Budget cuts are forcing police around the country to stop responding to fraud, burglary and theft calls as officers focus limited resources on violent crime.

BERLIN – Ever thought twice about posting a party picture on Facebook, fearing it could someday hurt your chance at a dream job? A draft German law is supposed to solve the problem by making it illegal for prospective employers to spy on applicants’ private postings.

OAKLAND — Robberies and assaults rose 8.5 percent in a one-month period from July 13 to Aug. 13, a time when 80 police officers left the streets because of layoffs, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Oakland Police Officers Association.

Tip of the week: Citizens Arrests

Story of the Week: Curfew

STAY SAFE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

Cruiser cam catches 100 mph crash

The crash shut down freeway for six hours

Updated: Tuesday, 24 Aug 2010, 1:37 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 23 Aug 2010, 3:26 PM EDT

SUGARCREEK TWP., Montgomery Co. (WDTN) – The cruiser cam video that captured a horrific single car crash on Interstate 675 in Beavercreek, Ohio Aug. 23 has gone viral on the internet.

Brennan S. Eden, 19, of Mason, Ohio, lost control of his car and slammed into the concrete pillar of a bridge south of Indian Ripple Road about 7:15 a.m.

The force of the crash broke the car into three pieces and Brennan was ejected.

Witnesses said moments before the crash, Brennan was passing other drivers at speeds of at least 100 mph. He crashed when he drove off the left side of the roadway while passing a Sugarcreek Twp. police car. The crash was caught on that officer’s cruiser camera.

"He went down into the median, into the grass, hit the guardrail, went airborne and the car hit the center post of the bridge and literally exploded into three main pieces," said witness Mark Riley.

Police said Brennan was alert and conscious after the crash and was flown to Miami Valley Hospital by Careflight where he was last listed in critical condition.

"He is very lucky to still be alive at this point," said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Marty Fellure. "You can see behind me the impact he took and where he got ejected and landed, he’s a very fortunate man right now."

Fellure said they are still investigating the crash trying to determine Eden’s speed and why he was passing cars on the berm.

The crash shut down the southbound lanes for nearly six hours.

Curfew Laws…….Next week…

Tip of the week:

• Identity Theft – Some more tips…Equifax, Trans Union, Experian.com, Free Report Site – www.AnnualCreditReport.com, Phone: 1-877-322-8228

Story of the Week:

• Crimes Defined

Next Week: Citizens Arrests, Curfews

STAY SAFE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

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I was Executive Director of the Institute for Burn Medicine for San Diego and Imperial Counties when we lived in California .  Besides raising the money to establish a Burn Treatment Center at the University Hospital there, I conducted extensive public education campaigns in Burn Prevention.

A friend recently sent me the attached short video – and like an old  fire horse, I heard the bell ring and am rushing to send this excellent prevention piece to each of you.  It is well worth watching!  And it could save your life. 

This is very stunning – please read first and then watch the very short clip. 

I never realized that a wet dishcloth can be a one size fits all lid to cover a fire in a pan! 

This is a dramatic video (30-second, very short) about how to deal with a common kitchen fire …..oil in a frying pan.  Read the following  introduction, then watch the show.  It’s a real eye opener!
 
At the Fire Fighting Training school they would demonstrate this with a deep fat fryer set on the fire field.  An instructor would don a fire suit and using an 8 oz cup at the end of a 10-foot pole to toss water onto the grease fire. The results got the attention of the students.  The water, being heavier  than oil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated.

The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out.  On the  open field, it became a thirty foot high fireball that resembled a nuclear  blast. Inside the confines of a kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room.  Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One cup of either creates the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite. 

This is a powerful message—-watch the video and don’t forget what you see.

 Original Story from ktvu.com

RICHMOND, Calif. — The Contra Costa County School District began introducing a new high tech tracking system for preschool students Tuesday that alert teachers when their students leave campus.

Embedded in what looks like a tiny basketball jersey that each student will wear when at school is a radio frequency tag that also uses Wi-Fi. The tag provides a signal to sensors planted throughout the school.

The information from those sensors is displayed in a map of the school, thereby allowing teachers and administrators to know exactly

Parents will digitally sign in and sign out a child, saving teachers from hand filing attendance records required by the state.

“Now, when we feed the children lunch we just have to push a button and it’s done,” said teacher Simone Beauford. “We don’t have to check the papers, check the papers, check the papers…”

Sung Kim of the county’s employment and human services department said 3,000 man hours could eventually be saved with this $50,000 system, which was paid for by a federal grant.

“Within a year we could completely pay off this system from the savings we have with the staffing,” said Kim. “We are the first child care center that is implementing with this technology, but it is already proven technology.”

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STAY SAFE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

Sorry to all our listeners but we have to push the next episode to next week due to technical issues… As in my computer blew up and it will not be back till this weekend…

Sorry to disappoint but we will all be back next week to discuss the issues…and trust me there is a pile of them to talk about…

Send in your questions to get your copy of the book for free….

I have access to the MySpace page of one of my co-worker’s teenagers. He is 16 years old and they’ve had multiple problems with him over the last 4 years. He’s been expelled from numerous schools in town. They continue to be in denial that he’s more than "just being a boy". He’s been offering "thizzle" via MySpace. From what I understand, this is a street name for Ecstasy. Is there any way to pass this info along to law enforcement anonymously and get this kid off the streets since obviously his parents are not wanting to acknowledge a problem? I have copies of many of his posts and pictures he’s posted.

I have no problem with you publishing my question but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t print my name. Thanks in advance. Love the podcast. Keeps me entertained and informed!

Subject: Soliciting Drugs via MySpace

Great question! Some police departments have large narcotics units and even have a "hot-line" to report drug activity and anonymous tips. They weed out tips with no proof who often turn out to be an estranged spouse, angry ex-girlfriend, people involved in custody disputes etc. If someone complains that there is a lot of vehicle or foot traffic to a particular address at all hours of the night, and the complaint appears legitimate (the person doesn’t mind a call back from the police to discuss the activity or there are multiple complaints concerning the same address), narcotics units will usually set up a surveillance on the address to monitor the activity for themselves. If they find there appears to be drug activity at the location, they may set up a "undercover buy" where undercover officers or trusted "informants" purchase drugs from the location. When there is absolute proof that there is drug activity from the location, and the drugs test positive, the police will obtain a search warrant and raid the house.

