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CRIMINAL JUSTICE NEWS - December 2007

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In This Issue
Police Lineups: Making Eyewitness Identification more Reliable
Investigative Uses of Technology
What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know about DNA
The Moller Skycar: Patrol Unit of the Future
Law Enforcement Use of Unmanned Aircraft System
What about Me: Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister
Law Enforcement Response to Bio-Hazards
Narcs and Weapons
Morale: Whose Job is it Anyways?
Weapons of Mass Destruction and Alternative Futures
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Greetings!

Happy Holidays from Hi Tech Criminal Justice.  Please accept our thanks as we enter our fourth year.  Because of your continued reading, referral to colleagues and contributions our newsletter is fast approaching 5000 readers.  We hope that as we enter 2008 you will continue to read, refer and contribute!

 
We welcome a new contributor; Jason Celmer of the Brea Police Department (California).  In this newsletter there are articles on law enforcement technology, first responder safety issues, terrorism and leadership.
Police Lineups: Making Eyewitness Identification More Reliable

In 1981, 22-year-old Jerry Miller was arrested and charged with robbing, kidnapping, and raping a woman. Two witnesses identified Miller, in a police lineup, as the perpetrator. The victim provided a more tentative identification at trial. Miller was convicted, served 24 years in prison, and was released on parole as a registered sex offender, requiring him to wear an electronic monitoring device at all times.

Recent DNA tests, however, tell a different story: Semen taken from the victim's clothing-which could have come only from the perpetrator-did not come from Miller. In fact, when a DNA profile was created from the semen and entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigation's convicted offender database, another man was implicated in the crime.

On April 23, 2007, Miller became the 200th person in the United States to be exonerated through DNA evidence.

Investigative Uses of Technology: Devices, Tools and Techniques
Technology in investigations

This special report is intended to be a resource to any law enforcement personnel (investigators, first responders, detectives, prosecutors, etc.) who may have limited or no experience with technology-related crimes or with the tools and techniques available to investigate those crimes. It is not all inclusive. Rather, it deals with the most common techniques, devices, and tools encountered. Technology is advancing at such a rapid rate that the information in this special report must be examined in the context of current technology and practices adjusted as appropriate.

 

It is recognized that all investigations are unique and the judgment of investigators should be given deference in the implementation of this special report. Circumstances of individual cases and Federal, State, and local laws/rules may require actions other than those described in this special report.

 
What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
 
To increase the use of DNA technology in the criminal justice system, a five year program with more than $1 billion dollars in funding was launched in 2003.  The Initiative calls for increased funding, training, and assistance to Federal, State, and local forensic labs; to police; to medical professionals; to victim service providers; and to prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges.  Part of the funding has resulted in a number of high-quality, online training courses for first responders.

 

What every law enforcement officer should know about DNA evidence focuses on issues that arise for the first-responding law enforcement officer during the identification, preservation, and collection of DNA evidence at a crime scene.  Other courses, such as the one for investigators, provides in-depth information for the investigating officer or evidence technician on the identification, preservation, and collection of DNA evidence at a crime scene.

 

VIEW THE COURSE CATALOG

The Moller Skycar: Patrol Unit of the Future

 

Jason Celmer, Brea Police Department
 

Like so many other stories, this one begins with the distinct trilling of the 911 line.  Frantic voices on the other end, a yell, a crash, bang; shots fired!  More calls from neighboring businesses, there are men inside the bank, men with guns.  This has happened before; the robbers are experienced, and smart.  Never inside for more than 3 minutes, they are gone and blending into the population before the first unit arrives on scene. 

 

The suspects always hit jurisdictions without their own helicopters, and they always hit the furthest bank from the station, during rush hour.  This time, the nearest ground unit is at least 8 minutes away.  The nearest helicopter is 15 minutes away.  The suspects are going to get away, so they think. The 11 miles by road is less than 6 as the crow flies.  But this is no crow, it is the 360 MPH, 4 seat, Moller M400 Skycar, and it is overhead in just over a minute from the time of call.  No one is getting away from this machine

 

 
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 control station, and command and control links. UAS are considered as aircraft. These aircraft can often be flown autonomously and at great distances from the command station. In addition, these aircraft can be very small, under 25 lbs and still carry enough equipment to provide video downlink capabilities. The operation of a UAS by a public agency, whether it is Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement, is enforced by FAA regulations and Federal statutes.

