By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service June 29, 2007 – Afghan police forces are quickly following in the footsteps of their Afghan army counterparts to help fight the Taliban, thanks largely to training being offered through Task Force Phoenix, the task force commander told bloggers earlier this week.  Speaking from Kabul, Afghanistan on June 27, Army Brig. Gen. Robert Livingston detailed the training successes taking place under the auspices of Task Force Phoenix. Livingston is commander of the South Carolina National Guard's 218th Enhanced Separate Brigade, which is leading the training and mentoring effort.  "We've been mentoring the army for the last four and a half years, and have a very successful record with them," Livingston reported. He noted that the Afghan army is now conducting many operations at the corps level.  Training the Afghan police has now become a top priority, and similar successes are occurring within the Afghan police since Task Force Phoenix picked up the mentoring mission in late 2006, he said.  Similar to the way the task force trains the Afghan army, it has embedded training teams with the police, he said. They work alongside NATO International Security Assistance Force teams "to ensure that we're training one army and that we're training one police force," Livingston said.  "We're in the process of doing the same type of operation with the police that we did with the army," he said, "and we've had some very encouraging results early on with the police."  Livingston reported growing discontent about living with violence. "I think what we see throughout Afghanistan is that the people are tired of fighting," he said. "They are tired of the insurgency and the rule of the Taliban."  The Afghan government recognizes that the key to doing away with the insurgency is to strengthen the police force so it can serve the Afghan people, he said.  Task Force Phoenix is supporting this effort through its efforts to train both the police and military, he said. The army "is well on its way and in many cases has primacy," and the police force is following its lead, he said.  

"Initial results with the police are very, very encouraging," he said.

By Samantha L. QuigleyAmerican Forces Press Service June 29, 2007 – As the nation's servicemembers continue to fight the global war on terrorism, a group is working to make sure the Americans they're defending are aware of their sacrifices.  "The Greer Foundation raises public awareness of the sacrifices of serving the nation through outreach and commentary on the war on terror," said Steve Greer, the group's founder.  His experiences as an Army command sergeant major in Kosovo and other places that give him the knowledge base for this endeavor, he added.  Greer retired from the Army in January 2003, and started the foundation that same year with his wife, Jennifer, who also is a former soldier. Since then, he has given more than 400 interviews addressing the challenges U.S. troops face while fighting the global war on terrorism. He also speaks free of charge at civic-club meetings, universities and military bases in support of the troops.  Greer has been a member of the Defense Department's retired military analysts group since 2004, and has traveled the world, "visiting troops to thank them for their sacrifices," he said.  While the Greer Foundation's main focus is educating the public about the troops' sacrifices through radio and TV commentary and speaking engagements, it administers two award programs: one honors those killed in action, and the other recognizes children affected by war and conflict.  "Specifically, we award the Master Sgt. William "Chief" Carlson Tomahawk Medal and the Tarlavsky-Price Youth Leadership Award," Greer said. "Both awards honor the sacrifices of three of America's finest warriors and very close friends of mine."  The foundation is one of the newest home-front members of the America Supports You program. The Defense Department program connects citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.  

Greer said he's proud the foundation is now part of America Supports You, and he looks forward to the mutual benefits the partnership will provide.