Departments with a small narcotics unit or ones with no narcotics unit do not have the manpower for surveillance. In that case, the beat unit or cop who patrols that area will be given the information and they can monitor the area themselves. In my city there is a particular house being rented by druggies and it is a magnet for crime. We’ve had a huge increase in stolen vehicles taken and found in this area, pursuits of vehicles fleeing when officers try to stop vehicles leaving the residence, stolen property being taken to the residence, parolees coming to and leaving the residence, etc. I’d hate to be a neighbor on the street with all the criminal activity on the block. The beat officers regularly give extra attention to this residence and special enforcement teams also regularly watch the area. Everything is being documented, a lot of arrest are being made, and eventually the owner of the property will be notified it is a "nuisance property" and be given a deadline to correct the situation or face fines, penalties, and even have the property seized. 

In your situation you have a lot of evidence already. Proving if it’s true or not is the question. Call your police or Sheriffs department and ask to speak to the narcotics unit. Explain what you’ve told us and they will probably ask for the information to access the MySpace account. If the kid is putting it out there on the internet it’s open for all to see. They may try to set up a "buy" if the kid is actually selling.

If they department is small, they may do a background check on the kid (I’m sure he’s already in their system) and pass the info along to the beat officers. I’m sure if an officer stopped the kid on foot or in a car for some reason and got consent for a search they’d find drugs if he’s selling. As we’ve mentioned before, parents are usually in denial about their kids activity. Maybe that would wake the parents up.

For anyone wishing to report illegal drug activity, call your local police department and ask to speak to the narcotics unit. If they don’t have one, ask to speak to the on-duty supervisor. Some departments let you report suspicious activity on-line via their web-sites.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

If a family member is growing marijuana in an elderly woman’s home and you turn him in what will happen to the woman? She knows about it but due to her relationship with the man she is pretending to act as though it’s not a big deal. I worry about her health and the effect the stress could have on her but I feel she is being taken advantage of. What does the law say in a case like this?

Thanks for the question – we answered this on the podcast this week…

It will be up shortly..

In a nutshell – this depends on so many factors it is hard to answer without some or a lot more information… sadly there are also reasons why people harbor this kind of activity – usually its all the wrong reasons but those reasons are there and sometimes you cannot convince them any differently..

If she is knowingly allowing the activity in her home there is a very good chance she will be held partially responsible. If she is old enough or "out of it" enough to not know what is going on that is a totally different story.

In the end its her home and her responsibility – but depending on the extenuating circumstances many different outcomes could apply.

For the most growing marijuana is not even looked at as a major crime anymore with so many medicinal excuses out there and the possibility of it becoming legal in the near future.

I would talk with her if you know her well enough and explain the possible outcomes and let her make the decision if she is capable… interfering in her life might bring her more stress than what you believe she is under from him growing it there – she might want him there enough to put up with that…

It is really hard to know without many many more details.

Hopefully that helps.

Brent

—–Original Message—–
From: Sue
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 8:58 AM
To: info@coptalk.info
Subject: Photo-ticket enforcement

In the process of moving from VA to MD I needed to drive through DC. While doing so, I’ve racked up several tickets from a photo-enforcement speeding camera (two tickets, both at the same camera set-up). Both tickets are on my VA plates and I’ve seen the photos of the infraction online. The way I know about these tickets is that I’ve received a failure notice and the fine has now doubled. I don’t know if it got lost in the mail or my mail-forwarding is slow. Anyway, I got on the DC site to investigate the ticket and learn I had the second one (no notification was sent to me). The delinquent notice, curiously, was directly addressed to me at my new address in MD). So the second ticket is now in danger of becoming delinquent, too. This is unfair.

Anyway, two days ago I gave up my VA license and car registration and now have MD plates and license. Will these tickets follow me to MD? DC will report them to VA, but will they report them to MD?

First off, I’d get all the documentation of your move together (locations, dates, etc) and contact the court. If you can prove that you were in the middle of a move and that you and the notices must have crossed paths while traveling, they might be sympathetic enough to waive the penalties. Being that you never received the original notice and yet the delinquent notice went to your new address shows that you notified the Post Office of your move and requested that they forward your mail. If you get a copy of the request of address change (or made a copy for yourself) that could help to show that you made an effort to get mail to your new address.  

In this economy, courts may not be as inclined to waive fees as much as they might have in the past but fair is fair. If you can prove that you were moving and never got the notices, I’d hope that they at least waive the penalties. It’s not like you just blew off the tickets.

As for one State notifying another of tickets, your VA license will show as surrendered to VA and when you apply for a license to MD, they will more than likely look up your license history there. Any violations you are convicted of will show up as violations against your VA license but will not show as violations against your new MD license. If you do nothing you will automatically be found guilty and a small warrant could be issued for your arrest from VA. Not that they’d extradite you for a small traffic violation but it could be on your record forever.

Best thing to do is to call the court, ask for a supervisor, explain your situation, and hope for a sympathetic ear. Some courts allow a judge to decide a trial by sending in a letter explaining your side of the story if you are unable to appear, such as being out of state. Call the courts and see what you can do. Let us know what happens.      

Some additional notes:

This could be different in your specific city, county or state. Some states like Arizona have banned Photo Enforcement or have very specific guidelines that pertain to how tickets need to be issued.

It is best to really look into your specific local laws to make sure our suggestions pertain to your specific area.

By Constance Gustke • Bankrate.com

Highlights

· "The technology of the bad guy is getting better and better every year."

· Hidden cameras are disguised so they can pick up your password.

· You must report fraud within 60 days to limit your liability.

