Local Breaking Police News
7 hours ago
Family to celebrate life of longtime MetroWest deli owner killed in crash
A celebration of life for Andrew Palumbo, an Ashland man who died last week in a motorcycle crash involving a car, will be held Sunday.Services will be held July 28 from 1-4 p.m. at Matarese Funeral Home at 325 Main St. in Ashland.Palumbo was born on Aug. 22, 1961 in Canandaigua, New York to Victor and Rita Palumbo, his obituary says. Growing up, Palumbo enjoyed long bike rides with his dad.
7 hours ago
NFL player stuns team by retiring at age 28 ‘out of the blue’
The Las Vegas Raiders opened up training camp minus one veteran receiver -- and it was news to them.That’s because 28-year-old receiver Michael Gallup caught many by surprise by announcing his retirement right as training camp opened this week. According to The Athletic, Raiders general manager Tom Telesco said they were caught completely off guard.“I didn’t see that one coming at all,” Telesco said, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed. “That just kind of came up out of the blue. When I talked to him, it seemed like he had a pretty clear vision. He’s ready to move on. It’s too bad.”The Raiders placed Gallup on the reserve/retired list on Tuesday, one day before the team’s first open practice on Wednesday.The move raised some eyebrows. But it wasn’t until Telesco spoke that it became clear that the team was as surprised as anyone to see it happen.Gallup signed with Las Vegas this offseason on a one-year deal following a six-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys. BetMGM BET UP TO $1,500! BONUS BET REFUND AFTER A LOSS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASS150 STATES: AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21 years of age or older to wager. MA Only. New Customer Offer. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets. Bonus bets expire 7 days from issuance. In Partnership with MGM Springfield. Play it smart from the start with GameSense. GameSenseMA.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org. US Promotional Offers not available in New York. A third-round pick in 2018, Gallup looked like a star early in his career with the Cowboys. His best season came in 2019, when he caught 66 passes for 1,107 yards.However, injuries have limited Gallup in recent seasons. The receiver has not reached 500 receiving yards on the year since 2020.The Raiders still have Davante Adams and former Patriot Jakobi Meyers as their top receivers. However, the sudden loss of Gallup leaves the team suddenly thin at the position. The team’s third receiver projects to be second-year player Tre Tucker, a third-round pick who caught 19 passes for 331 yards last season.
7 hours ago
Pennsylvania man sentenced to 30 years for child sexual assault
A Pennsylvania man was sentenced in federal court in Springfield Wednesday to 30 years in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting a young girl, according to acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levy’s office.In addition to his prison sentence, David Tweed, 46, of Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to a lifetime of supervised release after the prison sentence is served. Between September and December 2021 Tweed groomed a 12- to 13-year-old girl he met online.“Tweed repeatedly persuaded the victim to send sexual pictures and video of herself and to perform lewd acts on video calls,” a statement from Levy’s office reads.Tweed, on more than one occasion, drove to Pennsylvania to places in New England where he met the girl in person and sexually assaulted her, according to the statement.Tweed was arrested in August 2022 on one count of child exploitation and was held following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, according to the statement.“David Tweed preyed on a child, first exploiting her online and later abusing her in person,” Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England said in a statement. “This is a horrific example of how online threats become real danger. HSI is working around the clock to keep kids safe online by bringing predators like Tweed to justice.”Levy commended the prison sentence imposed on Tweed.“Mr. Tweed sought out, groomed and then repeatedly sexually abused and exploited this very young and vulnerable girl. His criminal and depraved behavior has finally been stopped and his victim is finally free of his abuse,” he said in a statement. “I applaud the victim’s bravery and the support and dedication of her family to see this case through.”
7 hours ago
Buh-bye open boarding — Southwest is going to assign seats
Soon, gone will be the days of waiting by your computer or phone 24 hours before your Southwest Airlines flight to try to secure an early boarding position to give you a fighting chance of finding a good seat once you’re on the plane.Southwest Airlines said Thursday it plans to drop the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers to seats, just like all the other big airlines.
8 hours ago
Chaos at Paris Olympics as coordinated arson attacks paralyze train network
PARIS (AP) — France’s high-speed rail network was hit Friday with widespread and “criminal” acts of vandalism including arson attacks, paralyzing travel to Paris from across the rest of France and Europe only hours before the grand opening ceremony of the Olympics.French officials condemned the attacks as “criminal actions,” though they said there was no sign of a direct link to the Games, and prosecutors in Paris opened a national investigation saying the crimes could carry sentences of 15 to 20 years.“It’s a hell of a way to start the Olympics,” said Sarah Moseley, a 42-year-old traveler waiting at the Gare du Nord station in Paris as she learned that her train to London was delayed by the rail chaos.As Paris authorities geared up for a spectacular parade on and along the Seine River, three fires were reported near the tracks on the high-speed lines of Atlantique, Nord and Est, causing disruptions that affected hundreds of thousands of travelers.Among them were two German athletes in showjumping who were on a train to Paris to take part in the opening ceremony but had to turn back in Belgium because of the closures, and will now miss the ceremony, German news agency dpa reported.“There was no longer a chance of making it on time,” rider Philipp Weishaupt, who was traveling with teammate Christian Kukuk, told dpa.There were no known reports of injuries.French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said France’s intelligence services have been mobilized to find the perpetrators and of “acts of sabotage” which he described as “prepared and coordinated.”Attal said that sabotage and arson that hit key parts of France’s high speed rail network on the eve of the Olympics had “a clear objective: blocking the high speed train network.”He said the vandals strategically targeted the axes from the north, east and west toward Paris hours before the capital hosts the Olympics opening ceremony.It was “a premeditated, calculated, coordinated attack” that indicates “a desire to seriously harm” the French people, the rail company’s CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou said.“The places were especially chosen to have the most serious impact, since each fire cut off two lines,” Farandou said.The incidents paralyzed high-speed lines linking Paris to the rest of France and to neighboring countries, Vergriete said, speaking on BFM television.The attack occurred against a backdrop of global tensions and heightened security measures as the city prepared for the 2024 Olympic Games. Many travelers were planning to converge on the capital for the opening ceremony, and many vacationers were also in transit.French authorities have foiled several plots to disrupt the Olympics, including arresting a Russian man on suspicion of planning to destabilize the games.The Paris police prefecture “concentrated its personnel in Parisian train stations” after the “massive attack” that paralyzed the TGV high-speed network, Laurent Nuñez, the Paris police chief, told France Info television.Also Friday, the French airport of Basel-Mulhouse on the border with Germany and Switzerland was evacuated in the morning and remained temporarily closed “for safety reasons,” the airport said. It wasn’t clear whether there was a connection to the rail attacks.The disruptions hit Paris’ Montparnasse station particularly hard.In the station’s crowded hall, Maiwenn Labbé-Sorin said she spent hours stranded on a train before it doubled back to Paris.“We stayed two hours without water, without toilets, without electricity,” she said. “Then we could go out on the track for a bit and then the train returned. Now I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”Many passengers at the Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest train stations, were looking for answers and solutions on Friday morning. All eyes were on the central message boards as most services to northern France, Belgium and the United Kingdom were delayed.“They should have more information for tourists, especially if it’s a malicious attack,” said Corey Grainger, a 37-year-old Australian sales manager on his way to London, as he rested on his two suitcases in the middle of the station.Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera said authorities were working to “evaluate the impact on travelers, athletes, and ensure the transport of all delegations to the competition sites” for the Olympics. Speaking on BFM television, she added, “Playing against the Games is playing against France, against your own camp, against your country.”SNCF said it did not know when traffic would resume and feared that disruptions would continue “at least all weekend.” SNCF teams “were already on site to carry out diagnostics and begin repairs,” but the “situation should last at least all weekend while the repairs are carried out,” the operator said. SNCF advised “all passengers to postpone their journey and not to go to the station,” specifying in its press release that all tickets were exchangeable and refundable.Valerie Pecresse, president of the regional council of the greater Paris region, speaking from Montparnasse station, said “250,000 travelers will be affected today on all these lines.” Substitution plans were underway, but Pecresse advised travelers “not to go to stations.”The troubles comes ahead of an opening ceremony has been planned for later Friday, in which 7,000 Olympic athletes are due to sail down the Seine past iconic Parisian monuments such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and the Musee d’Orsay.
