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TSA employees take specialized college courses in Florida www.privateofficer.com
Orlando Fla Jan 6 2012 Nearly 30 Transportation Security Administration officers will become the first graduates Friday of a three-class college course designed to get them back in the academic groove.
Ranging from front-line staffers who operate X-ray machines at Orlando International Airport to managers, the 29 TSA employees spent the past 18 months attending sessions put together specially for them by Valencia College.
The course work they completed could lead them to an associate’s degree in criminal justice, with a specialization in Homeland Security. The program is part of a nationwide push by TSA to educate its workforce.
John Daly, the TSA director who oversees 1,200 employees at OIA and Orlando Sanford International Airport, said the classes also could improve advancement chances.
“It certainly can’t hurt,” said Daly, who will speak at a graduation ceremony at the Hyatt Regency hotel on OIA property.
Most of the students do not have college degrees, which is fairly common throughout the national TSA workforce. Starting pay is nearly $30,000 annually.
TSA pays for the classes, which cost $15,000 for the first round during fall 2010. Nationwide, the program costs $3.2 million annually.
Originally, 48 TSA employees in Orlando signed up the for the courses, which are taught at OIA during off hours. But 18 workers dropped out for a variety of reasons.
Dan Cursio, a TSA program assistant, said the classes “help us understand our part in the ‘big picture.’ We take these improved skills and knowledge back to our workplace with renewed enthusiasm and motivation after each class. These classes have made us better at our jobs.”
James McDonald, who oversees the classes for Valencia, said the TSA employees were hard workers. “I was very impressed, by and large, by the quality of the students,” he said.
The courses – with titles such as Introduction to Homeland Security and Transportation and Border security – are worth three credits each.
It takes 64 credits to get an associate’s degree in criminal justice, McDonald said.
Source:Orlando Sentinel
Man shoots himself to death at San Francisco coroner’s office www.privateofficer.com
San Francisco CA Jan 6 2012 A man shot himself to death Wednesday afternoon after officers confronted him in a parking lot outside the San Francisco coroner’s office, police said.
Officers said they saw the man, who looked to be about 65, at the lot on Harriet Street behind the Hall of Justice courthouse around 5 p.m. They said he showed them his pistol, and when they drew their weapons, he turned his back, told them, “This isn’t for you,” and shot himself.
The man left a suicide note for officers and also had a note on him that said “Do Not Resuscitate,” said Police Chief Greg Suhr, who reported the shooting at a Police Commission meeting. The man was not immediately identified.
Beaverton High School band teacher charged with sex abuse www.privateofficer.com
Lebanon OR Jan 6 2012 Lebanon police arrested a Beaverton High School band teacher Wednesday for sex abuse involving a Lebanon High School student in 2006 and 2007.
Joshua Edward Head, 34, of Beaverton, was cited and released by Lebanon police on four counts of misdemeanor sex abuse for an alleged ongoing sexual relationship with a teenage girl. He was a band teacher at Lebanon High School at the time of the incidents, according to Lebanon police.
Beaverton School District placed Head on paid administrative leave Dec. 5 after being notified by Lebanon police of the investigation. Head has worked in the district since 2007 as a band director at Beaverton High School and, this year, as a part-time band teacher at Whitford Middle School, according to the Beaverton School District.
“The District’s background and reference checks prior to his hire did not reveal any previous record or concerns,” according to a Beaverton School District press release.
The girl, who was 17 at the time of the alleged abuse, reported it to police in November. She is now a 22-year-old college student, said Det. Shelly McInnes, Lebanon Police Department.
Beaverton School District spokeswoman Maureen Wheeler said the district is not aware of any similar issues involving Head in Beaverton, but anyone with information is asked to call McInnes at the Lebanon Police Department, 541-258-4329.
Head is scheduled to be arraigned in Linn County on February 1.
Source:Oregon Live
Gulfport business owner finds stolen property on Facebook www.privateofficer.com
GULFPORT, MS Jan 6 2012 – A Gulfport business owner who was missing property recently found it – on Facebook. Now one of his former employees is charged with embezzlement.
Police say John Milner, owner of Milner Rental, was looking at pictures on Facebook when he spotted some of his business’s property in a picture. It was posted by a relative of Jonathan Huckabay, who hadn’t worked for Milner in months.
Milner checked his inventory and found he was missing a large party tent, tables and chairs. Investigators recovered the missing property at Huckabay’s home, and he was arrested.
Gulfport Police said the 25-year-old was being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center pending a preliminary hearing.