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.  With the addition of police officers George Seibel, Robert Girod and Trent Ruble, Police-Writers.com now lists 600 state and local police officers who have written books. George Seibel is a former Chicago Police Department homicide detective and the Director of the Morton College Institute for Cold Case Solutions (Cicero, Illinois).  George Seibel is also the author of Insider's Guide to Policing: What You Need to Know About Becoming a Cop; Violent Crimes Investigation: Cases and Materials; Enlightened Police Questioning, Interviewing, Investigation, and Interrogation; and, Cold Case Investigation: Cases and Materials. Dr. Robert J. Girod, Sr. earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Criminology and Public Administration from The Union Institute and University and a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership from Harvard University. Dr. Robert Girod is a supervisor in the Detective Bureau with the Fort Wayne Police Department (Indiana), a member of the FBI’s Federal Bank Robbery Task Force and a part-time “special deputy” for the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Dr. Robert J. Girod has served as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve and the Indiana Guard Reserve. He is an adjunct professor and associate faculty member at seven universities.  Dr. Robert J. Girod is the author of Profiling The Criminal Mind: Behavioral Science and Criminal Investigative Analysis. According to the book description, “Profiling the Criminal Mind is, as the subtitle indicates, is a text and reference on behavioral science and criminal investigative analysis for investigators, forensic scientists, prosecutors, behavioral scientists, and academics. This compilation combines crime scene forensics and experience with behavioral science to get into the criminal's mind and interpret crime scenes. A practical guide to applied criminology, the author brings together his years of experience as a detective/investigator and professor of criminology and criminal justice to outline an inter-disciplinary approach to analyzing crime scenes and crime scene behavior. Multi-discipline sleuths and researchers into the criminal mind will find this combined approach to analysis a valuable strategic approach to the study of violent criminal behavior.” In 1985, Trent Ruble joined the Huntington Police Department (Indiana).  He is also a member of the Huntington College Police Department.   He is a former board member of the Huntington County Crime Stoppers and the Police Athletic League.  Trent Ruble has been Republican Precinct Committeeman for his precinct and a member of the Jackson Township Board.  Trent Ruble is the author of the fictional novel Harrison Davis: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.  According to the book description, “Harrison Davis, the Lakewood Police Department’s lone detective, is nearing the end of his police career. He is looking forward to a relaxing retirement with his wife, Julianne, and is even planning a surprise cruise for the two of them. However, his retirement planning is interrupted when he is faced with the most serious crimes he’s seen. While the people of Lakewood, as well as the media, question the qualifications of their detective, the investigations cause Harrison to question the very essence of life and death. He soon must make a decision that will change his life forever.” Police-Writers.com now hosts 600 police officers (representing 256 police departments) and their 1255 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service June 28, 2007 – The surge of coalition and Iraqi operations in Baghdad has produced hopeful signs, President Bush said today at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Bush said the coalition and the Iraqi government are making progress in Anbar province, and this is spreading to Baghdad. He also spoke about the Iraqi government's need to pass legislation, and the need for Americans to display patience.  The Sunni-dominated Anbar province was the seat of al Qaeda in Iraq six months ago. Bush said critics cited the province as the example of American failure in Iraq.  "About the same time some folks were writing off Anbar, our people are methodically cleaning Anbar's capital city of Ramadi of terrorists and winning the trust of the local population," he said. "In parallel with these efforts, a group of tribal sheikhs launched a movement called 'The Awakening' and began cooperating with American and Iraqi forces." The confluence of coalition forces and Iraqi sheikhs worked against al Qaeda.  "To capitalize on the opportunity, I sent more Marines into Anbar, and gradually they've been helping the locals take back their province from al Qaeda," Bush said. "These operations are showing good results. Our forces are going into parts of Anbar where they couldn't operate before. With the help of Iraqi and coalition forces, local Sunni tribes have driven al Qaeda from most of Ramadi, and attacks there are now down to a two-year low."  Anbar is still a dangerous place, Bush said, but a province that had been written off as hopeless "now enjoys a level of peace and stability that was unimaginable only a few months ago."  The president said coalition leaders want to replicate the success in Anbar in Baghdad.  "In the months since I announced our new strategy, ... we've been moving reinforcements into key Baghdad neighborhoods and the areas around the capital to help secure the population," he said. Coalition and Iraqi forces are in the midst of Operation Phantom Thunder - which is focused on defeating al Qaeda terrorists, the insurgents and militias, and on denying extremists safe havens.  