Saturday, August 23, 2008

PoliceOne.com column: What law enforcement can learn from the Caylee Anthony case


I have done numerous media interviews on the Caylee Anthony missing child case that is transpiring right here in Orlando, FL. I have strong feelings on how law enforcement agencies and experts need to be handling cases of this publicity laden magnitude. My latest "Weinblatt's Tips" column on law enforcement website www.PoliceOne.com came out yesterday (08/22/08) and reflects my multi-year call for law enforcement responiveness and partnership with the media. The article, "P1 Exclusive: What law enforcement can learn from the Caylee Anthony case," covers the need for law enforcement agencies and experts to interact with the media.

According to PoliceOne.com, the website, based in San Francisco, CA, has almost 700,000 unique visitors each month with more than 176,000 registered law enforcement members representing over 14,000 agencies.



The latest column is featured on the front of the website, as well as in the primary slot in today's PoliceOne.com email newsletter (which is emailed to 94,000 law enforcement professionals). It can be read by clicking the link: http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/Richard-Weinblatt/articles/1728471-P1-Exclusive-What-law-enforcement-can-learn-from-the-Caylee-Anthony-case/

The concepts in the column reflect my sentiments as documented even way back in a February 1992 media relations article I wrote for Law and Order: The Magazine for Police Management. As I mentioned in the latest PoliceOne.com column, the concepts I wrote about in 1992 are dated, but not outdated. The media storm swirling around law enforcement in the Caylee Anthony case are only going to become more frequent. It's time that we embrace this police-media partnership and fill up the airtime with accurate law enforcement generated information.

Weinblatt Police Training Videos: Driver Call Back Traffic Stops and Dealing with the Opposite Sex

Today I am blogging about two police training videos I created which were featured on the law enforcement website www.PoliceLink.com. I write regularly for PoliceLink. The videos are also up on my youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/richardweinblatt

I hosted, produced, directed, and edited, the videos with volunteer actor assistance from recent graduates from the Seminole Community College Police Academy that I manage here in Central Florida.

The February 18, 2008 video, "Dealing with the Opposite Sex," was based on my popular PoliceLink.com article "Ten Tips for Dealing with the Opposite Sex" published on November 26, 2007. I'm in the video as is Officer Nicole Gusaeff and Officer Daniel Barnard from our SCC Basic Law Enforcement Academy class #87. I even included some funny outtakes/bloopers at the end of the video. Nicole and Daniel were good sports and obviously had a lot of fun being featured in the video. I think the blooper part is more popular with folks than the serious section of the video.










The article can be read here: (http://www.policelink.com/training/articles/7528-ten-tips-for-dealing-with-the-opposite-sex)

This was a fun video and followed another, even more popular PoliceLink.com article (from October 10, 2007) that I wrote. The article was on a traffic stop concept not practiced by officers as much as driver's side or passenger side approach. My driver call back article can be read on PoliceLink.com here: http://www.policelink.com/training/articles/5883-safe-driver-call-backs

That first video, which I created on January 12, 2008, is based on my article. It starred me and my voluntary assistant, Officer Gabriel Garcia. Gabriel graduated from our SCC Basic Law Enforcement Academy class #90. He was a good sport and had fun acting in the video, although I did not incorporate an outtakes/bloopers section until the second video.

You can see the first video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dirc5wOFOgc

What surprises some people is the time it takes to shoot these videos. It takes three or four hours at least to set up the shots and do several takes. The multiple takes are needed to account for mistakes, as well as multiple camera angles. It then takes a couple hours to do the editing. I use iMovie HD 6 either on my Apple PowerMac G5 Quad Processor computer or my Apple MacBook Pro laptop to do the editing on my movies.

I've gotten tons of feedback from both current and aspiring law enforcement officers. Of course, as with any tactical training, you can get ten police instructors in a room and get ten different opinions on how to do things. With all my videos, I stress that they are only guides to general law enforcement situations. Specific legal and tactical guidance has to be sought from agency trainers and departmental policies.

Another type of video I've done has dealt with topical law enforcement issues of the day. Some examples of them were the Andrew Meyer University of Florida Taser incident, the Ohio police Taser situation, and the Paris Hilton lack of interest in being role model statement from her appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.