Source:WLOX
Salvation Army official arrested on accusations of sexual exploitation of a minor www.privateofficer.com
Phoenix AZ Jan 6 2012 A local Salvation Army official who works with homeless people was arrested Wednesday on accusations of sexual exploitation of a minor, and police confiscated child pornography at his west Phoenix home, officials said.
A Phoenix police spokesman, Sgt. Tommy Thompson, identified the suspect as John Landrum Jr., 52.
Thompson said detectives working with the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant at the suspect’s home in the 1000 block of West Welland Road.
Landrum has been a program coordinator for several years with the Salvation Army’s Project Hope, which works with the homeless, including distributing water to them in the summer.
Landrum was booked into a Maricopa County jail on 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class 2 felony.
“I was told that it was some of the most egregious examples of child pornography that the investigators had ever seen,” Thompson said. “The suspect had hundreds of items of child pornography, and we should understand that there are different mediums to transfer this material.”
Salvation Army spokeswoman Melissa Axman said in a written statement that Landrum had worked for the organization for seven years. She said his primary responsibilities in Project Hope were to provide homeless outreach services to the adult homeless population and to veterans.
Axman wrote, “The Salvation Army doesn’t tolerate sexual improprieties of any kind.”
Thompson said that at this early stage of the investigation, it is unknown whether the suspect had been involved in the creating of any of the images.
“Having this pornography is a crime, and so is sending it back and forth, but if you are involved in the production, it raises matters to a higher level and may involve acts that themselves are crimes,” Thompson said.
The sergeant said he did not know whether any of the children in the pornographic pictures were local.
“We still have to determine all that,” he said.
Thompson said he could not be specific about how detectives learned that the suspect could be involved with owning and perhaps transferring child pornography.
Source:www.azcentral.com
Arizona law enforcement officers arrest 4,100 drivers during holiday task force operation www.privateofficer.com
Phoenix AZ Jan 6 2012 More than 4,100 drivers were arrested by Arizona law enforcement officers participating in a holiday DUI task force between Thanksgiving and the end of New Year’s weekend.
The number of arrests surpassed those during the 2010 holiday period by nearly 250 drivers, but is nearly 600 fewer arrests than were made by task force members in 2009.
The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety coordinates the task force across the state each year. Sheriff’s deputies join local and state police, other law enforcement officers and volunteers in the targeted enforcement efforts.
Director Alberto Gutier says that he’s most pleased that the number of sober designated drivers officers contacted went from about 1,400 to nearly 2,000.
Of the 4,175 people arrests for driving under the influence, 370 had previous convictions.
Source:www.azcentral.com
Safeway shoplifter pulls knife on security officer www.privateofficer.com
Portland OR Jan 6 2012 A would-be shoplifter was arrested in Northeast Portland this evening after he allegedly pulled a knife on a Safeway security guard, crashed his SUV into two vehicles while running from police and eventually tased as he tried to flee on foot.
It all began about 5:45 p.m. at the Safeway at 1100 N.E. Broadway St. when a store security guard caught a man attempting to steal something, said Lt. Robert King, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. The suspect allegedly dropped the item and then pulled a knife on the guard.
The man was last seen leaving the parking lot on foot, but came back within 10 minutes and got in a red Ford Explorer, King said. Officers were already on their way and came across the suspect, who hit two vehicles while attempting to flee — one at Northeast 10th Avenue and Northeast Weidler Street, and another a block away.
One of the vehicles was parked, but the other was moving and had an occupant that was not injured, King said.
After crashing into the second vehicle, the suspect got out of the SUV and tried to run, King said. An officer deployed a Taser to take the man into custody.
The suspect was later identified as 29-year-old Adrian Neira. He was booked in the Multnomah County Jail on charges of theft, menacing, attempting to elude by vehicle, attempting to elude on foot, reckless driving, hit and run, and resisting arrest.
Source:Oregonlive.com
Department of Homeland Security officer charged with DUI www.privateofficer.com
Groveland Fla Jan 6 2012 A Department of Homeland Security officer was arrested for drunk driving after Groveland police reportedly saw her driving on the wrong side of the highway on New Year’s Day.
Cynthia Ortiz, a Transportation Security Administration officer from West Palm Beach, actually got a break from police, who waived a wrong-way driving charge even though she was not very cooperative.
According to an arrest affidavit, police stopped Ortiz at about 4:30 a.m. after she was observed driving on the wrong side of State Road 50. Upon questioning, she immediately wanted to know why she was being stopped.
At first, Ortiz denied having had anything to drink. She later admitted to just a single drink, despite having bloodshot eyes, slurred voice and a distinct odor of alcohol on her, the officer reported.