ATMs are under siege more than ever from skimming. Skimming, where ATM thieves steal your PIN and account number using remote devices, is increasing dramatically. Often done by sophisticated crime rings from the Eastern bloc countries, ATM skimming is becoming a high-tech art that’s hard to detect.

That’s bad news for consumers. Experts say that losses from skimming are approaching $1 billion. Nearly one in five fraud victims reported having their credit card PIN or debit card ATM PIN information stolen in 2009, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. And Robert Vamosi, an analyst handling risk, fraud and security at Javelin, sees ATM skimming continuing to rise this year and next.

"Consumers aren’t aware of ATM tampering," he says. "ATMs have 40 years of trust."

Skimming isn’t new. It’s been around for at least 10 years. What has changed is that the "technology of the bad guy is getting better and better every year," says Robert Siciliano, a security expert based in Boston. "It’s up to consumers to watch their own backs."

Typically, ATM thieves use two devices to capture your PIN and card data. One device sits near where you swipe your card and reads the magnetic stripe on your card with your account number. Even more confusing, the device mimics the card slot. "The technology has evolved to a point where the molded plastic fits like it belongs there," says Siciliano. Devices are even readily available over the Internet for as little as $300.

A camera, hidden from view, captures the PIN. "You can get the data in real time," says Siciliano. "You can be in your car with a laptop remotely accessing the device."

Thieves then burn the data onto a blank card to access your money.

U.S. Secret Service spokesman Max Milien wants consumers to be warned. "The public is notified after an event," he says. And don’t take bank security for granted. Fraud can occur at any bank in any part of the country. Thieves are even sending out false text alerts to get consumer data.

Banks, they say, are slow to adopt anti-skimming measures. When Javelin surveyed 25 banks, four stood out, though, for their anti-theft measures. They are Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and Wells Fargo.

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Experts add that debit card users are most at risk. Typically, consumers must report fraudulent charges within two days, limiting your liability to $50. If you report ATM skimming fraud within 60 days, you’re liable for the first $500 of any transaction. Siciliano adds that thieves carefully orchestrate ATM withdrawals, maxing out cash withdrawals one day and waiting until after midnight for the next stash, which quickly adds up.

Here are four tips to help you protect your account.

1. Cover your password with your hand

Hidden cameras are disguised so they can pick up your password. By protecting it, ATM thieves can’t access your account.

2. Use familiar ATMs and limit your visits

ATMs in dimly lighted spots or used late at night could be more susceptible to fraud, while ATMs under video surveillance can be safer. Stay away from ATMs at retail stores or restaurants, adds Siciliano. Recently, skimming devices were found on ATMs in a popular grocery store in central Florida. Airports, convenience stores or kiosks are equally vulnerable to ATM thieves. Still, even highly trafficked ATMs outside a bank branch have been targeted by thieves.

Also, try to limit your visits to the ATM. "With frequency, there’s risk," says Siciliano.

3. Check bank balances frequently

Given the two-day window for reporting fraud, it pays to check your account frequently. If you don’t report fraud within 60 days, you have unlimited liability. "Sign up for alerts and notice unusual withdrawals," says Vamosi.

With credit cards there are more protections in place, and you can dispute charges."You have at least a billing cycle," says Siciliano.

4. Observe the ATM

Vamosi cautions consumers to look at an ATM to make sure a card slot is "legitimate and not tacked on." Look for things that strike you, he says. "Some people have felt that when they inserted their card, something went awry," he says. In that case, try another ATM.

When protecting your account against ATM thieves, "it’s all about awareness, paying attention and understanding risks," says Sicilano. "There are 400,000 ATMs and every one of them is susceptible to fraud. The speed and convenience of technology has replaced the security of technology."

By Comcast Finance

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:15:24 GMT

Editor’s Note: This post by Jorgen Wouters originally appeared on June 21 on WalletPop.com.

The FBI is warning consumers to be on the alert for scammers who tie up their phone lines while emptying their bank accounts.

These "telephone denial-of-service" attacks are similar to ones that have been used by hackers for years to crash websites by flooding them with Internet traffic. But high-tech criminals are now using automated dialing programs and multiple accounts to overwhelm the phone lines of unsuspecting consumers and small- and medium-sized businesses.

The denial-of-service calls, which can include dead air, advertisements or phone sex menus, are actually diversionary tactics designed to tie up a victim’s phone lines. And while the lines are busy, the fraudsters — impersonating the victims — raid their bank accounts, online trading and other money management accounts.

The FBI first learned about this scheme through one of its private industry partners, which told the agency of a Florida dentist who lost $400,000 from his retirement account after a denial-of-service attack on his phones. So how does this "dialing for dollars" scam work?

Weeks or even months before the phone calls start, the FBI warns, a criminal uses social engineering tactics or malware to extract personal information such as passwords and account numbers from intended victims. These victims may have set themselves up by replying to phishing e-mails, inadvertently giving out sensitive information during a bogus phone call, or placing too personal information on social networking sites, which are constantly trolled by cyber criminals. Once the scam artists have enough information, they tie up the victim’s various phone lines and either contact a financial institution pretending to be the victim or siphon off funds from their online bank accounts.

Financial institutions typically call to verify such transactions, but can’t get through due to the denial-of-service attack. If the transactions aren’t approved, the criminals will contact the financial institution, pose as the victim and confirm the transactions. They can also add their own phone number to victims’ accounts, and simply wait for the bank to call and request approval. By the time the victim or financial institution realizes what has happened, it’s too late.

The FBI reports a surge in telephone denial-of-service attacks since April of this year, with reports of numerous incidents in several Eastern states.The FBI has teamed up with the Communication Fraud Control Association — a collection comprised of security professionals from communication providers — to educate the public, analyze patterns and trends of telephone denial-of-service attacks, and identify the con artists and bring them to justice.

The FBI urges consumers and small- and medium-sized business to take the following steps to avoid being a victim of this new scam:

• Never give out personal information to an unsolicited phone caller or via e-mail.
• Change online banking and automated telephone system passwords frequently.
• Check your account balances often.
• Protect your computers with the latest virus protection and security software.

