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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
NJ Training
and Schools Section NJLawman.com
Planning out schools for your officers or yourself?
If so, the NJLawman.com Training and Schools section will be your
first stop.
Once again, we've assembled every class from every
New Jersey police academy into one easy-to-use resource broken down by
month for the entire 2008 calendar year.
Whether you in in charge of the training for your
agency or are just looking for a class or two to build your resume, this
section should be added to your favorite places.
Below is a sample for March, 2008.
Click here to reach the main training page.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
New Shotgun NJLawman.com
It doesn't get much more lethal than this. Check out the vide
below:
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Street Survival NJLawman.com
The premiere law enforcement seminar is coming to Atlantic City, New
Jersey next week.
Calibre Press' Street Survival will be held on January 22 and 23 at
Harrah's Atlantic City. Street Survival is one of the finest law
enforcement seminars ever assembled.
Recently, a site visitor sent us an email about this one.
There is a website, http://www.policevolunteers.org which is assembling a collection of
information, resources, and actual organizations involved with law
enforcement-related volunteer work.
The website serves as a gateway to information for law enforcement
agencies and citizens interested in law enforcement volunteer programs.
The VIPS Program offers the following resources:
An online directory of existing law enforcement volunteer programs
that potential volunteers can search to connect with a program in their
community.
Volunteer Programs: Enhancing Public Safety by Leveraging
Resources - a resource guide to assist in the implementation or
enhancement of an agency volunteer program.
An online library of sample documents and forms.
A model policy.
Regional training and networking opportunities.
Technical assistance.
VIPS Info, a monthly electronic newsletter
VIPS in Focus publication series.
Educational videos.
A discussion group for registered VIPS Programs to share information
and ideas.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ticket Quotas NJLawman.com
Every so often we get emails requesting the New Jersey law which
"prohibits ticket quotas," so occasionally we post it on the site.
Pay particular attention to section b. Contrary to what may think,
statistical performance - as long as it is not the sole criteria - may
be used for "promotion, demotion, dismissal, or the earning of any
benefit provided by the department or force. Any such arrests or
citations, and their ultimate dispositions, may be considered in
evaluating the overall performance of a law enforcement officer."
40A:14-181.2. Police ticket quota for motor
vehicle violations prohibited; permitted use of statistics.
a. A State, county or municipal police department or force engaged
in the enforcement of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or any local
ordinance adopted pursuant to this title shall not establish any
quota for arrests or citations. The department or force may,
however, collect, analyze and apply information concerning the
number of arrests and citations in order to ensure that a particular
officer or group of officers does not violate any applicable legal
obligation.
b. The department or force shall not use the number of arrests or
citations issued by a law enforcement officer as the sole criterion
for promotion, demotion, dismissal, or the earning of any benefit
provided by the department or force. Any such arrests or citations,
and their ultimate dispositions, may be considered in evaluating the
overall performance of a law enforcement officer.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Cheese Heroin NJLawman.com
Originating some time in 2005, the concoction known as "cheese" has been
gaining popularity, especially in the southwestern part of the country.
Below is an excerpt from a
USA Today article explaining further:
A new heroin-laced powder known as "cheese" is popping up in
middle and high schools in Texas, where dozens of youths have been
caught with the drug, federal and local officials say.
So far the problem has been focused on schools in Dallas, where
police first reported kids snorting the mixture of ground-up cold
medicines and heroin at the start of this school year. However, the
Drug Enforcement Administration, which calls the addictive
concoction "starter heroin," is concerned enough about the drug's
appearance in Dallas that it has alerted agents nationwide to watch
for it.
"It's an emerging problem," DEA spokesman Steve Robertson says.
"It's something we're tracking to see if we can spread the word
before it becomes a huge problem."
Police in Dallas have logged 78 incidents involving cheese in 11
middle and high schools, says Jeremy Liebbe, an investigator with
the Dallas Independent School District Police Department.
Cheese is a tan powder made mostly from acetaminophen and
diphenhydramine HCL — the ingredients in Tylenol PM — with a little
heroin mixed in. Liebbe says samples confiscated in Dallas have been
up to 8% heroin. The drugs are crushed together and typically folded
into notebook paper. A quarter-gram sells for $5, Liebbe says, and a
single hit usually sells for $2.
It's called the Speed Trap Exchange, and it purports to be a
nationwide database for cataloging speed traps from municipalities
around the country.
The site also has some activist articles encouraging visitors to
organize against speed traps.
As far as logging speed traps, they do have some of ours.
Click here to
see if any of your favorite haunts are on the list.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Internet Hoaxes NJLawman.com
Like you, we get many emails each week reporting a wide array of
situations ranging from stories of companies overcharging soldiers in
Iraq for bottled water to tips on using a cell phone during an
emergency.
Most
of these are Internet hoaxes.
Pictured to the right is one of the more famous Internet hoaxes.
The email says it is from the parents of abducted child Penny Brown.
It further asks the recipient to keep forwarding it as part of an Amber
Alert. (See
the hoax explained)
The best technique for determining whether an email is a hoax is to
go to the website www.Snopes.com.
Snopes has cataloged and investigated thousands of rumors and other
Internet communications. For each, they explain the origins
and in some cases they even verify that the situation is real.
Either way, it is a nice tool for investigating what is true and
what is not.
Monday,
July 2, 2007
National Night Out NJLawman.com
Police departments across the nation are gearing up for this year's
National Night Out festivities which are scheduled for Tuesday, August
7, 2007.
For more information on this year's National Night Out,
click here.
Sunday,
July 1, 2007
Fireworks - What to Charge NJLawman.com
We post this every year and get complaints when we
forget. For New Jersey officers, July brings an annual question
when making arrests for fireworks: "What do I charge them with?"
Chapter 21 covers explosives and fireworks. You'll
find a plethora of statutes in this chapter covering everything from
smoking in a facility that manufacturers fireworks to rules regulating the
public display of fireworks. The statute most relevant to the line officer
will be 21:3-2. Sale, Possession, or Use of, Fireworks which reads as
follows:
It shall
be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell,
possess or use, or explode any blank cartridge, toy pistol, toy cannon,
toy cane or toy gun in which explosives are used; the type of balloon
which requires fire underneath to propel the same; firecrackers;
torpedoes; skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, sparklers or other
fireworks of like construction, or any fireworks containing any
explosive or inflammable compound or any tablets or other device
commonly used and sold as fireworks containing nitrates, chlorates,
oxalates, sulphides of lead, barium, antimony, arsenic, mercury,
nitroglycerine, phosphorus or any compound containing any of the same or
other explosives, or any substance or combination of substances, or
article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or an audible
effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration or detonation, other than
aviation and railroad signal light flares, except (a) that it shall be
lawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for sale, sell, possess
or use, or explode any toy pistol, toy cane, toy gun, or other device in
which paper or plastic caps containing .25 grain or less of explosive
compound per cap are used, providing they are so constructed that the
hand cannot come in contact with the cap when in place for use, and toy
pistol paper or plastic caps which contain less than .20 grain of
explosive mixture per cap and (b) as in this chapter further provided.
The statute also contains exceptions and other
important information, so be sure to read the actual law and consult your
only agencies rules before filing any charges.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
FBI Ten Most Wanted NJLawman.com
Do
you know who the current top ten most wanted are?
Monday, May 28, 2007 Shoot, Don't Shoot NJLawman.com
Many
of our firearms programs have dwindled into nothing more than qualifying
twice a year. Throw in two more dates for agencies with rifles.
A company called Law Enforcement Targets can help put some actual training
back into your firearms program.
LET offers a nice line of paper targets with depicting various scenarios.
Besides their selection of paper targets, they offer a line of "overlays."
These allow range instructors to change the threat of the paper target
between shoots.
LET also has a selection of other targets and range gear.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Who is Daniel
Faulkner NJLawman.com
We republish this piece about once a year. In light of
recent events,
now is a good time to remind everyone about Daniel Faulkner.
Years ago there was a Philadelphia Police Officer named Daniel Faulkner. He was
killed in 1981 by a radical named Mumia Abu-Jamal. Without going
into all the details, Mumia was sentenced to death. He has crowned
himself the poster boy for political oppression and racism. He's obtained
supporters from around the globe and from all walks of life. Actress
Susan Sarandon, the owners of Ben & Jerry's Ice cream, and Ed Asner
are among those within his ranks. A massive effort complete with
letter campaigns, billboards, rallies, and marches have all been held for
this animal.
Members of the Philadelphia Police Department, Maureen Faulkner (Daniel's
wife), friends, and family have fought this crusade every step of the
way. This officer died more than twenty-five years ago, and his
supporters (many from the next generation of cop) still fight as hard now as they did when it first
happened. They have done an amazing job. As a neighboring
state, New Jersey law enforcement should educate themselves as to the
details of this case. If ever needed, we should be on buses in great
numbers to Philadelphia to support our brother. To learn more about
this case, visit the Daniel
Faulkner website.
I have read a lot about this topic from all different sources. I
believe 100% that Mumia did it and deserves the death penalty. Don't
go by what we say though. Visit the above site, look for the
opposing arguments, and make your own decision. Either way, major kudos
to those who have battled for Danny Faulkner.
Just
about every street survival-type or officer safety class will touch upon
the importance of proper cuffing and ensuring that the arrestee does not
get out of his handcuffs. There is a relatively new product on the
market that can help.
Dubbed the Zak Tool Handcuff Cover, it's simply a
velcro cover for "pickable" parts of the handcuffs. It is easily
stored, lightweight, and inexpensive.
It goes for about eight bucks and can be found
here.
This has got to be one of the greatest, free tools
out there.
It's called Google Earth, and it should be in the
bag of tools of every law enforcement administrator, emergency
management coordinator, and homeland security official.
It's a bit hard to describe, and there is nothing
really like it.
Basically, you download and install the free
software from Google. When you have it up and running, you will
have satellite imagery of the entire planet. You can take a look
at the island you once visited on vacation, plot a search pattern for a
missing child, or use it to set up a perimeter for a future search
warrant.
It has been out for several years now, but many
officers still have not heard about it. For those of you who
already use it, take a look anyway as there have been newer versions
released.
To access the Google page with more information and
the download, click
here.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Pursuit and
Shootout Audio Transmission NJLawman.com
The audio clip below is from a rolling pursuit and
shootout which occurred in New York City. It would be an
excellent piece to use for training with dispatchers and/or officers.
Sunday, March 4, 2007 Protocol for
Wearing Black Bands NJLawman.com
Occasionally
we receive inquiries regarding the protocol for wearing black mourning
bands over uniform badges. We found the following on the Officer Down
Memorial Page:
A common request we
receive at the ODMP is if there is a protocol for the wearing of
mourning bands following a line of duty death. There seems to be no
universal protocol for the wearing of mourning bands, and oftentimes
it is left up to each individual agency to determine under what
circumstances and for how long to wear them.
We have developed the following suggested guidelines that can be
adopted into your agency's general orders for proper protocol of
wearing mourning bands:
Within your agency
~ from the time of death until midnight on the 14th day after the
death
Within your region ~ from the time of death until
midnight on the day of the funeral
Funeral attendee ~ out-of-region officers while
attending funeral
National Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15th)
~ from 0001 hours until 2359 hours
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Hogan's
Alley NJLawman.com
The FBI has a miniature city which they use for street survival and
combat training. It’s called Hogan’s Alley.
From the FBI website:
New Agents are taught at [Hogan’s Alley] in the
areas of surveillance, arrest procedures, and tactical street survival
techniques. The new agents are then taken through real to life training
exercises such as a bank robbery, a day and night time surveillance, a
kidnapping, and an assault on a federal officer. New Agents are also
exposed to complaint and armed and dangerous arrest scenarios. Paint Gun
exercises are also utilized in order to test the New Agents' tactical
skills.
Hogan's Alley Complex is a unique method of allowing New Agents to apply
principles taught in other areas at the FBI Academy including firearms,
academics, physical training, and legal training in order to
successfully resolve the above described practical exercises at PAU.
During exercises students are provided with the tools similar to those
in the field such as bureau vehicles, radios, and electronic
surveillance equipment.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
NJ Training
and Schools Section NJLawman.com
The 2007 Training and Schools section of the NJLawman.com website is
growing each week. In it, we compile a master list of law enforcement
schools and training opportunities available in the New Jersey area.
Click here to reach the main training page.
Below is a small sample from February 2007:
1
PowerPoint
for Law Enforcement - Intermediate Course
Sunday, February 4, 2007
New
Magazine for Law Enforcement Recruits NJLawman.com
Police Magazine is known to just about everyone who has at least
some time on the job. Well, the publisher of Police Magazine
has come out with a second publication targeted directly to the officers
of tomorrow.
Police Recruit is now available. This magazine contains articles
geared to newly hired officers and seems rather interesting.
It
is being distributed free of charge to “law enforcement academies,
criminal justice colleges, continuing education institutions and police
supply stores.”
Sunday, January 28, 2007 2006 Line of Duty Death
Summary NJLawman.com
The preliminary figures for last year’s line of duty deaths have been
posted. There are several entities that track this information ranging
from the FBI to National Law Enforcement Memorial. The actual stats will
vary as each group uses its own criteria when compiling the numbers.
The information below is from the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Monday, December 5,
2006
Interesting Video NJLawman.com
The following video footage is a three-minute-piece of a rally held in
San Francisco presumably over the summer. Different parts are
spliced together, and it's interesting to see how San Fran PD (which did
a very good job) handles the crowd.
Thursday, October 12,
2006
Language Translation Website NJLawman.com
There
is a website we found that allows you to enter text and have it translated
to English or from English to several different languages. Right now
the site includes English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese,
Norwegian, and Chinese. It is an excellent tool for law enforcement,
but be careful as the translations are not always exact. The site is
www.Freetranslation.com.
Monday, September 5,
2006
When is it Time to Call for Backup NJLawman.com
Well, it's certainly not after you are
already in a fight.
Ninety-five percent of the time, the
suspect tells you when you should be calling for additional
units. Maybe not in so many words, but he signals it.
It is when you walk up to the car and he is
belligerent. It is when he
begins to get loud. It is when he tells you to take your hands
off of him. It is when you notice him clinching his fists.
It is on the MV stop when he begins questioning you. It is
when you observe furtive movement. It is when you notice
he and his partner whispering. It is when the car doesn't
immediately pull over. It is when he doesn't immediately
follow your commands.
We could go on, but you get the point. The call for an extra unit should go
out at the first sign of trouble, not the last sign.
Sunday,
August 27, 2006
Great Website Resource NJLawman.com
First, we have never actually gone through the process with either of
these sites, so we cannot vouch either way for their quality. If
anyone has input, please
email us.
We came across a couple of interesting websites which house
information on lost and unclaimed monies.
The first is called MissingMoney.com. The site allows you to do
a search by name for lost, forgotten and misplaced
For New Jersey officers there is also a site run by the Division of
Taxation which also allows you to do a search by name.
Click here to visit that one.
Sunday,
August 20, 2006
New Jersey Homeland Security Website NJLawman.com
Not sure how many of us are aware of this website.
Launched back in 2003, New Jersey has its own website devoted to
homeland security issues in New Jersey.
The site is very informative and contains some great information for
in-service training as well as presentations to the public.
How fast are you at reloading your weapon? Take a look at this
guy, and then answer the question. This would be a great video to
show during patrol briefings.
These eight containers all have one thing in common: they are fakes.
These and many others like them are readily available for purchase
from both online and brick-and-mortar companies. They are designed
as secret safes for citizens to protect their valuables, but they've
also been used to secret contraband.
To view the entire collection, copy and paste the following into your
browser:
The deadly phones come apart in the middle to reveal a four-chamber
compartment for .22 caliber bullets, which can be shot out of a
protruding fake antenna. "These would be lethal at 10 meters
(yards)," said Michel Lavaud, head of a local police brigade.
Monday, May 15, 2006
3 Types of Reloading
NJLawman.com
An administrative reload is what you do to your your
weapon at the beginning of your shift.
Now we get to the two important ones.
An opportunity reload is when you are in a combat
situation and realize that you have used a good portion of your
magazine. You have cover and are temporarily safe. Instead
of waiting for the magazine to run dry, you take the opportunity to
reload. Since you are temporarily safe, don't disregard the
partial magazine. Stuff it in a pocket in case you need the rounds
later. Opportunity reloads need to be taught and practiced more.
A combat reload is when you must reload during
combat. When your on a range day, don't pass up the opportunity to
test your ability to combat reload. Put a real scenario in your
head. Dump the empty magazine and get the new one in immediately.
How fast can you do it?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security offers a website with some very
valuable information. It is called Ready.Gov.
One of the primary mandates of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is
to educate the public, on a continuing basis, about how to be prepared
in case of a national emergency – including a possible terrorist attack.
This website has cataloged a wealth of information and is worth the
visit.
Click here to visit.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Plenty of Help Out There
NJLawman.com
We try and revisit this at least once a year.
Suicide is the leading cause of officer deaths each year. Some
estimates suggest that suicide takes five times more officers than line
of duty deaths.
There is no reason for this anymore as a lot of help is now available.
Most certainly, someone going through a difficult spell is reading this
right now. Below, we have posted contact information for resources
specially designed for cops.
If you are having difficulty or know of an officer who is, please make use
of these resources.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Who the Secret Service Protects
NJLawman.com
Interesting read from the website of the United States Secret Service:
After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901,
Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the
United States. Protection remains the primary mission of the United
States Secret Service.
Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
the President, the Vice President, (or other individuals next in
order of succession to the Office of the President), the
President-elect and Vice President-elect;
the immediate families of the above individuals;
former Presidents, their spouses for their lifetimes, except
when the spouse re-marries. In 1997, Congressional legislation
became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former
Presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the
former President leaves office.
children of former presidents until age 16;
visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their
spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to
the United States, and official representatives of the United States
performing special missions abroad;
major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, and their
spouses within 120 days of a general Presidential election.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
First Aid Calls - Strokes
NJLawman.com
This one will benefit you whether you're on a call or at a family
function.