In January, about 80 percent of Iraq's sectarian violence was within 30 miles of Baghdad, Bush said. If coalition forces can clear the belt around the capital of al Qaeda and death squads, "we can improve life for the citizens of the areas and inhibit the enemy's ability to strike," the president said.  Bush said Americans must get used to hearing the names of places like Adhamiya, Rashid and Mansour.  "These areas are important because they represent so-called sectarian faultlines, locations where Shiia extremists and al Qaeda terrorists are attempting to reignite sectarian violence through murder and kidnappings and other violent activities," he said. "Until these areas and others like them are secured, the people of Baghdad can't be protected. They can't go about their lives."  The coalition and Iraqi forces are at the beginning of the offensive, the president emphasized.  "We finally got the troops there. Americans have got to understand, it takes a while to mobilize additional troops and move them from the United States to Iraq," he said. "And we got them there, and now we're beginning to move."  The plan in place is a good one, Bush said. The forces are the best in the world and are carrying out that plan. "We owe them the time and we owe them the support they need to succeed," the president said.  But the fight in Iraq involves more than just the military. "The Iraqis have got to be making tough decisions towards reconciliation, and that's why we'll keep the pressure on Iraqi leaders to meet political benchmarks they laid out for themselves," he said.  The United States will keep up pressure for the Iraqis to pass important legislation regarding sharing oil revenues, hold provincial elections and reconciliation.  "I speak to the prime minister and I speak to the Presidency Council quite often, and I remind them we expect the government to function and to pass law," Bush said.  He said that many Americans are frustrated by the slow pace of legislation. But Iraq is a democracy, and democracies are often slow, he said.  "The Iraqi parliament is composed of members representing many different religions and ethnicities - Sunnis, Shiia, Turkamen, Kurds and others," he said. "Even in a long-established democracy, it's not easy to pass important pieces of legislation in a short period of time. We're asking the Iraqis to accomplish all these things at a time when their country's being attacked.  "I make no excuses," he said. "We will continue to keep the pressure up. We expect there to be reconciliation; we expect them to pass law."  The United States is involved in a broader war against ideological killers, Bush said, calling success in Iraq and Afghanistan important to the people of the greater Middle East and Central Asia.  "The stakes are high in the beginning stages of this global war against ideologues that stand for the exact opposite of what America stands for," the president said. "What makes the war even more significant is that what happens overseas matters to the security in the United States of America, as we learned on September the 11th, when killers were able to use a failed state to plot the deadly attack.  "If we withdraw before the Iraqi government can defend itself," he continued, "we would yield the future of Iraq to terrorists like al Qaeda, and we would give a green light to extremists all throughout a troubled region."  The president said the consequences of such a withdrawal would be disastrous, as sectarian violence would overwhelm Iraq and fighting could spread well beyond Iraq and engulf the entire Persian Gulf region.  "We would soon face a Middle East dominated by Islamic extremists who would pursue nuclear weapons, who would use their control of oil for economic blackmail and who would be in a position to launch new attacks on the United States of America," Bush said.  The United States must stay involved in the region, the president said.  

"The United States must stand with millions of moms and dads throughout the Middle East who want a future of dignity and peace, and we must help them defeat a common enemy," he said.

By Samantha L. QuigleyAmerican Forces Press Service June 27, 2007 – Finances are no longer a reason to keep a Marine's family from attending his or her basic training graduation, thanks to the Marine Graduation Foundation.  "The men and women who choose to serve our country as a United States Marine endure more in one day of boot camp than most of us will ever experience in a lifetime," John Weant, the foundation's president said. "None of (them) should ever have to be alone on the day they can proudly say, 'I am a United States Marine.'"  Weant said it's "just not acceptable" for financial circumstances to stand in the way of families traveling to attend the ceremonies. Thanks to the Marine Graduation Foundation, families who want to attend a son or daughter's graduation at Camp Pendleton, Calif., or Parris Island, S.C., can request a grant from the Missouri-based organization through an online form.  The average grant is $250 and can be awarded to a grandparent, parent or spouse of the recruit, according to the foundation's Web site.  The nonprofit organization accepts donations to help fund the grants. Visit the foundation's Web site, usmcgrad.org, for more information on making tax-deductible donations.  "No donation is too small, and with your help, we can make the Emblem Ceremony, as well as the graduation, a proud, memorable day for a man or woman who has chosen to serve our country as a United States Marine," Weant said on the foundation's Web site.  

