police department – Pledge Peace

New UTSA Chief of Police to Focus on Partnerships and Community | UTSA today | UTSA

Michael C. Lovelace — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:33:42 +0000

As Chief of Police, Schoenborn will focus on expanding community and university police partnerships through a wide range of programs and outreach initiatives focused on improving accountability, accessibility and visibility on campus.

“My goal is to introduce exciting new strategies that promote safety and a sense of belonging on campus,” Schoenborn said. “I want to make sure we stay focused on mutual respect between officers and the Roadrunner community.”

As part of its commitment to supporting success and innovation, Schoenborn will actively explore opportunities to improve community engagement, create specialized response units, and improve agent retention and hiring.

Schoenborn joined UTSAPD in 1993. She became a police officer in 1995, graduating from the 60th UT System Basic Police Academy. Promoted to captain in June 2016, she was selected by the UT System Police Department to serve for a term in 2018 as the Acting Deputy Chief of Police at the UT Medical Branch in Galveston.

Schoenborn’s commitment to community service extends beyond campus. She holds a Master Peace Officer’s License and is a 238th Session graduate of the FBI National Academy, where she later served on the Board of Trustees for nine years, including as Chair of the Board of Directors. administration in 2019. During this time, Schoenborn has been actively involved in coordinating specialty training events in the greater San Antonio area. She is currently the Chair of the Alamo Area Council of Governments Regional Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board.

Central Coast Law Enforcement Must List Military Style Gear

Michael C. Lovelace — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 02:10:00 +0000

Central Coast and state law enforcement agencies are now required to list their military-grade equipment and make this information publicly available. Assembly Bill 841 monitors and controls this equipment and the governor signed the bill into law last September. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office hosted a community zoom meeting to explain the law Monday night at 6:30 p.m. and release information about the proposed policy for funding, acquiring, and using equipment. organizations and listen to what they have to say about the weapons they have,” said Veterans for Peace member Lee Brokaw. He criticizes law enforcement’s use of military-grade equipment. He says it shows a strong show of force when driving through neighborhoods with large caliber firearms and armored vehicles. “All of these weapons that are on these lists are intended for use against the citizens of the community where these officers are supposed to be peacekeepers. . Not military officers.” “The interesting thing about this Assembly bill is that they designate items that they consider military-style equipment,” said Santa Cruz County Sgt. Daniel Robbins. .Some of them are command and control items like the bomb squad vehicle.But the department also has bola wraps, drones and flashbangs. things: one being the policy and ordinance being established for the use of military style equipment and these must be approved by a government entity which in our case is the gentlemen oversight board. “said Robbins. The Santa Cruz Police Department is also working on its list of military-style equipment. It should be released next week. One of those items is the “bear cat” armored vehicle that security interior provided back in 2016 at no cost to the city. But there was a lot of public outcry upon his arrival. “I think we’re all open to productive conversations and suggestions, but at the same time, it There are good facilities that keep our community and our officers safe,” said Acting Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante. Santa Cruz County on March 22. The police department will present them to the public safety committee on March 23. Eventually, it’ll be sent to City Council for their approval in April.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —

Central Coast and state law enforcement agencies are now required to list their military-style gear and make that information available for public review.

Assembly Bill 841 monitors and controls this equipment and the governor signed the bill into law last September.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office hosted a community zoom meeting to explain the law Monday night at 6:30 p.m. and release information about the proposed policy for funding, acquiring and using equipment.

“I think it’s a godsend that Sacramento has given us the opportunity to meet with these agencies first and hear what they have to say about the weapons they have,” said Lee Brokaw, a member of Veterans for Peace.

He criticizes law enforcement’s use of military-grade equipment. He says it shows a strong show of force when driving through neighborhoods with large caliber firearms and armored vehicles.

“All of these weapons that are on these lists are for use against the citizens of the community where these officers are supposed to be peace officers. Not military officers.”

“The interesting thing about this Assembly bill is that they designate items that they consider military-style equipment,” said Santa Cruz County Sgt. Daniel Robbins.

The Sheriff’s Office has about 20 items that qualify as military-style gear.

Some of them are command and control elements like the bomb squad vehicle.

But the department also has bola wraps, drones, and flashbangs.

“What this bill was really about was transparency and accountability of law enforcement. And so this bill outlines two things: one being the policy and the order established for the use of military-style equipment and they must be approved by a government entity, which in our case is the board of supervisors,” says Robbins.

The Santa Cruz Police Department is also working on its list of military-style equipment.

It should be released next week.

One such item is the “bear cat” armored vehicle that Homeland Security provided in 2016 at no cost to the city. But there was a lot of public outcry when he arrived.

“I think we’re all open to having productive conversations and suggestions, but at the same time there’s good equipment out there that keeps our community and our officers safe.” said Acting Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante.

The sheriff’s office is scheduled to present its information to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on March 22. The police department will present them to the public safety committee on March 23. Finally, they will be sent to the municipal council for approval. in April.

Law Enforcement Reports for March 9 | Local News

Michael C. Lovelace — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 22:02:51 +0000

Meridian Police Department

The Meridian Police Department reported the following arrests between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

• Possession of marijuana in a vehicle – Cadarious Jennings, born in 2002, 906 27th Ave., Meridian.

