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June 28, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On July 5, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with O’Neil De Noux, a police officer-turned-writer. He has worked as a homicide detective and organized crime investigator. He has also been a private investigator, U.S. Army combat photographer, criminal intelligence analyst, newspaper writer, magazine editor, computer graphics designer and creative writing instructor.
Program Date: July 5, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Crescent City Crime
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/06/Crescent-City-Crime
About the Guest
As a police officer, O’Niel De Noux received seven commendations for solving difficult murder cases. In 1981, he was named ‘Homicide Detective of the Year’ for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. In 1989, he was proclaimed an ‘Expert Witness’ on the homicide crime scene in Criminal District Court, New Orleans, LA.
O’Niel De Noux’s published novels include: Grim Reaper, The Big Kiss, Blue Orleans, Crescent City Kills and the Big Show. His short story collections include Hollow Point/The Mystery of Rochelle Marais and Lastanza: New Orleans Police Stories; which received an “A” rating from Entertainment Weekly Magazine. O’Niel De Noux adapted one of the Lastanza stories “Waiting for Alaina” into a screenplay, which was filmed in New Orleans and broadcast on local TV in 2001.
In March 2006, New Orleans Confidential, a collection of 1940’s noir private-eye short stories was published by PointBlank Press. According to Weekly, “Former homicide detective De Noux turns out an engaging, fast-paced collection of stories featuring private eye and womanizer extraordinaire Lucien Caye as he tracks philandering husbands, possible murderers and missing cats. Set predominantly against the rich backdrop of 1940s New Orleans, these stories-abounding with ample bosoms and willing women-are fun, and the author knows his stuff when it comes to the Big Easy.” Another Lucien Caye story, The Heart Has Reasons, won the Private Eye Writer’s of America’s prestigious Shamus Award for Best Short Story 2007.
Besides his novels, O’Neil De Noux has had over 200 short stories published. Until Hurricane Katrina, he taught creative writing and mystery writing courses at the University of New Orleans and Delgado Community College and McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, from 1993 to 2005. He is the founding editor of two fiction magazines, Mystery Street and New Orleans Stories.
Currently, O’Neil De Noux has two original short stories Guilty of Dust and Sin and Maria’s Hand available on Amazon Shorts, an audio story “Ankle Biters of Old Arizona; or, Attack of the Wild Chihuahuas (on Sniplits.com) and stories forthcoming in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, as well as a number of anthologies.
After his home was seriously damaged by Hurricane Katrina, O’Neil De Noux re-settled on the northshore of Lake Pontchartrain in 2006 and returned to law enforcement. He is currently a Police Investigator with the Southeastern Louisiana University Police Department in Hammond, LA.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
909.599.7530
Avalanche Photodiodes Target Bioterrorism Agents
“Researchers have shown that a new class of ultraviolet photodiode could help meet the U.S. military's pressing requirement for compact, reliable and cost-effective sensors to detect anthrax and other bioterrorism agents in the air.” (Medical News Today; 27June08) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112926.php
Viruses rewritten
“A gene by any other name is not quite the same, and scientists could exploit that fact to develop new vaccines for viral diseases, research suggests. By ‘misspelling’ the genetic code of the virus that causes polio so that the virus still reproduced but did so a thousand times slower than normal, researchers created a weakened version of the virus that trained mice’s immune systems to fight off the real one.” (Science News; 26June08; Patrick Barry) http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33671/title/Viruses_rewritten
CDC faces challenge of aging work force
“More than a quarter of workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta — and more than a third of its medical officers — will be eligible to retire in the next five years. Replacing them will be difficult because of a national shortage of public health professionals, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution; 27June08; Alison Young) http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/06/27/cdc_workers.html
NEOUCOM [Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy], KSU [Kent State University] get bioterrorism grant
“Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy and Kent State University have been awarded $6.7 million for the continued development and commercialization of a real-time pathogen detection instrument.” (Vindy; 27June08) http://www.vindy.com/news/2008/jun/27/colleges-receive-grant-for-bioterror-detection/
Smiths Detection Launches Smart Trigger For Biological Agent Detection
“Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, announced the launch of SmartBio™ Sensor (SBS), a real-time detector for biological agents or airborne toxins. SBS provides a visual or audio alarm when a bio-threat is detected and classifies the agent by threat category.” (Medical News Today; 27June08) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112951.php
Arthur Galston, botanist, died on June 15th, aged 88
“If you had asked him, on one of his visits to Vietnam in those years, whether Agent Orange was directly responsible for the sarcomas, lesions and deformities, he would have replied, like the careful scientist he was, that it was hard to make a connection solid enough to stand up in a court of law. But three things he was sure of. First, Agent Orange had caused ‘an ecological disaster’ that might take decades to repair. Second, its use contravened the Geneva protocols against chemical and biological warfare. And third, he had a responsibility to speak, because this agent of horror was partly his child.” (The Economist; 26June08)
http://www.economist.com/obituary/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11613789
Iran: US should disarm chemical weapons
"‘The Islamic Republic of Iran is a main victim of chemical warfare as Iraq attacked the country for eight years using weapons of mass destruction. Iran expects the international community to bring war criminal to justice and force major powers, including the US and the occupying regime of al-Quds [Jerusalem], to take practical steps in fulfilling their international obligations, particularly concerning chemical disarmament,’ reads a statement released Friday by Iran's Foreign Ministry.” (Press TV; 27June08)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=61673§ionid=351020101
Hanford Nuclear Services, Inc. (HNS) to sell US Patent 6805815, Unique ‘Dirty Bomb’ Cleanup Polymer
“Hanford Nuclear Services, Inc. (HNS), a leading research and advisory firm for the nuclear and environmental industries, announces the sale of US Patent 6805815, ‘Composition For Shielding Radioactivity’ through a website that offers access to patent, test data, an applications presentation, and portable deployment system information (http://hns.adventdes.com).” (STL Today; 25June08)
http://www.stltoday.com/pr/business/PR06250807471293
N. Korea declares nuclear program, but what's next?
“The Bush administration hailed North Korea's declaration of its nuclear program as a success for the multilateral diplomacy it engaged in through the Six Party Talks with South Korea, China, Japan and Russia. […] But as important as what the document says is what it doesn't say. There is no mention of how many weapons North Korea has or where they are hidden. Nor did North Korea admit to a suspected uranium enrichment program or what nuclear secrets it may have shared with Syria. Both issues are reduced in the declaration to ‘concerns’ which Pyongyang promises to address down the road.” (CNN; 27June08; Elise Labott) http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/26/nkorea.nuclear.negotiating/
Ensuring public safety
“Interpol is the world's largest international police organization, with 186 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. Terrorism poses a grave threat to individuals' lives and national security around the world. Interpol has therefore made available various resources to support member countries in their efforts to protect their citizens from terrorism, including bio-terrorism; firearms and explosives; attacks against civil aviation; maritime piracy; and weapons of mass destruction.”
(The New Nation; 27June08)
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2008/06/27/news0679.htm
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
MDI, Inc.'s LearnSafe™ Initiative Launches LearnSafe Direct™ -Nation's First and Only School Safety and Security Products and Services Catalog
BusinessWire, (06/09/2008)
MDI, Inc, creators of the LearnSafe Initiative, has published the LearnSafe Direct catalog, which is geared entirely toward marketing school safety and technology products, services, and training to educational institutions. LearnSafe staff will be attending and conducting presentations at various events over the summer to the target audience for their catalog and using these events to educate attendees on the value of school safety initiatives that involve the entire district. The company also announced a product called Sentinel, which will allow authorized personnel to remotely log into school surveillance cameras and control the units' functions for review before, during, and after an incident occurs.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080609005712&newsLang=en
The Many Roles of Thermal Imaging in Law Enforcement
Advanced Imaging Magazine, (06/2008), David Lee
Thermal imaging technology, once reserved for the 5 percent of the 5,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States that have aerial patrol units, is now being made available to the 95 percent of agencies that do not have aerial patrol capabilities. Developments in this field have yielded units that are capable of being mounted to poles or patrol vehicles, and officers can now use handheld units while on patrol. These capabilities were once believed to be unattainable, but now are available for patrol officers in the air, on land, and in water. They can be portable or stationary depending on the need of the department.