Strokes are difficult calls for first
responders as we are limited in what we can do besides comforting the
victim, providing oxygen and expediting emergency transport.
However, there is one crucial thing we can do:
Find out exactly when the stroke occurred.
There is a medication that can be given to
certain stroke patients, which, is some cases, can significantly
minimize the effects of the stroke. It is called TPA or in medical
terms t-PA.
However, this medication generally must be
given within three hours of the actual stroke.
There has been great success with this
medication.
Click here for more information.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Motorcycle Club Websites
NJLawman.com
The Internet just keeps growing. Even some of the larger motorcycle
"clubs" have their own websites. And, they're very interesting
too.
Here are a couple we found that are by or about some of the more well
known clubs:
Sunday, April 9, 2006
Know Thy Enemy!
NJLawman.com
Here's another example of time well spent.
The site is called CopsSuck.com. It's your garden variety anti-law
enforcement website which has everything you have come to expect.
Their message board has an "Ask the Cops" section. I can't imagine
what cops would want to man that disaster and field those questions.
Anyway, just paste the following into your browser to take a look.
http://www.copssuck.net/
Monday, April 3,
2006
Interesting Website
NJLawman.com
We found this site which you should add to your favorite places on the
web.
It's called Family Watchdog.
On their main page, just type in an address, and a map will come up
showing the locations of sex offenders who live in the area. You
can then click on the locations and see offender information with a
photo.
It looks like they are only showing higher tier offenders, but, still,
it's a handy tool.
We'll be adding it to our Investigative Resources page in case you lose
the address.
Sunday, March 26,
2006
IACP Oath of Honor
NJLawman.com
Several years back the International
Association of Chiefs of Police launched an excellent program called the
Law Enforcement Oath of Honor.
Simply, officers volunteer to reconfirm their
pledge to an honorable career. To accomplish this, they take the
oath of office provided by IACP.
It is a very big deal to agencies that have
adopted the program. Below is an excerpt from the program's
description:
It is envisioned that the Oath of Honor
would be used in a number of applications, including spoken as a form of
voluntary reaffirmation at assembled public and internal gatherings of
law enforcement officers (public ceremonies, promotional events, law
enforcement conferences, etc.); placed on signs and conspicuously
displayed throughout law enforcement facilities; printed on the back of
business cards and other types of agency materials; incorporated at
every opportunity in policies, procedures and training materials;
referred to by administrators in conversation and correspondence; and
referenced in both positive and negative personnel actions.
Sunday, March 19,
2006
Defeating Police Tactics
NJLawman.com
It's always good to know what your opponent is thinking.
We found a page on a website which discusses how to defeat police tactics.
The article is specifically geared toward defeating the tactics used
during a large-scale unrest.
This exact piece is posted on at least sixteen different websites, so it's
safe to assume it has been read by many of those who like to stir the
pot at such protests.
It's an interesting read.
Click here to view the article.
Sunday, March 12,
2006
Police Week 2006
NJLawman.com
Police Week 2006 is fast approaching. Attending it something that
every officer should do at least once in his or her career.
For information on this year's plants, visit our
Police Week 2006
page.
Sunday, March 12,
2006
The Police Unity Tour
NJLawman.com
When the Police Unity Tour was first founded in
1997, it was only supposed to be a one time event to raise money for the
National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial, which relies upon private
donations. The Tour has since continued to grow each and every year. The
Tour started with eighteen people with a donation of $18000 to the
memorial. Over 700 members presented the memorial with a donation of
$750,000 in 2005.
Each year they hold a bicycle ride from their respective locations to
Washington D.C. just in time for the beginning of Police Week.
Sunday, February 12,
2006
Interesting Shotgun Facts
NJLawman.com
Most of us who are not hunters or gun enthusiasts
have limited knowledge and experience with shotguns. Here are a
couple of interesting facts:
OO Buck Rounds generally consists of 8 or 9 .33
caliber projectiles
While police shotgun spread varies, a very general
rule is that the spread will be 1 inch per yard
Shotguns are excellent combat weapons for up to 20
to 25 yards depending on the weapon and rounds used
Rifled Slugs are .69 caliber rounds
Sunday, January 29,
2006
The Drink Wheel
NJLawman.com
Here is an interesting little tool which will supposedly calculate blood
alcohol content.
It is called the Drink Wheel. By entering alcohol type, amount,
gender and weight, the tool will approximate the BAC.
Now, of course, there are many variables (some not included in this tool)
in determining blood alcohol content, but, still, it's a neat online
device. Click
here to take a look.
Sunday, January 22,
2006
Wanted Posters
NJLawman.com
This one is neat.
We found a website that specializes in offering reproductions of wild west
wanted posters. From Jessie James to Pancho Villa, they have them
all.
The posters only go for about $6.00 which is quite reasonable, but
cannot vouch for their quality as we've never seen one up close.
Still, for only six bucks it's worth a shot to those interested.
Tuesday,
January 3,
2006
The Worst Shooting Position
NJLawman.com
While techniques differ widely throughout the law enforcement community,
there are some things for which we should all be on the same page.
The photo to the right is clearly one of those things.
The website
ForceScience.com calls this the Hollywood Highguard position.
Simply, it should never be used except when making movies.
This, additional shooting positions, and a wealth of other information
related to law enforcement can be found on the website
ForceScience.com.
Range Instructors and other officers involved in force training will find
this site especially useful.
Tuesday,
December 27, 2005
Officer Alert
NJLawman.com
Pictured
to the right is a ring that is also capable of firing pepper spray into
the eyes of an unsuspecting person.
It is designed as a self-defense tool for the public, but officers
should be cautioned that such a device exists.
They go for about $24.00 and can be purchased right online.
For more information, visit the following web address.
Sunday,
December 18, 2005
Natural Voices
NJLawman.com
This is just very cool.
From a page on this AT&T website, you can enter text which is translated
to speech and spoken back to you using human-sounding synthetic speech.
It gives you a choice of different accents, voices, and even languages.
While there may be some uses for the job, you'll probably have more fun
leaving constructed messages in other people's voice mail.
http://www.naturalvoices.att.com/demos/
Sunday,
December 11, 2005
The Honor
Legion
NJLawman.com
The Honor Legion.
You have probably heard of them. You
might have been given one of their courtesy cards. The Honor
Legion is a law enforcement fraternal organization which is involved in
many good deeds and programs.
Following is a letter from Jim Homwey, a
senior member describing the Honor Legion:
I'm Jim Homwey, 2nd Vice President of the
Honor Legion. For those of you who are not familiar with the honor
legion, it is a police fraternal organization of the "finest of the
finest" law enforcement officers. Any person who is a bona fide active
and paid member of any regular law enforcement agency shall be eligible
to apply for active membership in this association subject to the
restrictions and limitations hereinafter provided. Elected and
appointed officials are not eligible. Membership is available to any
member who has risked his or her life to save a human life or whose life
has been in imminent risk of danger from an armed adversary. Final
determinations shall be at the discretion of the executive board of the
Honor Legion. Be advised that there are three distinctly different
new member applications:
1. Active members with NJ
jurisdiction
2. Active members without NJ jurisdiction
3. Retired members
See new membership information and other
New Jersey Honor Legion information at our website
NJHL.com
or contact me at 2NDVP@njhl.COM.
Fraternally yours,
Jim Homwey, Jr.
2nd Vice President of NJ Honor Legion
Sunday,
December 4, 2005
New Concept in Traffic
Enforcement
NJLawman.com
Pictured
to the right is the 3D Patrol Decoy, a recently launched product made by
Florida-based Safe Highway Corporation.
3-D Patrol is a police decoy vehicle designed as an inexpensive
alternative to having an actual patrol car on the side of the road as a
deterrent to speeding. The vehicle is equipped with radar and a speed
threshold control that allows it to turn on flashing lights in the
presence of an oncoming speeding vehicle.
The unit is situated on a trailer which can be towed from location to
location.
Sunday,
November 27, 2005
It's not Just Guns!
NJLawman.com
To date, 130 law enforcement officers have fallen in the line of
duty. Of that number, 42 died from motor vehicle-related
incidents. This is excluding 13 more deaths involving vehicles in
assault-by-auto incidents.
It's not enough to just practice good tactics. Too, too many of
us die from simple car crashes.
Wear your seatbelt, wear your vest (proven time and time again to
protect officers in accidents), and don't let emotion dictate your
driving. We all get juiced up when dispatched to certain calls,
but we have to drive very, very carefully.
It's better to get there a few seconds later than not get there at
all.
Sunday,
November 20, 2005 Wake Up Call for Veterans
NJLawman.com
What do you think is the average age of
officers who die in the line of duty?
Many would guess it to be in the early or late
twenties since officers are generally at the most proactive point of
their careers at those ages. The answer will probably surprise
you.
Year to date, the average age for officers who
die in the line of duty is thirty-nine. This is not just some
statistical aberration either. The average age in 2004 was
thirty-nine. The average age in 2003 was thirty-seven. In
2002, it was thirty-eight. It was 39 in 2000; 38 in 1999; 39 in
1998; 39 in 1997; 37 in 199; and 39 in 1995.
While there has been no study or research as
to the reason for this, officers generally become more complacent as
they get further into their career which could be a factor.
Sunday,
November 6, 2005
Internet Investigation Resource
NJLawman.com
You are conducting an
investigation pertaining to a website, and you need to see what was on
the site a month or a year ago. Well, we found a resource that can
do just that. It is called the Wayback Machine.
Simply, this site takes
snapshots of websites and stores them. Generally, it takes several
snapshots each month and seems to house them indefinitely.
Click here to check it out. Enter NJLawman.com to see how this
site appeared. Oh, this site was first launched in 2002, so
disregard the options for 2001. Also, we will be putting a link to
this site on our
Investigative Resources page so you know where to find it should you
ever need it.
Sunday,
October 30, 2005 Med-Evac
NJLawman.com
As most know, NorthStar runs the med-evac program in northern New
Jersey. Their website contains some interesting information for
first responders who have occasion to be present or participate in a
med-evac situation.
Below are some of tips provided by their site:
The landing zone (LZ) should be a minimum of 110 feet by 110
feet, level, firm, dry and free of debris.
Secure the perimeter from pedestrians or vehicles.
Keep personnel and fire apparatus 100 feet from perimeter of LZ.
Mark the corners of the LZ with bright colored cones, lights or
public safety vehicles.
When using flares, care in their use and/or anchoring is highly
recommended.
NEVER SHINE LIGHTS at NorthSTAR, they may blind the pilots.
If the pilots feel the LZ you selected is unsuitable, an
alternate should be selected.
Shield your eyes or wear safety glasses while NorthSTAR lands or
takes-off.
DO NOT APPROACH NorthSTAR while the blades are moving.
ALWAYS APPROACH NorthSTAR from the side, in full view of the
crew and then only with the escort of a crew member.
NEVER APPROACH NorthSTAR from the BACK, approach from the side
with caution.
Keep arms and IV's at or below shoulder height.
Secure all loose objects and personal items, e.g. hats,
stethoscopes.
New Police Training Section for NJ Officers
NJLawman.com
We have just added an entire section to the
NJLawman.com website which will catalog all New Jersey police
schools and classes held throughout the state.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Crime Scene Investigations Website
NJLawman.com
We came across a rather interesting
website. Based out of California, this site offers a host of articles
and information on crime scene investigation. We found some
excellent articles on murder scenes, developing latent footwear
impressions, human remains and computer forensics.
This site will be especially valuable to newer
officers who have not yet had any advanced training. Still, we found some
of the tips in the articles to be new and quite handy. We recommend that
all take a look.
Power Lines Monday,
October 10, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement is anything having
to do with live power lines. Zero to minimal training against high
voltage will always lose.
To see some videos of what can go wrong, visit a site we found which
seems to be the NJLawman.com of the linemen world. Use the links
on the right side of the page to see the videos at
Powerlinemen.com.
Police Dogs
Sunday,
October 2, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of our site readers sent us this one.
The link below will take you to a site with a great video of police
dogs in action. It appears to be from Germany.
Stolen Car Stats
Sunday,
October 2, 2005
By NJLawman.com
We found some interesting information on the National Insurance Crime
Board website.
"In 2003, 1,260,471 motor vehicles were
reported stolen at an estimated value of over $8 billion. With recovery
rates hovering near the 65% mark, that leaves a tremendous number of
vehicles that are either cut up for parts, exported to other countries,
or reappear as clones, the latest trend in an ever-expanding list of
fraud schemes."
The top ten stolen vehicles for New Jersey in 2003 are as follows:
2000 Honda Civic
1989 Toyota Camry
1991 Honda Accord
1994 Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup
1994 Dodge Caravan
1997 Ford F150 Series
1986 Toyota Pickup
1995 Acura Integra
1987 Nissan Sentra
1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Grants
Sunday, September 25, 2005
By NJLawman.com
Law enforcement agencies are always looking for grant money. Much of
what use to be available has dried up as more resources and funds are
detoured toward homeland security. Still, there is a good amount
of money out there if you can find it.
One resource we found is called
OnlineGrants.us.
The site has some good information on research, writing and landing
grants. Also, make sure to check out the page on corporate grants.
Many don't realize how much private money is available.
Hidden Weapons
Sunday, September 25, 2005
By NJLawman.com
One of our frequent readers, Walt, sent us this one.
There is some great information here. We will also be filing this on
the
Police Tactics section of this website.
Stare
Decisis
Sunday, September 18, 2005
By NJLawman.com
If you followed any of the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee
John Roberts, you heard the term stare decisis (pronounced
stair-ee duh-seye-sis)
used several times throughout the debate.
Stare Decisis is Latin for "to stand by that which is decided" or "let the
decision stand."
Simply, it is the foundation for how courts must follow previously
decided, judge-issued law.
Excellent School - Free Tuition, Free Housing,
Free Meals
Sunday, September 11, 2005
By NJLawman.com
It's
back.
The Northeast Counterdrug Training Center (NCTC) with locations
in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin is a Federally funded training
program which offers many classes and programs for law
enforcement officers.
Last year it's funding was lost, but it is now back in operation.
Interview and interrogation, search warrant execution, polygraph
instructor, and police executive management are just some of the
many courses offered.
And again, it's free for law enforcement agencies.
To visit the main page of their website,
click here.
When a Search Ends
Sunday, September 11, 2005
By NJLawman.com
With everything we have learned from
those who have fallen before us, it is inconceivable that an
officer can be hurt or killed due to a previous poor search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
Too often, when contraband is located, the search ends or it is
done half ass because the searching officer thinks that he or she
has found the suspect's hiding spot or finding a "mother load"
distracts us from properly completing the search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
This is an interesting one sent to us by one of our visitors, Joyce.
There is a website viewable to the general public named
The Doe Network
which catalogs missing persons and unidentified persons cases.
They post pictures, location and other related information.
If you have any old cases, this resource might be worth a shot.
Monday, September 5, 2005
Bank Robbery Resource
This website primarily serves Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but it is
worth a look for anyone involved in a bank robbery investigation.
Simply, it catalogs photos taken from security cameras during bank
robberies. Click
here to take a look.
Sunday,
August 7, 2005
Excellent Resource
Once in a while there comes a need to learn
about a certain country whether it be to further an investigation, to
become acquainted with the customs of another, or just out of
curiosity.
There is a branch of the CIA website called
the World Factbook. It is the place to begin.
Maps, terrain, climate, population,
literacy, background, currency, and geographic coordinates are just some
of the many areas explained. We have added it to our Investigative
Resources page so you can always find it. Click
here to visit the site.
Sunday,
August 7, 2005
MV
Stops at Night
When effecting nighttime motor vehicle
stops, upon approaching the stopped vehicle, start making a habit of
always asking the driver to turn on the interior light.
This serves
several purposes. First, it illuminates the vehicle interior for you
observation. Second, should the driver come out of the car for any
reason, he or she will have reduced night vision which always occurs when
someone goes from a well-lit environment to a dark environment.
This works especially well when stopping cars with tinted windows.
In some states, there are now laws requiring motorists to obey this
request.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Rules for the Flag
There are many rules which govern how the United States flag is suppose
to be flown. Some will even surprise you.
We found a website which explains all of them.
Click here to take a look.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Recording the Police
Last year we reported on a Chiefs of Police
meeting where one of the presenters detailed a scheme where certain people
are purposely trying to have encounters with law enforcement officers.
These people are wearing hidden microphones
and, in one case, a hidden video camera to record the actions of the
officer. This has apparently happened in several areas of the state, and
at least one of the incidents was depicted on a local television program.
It has also been reported that people are using cellular telephones and
palm pilots, many of which have recording capabilities, to record
encounters with law enforcement.
We post this not because we think that
officers are doing something wrong but because this may escalate into
these persons trying to prod and provoke officers.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Latex Gloves
Too often, officers who are wearing latex gloves contaminate their own
equipment, uniform, and supplies.
For example, an officer responds to a first aid call where the victim
has an arm laceration.
The primary officer puts on a pair of latex gloves, gathers some
bandages from the first aid kit, and begins treating the injury.
Of course, some blood gets on the gloves.
The officer needs more bandages and, while still wearing the gloves,
which have been contaminated, again opens the first aid kit and grabs some
more items. Then, for his report, the officer takes out his pen and
notebook while still wearing the gloves to get the victim's information
for the report.
The ambulance arrives, and first aid personnel take over. They
ask the officer if he could help them with some light. The officer,
while still wearing the contaminated gloves, grabs his flashlight and
illuminates the victim.
We could go on, but you get the point. In this scenario, this
officer has contaminated the first aid kit, his pen, his notebook and his
flashlight which are all items he will be using later with his bare hands.
Once you have touched a victim, your gloves have been contaminated.
You should touch nothing else while still wearing the same gloves.
Monday, July 11
,
2005
Do You Know Any of These Faces?