• Disorderly Conduct – Johnny L. Irby, born 1983, 2200 9th Ave., Meridian. Irby is also accused of disturbing public order, public drunkenness.

• Possession of Marijuana in Vehicle – Zerrick T. Payne, b. 1974, 1621 51st Ave., Meridian. Payne is also charged with possession of a controlled substance, DUI/refusal.

• DUI – Jovante Q. McKee, born in 1992, 3329 7th St. D5, Meridian. McKee is also charged with resisting/obstructing arrest.

• DUI – Lee O. Payton, b. 1992, 106 CR 682, Quitman.

• DUI/Other – Reginald Moton, b. 2006, 8325 Poplar Springs Dr., Meridian.

• Possession of Marijuana in a Motor Vehicle – Tori L. Washington, born in 1995, 1219 38th Ave., Meridian. Washington is also charged with DUI/Other.

• DUI – James E. Dukes, born in 1988, 2603 24th Ave., Meridian.

• Telephone harassment – Amanda R. Crews, born in 1984, 2521 43rd Ave., Meridian.

Incident reports

The Meridian Police Department reported the following incidents Friday through Wednesday.

Commercial burglary

• Block 4800 of Great River Dr., 8:22

Stolen vehicles

• Block 1000 from the highway. 39N, 1:02 p.m.

• Block 100 of North Frontage Rd., 12:03 p.m.

• Block 1400 from Roebuck Dr., 7:49 p.m.

shootings

• Block 3900 of Poplar Springs Dr., 10:49 a.m.

• 300 block from 45th Avenue, 11:07 a.m.

• Block 2100 of 43rd Avenue, 5:42 p.m.

• Block 4500 of 25th Street, 6:55 p.m.

• Meridian Police responded to 30 shots, but when officers arrived on the scene, only 6 showed evidence found to support the calls.

Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department reported the following arrests at 6 a.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday.

• Methamphetamine Sale – Paul Martin Burke, 43, 8315 Johnny Bailey Rd.

• Controlled Substance Possession – Mark Oliver Conner, 50, 4244 Zero Rd., Meridian. Conner is also charged with intentional possession of a controlled substance.

• Criminal Motor Vehicle Explosion – Dominique (Dominic) Rashun Davis, 47, 1908 B St., Meridian.

• MS Compulsory School Attendance Act – Denise Tishall Ezell, 34, 5121 5th St., Meridian. Ezell is also charged with default.

• Marijuana Possession/First Offense – Tyrekius Darell Harbin, 22, 8059 Lauderdale-Toomsuba Rd., Toomsuba.

• Violation of Probation/Parole – Terrance Niquel Moore, 40, 106 Poplar Dr., Newton.

• DUI/First Offense – Joseph Ronielle Parker, 33, 867 CR 290, Pachuta. Parker is also charged with improper equipment, lack of liability insurance, lack of license tag, suspended driver’s license, possession of marijuana in vehicle, endangerment of children.

• Dwelling house burglarized – Brandon Scott Allen, 27, 11547 Burrage Rd., Enterprise. Allen is also charged with burglary of a commercial building.

• Contempt of Court – Fernando Leanae Atterberry, 35, 3306 17th St.

• Dwelling house burglarized – Edward Tyrone Crafton, 39, 8313 Okatibbee Dam Rd., Collinsville. Crafton is also charged with burglary of commercial buildings and cars.

• Aggravated Assault – Shannon Deion Nix, 29, 8534 Hwy. 495, Bailey. Nix is also charged with probation / parole violation.

Incident reports

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department reported the following incidents Tuesday through Wednesday.

Drunk driver

• Motorway. 19N.

Accident with injuries

• Chandler Road.

Accident no injuries

• W Lauderdale Rd.-Hamrick Rd.

• Causeyville Rd.-Georgia Pacific.

• Russell-Mt. Gilead Rd.

Hit and run accident

• Old road. 45N.

Meet the complainant

• Motorway. 39.

• 5th street.

Flight

• Motorway. 45N.

• West Lauderdale Road.

traffic stop

• 29th ave.

• Motorway. 39 Bypass.

person with aw

• Lauderdale-Toomsuba Road.

Vehicle Burglary

• Old Wire Road.

Vandalism

• South facade path.

Domestic violence

• Constitution Avenue.

Burglary in progress

• Whippoorwill Road.

fire races

Meridian Fire Services reported the following calls Tuesday through Wednesday.

• Shipped and canceled en route – 1900 24.

• Blocking – 2705 45th.

• Medical assistance, assistance to the EMS team – 2427 4th; 626 21st.

• Not reported – 1019 Hwy. 39; 2899 North Hills; 916 Myrtle.

• Alarm system activation, no fire/accidental – 6201 Hwy. 493.

• Motor vehicle accident with injuries – 2199 Old Marion; 522 highway. 19.

• Motor vehicle accident without injury – 157 Interstate 20/59 EB to Hwy.45.

• Outdoor garbage, rubbish or waste fire – 3113 Vallée.

The Lauderdale County Volunteer Fire Department reported the following calls Tuesday through Wednesday.

• Accident with injuries – Chandler Rd. (Suqualene).

• Bushfire – Long Creek Rd. (Southeast).