8 hours ago
GoFundMe created for family of teen shot and killed near Lynn Market Basket
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8 hours ago
Florida man sentenced for identity theft, defrauding the SBA
A Florida man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Boston for conspiring to use a stolen identities to obtain Small Business Administration disaster loans and then launder the money, the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office said in a statement.Hector Garcia, 52, of Ocala, Florida, was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper. Garcia must also pay $25,104.33 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud in April 2024.“Garcia conspired with Ramon Cruz, Darwyn Joseph, Edwin Acevedo, and others, to use stolen identity information of United States citizens to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans,” the statement said. Garcia used the stolen identity information to open a fraudulent bank account. He then linked the account to other fraudulent bank accounts, which were set up to receive the SBA funds., the statement said.“Garcia and his co-conspirators used debit cards associated with those accounts to launder the funds by purchasing iPhones for resale. Garcia and other co-conspirators wired a portion of the funds to the Dominican Republic,” the statement reads.Garcia and his co-conspirators obtained $452,000 in SBA funds in connection with the scheme. About $250,000 of that money was used to buy iPhones in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.“Cruz and Joseph pleaded guilty and were each sentenced in August 2023 and October 2023, respectively, to two years and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Acevedo pleaded guilty and was sentenced in August 2023 to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release,” the statement reads.
9 hours ago
Sale closed in Wellesley: $4.2 million for a five-bedroom home
The spacious property located at 11 Colgate Road in Wellesley was sold on July 2, 2024. The $4,212,500 purchase price works out to $892 per square foot. The house, built in 1965, has an interior space of 4,720 square feet. This two-story house provides a generous living space with its five bedrooms and seven baths. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. The property is equipped with forced air heating and a cooling system. The lot size of the property measures an impressive 0.7-acre.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:In June 2023, a 3,491-square-foot home on Colgate Road in Wellesley sold for $2,800,000, a price per square foot of $802. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.On Grove Street, Wellesley, in July 2023, a 3,842-square-foot home was sold for $2,310,000, a price per square foot of $601. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 3,755-square-foot home at 268 Grove Street in Wellesley sold in June 2024, for $2,420,000, a price per square foot of $644. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News
9 hours ago
Single-family house sells for $1.3 million in Medfield
The spacious property located at 47B Pound Street in Medfield was sold on June 7, 2024. The $1,317,000 purchase price works out to $643 per square foot. The house, built in 1965, has an interior space of 2,048 square feet. This house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The home's external structure has a gable roof design, covered with asphalt roofing. The lot of the property covers a substantial area of 0.8-acre.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:In October 2023, a 2,641-square-foot home on Pound Street in Medfield sold for $1,300,000, a price per square foot of $492. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.On Main Street, Medfield, in April 2023, a 3,317-square-foot home was sold for $1,085,000, a price per square foot of $327. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 1,564-square-foot home at 8 Robert Sproul Road in Medfield sold in June 2023, for $825,000, a price per square foot of $527. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News
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July 26, 2024
A Friendly Reminder About Concealed Carry for Retired Cops (and Other Good Guys)
By Steve Pomper Photo Credit (Alien Gear Holster, CC 4.0) I just had an experience that refreshed for me those concealed firearms carriers’ special considerations. First, being a legally armed good guy is a good thing. But being armed also means being judicious and restrained. Police trainers stress prudence and, as I wrote about in these pages, teach cops starting in the academy and throughout their career DT training: every incident is an armed encounter—because the cop has a gun. This is also true for concealed carriers. That experience I mentioned above happened when I arrived to pick up lunch at one of my favorite teriyaki joints. Entering the restaurant, though quiet at that moment, I immediately sensed from the owner’s and a customer’s demeanor that something wasn’t right. The owner was a small-framed, middle-aged woman, and the customer was a fit male in his early-30s. I was armed and felt ready to deal with an irate customer drawing a firearm. But what about those intense incidents that may only hint at violence? This guy wasn’t happy with his meal and wanted his money back. But I got one of those cop gut feelings that he might be worse than just a jerk, but, at that moment, he was only being a jerk. The loud-mouthed jackass was an unhappy customer. However, not only did he want his money back, which was none of my business, but also, he was spewing disgusting, profane comments at her as she chipped back at him—absent the profanity. The more he berated her, the more I wanted to “escort” his butt out of the place. But I managed to stay above it by allowing my reason to overcome my rile. I wanted so much to toss the thug out on his ass, but he’d stayed just this side of threatening her physically or actually assaulting her (which would have meant game over). She was behind the counter, which provided me with a tactical advantage, since I was standing right next to him. Still, had I acted while he was only being a jerk, I also had to think about what it would look like for him not to have assaulted or threatened her—or me, and my actions had escalated the incident. What if, God-forbid, the incident somehow rose to deadly force? How would courts these days, especially in the Seattle area, react? Just look at what’s still happening to Marine veteran Daniel Penny in New York City. Still, if she’d called the police, his abusive language could have amounted to disorderly conduct, or police could have warned him for trespassing and removed him from her store. Or she could have refunded his money sooner. But the woman didn’t seem interested in calling 911, so I held my tongue, listened, and watched. And disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing are not initially lethal force situations. However, instead of leaving right away, I waited until he left the store, which, after she’d refunded his meal, he did. I still felt terrible because I knew I couldn’t get into it with him, even verbally, concerned about escalation and being armed. He hadn’t been aggressive toward me and had even been annoyingly pleasant, “warning me” about the “poor service.” I hated feeling like I was doing nothing, but, in the end, allowing the verbal nastiness to play out, it worked out except for the jolt to my sense of chivalry. A small price to pay considering the alternatives. The website everydaycarryconcealed.com advises, “You should never display your firearm for the purposes of intimidation. Doing so is considered ‘brandishing’ and can land you in legal troubles. Additionally, you should never display your firearm to provoke a threat.” They continue. “Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to never un-holster your gun unless you intend to use it. Furthermore, you should be confident in your ability to prove imminent danger and that other non-violent/non-lethal options were exhausted.” To clarify, “use it” (your gun) doesn’t necessarily mean firing it. In most cases, as Jacob Sullum at Reason.com informs us, most people deescalate [an] attack from a would-be assailant merely by drawing their guns in self-defense, causing the attacker to retreat.” But, again, be certain you can articulate the “imminent danger” you were facing. This will be different for different people. Sullum also wrote, “Thirty-one percent of the gun owners said they had used a firearm