If you think you may have been targeted by a telephone denial-of-service attack, contact your financial institution and your telephone provider, and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

My boyfriend was arrested on a $700 warrant (Tickets). He didn’t receive a court notice & therefore didn’t go to court. How long will he probably have to be in jail if he’s not bailed out?

But to sum up the answer we would say he would not be in jail for more than 72 hours if arrested on a Friday.

It would be for his next court date available till he is cite released but this can change from city to city.

Him not receiving the court notice is in question as we have seen this claimed many times only to find out the person gave a false address at the time of the citation, thus the mail would not get to them…

We would hope he is already out of jail and hopefully he will work out the issues with his address and make his court appearances as the consequences for getting a failure to appear can really ruin his day.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

To check us out on Stitcher just download the application to your phone or device at www.stitcher.com

• In the News:
  • Court Room Fashion Disasters – Making an impact!
  • Mark’s Corner
    • Arrested Teens
    • Bitter Jim
    • Kid walks off cliff on cell phone
  • Court – What the heck is with those pants?
  • Pile of books for questions and thanks to all that have submitted.
  • Private property stop signs? What’s the deal? What’s considered?
  • Cell phones and driving

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

Please send in your questions: http://www.coptalk.info/ask-a-cop-ask-us-a-question/

Brent,

- Mike – Michigan

While people think that used police cars are usually beaten to death, they are actually very well maintained. Probably better maintained than most personally owned cars. Cities and counties cant afford the liability of having vehicles driving around that are dangerous or faulty. If an accident occurred where it was found that the city or county knew the vehicle was dangerous or not maintained to be safe, the county or city might be sued by an injured party or even by the employee themselves. If I was to crash in my police car and later find out that the city knew there was a safety concern but ignored it to save money, I’d have a huge lawsuit.

For this reason, cities and county have a regular maintenance schedule for all their cars. The vehicles are all bought brand new. They are covered by the manufacture warranties until it expires and any major repairs are done by the dealerships under warranty. Minor repairs are done by trained mechanics at the city or county corporation mechanic yards and after the warranty expires, most repairs are done there. The cars have regularly scheduled routine inspections, oil changes and maintenance. Like I said, the cities and counties want their cars to be safe and more importantly, to last. Any employee that finds a problem with a city or county owned vehicle simply fills out a quick memo to the corp yard and if it’s serious, the car is taken out of service and repaired quickly. The cities don’t need or want a $300 repair to turn into a 5 million dollar lawsuit.

So to sum it up, if you buy a used police car, you are probably getting a vehicle that was better maintained than most people maintain their cars. Most people don’t take their car in until something goes out. Police cars are inspected and maintained to make sure things don’t go out. Are some cars beat more than others? Sure, people drive differently. A new rookie feels the need to go to each call 100 mph and loves to find pursuits. An older veteran officer still loves a good pursuit but the cars are probably more mildly driven the rest of the time. Some might have interior blemishes, coffee stains, dings and small dents, but they are usually maintained well. There are some that might have been in accidents or got more trashed than others, just look it over real good before buying. Better yet, take a mechanic friend with you to the auction to look a few over before bidding. 

And used police cars are fun to drive. More power, special suspension packages. Since they come with spotlights on both sides, you’ll look like a cop no matter what. Get on the freeway and watch all the cars in front of you slow down or pull over a lane as you come up behind them. Not sure what cop opinions are on seeing retired police vehicles back on the street, we’ll save that discussion for the show. Security companies usually snatch up retired police cars just for that purpose, they still look like a police car even without the light bar on top.   

And yes, you can put a taxi sign on top or better yet, put a Dominos Pizza Delivery sign on the top, then there’s no confusion if it’s the police or not… 

We will hit this on this weeks show also….

In Michigan, we have much more relaxed gun laws then California does.  We have Open Carry of loaded handguns as long as they are in plain site and there are a lot of people that do that.  I have a Concealed Pistol License and carry that way most of the time.  This also allows me to carry the loaded pistol in my car in any way I want to. (I normally have it in the glove box or console of the car in a holster)

I know in California, some county sheriffs do issue Carry Permits.

I agree with you guys about the open carry people.  I agree they have that right but, it seems a lot of them just do it to get in people’s faces and it’s going to backfire on them.  The only time I open carry is if I’m in the woods where there might be bears or snakes. I believe that if you have the CCW permit, you should keep it hidden.. It keeps the people from calling the cops with a “Man with a gun” call.  It also makes more sense not to be target #1 if a bad guy comes into a store you are in to rob it. 

As a second question, do they allow you guys to Carry off duty in California ?  (not asking if you do, just if they let you)   Here, our county sheriff REQUIRES his deputies to carry off duty unless they are drinking. 

Sorry for the long email.

Keep up the great show!

-Mike – Michigan

Thanks for the questions Mike.

Concealed carry is fine with me as long as the person has a concealed weapon permit. Here in CA, Police Chiefs and Sheriffs can issue concealed weapon permits to citizens who apply for them with a legitimate reason and only after passing a background and criminal history check. People with concealed weapon permits have been checked out and are legally cleared to carry a concealed firearm. If we contact a person with a licensed concealed weapon they usually tell us they have a weapon on them and that they are licensed to do so, that way there are no surprises if we see a weapon or discover one during a search.

And yes, although it is legal in CA, open carry can present issues. People with no gun training whatsoever can strap a gun on one side and loaded magazines on the other side and walk into a store. And you are right, if a suspect goes into a store to rob it and sees a gun on the guys belt, the robber will shoot him without hesitating believing he is a cop or that the person might draw down on him first. And the last thing law enforcement wants to see is a gun battle between two untrained people in a crowded store. Hopefully most open carry advocates are experienced shooters but anyone who passes a background check can open carry even though they have never fired a gun in their life. That’s dangerous. And as a law enforcement officer, I don’t like the idea that I cant run a check on someone carrying an unloaded  gun and ammo in public to make sure it’s not a convicted felon or someone barred from owning firearms. I would much prefer to see people who want to carry guns obtain a concealed weapon permit and carry them that way.