The Marine Graduation Foundation is a new member of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

By Gerry J. GilmoreAmerican Forces Press Service June 27, 2007 – A New York State-based business owner made a seven-figure donation in frequent-flyer miles to the Fisher House Foundation as part of a Memorial Day-weekend promotion sponsored by CNN, a Fisher House official reported.  Advertising and public relations executive Eric Mower donated 1 million frequent flyer miles that he'd accumulated during business travel with Delta Airlines over the past few years, said Pam Lea-Maida, program manager for Fisher House's "Hero Miles" program at the organization's headquarters in Rockville, Md.  Air mileage donated as part of the program is used to provide transportation for family members when they visit hospitalized servicemembers recovering from injuries suffered in Afghanistan or Iraq, Lea-Maida said. The donated miles also are used to transport injured servicemembers from military medical centers when visiting relatives while on convalescent leave, she added.  Fisher House has administered its "Hero Miles" program in partnership with the Defense Department since 2003, Lea-Maida said. Since then, the organization has provided more than 10,000 cost-free airline tickets to servicemembers and their families, which translates to a savings of more than $12 million.  Fisher House asked to participate in CNN's Memorial Day promotion, Lea-Maida said.  "We do have partnerships with each of the major airlines," Lea-Maida said, noting Fisher House books travel worth between 3.5 and 4 million frequent flyer miles daily for servicemembers' relatives.  Mower's donation to Fisher House is "unbelievably generous" and much appreciated, Lea-Maida said, noting that Delta Airlines matched Mower's contribution.  "I saw the CNN promotional messages, and I decided that's a good idea," Mower said about his Fisher House donation today during a phone interview from his company's principal office in Syracuse, N.Y. "I was sitting on a lot of miles that I hadn't used."  Mower said he watches daily television coverage of U.S. servicemembers' efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.  "You have to be brain-dead not to want to think about what these people are sacrificing" for the United States, Mower said. "So, it's not an overstatement to say that I think about them every day."  Mower said he is just "one citizen, doing very little" to support the troops "in comparison to what they are doing."  Any organization like Fisher House that supports servicemembers and their families "is a good organization, as far as I'm concerned," Mower said.  Since 1990, the nonprofit Fisher House organization also has served the nation by providing no-cost accommodations at military bases for relatives visiting ill or injured servicemembers. The comfort homes are built by Fisher House and then provided as gifts to the military services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Fisher House is a member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which spotlights and facilitates citizens' support for servicemembers and their families and communicates that support to servicemembers at home and abroad.

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News SummaryThursday, June 28, 2007 "Fingerprint Analyst Helps Solve Crime Mysteries" Miami Herald (06/25/07); Tablac, Angela  Fingerprint analysis in the Miami-Dade police department runs continuously on a 24/7 schedule, staffed by 32 analysts who process a minimum of 80 fingerprints a day. Analysis entails comparison of collected prints to databases to identify dead bodies, criminals, and prisoners. Each set of fingerprints goes through multiple levels of verification; matches in a database are manually verified by at least two analysts who look for several similar characteristics between the collected print and the database entry. In addition, analysts are often called to provide testimony in criminal trials where fingerprint evidence is relevant. Fingerprint analysis is often an attractive career to those who have some background in criminal justice but who opt not to become police officers; initial training takes eight weeks, and analysts take supplementary training sessions annually. In addition, they can obtain additional fingerprint classification certification from the FBI. http://www.miamiherald.com/154/story/148703.html  "Computers in Cruisers Give More Data Faster" Star-Ledger (NJ) (06/22/07) P. 25; Walsh, Diane C.  Middlesex County, N.J., officials have revealed that from patrol car mobile computers, officers between New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Highland Park, and Plainsboro will be able to communicate with each other. In 2005, a program was launched that bridged databases between the prosecutors, sheriffs, and county jails to promote advanced communications among agencies. "It's an example of taking advantage of new technology to fight crime," said Freeholder Christopher Rafano, overseer of the county law enforcement agencies. Through AT&T, the system was implemented at $358,726; each additional town under the system costs $40,000. Law enforcement officials say the system has allowed for instantaneous information and that the program's expansion among counties will serve as a powerful tool for combating