/DN-planopd_02met.ART.North.Edition1.46e5342.html

 

Simulator Trains Police for the Worst

KAAL TV, (05/01/2008), Jackie Orozco

 

Simulators offer officers and cadets a safe place to learn and prepare for the volatile and nastiest situations their job can offer. As real-life situations such as college campus or school shootings become more common, the simulator can be updated to include the situation as part of the training scenarios. Officers and cadets are provided with a special 9mm weapon and expected to verbally interact with the scenario as it takes place. The simulator is also capable of shooting back at participants and plans are in place to add a "recoil pack" to the 9mm to offer even more realism to the experience.

kaaltv.com/article/stories/S430530.shtml?cat=10151

 

Technology Deters Bank Robberies

Madison County Journal, (05/01/2008), Staff Reporter

 

Would-be bank robbers in Madison County (Mississippi) are facing deterrent mechanisms of the high-tech kind with digital surveillance and the low-tech kind with common courtesy or "Southern hospitality." Area banks, while working with law enforcement, have installed digital surveillance to achieve higher resolution images of most bank patrons. However, banks are also finding that being courteous and welcoming bank patrons as they enter can also have a deterrent effect and give would-be robbers a moment of pause. Another alternative deterrent method is banks implementing "dress codes" that forbid the wearing of hoods or clothing that can conceal a person's identity.

www.onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=20188&TM=18291.84

 

Google Adapts YouTube's Copyright-ID Technology to Combat Child-Porn

International Business Times, (05/01/2008), Vivek Gangjee

 

Google is working to fight child pornography. Google engineers have repurposed a video and image analysis tool used to identify and remove copyright-protected videos from its YouTube site. Google has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to test the technology, which will identify patterns in still images and videos. NCMEC can use the analysis to track down predators. The tools have been developed to help NCMEC arrange and index its data, as well as cross-reference historical data, for better, more efficient handling of new images and footage submitted to the center. The goal of this technology and the partnership is to make it more difficult for predators to use the Web to exploit children or traffic child pornography.

in.ibtimes.com/articles/20080501/google-child-pornography-youtube-copyright-technology-ncmec.htm

 

Amber Alert Technology Will be Used to Notify Public of Officer's death in Line of Duty

Suncoast News, (05/06/2008), Associated Press

 

A 56 percent increase in officer deaths across Florida has prompted an executive order that indicates that the State's Amber Alert system will be activated in the event of an officer being wounded or killed in the line of duty. The alerts will broadcast when an officer has been reported down and provide further information regarding the incident.

www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=8276061&nav=menu577_2_1

 

The Camera That Wears a Badge

The New York Times, (05/04/2008), Joe Sharkey

 

Photo enforcement to catch red-light runners or speeders has all but eliminated the need for law enforcement to hide behind bushes and billboards waiting to stop motorists. However, with the implementation of photo enforcement has also come some unexpected results such as an increase in citations to rental companies. When the rental companies receive these fines they pay the fee and then charge the customer the fine plus a processing fee. Also, in anticipation of the revenue from the cameras, some municipalities are rewriting motor vehicle codes so that such violations are treated like parking tickets with no points being issued. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which supports camera use, feels the cameras assist the law enforcement community, whose resources are stretched, keep up with vehicle violations. But motorists are using the Web to find services offered by Njection or Trapster to locate both manned and photo-enforcement locations.

www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04bug.html?ref=technology

 

Street Sweeper Cameras Get OK

Washington Times, (05/07/2008), David C. Lipscomb

 

The District of Columbia Council recently passed legislation to allow the installment of license plate scanning cameras on the city's fleet of 20 street sweepers. Initially, two sweepers will be outfitted for testing prior to the entire fleet being updated. The cameras will allow the Department of Public Works to be more proficient in ticketing violators who park on street-cleaning routes. For the first 45days after cameras are installed, violators will receive warnings. After the 45-day grace period ends, violators will receive a $30 ticket in the mail.

www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080507/METRO/684495592&SearchID=73317047977076

This is an intensive Driving Course designed for police diplomatic protection specialists, and private security professionals.  Exercises will be performed with multiple vehicles working in as a team in evasive situations as well as in a motorcade environment.  This is a well-developed course for those who are serious operators. We will cover “J” Turns, Forward 180’s, “Y” Turns, numerous evasive drills and lead/follow exercises. This class will also touch on vehicle dynamics helping you to understand what a vehicle can and cannot do. We will also have a block of firearms training. We will cover shooting from a vehicle as well as using a vehicle as cover. It is recommended that you rent a full size sedan or an SUV for the course (this is typically what you would be driving while on a detail).  The course tuition is $475.00 and is instructed by Professional Driver Randy Robinson.  Randy is known within the law enforcement community for his ability to teach a student the necessary skills to a professional standard in a relatively short period of time and is also an award winning instructor.  This experience will help keep you and your client safe, when it matters the most.  This class is instructed in the North Texas area.

 

This class is limited in size so make your reservation early.  Contact HD Boar at

469- 222-8740 or register online at www.hdboar.com

 

Students will need to bring pistol, 150-200 rounds of ammunition, and body armor.

 

Course Dates: June 21st- 22nd

Class times are 8am-6pm