Saturday, April 30, 2011

Why Some Cops and Reserves Hate Each Other


It's a crack in the blue wall. Why some full-time police officers and reserves hate each other was a hot topic when I originally wrote two related articles for as part of my "Reserve Power" column for the mega police website Officer.com in 2006. It still is. Both columns were just posted on my new website PoliceReserveOfficer.com. The first part can be read at "Why Some Cops Hate Reserves: A Crack in the Police Family" and the second installment of the column can be read at "The Flip Side: Why Some Reserves Hate Cops"

Part of what I covered in those columns, in concepts and terms that are still as valid and germaine today as they were then, is that full-timers and reservists should not paint each other with a broad brush based on the less than stellar actions of a few within their respective ranks.


The aim should not be to crush the other guys. Rather it should be unite to accomplish the mission of policing. With all the attacks on law enforcement officers we can certainly do without grenades being lobbed from within the police family. Such negative forces create cracks in our wall.

It touched a nerve and I ended up getting an avalanche of messages and emails. I think the concerns resonate today in law enforcement buildings and patrol cars everywhere.

Let me know what you think?

Friday, April 29, 2011

Chaos or Order: Police Expert View on Casey Anthony Trial Security


As a police expert, I see large problems looming for local law enforcement officials when the Casey Anthony circus, er, murder trial commences on May 9 here in my home town of Orlando, FL. While many are focusing on the recent court motions and rulings, officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Office (the law enforcement agency charged with court security), the Orlando Police Department, and others are meeting behind closed doors working out the strategies and contingency plans. Of course, the Sheriff's Office well knows the case itself as they have been the lead agency in the Caylee Anthony case investigation from the start.

Many have lamented the fact that large gobs of resources will be taken from other areas of local law enforcement especially the Sheriff's Office. While that is true, I don't believe that the Orange County Sheriff's Office has much choice. While I understand the torment on the part of other victims of crime who don't garner the same level of attention, I appreciate the fact that the Sheriff's Office has to handle the situations they are presented.

It is the same with 911. They can't tell someone that they can't respond because no one is available. When it comes to matters of public safety, law enforcement has to be present to take care of the potential or existing danger. When they do run to those 911 calls, or the issues surrounding the Casey Anthony trial, other areas do get less attention. If it's anybody's fault, it's Casey Anthony's (if she does end up being found guilty).

The Issues

Certainly there is the front door security, but there are also a number of other concerns that few have contemplated, but that the law enforcement folks are likely pondering. As a former police chief and who has handled court security issues, I see a plethora of issues to be tackled. I am also certainly familiar with the dynamics of the case having done countless Casey Anthony media interviews.


Precedent situations include venues such as the Michael Jackson and O.J. Simpson trials. Those who watched those legal proceedings know full well that order and chaos are not far apart especially when all the attendant issues are not planned for.

Courthouse Security

The obvious one, courtroom and courthouse front door security is clearly the first line of defense and where a considerable amount of resources will be expended. The court room will be packed with friends and family from both sides, as well as the hordes of media that will be descending on Orlando. Judge Belvin Perry has already devised a system for picking people who are vying for the limited supply of seats at the trial

While Orlando is used to being host to a bevy of high profile celebs, the trial will bring star news people to the land of Disney. The presence of those folks will bring its own set of security concerns. At a minimum, patrol officers and deputy sheriffs will surely be responding to incidents big and small involving these stars.

Threats

Casey Anthony's unique form of celebrity has already created a rabid group of defenders and detractors. Some of those folks are a little on the, shall we say, mentally unhinged end of the spectrum, and will send notes of varying severity of threats to the various players in this trial. The recipients would include members of the prosecution and defense teams (including lightning rod Jose Baez), Judge Belvin Perry, Casey, Cindy, George, and Lee Anthony, as well as members of the media who may be perceived as not reporting the case as someone would wish them to.

Whomever the target, law enforcement (and it will fall mostly to Sheriff Jerry Demings' Orange County Sheriff's Office) will have to conduct a threat assessment to determine the veracity and seriousness of the note writer. That will take resources and is no simple task.

Just ask the United States Secret Service and its special agents who have serious expertise in evaluating potential threats to the President, Vice President, and other dignitaries. Closer to the targets that are present in this case, the United States Marshals Service has long had a specialty of protecting federal judges and providing courthouse security. And probably no agency has more experience with celebrity and high profile trials than the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office in California.

Threat assessment and target protection is not an endeavor for the ill-trained or run of the mill law enforcer. Experienced, seasoned investigators will be put on the case.

When I served in a Sheriff's Office Courthouse Division, I investigated threat notes sent to judges. These were clearly mentally unbalanced individuals penning the notes. Their apparent mental illness makes them no less a threat to the protected person.

Traffic


Handling the influx of vehicles into downtown Orlando is going to be another headache that falls on the shoulders of law enforcement. Not only will the additional cars pose an issue, but the presence of the media will bring its own set of problems. Large satellite live trucks will have to find places to park that afford convenient access to the courthouse, but don’t impede the flow of traffic. Additionally, some media types will be coming with mobile homes in tow to house them during the two month trial. Those also will have to be parked somewhere that works for all concerned.

Jury Security

And then there is the matter of the jury. Much like the prosecution, defense, and Anthony family protectees, there will be the additional potential targets in the jurors and alternate jurors. Like most judges, Judge Perry will look to not give a reason to be overturned on appeal. Judges hate to be overturned, so he is going to want to keep people away from them including particularly aggressive members of the media or the public.