• Rekindle – Causeyville (Causeyville).

• Emergency Medical Service Call – Hwy. 494 (Suqualene).

Ambulance races

Metro Ambulance reported 44 emergency runs as of 2 p.m. Wednesday

Law Enforcement Reports March 3-6, 2022 | News

Michael C. Lovelace — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:30:00 +0000

Here’s a look at the arrests reported by the Cullman Police Department on Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

3/4

Domestic Violence: Katelynn M. McCown, 28, of Cullman, arrested on Main Avenue SW.

Public intoxication: Todd A. Woodruff, 27, of Albertville, arrested 2nd Avenue SW.

3/5

Driving under the influence; endangering the welfare of a child: John L. McLeod, 26, of Falkville, arrested at Phelan Circle SE.

Failure to appear – theft of property, fourth degree; Driving Under the Influence: Anthony G. Drane, 35, of Cullman, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Failure to Appear – Criminal Trespass, Third Degree: Christopher P. Harris, 31, of Falkville, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Failure to Appear – Theft of Property, Fourth Degree: Christina J. Moore, 44, of Hartselle, arrested on 2nd Ave SW.

3/6

Theft of property, fourth degree; Resisting Arrest: Ashley N. Kirby, 28, of Trinity, arrested on 2nd Ave SW.

Here is a rundown of arrests reported by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday:

3/3

Failure to Appear – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offence: Harley Davidson Benafield, 23, arrested on County Road 1573.

Violation of probation – possession of dangerous drugs: Richard Earl Bollen, 57, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Domestic Violence Protection Order Violation: Ryan William May, 40, arrested at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.

Grand Jury – infringement; forged instrument; theft-miscellaneous, $500 to less than $1,500; trading in a worthless instrument; Illegal Possession/Use of Credit/Debit Card: Robin Lee Ritchie, 41, arrested on County Road 314.

Failure to appear – possession of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense: Tonya Alise Stephens, 35, arrested in Cullman County.

Public poisoning: Willie James Wilson, 39, arrested in Topre.

3/4

Interlock offence; Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol: Shanice Yevette Brown, 29, stopped on I-65/299 SB.

Domestic Violence Protection Order Violation: David Earl Cason, 45, arrested on County Road 260.

Violation of probation-possession of dangerous drugs: Daniel Alexander Ellis, 41, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Failure to appear – possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; possession of marijuana, second degree; promote prison smuggling (drugs); probation violation-meth possession: Raphael Maurice Foster, 37, arrested at Priceville McDonalds.

Failure to appear – possession of methamphetamine: Autumn Michelle Gardiner, 25, arrested at exit 272.

Failure to appear – driving a vehicle without insurance: Shelley Denene Harris, 47, arrested on County Road 616.

Violation of probation-burglary-residence (force): Mitchell Dewayne Hood, 43, arrested at the Red Roof Inn.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence: Ashley Brooke Hyde, 44, arrested at Jones Chapel.

Methamphetamine possession: Joshua Randall McDonald, 40, arrested at Jones Chapel.

Fail to Appear – Fail to Stop at Stop Sign: Brandon Chase Mosley, 22, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Possession of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense: Trula Ann Otey, 52, arrested on Wesley Avenue N.

Grand Jury – Sexual Misconduct; First Degree Sexual Abuse: Bryan Lewis Parker, 38, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

public intoxication; Disorderly Conduct/Disorder of the Peace: Unique Nicole Pendergraft, 29, arrested on County Road 1223.

Trying to escape a policeman; receipt of stolen goods, $500 to less than $1,500: Patrick Eugene Phillips, 24, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Failure to appear – driving while license suspended; Misuse of Lanes: Robin Lee Ritchie, 41, arrested on County Road 314.

Possession of methamphetamine; possession of dangerous drugs: Shara Leigh Smith, 49, arrested at Hoover Prison.

Homicide by criminal negligence-other (other than a vehicle); Reckless Driving: Lee Everett Warren, 38, arrested at Anniston Army Depot.

Residence Robbery: Keith Thremayne Whitehead, 48, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Ex-criminal in possession of a firearm: Corey Glenn Wilburn, 37, arrested on County Road 437.

3/5

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; failure to appear – promoting prison smuggling (drugs); possession of dangerous drugs; residence theft; using a false identity to avoid/impede prosecution; illegal possession/use of a credit/debit card; driver’s license not in possession; Misuse of Lanes: Mary Magdelene Baker, 37, arrested on County Road 1071.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense: Anthony Terral Banks, 53, arrested on Wesley Avenue N.

Failure to appear – assault-harassment (harassment/intimidation); possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; possession of dangerous drugs, two counts; attempt to evade a police officer; resist arrest; criminal trespass-enter/stay on premises; driving with suspended license: Shane Robert Cray, 35, arrested at the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.

Cause of delinquency, addiction or need for supervision: April Laragan Light, 39, arrested on departmental road 1374.

Failure to Appear – Domestic Assault-Harassment (Family): Lisa Marie McClendon, 32, arrested at the Cullman County Detention Center.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; possession of dangerous drugs: Christy McAnnalley Palmer, 48, arrested on AL. Highway 69 N.