In CA, law enforcement officers may carry firearms off duty. Not sure if any agencies require it but all allow it. With my agency, we must pass the same range qualification course with an off duty firearm if it is a different firearm than our duty weapon. Officers may carry their duty weapons or other firearms they have qualified with while off duty as long as they are not drinking. And officers who retire from law enforcement are usually issued a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm.

It’s funny to see newly hired officers, they carry weapons all the time. Probably have it strapped on while mowing their lawn……..

Allot of new officers carry all the time because "they can". Always strapped to their sides no matter where they go. As cops get more time on, you see that less. If you ask veteran cops if they carry off duty, some will say they carry all the time and some will say only sometimes. I carry a compact .380 at times depending on where I am going but I carry a lot less than I used to. I don’t like the thought of being a victim of a robbery while unarmed but if it happened, I’d be a good witness. The last thing I want to do is get into a gunfight with my wife or young grandson nearby.

Gun rights and open carry laws always stir debates. Maybe we can get some comments for pro and con we can post on our website or discuss them on another show.

Thanks again for writing in,

Mark

• In the News:
  • These issues really happen – Calls you do not want to go to…..
  • Shatner Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0D78JtxmqI – Racial – You let us know?
  • Arkansas Police Slayings - Link to Video
  • iPhones make a great Snitch for cops: Link to article
  • Seized Drug Submarine First for Drug Dealers – Well the first we found: Link to article
    • A 100-foot, twin-screw diesel submarine seized at a jungle shipyard in Ecuador marks a quantum, if anticipated, leap in drug-smuggling evasion technology, the top U.S. counter-drug official for the region said Sunday.
  • OPD Loses the 80 Officers – Breaking News – Turn in their badges and guns….Not responding to non priority calls.
  • Mesherle Trial – Update
  • Reader Question: What do the police think of “normal people” driving old cop cars?
  • Reader Question: How do you guys feel about Concealed carry (the legal kind with permit)
  • Open Carry – What is the deal in AZ?

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7/6/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject :
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Releases First-of-its-kind Public iPhone Application

SAN RAMON, CA – Today the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (CA) is proud to announce the arrival of its much anticipated iPhone application in the Apple App Store. The FireDepartment.org iPhone application is the first of its kind and defines a new category of iPhone functionality. By providing a virtual window into the District’s 9-1-1 dispatch center, iPhone users now have real-time access to emergency activity occurring in the community. The application also provides the District with a powerful new avenue to communicate with its mobile population during a disaster. Don’t live in the San Ramon Valley? You’ll still find listening to the live actions of our dispatchers, firefighters and paramedics informative and interesting.

Application users are able to view active incidents – including the current response status of dispatched units (enroute, onscene, etc.) and instantly pinpoint incident locations on an interactive map. Think that fire engine or ambulance that just passed might be heading to your house? Is there an accident up ahead causing this traffic tie-up? Just tap the application to quickly retrieve real-time information. A log of recent incidents and a photo gallery of significant events can also be easily accessed.

The FireDepartment.org application also allows residents and other interested parties to choose to be notified of incidents by category as they are dispatched. Users can even listen in on live emergency radio traffic via the modern version of the traditional fire scanner – their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch device. The District also uses the application to communicate with its more than 700 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members and to share information during disasters with all its citizens.

“Using the iPhone and iPad for field-based command and control operations holds great promise for emergency service providers,” said Richard Price, Fire Chief for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. “This consumer version of our development effort demonstrates the game-changing nature of these revolutionary handheld devices.”

Pricing & Availability

The application is currently available to anyone free of charge. Visit www.firedepartment.org/iphone for additional information including a demonstration video. To try the application for yourself, simply search “fire department” at the Apple App Store or visit the link below to install the application on a compatible device.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fire-department/id376052787?mt=8

The iPhone application was designed by District personnel after successfully implementing similar capabilities on the District’s Webby-nominated website, FireDepartment.org. The District partnered with students at the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) for iPhone engineering and programming services. By working with the District, students received valuable intern experience in addressing real world business needs.
The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District provides all-risk fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, the Town of Danville, Diablo, the City of San Ramon, the southern area of Morgan Territory and the Tassajara Valley, in Northern California (Contra Costa County). The District’s service area encompasses approximately 155 square miles and serves a population of 167,500.
Apple, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple.

Additional Press Contact

Lucas Hirst, Project Management/Design
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
lhirst@srvfire.ca.gov
(925) 838-6600

As you can see by the photo the CHP (California Highway Patrol) has made the transition to LED lightbars that are low profile and highly visible. Watch for them on the highways in California and in most states as the new warning technology is released.

PS: Do not take photos while driving it’s dangerous…

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See the Internet Storm Center for Internet Updates

I just happened upon a CBS News video that gave me pause for thought.  This once posted back in April however

I missed it until now.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6412572n

The video talks about the fact that "modern" digital copy machines, those sold after 2002, contain a hard drive.  These hard drives store the images copied.  These machines are traded in for new models and then refurbed and resold. However, the hard drives more than likely are not getting scrubbed to remove the content. One of the copy machines in the video not only contained content on the hard drive but also still had documents left on the copy bed.

This brings up some interesting discussions.  What is on your copymachine hard drive?  When it is sent in for repair what information may be gleaned from a quick glance at the drive?  Is your copy machine another potential target to aid in identity theft?
Food for thought.  Should there be processes and procedures in place for the disposal of these devices? Do you know what other devices in your organization contain a hard drive or other storage device?  Is there a process for cleaning before disposal? What does your company do if anything to ensure that no confidential data is leaked by disposal of old equipment?

Deb Hale Long Lines, LLC

BURLINGAME, Calif. — On most days, you can find Chris Zwingle in his commercial pilot’s uniform behind the controls of a 767 jetliner. But at least once a month, he puts on a different set of blues — those of a police officer — and hits the streets on patrol. Call it extreme volunteering.