to defend themselves or their property, often on multiple occasions. As in previous research, the vast majority of such incidents (82 percent) did not involve firing a gun, let alone injuring or killing an attacker.” To be clear, I hadn’t even considered drawing my weapon without the situation rising to lethal force, but even getting into a physical scrap while armed can inadvertently reveal to the suspect that you are armed. The bad guy could then try to liberate your firearm to use it against you, or your gun could be unintentionally knocked from its holster with the same results. Sean Holt at USACarry.com gave an example of the overarching considerations of getting into a physical altercation while armed. He wrote about “Nathan,” a concealed carrier watching his stepson’s hockey practice when his wife’s abusive ex, the stepson’s father, tried to provoke Nathan. Holt wrote, Nathan “has a steady job where he can’t afford to have an assault charge under him. Nathan has a wife and a kid who depend upon him for his income. He has a home that he’d likely have to forfeit to pay for the costly legal fees associated with going to court. And last, but certainly not least, he always carries a gun on him.” Nathan’s antagonist was described as “a lanky, unemployed, balding 6’5” dude with mental issues. In other words, the jerk has nothing to lose, while Nathan could lose everything.” Holt continued, “Nathan told me over a few beers in his garage that he wished with all his might he could have knocked the teeth out of that guy. Instead, he just stood his ground and brushed off the comment. He had to be the bigger man. More importantly, when his wife and her kid finished hockey practice, he had to get them out of there.” Remember, these days, cops who’ve acted properly even on duty, are sitting in court or, even worse, in prison, for doing their jobs. No one is immune from the gun-stupid gun-haters in today’s criminal injustice system. We’ve written about many of them here at the NPA and have done our best to help keep them out of prison. As an experienced and capable retired cop, if you’ve ever wondered about what true strength is, think about what it takes to avoid a physical confrontation with some twitchy scumbag rather than introducing his face to the floor. Resisting the impulse to thump a jerk is hard; surrendering to the thumping is easy. The latter may feel better in the moment. But, if you’re sitting in court, facing months in jail or years in prison, losing your job, living with a conviction, missing all of your kid’s hockey games, and everything else, while your wife’s ex remains free, how good would that feel? Make a difference. Support the NPA
July 25, 2024
California Added to the National Police Association’s Thank a Cop Billboard Campaign
Fresno, CA (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) July 25, 2024 — The National Police Association announced a new state has been added to its latest national billboard campaign asking people to support the police by thanking a cop. The latest state is California. Per the Peace Officers Research Association of California, California is in the midst of a public safety crisis that is putting both residents and businesses across the state at risk. Nearly two-thirds of Californians say violence and street crime in their local community is a problem. And while law abiding citizens worry about the safety of their families and their communities, law enforcement staffing shortages are at a critical level. California faces a web of compounding obstacles as it grapples with a public safety crisis marked by increased crime and unprecedented officer staffing shortages. In an attempt to mitigate these impacts, the state has recently resorted to deploying the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to bolster officer levels on the ground in especially hard-hit areas — even though the CHP is also understaffed. This shortsighted solution simply removes officers from one understaffed area to provide short-term relief to another. This moment exemplifies the urgency for increased resources to recruit, train, and retain officers. Even small changes can make a big impact: California residents can make a difference by letting elected officials, activists and cops know they support the police. ### Make a difference support the NPA
July 25, 2024
Threats to Cops, Naturally
By Stephen Owsinski The sheer aspects of law enforcement officers patrolling public spaces mean inclement weather, from snow to hurricanes to blistering heat, automatically poses threats by natural means, for which salvation is not necessarily easily attainable. How many careers are there whereby living in a barrel (body armor) is an imperative norm? America’s cops wrap themselves in ballistic vests for obvious reasons. Although such a piece of duty equipment is enormously helpful in parts of the country where frigid weather visits, down south and in tropical locales, it is a difficult situation with which cops contend. According to South Florida Cops, Maui, Hawaii, police department Officer Alexa Jacobs fell into “a coma in the hospital after suffering heat stroke during physical training at the police academy [in February 2022]. She was reportedly brought to the hospital with a body temperature of an astounding 107 degrees. Her organs began shutting down and she [was being considered for] a liver transplant.” Recently, an NYPD probationary officer in training, days before academy graduation, succumbed to heat exhaustion. Per the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), Officer Edgar Ordonez “died after collapsing in the heat while training at an NYPD shooting range.” Unofficially, NYPD pals claim this was avoidable…if not for Gotham’s politicos rushing to get recruits through the academy to offset severe understaffing stemming from the ongoing exodus of cops due to anti-police movement and antithetical bail reform advocates. In the Sunshine State (there’s a hot clue), temps do brim beyond 100 degrees, making for hugely uncomfortable conditions for law enforcement officers who, by sheer duty-bound covenants, must exit air-conditioned police cruisers to mitigate the dilemmas of complainants. The partial solution is for officers to equip their cruisers with devices specially crafted to circulate into the body armor barrel to expressly cool cops enduring the swelter while on patrol. (Photo courtesy of the California Highway Patrol.) Of course, this assumes the call a cop is on allows for a brief break of cool air circulation. If it is a hot-button response, the likelihood of attaching A/C hosing to slow perspiration and abate dehydration is minuscule if at all possible. It could be worse… Harley Hot Motorcycle cops (“motor units”) are, by design, smaller modes of transport that are inherently manufactured for open-air travel. Motorcycles give off additional heat; they are not equipped with A/C. Since heat rises, motorcycle cops fasten required safety helmets (equipped with electronics for transmitting/receiving communication), locking in temps like a sealed oven. A spokesperson with the Tustin, California, police department sized it this way: “It’s hot out there, folks! Our Motor Officers are no strangers to warm days as they patrol the city without the luxury of air conditioning while wearing a vest and various equipment.” On top of that, motorcycle cops conduct traffic stops on automobiles whose heat emissions and exhaust pipes throw off plenty more heat…with officers receiving a copious amount of intensely hot air and fumes, not to mention the glaring skies that cause squinting (headaches). Have you ever seen a motorcycle cop without mirrored sunglasses? Me neither. A clue! Traditionally, motorcycle cops wear shiny boots. Aesthetically, it is iconic. Environmentally, lack of aeration comes to mind. The mask mandates stemming from the pandemic added to the stifling conditions for motorcycle cops. (Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.) In Florida, the state’s 67 county sheriff’s offices predominantly wear dark green uniforms—both trousers and shirts. Dark clothing and intense heat are not friends. Perhaps that is why some of the 67 county-level law enforcement agencies opted for white uniform shirts. Similarly, dark-blue uniforms are worn by municipal police departments (like mine, factoring into the reason I preferred the midnight shift). (Photo courtesy of the Lakeland Police Department.) Some agencies have switched to white uniform shirts for sworn officers, offering a bit of a break from the thermometer spike. Febreze