Threatening domestic aggression (strong arm); criminal mischief; attempt to evade a police officer; resisting arrest: Jody Glen Smothers, 55, arrested on County Road 1114.

3/6

Possession of marijuana, second degree; attempt to evade a policeman; violation of probation-theft of property, second degree, $1,500 to $2,500; failure to appear – possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; miscellaneous theft, $500 less than $1,500; Illegal Possession/Use of Credit/Debit Card: Christopher Jared Bailey, 29, arrested on County Road 1718.

Harassing Communications: Brent Raymond Buck, 45, arrested at Cullman County Detention Center.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; possession of marijuana, second degree; giving fake IDs to law enforcement; public drunkenness: Edward Garrett Crandall Jr., 51, arrested at Dodge City Shell.

Possession of Marijuana, Second Degree: Tammy Jo Cummings, 55, arrested on County Road 1693.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; failure to appear – possession of methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia, first offence; driving with a suspended licence; Driving under the influence of a controlled substance: Katherine Dawn Davis, 40, arrested on County Road 1693.

Possession of marijuana, second degree; tampering with physical evidence: Brandon Jamel Kelley, 26, arrested in Cullman.

Possession of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense: Heather Nicole Myrex, 39, arrested on County Road 1527.

Possession of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense: Jacky Lee Nunnelley, 47, arrested on the highway. 67.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense: Tracie Diane Pirkle, 40, arrested on US Hwy. 278W

Possession of methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, First Offense: Blake Sanderson Smith, 33, arrested on County Road 1527.

Failure to appear – driving a vehicle with an expired tag: Tony Dwight Wooten, 47, arrested on County Road 222.

How has Trayvon Martin’s death affected police-community relations in Sanford? – Central Florida News – Social Justice

Michael C. Lovelace — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 11:01:56 +0000

Georgetown, like Goldsboro, is a historically black neighborhood in Sanford. In the 10 years since Trayvon Martin’s death, the police department has worked to improve police-community relations. Photo: Allegra Montesano, WMFE News

SANFORD — A decade ago, the Sanford Police Department drew protests from members of the city’s black communities when it failed to charge Trayvon Martin’s killer.

Distrust of law enforcement, they said, had deep roots in this central Florida town.

Nationally, Martin’s death and the acquittal of his killer more than a year later sparked the modern Black Lives Matter movement and a call for police reform. In Sanford, the case also resurfaced a troubled past for some of the city’s historically black communities and reminded leaders of the urgent need to ease tensions between black people and law enforcement.

Francis Oliver is the founder of the Goldsboro Museum and Welcome Center in Sanford.

She said the tension was felt especially in Goldsboro. It was one of the oldest incorporated African-American cities in the United States. But over 100 years ago, in 1911, Sanford annexed Goldsboro.

“That’s when the city of Sanford dissolved the charter of Goldsboro, which at the time was its own city, its own government, its own municipality, its own post office and everything,” Oliver said.

Neighborhoods like Goldsboro were formed after the Civil War to provide provisions and shelter for freedmen and refugees. When the community was annexed to Sanford, a lot changed. Racial disparities were highlighted and their history squashed.

A year after Martin’s death, Oliver told WMFE she hopes relations between Sanford police and residents will improve.

Andrew Thomas, Sanford’s director of community relations and neighborhood engagement, said he understands the history of the African-American community there. Thomas said he recognizes that black residents need to be heard for the relationship to be repaired.

“It was a lot of listening, in terms of what the community had to say… about what was being done, what had been done. As you probably well know, there’s a lot of history in this community,” Thomas said. “That particular incident with Trayvon kind of rejuvenated a lot of the history that Sanford and the African-American community had gone through.”

Amid the Trayvon Martin case, Thomas said many in the Sanford community feel confirmed in their distrust of law enforcement. They felt like it hadn’t been handled the way it should have been.

Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said he immediately saw the need to improve the city’s relationship with police when he took over as department head in April 2013. He felt the problems outside and inside the department needed to be resolved.

Smith initially focused on internal issues, beginning by encouraging his agents to go door to door in Goldsboro so residents could get to know them.

“The first meeting I had with some of my guys, they told me I was crazy because I wanted to walk around Goldsboro,” Smith said. “So if you’re scared to go out and do this job, you don’t have to be here to do this job – you can’t be scared of the community that you say you’re supposed to go out and protect and to serve.

With door-to-door presentations and “chats with the chief,” in which he invites residents to have a drink and chat with him, he said he believes the Sanford community and the police department were now on the same wavelength.

“We have this understanding that we are all human, that we all want to live in harmony and that you give us the opportunity to ensure the peace and tranquility that you have in society today and to work with us to make so that it continues. “Smith said.

Oliver has been one of the Sanford Police Department’s most vocal critics in the past. Now she says that while they still have work to do, they have come a long way.

“I wouldn’t say there aren’t certain things that could be done better. But it’s better than it was. It’s better than before Trayvon. It’s better than it was before Cecil arrived,” Oliver said.

SANDF will support law enforcement

Michael C. Lovelace — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 09:38:56 +0000

Defense and Veterans Affairs Minister Thandi Modise said the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) stands ready to provide law enforcement support to help maintain stability in the country.

“SANDF will continue to be on high alert to protect all national key points, as well as the economic corridors of the country, from any disruption or blockage, resulting either from the protest of truckers or from any disruptive element.