 

With the increase in use of UAS by the military in overseas operations, there has been a significant increase in the number of vendors both producing and marketing these same units to law enforcement. Prior to purchasing or leasing a UAS please consider the following: For a public aircraft operation, the FAA holds the position that a Certificate of Authorization (COA) is required to operate UAS in the National Airspace.

 

What About Me: Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister
 

Each year, there are more than 58,000 non-family abductions and more than 1 million children are reported missing. This is a staggering number, but it doesn't include the other young victims-the sisters and brothers of those who have been abducted. These overlooked children suffer the loss of their sibling. Their lives are turned asunder, and family patterns are irrevocably changed.

 

This publication is the effort of those who have lived the nightmare of losing a sister or brother. Eight siblings joined with the Office of Justice Programs to write this guide. During its creation, these siblings spoke eloquently and from their hearts about the need for a resource for left-behind children whose needs are often overlooked. At the time of the abduction, these siblings said they felt isolated and overwhelmed by their emotions. They rarely found the support they needed to deal with the gaping loss they faced.

 

Law Enforcement Response to Bio-Hazards

 
Jim Hietmeyer
 

I wrote this short article in hopes of creating the importance of Bio Hazards. Generally the Police officer is the first responder to an emergency, like homicides, robbery or simple DUI offenses. In any scenario, the officer must be alert to potential hazardous areas or people infected with a potentially infectious disease. These diseases can be Hepatitis B, HIV or TB, they are found in bodily fluids, blood, or on other items present.

 

Over 300,000 caretakers are infected each year from contact with infectious disease carriers or from improper handling procedures. Needle sticks is a major contributor to accidents and from drug interdictions. Needles should always be capped after use and destroyed properly. All needles should never be used twice. Proper hand wear, heavy duty gloves is a must when handling anything that may be potentially infectious or sharp, and protects against saturation and moisture of any kind.

Narcs and Weapons

 
Greg Ferency
 

As a drug enforcement officer/detective, working undercover (UC) is the grass roots of what we do. This can be as complex as interjecting yourself into an organization or as simple as pretending to be a drunk passed out of a bench in order to conduct some type of strategic surveillance. Either way you are pretending to be someone you are not and have to alter your tactical options accordingly. Due to operational security it would not be prudent for me to go into to much detail on this subject on an open website. But, there are a few things that that can be addressed that are relevant.

 

Obviously, as a UC you cannot go into operational situations with a gun belt containing all the tricks of the trade. At most your only weapon is going to be some type of firearm. What that weapon is and how you carry it could be the difference between life and death of the UC. With everything going on during a UC buy it is a challenge to stay in the UC mindset and remain as tactically sound as you can. Often, someone else dictates situations, positions and surprises are always around the corner.

 

 

Morale: Whose Job is it Anyways? 
 

Often times, people consider morale the same as motivation.  But, morale is not about motivation.  If it were, negative discipline could improve morale. There are times negative discipline is used to improve performance.  Negative consequences can be a powerful tool in shaping behavior.  So, if morale were about behavior or performance, negative discipline might be a tool for improving morale.

 

That is not to say that improved morale does not improve performance; it does.  The point is that there is a clear separation between morale and motivation.  High morale can be very motivating.  High motivation can improve performance.  There is a linkage between morale and motivation but they are not he same.

 
Weapons of Mass Destruction and Alternative Futures 
 
Key Findings of the Report
  • Among driving forces in the international security environment affecting the potential future use of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) against the Unites States, those judged to be the most significant are the spread of radical Islam and the increase of globalization.
  • Plausible events could lead to alternative futures in which radical Islam and globalization could be either high or low.

  • The likelihood of the use of WMD would be highest in the Hidden Islam scenario and lowest in the Open Borders scenario.

  • Each scenario has different opportunities, allies, threats and competitors.

  • In all scenarios, there are indicators and signposts that occur in the years prior to their full development that the intelligence community will be tasked to monitor and identify.

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Sincerely,
Lieutenant Raymond Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
Hi Tech Criminal Justice
 

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