Archive
LODD-Deputy Sheriff Brian Hayden
Deputy Sheriff
Brian Hayden
Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Thursday, April 19, 2012
Bio & Incident Details
Age: 47
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Automobile accident
Incident Date: 4/19/2012
Weapon: Not available
Suspect: Not available
Deputy Sheriff Brian Hayden was killed when his patrol truck collided with another patrol car from on US Highway 70 as the two responded to a shots fired call involving a third officer.
He and an officer from the Choctaw National Tribal Police were responding to the call at approximately 9:30 pm. As the two vehicles neared an intersection Deputy Hayden began to turn left when his truck was struck by the patrol car, which was traveling behind him. Deputy Hayden’s suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The tribal police officer suffered severe injuries and was flown to a hospital in Texas.
Deputy Hayden is survived by his wife and four children.
Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:
Sheriff Lewis Collins
Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office
305 East Jefferson Street
Hugo, OK 74743
Police attacked at Dominican College; 4 students charged in big fight on campus www/privateofficer.com
ORANGEBURG NY April 20 2012— An Orangetown police officer was assaulted Monday night while attempting to make an arrest during a large fight on the Dominican College campus, police said.
Four Dominican students were arrested during the incident and face various charges ranging from disorderly conduct, a violation, to second-degree assault, a felony.
Police said the officer, who suffered several punches to the face, was not seriously injured.
The incident began about 9:45 p.m. at 470 Western Highway in the area between Dominican’s Granito Center and Hertel Hall, officials said.
The fight appears to have erupted when a dispute between a number of the students became physical, officials said. What caused the dispute was not yet clear Tuesday.
Erin deWard, a college spokeswoman, said a fifth person, a former student who had left Dominican, is also believed to have been at the center of the incident, though that person was not charged by police.
By the time officers arrived on the scene, the incident had grown to include more than 100 people, police said.
The large crowd was said to have ignored police instructions, requiring Orangetown police to call on New York State Police, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarkstown Police Department for assistance.
During the melee, Stephanie Paniagua, 18, of Manhattan, is accused of striking the Orangetown officer while he was attempting to arrest one of the other suspects, said Sgt. James Sullivan of the Orangetown police.
The officer, who was said to have been punched in the face several times, was treated for his injuries at the scene.
Paniagua was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.
Jamelah Andrew, 19, of Manhattan is accused of spitting on a police officer during the fight, police said. She was charged with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest along with disorderly conduct and harassment, both violations.
Also charged were Victor Cosme, 21, of Brooklyn and Stephanie Dowe, 20, of the Bronx.
Cosme was charged with obstructing governmental administration and inciting to riot, both misdemeanors, and disorderly conduct.
Dowe was charged with disorderly conduct.
The incident was effectively handled by the officers on the scene, said Sgt. Sean Russo of the Orangetown police.
“When you have a lot of people in a small area yelling during an incident, they cause a lot of stress and that type of thing leads to people getting hurt,” Russo said.
“It’s fortunate we could get other departments to come assist,” he added.
While the students are subject to the police investigation, deWard said they are also subject to an internal campus investigation, which will ultimately decide their individual fates at Dominican.
According to the college’s student handbook, assault and other disorderly behavior are prohibited and can be punished in a number of ways ranging from fines to outright dismissal from the school.
No conclusions had been reached by school officials Tuesday, deWard said, and Dominican was continuing its investigation.
Paniagua was being held Tuesday in the Rockland County jail pending an appearance in Orangetown Town Court.
Her bail was set at $2,000.
Officials said Andrew was released after posting bail and is due in court at a later date.
Court information for Cosme and Dowe was unavailable.
LODD- Officer Max Dorley
Police Officer
Max Dorley
Providence Police Department, Rhode Island
End of Watch: Thursday, April 19, 2012 Bio & Incident Details
Age: 42
Tour: 16 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Automobile accident
Incident Date: 4/19/2012
Weapon: Not available
Suspect: Not available
Police Officer Max Dorley was killed when his patrol car struck a utility pole on Admiral Street, near Huxley Avenue, as he responded to a disturbance call at approximately 9:20 am.
Two vehicles in front of him pulled to the side, however a third vehicle attempted to make a left turn in front of him, causing him to swerve. His vehicle left the roadway and struck the pole head-on, causing it to break in half and fall atop the patrol car. He was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Dorley had served with the Providence Police Department for 16 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Please contact the following agency to send condolences or to obtain funeral arrangements:
Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.