The Burlingame resident is among the thousands of reserve police officers in California, many of whom have the same training as full-time cops but work as unpaid volunteers.

Their reasons for doing it vary. Some are retired cops who aren’t ready to give up the job, others are trying to start a career and some just think it’s fun.

The reserve officer program, however, is a bit of a dinosaur on the Peninsula. As state requirements for reserve officers have become more strict in the past 25 years, reserve officer programs have shrunk. Spending reductions have also meant fewer officers to help train the reserve corps.

But as city governments try to avoid cutting public safety spending in order to balance the budget, there is no better time to resuscitate the reserves, police officials said. That will require effort and more funding.

For the love of it

Imagine a photo of two shady-looking guys standing in a dark alley. You can’t see their faces. The writing above the scene says "You wouldn’t go in there for a million bucks. A cop does it for a lot less. A reserve does it for free

This image, which is from a classic California Reserve Peace Officers Association poster, raises the obvious question: Why sign up for a dangerous job and not at least get paid?

Reasons vary but typically fall into one of three categories: community service, love of the job and trying to get hired. During a recent reserve officer meeting at the San Bruno police station, which like nearly every police agency in San Mateo County employs these volunteers, the reserves talked about why they do it.

"Some people hunt, some people work out," said Roger Elu, who spends his days as the chief engineer at AT&T Park. "We put on a uniform and ride around helping the regular officers."

Helping other officers can often mean "gopher work," said Burt Donlin, who has been a reserve since the 1980s. Reserves pick up prisoners, transport evidence or work security at public events. They might also take on the most heroic duty of all: writing reports.

But some reserves end up working a beat, and that can get physical, said Bill Miller, a contractor who has logged at least 5,200 volunteer hours with San Bruno.

"Sometimes it’s a rush," he added.

There is also a long tradition of officers coming on as reserves in order to eventually get a full-time job. San Bruno and Millbrae Police Chief Neil Telford got his start that way, but so have scores of other cops who work in the county.

"It’s a good way for them to see if they like you and the way you work," said Michael Arguel, who has finished the police academy but has yet to find a full-time job as an officer.

Training and lots of it

The people who work as reserves can’t just come off the street, throw on a uniform and go on patrol. The training required by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training, the enforcer of state police regulations, is the same for regular officers and reserves who work on the street alone.

These people are called Level I reserves, and they have gone through the full police academy, psychological and physical testing, as well as a field training program with the department where they work. There are also Level II and III reserves, but they have less training and fewer police powers.

For a reserve to go through a full-time police academy, such as the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium, it takes a five-month commitment that costs about $4,000. Would-be reserves can also get their training on nights and weekends, said Michelle Schneider, who runs the police academy at College of San Mateo. Part-time training costs about half as much as the academy but takes twice as long.

In either case, a reserve who is carrying a gun, rides alone in a squad car and makes arrests has done at least 800 hours of state-mandated training. and they have paid for it themselves.

"You’re asking someone who has got a child, wife and a day job to put their life on hold for six months," said South San Francisco Police Reserve Capt. Mike Short. "They can’t do that."

The way of the dinosaur

Those training requirements are what pushed the Peninsula reserve programs toward extinction, police officials said.
Before 1979, there were no statewide education rules for reserves. But starting that year, the Legislature mandated they have 200 hours of training, said Ronald Wood, a state police accreditation official.

A lot of reserves who were working at the time were given a pass, because of the worry that the requirement would destroy small, rural departments that rely on them, Wood said. But the flow of contractors, store clerks or school teachers willing to sign on as weekend warriors and do months of expensive training slowed to a dribble.

Despite thinning the ranks, those interviewed for this story support the training requirements.

"When you give someone the power of life and death, you certainly want them to be trained," said Bill Curley, a retired San Mateo officer who works at the College of San Mateo police academy.

As the decades have passed, these unpaid police have dwindled in number on the Peninsula.

Redwood City police are down to about eight from 15 two decades ago, and San Mateo, which had 12 in the 1980s, now has about four. Other cities reported a similar reduction, but some agencies have maintained robust programs.

The Sheriff’s Office has held steady in its numbers, and it has about 21 reserve deputies at present. Just to the south in Santa Clara County, San Jose’s program has stayed strong at nearly 145 reserves. That department has 1,350 paid officers.

There are also police departments on the Peninsula that just don’t rely much on reserves.

Despite being the biggest police department in San Mateo County with roughly 109 paid officers, Daly City has only one reserve, said Sgt. David Mackriss.

He said paid officers there have in the past resisted the idea. They were concerned that a reserve, despite their training, could be a liability in dangerous situations. Daly City cops also get overtime or have side jobs working security at events and worried reserves could cut into that.

"Officers are wary when it comes to change," Mackriss said.

The future

Many police officials agreed that the reserves could be a big help as cities struggle to balance their budgets. But some also said there are limitations to what role a reserve can play.

Curley said reserves will never replace full-time officers but can be a highly useful resource to thinned-out police departments.

However, it costs money to recruit, train and keep reserves happy, he added. For departments that are already doing more with less, this requires some passion for having reserves.

"If you don’t have somebody who is really dedicated, it’s just not going to work," he said.

Reserve program coordinators from San Mateo, Redwood City and other police departments said they are stepping up efforts to recruit, and it is a good time to be looking for people. There are plenty of applicants, and few cities on the Peninsula are hiring full-time officers. And interest in police work, which carries steady pay, benefits and a pension, goes up when the economy goes down.

"The economy is helping our reserve program. Two years ago, we weren’t seeing as many applicants," said Redwood City police Sgt. Ashley Osborne. She said as long as other departments aren’t hiring, reserve officers will be looking to volunteer in order to keep their state certification active.

But any blessing brought by the economic recession could be a mixed one.

"They are going to come and stay a short time," said Osborne. "The economy will turn (up), and we’ll lose them."

Copyright 2010 San Jose Mercury News

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”I got a default judgment on my case. I am trying to collect my money. How can I do this if he changed his number and I cant reach him?”