She allegedly failed three field sobriety tests — one-leg stand, walk and turn, and finger to nose — before being taken to the police department for booking and a chemical breath test.
The affidavit said Ortiz refused to blow continuously on the first two test attempts and then refused to continue with a third. After being charged with driving under the influence, and getting a verbal warning on the wrong-way driving charge, the woman complained of chest pains.
The arresting officer said EMS was called and checked Ortiz, who refused to be transported to the hospital.
She was booked into the Lake County jail.
Source:DailyCommercial
Attack on security officer leads teen to be charged with felony www.privateofficer.com
SAN ANTONIO TX Jan 6 2012 – A fight with a security guard has led to criminal charges for a Northwest Side man.
San Antonio police said Andrew Rodriguez, 17, went on the attack last month, first taunting and then assaulting a security officer at the apartment complex where he lives.
The arrest affidavit stated Rodriguez yelled curse words and insults at the guard as he patrolled the Sage Crossing Apartments on Oakdale Drive on Dec. 28.
The affidavit stated the guard then told Rodriguez to go home, but he refused and became belligerent.
The guard told San Antonio police that he used pepper spray on Rodriguez, and when he tried to detain him, he fought back.
The guard said Rodriguez bit him on two fingers and hit him in the face with his elbow and then ran away.
The affidavit stated police were able to learn Rodriguez’s identity from witnesses.
Police arrested Rodriguez Wednesday on a charge of aggravated assault with bodily injury on a security officer.
Alabama police standoff ends in suicide www.privateofficer.com
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama Jan 6 2102 – Tuscaloosa police have identified the man who killed himself after a standoff with police Wednesday at the Reserve at North River Apartments.
Redding Emens Ramey, 40, of Tuscaloosa was pronounced dead at the scene after shooting himself to end the 23-minute standoff, Tuscaloosa police spokesman Sgt. Brent Blankley said.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department received a call from a woman at the Fire Station Number 3 who said her son had a weapon at her residence.
Officers responding at 3:30 p.m. did not find Redding Ramey, but found his father, who had been injured in an altercation with Ramey, Blankley said. Ramey’s father was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
Blankley said a Tuscaloosa police helicopter pilot found Redding Ramey’s vehicle in the parking lot of the Reserve at North River complex at 1761 Commons Loop North. Ramey, who lived at the complex, ran with a pistol into the woods from his apartment as officers set up a perimeter, Blankley said.
Ramey did not respond to officers’ attempts to negotiate with him, Blankley said.
Burglar arrest in thefts at University of Delaware www.privateofficer.com
Dover DE Jan 6 2012 A 26-year-old Smyrna man was arrested in connection with a New Year’s day break-in on the University of Delaware campus, police said today.
Dustin R. Eisenhauer, 26, of the first block of South St., was charged with third-degree burglary, theft and possession of burglary tools, said Dover police spokesman Lt. Daniel McKeown.
An investigation determined that Eisenhauer girlfriend is employed by the university and was out of town when the incident occurred on the campus at 69 Transportation Circle.
In his girlfriend’s absence, Eisenhauer used her key to get into the building and removed laptop computers and other electronic equipment, McKeown said.
He was released in lieu of $3,500 unsecured bail.
Source:delawareonline.com
East St. Louis nightclub sued for altercation involving guns www.privateofficer.com
St. Clair County IL Jan 6 2012 An East St. Louis man claims he sustained kidney injuries after he was shot at an East St. Louis night club.
Shawn Binford filed a lawsuit Dec. 19 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Odessa McCall doing business as Four Corners Lounge, Don McCall and Isaiah Sanders.
In his complaint, Binford alleges he visited Four Corners on Feb. 4, 2011, when an altercation involving guns developed in the early morning hours of Feb. 5. Although Binford was not involved in the fight, he was shot twice in the mid-back and once in the upper left buttock from stray bullets, according to the complaint.
One of the bullets lacerated Binford’s kidney, causing him to develop blood in his urine and to sustain a small bowel injury, the suit states. In addition, Binford incurred medical costs, the complaint says.
Before the incident involving Binford, multiple shootings had occurred in and around Four Corners. During at least four of the shootings, four people were killed.
Because of the danger of the area, Four Corners should have provided adequate security, should have adequately trained security guards, should have prevented the incident and negligently maintained the hand-held metal detector, Binford alleges.
Don McCall, who managed Four Corners, failed to provide adequate security training to his guards, failed to implement policies to keep its patrons safe, failed to supervise its employees’ conduct, failed to hire competent security guards and failed to develop adequate security procedures, according to the complaint.