is our Friend Thanks to my Sam’s Club membership, I afforded a bulk supply of Febreze to freshen my ballistic vest and uniform shirts, enabling me to get through each 12-hour shift without buzzards following me around and sizing me up as a buffet nearing ripeness. There were plastic bottles of Febreze all around the police locker room, a telling sign of how humidity was mitigated to some degree. I remember my attendance at the first of many police officer funerals. An extremely hot day taunted throngs of cops in class-A uniforms (hats, ties, long sleeves, black duty footwear), lined tightly due to the enormous swell of LEOs paying respects to a fallen officer. In three separate areas, small disturbances erupted. Each was due to fainting while hundreds of cops stood at attention in what seemed an inordinate period, at full attention, rigid, the merciless sun doing its thing. Under my dark blue class-A attire, my spine felt like a running brook. I sweat profusely. Even Febreze was no match for a blistering sun. My “barrel” was swimming. But Twilight There’s a good reason I bid for midnight shift squads throughout my police career; I didn’t want to contend with the atomic ball. My tours of duty were from dusk to dawn. The Sunshine State lives up to its name and has degrees to prove it. Notoriously, the blistering temps in Florida can be unbearable…unless you are an iguana. Physiologically, I have never been one to thrive in warmer temperatures, preferring chill instead. (I know, oddball living in the south.) Annually, my department exercised a tradition whereby the sworn police force members would bid for shifts based on seniority. Given that, as a rookie officer, I figured I’d have to put some years in to garner enough clout to choose a midnight shift slot to stay as cool as possible. Little did I know, most cops, regardless of seniority, preferred to police with day-shift squads. Hence, I largely experienced my police career when the sun did a siesta. There were always stories of day-shift officers experiencing super-busy days leading to minimized fluid intake (dehydration) and fatigue from “living in a barrel” (body armor) throughout the summer scorch. (Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department.) A chronic issue among many day-shift cops is sinusitis. I fell victim to this on the midnight shift, too. The incessant nature of getting in/out of an air-conditioned police cruiser wreaks havoc on sinus cavities…but the Job must be accomplished despite inclement elements. Brutal weather conditions are absolutely among the many stressors cops endure to serve the citizenry, with the sun beating down. Many Florida law enforcement agencies recognize this. That is why police-blue shorts were authorized (bicycle unit cops exhibit this more routinely). (Photo courtesy of the Fort Worth Police Department.) Wicking shirts are part of the uniform during the sweltering months. Body armor, though, is mandatory…especially if the department purchased it (which became the norm anyway). Speaking of body armor, the multiple pieces of protective equipment and almost total covering of every SWAT member responding to major calls during unbearably hot temperatures can easily be deemed a duty hazard…but they go out and round up bad actors nevertheless. (Photo courtesy of the Whittier Police Department.) It is not just the criminal elements that threaten cops; natural ones pose woes and cannot be altered, only mitigated. Despite the drastic range between heat and frost, America’s cops head out and bear the weather to deliver public safety to the utmost degree. Make a difference support the NPA
July 23, 2024
When a Star is Born: Birthdays of Badges
By Stephen Owsinski How old is your county sheriff’s office or city police department and what was the seed that spawned its beginnings? Nostalgia has its value, especially in law enforcement where the pace rockets at a pretty good clip, swiftly progressing, hardly affording any time to look back. That’s modern-day society for ya! But what about the early years, when a county sheriff’s office was chartered, signifying the birth of that first star to respond to troubles? Although I never really thought about it enough to notice, some law enforcement organizations cite their age, as a byline mention in their mission statement: “Under the direction of Sheriff Rick Staly. Proudly serving the citizens of Flagler County, FL since 1917!” (I found that line in the agency’s social media introduction.) On the east coast of Florida, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) posted its proud recognition of the law enforcement agency’s 107th birthday, providing a bit of background and how it all started: “On this day [July 9] in 1917, Gov. Sidney Catts appointed E.W. Johnston as the Sheriff of Flagler County, thus establishing the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office!” (Photo courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.) When I was processing with my department, hoping to become a sworn policeman, prospective candidates would line the hallway outside of a conference room at Police HQ. The Oral Board interview is a huge undertaking carrying tons of weight in the grand scheme of police rite of passage, illustrating a person’s potential performance as a law enforcement officer. While waiting for my name to be called, I gazed at all the historical police memorabilia (almost a century’s worth), marveling at black-and-white photographs of the city’s first police officer riding a bicycle on a dirt road with hardly any structures in sight. Fast forward, and the municipal police force has almost every imaginable mode of transportation under the sun, asphalt everywhere (no more dirt roads), residential and commercial structures everywhere, an overpopulated jurisdiction, and seasoned law enforcement professionals who blush when talking about yesteryear versus contemporary public safety challenges (baseless, unwarranted hatred). Hence, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office celebrating its 107th birthday garnered my attention. (Photo courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.) A few years ago, I took my children to the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Florida. My kids and I meandered circa after circa of cop stuff from many different corners of the geography: A history buff’s playground. The one thing that stood out as still in fashion (albeit hardly used any more) is the whistle. My chrome-plated one tethered to a matching silver chain looped to a uniform shirt epaulet button, the whistle snugged in my breast pocket, was a mandatory part of the agency uniform composition whose box was checked off during inspections by command staff. The main center of operations for Flagler County’s law enforcement institution has an in-house museum of sorts, depicting the progression of badges through the years, uniform modifications, graduations of service weapons (advancements in technology affording precision), police cruiser makes/models, electronic aids facilitating communications, and a bevy of cop-centric stuff: a whirlwind from B/W to kaleidoscopic portrayals of policing in America. (Photo courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.) How far we’ve come. And we are still moving the needle for the folks we serve, especially in the current state of affairs for law enforcement officers operating in a bizarre era seemingly chock full of crazed law-and-order oppositionists. Can you imagine the eventual inclusions in police museums of depictions illustrating snarly citizens disrespectfully wagging fingers and childishly jutting the middle one in the faces of uniformed police officers there to keep the peace? Who knows…it may make for hard-to-swallow but appreciated imagery for the eyes to see and the convictions of future cops waiting in the hallways of law enforcement hubs, prospective candidates seeing what they’re up against, still stepping forward with nobility and courage to do good in a society exposed to havoc brought about by evildoers. Circling back to the 107th birthday of a Florida sheriff’s office longevity and the first star born of a governor’s proclamation, countless additional stars have been minted, pinned, and endured active experiences sworn eyes were positioned to see and dutifully mitigate. Despite naysayers reveling in a lawless society, law enforcement legacies keep building and celebrating birthdays of peacekeeping hubs whose honorable crimefighters are gleaming stars in my book… And they’re out there on our behalf.
