Teacher arrested in student trip scam www.privateofficer.com

Subsitute teacher arrested in student trip scam www.privateofficer.com

DOUGLAS, Ga. April 29 2008

By: Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private officers

www.privateofficer.com— Authorities say that they had been notified by numerous people of a possible scam involving a subsitute teacher and a trip to Florida.

After looking into the allegations authorities say that a Coffee County High School substitute teacher has been arrested in what police now say appears to be a scheme to bilk money from students promised a trip to Disney World.

Police investigators have charged 39-year-old Christy Wise with theft by conversion after they say that she collected more than $7,400 from students for their senior trip but never booked the reservations.

Investigators say that they have learned that nearly 50 students toting suitcases and bags lined up outside Coffee County High on Friday waiting to start their vacation, but the bus never came and Wise never showed up.

Police believe Wise never had any intentions of scheduling the trip.

Police located Wise and took her into custody charging her with several felonies and booked her into the county jail.

An official at the Coffee County Jail said Wise posted bond and was released Sunday.

The amount of the bond was not immediately known.It is not known if police were able to recover any of the money from wise after her arrest.

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Police officer killed by husband www.privateofficer.com

Livingston Tx. April 29 2008
A Livingston police officer was shot and killed by her husband in an apparent murder-suicide Saturday night, authorities said.
Officer Caran Renee Coward, 39, was found dead about 8 p.m. in a travel trailer outside her home in the 300 block of Knob Hill, about 75 miles north of downtown Houston, said Polk County Sheriff Kenneth Hammack, whose agency is investigating the case.
Authorities said they think she was killed by her husband, Randy Phillip Coward, 43, who was also found dead from a gunshot wound in the trailer.
One of the couple’s three children, who was inside the home during the shooting, called 911 to report finding their father in a pool of blood, Hammack said, and he added that police believe the weapon was a shotgun.
Caran Coward, an officer with the Livingston Police Department since February 2005, was on duty when she was killed.
“I’m not sure why she went home at this time,” Hammack said.
Investigators, who were still at the scene after midnight Saturday, are trying to determine the circumstances that lead to the shooting.
“There had been some family or marital problems and that’s all I know at this time,” Hammack said.
Valerie Reddell, a friend of Caran Coward’s, said she was unaware of any problems the couple was having.
Reddell, also the Polk County Enterprise editor, said Randy Coward was a musician and a Christian Country Music Association award winner. She said he did construction work on the side.
The last time they spoke, Caran Coward told Reddell that her husband had broken his foot on a construction job and that the injury had impacted his ability to earn a living both with music and construction, prompting her to take on extra police assignments.
Hammack, who knew Caran Coward, described her as a good officer and hard worker.
“She will be missed by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the Livingston Police Department,” he said. “We’ve lost a fine officer.”
Reddell said she’ll remember Caran Coward for always treating people with respect.
“She was courteous and kind to everybody,” she said. “She is a shinning example of everything a woman officer brings to law enforcement.”
The three children — two boys and a girl — are being taken to their grandmother’s home.

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Shoplifters leave two year old child behind www.privateofficer.com

Shoplifters leave 2 year old child behind www.privateofficer.com

NEWPORT NEWS, VA.April 29 2008

Kyle T. Greene

Ntl. assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com — Newport News Police are searching for three suspects accused of shoplifting and leaving a two-year-old behind at the Jefferson Avenue Wal-Mart Thursday afternoon. Police released surveillance video Friday morning showing the scene, but one woman, who wants to remain anonymous, says she doesn’t need the video. She saw it all first hand.
“I was devastated because the little boy was just sitting there crying…with his arms open or whatever.”
Police say after the women were caught shoplifting, they ran. Eventually, one of the women came back and asked WalMart security not to call police. When the guard told her the police had already been called, she ran, again leaving the little boy behind according to police.
Newport News Public Information Officer Lou Thurston says the surveillance video will be used as evidence.
“There is actually some parts of the video that disturb me greatly because the child is so far removed from any adult that anyone, and in fact one gentleman did walk past the child who was standing there, it’s disturbing that anyone could walk up and take this child and go off with him. That’s very disturbing,” says Thurston. “There’s also some video where the security personnel from Wal-Mart take charge of the child, but that could’ve been anybody if it wasn’t the security person.”
Thurston says the mother was not at the store when her son was abandoned and that she had left her child in another woman’s care. Police need that woman’s name.
“The mother is not the most cooperative person toward us and I kind of have to leave it at that,” says Thurston.
Now police are working hard to find answers while Hampton Roads residents are working hard to grasp how this could happen.
“The larceny is one thing, but abandoning a child is just, it’s horrific,” says Thurston.
Thurston also says the suspects face charges of Larceny and Child Neglect which *could* turn into felonies. There’s no word yet on if the mother could face any charges.
If you have any information that could help police, call the Crimeline at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

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Police shoot, kill shoplifter during arrest www.privateofficer.com