Isaiah Sanders, who was a security guard for Four Corners, failed to utilize the metal detector, failed to detect that someone had brought a gun on the premises, failed to intervene in the attack after it had started, failed to maintain the metal detector, failed to wand all patrons before they entered the night club and failed to check patrons for weapons, the suit states.
In his three-count complaint, Binford seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus pre-judgment interest and costs.
Mark Emison of Langdon and Emison of Lexington, Mo. will be representing him.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-689.
Courthouse visitor arrested for stashing pot in trashcan www.privateofficer.com
WINTER HAVEN Fla Jan 6 2012 A Winter Haven man has been arrested for allegedly throwing away more than 20 grams of marijuana at a Winter Haven courthouse.
According to Winter Haven Police officials, Demetrius A. Nickerson, 31, tried to pass through security and set off a metal detector.
As security personnel passed a wand over Nickerson, officials said the wand hit a hard, unknown object.
Officials said Nickerson told security he would be right back and headed out of the front of the building at 3425 N. Lake Alfred Rd.
Nickerson came back a short time later, proceeded to pass through security and went into his assigned courtroom.
Officials said security grew suspicious of Nickerson’s behavior and called Winter Haven Police.
Officers who responded said they found a bright, yellow bag containing other small bags of more than 20 grams of marijuana in a trashcan.
Officers sat and waited for Nickerson to leave the courthouse. Officials said roughly 20 minutes later, Nickerson came out of the building, walked to the trashcan, picked out the bag and was taken into custody.
Nickerson was charged with possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphenalia.
He was booked into the Polk County Jail, but has since been released.
NY school psychologist – husband arrested with drugs www.privateofficer.com
BETHLEHEM NY Jan 6 2012 — A school psychologist and her husband were arrested on Thursday after the sheriff’s office said a teenaged baby-sitter discovered a stash of pot in their home, took some and got caught with it at school.
Brian and Maria Mangini, both 41 of 2006 Delaware Turnpike in Clarksville, have two children, ages 5 and 8, Sheriff Craig Apple said. Brian Mangini works at Bethlehem’s Blue Sky Music store, the sheriff’s office said.
Maria Mangini was placed on paid administrative leave after the arrest, according to the school district.
An investigation began when officials at the Bethlehem Central School District caught a student with marijuana and referred the matter to police, but the girl told officials that she found the drug while snooping at the home of the school’s psychologist, where she was baby-sitting the young children.
Apple said it’s not clear whether the girl met Maria Mangini through her profession as the school’s psychologist.
Apple said the sheriff’s office obtained a search warrant for the home and found three ounces of marijuana.
“It’s not a huge amount of marijuana,” Apple said, “but still with kids in the house and her employed by the school, we were very concerned.”
The Manginis were charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child. They were released on appearance tickets set for 5 p.m. Feb. 2 at New Scotland Town Court.
The incident is the latest in a string of drug-related exploits at the school district, including five drug arrests in the week before Thanksgiving. A 16-year-old Delmar student was arrested on felony drug charges just after Thanksgiving after police said he sold methadone to other students at Bethlehem Central High School.
After the methadone incident, High School Principal Charles Abba sent a letter to parents pointing to other instances where students had been involved in drugs and vandalism.
“In recent weeks, there has been an increase of inappropriate behavior at our high school,” the letter stated. “Specifically, there have been more discipline referrals for disrespectful behavior, incidents of graffiti in the boys’ bathrooms and possession and use of marijuana and controlled substances.”
On Dec. 2, school officials abruptly postponed a school dance in the wake of the incidents.
Thursday, the district released a statement addressing Maria Mangini’s arrest, and said she was placed on leave “pending a thorough and timely investigation by the Bethlehem Central School District.”
In the wake of the drug-related incidents, the district said the Board of Education is looking into the use of security cameras in the high school, officials are being vigilant with regards to inappropriate behavior in the district and forums on the effects of drug use are being organized.
“Above all, the district is concerned for the safety of our students,” Superintendent Thomas Douglas said. “It remains our highest priority.”
Source:www.timesunion.com
Two Chicago teens arrested in shoplifting scam www.privateofficer.com
BOLINGBROOK IL Jan 6 2012 — Two Chicago teens were arrested after allegedly bringing tag removers and bags to take clothes out of a store without paying for them.
Lt. Mike Rompa said Jermaine A. Kimbrough, 17, and Kenyetta L. Washington, 17, were stopped by security around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday at Macy’s, 45 E. Boughton Road.
The teens allegedly took more than $900 worth of shirts, hats, jeans and coats into a changing room.
“A few moments later, they came out with large, bulging shopping bags that they were not carrying when they entered,” Rompa said.
Security personnel allegedly found electronic security tags, which require a special tool to unlock, had been removed and left in the changing room.
