Mini Security Training Camp www.privateofficer.com

Five Part Mini Security Training Camp

Atlanta Ga. May 16 2008

A five part mini security training will be published here beginning on Sunday May 18, 2008. This training is for private security officers, loss prevention agents, bail enforcement agents and others involved in private security or law enforcement.

This training, although a condensed version of our PRIVATE OFFICER Training will give a good overview of laws of arrest, search and seizure, report writing, scope of authority, handcuffing and general 101 security officer practices and techniques.

We encourage you, even if you are already a certified security officer to view this information as a refresher course and to read it and digest it with an open mind.

Any individual or company who desires further security officer training including certification as a Private Officer or Loss Prevention Agent may contact Stephanie Kay at stephaniek@privateofficer.com

We also provide on site training and consultation services for companies who employ their own “in house” security department as well as a management and training service to oversee your current contract agency.
If you would like more information on these services please email mmatthews@privateofficer.com

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Woman pays for non-working security alarm for 5 years www.privateofficer.com

COBB COUNTY, Ga.(Metro Atlanta) May 16 2008 A Cobb County woman says that she’s been living with a false sense of security. After years of paying for a home alarm system, she was recently told it hasn’t worked properly for years.
Judy Scott sets the alarm every time she heads out of her Marietta home. “I got it because originally we had a robbery down the street and it scared me so I decided I better get a security system,” said Scott.
She said with her ADT security system, she felt safe. “I did. Up until recently,” she said.
That’s when she decided to test the system’s signal, which would prompt a police response if the alarm were to go off. She was told the signal wasn’t working.
“He said I hadn’t had service since 2003. Since, I guess, I got DSL,” said Scott.
When she got DSL, she said a technician came and routed the signal through an existing phone jack. She said she was told a new jack wouldn’t be necessary, she claimed that was never made clear. But an ADT spokesperson told area news reporters the company recommends customers periodically test systems to make sure there are no problems. ADT said it is explicit in their contracts. Still, Scott wants her money back.
“It’s like $95 for three months. That’s a lot of money for me,” she said. And she said a technician came out to her house in December of last year to replace a battery. She said she was told her signal worked.
“I’m not a happy camper,” Scott said.
Scott said ADT told her she could get six months free but she wants five free years.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Security guard and friend rob store www.privateofficer.com

Store security guard and friend rob store www.privateofficer.com

Albany Ga. May 16 2008 Police have made another arrest in a robbery at an Albany shoe store that police say was an inside job.
Investigators have now arrested 21-year-old Hinson Bernard Cook and have charged him with Armed Robbery and Possession of a sawed off shot gun.

Police believe he worked with a security guard to rob the Shoe Station on Dawson Road in March.
The security guard, 26-year-old Freddie Lee Green, is also charged in the robbery.
Cook was arrested more than two weeks ago when he walked into the dougherty County jail in an attempt to get a background check.
Police got a tip from the public that Green was the man in the security video.
Because the investigation is continuing, Albany Police just released the information Thursday.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Woman indicted in MySpace suicide incident www.privateofficer.com

Woman indicted for MySpace suicide incident www.privateofficer.com

LOS ANGELES CA. May 16 2008 A Los Angeles federal grand jury indicted a Missouri woman on Thursday for her alleged role in a MySpace online hoax played on a 13-year-old girl who committed suicide.
Lori Drew of suburban St. Louis was indicted on one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing protected computers without authorization to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.
Drew allegedly helped create a false-identity MySpace account to contact neighbor Megan Meier who thought she was chatting with a 16-year-old boy named Josh Evans
Meier hanged herself in October 2006 after receiving cruel messages, including one stating the world would be better off without her.
Drew, 49, has denied creating the account and sending messages to Megan.
MySpace is based in Beverly Hills. The indictment noted that MySpace computer servers are located in Los Angeles County.
Because of juvenile privacy rules, the U.S. attorney’s office said, the indictment refers to the girl as M.T.M.
Each count in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Security guard arrested for theft of scrap metal www.privateofficer.com

ST. CHARLES IL. May 16 2008

Kyle T. Greene

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com A man suspected of stealing transformers from an abandoned factory and the man police said let him onto the property have been charged with multiple felonies, police said.

Police arrested 33-year-old Mario Gomez after a joint investigation with Elite Security Service, the company that oversees security at the former Applied Composites property.

Frederick B. Miranda, 35, of Lisle, was charged with felony property damage, filing a false police report and felony theft.