A few things you can do:

Check public records at the County building to see if they have updated info on him.

If it’s a substantial judgment and worth the expense, you can hire a private investigator to find him.

You can pretty much find information on anyone on the internet nowadays. There are many web-sites where you can simply type in his name and get info back, some sites are free while others charge a fee. Just Google people search and get a bunch of sites that might help. You can also try sites such as Facebook, MySpace, on-line white pages etc to locate him. With the internet technology nowadays, he should be relatively easy to find.    

• Oakland PD facing Massive Layoffs
  http://www.policeone.com/Officer-Safety/articles/2085797-Calif-PD-facing-layoffs-of-150-officers/
• Digital Adverts on License Plates
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10368899.stm

• Listener Question: I got a default judgment on my case. I am trying to collect my money. How can I do this if he changed his number and I cant reach him?
• Getting into the middle of what you are not supposed too…..
• Mark’s side on the people we meet in the field…..
• Mark’s side on the excuses we get for why people do things wrong….
• Alert Citizen / Home Burglary Story of the week….

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• Brent and Jim talk about the topics…..
• What should you expect when being pulled over?
• What are the cops looking for?
• Why?

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http://dougmccune.com/blog/2010/06/05/if-san-francisco-crime-was-elevation/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=65711

dougmccune.com

• Stories from our last week of duty….
• Drownings…
• Water Safety….
  
• Shaved Keys + Vehicles = See ya car….

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• road rage
• panhandling
• medical topic – strokes

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What if it was a choking baby call, or a rape in progress? What if a family member was having a heart attack? Would you want the police or medical help going to the wrong house? Wasting valuable time looking for an address that isn’t visible. If only one house on a street does not have the numbers displayed, it isn’t too bad; we can usually figure it out. But in most areas, a lot of houses don’t have visible numbers, have missing numbers, or have bushes or trees covering up the numbers.

This not only endangers you or your family in an emergency situation where seconds count, but it could endanger a police officer responding to help you in an emergency situation. Here’s an example:

It’s 2 a.m., and you hear glass breaking. You dial 911 and slowly get out of bed. Your husband is at work and the kids asleep. You go to check on the kids and suddenly you are confronted in the doorway by a large male holding a gun who orders you back into the bedroom. Now, do you really want a police officer wasting 1, 2, or even 5 minutes looking for your house when you are in a dangerous situation where a second feels like an hour?

The officer who got dispatched to your "911" call, turns onto your street and finds several houses without numbers. (Yours being one of them.) The sequence is too irregular to figure out which house is yours, so the officer knocks on a door. Not yours. The officer tries another house. Dogs bark, lights go on, but still not your house. The intruder hears the knocking next door, looks out a window, and sees an officer next door. The intruder sneaks out the back door and escapes even before the officer found your house. Or worse, the officer may contact the intruder as he leaves, unaware of the break in at your house. The officer could get shot or injured very easily responding to a "hot" call and wasting time to find the address.

Officers respond to a call in a tactical way, often parking down the street from a call and walking in to avoid detection, and to give the officer the advantage of the element of surprise. Without numbers on the house, an officer could be parking right in front of a house where there is a problem without even knowing it.

The same scenario as above, but the right way:

The same call, same bad guy with the gun. This time, the officer pulls onto the street and sees each house clearly marked with addresses. He knows your house is 2 up on the right. The officer wastes no time directing assisting units to the other side of the house, where they discover the broken window. The officers set up a perimeter and call into the house. The bad guy flees and is taken down at gunpoint the second he exits the house. The officers knew exactly which house to go to, and where to send assisting units without lighting up the whole block with spotlights looking for numbers, or wasting valuable time knocking on the wrong doors.

· If just one person, who reads this, clearly posts the address on their residence, it will make it much easier for police, fire, or medical personnel to find them when needed. It not only makes our jobs easier; it could save your life.

· Not your house? Waiting for the landlord to do it? Too expensive? Too complicated? Don’t know how to do it? NO EXCUSES!

· Whether it is your house or not, renting or buying, owner or roommate, even if it’s an apartment unit that isn’t visibly posted, do it yourself. It could mean the difference between life and death. There is nothing more frustrating to me than getting dispatched to a "hot" call, and having to run around, wasting time looking for the house.

Here is what you do:

· If there is no address on your house, put it on. Hardware stores offer a large variety of house numbers ranging from stick-on numbers for a few dollars, to fancy wood ones that can be stained or painted. The most popular I see are the plastic numbers you simply tack up using small nails or screws.

· If you have vegetation, trees, or bushes growing over the numbers, trim back the branches or move the numbers to a more visible location.

· Don’t put the numbers in a spot hard to see, like on a roof trim, or on a tree. We usually first look right next to the door or porch area, especially at night where the porch light will light up the numbers. Remember, the numbers should be clearly visible both day and night. A good spot is on a wall, door trim, or window trim that faces the street.

· A lot of builders are now installing lighted address boxes which mount on the front of your house, and are wired into your house’s 12 volt power supply, usually the doorbell wiring. These are by far the quickest to spot at night, since they are lighted. But they have two 12 volt bulbs inside which do occasionally burn out. If the bulbs burn out, please replace them. The bulbs only cost a buck or so. You can find the lighted address boxes at your local home improvement store.

· You don’t have to get too fancy, and please use color contrast. White numbers on a white house, or blue numbers on a blue house are hard to see in the day, and impossible to see at night. Dark numbers on a light colored house or light numbers on a dark house will work fine.

· Some fund-raising organizations offer to paint your address on the curbside in front of your house for a small donation. They usually paint a white background, and then spray or brush black numbers using stencils. These are simple to do yourself, and are very visible and effective.

· Use numbers that can be seen from the street. Little fancy numbers that look cute a few feet away may not be readable from the street.

Please help us to help you. The more visible your address is, the faster we find your house. Seconds can mean the difference between life and death. You know where you live, we don’t. The only way we can find you fast is by your address. If it’s not done, go do it today. It could be done for as little as a few dollars. Something so little can make such a big difference. The next time we come to your house in an emergency, we would like to hear you say, "How did you get here so fast?" rather than "What took you so long?"