Providence Police Department
325 Washington Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 272-3121
Alabama state alcoholic beverage control agency bans beer because of name www.privateofficer.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. April 20 2012 (AP) – You can buy Fat Bastard wine in Alabama, but you’ll have to go elsewhere for Dirty Bastard beer. The state alcoholic beverage control agency said Thursday it has banned Dirty Bastard beer because of profanity on its label.
But the maker, Michigan-based Founders Brewing Co., can appeal the decision to the agency’s board.
The state allows the sale of Fat Bastard wine. But board attorney Bob Martin says the brand was approved years ago, and he doesn’t know the circumstances.
Alabama gained notice a few years ago for banning a wine brand that featured a nude nymph on its label.
Its decision on the beer is opposed by Free The Hops, a group that advocates for new beer brands in Alabama.
Calhoun County Jail testing facial recognition technology www.privateofficer.com
Calhoun AL April 20 2012 The Calhoun County Jail in Alabama is testing facial recognition technology that could help revolutionize the way criminals are identified by local law enforcement agencies in the state.
Although the jail’s system is still being implemented, the new biometric software will allow officers to confirm a person’s identity just by having him or her pass in front of a camera. The technology takes 3-D snapshots of an individual’s face, each consisting of 40,000 data points. The images are then automatically compared against a database to locate a match.
Biometric technology isn’t new to Calhoun County. The jail currently uses live scan fingerprinting and has an iris scan system. But Sheriff Larry Amerson believes facial recognition will provide several advantages over those identification methods, mostly centered on officer safety and efficiency gains.
“The way this software is designed, if you walk in front of the camera, it will automatically put a box around your face, grab [an image of] your face and attempt to identify you if you have it connected to the database,” Amerson said. “So when you’re releasing people, you can make a quick and certain identification.”
Implementation of facial recognition at the jail was slightly delayed when a bad video card in the computer running the software caused the system to overload the display screen with multiple facial images. But Amerson said the issue should be resolved shortly.
The jail made an investment of $10,000 in the system from National Security Resources, a biometric applications solutions provider. The setup consists of a laptop, the facial recognition software and a camera.
The money came from the jail’s law enforcement fund, a pot of money built from inmate commissary sales, inmate phone call charges and revenue from issuing pistol permits in the county. State law permits the sheriff to use that funding for certain law enforcement expenditures, including new technology.
Once the facial recognition technology is online at the Calhoun County Jail, it will be used primarily during the booking process. The facial scans will enable officers to identify those individuals who are registered sex offenders or people who have outstanding warrants or previous arrests.
The system will also be used when releasing an inmate, to make sure the person being let go is really who he or she purports to be.
Judging the value of facial recognition technology in Calhoun County may take some time. The technology is dependent on the database the software uses to compare new facial scans with those previously stored. The bigger the database, the more effective the technology should be.
According to Amerson, only one other county in Alabama — Madison — is using the same technology. More local agencies need to get onboard with the same system in order for it to reach its maximum potential. One of Amerson’s long-term priorities is to have Calhoun County serve as a regional hub where all counties share that facial recognition database.
Amerson hopes that using facial recognition biometrics won’t be limited to booking and release procedures. He said if the technology works as advertised, the plan is to also use it while distributing medications to inmates, to make sure the correct medication goes to the right person.
In addition, facial biometrics may eventually be mobile in the county. Amerson said he can envision a scenario in which an officer scans an individual on the roadside who might not have his driver’s license with him. Using the biometric technology, a person’s identity could be more accurately verified so officers would know exactly who they are dealing with.
“You can do that with iris scans and fingerprints, but [facial recognition] doesn’t require invasion of personal space or physical contact,” Amerson said. “It grabs them without approaching, and I see tremendous potential there on the enforcement side.”
Source: govtech.com
Woman flags down sheriffs about stolen car gets arrested for credit card fraud www.privateofficer.com
Teresa Cunningham Averette, 47, told deputies about a possibly stolen Toyota 4Runner after contacting them at 8th Street and Lurleen Wallace Blvd North, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Andy Norris said in a news release.
Deputies located the vehicle and its owner, Richard Morgan Shirley, 51, who was found with prescription drugs that were not his, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Norris said.