Gomez is accused of bribing Miranda, a security guard, last week to get onto the site, police said.

“It was basically, he said, ‘Hey, if you’ll allow me access to the property, I’ll give you money,’ ” St. Charles police spokesman Paul McCurtain said.Once he was on the property, Gomez took six transformers valued at about $15,000, damaged a fence to access the site, and emptied oil into a drainage ditch, police said.

St. Charles firefighters were called to clean up the oil.

Miranda was charged after he reported that he had been the victim of an armed robbery while on duty.Working with the security company, a police officer posed as a security guard. Gomez returned May 10 to take more scrap metal and tried the bribe again, McCurtain said.“He didn’t know he was a police officer,” McCurtain said.

Gomez was arrested and charged with felony theft, attempted burglary, burglary and felony damage to property

.McCurtain said the thefts were unrelated to the April electrocution by Robert J. Paluch. Paluch, 30, died as he apparently tried to cut away copper wire near a transformer at the 333 N. Sixth St. site.

McCurtain said thefts of copper and scrap metal have become more common.“It’s become more common as the price of scrap metal increases,” McCurtain said.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

University employee embezzles $800,000 www.privateofficer.com

Richmond VA. May 16 2008

A former employee of Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems has been indicted for embezzling more than $800,000, which authorities say she used to buy bus tickets that she resold for her own profit.
Charlotte M. Scott appeared today in Richmond Circuit Court on seven counts of embezzlement — one for each year she is accused of using VCU funds to buy GRTC Transit System bus tickets for resale at prices below their face value.
General District Court Judge Robert A. Pustilnik appointed a public defender to represent Scott, who surrendered to police yesterday and was released on her own recognizance.
“I just don’t want to talk about it right now,” Scott said as she left court today.
Scott, 46, whose address was not immediately available, was indicted last week by a multijurisctional grand jury after an investigation by VCU Police. The indictment was sealed until her appearance today and was not available in the court clerk’s office after her court appearance.
The case will be scheduled for a preliminary hearing in June before Circuit Judge Bradley B. Cavedo and prosecuted by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John S. Jung.
VCU Police Sgt. Gary A. Natoli, who investigated the case, deferred to university officials for comment.
VCU spokeswoman Pamela Lepley said Scott had worked as a grants specialist in the health system from 1999 until she was fired in early March. Lepley did not provide further details about Scott or the investigation.
Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew P. Geary said in court today that Scott had resold GRTC tickets for her profit for more than seven years. The judge granted Geary’s request that Scott be required to report for pre-trial services, including monitoring. She has no prior criminal record.
The investigation came as a surprise to GRTC, which learned of it yesterday, according to spokeswoman Kathy Shaw Clary.
Scott was a regular customer with the bus system on behalf of VCU, buying tickets in bulk at a price of $1.25 each. The practice is not unusual for institutions, businesses and other large employers, Shaw said.
“We just know there have been multiple orders over the years,” Shaw said.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Mother assaults son’s bully

Mother assaults son’s bully www.privateofficer.com

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. May 16 2008

By: Bryan Hill

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com The mother of a Gwinnett elementary school student took the law into her own hands after her son had been bullied by another student. Police in this Atlanta suburb says that the mother involved, Hannah Sesay, 41 approached the student involved at a school bus stop and assaulted him.
Gwinnett County school police charged Sesay with battery.
According to a police report, investigators said Sesay started to grab and shake a Winn Holt Elementray School student after he kicked her son in the groin.
“A parent physically approached a student at one of the bus stops,” said school spokesman Jorge Quintanna.
Gwinnett County school police said the incident happened at the bus stop for Sandalwood homes on April 29. Sesay was arrested after witnesses, including a school bus driver, reported the incident.

Investigators said Sesay left marks and bruises on the child’s arms.
According to the report, she denied the claims.
A Gwinnett School spokesman said that the mother went too far and if parents suspect bullying they should report it immediately to school administrators.
“You can understand when a child is being bullied it can upset a parent. But it’s not the right thing to do to physically handle a child,” said Quintanna.
Sesay has been released on $1,200 bond.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Security officer arrested for assault www.privateofficer.com