“The SANDF continues to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic and as such, continues to carry out operations to secure the borders – in particular the land borders. This is in order to curb the cross-border movements of undocumented migrants, illicit goods and drugs, weapons, livestock and stolen vehicles.

“The defense forces have recorded spectacular successes in this regard by intercepting many luxury cars smuggled into neighboring countries and intercepting drug trafficking,” she told a press conference in the city. Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster on Sunday.

The Minister said that in addition to assisting law enforcement agencies, SANDF also assists in bridge construction by leveraging the capability of South African Army engineers for the rural bridge program from Welisizwe.

“These bridges will help stop school children drowning while trying to cross swollen rivers to get to school and will help pensioners access their retirement benefits. We have already built 16 bridges in KwaZulu-Natal and 18 in the Eastern Cape, and thus enabled thousands of people to cross dangerous rivers to reach clinics, schools and other service delivery centres.

“In the months and years to come, we will intensify this program, in accordance with the marching orders of the Commander-in-Chief.”

According to Modise, at least 2,000 new recruits are expected to join the ranks of the SANDF in the first weeks of March, a move which she says should “ensure that we have a defense that is well equipped, combat ready and able to stand up”. fulfill its constitutional mandate”.

rule of law

Modise said the JCPS cluster flagged “deliberate undermining of the rule of law” during the protests as a matter of concern.

“Our position is very clear on this: our officers will enforce the rule of law without fear or favor where people willfully undermine the authority of the state. No one has the right, regardless of their grievances or dissatisfaction with anything, to break the right right.

“[As] Security Cluster Ministers, we are committed to creating a safe and enabling environment that will reassure both the citizens of this country and international tourists and investors that they will be safe when they come to do business in this country.

“We therefore call on all peace-loving people in this country to work with us as we transform and improve the security mechanisms that will serve us all without fear or favor.”

Another cluster concern is the “low level of trust” between members of the public and law enforcement.

“We will therefore work to rebuild trust between officers deployed in communities and community members. This will include reviving community policing forums, which will work with local police stations to tackle crime. inclusive approach to assess the threats that exist in communities and put in place the necessary responses,” said Modise.

gender-based violence

Meanwhile, the JCPS cluster welcomed the enactment of the Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act, the Criminal Law (Sex Offenses and Related Matters) Amendment Act and the Domestic Violence Amendment Act .

The three new pieces of legislation were enacted in an effort to secure more prosecutions in cases related to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Modise said thousands of members of the South African police service have undergone training to deal with crime against women and children.

“The Police Department has trained more than 90,000 officers in an effort to support the decline in sexual offending. [SAPS] set up GBVF desks in police stations in all provinces, which will be managed by trained GBVF desk officers.

“It is expected that these GBVF offices will be finalized by the end of March this year and the government will prioritize identified GBVF hotspots,” she said.

(With contributions from the South African government press release)

Accidents kill law enforcement officers in Florida and California

Michael C. Lovelace — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 02:18:27 +0000

Two crashes – one in a helicopter and the other in a collision with a car – have killed two law enforcement officers in Florida and California.

The two officers joined 49 other law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty across the country so far in 2022, according to the Memorial page of the shot officer.

Despite recent tragedies, deaths in the line of duty have fallen by 47% compared to the same period last year.

James Michael McWhorter

Florida Bureau of Farm Law Enforcement Cpl. James McWhorter died in a car accident on February 12 just south of the Georgia state line.

The 31-year-old father of four was engaged.

Florida Bureau of Farm Law Enforcement Cpl. James McWhorter was buried on February 19, 2022 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Composite of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Authorities said McWhorter collided with a pickup truck while crossing Interstate 95 near Yulee, Florida. Details of the crash remain limited as investigators investigate the fatal incident, but officials said McWhorter was driving from the northbound inspection station to the southbound building across the freeway when the collision has occurred.

At Saturday’s funeral at the Middleburg First Baptist ChurchFlorida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement Colonel James Wiggins hailed McWhorter as an exemplary officer, beloved by his colleagues. He posthumously promoted McWhorter to the rank of corporal.

“He was a friend,” Wiggins said. “He was a brother. He was always smiling and happy, especially when he talked about his family.

Wiggins said McWhorter became the fifth Florida farm law enforcement agency to die on duty. Burial at Jacksonville Memorial Gardens followed McWhorter’s funeral service.

Florida Bureau of Farm Law Enforcement Cpl. James McWhorter was buried on February 19, 2022 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Photo by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Brittney Osborne told Coffee or Die Magazine that McWhorter, her fiancé, enjoyed his career in law enforcement and compared his fellow Bravo Shift officers to his family.

“It’s, like, the tightest shift they’ve had, in that they’re just really close,” Osborne said.

McWhorter maxed out her 112 overtime overtime hours during each 28-day rotating schedule, she said. They used the extra money to buy their new house and plan their wedding.

“He was coming home after a 14-hour drive and going straight into dad mode,” she said.

Florida Bureau of Farm Law Enforcement Cpl. James McWhorter was buried on February 19, 2022 at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Photo by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

She said McWhorter dreamed of working with wildlife, especially alligators. They enjoyed taking the kids to visit a local alligator farm, although McWhorter seemed to enjoy the trips the most.