GOULDS, Fla. – April 29 2008

By: Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com
Miami-Dade police say an officer fatally shot a man while investigating a report of a theft at a mall.
Officers were called out on a report of a shoplifting and had made contact with a man that they believed was involved.
Police say a struggle broke out when the officer tried to arrest the man Sunday night at Southland Mall in Goulds, about 45 minutes south of Miami. The officer then fired shots.
Witnesses say they saw police chasing a man, heard what sounded like a shot and then saw an officer performing CPR on a person on the ground.
The officer’s name has not been released yet but the name of the person shot has been released late Monday. Officers say that 31 year old Joseph Lumpkin struggled with police as the officer tried to subdue him .
Officials say a security officer pointed Lumpkin out to the officer, who chased him through a neighborhood. When the officer caught up to him, the two grappled for the gun which discharged. One shot pierced Lumpkin’s chest.
Police have also not released the name of the store where the person alledgedly took items from or what the merchandise was.
Lumpkin died at the scene. An autopsy has been planned for Monday.

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Police cancel school security program www.privateofficer.com

CLOVIS, N.M. April 29 2008

By: Bryan Hill

Security News Magazine

www.privateofficer.com – The local police department here has made a decision not to police the city schools.
Clovis schools won’t have police resource officers in next year because the police department is short staffed right now the police chief said..
Chief Dan Blair says his department will appoint one officer as a school liaison officer.
Three others who worked in the schools will return to Clovis streets where they are badly needed to help beef up patrols..
Blair says the department will work with school officials to streamline when they should call police and what they can handle themselves. The chief wasn’t sure if the schools would hire private security companies to help with their security needs but it might be something that they’ll look into.
The chief says his department began having staff shortages in the last year, and currently is down more than half a dozen officers.
He also says the department recently withdrew from a Department of Justice grant that required it to dedicate four officers to the program.
He says his department could no longer fullfill the requirement of 4 officers.
Tuscon Az. police made a similar announcement to their school system several days ago. All police officers will also be withdrawn from schools and placed back on the streets.

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Shoplifter trys to swallow drugs www.privateofficer.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio —April 29 2008

By: Bryan Hill

Security News Magazine

www.privateofficer.com Police were called to an area store after loss prevention agents say that they caught a female stealing merchandise.
Authorities say that they arrested Monica Gilliam, 38, of 1127 Maiden Lane, Saturday morning, April 26, at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2100 N. Bechtle Ave., after store officials detained her of shoplifting.
According to police, during the incident, Gilliam allegedly swallowed some drugs and tried to swallow some marijuana,and resisted officers according to a police report.
She has been arrested on theft and drug charges and is scheduled to appear in court on charges of theft and drug possession.

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PUBLIC OPINION POLL PRIVATE SECURITY www.privateofficer.com

PUBLIC OPINION POLL……PRIVATE SECURITY……PLEASE ANSWER AND EMAIL www.privateofficer.com

PUBLIC OPINION POLL………PLEASE ANSWER AND EMAIL

Atlanta Ga. April 29 2008
Should all security officers go through a standard form of training. ie. 40 hours/80 hrs. etc……yes/no

Should security officers if properly trained carry firearms?

Should security officers if properly trained be sworn peace officers and allowed to make arrests?

How important is it to have private security officers in schools? hospitals? businesses? airports?

In general, do you think we need security officers?

Have you ever had a bad experience with a security officer? Tell us what happened?

Have you ever had a good experience with a security officer? Tell us what happened?

Does your school or workplace use security guards?

If a security officer gave you an order like leave the store or don’t enter the mall or stop, would you obey him?

Thank you for helping in this very important survey. Please email your answers to; adminassist@privateofficer.com

 

PUBLIC OPINION POLL………PLEASE ANSWER AND EMAIL

 

1. Should all security officers go through a standard form of training. ie. 40 hours/80 hrs. etc……yes/no
2. Should security officers if properly trained carry firearms?
3. Should security officers if properly trained be sworn peace officers and allowed to make arrests?
4. How important is it to have private security officers in schools? hospitals? businesses? airports? In general, do you think we need security officers?
5. Have you ever had a bad experience with a security officer? Tell us what happened?
6. Have you ever had a good experience with a security officer? Tell us what happened?
7. Does your school or workplace use security guards?
8. If a security officer gave you an order like leave the store or don’t enter the mall or stop, would you obey him?