Pictured
to the right are the faces of seven persons whom the FBI would like to
know better.
"L
ast year,
FBI Director Mueller and Attorney General Ashcroft held a press
conference to call renewed attention to 7 individuals believed to pose a
real and present danger to U.S. interests around the world--perhaps most
especially this summer and fall, a time of high profile public events
that may well serve as a lightening rod to terrorist attacks."
Every day we hear a news report on some incident where the victim's
condition is described as one of several terms. However, most of us do
not know how the medical field even uses these terms.
We took a look at several sources. The terms come from the American
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Here's how they go:
Undetermined -
Patient is awaiting
physician and/or assessment.
Good -
Vital signs are stable
and within normal limits. Patient is conscious and comfortable.
Indicators are excellent.
Fair -
Vital signs are stable
and within normal limits. Patient is conscious, but may be
uncomfortable. Indicators are favorable.
Serious -
Vital signs may be
unstable and not within normal limits. Patient is acutely ill.
Indicators are questionable.
Critical -
Vital signs are unstable
and not within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Indicators
are unfavorable.
Sunday, June 27, 2005
Countdown to Retirement
For those of you who have begun the countdown to your retirement date,
we found a pretty neat tool.
By entering the exact date of your retirement, this tool will give you
the exact countdown of days, hours, minutes and seconds until you get the
gold watch.
In recent months, there has been much media coverage of the street gang
MS-13. Unfortunately, most officers have little or no knowledge of
MS-13.
This gang originates from El Salvador. Its name is
derived from La Mara, a street in El Salvador, and the Salvatrucha
guerillas who fought in the El Salvador civil war. MS-13 appeared on
the radar in Los Angeles in the 1980's, and has since spread to many
states throughout the country.
Make no mistake: This is a very, very deadly gang, and targeting law
enforcement officers is not beyond them.
There is an excellent article in POLICE Magazine which is well worth
the read for officers wanting to learn more about MS-13. To view the
article,
click here.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Inside Cops
Recently, VH1 aired a program which went behind the scenes of the
television show COPS. Below is an excerpt from their site:
VH1 Goes Inside: COPS is a celebration
of one of the longest running prime-time shows on television. In its
seventeenth season, COPS continues to entertain and inform its viewers,
giving them a first-hand account of the daily lives of police officers
across the country. VH1 Goes Inside: COPS features clips of
memorable moments from the show, dating back to the pilot episode in
1989. VH1 Goes Inside: COPS will also include interviews with the
show's producers and crew, as well as the police officers who have
helped make the show such a success.
It is very interesting and worth the watch.
For listings of when the program will air
again,
click here.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Resources for Grants
With more and more funds being steered toward homeland security and
away from day-to-day policing, finding grants is more important than ever
before.
OnlineGrants.us
has assembled a nice collection of information on writing grants,
researching grants, and locating grants.
We were recently
sent this picture from one of our site visitors.
Simply, it is a
handcuff key secreted in a hidden compartment located on the rear of the
sneaker.
This poses a number
of dangers, and all officers should be aware of this.
The exact brand of
sneaker was not mentioned and really is irrelevant since new models come
out routinely.
You might want to
post this in your squad room.
Sunday, June 12
, 2005
New Product
This one is for gun enthusiasts and those
concerned about home protect alike.
The product is called the Pillow Pal
Holster Holder.
Simply, it serves as a holster for handgun
holsters. It is also a great tool for holding television
remote controls, flashlights, glasses, cell phones, etc.
Clearly, this is not a product for homes
with children in the house or in situations where someone besides the gun
owner could access the weapon.
This should also serve as a bulletin for
officers assigned to entry teams in the event that this product winds up
in the hands of an ill-intended person.
On the north wall of
the Original Headquarters Building lobby, to the right as you enter, is a
memorial wall that was commissioned by the CIA Fine Arts Commission in May
1973 and sculpted by Harold Vogel in July 1974.
With the simple
inscription "IN HONOR OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY," this wall of 83
stars stands as a silent, simple memorial to those CIA officers who made
the ultimate sacrifice.
The glass-encased
Book of Honor below the stars lists the 48 names of officers which can be
revealed; while the names of the remaining 35 officers must remain secret,
even in death. Framed by the American and the Central Intelligence Agency
flags, this memorial immortalizes these anonymous few who served and
sacrificed in silence.
Sunday, June 5
, 2005
Excellent Tool
The
Scenario: Motor vehicle accident with entrapment, black smoke coming from
the engine and under the car with small flames beginning to emerge.
Car windows can take numerous strikes from PR-24's and ASP's. In
a situation such as this, your options are limited and time is slipping
away.
The tool pictured to the left is both a handcuff key and a window
punch. It will break safety glass instantly with a spring loaded,
specially designed hammer. This is a highly recommended tool for
anyone on the road.
They can be purchased at
Copquest.com
for under eight bucks.
Monday, May 31, 2005
Tactics - Fill in the Gaps
Your radio crackles. One of your
fellow officers is going out with a suspicious subject. You respond
to assist. Where should you position yourself?
Often, the second officer to arrive
approaches and stands right next to the first officer. Minutes later
a third officer responds. He or she then stands next to the first
two. Additional officers respond, and the shoulder to shoulder
action continues.
Too often the above scenario is the case.
When a second officer arrives, he or she
take a position directly behind the suspect. This way, the most
obvious path of flight is now blocked. If a third officer responds,
he or she should take a position to the left or the right of the suspect.
The other two officer should re-position themselves, so they are forming a
triangle around the suspect. With each responding officer filling in
an empty gap, the chances of flight significantly reduce.
When responding to back up a fellow
officer, FILL IN THE GAP
Monday, May 31, 2005
Presidential Order of Succession
Okay, this is not really law enforcement-related, but it is interesting
nonetheless.
In 1947 the rules for the current Presidential Order of Succession were
established. Below is the list of who would take over as President
in the event that a sitting President should be unable to hold office:
The Vice President Richard Cheney
Speaker of the House John Dennis Hastert
President pro tempore of the Senate1 Ted
Stevens
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of the Treasury John Snow
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns
Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez2
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao3
Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike
Leavitt
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Alphonso Jackson
Secretary of Transportation Norman Yoshio
Mineta
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
Secretary of Homeland Security4 Michael
Chertoff
Monday, May 23, 2005
Law Enforcement Salaries
When contract time arrives FOP and
PBA locals always find themselves in a position of needing
information. The contract terms and salaries of other agencies
usually tops the list.
There is a website we found which catalogs
such information from agencies around the nation. They also provide
other services including a financial analysis of your municipality.
The site is called PolicePay.net. Click
here to take a look.
Monday, May 23, 2005
United States Constitution
Always an interesting read. We just added a page to our site
which contains the entire United States Constitution and the Amendments.
To view, click on the
United States Constitution.
Sunday,
May 15, 2005
Preparing for the Promotional
Exam
Preparing for a promotional exam is by far
the largest academic endeavor most officers will ever experience. It
requires months of studying. The results will often reflect who
invested the most hours in preparation.
We found a statistic that is quite
interesting and relevant. It has to do with memory. After all,
retention is what preparation is about.
According to the June, 2004 FBI Bulletin,
our retention level is most dependent on how the material is presented to
us. Below is a list based upon a scientific study sited in the
bulletin.
Our Retention Levels
10 percent of what we read
20 percent of what we hear
30 percent of what we see
40 percent of what we see and hear
60 percent of what we discuss with others
70 percent of what we experience
personally
80 percent of what we discover and solve
individually or in groups
95 percent of what we teach to someone
else
Sunday,
May 15, 2005
Spotting the Spotlight
Where should the spotlight be pointed when making a vehicle stop?
Well, there are several schools of thought here. Some say always on
the rear view mirror. Others say it should be pointed on the side
view mirror, and others say it should be used to light up the passenger
compartment.
How about basing it on the circumstances.
If you are stopping a car to arrest the front seat passenger who is
suspected of having a gun, you may want to aim the spot light on the
passenger side mirror. If it is just a stop of a vehicle occupied
once, the driver side mirror is fine. If upon stopping a vehicle you
notice five heads inside, it is advisable to light up the passenger
compartment.
The spotlight is an excellent tool for both giving the officer extra
illumination and for temporarily taking out the night vision of a vehicle
occupant or occupants. Use it based on the circumstances of the stop
you are making,
Perhaps the best method is using it based on this situation you are
facing.
Sunday,
May 1, 2005
Emergency Lights or Flashers
When making motor vehicle stops, just about all officers activate their
entire light bar to catch the attention of the motorist. When the
vehicle stops, the light bar remains fully activated for the duration of
the stop to warn approaching traffic and protect the officer.
But, very often when officers pull up behind disabled vehicles, they only
activate the overhead flashers and not the entire light bar.
This doesn't really make any sense. The danger to the officer from
rear approaching traffic is just as great when behind a disabled vehicle
as it is when behind a stopped vehicle.
Emergency lights should be used whenever stopped behind a vehicle on a
highway or busy roadway.
Sunday,
May 1, 2005
Excellent Range Exercise
Range instructors and avid shooters are always looking for exercises to
improve all aspects of weapons proficiency. Here is one.
From the ten-yard-line, shoot as follows:
1. Fire one round, drop and replace the magazine,
2. Fire two rounds, drop and replace the magazine,
3. Fire three rounds.
This exercise is excellent for building reloading skills. The goal
should be to get shooters to the point where they can complete all three
phases in under ten seconds with all of the shots landing within the given
target. Once there, the distance can be moved back to the
fifteen-yard-line.
Monday
, April 18, 2005
Selecting a Duty Weapon
In the January issue of the FBI Bulletin, an excellent article on
selecting a duty handgun was published.
The article covers everything from magazine capacity to caliber to
materials and finish.
The FBI National Academy is the most prestigious law
enforcement training that any officer can add to a resume. The
program is offered four times each year, and each program lasts for
approximately 16 weeks.
Participation is by invitation only, though a
nomination process. Participants are drawn from every state in the union,
from U.S. territories, and from over 150 foreign nations.
Below are the requirements as listed by the Academy for
officers who may be nominated:
A regular full-time officer of a duly-constituted law
enforcement agency of a municipality, county, or state, having at least
five years of substantially continuous such experience
At least 25 years of age
In excellent physical condition, capable of sustained
strenuous exertion and regular participation in the use of firearms,
physical training, and defensive tactics, which will be confirmed by a
thorough physical examination (submitted when requested by FBI) by a
medical doctor of nominee's choice and at nominee's expense
Is of excellent character and enjoys a reputation for
professional integrity
Exhibits an interest in law enforcement as a public
service; a seriousness of purpose, qualities of leadership; and enjoys
the confidence and respect of fellow officers
Has a high school diploma or high school equivalency
certificate
Agrees to remain in law enforcement a minimum of
three years after graduation from the FBI National Academy
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Police / Law Enforcement Magazines
For those who enjoy magazines, there are some great
ones covering the law enforcement industry. Below are some of the
better publications, and all may be obtained through Amazon.
As of this date, thirty-five lawmen and women have lost
their lives this year. Below is a breakdown as provided on the
Officer Down Memorial Page website:
Automobile accident
7
Drowned
1
Gunfire
15
Gunfire (Accidental)
1
Heart attack
5
Stabbed
1
Struck by vehicle
2
Vehicular assault
3
Total Line of Duty Deaths
35
By Month:
January: 9
February: 9
March: 14
April: 3
By State:
California: 2
Florida: 2
Georgia: 3
Illinois: 2
Indiana: 2
Kansas: 2
Kentucky: 1
Louisiana: 1
Michigan: 1
Mississippi: 2
Missouri: 3
New Jersey: 1
North Carolina: 1
Ohio: 1
Pennsylvania: 2
South Carolina: 2
Tennessee: 1
Texas: 2
U.S. Government: 2
Virginia: 1
Washington: 1
Average age: 37
By Gender:
Female: 1
Male: 34
Monday, April 4, 2005
Using Gloves
Latex gloves should be used on every first aid call,
period.
There are numerous diseases and conditions that can be
spread through skin contact. To just name a few, scabies, head lice,
herpes, impetigo, conjunctivitis, or "pink eye," respiratory syncytial
virus, shingles, and Ebola.
There have been incidents from around the country of
officers taking home diseases and spreading them to family members.
Corrections officers are just as vulnerable due to the closed-in nature of
the facilities. Police officers deal with the same people and also
go to first aid calls for people who are already sick.
Keep them in your hat, your pocket, or a pouch, and use
them for every first aid call.
Monday, April 4, 2005
The Second Amendment
We always talk about it, but when was the last time you
actually read it? Below is the text from the Second Amendment:
A well regulated
Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of
the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
CPR - What Happens Without It
Below is an interesting chart we obtained from
CPR-Pro.com. It outlines what happens to a first aid patient once
breathing stops.
0 Minutes –
Breathing stops – Heart
will soon stop beating
0-4 Minutes –
Clinical Death
4-6 Minutes –
Brain Damage Possible
4+ Minutes –
Biological Death
6-10 Minutes –
Brain Damage Likely
10 + Minutes –
Brain Damage
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Good Off Duty Tool
We were always taught that if we carry an off
duty weapon, we should also be carrying handcuffs. However, not
enough of us follow this wise suggestion.
Recently, we've seen an increase in the number
of officers carrying thumb cuffs. They are small, light, and can easily
and comfortably be stored in a pocket or bag.
Generally, thumb cuffs go for less than twenty
dollars.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Your Tax Bracket
Yes, we had this one posted before, but as April 15th
approaches, it is relevant.
You see the deductions every two weeks on your
pay stub, but do you know your tax bracket. While not relevant to
law enforcement, we thought that you might find this interesting.
Tax Brackets—2004 Taxable
Income
Joint
return
Single
taxpayer
Rate
$0–$14,000
$0–$7,000
10.0%
14,000–56,800
7,000–28,400
15.0
56,800–114,650
28,400–68,800
25.0
114,650
–174,700
68,800–143,500
28.0
174,700–311,950
143,500–311,950
33.0
311,950
and up
311,950
and up
35.0
Source: Tax Foundation.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Night Sights
With police firing ranges in some
states slowly becoming extinct, many of us don't even do real night firing
anymore. Instead, most agencies are using welder's goggles to
simulate low-light conditions. One of the many drawbacks of this
technique is that the shooter cannot even see or practice with the night
sights on the weapon.
When we say "night sight," we are
referring to those expensive night sights that your agency purchased a
while back for your service weapons. Do you know if your weapon's
night sights even still work?
A common misperception is that the Tritium
Night Sights are actually a liquid which is applied to weapon sights to
later dry and be used forever.
The reality is that these sights are
actually tiny glass vials of gas which are carefully attached to the front
and rear sights. These sights do have a shelf life (which differs
depending upon the manufacturer), and these sights can fall
off.
If your agency doesn't do realistic
low-light firing, you probably do not even know if your sights still
work. Bottom line, Tritium Sights must be checked before every
shift.
Sunday,
March 13, 2005
Interesting Reading
We don't normally do this, but there is a very
entertaining message board based off the website Copwatch.com. It is
filled with postings from every anti-police crusader.
If you want to drive them bananas, leave a
post telling them you're on the job and what you think of their conspiracy
theories. Try and be somewhat nice.
A word of caution though. Don't go if you
easily get offended. They really dislike law enforcement. Click
here to pay a visit.
Sunday, February
27, 2005
Clothing for Cops
Previously, we've covered clothing designed for bad
guys. Recently, we found a web site that offers clothing for cops.
BULLET 50 clothing built and designed by street cops
for street cops. Functional and fashionable on-duty/off-duty clothing. No
more fanny packs, cuff cases or bulky holsters to carry around.
The Flagship product for BULLET 50 is the denim jean
from the “STREET CRIME LINE”. These denim jeans will carry most
all-essential gear needed (pistol, ammo mags, flashlight asp, handcuffs,
pepper spray, cell phone etc.) for on duty/off duty operations.
Most states have been experiencing an increase in
gang activity. With the lack of training and resources in some
agencies, officers are forced to fend for themselves to learn about this
growing problem.
The web site GangsorUs.com has become the online
authority for information on these criminal organizations. From hand
signals to tattoos to intelligence, this site is worth a look.
Click here.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
NJLawman.com
As the NJLawman.com site has grown, we've
noticed some of our pages receiving less traffic. Below are four
which are all excellent resources. Take a look.
Whether your walking a pod in Riverfront State Prison or stopping cars on
195, stress is the common denominator for law enforcement. Suicide
is the leading cause of death for those in this profession. In fact,
suicide will claim anywhere from three to five times more of us than line
of duty deaths.
New Jersey has a unique program which recognizes the stress of the job and
reaches out to those of us who need help. By calling 1-866-COP-2COP
you can speak with a specially trained active or retired law enforcement
officer. Only current or retired officers are permitted to
participate as call takers.
This line receives many calls each week. If you or someone you know
is going through a difficult time, give them a call. Click
here for their website.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
A Very Special Officer
Officer Jason Schechterle
before the accident
Officer Jason Schechterle
after the accident
Jason Schechterle was an road officer for the
Phoenix, Arizona Police Department. On March 26, 2001 at 11:21 p.m.
his life was changed forever.
Jason was badly burned when his FORD CROWN
VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR exploded in flames after being hit from behind
by a taxi Cab. The collision happened while Jason was responding to a
call.
The Phoenix Fire Department was also in route
to the same call and witnessed the collision. The Fire Department did a
heroic job saving Officer Schechterle's life, freeing him from the burning
vehicle. Jason received severe burns to his face, arms and upper body. He
was transported to the Maricopa County Hospital Burn Unit, where he was
treated until July 31, 2001 when he was finally transferred to the Good
Samaritan Rehabilitation Unit.
Instead of giving up, Jason has become an
advocate for the rest of us. He is a true, modern-day inspiration.