Kimbrough and Washington were stopped in the parking lot and police were called.
Kimbrough, of 6815 S. Harper Ave. in Chicago, and Washington, of 5760 S. Wabash Ave. in Chicago, were booked into the county jail on charges of shoplifting and burglary.
Archdiocese of Santa Fe security officer tied up, police kill suspect www.privateofficer.com
ALBUQUERQUE NM June 6 2012 - Albuquerque police say a burglar dropped a safe and fired at an officer before being shot dead outside Archdiocese of Santa Fe offices in Albuquerque late Wednesday.
Investigators later found a security guard tied up inside the Catholic Center offices on St. Joseph’s Place NW near Coors Boulevard NW.
The unarmed guard told police he was making his rounds when he was confronted by two men who demanded money and beat him.
“He was fine,” Albuquerque Police Department Chief Ray Schultz said at the scene early Thursday morning. “He is assisting us in the investigation.”
Police gave this account of what happened:
At about 10:30 p.m. police received a call about a burglary in progress at the Catholic Center. One of the first officers on the scene confronted a masked man carrying a safe.
The burglar then dropped the safe, pulled out a pistol and fire at least once at the officer. The officer returned fire striking the burglar at least twice.
Names of the suspect and the officer have not yet been released.
The Catholic Center is on the church property that includes St. Pius X High School where classes are not scheduled to resume from the Christmas break until Monday.
Schultz has scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. to release more information on the incident.
Source:KRQE
St. Croix Chaplaincy Association former bookkeeper pleads guilty in felony thefts www.privateofficer.com
Stillwater Okla Jan 6 2012 A former bookkeeper for the St. Croix Chaplaincy Association pleaded guilty to four counts of felony theft for allegedly stealing more than $245,000 from the association’s bank accounts.
Susan Kaye Fredrickson, 64, of Oak Park Heights pleaded guilty to four counts of theft—indifferent to owner rights for writing 277 association checks to herself totaling $245,195 from November 2004 to January 2011, according to an amended criminal complaint filed by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.
Fredrickson will be sentenced on Feb. 15 in Washington County District Court. She faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines for each count of theft.
The Stillwater Police Department’s investigation into the theft began in January 2011 after the director of the St. Croix Chaplaincy Association reported the theft of funds from the clergy group’s bank accounts.
The association’s director told police, that based on year-end review of reports, he believed Fredricksen—in her capacity as a bookkeeper—embezzled more than $100,000 from the chaplain association’s savings certificate that was kept at First State Bank in Bayport.
The association’s director told police that he had obtained the year-end report from Fredricksen and requested that his personal accountant review the data sheet to confirm his suspicions about her conduct.
The association’s director and Fredricksen were the only two signatories on the checking account and savings certificate, the complaint states. The association’s director told police that he had no personal involvement with the checking account and savings certificate, explaining that managing the checking account and savings certificate was solely Fredricksen’s responsibility.
The director told police that Fredricksen volunteered with the St. Croix Chaplaincy Association, but was given an annual $1,800 stipend. She had been with the association for four years.
When the association’s director conducted an online review of the bank and trust account, he learned immediately that Fredricksen had written dozens of checks on the Association’s account, the complaint states. The checks were written for large sums of money and were made payable to Fredricksen in an amount far in excess of the $1,800 annual stipend to which she was entitled, the complaint states.
After receiving the information, police conducted a search warrant at Fredricksen’s home in Oak Park Heights. When questioned about the alleged theft, she told police: “I may have spent some money inappropriately.”
Police believe that after withdrawing funds from the savings certificate, Fredricksen would deposit the money into the Association’s checking account to keep it from becoming insolvent. She then would write checks to herself and deposit them into her personal checking account at First State Bank and Trust, the complaint states.
In addition to the alleged theft, the association’s director told police that the Minnesota Department of Revenue levied on the Association’s bank account in August 2009 for $1,004.60 in unpaid taxes. As a bookkeeper, filing tax returns on behalf of the association was reportedly Fredericksen’s responsibility.
The St. Croix Chaplaincy Association is a group comprised of area clergy who provide chaplain services at Stillwater and Bayport nursing homes and Lakeview Hospital. The association receives its funding from churches, nursing homes, Lakeview Hospital and through miscellaneous grants from foundations.
Federal authorities investigate Austin police for protecting rich Mexican man’s daughter www.privateofficer.com
Austin TX Jan 6 2012 Federal and local authorities are looking into the off-duty employment of several Austin police officers who were paid cash by a wealthy Mexican man to watch over his daughter while she attends college, the American-Statesman has learned.