crime.http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/union/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1182486863153150.xml&coll=1  "DNA Advances Led to Rape Suspect" Journal-World (Lawrence, Kan.) (06/22/07); Reid, Janet  Strides in technology led to the review of cold cases from the 1990s that allowed investigators to trail and charge a serial rapist more than 10 years after the crime was committed. In 1995, the DNA sample needed for analysis in rape cases had to be at least the size of a quarter; now, only a sample the size of a pinhead is needed. When a rape victim from a 1995 incident called police, investigators retested DNA evidence from her case along with a 1993 and 1994 incident. Using the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), police found a match between the DNA of a man who had been entered into the system on petty theft charges and the DNA from all three cases. Lawrence police Sgt. Dan Ward said, "These cases are horrendous, and the three young women have dealt with a lot ... [N]ow they're going to see justice."http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/22/dna_advances_led_rape_suspect/  "Cameras May Go Up Soon" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (06/24/07) P. B6; Sandler, Larry  Despite opposition from Milwaukee's Common Council, Mayor Tom Barrett has moved to implement a $1 million-plus program that would install cameras in high-crime areas in the city. The cameras would be monitored via fiber-optic connections and five mobile cameras would be shared among police departments. Barrett had the support of locals and the council's Public Safety Committee until over $500,000 was sought from the council's Finance & Personnel Committee. Council representatives claimed the funds should have been included in the mayor's budget, while Barrett said that aldermen should have no trouble footing the costs for the technology if they advocated the cameras' installation. Council President Willie Hines Jr. said Barrett should have anticipated costs accordingly, yet he and the mayor have reached an agreement whereby the contingency fund will not be tapped into and the project will be funded by public works and police accounts with an additional $404,000 from government assistance. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=623825  "Waynesville P.D. Goes High Tech" The Mountaineer (NC) (06/20/07); Pleming, Beth  The Waynesville, N.C., Police Department has experienced several technological upgrades recently, including access to the new program RAMBLER. When an accident takes place, warrants are dispensed, or a person is arrested, the report is electronically filed and made accessible to each law enforcement group connected to that software. Another improvement is new in-vehicle computers that permit police personnel to fill out incident and arrest reports in their cars, which means additional time spent on the road performing law enforcement and less time in the office entering information into a computer. Meanwhile, new laptops enable officers to perform a check for other data such as criminal backgrounds, car and license information, and outstanding active warrant notification. Golden Eagle radar devices allow offers to determine the speed of cars that are moving in any direction, including vehicles driving in front of patrol cars and coming from behind. The stealth stat is a radar system that is erected on the side of a road linked to a statistic recording machine that gets the speed and identity of passing cars. Waynesville Police are also using video analysis systems, specifically dTective by Ocean Systems, to study video surveillance recordings in order to identify and arrest thieves.http://themountaineer.com/cms/display/Top_Stories/pageDisplay.php?page2display=1182319200*0618%20WPD%20goes%20high%20tech.inc  "Flexible and Fearless, Seeking Rescue Work" New York Times (06/25/07) P. A12; Blumenthal, Ralph  Texas A&M University's Texas Engineering Extension Service operates a 52-acre "Disaster City" where fire fighters and other emergency responders from across the globe can participate in training exercises. The site was recently the scene of a robotics exercise sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate and the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Several varieties of rescue robots participated in the exercise, which included obstacle courses based on mock set-ups of the Oklahoma City bombing, 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Mexico City earthquake. The robots included a 30-foot, snake-like optic robot that slinks through crevasses and holes while providing images of its discoveries. That robot, produced by university researchers in Japan, is attached to the operator's body, unlike most robots, which are operated via consoles or laptops. One Texas A&M official predicted that robots will soon become a regular part of rescue work.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/25/washington/25robots.