COLUMBIA, SC May 16 2008

By: Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com A South Carolina Department of Mental Health Security Officer was arrested by agents with the South Caroliina Law Enforcement department (SLED) on Wednesday at about 9:30am and was charged with one count of simple assault and battery.
The SCDMH Security Officer was identified in a press release as 32-year-old Corey Darnell Scott of Columbia.
According to state agents, an arrest warrant for Scott was obtained after he alledgedly punched a client of the SC Dept. of Mental Health in the face three times.
Investigators were able to obtain enough evidence and secure the arrest warrant and took him into custody without incident.
Scott was booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County.
There has been no comment from SCDMH and it is not known if Scott has been suspended or terminated.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Shoplifter bites and kicks officers www.privateofficer.com

Framingham Ma. May 16 2008

By: Kyle T. Greene

Ntl. Assoc. of Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com

A Boston woman bit a Wal-Mart security officer yesterday and spit on a cop as she tried to escape arrest on a theft charge, police said.
Michelle Steverding’s two accomplices got away with one television, but security recovered two others, police spokesman Lt. Paul Shastany said.
Store security called police at 7 p.m. about a shoplifter. They said they saw an unidentified man carrying two televisions, and Steverding carrying a third, to an emergency exit, the lieutenant said.
Once the alleged shoplifters saw security, they ran out the door where they were met by a third man in a running pickup truck with the tailgate down.
“She threw the TV in the rear and jumped in,” said Shastany. “Security were able to grab the man and make him drop the televisions.”
Security officers grabbed Steverding and dragged her from the bed of the truck as it drove away, police said. The other man broke away from security, ran away and got into the passenger seat of the truck. Steverding struggled with security.
“When the male security guard tried to detain her, she bit his right arm,” said Shastany. “She screamed, ‘Leave me alone. I’m pregnant.’ “
Her pregnancy claims were not verified.
When officers arrived, Steverding refused to stand up, so they forced her to her feet, police said. Once in the cruiser, she was able to fit her arms around her legs to bring her cuffed wrists in front of her.
“She was removed from the cruiser and recuffed in the back,” said Shastany. “She was unruly and screaming. She said she thought security broke her ribs and she was having an asthma attack. She then spat at the officer (Val Krishtal), hitting him in the side of the head and face.”
At the station, Steverding identified herself as Angela Harrison, but police said they later found out that was a fake name.
Steverding, 33, of 240 Albany St., was charged with assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, giving police a false name and larceny of property worth more than $250.
The TVs each cost $517. The assault and battery on a police officer comes from the spitting incident, and the assault and battery causing serious bodily injury was from biting the security officer, Shastany said.
Steverding was ordered held on $1,000 bail at her Framingham District Court arraignment yesterday. She is due back in court on June 9 for a pretrial conference.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Rangers say leave guns home www.privateofficer.com

Atlanta Ga. May 16 2008

By: Rick McCann

Ntl. Assoc. Private Officers

www.privateofficer.com

Georgia recently amended their gun laws to allow gun owners who are properly licensed to carry their guns concealed in areas that were once restricted but an federal agency has made their own announcement this week.
Leave your guns at home, says the federal agency that operates parks around lakes Lanier, Allatoona, Hartwell and other reservoirs.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday issued a brief statement to clarify that Georgia’s new gun law does not apply to their lakes and lands.
The law, signed Wednesday by Gov. Sonny Perdue, allows Georgians with the proper license to bring concealed guns in state and local parks, restaurants that serve alcohol and on public transportation.
“This clarification was prompted by several inquiries received by the Corps concerning the law and media reports about the law’s application to parks,” Corps spokesman E. Patrick Robbins said.
Under federal regulations, the only guns allowed on Corps-owned property are those carried by local, state and federal law enforcement officers, or hunters who are in compliance with hunting regulations
Robbins did not say whether or not violators of the law would be prosecuted but the lakes are patrolled by rangers and anyone caught with a firearm is subject to arrest according to federal regulations.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Cleveland security guards paid to watch porn www.privateofficer.com

from Fox News
Cleveland Oh May 16 2008

They were paid to keep an eye on the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, but an internal audit of the district’s computers indicates at least half a dozen employees spent their time watching hardcore porn instead.

Security officer Raymond Brown was exposed as the most frequent visitor to pornographic Web sites while on duty at the Westerly Waste Water Treatment Plant.

According to Deputy Director Mike Bucci, “Our IT department was doing a routine check of all Web site activity and we noticed some porn sites were being hit

.”The district used Webspy software to scan employee computers.

Hundreds of pornographic hits were found under Brown’s access code.

The scan indicated he sometimes spent hours looking at obscene pictures while working.