July 22, 2024
Addict-Turned-Activist Predicts “It’s Going to Be a Very, Very Bad Summer in Philadelphia”
By Steve Pomper We tend to revisit specific topics important to policing because no matter what else captures a news cycle, no matter how grave, these issues continue to affect the cops and residents daily, even more directly than the grand events. The depths to which anti-public safety-run American cities have fallen over the past few years with their focus on hands-off criminals and cops suck is staggering? Things are so out of whack that, according to a FOX News report in late 2022, a Mexican TV PSA featured Philadelphia’s infamous Kensington neighborhood in an anti-drug spot. Apparently, it’s only gotten worse since. In Philly, which the NPA has covered many times for many reasons, three catastrophic forces have converged to create a “perfect storm” of government leaders’ criminal negligence, recklessness, or intent to destroy the criminal justice system and public safety. The worst fiend is the George Soros-funded, cop-hating DA Larry Krasner who’s so bad the PA House impeached him last year. There’s also the “blue” policies such as no cash bail, restorative justice, and general cop-hating. And finally, a deluge of government services meant to end the “homeless” drug/crime crisis has instead exacerbated it. I remember speaking with a Seattle homeowner fed up with the “homeless” addicts trashing his neighborhood. At that moment, there was a derelict at an intersection begging for money from drivers stopped at the red light. Some people handed him cash. I pointed toward the man and told the homeowner, “You can’t toss birdseeds on your lawn and then complain about the bird crap all over the grass.” Pointedly, another FOX News headline described “CRISIS IN KENSINGTON: Resident says neighborhood ‘given to the wolves,’ begs people to stop feeding addicts.” Subtitle: “Philadelphia drug users migrate to Kensington to get handouts that help feed their addiction, activist says.” Local activist Dennis Payne said, “By feeding these people, you’re giving the other people cover to do their thing, to keep these people addicted. And that’s the system that’s got to stop. There’s got to be some kind of break in the system.” Payne also told FOX News, “They see all the services coming here. So they migrate here.” I saw this in Seattle. Enablers making people comfortable in their misery, which makes communities miserable by perpetuating the problems. But that’s how you keep the government funds flowing, right? By enabling bad behavior. That spigot doesn’t seem to have an off lever. Empathizing with folks in the throes of addiction is reasonable. But that doesn’t mitigate the crimes they commit to get their next hit. People need to understand what actions genuinely help people and those that don’t. Giving someone a few bucks or a sandwich makes you feel good, but are you helping or harming them and your community? If it prolongs their addiction, even for a day, that harms them, right? Philadelphia is deploying 75 newly trained police officers to the Kensington neighborhood. One measure of Philly’s crime/drug crisis is, rather than encouraged or relieved, many, like former addict Frank Rodriguez, wonder if this is a sincere attempt to reduce crime or just another gimmick. According to Hannah Ray Lambert at FOX News, “Dozens of new police officers are hitting the streets of Philadelphia’s most notorious neighborhood, promising to crack down on drug dealing, prostitution and other crimes.” Rodriguez worried that “the effort won’t last.” He’s seen such efforts before, and the deplorable conditions continue. He hopes it’s not “grandstanding.” Wanting to hold city leaders accountable, Rodriquez, who now owns a barbershop in another city, occasionally cuts hair for free in Kensington where he films interviews with people about crime and their addictions. The former addict describes Kensington as “‘a predator’s playground,’ plagued with addiction, mental health issues and ’a level of suffering and dehumanization’ unrivaled by other cities.” And that’s saying a lot when those “other cities” include similarly crime-plagued cities like Baltimore, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. He describes Kensington in raw terms. “You smell rotting flesh. You see people with holes in their limbs.” Average folks may dismiss this comment as hyperbolic. But any cop working in this environment knows firsthand what he’s describing. I remember a call to assist medics. A passerby had reported a man on a sidewalk with a severe leg wound. The man’s shin was seriously abscessed with a 14-inch section of his skin eaten away. He’d been “treating” himself with napkins, dabbing at his wound. I felt an argument could be made that he was unable to care for himself, but we all knew the protocols. And he was otherwise lucid and repeatedly declined medical aid. He said he preferred to remain on the street. The crime blight in cities like Philadelphia is preventable and curable. It was no accident that in New York City in the 90s, the city’s crime crisis ended after a new mayor arrived and ran a rule-of-law administration. NYC became the safest big city in America. Ask people who lived in NYC then, and they’ll tell you about the night and day difference. Sadly, New York is once again on the decline because similarly destructive policies have returned. Some people believe high crime rates are inevitable and cyclical. Not true. The people who run these cities poorly are cyclical. Good leaders equal good policies and bad leaders, well…you get the gist. Sadly, in some cities the people continue to put the same cop-haters in charge year after year, decade after decade, and then wonder why “homelessness” and crime remain high. Think carefully about the individuals you choose to run your communities. Remember, you can’t choose leaders who toss “birdseed” on your neighborhood and then complain about the “poop” on the sidewalks (as in San Francisco, quite literally).