Two officers have left the Austin Police Department in the past month since the inquiry started, and others who may have also worked on the private security assignment have been questioned.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo confirmed Wednesday that the department recently learned of allegations concerning one officer and “immediately launched criminal and administrative investigations.” He declined to describe the nature of the allegations or disclose who alerted the department, citing the ongoing inquiry.
Acevedo also would not say how many officers have since been investigated or questioned.
“Anytime we investigate incidents, you are much better off as an organization to start with a very broad view to ensure that we don’t miss anything,” Acevedo said.
Sgt. Wayne Vincent, president of the Austin police union, said “less than 10″ officers had their duties restricted in recent weeks after the department initially learned about outside employment concerns, but it remained unclear whether they have returned to regular assignments. He said investigators wanted to assess the actions of the officers as quickly as possible.
“I have very little details, but I know it is a secondary job issue,” he said. “I know everybody is looking into it, but I haven’t heard anything that is illegal.”
U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Internal Revenue Service said in a statement that “the IRS can neither confirm or deny any investigation in progress, completed in the past or contemplated.”
Five criminal justice officials familiar with the case said the exchange of cash helped pique the interest of investigators. Police officials also have questioned whether the man was directly paying the officers — as required by departmental policy when payments are made in cash — or distributing it among them in other ways.
Such policies are aimed at preventing improprieties and maintaining transparency.
The officials declined to be identified because the case is on going and they are not authorized to discuss it.
Austin police officers can enter into contracts with employers to provide off-duty patrols for private businesses and then hire fellow officers to work as part of those agreements. Such contracts must be approved by supervisors and filed with the department.
The American-Statesman this week sought copies of off-duty contracts handled by the two officers who have left the department. An Austin police spokesman said the department would not release those documents because of an ongoing criminal investigation.
The newspaper also sought names of all officers whose duties were restricted in the past 90 days, and the department declined to release that list as well, citing the investigation.
The two officers voluntarily left the department in December. Department officials declined to identify them, and the American-Statesman could not obtain any public records to confirm their identities.
Officials would not identify the man from Mexico, or say how the officers came to enter into the agreement or how the investigation started. It was also unclear how much the officers were paid and over what period of time.
The investigation raises questions about how the department oversees off-duty employment for officers for private individuals or entities. According to departmental policies, officers’ supervisors must monitor their off-duty employment and “failure to do so, and to take corrective action as may be needed, will be considered dereliction of duty on the part of the supervisor.”
The rules state that only the employer is allowed to pay an officer for outside work, and payments generally can’t be distributed by one employee. “Under NO circumstances shall any employee accept cash payment intended for anyone other than themselves.”
The policy does not require officers to report their hourly wage for outside employment .
“Secondary employment is a privilege, not a right,” the department policy states. “While allowing employees to pursue legitimate sources of supplemental income, it is imperative to maintain an agency in which its employees are physically fit and mentally alert.
“Additionally, the appearance of impropriety must be avoided,” the policy said.
Source:statesman.com
Albemarle County Sheriff’s deputy charged with rape www.privateofficer.com
Albemarle County VA Jan 6 2012 A reserve deputy with the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office is facing a rape charge. Sean M. Horn has worked as a law enforcement officer for the University of Virginia and Albemarle County Departments.
He is currently being held at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail. A bond hearing is set for January 6 in the Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
The NBC29 news room received the following press release from the Albemarle County Police Department:
The Albemarle County Police have conducted a thorough investigation regarding a reported rape. As such warrants have been obtained for Sean M. Horn.
Horn is a former law enforcement officer of the following locations: the University of Virginia Police Department and the Albemarle County Police Department. Horn is currently a Reserve Deputy with the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office.
Horn has been charged with rape and is currently being held at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail pending a bond hearing on January 6, 2012 in the Albemarle County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Source:NBC29
Konocti Unified School District student arrested for giving classmates marijuana laced pastries www.privateofficer.com
CLEARLAKE, Calif. Jan 6 2012 – A teenager has been arrested for allegedly bringing food to school that included marijuana and giving it to classmates, making one of them sick.
The Clearlake Police Department reported that on Wednesday Officer Andrew Jones, a member of the department who also works as a school resource officer for Konocti Unified School District, was requested at Lower Lake Elementary School.
The school reported that a juvenile student had furnished marijuana laced pastries to three other juvenile students, one of whom had become ill, according to the police report.
As a result of Jones’ investigation, police said a 14-year-old female student was arrested for a violation of Health and Safety Code 11360(B), furnishing or giving away marijuana, which is a cite-only offense.
Jones cited the girl and released her to the custody of her family pending a later court date, police said.