www.advancedimagingpro.com/print/Advanced-Imaging-Magazine/The-Many-Roles-of-Thermal-Imaging-in-Law-Enforcement/1$5203
Leverage Leads Wireless Video Surveillance Solution for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's ASAP Program
FoxBusiness, (06/06/2008)
In an attempt to increase officer safety and decrease the amount of crime in Lynwood, California, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Century Station, has implemented the Advanced Surveillance and Protection (ASAP) program. Developers of the program based it on the adoption of multiple crime prevention technologies such as gunshot detection and automated license plate recognition. In addition to those technologies is wireless video surveillance in the Lynwood area. The sheriff's department received a recommendation from another vendor on the ASAP project to collaborate with Leverage Information Systems to implement the wireless video solution. The system is laid out to stream video to the dispatch center, and dispatchers can then monitor and inform patrols regarding incidents or crimes as they happen. The added plus of such a system is that dispatchers can provide deputies critical information prior to arrival on scene that can increase the deputies' safety.
www.foxbusiness.com/story/leverage-leads-wireless-video-surveillance-solution-los-angeles-county-sheriffs/
Police Agencies Worldwide Lock Down Computing Costs With NComputing Solution
iStockAnalyst, (06/09/2008)
Law Enforcement agencies are using a new virtual desktop tool to help reduce the expense of purchasing desktop computers that are rarely used by officers. Because officers spend the bulk of their shifts out on patrol, the purchase of a desktop computer that will ultimately be left unattended and unused has become an information technology expense that some agencies can no longer afford. NComputing has created a product that allows multiple officers to share one desktop computer. The tool was developed based on the idea that today's computers are very powerful, but not used to full capacity. With this tool, users with separate peripheral equipment (mouse and keyboard), can log onto one desktop computer and maximize the computer's capacity without severely affecting an agency's budget.
www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle+articleid_2270785~title_Police-Agencies.html
Cool Technology Beats the Heat This Summer
PR Web, (06/09/2008)
A new product has been developed for use by public safety and K-9 units to help them deal with and beat the summer heat. The company's original product line was designed to keep wine cool, but sensing a need, Cooltech Marketing, Inc. developed a product line for body cooling. The products designed specifically for law enforcement include a safety-reflective vest and body armor inserts designed to maintain a 59-degree temperature, and a canine body cooling vest and cool mats that maintain 65 degrees. The units are designed to be re-cooled in a freezer for 30 minutes, but the user can use ice water if a freezer isn't available.
www.prweb.com/releases/staying_cool/body_cooling_products/prweb991324.htm
Local Police Share Secure Wireless Network in Wisconsin
Government Technology, (06/09/2008), Jessica Hughes
In Wisconsin three cities in particular-Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairies-have some obvious similarities with regard to population size, distance between each city, and location in relation to the State capital of Madison. The cities, however, have other similarities that aren't as obvious. They share an encrypted wireless network responsible for connecting the police departments of all three cities, a multitude of high-tech software, and the joint Multi-Jurisdictional Public Safety Information System (MPSIS) task force in charge of it all. The initial purpose for this task force was to overhaul the records management system. Since then MPSIS has expanded its role to help obtain other updated technology, and in so doing, has achieved a cost savings.
www.govtech.com/gt/articles/366276
Traffic Ticket System Takes High-Tech Turn
MontgomeryAdvertiser.com, (06/11/2008), Jill Nolin
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Montgomery Police Department are preparing for the implementation of 33 e-citation systems that will eliminate the traditional handwritten citations. The county is hoping to have the units installed in 27 cruisers, using State funding of $25,000 to pay for most of the cost. At present, the city has six cruisers equipped with e-citation units. Officers will be able to swipe a motorist's license, input into their laptop data relating to location and type of offense, and then that information will go directly to the Alabama Office of the Courts. Officers hope the system will reduce motorist complaints regarding handwriting and streamline the process of issuing a citation.