To its credit, the Orange County Sheriff's Office is a professional agency with over 3,000 employees. It is no stranger to high profile cases or public scrutiny. They will be on the international stage as the world will watch all aspects of the trail very carefully. I fully expect that they will rise to the challenge with perhaps a few understandable glitches along the way.

More on the Casey Anthony case can be found at:

TheCopDoc.com - Media

http://richardweinblatt.blogspot.com/2008/08/caylee-anthony-police-expert-analysis.html

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-cop-doc/2011/04/21/thecopdoc-casey-anthony-legal-eagles-new-taser-x2

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Police Reserve Officer Role & Professionalism Highlighted on PoliceReserveOfficer website


The role and professionalism of today's Police Reserve Officer is highlighted on a new website: PoliceReserveOfficer.com. I created the website to help handle the many questions I field on the topic of police reserves. As a former law enforcement reserve, around stints as a police chief, police academy director, and criminal justice professor, I fully appreciate the enormous contribution and sacrifices of the around a quarter of a million men and women who serve under many titles depending on local rules and preferences. Some of those monikers include: reserve, auxiliary, special, supernumerary, and intermittent law enforcers.

Whatever the name, reserve officers undertake the mission of the badge for their communties and for the approx. 700,000 full-time counterparts for little or no compensation at at great personal risk.

One of the articles on the website addresses the ultimate sacrifice that police officers, deputy sheriffs, and state troopers make which sadly includes reserves as well. It is: The Ultimate Sacrifice: Line of Duty Deaths Underscore Police Reserve Officers' Service.


Another article I wrote exclusively for this website addresses the use of reserve officer service to boost a full-time applicant's attractiveness for hire. This is a particularly valuable move as the competitveness for few salaried slots has greatly intensified given the current governmental budgetary climate. Any edge is very useful for the candidate.

Reserve officers gain valuable training, experience, and contacts. The article is called: Police Job Jumstart: Police Reserves Standout.

Whether you are a reservists, full-timer, law enforcement executive, aspiring officer, or just interested individual, check out the website and learn more about this great segement of our public safety service branches.

The PoliceReserveOfficer.com video is below and gives more highlights of the website dedicated to the professional volunteer and part-time law enforcement officer.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Pretend Police: Are Impersonators Stopping You?


Pretend police in your mirror lights flashing and siren blaring is a scary prospect for all drivers on the road. Factor in being a woman alone or driving late at night and the prospect can be even more terrifying.

As a police expert, speaker, author, and media commentator, I hear what folks' police, crime, and safety related concerns are. And so, it was little surprise that quite a few people have been reading my latest police article for Examiner.com, "Pretend Police: Safety Tips for Drivers Being Stopped." As Examiner.com's designated "police examiner" for their national edition, I had a feeling that the article would strike a nerve for all concerned about police, crime and safety issues on an issue that really happens. I was right on target as the article opened with real life cases of police impersonators arrested in Florida, Massachusetts, California, and Pennsylvania.


Fake fuzz are out there and they are stopping drivers on the highways with pseudo cop accoutrements. The illicit equipment on the nabbed impersonator law enforcement officers have included badges, uniforms, radios, flashing lights, sirens, guns, and of course, a police style vehicle such as the ubiquitous Ford Crown Victoria.

The article gave safety tips, as I also do via my TheCopDoc.com website, on what to do if you think that a pretend police officer, deputy sheriff, or state trooper is trying to stop you.

The real police certainly want to stop police impersonators from engaging in their illegal conduct, arrest them, and bring them to justice. Fake fuzz endanger the public and law enforcers alike.

Check it out and comment below on The Cop Doc blog, on my Facebook page, or on the Examiner.com article. Have you been stopped by the Pretend Police?

Here is the link to the PoliceImpersonator article I wrote: http://www.examiner.com/police-in-national/pretend-police-safety-tips-for-drivers-being-stopped

Sunday, April 3, 2011

WORLD PREMIERE of new The Cop Doc Radio Show Promo Video


Here is the WORLD PREMIERE of the new The Cop Doc Radio Show promo video. The video highlights the arresting topics such as Officer Down!, Policing Japan's Crisis, Cops and Crazies, and Domestic Violence. There are many more topics that have been covered on the show encompassing Police, Crime, and Safety. The show is geared for law enforcement and non-law enforcement listeners as part of The Cop Doc's mission to explain complex justice topics in understandable terms.





The Cop Doc radio show has had numerous guest experts on the program and the promo video featured radio show guests Criminal Profiler Pat Brown, Dave "Buck Savage" Smith, and police guru Roy Bedard. A complete lists of guests and topics can be viewed at www.TheCopDoc.com.

This is fast paced, rocking beat video that showcases the police, crime and safety topics show. The show was recently moved to it's new time of 7:00 pm EDT on Blogtalkradio to make it more available for guests and listeners.


In addition to the live show that can be listened to via the Internet on Blogtalkradio.com or on the telephone, listeners can also enjoy the archived version via many application platforms including Apple iTunes, Windows Media Player, AppleCoreMedia, GoogleListen, and PodTrapper.

Check out the video below. And listen to The Cop Doc radio show in the Blogtalkradio player at the bottom. Or you can click on the link to go to the Blogtalk radio show page: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-cop-doc



Listen to internet radio with Dr Weinblatt on Blog Talk Radio