“They could just see it in his eyes, that if he could just get through the bulkheads, then he would be in there, and he would like that,” Osborne said.

Osbourne said McWhorter is a firm believer in reaching out to the community, including the annual Shop with a cop event, when law enforcement officers team up with impoverished children in Nassau County for holiday shopping excursions. He put his name on every open slot because he never wanted any kid to miss him.

“It wasn’t that he liked to do difficult things,” she said. “He loved doing things that mattered.”

James McWhorter was born on August 17, 1990 to Mark and Angela McWhorter. He is survived by his fiancee; Parents; the children, Jason, Jackson, Juliet and Juno; and his siblings, Jacob Everton, Mark Memmo, Angie Murray, Tiffany Desjardins and Joseph McWhorter.

Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, suffered fatal injuries after his helicopter crashed on February 19, 2022, off the coast of California.

Nicolas Velle

Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella, 44, suffered fatal injuries after his helicopter crashed around 6:30 p.m. Saturday off the coast of California.

Investigators continue to probe the cause of the crash, which happened five minutes after Vella, a pilot, and his unnamed 50-year-old partner responded in the HB-1 helicopter to a priority call to help the department Newport Beach police with an “ongoing fight,” according to a prepared statement released by the Huntington Beach Police Department.

Beach bystanders and nearby first responders rushed into the water to save Vella and his partner from the wreckage. Both officers were transported to local hospitals.

On February 22, 2022, a solemn procession of fellow law enforcement officers carried the body of Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella from the Orange County Coroner’s Office in Santa Ana, California, at the La Habra funeral home. Vella’s funeral arrangements are pending. Photo by Tustin Police Department.

Vella’s partner was fired from hospital on sunday. Vella, a 14-year veteran of the department, died from his injuries.

He leaves behind a wife and a daughter. The Peace Officers Research Association of California is looking to raise $100,000 to support his family.

The National Transportation Safety Board classified the 1998 McDonnell Douglas 500N helicopter crash as an accident. The NTSB and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Reconstruction Team are investigating the incident.

“No words can adequately express this loss,” the Huntington Beach police chief said. Eric Parra said in a prepared statement. “We deeply mourn Officer Vella’s family; and as a police department, we mourn too.

Read more : Same day, different coasts: heart attacks kill 2 firefighters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/7NjeWid6pY8

How this free hiring tool aims to elevate the law enforcement industry

Michael C. Lovelace — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 23:05:23 +0000

Sponsored by Guardian Alliance Technologies

By Courtney Levin, Police1 BrandFocus Staff

Very few, if any, of the daily tasks of a cop can be described as “easy”. Not only has it become increasingly difficult to enforce the law safely among the general public, but administrative tasks are sometimes hampered by outdated processes and systems. Often at the top of the list of grueling office tasks is reviewing lengthy applications from potential candidates in an effort to determine who will be subject to a full background investigation prior to employment.

Agencies have long sought to hire people of the highest caliber, but due to the ongoing challenges facing police departments nationwide, even greater efforts should be made to employ the best of the best. (Getty)

It’s not uncommon for agencies to fall behind when hiring agents, especially when an increasing number of departments are understaffed and operating on tight budgets. In a world where tasks can be accomplished with just a few mouse clicks, the law enforcement hiring process often feels like an archaic and staggering challenge.

With a mission to ease the burden, the team at Guardian Alliance Technologies has developed digital tools to help streamline the hiring process. Through their free triage center, agencies can review applicants’ applications and determine who will receive a full background investigation more efficiently and conduct background investigations with greater confidence.

HIRING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE DIFFICULT

How confident are you that your agency can uncover all potential concerns about a candidate? When was the last time your background investigators were able to process applications at a rapid pace?

If your answers lean toward the negative end of the spectrum, you’re not alone. The process of hiring new agents can be overwhelming, especially because of the paperwork involved.

Although a critical step in discovering a candidate’s qualifications, the use of paper-based personal history questionnaires (PHQs) creates several problems. From storage issues to manually reviewing hundreds of questions per candidate, processing each HQP is anything but simplified.

“There has to be a better way,” said Justin Biedinger, founder and chairman of Guardian Alliance Technologies, when describing the initial idea to develop the Free Triage Center. “There has to be a way to not only speed up the process, but also catch errors and uncover more information.”

It is virtually impossible to cross-reference with other agencies to find out whether a candidate has altered an answer from a previous HQP submission to make themselves seem more favorable, and agencies may find themselves inadvertently leaving a candidate less ideal to slip through the cracks.

Instead, Guardian Alliance Technologies designed the Free Triage Center to process claims more efficiently and help agencies close information gaps and weed out bad apples.

GOING DIGITAL BRINGS GROWTH

The Free Triage Center does more than scan each candidate’s HQP. Visual cues provide at-a-glance information for quick review. Details, including HQP percentage complete, when a candidate was last applied, and what documents candidates have uploaded, are visible in an organized dashboard.

Guardian Alliance Technologies has also integrated access to several key databases to help agencies uncover potential candidate issues. Its National Applicant Information Center (NAIC) is a centralized database exclusively available to Guardian users that stores a candidate’s job search activity, such as the agencies they have applied to, and flags any concerns arising from changes applicants may make from one substantive questionnaire submission to the next.