www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS/806110344&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
Local Congressman Focuses on Improving Uses of DNA
Pasadenanow.com, (06/12/2008), Staff Writer
Representative Adam Schiff, who represents the area of Pasadena, California, introduced four amendments in Congress that will improve law enforcement's use of DNA tools for helping apprehend violent criminals and reduce the DNA backlog of samples waiting processing. Schiff's first amendment seeks to create an incentive program that would make States that collect DNA samples from suspects arrested for murder or sex crimes eligible for additional funding from the Federal Government. The second amendment establishes new standards for use of the Federal DNA indexes, so that uploading to the system by State and local forensic labs is a speedier and smoother process. Amendment three came about as a result of a report that indicated that investigators and prosecutors were not following up on crime scene DNA when matches were made. Schiff's third amendment calls for the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, to look into how DNA database matches are checked ! and followed by prosecutors and report the findings. The report will be used to examine why matches are not followed up on and determine if additional crimes could have been prevented. The final amendment allows States that establish permanent funding for DNA analysis to receive matching funds from the U.S. Attorney General.
www.pasadenanow.com/_News/publish/article_2465.html
Nassau to Test Sensor That Detects Gunshots, Location
Newsday, (06/12/2008), William Murphy
A three-square mile of Uniondale and Roosevelt (New York) will become the test bed for Nassau police to try a gunshot detection system. The rationale for choosing this location is that the police have retrieved 128 guns identified as being used to commit crime. City officials plan to use forfeiture fund to pay for the ShotSpotter, Inc., system, which has be implemented in other cities throughout the United States. If the system is considered a successful test use of the product will be expanded with in the county.
www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-poshot125723746jun12,0,7119348.story
Segway Officers Roll with the Beat
Juneauempire.com, (06/13/2008), Greg Skinner
Using Juneau's cruise ship head tax, Juneau police have been able to create the Paid Reserve Officer program. After being retired for 3 years, Juneau Police Officer Rayme Vinson returned to take the position of Reserve Officer. He is one of five officers participating in the Reserve Officer Program who handle issues related to crowds of tourists coming in on ships. The years of previous experience that these officers bring to the program benefits the community and helps the department reallocate regular patrol officers to handle normal police work. The unit has two Segways that are on loan from the Federal Government, which allow the reserve officers to patrol from an elevated standpoint. The used of Segways makes the officers more visible to tourists who may need assistance, and gives them better visibility of the surrounding area.
www.juneauempire.com/stories/061308/loc_290344483.shtml
Duct tape, Biohazard labs, and Q fever
“Every once in awhile we read about a breech in the security of biomedical laboratories. Sometimes these are serious, such as when the Ebola like Marburg virus outbreak in German lab workers that killed seven people in 1967. But many barely make the front pages. The latest outbreak from biomedical laboratories occurred at the esteemed CDC laboratory in Atlanta last year, when several people came down with Q fever.” (Blogger News Network; 25June08; Nancy Reyes)
http://www.bloggernews.net/116394
Morphotek to develop bio-warfare therapy
“The U.S. Defense Department has contracted Morphotek Inc. to further develop antibody therapies for soldiers exposed to microbial biological weapons. Pennsylvania-based Morphotek was awarded $1.7 million in funding support to continue development of biologic-based monoclonal antibody therapies. Officials say the therapies are an effort to develop therapeutic mAbs to treat diseases threatening soldiers when exposed to biological warfare pathogens.” (UPI; 24June08) http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/06/24/Morphotek_to_develop_bio-warfare_therapy/UPI-16741214324946/
Smiths Detection Launches Smart Trigger for Biological Agent Detection
“Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announced the launch of SmartBio(TM) Sensor (SBS), a real-time detector for biological agents or airborne toxins. SBS provides a visual or audio alarm when a bio-threat is detected and classifies the agent by threat category.” (Centre Daily; 25June08) http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/677860.html
Training course on implementation of CWC concluded
