Michael Jackson is dead, but the controversies have just begun. Among the growing issues surrounding his death are the actions of the first responders and investigators. On July 3, 2009, the Associated Press ran an article which asked several pointed questions; Why didn’t the police seal the mansion where he had been living? Why didn’t…
The following is a digest of the National Institute of Justice National dated October 10, 2007, concerning the domestic Law Enforcement use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as UAVs, is a rapidly emerging technology that has exceptional appeal to law enforcement. A UAS consists of an unmanned aircraft, an aircraft…
When any officer is hired or completes their police academy they are required to take an oath. Too often as time wears on the police officer has forgotten their oath but do continue doing the best job they can for the department they serve. Police officers in the past took their oath to heart and…
Some of these you may have heard before, but they are worth repeating. A few, you may have never thought of. 1. After you pick up the mail don’t put it in your car. I know – you’re rushed. You go to the mailbox, pick it up, glance through it and then get in the…
Physical evidence has the potential to play a critical role in the overall investigation and resolution of a suspected criminal act. Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement discusses the fundamental principles of investigating a crime scene and preserving evidence that need to be practiced in order to yield reliable information. This research report…
Joining the ranks within the profession of law enforcement, whether on the local, state, or federal level is honorable and courageous. Men and women across the nation are taking their oath of office, swearing “to protect and to serve,” proudly pinning on their new badges, strapping on their gunbelts, and stepping out into a different…
Overview At the time of this writing, only the potential for a pandemic has been mentioned, and summer approaches; not your “usual” cold and flu season. One school of thought is that we will see a relatively minor wave of flu cases which will diminish toward the end of the summer. However, when fall starts and schools…
Most crime scenes tell a story. And like most stories, crime scenes have characters, a plot, a beginning, middle, and hopefully, a conclusion. However, in contrast to authors who lead their readers to a predetermined ending, the final disposition of a crime scene depends on the investigators assigned to the case. The investigators’ abilities to…
Many moons ago at the ripe old age of 19 I began my law enforcement career. I was still too young to become an officer so I became a dispatcher while I waited to go to the police academy. I figured I’d do the “easy” job of dispatching before becoming a cop and doing real…
Nearly every new cop has heard a field training officer or senior partner utter the phrase, “Forget everything you learned in the academy.” Indeed, in my conversations with senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) from several branches of the military there is a similar “forget what they told you in Basic.” That’s right. It would appear that…