Take a look at his
web site
and read more about him. You will be in awe of this class act named
Jason Schechterle.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Supreme Court Cases You Should Know
In the December, 2004 issue of the FBI
bulletin, they published a great piece on nine United States Supreme Court
cases that affect most in law enforcement.
The automated phone line which provides pension loan
information has been updated to December 31, 2004. If you are in the New Jersey
Police & Fire Pension System, call 1-609-777-1777. By using this
automated phone line you can learn the following:
Loan, Purchase, and Withdrawal Information
General Account Information
Retirement Information
Health Benefit Information
Deferred Compensation Information
(NJ Police & Fire Pension Website)
Sunday, February 6, 2005
Police Week 2005
While it has the same celebratory sound to it
as "Bike Week," Police Week is no party.
Each year, the week containing May 15th is
designated as Police Week. It is a time where new names are added to
the only wall in D.C. that will never be finished.
Click here to take a look at some of the different police vehicles
available in 2005.
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
First Aid Calls - Strokes
Strokes are difficult calls for first
responders as we are limited in what we can do besides comforting the
victim, providing oxygen and expediting emergency transport.
However, there is one crucial thing we can do:
Find out exactly when the stroke occurred.
There is a medication that can be given to
certain stroke patients, which, is some cases, can significantly minimize
the effects of the stroke. It is called TPA or in medical terms
t-PA.
However, this medication generally must be
given within three hours of the actual stroke.
There has been great success with this
medication.
Click here for more information.
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
The Police Unity Tour
The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by
Officer Patrick Montuore of the Florham Park, NJ Police Department. Pat
wanted to help raise money for the
National Law Enforcement Officer's Memorial
by gathering together several law enforcement officers and riding their
police mountain bikes from New Jersey to the site of the Memorial in
Washington D.C.
Since then it has grown into an annual event
that has delivered over a million dollars to the Memorial Fund, making it
the largest private and/or corporate sponsor of the Memorial!
For more information and to visit the site,
click
here.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Video
of Heroic NJSP Rescue
The
State Trooper Fraternal Organization is to the rank and file of the New
Jersey State Police what the PBA and FOP are to municipal, county, and
other state officers.
On their website they now have the video from
an actual rescue of persons trapped in a burning car. You will get
chills watching this. Click
here to visit their site.
Sunday,
January 16, 2005
September 11th Tribute
William Prentice is a police officer with the
Port Authority Police Department.
Recently, he put together a personal-page
website. On the site there is a very, very touching tribute video
about September 11th. While we receive numerous emails with
tributes, we have never seen this one before.
Click here to take a look.
Also, check out the rest of this site as it is
light and entertaining. And, please sign his guestbook.
Sunday,
January 16, 2005
Cops Trying New Things
Officers from the Irvington and Parsippany
Police Departments in New Jersey have launched a new effort to combat
urban and gang violence.
"Police Against Gang Empowerment (PAGE) will
engage youth in urban communities through the establishment of a
structured environment with a solid foundation composed of police-youth
mentorship programs. Volunteers of PAGE will solicit parental and
community involvement to raise the stand for continued success, obtaining
the end-results of behavioral change, scholastic achievement, and the
creation of a safe haven for gang resistance."
We wanted to put more light on this program.
Instead of just dwelling on what hasn't worked, officers like Detective
Monique Smith and Officer Quaasim Austin are trying new things. To
read more about this program,
click here.
NJLawman.com applauds the efforts of these and
the other officers involved.
Sunday,
January 10, 2005
Federal
Inmate Locator
This one was sent to us by one of our readers. Thanks Manny.
The United States Bureau of Prisons has an Inmate Locator feature on their
website. The database contains Federal prisoners from 1982 to
present. A search may be conducted by the inmate's Register number, DCDC number, FBI number, INS number, or by using the inmate's first and
last name. We will also add this resources to our Investigative
Resources page.
Abu Sayyaf Group. Islamic Jihad. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Hezbollah. Hamas. FARC. ETA. Who are these groups,
and what do they want?
While the chances of a line officer having direct dealings with any
international terrorist group are very slim, professional law officers today should be
at least acquainted with the various terrorist organizations.
Last year's deadly attacks in Madrid, Spain
were originally speculated to have been committed by ETA, a group little known to most Americans until
now. ETA stands for Euskadi
ta Askatasuna, which means “Basque Fatherland and Liberty” in the
Basque language. The Basques are a distinct Christian group
that want their independence from Spain. They live in a mountainous
region between Spain and France.
We found an excellent website that covers terrorism and its practitioners
from A to Z. It is called TerrorismAnswers.com.
We strongly recommend you visit and educate yourself a bit.
Thursday, January 6, 2004
Iraq
Wants You
In the mood for some serious adventure? How about a one-year term of
service in Baghdad as a police officer.
Active police officers are still being
recruited to serve in Iraq for a year. Their job will be to help the Iraqi citizens organize
effective civilian law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies.
The minimum term of service is one year, and officers would be armed and
working in plain clothes positions. The pay structure has been
revised from the last time we covered this.
Pay structure is as follows:
Police Advisors: $120,632.00
All lodging, meals, and transportation, as
well as logistical, technical and administrative support necessary to
accomplish the advisor's mission is provided at no cost to the officer.
There are also available positions in East Timor and Kosovo. Click
here to visit their website.
Thursday, January 6, 2004
Quick Look at The
Amber Plan
"What is this Amber Plan that I've been hearing so much about?"
you may be asking yourself. Here it is:
The AMBER Plan is a partnership between law-enforcement and broadcasters
to activate an urgent bulletin for serious child-abduction cases.
Broadcasters use the Emergency Alert System to air a description of the
missing child and abductor. It is the same concept used during weather
emergencies. The goal of the AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the
entire community to assist in locating the child.
The AMBER Plan was created in 1996 as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber
Hagerman, a little girl who was kidnapped and brutally murdered Arlington,
Texas. The tragedy outraged the entire community. Residents contacted
radio stations in the Dallas area and suggested they broadcast special “alerts”
so that they could help prevent such incidents in the future. In response,
the Dallas Association of Radio Managers teamed up with local
law-enforcement in northern Texas and developed this innovative early
warning system to help find abducted children.
Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they must
first determine if the case meets the AMBER Plan’s criteria for
triggering an alert. Each program has its own criteria. The National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children suggests three criteria that
should be met before an Alert is activated:
1.
Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted
2.
Law enforcement believes that the child is in danger of serious bodily
harm or death
3.
There are enough descriptors about the child, abductor, and/or suspect’s
vehicle
to believe an immediate broadcast will help
Sunday, December 19, 2004
The Garrity Warning
This is a topic that every law officer should
know inside and out.
Simply, Garrity is an invocation that may be
made by an officer being questioned regarding actions that may result in
criminal prosecution.
By invoking the Garrity rule, the officer is
invoking his or her right against self incrimination. Any statements made
after invoking Garrity, may only be used for department investigation
purposes and not for criminal prosecution purposes.
New Jersey Critical Incident Stress
Management Team
There
is an excellent resource available to New Jersey LEO's knows as the New
Jersey Critical Incident Stress Management Team. This team is
comprised of specially trained officers from around the state, and they specialize
in helping officers who have having difficulty or who have been involved
in critical incidents. They will even come to the scene of an
incident if necessary.
This is a great resource for supervisors, and
their number should be kept handy in the event that you may need
them. The team is chaired by Bob Rice from Port Authority Transit
PD. Bob runs the program which is made up of volunteers from
law enforcement, fire, first-aid, education and mental health fields.
The November, 2004 issue of the FBI
Bulletin contains an blurb on "Belt Knives."
Click here to visit the actual FBI publication and view the issue for further information
including additional photos.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Investigative Resources
One of this site's best pages is one of this
site's least visited pages. Let's say you are conducting an
investigation where you need to accomplish the following:
Identify a pill found on a suspect
Determine the exact position of a commercial
airliner currently in the air
Verify someone's social security number
Obtain a photo of an inmate in prison
See who is the owner of a particular website
Translate a letter from Italian to English
Convert German Deutsche marks to American
dollars.
For those of you who participate in the hobby of collecting police
patches, you can find a whole assortment of them for sale on the Internet
on EBAY.
Take a look.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Excellent Product
There is nothing more offensive than when a
prisoner spits at you. It is absolutely disgusting and infuriating.
There is a relatively new product on the market which solves this problem.
It is called the TranZport Hood. Simply, it is a cloth and mesh hood
that is put over the prisoner's head. He can spit all he wants.
This hood will trap all of his saliva in the hood with him, but he will
still easily get air.
Streicher's
Law Enforcement Products carries the TranZport Hood, and it can be
purchased online. As of this writing, the hood goes for $4.95.
Oh, it should not be used on any person that is unconscious, vomiting, in
respiratory distress or in obvious need of medical attention and persons
wearing a hood should be under constant supervision of the responsible
parties. (TJ, the hood goes on the prisoner's head, not the
officer's head. :) )
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Honor
Legion - What is it?
The Honor Legion. You have probably heard of them. You might
have been given one of their courtesy cards. The Honor Legion is a
law enforcement fraternal organization. Following is a letter from
Jim Homwey, a senior member:
I'm Jim Homwey, 2nd Vice President of the Honor Legion. For those
of you who are not familiar with the honor legion, it is a police
fraternal organization of the "finest of the finest" law
enforcement officers. Any person who is a bona fide active and paid member
of any regular law enforcement agency shall be eligible to apply for
active membership in this association subject to the restrictions and
limitations hereinafter provided. Elected and appointed officials
are not eligible. Membership is available to any member who has risked his
or her life to save a human life or whose life has been in imminent risk
of danger from an armed adversary. Final determinations shall be at
the discretion of the executive board of the Honor Legion. Be
advised that there are three distinctly different new member applications:
1.
Active members with NJ jurisdiction
2.
Active members without NJ jurisdiction
3.
Retired members
See new membership information and other New Jersey Honor Legion
information at our website NJHL.com
or contact me at 2NDVP@njhl.COM.
Fraternally
yours,
Jim
Homwey, Jr.
2nd
Vice President of NJ Honor Legion
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Ford Crown Victoria
Lawsuits have been filed around the nation against the Ford Motor Company
claiming that the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor has a design flaw
making the vehicle prone to explosion and fire upon high speed rear
impacts. There have been instances around the country where officers
lost their lives in rear-end accidents not from the collision but from the
subsequent fire.
Click
here for Ford's Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Law
Enforcement Website.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Internal
Affairs Investigations
Every officer will one day face an internal affairs investigation.
It's just inevitable. As most of you know, there is an entire AG
Guideline on Internal Affairs. It is crucial that you are familiar
with the Guideline in order to protect your rights. There are a lot
of protections built into the Guideline that can help you when it is your
time.
For instance, did you know that you're allowed to tape record the
interview between yourself and those interviewing you. According to
the Guideline...
"In
cases of potential criminal conduct or serious disciplinary infractions
the agency should make an
audio or video recording of the interview, or should make a stenographic record. A transcript or copy of the
recording shall be made available to the officer, if applicable, at
the appropriate stage of a criminal or disciplinary proceeding. If the
subject officer wishes to make
a recording of the interview, he or she may do so, and a copy of the
recording shall be made
available to the department upon request, at the agency's expense.
Agencies should consider
adopting a policy requiring officers to inform the agency or the internal
affairs investigator if the
officer plans to record the interview."
Most IA investigators are fair, and they'll support you if you're in
the right, but you should prepare for the worst case scenario. Click
here to see the actual Guideline.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Tactics - Surviving Prisoner
Searches
According to the FBI, "For the
10-year period 1993 through 2002, 20 officers were killed while handling
or transporting prisoners."
This is unacceptable.
In a previous Roll Call piece, we assembled
a great quote which all should heed:
"The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found."
The
FBI Bulletin May 2004 Volume 73 Number 5contains an excellent
article on prisoner searches that is definitely worth a read. Also,
print it out and post it on the bulletin board in your headquarters.
Monday, October 18, 2004
New Street Survival Seminar
Caliber Press, unquestionably, offers the
premiere program in street survival. Many of us have attended it,
and if you haven't you should.
However, there is a new Street Survival
Seminar coming to a location near you. It is called the Street
Crimes Seminar, and it is being offered by John E. Reid and Associates.
The three-day Reid program will cover a lot of
material relevant to street level operations including officer safety,
informants, hidden compartments, interviews, and more.
Rather than taking this program "instead of"
the Caliber Press program, take it "in addition to" the Caliber Press
program. There is no such thing as too much training.
It is to a web page that outlines steps on how
to avoid a speeding ticket. The language is colorful, but you might
get a kick out of it. Also, it is not written in the normal
we-hate-police speak.
The United States Secret Service creates codenames for dignitaries and
others that they are sworn to protect. Here are a couple:
George Bush
II
Trailblazer
Jenna Bush
Twinkle
Dick Cheney
Angler
Bill Clinton
Elvis
Hillary
Clinton
Evergreen
Chelsea
Clinton
Energy
Al Gore
Sundance
George Bush
I
Timberwolf
Barbara Bush
Tranquility
Dan Quayle
Scorecard
Ronald
Reagan
Rawhide
Nancy Reagan
Rainbow
Jimmy Carter
Deacon
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Classification of Information
While it is not something with which we are
normally involved, it is interesting nonetheless. With a few
modifications, though, it could actually be used by any agency to regulate
who has access to certain information
The United States Department of Defense has a
formal hierarchy of classification of information based on its sensitivity
which attaches to personnel classification for information access.
Take a look:
Top secret – this is the highest
security level, and is defined as information which would cause "exceptionally
grave damage" to
national security if disclosed to the public. This classification is most
often subdivided on the basis of "need to know", and includes such information
as the design of cutting-edge weaponry, etc.
Secret – the second highest
classification may include, for example, details of other security measures
and procedures. It is defined as information which would cause "serious
damage" to national security if disclosed.
Confidential – is the lowest
classification level. It is defined as information which would "damage"
national security if disclosed.
Unclassified – not technically a
"classification", this is the default, and refers to information which can be
released to individuals without a clearance. Information which was previously
classified under one of the above levels is often declared "unclassified" at a
certain time because its age has made its classification no longer necessary.
Past troop movements are one example; they may be of paramount importance
before occurring, and shortly after, but ten years later will not require
classification. There have been (controversial) attempts to make all
information in certain nuclear-related fields classified from its origination;
these have faced challenges in court. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is the law
most often mentioned in this context. The fact that a document is unclassified
does not necessarily mean it can be released to the public -- it can be
restricted to certain distributions, but an individual doesn't have to be
"cleared" to access it, only have a need-to-know. This type of data is
commonly referred to as Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU)
Classified U.S. government documents are required
to be stamped with their classification at the top and bottom of each page, and
there are various other regulations for the handling and storage of such
documents.
Thursday, October 7, 2004
When a Search Ends
With everything we have learned from
those who have fallen before us, it is inconceivable that an
officer can be hurt or killed due to a previous poor search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
Too often, when contraband is located, the search ends or it is
done half ass because the searching officer thinks that he or she
has found the suspect's hiding spot or finding a "mother load"
distracts us from properly completing the search.
The search of a suspect ends when all
possible areas have been searched, not when something is found.
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Police & Fire
Mortgage Plan
This past week the Federal Reserve raised the
prime rate which often signals an increase in mortgage rates.
The New Jersey Police and fire Mortgage rate,
however, remains at 5.41%. This is for a thirty-year-mortgage with zero
points and loan amounts up to
$300,000.
Two years ago, Detroit, Michigan cops were involved in a pursuit. Six
two-man patrol cars were chasing a stolen car. Thirteen
minutes into the pursuit, the supervisor called it off. According to
Detroit Police, five of the cars ignored the order. The pursuit
reportedly continued. Allegedly, one or more of the patrol cars
turned off their overhead lights and siren and followed the vehicle into
other jurisdictions. The pursuit ended when one of the patrol cars
crashed into a bystander's vehicle killing a passenger in that vehicle.
Ten of the officers were immediately
suspended. Their police union fought the suspensions and charges,
and for all we know all of these officers were completely innocent, but
that is not the lesson here.
Pursuits are deadly. Most seriously,
they are deadly to officers and citizens, but they area also deadly to
careers.
Current laws are so strict that officers -
even when following the law - could end up at the defense table. If
it's not worth it, just get him another day. And, as hard as it may
be to swallow, if a pursuit is called off, don't push it.
Sunday, September 19, 2004
MV
Stops - Asking the Driver to Step Out of the Car
There is well-established case law in New Jersey that allows police
officers to ask the driver of a lawfully stopped vehicle to step to the
rear of the car. You need no justification to make such a
request.
This is an excellent tool that should be used
more often. It increases officer safety by removing the officer from
the roadway close to passing cars, it opens up the driver's seat area for
better visual inspection, and it is good for separating the driver from
other occupants of the vehicle to see if their stories match.
However, just because this is permitted, it
doesn't mean that you should do this in every situation. Absent
extraordinary circumstances, you should never have anyone exit the vehicle
unless you have additional officers present. Whenever possible, you
should always outnumber the bad guys. Safety comes first.
This provision applies only to the driver. See New Jersey v.
Smith.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Street Survival for Women in Law
Enforcement
Calibre Press, the company most know for the
Street Survival Seminar series, is holding a unique seminar this November.
It is a street survival seminar designed for women in law enforcement.
Below are some of the topics to be covered:
Tactical updates and skills
Training and equipment issues specific to females
Pregnancy on the job / parenting as a cop
Off-duty survival and deadly force decision-making
Using physiological and psychological differences to your advantage
How to manage the effects of police work on relationships
Networking with hundreds of other women in law enforcement
At
death, the body starts to drop from it's normal 98.6 degrees by a
factor of 3 degrees the first hour and a factor of 1 degree each
subsequent hour. Then, after 30 hours, it starts to go up again
because of the heat generated by decomposition (but this varies by
room or outside temperature, so you need to know weather
conditions).