 

Thank you for helping in this very important survey. Please email your answers to; adminassist@privateofficer.com

Store customer shoots would be robber www.privateofficer.com

Store customer shoots would-be robbers www.privateofficer.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. April 29 2008

Kyle T. Greene

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com — Police said a pair of armed men entered a liquor store Saturday night and attempted to rob the business, but met up with another armed person inside.
That armed person was a customer, who shot one of the robbers dead.
The other robber fled on foot and has not been captured or identified by police.
There were three employees and two customers inside when the armed men entered Sinker’s Liquor Store on Gallatin Road just after 10 p.m. Saturday.
Clifford Baxter, an employee, said he went into the back to call the police.
As Baxter was calling police, the armed customer pulled out his weapon and opened fire on the suspects, who police said had ordered everyone on the floor.
“It happened real fast,” said Baxter.
The suspects returned fire, and police said about 10 shots were fired altogether.
“There was an exchange of gun fire between suspects and the customer inside the business,” said Capt. David Imhof of the Nashville Police Department. “…One of the suspects was able to successfully run from the store. The other only made it the end of the parking lot where he collapsed.”
Police said the shot suspect was taken to Skyline Medical Center and pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.
Baxter said he almost attacked the customer with a bottle in the aftermath of the shootings before he realized he was not one of the alleged robbers.
“I told him I appreciate it, thank him thank him, he may have saved our lives,” said Baxter.
Police said the customer does have a valid Tennessee permit needed to carry a weapon.
The robber who got away was described by police as being a young black man believed to be in his 20s who was short, with a slender build and wearing a red shirt and black pants.
Police said to call 911 if anyone has any information.

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U.S. Parks, minuments have lax security www.privateofficer.com

Many worry about U.S. Parks and Memorials lax security www.privateofficer.com

Washington DC April 29 2008

by:David B. Offer
Few sights are more inspiring than the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Mem-orial at night.
Walking up the marble steps to gaze at the oversized lighted statue of Abraham Lincoln is always profound. I’ve done that several times; the feeling never diminishes.
Anyone who shares that feeling, including — I assume — Maine’s congressional delegation, should be outraged at a recent report disclosing that the U.S. Park Police is failing to protect these national icons, or the Statue of Liberty in New York.
The inspector general for the U.S. Department of the Interior found that the park police are badly trained and badly led.
Police leaders “continue to state that icon security is a top priority; however, their actions indicate otherwise,” the inspector general said.
Despite concerns that terrorists might target these national symbols, police staffing levels are lower now than they were six years ago. Worse yet, inspectors found officers who were supposed to be on duty were away from their posts, some reading newspapers or sleeping.
Guards hired from a private security company are supposed to augment the park police. The inspector general found that “there is little, if any, cooperation and communication between the two groups. … Officers told us that many of the security guards spoke little English and had little, if any, contact with USPP officers.”
Inspectors who visited the monuments in Washington found that “the security guards appeared disinterested in their duties, reading the newspaper, talking on cell phones, or congregating in groups. At times, we also found that guards were conspicuously absent from their posts. As a result, they provided little visible deterrence.”
Inspectors visited the monuments 40 times over three months at various times of the day and night. Often they were unable to find any guards. Sixty- eight percent of the time minimum staffing levels were not being met.
The response of the assistant chief of the park police to these findings is astounding.
He said having police officers visible “is a sign of defeat” and that “terrorists are not incredibly sophisticated people.”
They would not have needed to be sophisticated to do terrible things at these treasured monuments.
“On one occasion, we found that a grate securing the stairs leading to the area below the Washington Monu-ment had been left open and unattended for approximately 20 minutes. On another occasion, an unidentified visitor placed a large suitcase against the Washington Monu- ment’s south wall. The suitcase was left unattended and unchecked for over five minutes before being reclaimed by the visitor. We also found that the visitor centers located in both the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials were continuously left unmonitored and unprotected.”
While park police and security guards may not be protecting the national monuments, they do seem able to protect themselves against un-wanted publicity. One inspector was detained after attempting to photograph a park police officer working on a crossword puzzle inside the Jefferson Memorial.
A closed circuit television system is supposed to be a major part of the security for the monuments, both at the Statue of Liberty and in Washington.
Inspectors found it was ineffective.
At the Statue of Liberty, one officer must monitor 96 TV cameras on a panel of television monitors for a 12-hour shift while answering telephones and dealing with anyone who is arrested. During one inspection in Washington, “we found no officers monitoring the CCTV system.”
An incident in August 2007 makes it clear that our monuments are vulnerable. Costumed protesters carrying backpacks climbed the stairs at the Lincoln Memorial. They then climbed into Lincoln’s lap and hung a banner.
A review of the tapes from the TV cameras found that no park police officers were at their posts in the monument’s chamber when the incident occurred. “When officers did arrive several minutes later, they appeared to turn their backs on the protesters and put greater effort into forcing tourists out of the statue chamber.”
Contract guards “appeared confused and ill equipped to address the problem. Security guards were pictured standing among onlookers, watching the incident unfold.”
The inspectors also reported that officers are poorly trained, that they do not have adequate equipment (including bulletproof bests) and that many have not taken annual firearms tests.
Auditors found that the agency “did not use sound business practices for planning, accounting for and monitoring the use of funds.”
It is no surprise that average morale is terrible and getting worse.
Park Police Chief Dwight E. Pettiford doesn’t see it that way. The monuments, he said, “are still standing.”
“No one has missed a check” he said. “Morale is what you make it.”
So are competence and leadership.
Pettiford was relieved of his duties last month. He remains chief, but is now works full time with a group that has been formed to deal with the problems noted by the inspector general.