July 20, 2024
The National Police Association #31 Chevy takes the #SupportThePolice message to the Circle City 200
Officer Rita Goulet brought the #SupportThePolice message to Indianapolis, IN this weekend. Next: The Salem ARCA 200, Salem, IN, July 27. Rita shows the missing child poster carried on the side of the #31 Support the Police
July 20, 2024
Gunsmoke
By Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D Although not officially, scientifically proven I am convinced that a good part of the current anti-police sentiment in some sectors of the population comes from the indoctrination of the public in the mythology of lethal encounters portrayed in fictional media. It’s always clear who the bad guy is. The bad guy gets the first shot, and the good guy’s bullet knocks the bad guy backward. The scene is always of a fair fight where the good guy’s strength, courage, and marksmanship prevail. Deadly encounters in real life rarely fit the template of fiction. On cop shows a suspect who gets shot at either barely escapes or falls in defeat. Not so in a Knoxville, TN call where officers were approaching a house where a caller had reported a woman threatening herself and others with a knife. The woman, armed with a knife, sprang from the house charging the officers who made repeated pleas for her to stop. As she got closer the officers were forced to fire, only to see the woman once again pick up the knife to approach the officers, again in the face of pleas to stop and drop the knife. The officers fired again, the woman fell again, and, with amazing determination attempted a third charge and was again shot. Officers rendered aid but she died soon after in the hospital. On the big and small screens, the director can go for a wide shot or a closeup. Neither of those work well in a scene where the officer or suspect is still in the car when the shooting starts. Real life isn’t so accommodating. In Pueblo, CO officers investigating a man with a gun call saw a suspect behind the wheel of a vehicle in the parking lot of a Popeye’s Chicken restaurant. Officers ordered the man to show his hands and stop reaching around inside the vehicle. Instead of complying the man, still seated in his car, opened fire on officers who responded with lethal fire. In Los Angeles, officers stopped a vehicle when an occupant immediately began firing on the patrol car with a rifle, injuring the two officers inside who were still able to return fire as the suspect fled. Screenplays are fond of showdowns where suspects and officers are at a standoff with itchy trigger fingers. With the advent of many more encounters being captured on video, we see the real world of officers trying desperately to avoid shooting someone. Body camera audio frequently captures officers ordering an armed suspect to comply, often pleading earnestly that the suspect not make them shoot. Two Waterloo, IA officers were attempting less lethal means to subdue an armed man by using a Taser. The reward for their restraint came from the suspect’s handgun whose fire struck both officers, one of whom was still in the patrol car. In Dallas, a man in a tent armed with several knives and threatening a woman engaged officers for nearly an hour as they attempted to calm the situation. After verbal negotiation, the use of a Taser, and a less lethal 40 mm stinger round while the man threw knives at the officers, the suspect made a charge at the officers who had to react with deadly force. Of course, the TV and movie versions of deadly encounters don’t have the time or take the time to show the real aftermath for the officers. Fictional cops get to go back to work. Real cops can stay suspended for months waiting for an investigation of their actions to be completed. They wait, forbidden to discuss it, while critics rail and spin their own narratives. Years of civil litigation may loom. The possibility of criminal charges threaten. They relive the experience in court again and again. They may suffer lifelong trauma, and the fear of hesitation when another deadly scenario presents itself. The closing credits may never roll.
July 19, 2024
School is Out for Summer but School Resource Officers Busily Train
By Stephen Owsinski 3 Growing up, I remember radio stations repeatedly playing Alice Cooper bellowing the lyrics “School’s out for summer…” inviting youngsters to revel in fun under the sun, no homework necessary. America’s school resource officers (SROs) have it differently…as training is always essential in law enforcement staying abreast of new techniques and trends, resulting in top-notch campus cops. Lately, I’ve been seeing posts from police departments and sheriff’s offices announcing newly assigned SROs whose training started already, despite the students enjoying summertime fun as much as possible before returning to campus to hear the first bell clang. As Lee County, Florida, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, “As actual school settings are ideal for training purposes, School Resource Officers take full advantage of all vacant-school opportunities.” (Photo courtesy of the Palm Beach Schools Police Department.) The last day of school before the off-season starts typically has police administrators temporarily reassigning SROs to other units deemed needing reinforcements. While schools are shuttered for a few months, many SROs join Patrol Division ranks —the “backbone” of policing— responding to calls, conducting traffic stops, and doing anything and everything that cops customarily do. The Naperville Police Department posted about this aspect on June 6, 2024, saying, “Have you ever wondered what our eight School Resource Officers do over the summer while school’s not in session? They are assigned to our bustling downtown! “Downtown Naperville is recognized regionally as a destination for shopping, dining, and enjoyment, drawing visitors in droves! Our School Resource Officers supplement our Patrol Division with additional foot, bicycle, and vehicle patrols of the downtown. This provides an additional police presence and enhances everyone’s safety while there are more visitors during the warm weather months.” (Photo courtesy of the Naperville Police Department.) Indeed, this is the norm with law enforcement organizations, recognizing seasonal changes and reshuffling staffing to satisfy logistical necessities. My department mostly re-assigned SROs to the Patrol Division as a “buffer car,” meaning he/she would respond not as a primary officer responsible for a certain zone of the city but to supplement the squad. One reason for this was due to foreseeable court time, whereby cops are potentially (eventually) subpoenaed to testify in criminal or traffic violation cases, thus requiring them to leave school campuses. Given the propensity for armed, crazed individuals seeking infamy/notoriety by raining bullets on any school campus, our SROs were granted leeway by agency policy. Police executives circumvented reasons for any SRO to depart campus. Similar protocol applies when an SRO makes an arrest on campus: A Patrol officer would be summoned to transport the arrestee along with the Criminal Report Affidavit (CRA) completed by the SRO. That became an exception to the rule, requiring the SRO to petition the court to testify via teleconference methods, underscoring the primary function of always being present on school grounds. The state attorney’s office (SAO) typically indulged, given the circumstances and imperative role of SROs. Albeit rarely, when the SAO required in-person testimony at the courthouse, a Patrol officer would stand in in the interim. Bottom line: Never did we allow any school campus in our jurisdiction to be vulnerable and without law enforcement presence, including fully marked cruisers serving as billboards to warn would-be attackers against targeting a population of unsuspecting youngsters. There are law enforcement agencies, such as the Palm Beach Schools Police Department, that exclusively provide public safety at county educational campuses, making each agency member an SRO. The same rituals apply: when school is out for the off-season, PBSPD officers train incessantly, on- and off-campus. (Photo courtesy of the Palm Beach Schools Police Department.) Mid-Summer Blues Brush-Up Mid-summer marks