• What happens if i give a false name to an officer?
• Response Times – Help us to help you faster….
• Security Lighting
• Universal Garage Door Openers
• Leaving the keys in your car in your garage
• Mail Theft

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• What do crooks see when then look at you….

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• I just got a ticket for our party being to loud
• I just got a ticket for running a red light
• Red Light Cameras
• Criminal Threats – Phone Harass

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QUESTIONS & IN THE NEWS!

• Whats the difference between city, county and state police?
• What happens if I have to miss my court date?
• If I decide to go to court to fight my ticket what should I expect?
• The cop is asking to search my car – Now what?
• My friend just got arrested – what can I do?
  

NEXT WEEK:

• What really ticks us off…….
• Arizona Immigration Law Sparks National Uproar - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/arizona-immigration-law-s_n_544864.html

GET A FREE BOOK IF WE USE YOUR QUESTION ON THE AIR!

• Cops Mostly Stop White Drivers Study Says
  • http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/2056165-Calif-cops-mostly-stopped-white-drivers-study-finds/
• Oakland PD Kills Bambi – Vs. Other Options
• Arrested: Teenager allegedly involved in 28 armed robberies in Hayward, CA
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23337768/detail.html
• 25 Arrested in Marijuana Sting – Contra Costa County, CA
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23305524/detail.html
• Officer Dragged 50ft during traffic stop
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23313919/detail.html

• Pursuits
• Termination – Why, when, how

NEXT WEEK:

• Whats the difference between city, county and state police?
• What happens if I have to miss my court date?
• If I decide to go to court to fight my ticket what should I expect?
• Arizona Immigration Law Sparks National Uproar - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/arizona-immigration-law-s_n_544864.html
• What really ticks us off……..

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

DISCLAIMER - The website page has been updated with new Disclaimers

• Clarify – Retaliation – For being helpful to police
• News – Baby left in car overnight – dies – http://www.ktvu.com/news/23206493/detail.html
• Police Depts fining popularity online – http://www.policeone.com/police-products/communications/articles/2049621-Police-departments-finding-popularity-online/
• Twitter used to distribute severe storm information – http://www.fdnntv.com/Tampa-Emergency-Managers-Twitter
• Ipad owner loses finger in theft – http://www.ktvu.com/news/23219220/detail.html
• Use of Twitter and Facebook steadily rising among gang members
  • http://www.policeone.com/police-products/communications/articles/1998904-Use-of-Twitter-Facebook-steadily-rising-among-gang-members/
• Calling 911 for a ride home: http://www.ktvu.com/news/23260100/detail.html

Reader / Listener Questions

• Question #1 – What happens if I am the designated driver and my car is loaded with drunks and i get pulled over?
• Question #2 – What happens if I throw a cigarette or a lit cigarette out of my car window?
• Question #3 – How fast over the speed limit can I drive and not get a ticket?
• Question #4 – Phone Scams – What to do about them
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23256200/detail.html

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STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

Is there a demand for more K-9 units or is that slowly dwindling down? I am interested in that field but would like to know if it is worth my time.

Thank you,
Marissa

From my perspective, there is always a need for police K-9′s. In fact, our agency just increased our K-9 unit to four dogs, one for each shift. K-9′s are used in a variety of situations; Narcotic searches, missing person tracking, article searches, suspect apprehension, community demonstrations etc. When I worked in the K-9 unit with my 125 lb Rottweiler named Bolo, it was amazing the respect that the K-9′s got. Officers would roll up on a large fight and people would ignore the officers commands and continue to fight but the second I pulled up with Bolo barking and hanging out the window, the fight was over. Suspects find police dogs unpredictable and know there’s a good chance that they could be bitten so they usually give up rather than flee or fight the officer. Most of the time, a police dog can diffuse a potentially violent situation simply by their presence.

I remember a story when my brother Jim was working a 150 lb Rottweiler named Rommel. Jim stopped 3 suspects in a stolen car in a remote area with no immediate backup and the three suspects started looking around as though they were about to flee. Jim called Rommel to his side and told the suspects if they decided to run, he would catch one, Rommel would catch one and the third would get away. All three suspects put their hands on the hood of the car and gave up, no one wanted to take a chance on being the one that Rommel caught.

If you have an opportunity to work with a K-9, I’d jump at the chance. It’s a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Mark

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

A Thai police force has begun taking a monkey dressed in officer’s uniform on patrol each day to help improve relations with Muslim separatists.

Other forces are said to be considering enlisting a monkey to improve their image

The five-year-old pig-tailed macaque was adopted after policemen in Yaha province in southern Thailand found him injured with a broken arm.

Trainers taught Santisuk, which means peace in Thai, to pick up coconuts and he now lends a hand collecting the fruit with residents.

The monkey also helps supervise a police checkpoint and his boss says he has made it a much happier place.

Motorists now stop to play with Santisuk, rather than getting angry at the hold-up.

Other forces are now considering introducing monkeys to better their image in the troubled province.

Separatists are blamed for most of the attacks in Thailand’s predominantly Muslim deep south.

Buddhists and Muslims associated with the Thai state – such as police, soldiers, government officials and teachers – are often targeted.

It’s ok to laugh but in this time of uncertainty, increased crime and loss of respect to police in the field, new innovative thinking is essential. More power to our brothers overseas to think up creative new ways to establish good public relations with the citizens they server on a daily basis.

@coptalk

Local Police Department cannot move without many issues from local citizens

Description:

What is a Hero? This collection of short stories indirectly asks the question – what is a hero? Each of the 13 authors wrote about a specific person whom the author identified as an American Hero. Each author had a different take – some heroes were thrust into danger; others were comedic, yet heroic; still others were role models because of their heroic nature. While all different, there is a common thread: heroism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: American Heroes Press (March 8, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604815787
• ISBN-13: 978-1604815788