I am thinking of doing either more of these police training videos and/or more police expert opinion on the topical law enforcement issue of the day videos (prior examples of these can also be seen on my youtube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/richardweinblatt). What do you think?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Caylee Anthony Police Expert Analysis on News Interviews



You would have to be under a rock not to notice the large amount of coverage garnered by the Caylee Anthony missing child case. As someone with law enforcement and media interviewing experience, it came as no surprise that I've ended up doing quite a few interviews on the topic. Even more than before, this investigation has lead to an incredible number of people coming up to me seeking answers to their many questions.

As I told WESH2 News (the NBC affiliate) anchor/reporter Gail Paschall-Brown, I fear that this case will have a sad ending. In my experience, the longer a child is missing, the more grim the prospects become.

This is a tragic case for a number of reasons. This missing two-year-old, now turned three-year-old, may have already been located if law enforcement officials were able to get straight answers from the get go. Sadly, As a former police chief who has investigated homicides and missing persons cases as a sworn law enforcer, it does not surprise me that people will use deceptions and omissions when dealing with police investigators seeking to ascertain the well-being of their own family.

I have told many folks that the Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators here in Orlando, FL, handling this case, Sgt. John Allen and Cpl. Yuri Mellich (who just finished two years in OCSO homicide), are not new kids on the block. They know how to investigate these types of cases. They are experienced, diligent and highly trained.

As for the smell of old pizza and the smell of death in the Pontiac. As anyone who has smelled a dead body left for some time, there is no confusing the two. As I pointed out in a Central Florida News 13 in-studio interview I did on 7/24/08 with Anchor Ybeth Bruzual, even Cindy Anthony, the grandmother, stated that in one of the 911 calls she made.

In a video package of a 7/23/08 interview I did with top rated ABC affiliate WFTV Channel 9 Eyewitness News, her statements concerning the pizza and my contradictory statements refuting the chance of confusing the two distinct smells were played together. Experienced law enforcers especially would not be confused by the pizza presence. As I told WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen, that is not a chance that the two could be interchanged.


If you add on top of that the positive hit indication of two cadaver dog teams, the direction becomes clearer. As I explained on the WOFL Fox 35 Morning News in two live on-set interviews with host Heidi Hatch on 7/23/08 and in a video package with WVEN Univision 26 Noticias (the Spanish language news) News Anchor/Producer Jimena Cortes on 7/24/08, these dogs are highly trained and have a keen sense of smell. They would not be confused by pizza. You could put a ham sandwich next to them and they would not be distracted.

As for their sense of smell, they can detect the smell of decomposition deep underground even with a concrete slab being present. I don't think the human and canine experts could get this wrong.

It does appear that the family is now cooperating a little more with the investigators. They have discussed the issue of the Anthony family shed burglary and gas can theft with them. I figured that it was worth looking at and I told WFTV Channel 9 in another interview on 7/29/08 that investigators would have to look at the gas can shed burglary and theft situation.


That is good that family is now talking with the OCSO investigators. They are the ones with the interviewing expertise. They are the ones with the big picture of all of the tips that have to be logged in and prioritized. Seemingly insignificant information might be relevant when coupled with other information known by investigators.

It takes a lot of experience and training to conduct these investigations and no one should undertake such an endeavor on their own. To do so risks the integrity of the investigation.

I have also been asked why investigators withhold information. As I told reporters and news directors, who understand this as they have covered crime stories for years, information is always held back especially in high profile cases. They do this to be able to test the veracity and credibility of those who might confess or come forward with information. People have been known to do so with false information.

Information is also held back in order to have more material to offer the news media at a later date in an effort to revive the story. As time passes, sometimes people become more comfortable coming forward. Media coverage later helps the investigators to get more tips.

All of this is being combined with the evidence that they have collected and submitted for analysis on several different forays. Such evidence includes the stain, hair, and dirt from the Pontiac's trunk, the shovel borrowed from the neighbor, and the clothes retrieved and cleaned by Cindy Anthony from the Pontiac and later taken by investigators from the Anthony home. As I explained to Central Florida News 13 reporter Stephanie Coueignoux on 8/6/08, the evidence has to be looked at and analyzed. The forensic evidence, combined with their interviews and document collections will help them to piece together what amounts to a giant jigsaw puzzle.

This saga is sure to continue for a little longer. However, unlike the Trenton Duckett missing little boy case, I think this one will be solved. Let's hope so that the Anthony family, friends and the community can get some answers and some closure. Something that I know that countless loved ones of other missing children across Florida and the nation are hoping for in their respective cases.