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1182777048-K9v0+v7okjZ5hJp6ZJ8Ghw   "Law Enforcement Gets an Upgrade" Spokesman Review (06/20/07) P. B1; Lawrence-Turner, Jody  Police in Spokane, Wash., have received several new technologically-advanced devices recently, including durable laptop computers, which replace mobile data computers formerly found in police patrol vehicles. The laptops, which cost around $5,500 apiece, are updated every day with information concerning suspects. Dashboard cameras are placed on the inside of a police car and record the actions of an officer, and cost around $7,800 each, while Global Positioning Systems, which cost between $450 and $475 for each patrol car, enable police dispatchers to know where patrol units are all the time by examining a computer screen. Meanwhile, electronic ticketing (e-tickets) permit traffic officers to employ a scanner to acquire data from the bar code on the rear side of a driver's license and enable an officer at the scene of an accident to create diagrams of the event utilizing a software program. The e-ticketing printers cost $425 each while the bar-code scanners cost $390 each. Officials note that over three-fourths of the financing for the equipment is provided by grants. On July 18, Spokane police stated they will pursue over $4 million in federal grants for both the city and county that is set aside for technological upgrades and purchases.http://www.spokesmanreview.com/local/story.asp?ID=195682  "Jersey City 'Court TV'" Jersey Journal (06/20/07); Pearson, Bernette  The Jersey City Municipal Court introduced on June 19 videoconferencing, which will allow inmates throughout New Jersey to argue their cases from prison while the judge, prosecutor, and public defender remain at the court. Chief Judge Wanda Molina notes that videoconferencing assists in reducing security threats, health risks, and travel expenses. Officers typically assigned to moving inmates can now be assigned to other prisoners in New Jersey facilities that can have their cases heard faster, she adds. The technology is already used at New Jersey Superior Court in Jersey City and at another five municipal courts in Hudson County. Molina states that municipal courts handle around 20 misdemeanor cases each day, including assault and drug cases. The cameras function through T-1 lines, similar to a video phone call but on a bigger scale. An inmate will sit in a wired room in the prison and view the court proceedings on a TV screen with a police officer close by. The individual charged presents a plea and then a trial date is scheduled or other arrangements are set.http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1182319381146570.xml&coll=3  "'Stepping Out' Suspended After Death of Howard Officer" Baltimore Sun (06/26/07)  The death of a Howard County police officer during a traffic enforcement operation on Route 32, near I-95, caused the Howard County police department and the nearby Anne Arundel County police department to suspend their "stepping out" policies. A team of two officers is used on occasion to stop speeders on highways and other roads; one officer mans the radar equipment, while the other steps into traffic to flag down speeders. Howard County officers will no longer step into traffic on roads with speed limits above 35 mph, and Anne Arundel County officers will not step out into traffic to catch speeders at all. Both departments plan to extensively review the policy and determine how it can be improved to prevent needless officers' deaths and still enforce traffic laws effectively.http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.digest26jun26,1,7581568.story?ctrack=2&cset=true  "Cities Using Cameras Admit Tapes as Court Evidence" Oklahoman (06/21/07) P. 14A; Bisbee, Julie  About 40 police cars in Ardmore, Okla., will be equipped with dashboard-mounted cameras. The police department there hopes the cameras will help officers record suspect behavior, and help protect officers from any false allegations of misconduct. Many cities that have already instituted this technology are allowing the video and audio from patrol cars to be admitted as trial evidence. This policy prevents defendants from denying or reinterpreting their actions in front of a judge or jury. http://newsok.com/article/3068821  "Police Lift Hold on Buying Tasers" Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) (06/19/07) P. B1; Ku, Michelle  City council members in Lexington, Ky., have recently approved the purchase of 50 Tasers for the 50 new police officers the city will be taking on in the next year. The Lexington police department had previously instituted a ban on the use of Tasers because of reports that the weapons were responsible for upwards of 200 deaths in the United States. The department has lifted the ban after reviewing several studies which concluded stun guns alone were not responsible for fatalities. When used properly, Tasers offer police a safer option to subdue suspects. All Lexington officers receive extensive training on the use of these weapons in order to avoid abuse. http://www.kentucky.com/211/story/101705.html  "Unmanned Aircraft Assist for U.S. Hunt in Explosives" Wall Street Journal (06/17/07); Pasztor, Andy  American military forces and their Iraqi allies are employing more sophisticated technologies, including tiny unmanned aircraft constructed by Honeywell International Inc. to attempt to locate deadly explosive gadgets concealed on the battlefront. Honeywell has implemented infrared cameras and additional sensors on small, remotely-operated helicopter-type devices, known as Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs), that can sit right above suspect sites and transmit images back to soldiers employing a portable handheld terminal. Thought to be the initial unmanned aerial vehicle of its kind specifically used in