Additionally, Guardian’s Triage Center includes a feature that allows agencies to easily run candidates through the National Decertification Index (NDI) early in the hiring process to find out if the candidate has been decertified as a as a peace officer or is the subject of an investigation.

Agencies can then document any issues found and make them visible in the applicant’s file under the concerns report. It is important to note that NDI should not be viewed as a blacklist, but rather as a tool for agencies to obtain more information about their applicants.

Using the free triage center creates an ever-increasing advantage for law enforcement as a whole, Biedinger says.

“It has a compounding effect on the overall value of the system. By allowing agencies to use this contributory database for free, we get 100% of the candidates in the system, which makes the system more valuable for all other agencies that join,” he said.

GAIN CONFIDENCE IN YOUR HIRING DECISIONS

Streamlining the hiring process isn’t just about reducing the time spent reviewing HQP. The primary goal of the Free Triage Center is to change law enforcement for the better.

“Guardian is not just a software platform that we sell to police departments to make money,” said Biedinger, a former member of the Stockton Police Department. “It’s literally a move to change the industry and improve the optics of the profession.”

“Given the times we live in, we can’t afford a bad hire,” said Ryan Layne, CEO of Guardian Alliance Technologies. “Public confidence in law enforcement is at an all-time low. Gaining public support is essential to fighting crime and maintaining public order. The less support our law enforcement officers have from the public, the more we will see an increase in crime.

“Additionally, we are facing a severe hiring crisis and it is increasingly difficult to attract good candidates into the profession when the prospects of being a police officer are so low,” Layne said. “We must do everything in our power to ensure that we hire the best candidates to minimize behavior that will only continue to damage the reputation of this honorable profession.”

The free triage center gives agencies added organization and confidence when hiring agents, and unlike other software solutions, it’s truly free to use. Guardian Alliance Technologies offers additional paid survey tools, but many agencies choose to rely solely on the free triage center.

The importance of uncovering every potential problem during the prescreening process is now being highlighted, says Biedinger.

“As a background investigator, you have to lie down at night knowing that you recommended someone to hire and hope that you found out everything you could about that person,” Biedinger said. “I would have slept much better at night if this tool was available when I was doing backgrounds.”

“It is an honor to provide this solution to my brothers and sisters in blue who carry this burden on a daily basis,” continued Biedinger. “It is my hope and prayer that by providing this tool for free, we will eliminate any excuse not to use it and prevent bad apples from entering our profession.”

To visit Guardian Alliance Technologies for more information.

Read next: Why Guardian Alliance Technologies made easy access to the National Decertification Index a standard part of its free triage center

Lone Star College Launches Law Enforcement Academy

Michael C. Lovelace — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:35:10 +0000

Business

By Bill Van Rysdam | February 21, 2022

HOUSTON, TX — Lone Star College offers students the opportunity to become licensed Texas police officers through the LSC Law Enforcement Academy. The new program provides the skills and competencies that will equip the student for a career as a law enforcement officer.

PHOTO: Lone Star College’s Law Enforcement Academy will provide skills that will prepare students for a career as a law enforcement officer. Pictured are LSC’s Law Enforcement Advisory Board and LSC staff members. (Bottom row, left to right) Dr Alton Smith, LSC Foundation Board of Trustees; Richard Cantu, Executive Director, East Aldine District; Laurie Christensen, fire marshal, Harris County Office of the Fire Marshal; Paul Cordova, Chief of Police, Aldine ISD Police Department; Lawanda Wheeler, Coordinator III, LSC Law Enforcement Academy; Connor O’Sullivan, Executive Director, LSC Continuing Education. (Second row, left to right) Linda L. Head, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor, LSC Office of External & Employer Relations; Mike Nansel, lieutenant, Houston Police Department; Kenneth Theis, Chief of Police, Humble Police Department. (Third row, left to right) Dr. Michael Burns, acting vice president of education, LSC-North Harris; Eric Mendez, Chief of Police, CyFair ISD Police Department; Tony Huynh, Major, Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Jonathan Zitzmann, Captain, Harris County 4 County Police Bureau. (Fourth row, left to right) Dr. Luis Lucio, LSC-East Aldine Center Dean; Ken Krall, Community Representative; Michael Williams, Lt., Houston Police Department.

“Lone Star College is proud to offer this very important program,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC Chancellor. “These officials help protect the lives and property of our community and we are honored to be able to contribute to these efforts.”

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Cadets will receive classroom instruction and participate in hands-on training to learn police-related skills and prepare them for the state licensing exam. Day and night classes will be offered at LSC-East Aldine Center and the program meets Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requirements for course #1000696.

“Students who successfully complete the course will be eligible to take the state licensing exam,” Head said. “Once they pass the exam, they will be eligible for employment as a peace officer in Texas.”

Students must be 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, be US citizens, and have a high school diploma or GED. Students must also submit to a criminal background check, physical examination, psychological evaluation, and drug screening.

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Information sessions will be held at LSC-North Harris (Academic Building-126):

Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Thursday March 3, 2022, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday April 6, 2022, 10-11 a.m.
Thursday April 7, 2022, 6-7 p.m.
Tuesday, August 2, 2022, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Visit LoneStar.edu/LEA to learn more about this exciting career opportunity.