the period when SROs return to school grounds and train, train, train with agency specialists and tacticians, often recruiting volunteers to serve as students injured by bad actors, enduring drills entailing evacuations, first aid, emergency medical transports, and all things chaos brought to some semblance by police, fire, and EMS professionals. Known as the parent organization of SROs, the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) holds pre-semester conferences. A recent one was attended by SROs from the Prescott, Arizona, police department. “Our Prescott Police Department School Resource Officers (SROs) are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. This week, our SROs are attending the National Association of School Resource Officers Conference, where they are honing their skills and learning the latest in school safety practices. (Photo courtesy of the Prescott Police Department.) “Their continued education and training are crucial for staying current with best practices, enhancing safety, managing crises, learning updated preventive measures, and staying informed about school violence and drug issues to be able to combat these issues head-on with the youth of our community.” More Students Means More Schools and SROs With the population boon down here in the Sunshine State, Florida’s law enforcement agencies are expanding the ranks of school resource officers due to the construction of new schools to accommodate the children of families recently relocated from liberal enclaves ruined by poor politics and idiotic ideologies. (Photo courtesy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.) Via the SROs I know here in Florida, the “undisciplined” kids and their “attitudes” indicative of liberal-based indoctrination come to rude awakenings in a much more conservative state whose governor has zero patience for the coddling game and the ludicrous ideology of police-less schools. Remember the dubious era when some anti-police school districts did their darndest to oust all cops from every school in their jurisdiction? In February of this year, “The Chicago Board of Education voted […] to end its contract with Chicago police and remove uniformed officers from the city’s schools,” according to a Fox News article. What a stain! Especially depriving students of deserved safety and security…not to mention the beloved camaraderie forged between kids and cops. Thankfully, wiser heads prevail… “We are super lucky in our district to have a community where our law enforcement and our school district work so closely together to be proactive in preparing for an event that hopefully will never occur, but we want to be prepared just in case something ever were to happen in our schools,” said Jessamine County (KY) Schools Superintendent Sara Crum, referring to active-shooter training involving local cops. [embedded content] “We have been very fortunate and blessed to have such a good partnership with the Jessamine County school system. Everything from having a school resource officer program and allowing our officers to be part of that school community to allow us to conduct training in and around their buildings just to provide a greater measure of safety for our students,” said School Resource Officer Sam Wade. A Baker County, Florida, sheriff’s office member who is assigned as a school resource deputy (SRD) in his jurisdiction said the following: “Many times I’m asked, ‘What do y’all [School Resource Deputies] do during the summer?” His answer: “This is without a doubt the most important, a week-long training with the Florida Association of School Resource Officers. “This training is filled with guest speakers who have the utmost knowledge of school safety. These speakers provide insight on the very best up-to-date tactics and policing in regard to keeping the students and staff of Florida schools safe and secure. “Parents and guardians, rest assured knowing your SRDs are not stagnant. They are working and training to better themselves every chance they get to provide the safe learning environment the Students and Staff of Baker County deserve!” As I compose these words, the Florida Association of School Resource Officers (FASRO) is hosting the training referred to above, spanning July 15-19, 2024, with hundreds of Florida’s school resource officers whose trained ears and eyes will return to campus with a new year of service and protection for thousands of students. Incidentally, other states have their version of the National Association of School Resource Officers model, offering plenty of training throughout the year. The beat goes on before, during, and after the bell rings. As the Los Angeles School Police Department motto goes: “Serving the Future…Today!” Make a difference support NationalPolice.org
July 18, 2024
The National Police Association #31 Chevy to Display Picture of Missing Child at Circle City 200
INDIANAPOLIS, July 18, 2024 — In support of the search efforts for missing individuals, the National Police Association #31 Chevy will prominently feature a picture of missing person Ella Saylor of Muncie, Indiana during the ARCA race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday, July 19. The race will be broadcast live on the FS1 cable channel. Driven by Rita Goulet, a full-time police officer and co-owner of the Rise Motorsports race team, the #31 Chevy, sponsored by the National Police Association, aims to bring national attention to the case of Ella Saylor, as well as bringing the #SupportThePolice message as she does every race. Goulet’s dual roles as a law enforcement officer and a race car driver uniquely position her to leverage the reach of motorsports to promote public safety and awareness. Ella Saylor, whose picture will be displayed on the #31 Chevy, has been missing since February 3, 2024. She is a 15-year-old white female, 5’4″, weighing 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. “We are proud to partner with NationalPolice.org to bring attention to Ella Saylor’s case,” said Rita Goulet. “Using our platform at the ARCA race, we hope to reach a wide audience and generate new leads that could assist in locating Ella. If found call the Muncie Indiana Police Department at 1-765-747-4838 or 1-800-the-Lost. About The National Police Association: The National Police Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit Educational/Advocacy organization. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org. ###
July 18, 2024
When Violence Hits Close to Home, it Feels Different
By Steve Pomper Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood, Washington, where 13-year-old girl bystander was shot and killed on July 3rd. Violent crime shatters the tranquility of any community. It’s distressing but also natural. But violence hits especially hard when it’s close to home, and even harder when the victims are children. But these days, added to these crimes is the way some parts of the criminal justice system treat the aftermath (charges, bail, prosecution), often leaving the community and victim’s family behind in seeming deference to the suspects. A few months back, I wrote about a suspect allegedly striking and killing a Washington state trooper on a freeway while drunk and driving recklessly. That happened about 20 miles from my house. Like I said, close to home. But, a day before Independence Day, only three miles from my house, at the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Washington, a typical suburban American mall, two groups of young males got into a dispute. After a male in one group reportedly punched by a 16-year-old male in the other group, later identified as Samuel Gizaw, he allegedly pulled a gun and fired at the male who’d struck him. According to a report by Sara Jean Green in The Seattle Times, she describes the inciting incident. “A 16-year-old Mukilteo boy who was punched in the face by another teen at Lynnwood’s Alderwood mall last week ‘severely escalated the situation’ by pulling out a gun, chasing after his assailant and firing a shot that ended up killing a 13-year-old girl, Snohomish County prosecutors say.” X-Post Link A young thug allegedly shot a 13-year-old girl who was enjoying an outing at the mall with a friend. Something my family and I have done at that mall