Rigor
mortis is the condition where the body becomes stiff. The body is limp
until about 5-6 hours after death, then a hardness begins to set in
around the jaw area in front of the ear (temporal mandibular joint
area). It then spreads throughout the body for a period of time, and
then the body goes limp again. The following chart illustrates:
stiffness in jaw -- 6 hours after death
stiffness in upper torso -- 12 hours after death
stiffness in whole body -- 18 hours after death
limpness returns to body -- 36 hours after death
Lividity
is the effect of gravity on blood. You'll note that after death, all
the loose blood in the body runs down to the lowest point of gravity.
If the dead person is on their back, you'll notice these bluish-purple
stains on their back. Lividity begins after only 3 hours, and the
blood becomes dried after only 12 hours, so lividity is something to
look for quick. It tells you if the body has been moved or transported
when there are lividity marks in unusual places instead of the lowest
point of gravity where you find the body.
The
eyes dilate 7 hours after death (dilation is an enlargement of the
black pupil area).
Decomposition
begins in 30 hours and then starts to rise rapidly after 48 hours
Sunday, September 5, 2004
NJLawman.com for Massachusetts?
Through our Internet travels we
discovered the Massachusetts version of NJLawman.com. It is called
MassCops.com.
Run by a Massachusetts officer, MassCops.com is
an excellent website and resource for all officers. One of our favorite
parts is a recently added article section where officers can submit articles on
their areas of expertise to be published on the website.
They also have an excellent Headlines section
that allows visitors to view different topics of headlines.
The site has a message board and forum which
offers an excellent opportunity to network with law officers from Massachusetts.
There are now lines of
clothing designed for drug dealers and other criminals. This specific one
"distinguishes itself from other brands with hidden pockets and gun
holsters."
If you are a regular of our headlines
section, you have read about the back and forth attempts to merge the
Emerson Police Department into another agency.
Some are calling it a disbanding, not
merging, of the department and are fighting it no matter what it's called.
A website has been created to muster
support against the merger from both Emerson and Bergen County residents.
It contains "myths and truths" about the proposal and a host of other
information. To view this website,
click here.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Newly Uncovered Line of Duty
Death
The brilliant folks over at the Officer
Down Memorial Page website recently uncovered a previously unreported New
Jersey line of duty death.
Special Policeman
Alfred B. Jewell of theRahway
Police Department in New Jersey was killed on Sunday, March 3,
1895.
Click
here to see the web page created for Officer Jewell, and please leave
an online "reflection" for him.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Some National Numbers for
Contract Time
Where Does Your Agency Stand in the
National Income Level?
The national median household income for
the 2001-2003 period was $43,527. New Jersey had the highest median
household income in the nation at
$55,221.
Somerset County is the wealthiest county in
the nation with median income of $89,289.
Runner up counties include Morris County,
with an $82,025 median household income that ranks fourth in the nation,
Monmouth County, ranking 19th with $67,761, and Bergen County, placing
22nd with $67,288.
All of these figures were taken from
U.S. Census Bureau figures
on median household income released Thursday
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Inter-Agency Transfer
The New Jersey Department of Personnel has a
program where law enforcement officers of agencies which fall under NJDOP
may transfer to another NJDOP agency without having to go through the
normal entry level route. Agencies that have openings simply post
the openings with NJDOP, and officers from other agencies can apply for
the position. This is a little-known program, but it is very
interesting and will most likely expand.
Click here go to the NJDOP site and view which agencies have posted
openings.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Law Enforcement K-9
Stories Memorialized
For those interested and involved with law
enforcement K-9's, we found a book containing tales from K-9 officers and
their dogs. Available in hard cover, Heroes All Without Question,
contains 657 pages of memorials, photos, information, heroic inspirational
stories, of all types working dogs and a few law enforcement horses. It
also talks about life with a K-9 partner.
Click here to visit their website.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Stress and the Job
There is a direct link between the average
life expectancy of a police officer -- only 59 years -- and stress. The
average life expectancy of a civilian is about 75, which means that the
average police officer dies about 16 years earlier than the civilian
public. Medical research has proven that high levels of continuous
stress cause many physical ailments and diseases.
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Excellent NJ Statute
Under the False Public Alarms
statute there is a subsection which was added in 2002 that doesn't seem to
be used as much as it could be. It is the provision regarding the
knowingly placing of non-emergent calls to 9-1-1. Obviously,
we don't want to be dragging people away who misdialed when trying to call
Mexico or when children hit the speed dial button, as the statute is not
designed to prohibit accidental 9-1-1 calls. However, it is a good
statute to have in your arsenal when an appropriate situation does arise.
Below is the text of 2C:33-3, subsection e.
2C:33-3 False public
alarms.
e. A person is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree if the
person knowingly places a call to a 9-1-1 emergency telephone system
without purpose of reporting the need for 9-1-1 service.
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Street Survival
You get behind the suspicious
vehicle, activate your lights, and slowly come to a stop on the shoulder
behind it.
Two things you should be
watching for. First, the vehicle's brake lights went on when it
began to stop, but did they go off? If they didn't, the driver may
be waiting to speed off when you approach. It might be a good time
to use your PA and instruct the driver to put it in park.
Second and less reliable, what
about the reverse lights? While this only applies to automatics,
most cars, when being shifted into park, will shift pass the reverse gear
causing the reverse lights to quickly go on and off.
Monday, August 9, 2004
Tool and Warning
Pictured to the right is the
pager pal.
Simply, it is an
inside-the-pants holster that uses a pager instead of a metal clip for
support. It seems to be an excellent off-duty alternative for those
who carry medium to small-sized weapons.
We also post this as a
warning. Pagers are much less common today. If you happen to
be dealing with a suspect who has a pager attached to his or her belt,
remember this picture.
To visit the website of the
company that sells this product,
click here.
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
ROR for Juveniles?
There is a little known statute in the
2A criminal code that permits law enforcement to release juveniles on
their own recognizance. Yes, we mean releasing them and just letting
them leave or driving them home.
The provision can be found in
2A:4A-35Release of Juvenile on Own Recognizance. The statute reads as
follows:
2A:4A-35. Release of juvenile on own
recognizance
A juvenile charged with delinquency may be
released at either the police or court level on his own recognizance if all of
the following circumstances have been met:
a. The nature of the offense charged is not such that a danger to the community
would exist if the juvenile were released;
b. There is no parent, guardian or other appropriate adult custodian to whom the
juvenile could be released and all reasonable measures have been exhausted by
either police or court personnel to locate and contact any such person;
c. The juvenile is at least 14 years of age;
d. The identity and address of the juvenile are verified through a positive form
of identification; and
e. Reasonable certainty exists on the part of the releasing authority that upon
release, the juvenile will return to school or home safely and will appear at
his hearing.
L.1982, c. 77, s. 16, eff. Dec. 31, 1983.
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Pursuits
At one time pursuits were considered one of the more exciting aspects of law
enforcement. Today, many supervisors avoid them at all costs whenever possible.
A thorough read of the NJ Attorney General Guideline on Pursuits reveals the
no-win situation. It basically outlaws pursuits and puts 100% of the risk and
liability on the shoulders of the pursing officer and the supervisor. If things
go well in a pursuit, nobody cares, but the Guideline sets up finger pointing
for when pursuits turn bad.
The stringent guidelines for pursuits, however, do seem to be needed.
Consider the following:
More than 350 people die each year as a result of police pursuits*
Since 1997, 23 law enforcement officers have died as a result of pursuits*
161 law enforcement officers have died as a result of pursuits throughout
history*
1,784 people died between 1994 and 1998 as a result of pursuits*
The bottom line is that pursuits are the most dangerous, and liability ridden
part of law enforcement. Absent assaulting a cop, a kidnapping, or a very
serious crime, they just don't seem to be worth it.
*FBI Bulletin, July 2002
Sunday,
July 25, 2004
Body
Armor Funds Now Available
Several days ago the State DCJ announced
the availability of body armor replacement funds for 2004.
Everything you need to know is posted on their website. Click
here to visit the page with the relevant information.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
New Products
Okay, you are the supervisor or the OIC,
and when of your guys advises over the radio that he or she is in a
pursuit. Quickly, you start heading in his or her direction while
scrambling to remember the questions from the AG Pursuit Guideline that you must
ask in your role as the supervisor.
OTJ Gear has come up with an excellent product to
help. It is a reference card that lists your responsibilities. It
also contains restrictions on pursuits, situations where pursuits are
authorized, mandatory termination conditions, and the enumerated offenses which
justify pursuit.
Another new product they offer is a reference
card containing the NHTSA recommended Standardized Field Sobriety tests.
By using this when administering tests, you can testify in court that you read
your tests from a standardized reference instead of giving the tests from
memory.
We found an excellent website with a
wealth of information on interview and interrogation.
The site contains articles with some fascinating
information ranging from kinesics to indicators of deception.
Plus, from the site you can sign up for a free
newsletter. Some of the topics in the upcoming issue are interview
room tips, recent research on interrogation, interviewer tools, humor in the
interview room, successful interviewer techniques, etc...
Definitely worth the
visit. Click here to
take a look.
Monday, June 28, 2004
National Carry Law
For many years different law
enforcement advocate groups have been pushing for a law which would allow
sworn law officers to carry their weapons not only in their home state but
in all 50 states. Last week this effort took a major leap.
The bill is titled H.R. 218, and it passed
in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 23rd by a wide margin.
The next step will be a vote in the U.S. Senate.
According to LEAA, "President Bush has
indicated his strong support and his willingness to promptly sign National
Concealed Carry for Cops into law." For more information, click
here to visit the Law Enforcement Alliance of America Website.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Handcuffing
The radio crackles, and your headquarters confirms
an active warrant for the person standing in front of your patrol car who
you just stopped for an investigative detention. Backup is already there.
What's next?
When we revert back to television, the bad guy would
be told to put his hands on the car. He would be informed that there is a
warrant for his arrest. We would then conduct a full search of his person.
Finally, we would put him into handcuffs.
This procedure boggles the mind. The most dangerous
time for us and most opportunistic time for him is the period before he is
cuffed. If someone is going to be arrested, the first step should be the
cuffing along with the "You're under arrest." Whether it be for
a warrant or the CDS observed in plain view in his rear pocket or rear
seat, put the cuffs on, and then continue with the search, Miranda, and
other necessities. The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough.
Cuff first! Cuff first! Cuff first!
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Excellent Resource for All
Occasionally you may be in need of
information on a certain municipality whether it be for contract time or
an investigation. This resource should help.
This chapter contains the population, size,
crime rate by category, and police department data for every agency in New
Jersey broken down by county. This will be especially helpful for
law enforcement job seekers trying to learn more about a particular
agency.
Also, we have added this resource to our Investigative
Resources page so you will always know where to find it.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
MV Stops
On occasion, you walk up on a car you have stopped and immediately get
a feeling that something is wrong. Sometimes it is best not to reveal your
hand until you have backup. However, you want to maintain control over the
situation.
A good tactic and bluff would be to tell the occupants (before
returning to your car) "Okay, my partner is going to write you out a
warning. He'll be with you in a second." Here, you suggest that a
second officer is already present. You also suggest that they are about to
be released. This technique works best at night when their
visibility is limited.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Second Leading Cause of
Line of Duty Deaths
In 2003, gunfire accounted for the deaths
of 47 officers throughout the country. 41 officers died from
injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents.
This figure does not include motorcycle
accidents, 8 officer deaths; vehicle pursuits, 13 officer deaths; or
officers who were struck by vehicles, 7 officer deaths.
Combined, 69 officers died from vehicle
related incidents.
The finest vest, the best tactics, a
state-of-the-art ankle holster, and the most highly trained fellow
officers are not enough when it comes to car accidents. Slow down,
be careful, get to the call in one piece, and wear your seatbelt.
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Over
Committing
This is an issue that should be talked about
more. Over committing is when an officer goes too far into a situation for
which he or she is not prepared or does not have adequate back-up.
An example would be when the officer is the first
to arrive at a domestic and, instead of waiting for more assistance, the officer
goes inside, lets the door shut behind him or her, and moves into an area of the
dwelling where retreat is not readily available.
Over committing is when an officer makes an MV
stop and orders all four occupants to exit the car with no other officers
present.
Over committing is when an officer is alone and
goes out with a subject who has a warrant and signals an intention to arrest
without having backup on the scene or close.
For every call, for every investigative
detention, for every MV stop, the words "Do not over commit!" should
be floating around every officer's head. "DO NOT OVER COMMIT!"
Sunday, June 6, 2004
Excellent Tool
A tactical mirror is an excellent tool for anyone
who dons a uniform, and it should be kept right on your belt.
It is
essential for all LEO's whether you're trying to get a peek into the cell
of a violent inmate or effecting a building search during a high school
shooting situation. Simply, it is a necessity for every personal arsenal
of every modern-day, tactical-thinking law officer.
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Recording Confessions
The New Jersey Attorney General's
Office addressed the electronic recording of stationhouse confessions in a
recently issued statement.
The AG's Office acknowledged that some
counties have already put in place certain measures designed to ensure the
integrity of the process. Additionally, they indicated that they
would not, for now, issue one, inflexible guideline for all to
follow.
Instead, the Attorney General's Office
issued the following "Policy Statement" which "shall be
binding on all law enforcement agencies in this State, and shall remain in
effect until rescinded or superseded by Order of the Attorney
General."
If a person who is
suspected of committing a homicide [emphasis added] is asked by a
law enforcement officer to provide or acknowledge a written statement in
a stationhouse custodial setting, the investigating officer should,
whenever feasible, arrange to electronically record (preferably video
record) the suspect’s statement or acknowledgment so as to establish a
permanent and objective record that the suspect had been advised of his
or her constitutional rights and that any such incriminating statement
or acknowledgment was actually made by the suspect. Electronic
recordation of the final statement or acknowledgment may be done on
notice to and with the express permission of the suspect, or may be done
surreptitiously at the discretion of the investigating officer. The
electronic recordation of the suspect’s final statement or
acknowledgment may be in addition to or in lieu of having the suspect
sign a traditional written statement.
When a written statement
is signed or acknowledged by a suspect in custody and no electronic
recordation is made, the officer taking the written statement or
acknowledgment shall document the reasons why the statement or
acknowledgment was not electronically recorded (e.g., electronic
recordation equipment was not reasonably available at the time that the
written statement or acknowledgment was given; the suspect indicated a
desire that the statement or acknowledgment not be electronically
recorded, etc.). The documented reasons for not electronically recording
the final statement or acknowledgment shall be provided to the
appropriate prosecuting agency.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Does NJLawman.com Have a
Sister Website?
Hardly, but NJWeedman.com is worth
the visit. It is to the marijuana community what NJLawman.com is to
the law enforcement community.
Based somewhere in
Burlington County, the site appears to be run by Edward Forchion, a
marijuana activist. He also believes in legalizing prostitution and
offers his services for $250.00. The picture to the right is the
header for his prostitution page.
Take a visit, sign the
guestbook (we did), and enjoy. Click
here to visit the website.
Sunday, May 9, 2004
On a typical prime-time night during the
last three months of 2003, Fox News Channel averaged 1.46 million viewers.
CNN had 909,000 viewers and MSNBC had 293,000 viewers, according to
Nielsen ratings.
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Anti-Cop Website
We've said before that we don't like giving attention to anti-law
enforcement websites, but some are just so entertaining. This one is
one of the funniest.
It seems to be run by a group of anarchists. Anarchist are always
the best of all our anti-law enforcement friends. These are the same
folks who show up at WTO meetings wearing bandannas over the
faces.
If you have thick skin and a good sense of humor, pay these guys a
visit. You can really lose track of time navigating through their propaganda.
Definitely, two thumbs up. (Make sure to visit the link on their
page on how to spot an undercover officer. Real good stuff) Click
here to visit their site.
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Excellent Resource - NJ Law
Enforcement Directory
On the New Jersey Attorney General's website is a directory of all law
enforcement agencies in New Jersey.
The directory contains information including telephone numbers, fax
numbers, addresses and the names of the agency heads of every law
enforcement agency in New Jersey. It also has same information for prosecutor's
offices, police academies, jails and just about every relevant, law
enforcement entity you could ask for.
The page is in PDF format, and can be reached by clicking
here. We will be adding this link to our "Resources"
page in the event you need it in the future.
Sunday, April
25, 2004
Tactics - Passenger Side
Approach
Using the passenger side approach of a stopped vehicle is something we
all know about but rarely employ. You shouldn't use it just for high-risk
situations. As with everything else, it is necessary to practice and be
familiar with this technique as there are new considerations. For example,
when making such an approach in an area where there is a curb, you don't
want to stand on the roadway between the passenger door and the curb. You
should stand on top of the curb. Otherwise, if the passenger door suddenly
opens, you would be pushed back and could trip over the curb. The same
applies with a drainage ditch.
To become more familiar with this technique, use a passenger side
approach on a more frequent basis when circumstances allow. Use this
approach every other stop for the next few weeks until you are completely
comfortable with it. After that, use it every fifth stop to maintain your
familiarity.
Sunday, April
25, 2004
When responding to any DOA call, no matter what the circumstances, you
should treat it as a homicide until proven otherwise.
At death, the body starts to drop from it's normal 98.6 degrees by a
factor of 3 degrees the first hour and a factor of 1 degree each
subsequent hour. Then, after 30 hours, it starts to go up again
because of the heat generated by decomposition (but this varies by
room or outside temperature, so you need to know weather conditions).
Rigor mortis is the condition where the body becomes stiff. The body
is limp until about 5-6 hours after death, then a hardness begins to
set in around the jaw area in front of the ear (temporal mandibular
joint area). It then spreads throughout the body for a period of time,
and then the body goes limp again. The following chart illustrates:
stiffness in jaw -- 6 hours after death
stiffness in upper torso -- 12 hours after death
stiffness in whole body -- 18 hours after death
limpness returns to body -- 36 hours after death
Lividity is the effect of gravity on blood. You'll note that after
death, all the loose blood in the body runs down to the lowest point
of gravity. If the dead person is on their back, you'll notice these
bluish-purple stains on their back. Lividity begins after only 3
hours, and the blood becomes dried after only 12 hours, so lividity is
something to look for quick. It tells you if the body has been moved
or transported when there are lividity marks in unusual places instead
of the lowest point of gravity where you find the body.