The source of the pastries is not yet know, however the investigation is continuing, according to police.
Persons with information about this case is asked to contact School Resource Officer Jones at 707-994-8251.
Source:Lake County News
Senior living facility employee charged in rash of thefts www.privateofficer.com
Bethlehem PA Jan 6 2012 A Virginia woman working at a Bethlehem area senior living facility admitted to police she stole cash and jewelry from residents. She made her admission after the facility installed a hidden camera that showed the suspect putting something in her pocket and immediately leaving a resident’s room, court records say.
However, the suspect, Joanne Ahmed Annab, 24, of Virginia Beach denied a charge that she stole and later pawned a notebook computer for which she received $30. The notebook had a retail value of $130 and its owner later died, the records say.
In a complaint filed in November, Colonial Regional police said that during the past year and a half, several residents of the Atria Bethlehem, 1745 W. Macada Road, Hanover Township (Northampton County), complained of thefts from their rooms.
In mid-October, the Atria manager had a hidden camera installed in the room of a resident who was a victim of two thefts totaling $1,600. The next day, the camera captured Annab in the room while the resident was at breakfast. She immediately went to a corner nightstand where the resident kept money. She is seen putting something in her pocket and immediately leaving the room, the records say.
As a personal care staff member, Annab should not have been in the room, the records say.
In an interview at the Atria with a detective and a detective sergeant, Annab admitted taking $50 to $60 from the resident’s room on the day her actions were captured by camera and $200 on a previous occasion. She also admitted taking two gold necklaces from two residents and $100 each from two other residents.
Police say records from an Allentown pawn shop show that Annab pawned the Sylvania notebook computer on April 5 for $30. But Annab told police she never stole or pawned a computer. The Atria spent $700 to replace the computer, which had a retail value of $130, the court records say.
Annab was arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Jackie Taschner of Palmer Township on charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Las Vegas Strip casino security guard robbed of lock box www.privateofficer.com
Las Vegas NV Jan 6 2012 Police say they’re looking for a gunman who made off with a lock box after confronting a security guard carrying the cash at a Las Vegas Strip casino.
No one was injured, and no description of the robber was made available after the 2:15 a.m. Thursday heist at O’Sheas Las Vegas Casino.
Las Vegas police Officer Marcus Martin says investigators are sorting through conflicting reports about the incident, and no description of the robber was immediately made public. Martin says it’s not clear how the man made his getaway.
O’Sheas is located between the Harrah’s and Flamingo resorts, across busy Las Vegas Boulevard from Caesars Palace. It is owned by Caesars Entertainment Corp.
A company spokesman says officials are cooperating with police and O’Sheas remains open.
Seattle police officer arrested for possession of cocaine commits suicide www.privateofficer.com
SEATTLE WA Jan 6 2012 – A Seattle police officer who was arrested for possession of cocaine Thursday morning committed suicide after he was released from jail.
The body of Officer Richard F. Nelson, 50, was found on the John Wayne Trail near Rattlesnake Lake with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Seattle Police said.
Just hours earlier, Nelson was arrested and booked into the King County Jail after police officers in the Rainier Valley area provided him with an unknown amount of cocaine.
Nelson was pulled over in his personal vehicle and arrested following the end of his shift.
Nelson was the subject of an internal investigation within the department called an “integrity test,” said Seattle Police Chief John Diaz, after concerns surfaced that narcotic evidence was not being handled properly by Nelson.
“I can’t let those things go, they have to be followed through,” said Diaz.
Nelson was arrested at 4:16 a.m. and released on his own recognizance at 4:48. His service weapon was taken away, and he was driven home by command staff.
Nelson, a 22-year veteran, was hired in September of 1990 and worked in the South Precinct. He previously worked as a bicycle officer in the Rainier Valley. He has two teenage children.
“Officer Nelson was a good man, he was a good officer,” said his former partner, Officer Brian Gunther. “Being a partner for nine hours a day in a patrol car or riding bicycles together, you share a bond that very few people can understand.”
“This is a tremendous tragedy, we have a lot of officers who are grieving,” said Deputy Chief Nick Metz, Deputy Chief of Operations. “He was a friend to many.”
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn stressed that Nelson was a member of the community, despite alleged faults.
“This is a human being who is fallible, who had a drug addiction, apparently, and that can strike anybody,” said McGinn.
Officials would not say whether this is the only “integrity test” ever conducted within SPD, but said they are rare.
Diaz said he requested an audit of all narcotics incidents Officer Nelson has been involved in.
SPD does not conduct random drug or alcohol testing of officers and employees.