more times than I can count. The shooting occurred at 6 p.m. on a sunny summer evening. Even closer to home, as The Lynnwood Times reported, Jayda Woods-Johnson was an eighth-grader at a school that borders my property. It’s the middle school my three kids attended. Though, all such crimes are monstrous, their impacts seem to increase with proximity. Like other Americans watching as crime increases across the land, knowing that my daughter and her children live about a mile from that mall, I can’t help but wonder about the what ifs….” What if my 11-year-old grandson had been where the victim was when that unthinking hoodlum decided to pull a gun and fire it at a person in a crowded food court. I can’t help but think it could have been my 11-year-old grandson, 9-year-old granddaughter, or 6-year-old grandson. Incidentally, The Seattle Times also reported Jayda was walking with her 11-year-old friend when she was shot. However, while Jayda’s poor family is dealing with their incomprehensible grief, the only thing they have left to hold onto are their memories—and a hope for justice. Justice may seem poor consolation—it won’t bring Jayda back, but it’s not nothing. If the system achieves justice, it’s supposed to deter people from causing other parents to mourn the losses of their children. Facebook-Link But, these days, too often, justice is elusive in some parts of America. In fact, in this instance, the suspect’s bail was initially set at $500K bail, which was posted, and Gizaw was released within 24-hours of the incident. Credit where credit is due, though. The Gizaw’s mother turned her son in to the police within hours of the shooting. However, where credit isn’t due is with a judge releasing a murder suspect on bail less than 24 hours after the shooting. The suspect was home with his loved ones while a 13-year-old girl will never be home with her family ever again. What does that tell the victim’s family and the community—and the criminals? On Facebook, Jayda’s mother, posted, “I’ve always seen these videos of people who lost their babies and never imagined I’d once be on that side of TikTok or in real life…I just want her name to not be forgotten and for the person that did this to pay … my daughter deserves justice.” Yes. She does. Facebook-Post Johnson added this heartbreaking note, “‘[the suspect’s] mom gets to see her son smell her son, talk to her son…we get to come home to a silent house and lay in her bed to smell what we can on her bedding and clothes,’ Jayda’s mother, Tabatha Johnson wrote on Facebook page. ‘I’m terrified the scent will drift away and I will forget what she smells like…she always smelled so good.’” Gizaw, of neighboring Edmonds, has been charged with first- and second-degree murder as an adult. Prosecutors say they also charged Gizaw with juvenile in possession of a firearm and first-degree assault for firing at a 17-year-old boy—missing him but not missing. The Lynnwood police officers did their jobs, responding quickly to ensure no further people were injured, and later booking the suspect into jail for murder. Snohomish County Fire & Rescue (my wife’s old department) firefighter/EMTs and medics did their jobs, also responding quickly, doing their part, attempting to save the gravely wounded teen. The hospital ER staff in Everett did their jobs, also desperately attempting to save that little girl’s life. Yes, they all did their jobs, but did whoever had the responsibility to keep this danger to the community behind bars do his or her job? A $500K bail seems high, but we’re talking about the murder of a child—in a crowded public place. Should there even have been a bail—especially so quickly? If so, should it at least have been higher? Facebook-Post The Lynnwood Times, about the original bail, also reported Johnson posted, “This is completely unreasonable and an example as to why this continues to occur too often in our country, our justice system isn’t taking a strong enough stand against those who are committing these senseless acts of violence.” She’s not alone. Remember that trooper I mentioned up top? The suspect’s bail had initially been set at $1million. But a judge (in this same county) reduced the bail to $100,000, which allowed the suspect to get out on bail. So, forgive me if I’m cynical. Fortunately, according to KOMO 4 News, a judge finally agreed the bail should be much higher. “Judge Marybeth Dingledy granted the request of the Snohomish County prosecuting attorney to increase Gizaw’s bail from $500,000 to $2 million.” Gizaw is back in custody. This is a positive development, but it shouldn’t take public pressure to do the right thing in the first place, right? We should also note that with all the woke talk about taking cops out of schools, it was a school resource officer who identified the suspect’s photo from a mall surveillance footage photo released by the Lynnwood Police Department. Make a difference support the NPA
July 17, 2024
The National Police Association Supports the Protect Local Law Enforcement Act of 2024
Sipa USA/Alamy Live News Indianapolis – July 17, 2024. Our world has become a more dangerous place, especially for law enforcement officers, who have been under increased attack because of the uniform they wear. Officers are responding to a growing number of active shooter situations, and are navigating a landscape rife with social unrest and concerns about terrorist threats. They perform these duties as their agencies remain dangerously understaffed and as offenders have become emboldened by lenient criminal policies. In this environment, police agencies need to be able to rely on the highest level of tactical tools available, to keep themselves and the public they serve safe. These tools include bullet-resistant vehicles that provide protection from criminals. The necessity for police tactical vehicles was evidenced earlier this year during a shooting in Burnsville, Minnesota that claimed the lives of two police officers and a firefighter. Although a BearCat vehicle operated by SWAT officers that approached the scene sustained 41 shots, it ultimately saved the lives of officers and others in the vicinity. This tragedy is what prompted Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) to introduce the Protect Local Law Enforcement Act of 2024, (H.R. 8429) this past May. The bill, which has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, would help eliminate much of the red tape that agencies currently must navigate to purchase tactical vehicles via federal Byrne-JAG grants. The bill’s text can be found here. Under current U.S. Department of Justice policy, local police agencies must adhere to a rigid certification process to receive federal funds and purchase tactical vehicles; and they can only use the vehicles for the originally stated purpose. H.R. 8429 removes these burdensome restrictions, giving police more flexibility. Because tactical vehicles are built to shield officers from weaponry, they can help officers accomplish tasks that standard police squad cars can’t. They place officers in a better position to mitigate threats from active shooter situations, violent riots, and potential acts of terror, without risking additional lives. They also give officers the leverage they need to rescue and evacuate citizens who may be held as hostages and provide them with a more optimal view of illegal activity. “At a time when police officers are under increased attack and our country is facing growing threats and uncertainty, law enforcement needs to be able to access the most effective tools possible, without having to be burdened by time-consuming bureaucracy,” said Paula Fitzsimmons, Legislative Director, National Police Association. The Protect Local Law Enforcement Act of 2024 would give police agencies the flexibility to more easily purchase this lifesaving equipment at a time when they -and the communities they serve- need it most. The National Police Association believes this bill has the potential to save the lives of both officers and citizenry, and we urge Congress to pass it now. About The National Police Association: The National Police Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit Educational/Advocacy organization. For additional information visit NationalPolice.org ###