The eyes dilate 7 hours after death (dilation is an enlargement of
the black pupil area).
Decomposition begins in 30 hours and then starts to rise rapidly
after 48 hours
Sunday,
April 18, 2004
Newly
Uncovered Line of Duty Deaths
Steve Weiss and the other
amazing and truly dedicated volunteers at the Officer Down Memorial Page
website have uncovered two more instances of previously unrecorded line of
duty deaths involving New Jersey officers.
The first is Isaac
Hibbs of the Camden County Sheriff's Office who was killed in 1916,
and the second is John
Clark of the Harrison Police Department who died in 1897.
Please click the above links and
leave a memorial message on the pages of these officers.
Also, if you are able, we ask that
you make a donation to the Officer Down Memorial Page. You can go to
their site and click the donation link on the top link bar. The ODMP
site is such a necessary part of our culture, and it is run by all
volunteers. The people involved are doing God's work, and we cannot
thank and tout their efforts enough.
Sunday,
April 1 8, 2004
A
Powerful and Often Overlooked Statute
Okay, so you arrest this guy and find a knife, nun-chucks, or some
other non-firearm type weapons on him. Normally, you charge him (if you
even bother) with the basic fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
statute, 2C:39-5, only to have it come back to municipal court a month
later. If he was also in violation of the Certain Persons Not to Have
Weapons statute, 2C:39-7, and you charged him with that, it would have
added a second fourth degree offense significantly increasing the chances
of the case remaining in Superior Court.
Even better, if you arrested him for just the third degree offense of
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and he was in violation of 2C:39-7, you
would now be adding a second degree offense by charging him with Certain
Persons Not to Have Weapons which comes with a presumption of
incarceration.
Basically, the "Certain Persons" prohibits certain persons
from possessing weapons. These certain persons are those who have been
convicted of certain offenses on a previous occasion including but not
limited to aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion,
homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault,
bias intimidation. There are other offenses and situations listed in the
statute as well.
As you know, some agencies are a
little slow in getting the word out on new laws. Below is the actual
text of the new cell phone statute for New Jersey. It goes into
effect on July 1, 2004. The violation should be written under
39:4-97.3.
39:4-97.3 Use of hands-free wireless
telephone in moving vehicle; definitions; enforcement.
1. a. The use of a wireless
telephone by an operator of a moving motor vehicle on a public road or
highway shall be unlawful except when the telephone is a hands-free
wireless telephone, provided that its placement does not interfere with
the operation of federally required safety equipment and the operator
exercises a high degree of caution in the operation of the motor vehicle.
b. The operator of a motor vehicle
may use a hand-held wireless telephone while driving with one hand on the
steering wheel only if:
(1) The operator has reason to fear
for his life or safety, or believes that a criminal act may be perpetrated
against himself or another person; or
(2) The operator is using the
telephone to report to appropriate authorities a fire, a traffic accident,
a serious road hazard or medical or hazardous materials emergency, or to
report the operator of another motor vehicle who is driving in a reckless,
careless or otherwise unsafe manner or who appears to be driving under the
influence of alcohol or drugs. A hand-held wireless telephone user's
telephone records or the testimony or written statements from appropriate
authorities receiving such calls shall be deemed sufficient evidence of
the existence of all lawful calls made under this paragraph.
As used in this act,
"hands-free wireless telephone" means a mobile telephone that
has an internal feature or function, or that is equipped with an
attachment or addition, whether or not permanently part of such mobile
telephone, by which a user engages in a conversation without the use of
either hand; provided, however, this definition shall not preclude the use
of either hand to activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of the
telephone.
"Use" of a wireless
telephone shall include, but not be limited to, talking or listening to
another person on the telephone.
c. Enforcement of this act by State
or local law enforcement officers shall be accomplished only as a
secondary action when the operator of a motor vehicle has been detained
for a violation of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes or another offense.
d. A person who violates this
section shall be fined no less than $100 or more than $250.
e. No motor vehicle points or
automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of
P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) shall be assessed for this offense.
f. The Chief Administrator
of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall develop and undertake a
program to notify and inform the public as to the provisions of this act.
L.2003,c.310,s.1.
39:4-97.4
Inapplicability of act to certain officials.
2.The prohibitions
set forth in this act shall not be applicable to any of the following
persons while in the actual performance of their official duties: a law
enforcement officer; a member of a paid, part-paid, or volunteer fire
department or company; or an operator of an authorized emergency vehicle.
L.2003,c.310,s.2.
39:4-97.5 Supersedes,
preemption of local ordinances.
3.This act supersedes
and preempts all ordinances of any county or municipality with regard to
the use of a wireless telephone by an operator of a motor vehicle.
L.2003,c.310,s.3.
Wednesday,
April 7, 2004
Investigations
and Hypnosis
Using hypnosis during criminal
investigations is certainly not a widely used or accepted practice in New
Jersey law enforcement. However, the tool of hypnosis has been hanging
around the outer fringes of law enforcement for some time.
We recently found a website that discusses
the place of hypnosis in modern-day law enforcement. The site was designed
by a law enforcement officer who took an interest in using hypnosis in
cases where other leads had been exhausted. It is a quick and very
interesting read. The author sites all of his sources, and there are links
for additional information. Having at least a familiarity with hypnosis
and its possible uses in investigations is probably a good thing for all
investigators.
State-of-the-Art
Training, Room & Board, Full Accommodations and Free?
I know we've covered this one before, but
it is well deserved.
It's called the Northeast Counterdrug
Training Center, and it's located in Fort Indiantown Gap,
Pennsylvania. It's not just narcotics training either. They
offer classes covering everything from Interview and Interrogation to
Grant Writing to Search Warrant Execution.
Located on the eastern side of
Pennsylvania, it is a very convenient location for New Jersey agencies.
Many of their classes are held over several days, and they will put your
officers up at no charge. That includes lodging, and meals at no charge.
And again, there is no tuition to attend any of their classes. Yes, the
entire course will cost your agency nothing.
It is an excellent way to get your officers
state-of-the-art training as well as rewarding officers for
accomplishments. Most officers immensely enjoy going to schools, and this
one is one of the finest.
Suicide claims many more officers than
line-of-duty-deaths. Statistics vary, but it is estimated that the number
of officers who commit suicide is double the rate of those who are
murdered while on duty. Some studies suggest that the suicide rate is five
times greater.
Recently we found another tool to add to the list.
It is a website called Tears of a Cop. It is a well-organized,
rich-in-content, excellent resource created by Police Officer Robert J
Rehl, Jr.
This site contains a wealth of information that can
be used by an officer suffering from depression or friends and family of
an officer suffering from depression. Fixing the problem will almost
always require real help, but visiting this site may be a good first step
to making the call. Click
here to visit the website.
Saturday,
March 27, 2004
Do
I put it on a summons or a warrant?
So you arrest the bad guy and bring him or her to
the station. Often, you'll find yourself discussing with your fellow
officers whether to charge him or her on a summons or a warrant. Below is
some information that should help. Under the NJ Court Rules, specifically
Rule 3:4-1, the above question is answered. Here is the easy way to
remember it: everything must go on a summons except under the following
circumstances:
(1) the defendant is charged with murder,
kidnapping, aggravated manslaughter, manslaughter, robbery, aggravated
sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact,
criminal sexual contact, second degree aggravated assault, aggravated
arson, arson, burglary, violations of Chapter 35 of Title 2C that
constitute first or second degree crimes, any crime involving the
possession or use of a firearm, or conspiracies or attempts to commit such
crimes;
(2) the defendant has been served with a summons and
has failed to appear;
(3) there is reason to believe that the defendant is
dangerous to self, other persons, or property;
(4) there is an outstanding warrant for the
defendant;
(5) the defendant's identity or address is not known
and a warrant is necessary to subject the defendant to the jurisdiction of
the court; or
(6) there is reason to believe that the defendant
will not appear in response to a summons.
You might have noticed that someone who was arrested
that has a really bad attitude was not listed above. If you're going to
put them on a warrant, you must be prepared to justify their incarceration
by one of the above six points.
Sunday,
March 21, 2004
New
DWI Statute
In case your agency is a bit slow in getting the word out to you, New
Jersey has changed the per se blood alcohol content level for DWI from
.10% BAC to .08%. BAC. The text of the revised statute and first
offense penalties are below:
39:4-50
Driving while intoxicated.
39:4-50.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a person who
operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor,
narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or operates a motor
vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of
alcohol in the defendant's blood or permits another person who is under
the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or
habit-producing drug to operate a motor vehicle owned by him or in his
custody or control or permits another to operate a motor vehicle with a
blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in the
defendant's blood shall be subject:
(1)For
the first offense:
(i)
if the person's blood alcohol concentration is 0.08% or higher but less
than 0.10%, or the person operates a motor vehicle while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor, or the person permits another person who
is under the influence of intoxicating liquor to operate a motor vehicle
owned by him or in his custody or control or permits another person with a
blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher but less than 0.10% to
operate a motor vehicle, to a fine of not less than $250 nor more than
$400 and a period of detainment of not less than 12 hours nor more than 48
hours spent during two consecutive days of not less than six hours each
day and served as prescribed by the program requirements of the
Intoxicated Driver Resource Centers established under subsection (f) of
this section and, in the discretion of the court, a term of imprisonment
of not more than 30 days and shall forthwith forfeit his right to operate
a motor vehicle over the highways of this State for a period of three
months;
(ii) if the person's blood alcohol concentration is 0.10% or higher, or
the person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of narcotic,
hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or the person permits another
person who is under the influence of narcotic, hallucinogenic or
habit-producing drug to operate a motor vehicle owned by him or in his
custody or control, or permits another person with a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.10% or more to operate a motor vehicle, to a fine of
not less than $300 nor more than $500 and a period of detainment of not
less than 12 hours nor more than 48 hours spent during two consecutive
days of not less than six hours each day and served as prescribed by the
program requirements of the Intoxicated Driver Resource Centers
established under subsection (f) of this section and, in the discretion of
the court, a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days and shall
forthwith forfeit his right to operate a motor vehicle over the highways
of this State for a period of not less than seven months nor more than one
year;
(iii)
For a first offense, a person also shall be subject to the provisions of
P.L.1999, c.417 (C.39:4-50.16 et al.).
Sunday,
March 7, 2004
Custom
Everything
If you need polo shirts, t-shirts, mugs, or just about anything bearing
your logo or name embroidered or printed on it, a central-Jersey officer
is offering assistance.
McNamara Screen-printing and Embroidery specializes in custom jobs for law
enforcement agencies. He uses quality materials, and after your law
enforcement discount is figured in the cost, his prices are
outstanding. Even if you have a service that you currently use, he
is asking that you allow him to give you a quote on the job. Click
here for more information
Saturday,
March 6, 2004
Drug
Recognition Expert (DRE) Program
Bill from Roxbury PD sent us this one.
Several years ago New Jersey adopted a program which was born in the Los
Angeles Police Department. Simply, officers attend training to
become highly skilled in diagnosing whether someone is under the influence
of a drug. It has proven to be very useful in DWI situations where
alcohol doesn't appear to be the cause of impairment.
This procedure trains officers to use a standardized twelve-step
evaluation process that allows the officer to determine whether the
suspect is under the influence of drugs, and to determine the category of
drug that is causing the observable impairment. The twelve-step procedure
also allows the officer to rule in or out many medical conditions and
injuries which may be contributing to the subject's impairment.
While the DRE procedure's main objective is driving under the influence
(DWI) enforcement, the procedures have been applied in probation and
parole, drugs in the workplace issues and other areas where accurately
identifying the drug-impaired individual is relevant.
The New Jersey Association of Drug Recognition Experts is comprised of
certified DRE officers from local, county and state law enforcement
agencies, throughout the State.
This program is the future in the war against drunk driving.
If you think that your agency might be interested in having some officers
go through the DRE training, click
here to visit their website. (Thanks Bill)
Monday,
February 1, 2004
New
Products for LEO's
A New Jersey police officer recently launched an excellent new line of
products. Pictured to the right is one of them. The company,
On the Job Gear, offers quick reference cards for Title 2C, Title 39,
accident reports, DWI field testing, and the line is growing.
Affordably priced, these valuable tools are essential to modern-day road
warriors. They can also prepare your jurisdiction's city, township
or borough ordinances if ordered in bulk. Products for New York,
Pennsylvania and the Military Police are now available too. You can
visit their website at www.OTJGear.com.
Sunday,
February 22, 2004
Ready
for Retirement
In the past two years there has been a trend of police academies holding
classes for officers gearing up for retirement. Officers who have
attended some of these classes have strongly recommended them for anyone
within the 5-year-and-counting mark. From all reports, there is a
massive need for such instruction. Some were shocked at how much
they did not know. Some of the topics include tax provisions, beneficiary
dangers, DOP issues and requirements, and details of the pension
system. For more information, contact your local police academy or
visit our Training and
Schools page which has some of these classes listed.
removal
or rearranging of clothing reasonably required to render
medical treatment or assistance, or
removal
of articles of outer clothing, such as coats, ties, belts or
shoelaces.
Body
Cavity Search
Visual
inspection or manual search of a person's
anal
cavity; 2. vaginal cavity
Saturday,
February 14, 2004
New
Bill for "Less than Lethal Force"
A bill introduced by Senator Joseph Coniglio (S-252) could open the door
to giving NJ law enforcement more options in deadly force
situations. Currently, less than lethal force weapons and ammunition
cannot be used unless the situation justifies the use of deadly
force. This, obviously, makes no sense. An example would be
firing bean bag rounds from a shot gun.
If this new legislation were to pass, it could add many new additions to
our arsenals including bean bag rounds, taser guns, and pepperball
ammunition. As of this writing, the bill was passed in committee and
now must be voted on in both the Assembly and the Senate.
Sunday,
February 8, 2004
NJ
Pension Phone Line Updated
The automated phone line which provides pension loan information has been
updated to December 31st. If you are in the New Jersey Police
& Fire Pension System, call 1-609-777-1777. By using this
automated phone line you can learn the following:
Bank alarms are the bane of those trying to enjoy an otherwise pleasant
dayshift. While most are set off in error, ALL have to be treated as
the real thing.
When a bank alarm comes in, the OIC should instruct the dispatcher to
first call the bank and ask if everything is okay. Many agencies
will ask the bank employee for a previously given code which would
indicate that there is no problem. Use caution with this
practice as, more often than not, the employees are not properly trained
and do not know the code.
If this checks out, officers should pull up out of the view of the bank's
windows. The OIC should have the dispatcher direct the bank employee
to walk out to the location of the patrol car. If the bank employee
seems okay, the officers should first try and assess the situation inside
through the windows. If everything still seems okay, officers should
escort the bank employee back inside and make their own
determination.
There is no reason that officers should blindly walk into a bank upon
responding to a bank alarm. Pre-designated meeting areas should also
be avoided as they are too difficult to remember for officers who work in
towns with many banks, and if the bank employees weren't properly trained
in the designated area, their walking out to the wrong location could send
false alarms.
Sunday,
February 1, 2004
Accident
Reconstruction Calculator
We found this site some time ago. It contains a calculator for
accident reconstruction. Admittedly, we have zero knowledge in the
immensely complicated area of accident reconstruction. If any
traffic safety officers have any feedback good or bad about this resource,
give us an email. Click
here to visit the site.
Sunday,
December 28, 2003
Contract
Negotiations
To arbitration or not to arbitration. That is the question which
locals wrestle with every few years when contract time approaches.
The New Jersey Public Employees Commission, more commonly known as PERC,
has a webpage which catalogs the results of contract negotiations which
have gone to arbitration. It contains almost everything you could
want including the municipality, the collective bargaining union, the
arbitrator, the dates, etc. It also contains the actual
documentation listing the issues and the award. It is an excellent
resource come contract time. The link to the site is as
follows: http://www.perc.state.nj.us/IAAwards.nsf/IssueDate_FS?OpenFrameSet.
Wednesday,
December 10, 2003
Line
of Duty Death Uncovered
Chris Cosgriff, the Chairman of the Officer Down Memorial Page, and the
guys over at the ODMP recently uncovered a line of duty death that had
previously been unreported. The officer's name was
Joseph Michalowski, and he was with
the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department. Officer Michalowski was
shot and killed during a prisoner escape at the Middlesex County
Jail. There is a full write-up on the incident on the ODMP
site. Also, this site allows for people to leave memorial messages
for our fallen brothers. Since this one was just uncovered, there is
only one as of this writing. Please visit http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=17047
and leave a message (or "reflection" as they call it) so this
officer is not forgotten. This is a non-profit site run by brilliant
and dedicated people doing unbelievable work for our community. The
site accepts donations if you are interested.
Sunday,
November 9, 2003
Website
for JCPD Officer Domenick Infantes
We
recently found a tribute website created for Jersey City Police Officer
Domenick Infantes. It contains information about Domenick and tells
a little bit about his life. It also has a guestbook which is open
for all to sign. Whoever created it did a very nice job. Click
here to visit the website.
Friday,
November 7, 2003
AG
Launches Website for NJ LEO's
The
Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey has created a website for New
Jersey law enforcement officers. It is a direct link from the AG's
office to the line officer. It is called Police Resources, and its
contents range from newly enacted laws to information on radar
certification. For you firearms instructors, State Range Master
John H. Zamrok has a
page on the site where he keeps you abreast on the latest developments and
updates. To visit the site, click
here.
Thursday,
October 30, 2003
New
FOP Website
The
New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has updated their
website. The new format is more organized and easier to surf.
To take a look, click here.