Public records indicate Officer Nelson earned $99,183 in 2009.
News of the internal investigation comes after the Seattle Police Department was admonished last month by the U.S. Department of Justice, saying Seattle police have engaged in a pattern of excessive force and the department had an inadequate systems of supervision and oversight . DOJ ordered the department to implement a number of reforms.
Indiana businessman arrested with gun at O’Hare airport www.privateofficer.com
Chicago IL Jan 6 2012 — The owner of the South Bend Chocolate Company was arrested with a gun at an airport, police said.
Mark Tarner was leaving for a family trip Tuesday night when he was arrested at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Chicago police said Tarner was going through an X-ray scanner when a Transportation Security Administration employee spotted the unloaded weapon in his bag.
Tarner told police he thought he’d grabbed his travel bag but instead had taken his work bag, in which he keeps the gun.
He was booked into the Cook County Jail early Wednesday. He remained in jail Thursday morning.
O’Hare International Airport baggage handler accused of stealing police officer’s gun www.privateofficer.com
Chicago IL Jan 6 2012 A baggage handler at O’Hare International Airport is accused of stealing a Chicago Police officer’s gun that was checked in during a flight the officer had been on.
Abdoulaye Barry, 23, of the 2400 block of North Kedzie Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood, has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated concealment of a weapon, possession of ammunition without a valid FOID car and failure to possess a FOID card, police said.
Barry was arrested Wednesday at 7:50 p.m. in the 1200 block of West Sunnyside Avenue when police saw him notice patrol officers and then turn around and change directions, police said.
The officers stopped him for an interview and found he was wearing blue surgical gloves on both hands, and found the officer’s gun in a Walgreens bag in Barry’s front pants pocket, police said.
The officers ran the serial number on the weapon and found it had been reported stolen from a Chicago Police officer at some point from Sunday to Wednesday, police said.
Barry is a baggage handler and police believe he took the gun from luggage that had been checked in during a flight the officer had been on.
Barry, who has no criminal record, was expected to appear in court Friday, police said.
tribune.com
Georgia food processing plant employee commits suicide after shooting co-worker www.privateofficer.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. Jan 6 2012 — An employee opened fire outside a northeastern Georgia food processing plant Thursday, fatally shooting one person before killing himself.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately say what prompted the slaying and suicide at FPL Food in Augusta, Ga. Sheriff’s investigators identified the gunman as Emanuel Jordan, 21, of Augusta.
He fired several shots at the first victim before he turned the gun on himself,” said Sgt. Dan Carrier of the sheriff’s office.
No one else was injured in the shootings, which happened in the plant’s parking lot shortly after 1 p.m.
Investigators were withholding the name of the other person killed until family members could be notified. Carrier declined to say what, if any, relationship the unidentified victim had with the shooter. He would not say if the unnamed victim was a man or a woman.
Company officials at FPL Food did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment.
According to its website, the company processes beef products such as tenderloins, cube steak, ground beef and taco filling.
Source:AP
Former Shelby County teacher admits to molesting more than 20 children www.privateofficer.com
SHELBY COUNTY, AL Jan 6 2012 - Alabster police announced today the arrest of a fomer Shelby County fourth grade teacher who has admitted to molesting more than 20 children over his career.
Daniel M. Acker, Jr., 49, is being held in the Shelby County Jail under a $225,000 bond. He was arrested after a former female student came forward to police last week, accusing him of molesting her three times. Police say one incident happened in a classroom in front of other children. These incidents allegedy happened in 2009.
During the course of investigating the young girl’s accusations, police requested that Acker come to the police department for questioning. They say that at that time, during their conversation, Acker admitted to molesting children over the course of his 24-year career.
At that point, Alabaster police arrested him and filed the initial charges. With today’s announcement, along with Acker’s admission and their ongoing investigation, police expect to file additional charges.
Anyone with information about possible abuse is urged to call police at 205-663-7401.
According to police, Acker retired as a schoolteacher in 2009. At that point he began working as a substitute bus driver in Shelby County.
Deputy Chief Curtis Rigney is calling this case “despicable.” He also said that the police department will continue to investigate until they are satisfied that every child Acker may have abused has been found and their case addressed.
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Randy Fuller said in a press release that the allegations were “shocking” and that “child abuse is horrible with devastating consequences to victims and their families.”
He added the following statement:
“We are cooperating with the Alabaster Police Department in their investigation. Steps have been taken to make sure he is not used in any employment capacity in the Shelby County School System until this matter is brought to full and final conclusion. We have also communicated with Dr. Tommy Bice, State Superintendent of Education, to make him aware of this situation.”
Source: WBRC.