Below is my Fox 35 Morning News two live in-studio segments from 7/23/08. Other TV news interview clips are on youtube at www.youtube.com/user/richardweinblatt

Friday, July 4, 2008

My Morning with American Idol's Ace Young and July 4th Holiday Travel Safety Tips News Interviews


(Left to right) Fox 35 weatherman Jim Van Fleet, Seminole Community College Criminal Justice's Dr. Richard Weinblatt, and former American Idol contestant Ace Young in the Fox 35 studios.

Yesterday (July 3rd) was a fun day. Early in the morning I went over to the Lake Mary, FL, studios of WOFL Fox 35 to do another law enforcement-related interview for the Fox 35 Morning News. The cast, crew, and executives over the show were as friendly and gracious as they always are. It is really terrific to work with such a professional, reliable, and friendly TV station covering the Orlando TV market.

Both before and after my live on-set interview, I hung out in the studio and caught up with my friends there including the consummate show hosts Tom Johnson, Heidi Hatch, Lauren LaPonzina, and, of course, the weatherman and singer supremo, Jim Van Fleet.

American Idol's Ace Young

A nice bonus was spending some time with former American Idol contestant Ace Young. I've met a lot of celebrities, but Ace ranks as one of the nicest. I found him to be very down to earth. Of course it helped that my pal Jim Van Fleet (a buddy of Ace Young's) gave me an introduction to him that went like this: "Dr. Weinblatt's the man to know... he knows all of the law enforcement people." Thanks, Jim.


Ace and I joked about my business card not being a get out of jail free card. We also decided that a stint in jail would not be fun for either of us. Ace said he'd have to shave his head and bulk up if he went to the big house.

Ace Young has a killer schedule and I admire his work ethic. He had come into Orlando at 3:30 in the morning and was heading to Disney after the Fox 35 Morning News. After that, he said his plan was to get some sleep and then head to to perform at Red, Hot and Boom July 4th celebration in nearby Altamonte Springs, FL, (a bunch of my cop buddies are working this event on a mandatory basis and are going to be worn out themselves). Then it was off to Tennessee. Wow, what a schedule. As I said to Jim Van Fleet, "I guess you have to ride the wave while it lasts."

Ace has got a great memory and is smoother than most young rock stars out there. He told Jim that he had listened to his music on his myspace page. Later, he told me he was going to check out my website (www.policearticles.com). Not only can he sing, he can handle people very well. I was impressed.

Tom Johnson News Interview


Fox 35 Morning News host Tom Johnson (left) interviews Seminole Community College Criminal Justice's Dr. Richard Weinblatt live on the set.

As for my news interview itself, it went well. I had approx. two minutes live on the set with host and super nice guy Tom Johnson. We discussed July 4th holiday travel safety tips.

We covered such tips as: check out your car mechanically, plan your route, let another person know your route and car description (including license plate), and have plenty of food and water. I noted that a recent study found that two thirds of all crashes happen within five miles of the home. The shorter trip venues, caused by the rise in fuel prices, are no haven from crashes and other problems.

Behind the Scenes

For those who ask me what it's like to do these TV interviews, this may be of interest. We used three studio cameras and crew. It's pretty hard to look at the right camera at the right time and also at the host asking the questions. It takes some practice to follow the red lights on top of the camera that indicate they are the one feeding the image at the moment. All the meantime, you have to come with some good ad-lib based on the tips submitted previously. And you have to do this all smoothly without looking like it takes any effort. It is not as easy as it looks.


I've done interviews with both Tom and Heidi Hatch. They are both fun to work with. Tom was especially happy as he had plans this weekend to celebrate his eleventh wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Tom!

Jim Van Fleet's Music CDs and My Wife

I know I made my wife, Anne, happy when I hand delivered to her office three CDs of weatherman and music star Jim Van Fleet's artistry. Anne has met the charismatic Jim before and likes both him and his music. She was thrilled that Jim gave me the CDs for her. You can check out his music at www.jimvanfleet.net or www.myspace.com/jimvanfleet Anne told me that she already played his CDs with my six-year-old son Michael in the car on the way home yesterday.

The interview, as well as another one I did that afternoon at the downtown Orlando studios of Central Florida News 13, is below.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Reflections on SCC Leadership Academy


The above picture of me receiving my Seminole Community College (SCC) Leadership Academy diploma at the April graduation ceremony from Dr. E. Ann McGee, Seminole Community College president, is the culmination of my terrific experience as part of the fantastic bonding and educational vehicle at SCC. The year-long program was the brainchild of Dr. McGee and reflects her commitment to educational excellence. Many college presidents espouse the virtues of of educational excellence, but Dr. McGee, SCC Communications and Marketing guru Michael Garlich, and their team of Leadership Academy alumni proved it by their actions. Like most folks with a criminal justice background, I believe that actions speak louder than words.