Sunday,
October 26, 2003
Amber
Alert Page
The
Amber Alert program is known to all by now. It is responsible for
the recovery of more than one hundred children as of this date. We
found a website that tracks all Amber Alerts in the US and Canada. Click
here to visit the site.
Tuesday,
October 7, 2003
Title
39 Point Schedule
The
website for New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission contains a lot of great
information for the public and officers alike. Citizens may now even
conduct business over the website including the renewal of vehicle
registrations and paying of motor vehicle summonses. They even have
a page listing the point schedule for various motor vehicle
offenses. Click
here to visit their website.
Wednesday,
October 1, 2003
Great
Page on Pending Laws
The
New Jersey FOP website has a page that lists all pending legislation that
affects NJ law enforcement. They call it "Legislative
Watch." It breaks each of the proposals down into a paragraph
and provides the bill number for those who may want to visit the state
website for additional information. They even list their opinion of
the legislation. Each paragraph ends with "FOP supports"
or "FOP opposes." It is a great resource. Click
here to visit the page.
Sunday,
August 24, 2003
2002
Top 10 Stolen Cars
For
those of you who like running MDT checks in the parking lots of no-tell
motels at 3:30 a.m., this list is for you. Below are the top ten
stolen cars for 2002. This list is adjusted for
the number of vehicles on the road. An article on this can be found
on www.money.cnn.com.
Cadillac Escalade 4WD
Dodge Stratus
Mitsubishi Mirage
Jeep Wrangler 4WD
Lincoln Navigator 2WD
Dodge Intrepid
Lincoln Navigator 4WD
Dodge Ram 1500
Ford Expedition 2WD
Chrysler Sebring
Tuesday,
August 18, 2003
Credentials
Fines Skyrocket
For
those of you whose agencies are a little slow bringing you up to date with
new and updated laws, effective August 15, 2003 the fines for 39:3-29
(failure to exhibit license, insurance or registration) have taken a
little jump. They have been increased from $44. to $150.00, and if
paid in court, $173.00. Interestingly, almost every officer in our
LEO forum strongly opposes this jump calling it excessive. To see
the actual statute, click
here.
Friday,
August 12, 2003
Overtime
Gone?
Big,
big doings here. There is a Federal proposal afoot that could
drastically affect law enforcement and the ability to collect
overtime. Under current labor laws overtime must be paid to
any and all officers who work in excess of 40 hours per week. This
new provision, if adopted, would exempt many of us from this rule.
It is unclear if the wording of your agency's collective bargaining
agreement would protect you either. At your next union meeting you
need to discuss this and then run it by your local's attorney. Don't
just blow this off. It is quite possible that it will make it
through. Protect yourself now. American Police Beat put
together an excellent article on this issue, so rather than re-invent the
wheel, click
here to see their article.
Friday,
August 8, 2003
Police/Fire
Mortgage Rate to Increase
The
current interest rate for the Police and Fire Mortgage Plan is
5.01%. Effective August 15th, it goes up almost a half point to
5.40%. From the PBA website you can access several mortgage
companies which offer the plan. Previously, we have recommended
Sharon Press from North American Mortgage. She is extremely knowledgeable
and, just as important, extremely pleasurable to deal with. Trust
us, you'll agree after about thirty seconds on the telephone with
her. NJLawman.com has absolutely no affiliation with them
either. We randomly called her last year to get some
information. She can be contacted at 1-800-624-0421, extension #289. Otherwise,
you can call one of the other companies listed.
Sunday,
August 3, 2003
70%
at 25 Years, 75% at 30 Years
Major
confusion on this whole issue and whether it benefits us. On the
message boards we've seen both complaints and praise. Our view is
that the worst case scenario is that we are closer to our ultimate goal
then we have ever been. The best case scenario is that we've finally
done it, and guys and girls will soon be able to take advantage of
this.
The
New Jersey State PBA did a good job on their website clearing up some of
the questions and explaining this provision as well as an early retirement
incentive that also went through. The FOP was strongly involved in
this issue as well, so we don't want to appear that we are touting one
over the other. The link to the PBA website follows, but this will
only take you to the main page. Go about half way down the page and
look on the left side for the text listed below which will link you to the
appropriate pages: PBA Website
Assembly
Bill A3703 - 70/75 Retirement Benefits
Assembly
Bill 3530 - Early Retirement Incentive
Thursday,
July 24, 2003
New
Jersey Amber Alert Website
The
New Jersey State Police unveiled their new Amber
Alert Website. The site is actually a page off of their own
site. It is aimed at helping law enforcement here in New Jersey
recover a missing child quickly and safely. The new Web site allows
viewers to see a photo of a missing child.
Thursday,
July 3, 2003
Fireworks
- What to charge...
With July 4th quickly approaching, the annual question regarding fireworks
also approaches: Hey Sarge, what do I charge them with?
Chapter 21 covers explosives and fireworks. You'll find a plethora
of statutes in this chapter covering everything from smoking in a facility
that manufacturers fireworks to rules regulating the public display of
fireworks. The statute most relevant to the line officer will be 21:3-2.
Sale, Possession, or Use of, Fireworks.
"It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for
sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any blank cartridge, toy pistol,
toy cannon, toy cane or toy gun in which explosives are used; the type of
balloon which requires fire underneath to propel the same; firecrackers;
torpedoes; skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, sparklers or other
fireworks of like construction, or any fireworks containing any explosive
or inflammable compound or any tablets or other device commonly used and
sold as fireworks containing nitrates, chlorates, oxalates, sulphides of
lead, barium, antimony, arsenic, mercury, nitroglycerine, phosphorus or
any compound containing any of the same or other explosives, or any
substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the
purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion,
explosion, deflagration or detonation, other than aviation and railroad
signal light flares, except (a) that it shall be lawful for any person to
offer for sale, expose for sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any toy
pistol, toy cane, toy gun, or other device in which paper or plastic caps
containing .25 grain or less of explosive compound per cap are used,
providing they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact
with the cap when in place for use, and toy pistol paper or plastic caps
which contain less than .20 grain of explosive mixture per cap and (b) as
in this chapter further provided.
The statute also contains exceptions and other important information, so
be sure to read the actual law and consult your only agencies rules before
filing any charges.
Friday,
June 20, 2003
Iraq
Wants You
In the mood for some serious adventure? How about a one-year term of
service in Baghdad as a police officer.
We received an email from a company called International Police Programs (IPM)
which has been contracted by the US Department of Defense to recruit up to
1000 police officers of all ranks to help the Iraqi citizens organize
effective civilian law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies.
The minimum term of service is one year, and officers would be armed and
working in plain clothes positions. The pay structure is as follows:
Senior
Police Advisors and Section Chiefs:
$153,600.00
Judicial
Officers:
$104,000.00
All
Other Positions:
$75,076.92
There are also available positions in East Timor and Kosovo. Click
here to visit their website.
Saturday,
June 14, 2003
Calibre
Press - The Website
Calibre Press, the Texas based company, is primarily known for the Street
Survival seminars they give around the nation including the one that many
of us have attended in Atlantic City. Calibre Press also has a
website which contains many articles, a nationwide law enforcement message
board, resources, and an online catalog of their products. Most of
the site is limited to law enforcement only. Click
here to visit the Calibre Press Website.
Monday,
June 9, 2003
DOP
Tightens Makeups
In the latest promotional exam orientation guide, which was for municipal
police sergeant, a change can be seen in the criteria for taking a makeup
promotional exam. Listed first are the new criteria. Listed
second are the old criteria.
New
Criteria
1.
Debilitating injury or illness requiring an extended convalescent period,
provided the candidate
submits a doctor’s certification containing a diagnosis and a statement clearly showing that the
candidate’s physical condition precluded his/her participation
in the examination;
2.
Death in the candidate’s immediate family as evidenced by a copy of the
death certificate;
3.
A candidate’s wedding that cannot be reasonably changed as evidenced by
relevant documentation.
(Wedding plans that are made after the publication of this
Orientation
Guide will not be considered valid for this examination.)
4.
Error by the DOP or Appointing Authority.
Old
Criteria
1.
Error by the Department of Personnel or Appointing Authority;
2.
Serious illness or disability of the candidate on the examination date,
provided the candidate submits a doctor’s certificate specifying that
the candidate was not able to take the examination on that day for medical
reasons;
3.
Documented serious illness or death in the candidate’s immediate family;
4.
Natural disaster;
5.
Prior vacation or travel plans outside of New Jersey or any contiguous
state, which cannot be reasonably changed, as evidenced by a sworn
statement and relevant documentation; and
6.
Other valid reasons.
Monday,
April 14, 2003
Reinstituted
Statute
This one was sent in by one of our readers. As you may recall, there
was once a statute for allowing another who is unlicensed to operate a
motor vehicle. It had been repealed but is now back on the
books. You can read the entire statute below:
39:3-37.1
Unlawful loan of license, vehicle; penalty.
121.
a. A person who has been issued a driver's license shall not lend
that driver's license for use by another person.
b.
A person who owns, leases or otherwise has control or custody of a motor
vehicle registered under the provisions of this title shall not allow that
motor vehicle to be operated by an unlicensed driver.
c.
The penalty for a violation of this section shall be a fine of not less
than $200 or more than $500, imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or
both. L.2003,c.13,s.121
Friday,
April 10, 2003
Mini-Police
Helicopters
If you follow the "Around the State" section of our main page,
you may have seen an article on how the
Atlantic City Police Department is considering the purchase of two
"Gyrocopters." As pictured to the right, a Gyrocopter is a
mini-helicopter. With a maximum airspeed of about 100 mph, a maximum
range of 250 miles, a ceiling of 10,000 feet, the Gyrocopter is marketed
more as a toy than a police vehicle. Nonetheless, just because it is
not a common law enforcement vehicle, it doesn't mean that it couldn't be
the wave of the future. It is a little funny looking,
though.
Sunday,
April 5, 2003
Racial
Profiling Law
Enacted last month, the "Racial Profiling Law" is now on the
books. Below is the actual statute. There are attached related
statutes not shown which contain definitions and the like. Below is
a link to see the actual and complete statute:
2C:30-6.
Crime of official deprivation of civil rights
2.
a. A public servant acting or purporting to act in an official capacity
commits the crime of official deprivation of civil rights if, knowing that
his conduct is unlawful, and acting with the purpose to intimidate or
discriminate against an individual or group of individuals because of
race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation or ethnicity,
the public servant: (1) subjects another to unlawful arrest or detention,
including, but not limited to, motor vehicle investigative stops, search,
seizure, dispossession, assessment, lien or other infringement of personal
or property rights; or (2) denies or impedes another in the lawful
exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity.
b.
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a
public servant who violates the provisions of subsection a. of this
section is guilty of a crime of the third degree.
(2)If
bodily injury results from depriving a person of a right or privilege in
violation of subsection a. of this section, the public servant is guilty
of a crime of the second degree.
(3)If,
during the course of violating the provisions of this section, a public
servant commits or attempts or conspires to commit murder, manslaughter,
kidnapping or aggravated sexual assault against a person who is being
deprived of a right or privilege in violation of subsection a. of this
section, the public servant is guilty of a crime of the first degree.
c.
Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other law, a
conviction of official deprivation of civil rights under this section
shall not merge with a conviction of any other criminal offense, nor shall
such other conviction merge with a conviction under this section, and the
court shall impose separate sentences upon each violation of this section
and any other criminal offense.
d.
Proof that a public servant made a false statement, prepared a false
report, or, if the agency that employs the public servant, the Attorney
General or the county prosecutor having supervisory authority over the
agency required a report to be prepared, failed to prepare a report
concerning the conduct that is the subject of the prosecution, shall give
rise to an inference that the actor knew his conduct was unlawful.
e.
For purposes of this section, an act is unlawful if it violates the
Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of this State, or if
it constitutes a criminal offense under the laws of this State.
One of our readers gave us this one. There is a website that
conducts investigations of area law enforcement officers.
While their exact mission is somewhat unclear, they seem to have a
strong disdain for law enforcement. A quick scan of the site
suggests that they are another anti-police misconduct site which is
fine. There are hundreds of those on the web. However, a more
detailed look shows that they gather personal information of officers
including name, address, home phone number, email address and post same on
their site or link to such information on a different site. They
also post pictures of undercover law officers. They primarily target
NYPD, but some New Jersey agencies and officers have also been
depicted. While we do not normally post links to anti-law
enforcement sites, you might want to take a look at this one and make sure
that you are not featured. Click
here to take a look.
Thursday,
March 20, 2003
New
PBA Local for Retired Members
The New Jersey State PBA formed a new local several months back that is
for retired PBA members. It will be the Local #600. Depending
on interest, it could grow to be the largest local in the state. Any
member of a local who retires in good standing is eligible for membership
in Local #600. The membership cost is $35.00 per year paid by the
individual member to PBA Local #600
For further information on this new local, you may visit the NJ
PBA Website.
Tuesday,
March 18, 2003
Terrorist
Threat Level Raised
On Tuesday, March 17, 2003 the Terrorist Threat Level was raised from
Elevated to High. This decision was made by the Office
of Homeland Security.
Thursday,
February 27, 2003
Terrorist
Threat Level Raised
On Thursday, February 27, 2003 the Terrorist Threat Level was lowered from
High to Elevated. This decisions was made by the Office
of Homeland Security.
Saturday,
February 16, 2003
Inmate
Search - A Most Excellent Resource
This one was sent to us by Det. Mike George of the Freehold Borough Police
Department in Monmouth County.
The website for the NJ Department of Corrections now has a feature where
you can search through an online database for inmates who are incarcerated
in New Jersey state prisons. You can get all of their information
including photos. You can even get information on some released
inmates. The offender locator has approximately 97,000 offender
records, including offenders who are currently housed in Department of
Corrections facilities as well as those who have been paroled or released
from an NJDOC prison. Click
here to take a look. On their home page click "offender
search" on the left toolbar.
The law regarding forfeiture of public office may be found in N.J.S.A.
2C:51.2. The first paragraph of this law reads as follows:
2C:51-2.Forfeiture
of public office
2C:51-2.
Forfeiture of Public Office. a. A person holding any public office,
position, or employment, elective or appointive, under the government of
this State or any agency or political subdivision thereof, who is
convicted of an offense shall forfeit such office or position if:
(1)
He is convicted under the laws of this State of an offense involving
dishonesty or of a crime of the third degree or above or under the laws of
another state or of the United States of an offense or a crime which, if
committed in this State, would be such an offense or crime;
(2)
He is convicted of an offense involving or touching such office, position
or employment; or
(3)
The Constitution or a statute other than the code so provides.
There are several more paragraphs in this law with exceptions, penalties,
etc. Also contained in this law are criteria for waiving the
forfeiture of office provision. "Any forfeiture or
disqualification under subsection a., b. or d. which is based upon a
conviction of a disorderly persons or petty disorderly persons offense may
be waived by the court upon application of the county prosecutor or the
Attorney General and for good cause shown."
This new Attorney General Guideline seeks to harmonize throughout the
state the application of this law and the waiver. Standards were
created for cases where the the application of the forfeiture law is
discretionary. They stemmed from a New Jersey Supreme Court Court
Case, James
Flagg v.Essex
County Prosecutor, 171 N.J. 561 (2002).
The actual Guideline is too lengthy to list here, but you may use any of
the blue hyperlinks above to visit the actual Guideline, the NJ statute,
or the Supreme Court case.
Wednesday,
February 5, 2003
Ricin
Last month British Police discovered Ricin in a North London
Apartment. They made four arrests and believe that there are links
to al-Qaeda. Ricin is an extremely dangerous substance that usually
can be found in a white powdery form.
Ricin was a concern once before back in the 1990's. In fact, DEA had
dispatched an alert to all US Law Enforcement. In that case, it was
suspected that drug traffickers were mixing Ricin with cocaine.
Since this dangerous weapon has resurfaced, officers should be familiar
with it. Following is a portion of that original alert describing
Ricin. Again, this is not a current alert. It is the text from
an old one, but it explains Ricin well.
This alert advises that nationwide
trend among drug traffickers is to "bait" law enforcement
officers with a white powder called RICIN. RICIN is a derivative of Castor
beans and looks like powder methamphetamine. It is highly toxic and if it
contacts human skin, it is fatal. The death process takes several days,
depending upon the dosage, and is almost impossible to detect during an
autopsy.
Forensic experts advise that if you field test RICIN in the Scott Reagent
Kit, it will foam and bubble extensively. The test will also produce a gas
that is very similar to mustard gas and can also be lethal if inhaled.
RICIN is 6,000 times more lethal than cyanide and there is no
antidote. Symptoms of contact exposure to RICIN are: Fever, cough,
weakness, and hypothermia, progressing to dangerously low blood pressure,
heart failure and death.
Due to this situation, in the event of suspect drug seizures, do not come
into direct skin contact with any powdered substances, and exhibit caution
of field testing any powdered substances.
Monday,
January 28, 2003
The
Legal Protection Plan Today
The Legal Protection Plan was established in 1993. This program
provides you protection for legal costs for annual premium of $132. The
coverage administrative proceedings is $15,000 per policy period. Coverage
under the administrative clause is for any departmental charges or
disciplinary action both on or off duty. All criminal and or / civil
actions have $30,000 coverage and is for in the line of duty only. You are
also provided with $2,500 coverage for target of a criminal
investigation. Click
here for an updated list of attorneys participating in the plan.
Click here to go to the State PBA
site for additional information.
Saturday,
January 17, 2003
New
Statute
In December the State Legislature passed a bill which prohibits school bus
drivers from using cell phones. Take a look...
C.39:3B-25
Use of cell phone prohibited while driving school bus, exception; fines.
1.
a. It shall be unlawful for the driver of a school bus, as defined in
R.S.39:1-1, to use a cellular or other wireless telephone while operating
the school bus.
b.
The prohibition contained in subsection a. of this section shall not
apply:
(1)
when the school bus is parked in a safe area off of a highway; or
(2)
in an emergency situation.
c.