“A training course on implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was concluded here on Wednesday. The two-day course, which was organized by the National Committee for Banning Chemical, Biological and Poisonous Weapons (NCBCBPW) in cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), aimed at elaborating capabilities of 30 participants of customs employees on dealing with chemical substances used in chemical weapons industry.” (Saba News; 25June08) http://www.sabanews.net/en/news157529.htm
Opening Address at the Global Biological-Chemical Training Event [Patricia A. McNerney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Security and Nonproliferation]
“I want to join in thanking each of you for taking the time to participate in this important training conference. I know that many of you have traveled a great distance to be here today, and that each of you has an essential role to play in further promoting chemical and biological safety and security. I applaud your interest and proactive collaboration. I also thank our local hosts in Thailand, who continue to provide an invaluable resource for these regional events, as well as our Embassy staff and technical trainers, without whom this event would not be possible.” (State Department; 24June08) http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/106214.htm
Cell’s inner workings described
“He lived in Luton, north of London. Other than that, Mohammed Junaid Babar knew him only as ‘Q.’ Babar, a key witness in the Khawaja terrorism trial, testified yesterday that in the summer of 2003 this man, known only by an initial, sent young Islamic radicals to Pakistan on ‘fact-finding missions.’ […] There were also lessons in poisoning, with Babar keeping ‘a little seed’ of ricin in his house.” (Winnipeg Sun; 25June08; Donna Casey) http://winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/06/25/5978691-sun.html
Tests for poison leave Bangladeshi lawyers hooked
“The visiting Bangladeshi attorneys were certainly kept entertained when they arrived to observe proceedings in the Ennis conspiracy to murder trial in the Central Criminal Court. As the trial of Sharon Collins and Essam Eid entered its sixth week, the jury heard details of interviews with the two accused, laboratory tests for ricin poison, as well as ‘disputed charges’ on an American Express credit card registered to Clare businessman PJ Howard.”
(Herald; 24June08)
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/tests-for-poison-leave-bangladeshi-lawyers-hooked-1420233.html
Ark. military arsenal finishes weapons destruction [Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas]
“A simple message in white paint adorned the last VX nerve-agent land mine that rolled through a conveyor belt on its way to incineration at the Pine Bluff Arsenal – ‘LONG TIME COMING.’ With its destruction, central Arkansas became free from the danger posed by deadly nerve agents for the first time since the 1960s, when the weapons arrived at what was once the Army's second largest stockpile in the nation.” (Forbes; 23June08; Jon Gambrell, Associated Press) http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/23/ap5144643.html
Mescal veteran hopes his experience will help others
“When Charles 'Roy' Curtis of Mescal realized his hearing was failing, he made an appointment with a doctor at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. But instead of getting fitted for hearing aids, doctors discovered Curtis had a lung tumor and is likely suffering effects of Agent Orange exposure.” (Benson News; 24June08; Terri Jo Neff) http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/06/24/news/news07.txt
SwRI [Southwest Research Institute] awarded grant to develop nerve agent antidote
“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded a one-year, $1.3 million grant to the Southwest Research Institute to develop and test a nerve agent antidote that can be administered with an injection. The institute is currently in the fourth year of a six-year contract to develop and test the stability of a drug that reverses symptoms caused by exposure to a chemical warfare agent.” (San Antonio Business Journal; 24June08)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/06/23/daily15.html
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protection
“Mark Seed, Subhash Anand, Baljinder Kandola and Robert Fulford review the use of impermeable, permeable and semi-permeable ensembles for military and police forces high-threat situations, with particular emphasis on permeable systems, discussing the selection of fibres, fabrics and laminates, as well as processes. The armed forces and emergency services face an array of extreme conditions that necessitates they use protective clothing. Broadly defined these include threats from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials. Moreover, in a hostile situation the clothing may also be expected to protect against ballistic impacts, shrapnel and slashing.” (Red Orbit; 25June08; Seed, et.al.) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1448985/chemical_biological_radiological_and_nuclear_protection/
CNS ChemBio-WMD Terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.
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