I was honestly impressed as Dr. McGee and company brought together a diverse group of men and women from across Seminole Community College's multiple campuses here in Central Florida to learn, laugh, and share about each other, the college, and educational leadership. I found it fascinating and made some great contacts and friends in the process. We even attended an SCC Board meeting and spent some time with the SCC Board of Trustees including Board Chair and Florida State Representative Chris Dorworth.

The highlight of the Seminole Community College Leadership Academy was our two day visit in March 2008 to Tallahassee (Florida's state capitol) hosted by Dr. McGee. In the state capitol, we toured the governmental complexes and learned much of the legislative and budgetary process and how it all ties into the educational picture in our state. We also saw the guenuine respect that educational and political leaders have for Dr. McGee. I have to say I was impressed.




The members of the SCC Leadership Academy also met with a host of dignitaries including SCC board of trustees chairman and state representative Chris Dorworth, Rep. Joe Pickens, Florida State University president Dr. T.K. Wetherell, and Florida Division of Community Colleges chancellor Dr. Willis N. Holcombe. These leaders gave us much advice and candidly discussed pressing issues facing community colleges.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Another Viewer Gives Feedback


As I have posted for readers of my blog before, here is a nice email I received in my YouTube.com channel inbox. This email concerns the University of Florida student Taser incident involving Andrew Meyer...


lthobbes1
From one Officer to another, I thank you
May 06, 2008
Hello Richard,
I'm a Deputy in Greene County (Springfield) Mo.
After seeing your intelligent answer to the student taser incident I want to thank you.
Even since this event I have been arguing the exact same points that you have.

Ask them
Tell them
Make them

When someone does not comply we only really have two choices
1. Use physical force to make him comply which could result in numerous different injuries or even death to the offender or

or 2. They could deploy a taser, which is much safer for the officers and the offender.
ANYTIME an offender refuses to comply they must be forced. The only other option is to pull up a chair and talk about "feelings" for 12 hours and maybe he will comply:P
Most inexperienced liberals I talk to want to say "well they had three cops they could have hand cuffed him".

To these inexperienced folks- I have this to say: as a brand new rookie in corrections more than 3 years ago I took my first DT class .

At the end of class all formed two lines and went through the line taking turns having someone act as the resistor in the prone position with arms underneath them. Two officers would come up and force the person into the handcuff position. The resistor on bottom would use passive resistance only, but they would hold out as long as they could.

My MMA instructor and good friend who got me the job was also one of the DT instructors. When it was my turn to be the resistor, one of the officers to try and cuff me was a competitive power-lifter who at one time could bench over 500. The other was a large veteran C.O. female weighing approx 250-300lbs.

Long story extremely shortened- These two tried repeatedly to cuff me with no success until they almost wore themselves completely out. So the DT instructors asked them what they should do. The instructors ended up instructing them to call for back-up. At this point the rest of the class all pounced on me. (I don't know the exact number of total students but I would guestimate 10-15)

After about 2 minutes of the entire class failing to handcuff me most of the class were worn out and the instructors called scenario. The DT instructors were of course laughing and claiming they only did that because they knew I was a grappler and "I wanted to see a cluster, and I knew you would be good for a cluster"

Am I trying to brag? Not at all, You and I both know that even a 100lb methed out woman can keep 5-6 officers busy for quite some time....

I have trouble sometimes painting an accurate picture of what police work is really like to liberal civilians. The taser is not the equivalent of the electric chair the way many liberals have been brainwashed into thinking. It is hard to de-program people from the romantic ideas people get from TV about police work.

I think you did an extremely superb job of explaining the John Kerry Taser action and I hope you keep making these explanations on youtube in the future.

Thank you so much for posting this video. You did a great job keep it up.

God Bless,
Jeremiah

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Blast from the Past: Polaroid of Firearms from 1995 Traffic Stop


I was digging in a desk drawer tonight and I found something really interesting. It was a Polaroid (remember them) picture. Back in 1995, as a Patrol Division Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, I stopped a vehicle on Interstate 25. To make a long story short, I arrested the male driver and found a huge cache of firearms and ammunition. The bad stuff is spread out on the hood of my Chevrolet Caprice patrol car for evidentiary photo purposes. It is a good thing that the driver didn't use any of that firepower on me before I knew what he had. Talk about a blast from the past.