A person who violates this section shall be fined not less than $250 or
more than $500.
d.
No motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points
pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C.17:33B-14) shall be assessed
for this offense
2.
This act shall take effect immediately. Approved December 12, 2002.
Thursday,
December 6, 2002
New
Statute - Special Attention to Narcotic Strike Force Officers
Great new statute especially for officers who do a
lot of narcotics work and search warrant executions! Take a look:
4:19-38
Debarking silencing of dog, certain circumstances; third degree crime.
1.
A person who surgically debarks or silences a dog, or causes the surgical
debarking or silencing of a dog, for reasons other than to protect the
life or health of the dog as deemed necessary by a duly licensed
veterinarian shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.
As you see, the statute is under Title 4 of the New Jersey Code.
There are other provisions added as well. Click
here to view the code.
Monday,
December 2, 2002
New
Statute
A statute prohibiting the feeding of black bears went into effect
recently. While it will probably never be used in Camden, Atlantic
City, or Egg Harbor, it might be useful to those in the northern part of
the state. Take a look...
23:2A-14.
Intentional feeding of black bears prohibited; violations, penalties
1.
a. No person shall:
(1)feed, give, place, expose, deposit, distribute or scatter any edible
material or attractant with the intention of feeding, attracting or
enticing a black bear; or
(2)store pet food, garbage or other bear attractants in a manner that will
result in bear feedings when black bear are known to frequent the area.
See
the actual statute for penalties, exceptions and definitions. It is
enforceable by municipal and state officers.
Wednesday,
November 6, 2002
Interesting
Reading
We don't normally do this, but there is a hilarious message board based
off the website copwatch.com. It is filled with postings from every
anti-police crusader, and it sounds like the propaganda machine from the
old Soviet Union. If you want to drive them bananas, leave a post
telling them you're on the job and what you think of their conspiracy
theories. Try and be somewhat nice. Click
here to take a peek. A word of caution though. Don't go if
you easily get offended. They really dislike law
enforcement.
Wednesday,
October 23, 2002
New
Statute
An addition to the Simple Assault statute went into effect on August 3rd
of this year. This "Youth Sporting Event" addition is
worded as follows:
f.A
person who commits a simple assault as [] in the presence of a child under
16 years of age at a school or community sponsored youth sports event is
guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. The defendant shall be strictly
liable upon proof that the offense occurred, in fact, in the presence of a
child under 16 years of age. It shall not be a defense that the defendant
did not know that the child was present or reasonably believed that the
child was 16 years of age or older. [] As used in this act,
"school or community sponsored youth sports event" means a
competition, practice or instructional event involving one or more
interscholastic sports teams or youth sports teams organized pursuant to a
nonprofit or similar charter or which are member teams in a youth league
organized by or affiliated with a county or municipal recreation
department and shall not include collegiate, semi-professional or
professional sporting events.
Monday,
October 21, 2002
Legislation
Prohibiting MV Stops with Unmarked Cars
In January of this year a bill was put before the New Jersey Legislature
prohibiting law enforcement officers from effecting motor vehicle stops
with unmarked cars. THIS IS NOT YET A LAW. The text of
the bill reads as follows:
"1.
a. An unmarked vehicle shall not be used
by the State Police or a county or municipal police department for the
routine stopping or apprehension of motorists for violations of the motor
vehicle laws. However, unmarked police vehicles may be used to stop or
apprehend motorists under circumstances presenting a substantial threat to
the public safety or for other purposes authorized by law or regulation.
b.
"Unmarked vehicle ,"as used in this act, means a motor vehicle
operated by the State Police or a county or municipal police agency which
lacks the standard colors, insignia and other markings of standard patrol
vehicles."
Again, this is just a bill, and it is still in committee. It is not
yet New Jersey Law. This bill was sponsored by Assembly
Woman Nilsa Cruz-Perez
Friday,
October 18, 2002
Best
Kept Secret in NJ
We did an article on this topic several months back, but in light of just
having returned from attending a school there, we have more.
Attention all chiefs, training officers, and anyone who has anything to do
with assigning officers to schools!!! There is a facility in
Pennsylvania called the Northeast Counterdrug Training Center located in
Fort Indiantown Gap. Attending law enforcement schools
at this facility is 100% free. Plus, they supply all books and
materials, all lodging, and all meals. It really is the best
kept secret, because very few agencies know about it, and even fewer
utilize it.
Many of their schools are several days long, so lodging is provided.
They give each person their own private room with their own bathroom, desk
and work area, telephone, and cable equipped television complete with LETN.. There are activities on the base including a gym for after
hours. All law enforcement officers have access to the Officer's
Club, the PX, and many of the other base offerings. NCTC offers an
extensive amount of training on everything from grant writing to search
warrant execution to basic and advanced Spanish. This school
is an excellent way to get your officers state-of-the-art training as
well as rewarding officers for accomplishments especially for those
agencies with limited or non-existent training budgets. Most officers
immensely enjoy going to schools, and this one is one of the
finest. Click here to visit their website.
Wednesday,
October 9, 2002
Proposed
Change for Disposing of Found Property by Police Departments
Right now there is a bill in committee which will could substantially aid
officers who are responsible for the evidence and property for their
departments. If made a law, it will drop the retention period of
found property to 30 days from 6 months. It will also allow for easy
disposal methods one of which being the donating of useful items to
nonprofit organizations. The bill is A
2781. It was actually the idea of Detective Sergeant Ray Davis
of the Egg Harbor Township Police Department who came up with the proposal
and submitted it to local legislators. At this point letters
need to be written in support of the bill. They should be mailed to
the Chairman of the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee, Peter
Barnes,1967 Route 27, Suite 20 Edison, NJ 08817 or sent to his email
address. DSG Davis can be
contacted at RDavis@ehtpd.com.
(With all the complaining we do about the laws, this officer should be
commended for actually trying to do something about them. Nice job.)
Sunday,
October 6, 2002
Salaries
of NJ Judges
Ever wonder how much those guys wearing the robe make? Below is a
peek at the annual salaries of our New Jersey State Judges:
Chief
Justice of the Supreme Ces of our New Jersey State Judges:
Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court $164,250
Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court $158,500
Judge
of the Superior Court, Appellate
Division $150,000
Judge
of the Superior Court, Assignment
Judge $146,750
Judge
of the Superior Court; Judge
of the Tax Court $141,000
Monday,
September 16, 2002
Keeping
your Calm on Test Day
In many NJDOP agencies there will be an abundance of sergeants and
administrators working the afternoon shift tomorrow. No, there is no strike
or flu. There is a sergeant's exam.
It's a very stressful day for most. So much of your life over the
past several months has been devoted to this day. So much sacrifice,
so many missed outings and events all for a few hours in some high school
or other similar facility. Here's some of what you've missed:
The
entire summer
The
Yankees are ten games ahead in first place. (Tampa Bay has only
won 49 games this year at 49 and 100)
Football
season has begun
The
PBA and FOP are still feuding
It
looks like we'll be paying Saddam Hussein a visit
Janet
Reno won't be the Governor of Florida
You've
probably lost more money in the stock market
The good news is that it will soon all be over. There's not much
more you can do. The enemy is no longer lack of preparation.
The enemy now is anxiety. Get a good night sleep, have a hearty breakfast,
take a little nappy if you need one, and try and relax. When you get
to the site clown around with your buddies, or don't. Simply, do
whatever it is that keeps you relaxed. Once in the room, take some
deep breaths, and take it slow. Manage your time, but read the
questions slowly. Rushing will hurt you more than not having enough
time. When it's over, it will all be over. You will have so
much extra time on your hands that you won't know what to do with
it. You will soon have your life back. Good luck.
Thursday,
September 5, 2002
When
Simple Assault Becomes Aggravated Assault
Under the New Jersey statute for Simple Assault, there are seven (7)
instances where a simple assault becomes an aggravated assault solely
because of the status or position of the victim of the assault.
Below is a review of those situations as of this date:
(a)
Any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his duties while
in uniform or exhibiting evidence of his authority or because of his
status as a law enforcement officer; or
(b)
Any paid or volunteer fireman acting in the performance of his duties
while in uniform or otherwise clearly identifiable as being engaged in the
performance of the duties of a fireman; or
(c)
Any person engaged in emergency first-aid or medical services acting in
the performance of his duties while in uniform or otherwise clearly
identifiable as being engaged in the performance of emergency first-aid or
medical services; or
(d)
Any school board member, school administrator, teacher, school bus driver
or other employee of a school board while clearly identifiable as being
engaged in the performance of his duties or because of his status as a
member or employee of a school board or any school bus driver employed by
an operator under contract to a school board while clearly identifiable as
being engaged in the performance of his duties or because of his status as
a school bus driver; or
(e)
Any employee of the Division of Youth and Family Services while clearly
identifiable as being engaged in the performance of his duties or because
of his status as an employee of the division; or
(f)
Any justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Superior Court, judge of
the Tax Court or municipal judge while clearly identifiable as being
engaged in the performance of judicial duties or because of his status as
a member of the judiciary; or
(g)
Any operator of a motorbus or the operator's supervisor or any employee of
a rail passenger service while clearly identifiable as being engaged in
the performance of his duties or because of his status as an operator of a
motorbus or as the operator's supervisor or as an employee of a rail
passenger service.
Friday,
August 9, 2002
Contracts
and Collective Bargaining Agreements
For many agencies contract time is approaching. Below is some
information that might be useful for those preparing for negotiations:
Average
% Increase
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
4.23%
3.89%
4.10%
4.05%
4.46%
Average
Base Salary without Longevity
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
$59,125
$62,011
$65,278
$70,064
$76,490
The source of this information was the Summer, 2002 PBA Newsletter, and
these figures are based only on the information reported to the State PBA
from the individual locals.
Wednesday,
July 31, 2002
Line
of Duty Death Summary
As of Wednesday, July 31, 2002, 67 law enforcement officers have lost
their lives in the line of duty. While depressing and not a favorite
topic, it's something that every officer should keep in his or her
mind.
Average age:
38
years old
Gender breakdown: Female: 6
Male: 61
S
Wednesday,
July 10, 2002
An
Online Port Authority Tribute worth checking out
Officer James Miller of the Middlesex County Department of Corrections put
together a very touching online tribute to Port Authority Police Officer
Chris Amoroso who died in the line of duty on September 11th. James
is the Vice-President of the Middlesex Corrections PBA and is a self
taught web designer. When you check out the site be sure to have
your sound on. James chose a very moving bagpipe song for the
background of his tribute page. At the bottom of the page there is a
link to the PBA 152 Website. PBA
152 Online Tribute
Sunday,
July 7, 2002
A
Powerful and Often Overlooked Statute
Okay, so you arrest this guy and find a knife, nun-chucks, or some other
non-firearm type weapons on him. Normally, you charge him (if you
even bother) with the basic fourth degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
statute, 2C:39-5, only to have it come back to municipal court a month
later. If he was also in violation of the Certain Persons Not to
Have Weapons statute, 2C:39-7, and you charged him with that, it would
have added a second fourth degree offense significantly increasing the
chances of the case remaining in Superior Court.
Even better, if you arrested him for just the third degree offense of
Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and he was in violation of 2C:39-7, you
would now be adding a second degree offense by charging him with Certain
Persons Not to Have Weapons which comes with a presumption of
incarceration.
Basically, the "Certain Persons" prohibits certain persons from
possessing weapons. These certain persons are those who have been
convicted of certain offenses on a previous occasion including but not
limited to aggravated assault, arson, burglary, escape, extortion,
homicide, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault,
bias intimidation. There are other offenses and situations listed in
the statute as well.
This statute was a third degree crime. It is now a first degree
crime.
3.
False Public Alarms 2C:33-3
Again, the initial statute is the same but the following text was added:
"A person is guilty of a crime of the second degree if a violation
of subsection a. of this section in fact results in serious bodily injury
to another person or occurs during a declared period of national, State or
county emergency. A person is guilty of a crime of the first degree
if a violation of subsection a. of this section in fact results in death."
4.
September 11th, 2001 Anti-Terrorism Act. 2C:38-1 - 2C: 38-5
This is a brand new chapter in the 2C code. The statutes are as
follows:
2C:38-1
Short Title
2C:38-2
Crimes of Terrorism, Definitions
2C:38-3
Producing or Possessing Chemical Weapons, Biological
Agents or Nuclear or Radiological Devices; Definitions.
2C:38-4
Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution for Terrorism
2C:28-5
Soliciting or Providing Material Support or Resources
for Terrorism; Definitions.
It is fair to say that more will probably come.
Tuesday,
June 25, 2002
New
Technology
The Marlboro Township Police Department in Monmouth County has recently
picked up a pretty neat new gadget.
Let's say that Marlboro officers respond to a call of a lost child.
With the press of a button, an automated telephone system will be able to
alert every homeowner and business owner within a 1 mile radius to look
out their windows for the missing child. The parameters could be
changed and a 2 mile radius could be used, or just the homes and
businesses north of the missing child's last location could be
contacted. This windows-based program is called the Communicator
Emergency Notification System, and it is provided by Dialogic
Communications based in Tennessee.
The complete system is estimated to cost about $47,500. There will
also be other fees incurred from the telephone company.
Monday,
June 17, 2002
Fireworks
- What to charge...
With July 4th quickly approaching, the annual question regarding fireworks
also approaches: Hey Sarge, what do I charge them with?
Chapter 21 covers explosives and fireworks. You'll find a plethora
of statutes in this chapter covering everything from smoking in a facility
that manufacturers fireworks to rules regulating the public display of
fireworks. The statute most relevant to the line officer will be 21:3-2.
Sale, Possession, or Use of, Fireworks.
"It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, expose for
sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any blank cartridge, toy pistol,
toy cannon, toy cane or toy gun in which explosives are used; the type of
balloon which requires fire underneath to propel the same; firecrackers;
torpedoes; skyrockets, Roman candles, bombs, sparklers or other
fireworks of like construction, or any fireworks containing any explosive
or inflammable compound or any tablets or other device commonly used and
sold as fireworks containing nitrates, chlorates, oxalates, sulphides of
lead, barium, antimony, arsenic, mercury, nitroglycerine, phosphorus or
any compound containing any of the same or other explosives, or any
substance or combination of substances, or article prepared for the
purpose of producing a visible or an audible effect by combustion,
explosion, deflagration or detonation, other than aviation and railroad
signal light flares, except (a) that it shall be lawful for any person to
offer for sale, expose for sale, sell, possess or use, or explode any toy
pistol, toy cane, toy gun, or other device in which paper or plastic caps
containing .25 grain or less of explosive compound per cap are used,
providing they are so constructed that the hand cannot come in contact
with the cap when in place for use, and toy pistol paper or plastic caps
which contain less than .20 grain of explosive mixture per cap and (b) as
in this chapter further provided.
The statute also contains exceptions and other important information, so
be sure to read the actual law and consult your only agencies rules before
filing any charges.
Monday,
June 3, 2002
New
statute
This
statute was added late last year.
2C:40-21.
Tattooing of a minor; parental permission, required
1. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he knowingly tattoos or
engages in body piercing of a minor under the age of 18 years without
first having obtained the written permission of the minor's parent or
legal guardian or, if neither exists, a person who stands in place of a
parent. L.2001,c.190.
Wednesday,
May 22, 2002
Homeland
Security Advisory System
As a result of the events of last September, the US Government several
months ago implemented a Homeland Security Advisory System. Below is
the actual alert as shown on the Homeland Security Website.
Currently, we are at Condition Yellow, the Elevated Condition.
Thursday,
May 16, 2002
New
Statute
This new provision was added to the Tampering with Public Records statute
late last year. Interesting.
2C:28-7.
Tampering with public records or information
c.
A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if he purposely and
unlawfully alters, destroys, conceals, removes or disables any camera or
other monitoring device including any videotape, film or other medium used
to record sound or images that is installed in a patrol vehicle.
Amended 2001, c.219.
Tuesday,
May 7, 2002
Strip
Searches vs. Body Cavity Searches
It is crucial that all New Jersey officers are familiar with the line that
separates a search from a strip search or a body cavity search.
Following are the definitions of "Strip Search" and "Body
Cavity Search" as listed in the Attorney General's Strip Search and
Body Cavity Search Requirements and Procedures for Police Officers:
Strip Search
Removal or
rearrangement of clothing to permit visual inspection of a person's
removal
or rearranging of clothing reasonably required to render
medical treatment or assistance, or
removal
of articles of outer clothing, such as coats, ties, belts or
shoelaces.
Body
Cavity Search
Visual
inspection or manual search of a person's
anal
cavity; 2. vaginal
cavity
Thursday,
May 2, 2002
New
2C Statute
In 2001 a new statute for Bias Intimidation (2C:16-1) was created by
the New Jersey Legislature. At the same time, certain portions of the
Harassment (2C:33-4) statute were deleted. The new statute will
cover everything formerly covered by the Harassment statute and more.
2C:16-1.
Bias intimidation.
Bias
Intimidation. A person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if
he commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit, or
threatens the immediate commission of an offense specified in chapters
11 through 18 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes; N.J.S.2C:33-4;
N.J.S.2C:39-3; N.J.S.2C:39-4 or N.J.S.2C:39-5,
(See the actual statute for additional included
information)
Most
of these are Internet hoaxes.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Do
you know who the current top ten most wanted are?
Friday, May
4, 2007
Dubbed the Zak Tool Handcuff Cover, it's simply a
velcro cover for "pickable" parts of the handcuffs. It is easily
stored, lightweight, and inexpensive.
Sunday,
May 21, 2006
Tuesday,
January 3,
2006
Pictured
to the right is a ring that is also capable of firing pepper spray into
the eyes of an unsuspecting person.
Pictured
to the right is the 3D Patrol Decoy, a recently launched product made by
Florida-based Safe Highway Corporation.
It's
back.
Sunday,
December 12, 2004