Lone Star College provides high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and vocational training to more than 93,000 students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to drive student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is Chancellor of LSC, the Houston area’s largest institution of higher learning and was named a 2021 Great Colleges to Work For® by the Chronicle of Higher Education and ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes list of America’s Top Employers by State. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight workforce centers of excellence, and the Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

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Miami-Dade mayor shakes up law enforcement officials

Michael C. Lovelace — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 17:56:00 +0000

press conference in 2021, was ousted as head of Miami-Dade’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” title=”Daniel Junior, pictured at a press conference in 2021, was ousted as head of Miami-Dade’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” loading=”lazy”/>

Daniel Junior, pictured at a press conference in 2021, was ousted as head of Miami-Dade’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Pedro Portal

pportal@miamiherald.com

The Miami-Dade County mayor on Friday announced a reshuffle of his administration’s law enforcement officials, demoting the head of the corrections system, Daniel Junior, while promoting the county police director to deputy. responsible for public security.

Among Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s gestures:

Police Superintendent Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III will be elevated to county chief of public safety, overseeing both the police and the Miami-Dade Fire Department.
Levine Cava’s current security guard, former county police director JD Patterson, will take on a new role overseeing corrections and its new acting director, Cassandra Jones, currently assistant to the department under Junior.
Patterson will continue to report to Levine Cava, as will Ramirez, according to Levine Cava’s office. That leaves Ramirez with a smaller portfolio than Patterson, who has overseen corrections as well as fire and police.
Filling Ramirez’s shoes, as Acting County Police Director: George Perez, Miami-Dade Deputy Police Director.
The personnel changes move Junior, a popular department chief with Miami-Dade commissioners, to deputy director of security at the county’s PortMiami.

Junior’s transfer follows a series of negative reports about corrections that frustrated Levine Cava and his top aides on the 29th floor of County Hall, according to people familiar with the mayor’s thinking.

This included a county inmate who committed suicide by hanging in January; a lawsuit demanding humiliating treatment in prison against transgender men and women; and news revealed by the Miami Herald earlier this month that corrections had temporarily used a closed prison known as “Stockade” for COVID-19 duty, with allegations of putrid food and cold showers.

Sally Heyman, the county commissioner who chairs the council’s Community Safety Committee, said Junior’s demotion stunned her when Levine Cava confirmed rumors of the changes in a chat Thursday night.

“I think he did a really good job, inheriting the issues he had,” Heyman said of Junior, who has led corrections since then. Mayor Carlos Gimenez named him acting director in a 2016 order requiring prison oversight after the mistreatment of inmates in need of mental health services was uncovered.

“I feel discouraged and disappointed,” by Levine Cava’s decision, Heyman said.

Heyman said Levine Cava cited concerns she heard about other people’s corrections, and the mayor’s memo alluded to complaints that prompted the action.

“I believe that a transparent government is one that listens to its constituents and takes concrete action when necessary,” she wrote.

Levine Cava, who announced Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19, was unavailable for an interview.

Fletcher Everett, a community organizer with Beyond the Bars, said his group’s hotline receives daily complaints about poor conditions in Miami-Dade prisons and inmates not receiving proper medical care. “We hope the next Director of Corrections truly cares about the humanity of the people in our prisons,” he said, “and we urge the mayor’s office to initiate a public process to ensure that we we have the best person in place for such an important position.”

Changes that take effect March 1 give Levine Cava the ability to choose new permanent heads of the county’s two law enforcement agencies before the 2024 election, when an amendment to the Florida Constitution requires voters of Miami-Dade to elect a sheriff for the first time. since the 1960s.

Levine Cava said she wants the Miami-Dade County government to retain a police force under the mayor once a sheriff takes office, and the shake-up includes the placement of senior adviser Rahel Weldeyesus from the mayor for innovation, to the police department for “helping with the sheriff’s transition.

The county’s new police director, Perez, currently oversees the police services bureau, which has more than 2,500 employees. Levine Cava is also appointing Stephanie Daniels to the renewed position of assistant director. She will become the first woman – and the first black woman – to take on this role. She is currently the deputy director of the police department.

For Ramirez, promotion to deputy Levine Cava means going from the county’s top uniformed officer to a civilian job on the 29th floor.

A veteran of the police department, he was named director in 2020 by Gimenez and helped Levine Cava gain approval for his 2021 “Peace and Prosperity” crime plan that focused on social services and a program for residents undocumented from obtaining county-sanctioned identification cards. He oversaw the department throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and during the response to the condominium collapse at Surfside.

“It’s an honor to continue working in public safety,” Ramirez said Friday. “I’m very proud of the men and women of the Miami-Dade police force and how they got through a tough time.”

Miami-Dade Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez III, along with other county officials, provided an update on the search and recovery operation following the Surfside building collapse at a conference in press at Miami-Dade Emergency Operations in Doral, Fla. on July 26, 2021. Daniel A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com

This story was originally published February 18, 2022 12:56 p.m.

David Ovalle covers crime and the courts in Miami. A native of San Diego, he graduated from the University of Southern California and joined the Herald in 2002 as a sportscaster.