An internal memo reviewed by I-Team Reporter Lorrie Taylor indicated Brown took full responsibility for his actions. He told a supervisor he shared his access code with no one else. Brown also said he felt he fulfilled his duties despite his web surfing.

Deputy Director Bucci says, “We’re putting in corrective actions to make sure they don’t repeat.”Officer Brown has been terminated.

Security officers Brett Bottles, Patrick Schmitz and Ronald Kurilich have all been suspended without pay for charges that include conduct unbecoming an employee of the district.

John Traffis, a plant operator at the Southerly Wastewater Plant and Clayton Cox, a control systems technician at the Easterly plant were also suspended without pay for conduct unbecoming an employee and willful violation of district policies and procedures.

District officials say Brown’s discipline was more severe because his viewing of porn was excessive compared to his colleagues.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Deputy sheriff bit by alligator www.privateofficer.com

Volusia County Fla. May 16 2008
Law enforcement officers who encounter problem alligators should not hesitate to use their guns to kill it, state wildlife officials said today.

]Volusia County Deputy Sheriff Keith Baughman, 39, was bitten on the leg late Thursday in the parking lot of Brightside Apartments on Caribbean Street in Deltona.

He is in stable condition today at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach where he was airlifted after the attack.”

The best thing to do is to leave them alone,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Joy Hill.

In some cases, officers can lasso a gator and tie it to a tree until wildlife officers or trappers can arrive to deal with it, she said. But law enforcement officers are there to protect the public and shouldn’t hesitate to shoot an alligator, Hill said.

Deputies were called to the apartment complex about 10:15 p.m. Several deputies responded and located the 8-foot alligator, which became aggressive and lashed out at Baughman, Sheriff’s spokesman Brandon Haught said.

At that point, Deputy Jason Stickels fired several shots at the gator, although he did not kill the animal, Haught said.
A trapper removed the alligator.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com

Police officer left paralyzed after assault www.privateofficer.com

ROANOKE, VA May 16 2008 A Roanoke officer who was assaulted and left unconscious Saturday while attempting to arrest a suspect is paralyzed, a police spokeswoman said.

It is not known yet, though, if Officer Bryan Lawrence’s paralysis is permanent, said police spokeswoman Aisha Johnson.“Time will tell,” she said.

“It goes without saying that everybody is hoping for the best.”

Lawrence is being treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

He was working off-duty to provide security Saturday night when he heard on his radio that a woman had been hurt at the Go Mart in the 3500 block of Williamson Road Northwest, not far from where he was, his son, Robert Lawrence, has said.

Lawrence spotted the two suspects in a vehicle at the intersection of Huntington Boulevard and Hillcrest Avenue, police said.

He stopped the vehicle, and the suspects fled on foot.Lawrence chased them and was in the process of apprehending one suspect when the other assaulted him.

Soon after, officers who had been called to assist Lawrence found him unconscious on Hillcrest Avenue.

Police declined to say how Lawrence was assaulted, but a search warrant filed in Roanoke Circuit Court said a shoe print was visible on his head.

Police charged William Steele Jr., 18, of Roanoke with malicious wounding of an officer and felony obstruction.

They also charged Dantonio Foster, 25, of Roanoke with felony obstruction and malicious wounding, which was related to the incident at the Go Mart.Lawrence and his family had previously not wanted to release any information about his condition, but decided to do so Thursday, said Scott Altizer, president of the Roanoke City Police Association.“It’s really tragic,” he said. “Really tragic.”

The police association is planning a poker run to benefit Lawrence and his family. Details had not been finalized Thursday, but Altizer said the fundraiser is planned for sometime in June.“We’re trying to make it a pretty big event,” he said.The association has also set up a fund for donations

.Lawrence is a crime prevention officer who is known for his work with Project Lifesaver.

The program provides people with Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, autism or other mental illnesses with a radio transmitter that is worn as a bracelet.

If a person wearing the transmitter gets lost, police can find them more easily.

The Roanoke Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, created to support officers, has offered to help the department with some of Lawrence’s responsibilities while he recovers.

For instance, Lawrence had already trained some of the alumni members to change the batteries in the Project Lifesaver bracelets. He had also taught them how to perform property checks for residents on vacation.“We’re at their service to fill in for him, whatever needs to be done,” said Howard Martin, the alumni association’s president.“I just want him to get well.

Email us/adminassist@privateofficer.com

Join us/myspace.com/privateofficernews

Be part of our social community! www.privateofficer.com