Iraq to uncover hidden explosives, the MAV weighs around 14 pounds, lifts off vertically, and can function at altitudes from just a fewer inches off the ground to over 10,000 feet. Barely one foot in diameter, the MAVs can fly at over 50 miles an hour. They are part of the firm's effort to create new surveillance technologies to increase its military, space, and homeland security operations. The introduction is part of a wider trend to create more innovative equipment to locate and take apart Improvised Explosive Devices, responsible for the bulk of American deaths in the combat in Iraq. The action occurs as British forces are moving toward utilizing high-tech radars created by a Raytheon division to look for these devices from much greater altitudes. http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB118212024940938400.html  "Interoperability Academy Takes the Static Out of Emergency Communications" County News (06/04/07) Vol. 39, No. 11, P. 3; Lopes, Rocky  At the May NACo/National League of Cities Interoperability Policy Academy conference, local government officials discussed how they could improve the interoperability of communications through governance, standard operating procedures, technology, training, and exercises. As part of the suggested improvements to governance, officials highlighted the need for greater cooperation among regional officials as well as an avenue through which first responders could offer feedback about the system. Experts also suggested the establishment of standard operating procedures to ensure all personnel, despite where they are located, can successfully use communications equipment and designated channels. However, National Institutes of Standards and Technology Program Manager Dereck Orr noted, "Soon, data may be more important than voice, so having equipment that can share data across platforms is critical," a notion that fed into the call for technology upgrades. One major obstacle for these counties and local government officials is where to garner the funding for upgrades, especially if they are not part of the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Grant writers and experts were on hand to help officials apply for money to cover the costs of interoperability upgrades and training, but most indicated that multi-agency plans or multi-jurisdictional plans were the likeliest candidates for grant allocation. Other officials cited the plans underway in their regions, including Minnesota, which has hospitals, police, and fire departments coordinating their emergency response plans to ensure success and continuous training for workers.http://www.naco.org/CountyNewsTemplate.cfm?template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=23792  "Evacuation Software Finds Best Way to Route Millions of Vehicles" University of Arizona (06/11/07); Stiles, Ed  University of Arizona assistant professor of civil engineering Yi-Chang Chiu has been developing Multi-Resolution Assignment and Loading of Traffic Activities (MALTA), software designed to simulate large-scale evacuations during a disaster to help transportation officials determine the best traffic management strategy. "Solving large-scale evacuation problems is overwhelming," Chiu says. "No one can just sit down with a map and draw lines and figure out the best answer to problems like these." Chiu says MALTA reacts to a situation in real time, adjusting as the scenario changes. The software relies on detailed traffic census data collected by state and city transportation departments, as well as real-time traffic surveillance data. The software predicts actions drivers may take, such as when they leave and what road they take, and adjusts for factors that may alter drivers' plans, such as radio reports, congestion, and freeway message boards. The program is also able to predict airborne hazards, such as toxic gas from a refinery fire. By using air-plume dispersion models and wind direction, speed, and temperature, the program can calculate health risks and potential casualties. The program also provides post-disaster assistance by helping officials make choices such as which highway to repair and open first. Chiu says MALTA will be ready soon for state transportation and emergency medical agencies. The next generation of MALTA uses parallel processing and is designed to run faster, handle larger networks, and respond minute-by-minute to real-time emergencies.http://uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/35/wa/MainStoryDetails?ArticleID=13956  "City Spends Millions on Cop Car Crashes" Northwest Indiana News (06/06/07); Luntz, Taryn  The Tulsa Police Department reports a disproportionate number of police accidents that occur during law enforcement pursuits. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports although police pursuits take the life of one person a day, police departments are not required to track these incidences. "A department that's not tracking pursuits is asking for trouble," and officials note incidences involving firearms are not neglected like police pursuit accidents. In 2006, Chicago spent $7 million on settling lawsuits involving police pursuits, and usually, lawsuits become classified as "motor vehicle accidents" when pedestrians are hit or accidents occur at intersections. Experts note that police departments taking the time to investigate average pursuit speeds, numbers of injuries, and numbers of deaths related to police pursuits are better equipped to institute policies to reduce those numbers through officer training programs focusing on driving skills.; the Chicago Police Department's vehicle pursuit policy does not refer to any driver training programs for officers.http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/06/06/news/

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Special to American Forces Press Service June 26, 2007 – Tiger Woods will honor soldiers and military families July 4 at the inaugural Earl Woods Memorial Pro-Am Tournament, part of the AT&T National PGA Tour event, scheduled for July 3 - 8 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Woods donated 30,000 free tickets for the tournament to military personnel, who will be treated to special seating behind the greens and hospitality tents.  "It's very important to me that this tournament honor the men and women who serve in our armed forces," Woods said. "They put their lives on the line so that we are able to enjoy our freedom, and we'd love for them to come out and enjoy a few days of relaxation. Our intent is to honor and really thank the people that protect us."  Woods even extended a playing date to a soldier: Sgt. Maj. Mia Kelly of the 1st Information Operations Command at Fort Belvoir, Va. She will tee off with Tiger at 6:30 a.m. on the No. 1 hole on Congressional CC's blue course. Air Force Master Sgt. Andy Amor of Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and AT&T Chairman Randall Stephenson will complete the foursome.  "I think this is one of the most exciting things ever - it's almost like winning the Powerball of golf," Kelly said.  The quartet will be joined on the 15th or 16th hole by former President George H.W. Bush, who will accompany them for the remainder of the round.  Sixty soldiers from Fort Belvoir will unveil a large American flag inside the ropes on the No. 1 fairway to the tune of "God Bless America." Four hundred U.S. flags also will be distributed to spectators surrounding the tee box, while an Air Force drill team performs and a Navy band plays patriotic songs.  Spc. Vicki Golding, the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command's 2006 Military Idol winner, will sing the national anthem at 11:26 a.m., followed by a flyover by the Army's elite Blackhawk Helicopter Wing.  Wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., will be acknowledged by tournament officials and dignitaries.  At 11:38 a.m., Woods will offer a golf tip to former President Bush, who - following a drum roll - will launch the honorary first shot of the tournament.  "Tiger's doing this in honor of his father, who was a Vietnam veteran," Fort Belvoir Golf Club general manager Peter Cizdziel said.  "I think it will be beyond words," added Kelly, who was born in South Korea in 1965 and adopted in 1970. She moved to the United States in 1974 and attained U.S. citizenship 10 years later. She joined the U.S. Army in 1983 and has deployed five times to Panama, Afghanistan and Iraq.  Kelly, who holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Maryland, began playing golf in 2004. She is a member of Fort Belvoir Golf Club, where she plays several times per week.  "I would rather play golf than do almost anything else - it's an absolute passion," said Kelly, who has an 11 handicap.  Sgt. Timothy Smith, who works for the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office at Fort Belvoir, is scheduled to serve as Kelly's caddie during the Pro-Am.  Complimentary tickets for active-duty military personnel to attend the second round of the AT&T National on July 6 are still available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Pentagon's ITT/ITR Ticket Office.  A limited number of tickets also are available for purchase at the ITT/ITR office for $20 to attend daily play July 3 - 6 or $25 for the final two rounds of the tournament. 

(Tim Hipps works at U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command Public Affairs.)

 Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.  Police-writers.com added three police officers who offered distinct, different and real perspectives on police work.  Jim Daly gives an inside view of jails and county sheriffs; Richard Reed on a detective’s hunt for a serial killer; and, Bill Walsh on the life of a mounted police officer. 

Jim Daly is a retired lieutenant from the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office (Oklahoma).  After his retirement from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office he worked as a police officer for the Arcadia Police Department from 2001 through 2004.  During his career, he worked as a jailer, deputy sheriff, CLEET instructor, American Red Cross Instructor, and biohazards instructor.   Jim Daly is the author of two books: Lockdown Madness and Behind Steel Doors.

According to the book description of Behind Steel Doors, “in this book the reader will be allowed to visit the dark side of jail and what goes on inside one. It is about hard-core prisoners who have nothing to lose, the games they play, and how they assault fellow prisoners or brave jailers. It includes responding to emergency calls, and how all the madness builds up behind the big steel doors of jail for prisoners and jailers alike. This book will definitely show some statistics reported and incidents that have occurred.”