“The vehicle was found to be not stolen but the object of a civil dispute,” Norris said.
During the investigation, Averette was found to be wanted by the Sheriff’s Office for two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and identity theft. Her daughter, Bambi Tiffany Nicole Averette-Dunn, 28, was arrested for unlawful possession of prescription drugs.
All three were transported to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
Averette was charged with two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and identity theft. She was released on $45,000 bond.
Averette-Dunn was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She was released on $10,000 bond.
Shirley was charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs, first-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains in the Tuscaloosa County Jail. His bond was set at $17,500.
15 Chicago area residents charged with unemployment benefits scheme www.privateofficer.com
Jacqueline Kennedy, who owned tax preparation businesses on Chicago’s South Side, was charged with 14 counts of mail and wire fraud, six counts of filing false claims for tax refunds and one count of aggravated identity theft, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release.
She and the other defendants registered about 80 fictitious employers with unemployment insurance agencies in Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, and used the shell companies to collect unemployment insurance benefits, authorities said.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security was defrauded of about $6 million, authorities said.
It’s also alleged that Kennedy was involved in a scheme to falsely claim more than $1 million in federal tax refunds, using her tax preparation companies.
Others charged along with Kennedy include Tara Cox and Rowena Pughsley, both of Blue Island; Tameka Thompson, of Park Forest; and Anise McGill, of Alsip.
According to the 60-count indictment delivered by a grand jury on Tuesday, Kennedy and some of the defendants created as many as 80 shell companies to collect unemployment benefits.
In some cases, they even made unemployment payroll tax payments on behalf of the businesses to make it appear the firms were legitimate, according to the indictment.
Information from clients of Kennedy’s tax preparation firms, including Social Security numbers, was used to file unemployment benefits claims, the government alleges.
Jay Rowell, director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, said in a statement that it wasn’t so much IDES being victimized by the alleged fraud as it was “the millions of hard-working Illinoisans and the business owners who employ them.”
“The allegations that a few individuals connived to line their pockets at the expense of others down on their luck is outrageous,” Rowell said in a statement after the indictment was announced.
Source:Chicago Sun Times
Holyoke Mass. man captured for 10 year old West Virginia murder www.privateofficer.com
Holyoke MA April 20 2012 Federal, state and local law enforcement arrested a 32-year-old Holyoke man on Leary Street on Wednesday, ten years after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a 2001 homicide in West Virginia.
Vicky “Lucky” Bonilla was taken into custody without incident at 19 Leary Drive by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force, Holyoke and Springfield police, and members of the state police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Team.
He was wanted by police in Keyser, W.V. since 2001 after becoming a suspect in the death of a woman there. Police allege he killed the woman following an argument.
A spokesman with the U.S. Marshals said Bonilla was able to stay on the run for so long by frequently changing his name. He is also a convicted sex offender in the state of New York, and required to register with local police in each place he lived, as required by federal law.
U.S. Marshal John Gibbons said in a prepared statement commended each of the agencies involved and said “This was a big arrest in our efforts to make Massachusetts a safe place to live.
Keyser is a small town of about 5,500 people in the north east corner of West Virginia, roughy 90 minutes by car west of Hagerstown, Maryland.
Dinwiddie County VA sheriff’s deputy indicted for thefts www.privateofficer.com
A former Dinwiddie County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with obtaining money by false pretense while on duty.
Jeffrey C. McKenney, 32, of Petersburg, was indicted Tuesday on the felony charge, Sgt. Thomas Molnar, a state police spokesman, said in a news release.
Molnar said the indictment stems from a criminal complaint by the Dinwiddie Sheriff’s Office in November 2011 that alleged McKenney committed fraud while on duty. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation and presented the case to a Dinwiddie grand jury, Molnar said.
The alleged fraud involves overtime compensation that McKenney received for which he wasn’t entitled, said Dinwiddie Maj. William Knott.
McKenney turned himself in Tuesday and was granted a $2,500 bond pending his arraignment on the charge May 8 in Dinwiddie Circuit Court.
“I would like to inform the citizens of Dinwiddie County that this incident occured before I took office on January 1, 2012,” Dinwiddie Sheriff D.T. “Duck” Adams said in a statement. “When I took office, I did not re-appoint McKenney as a deputy sheriff.”
Molnar said the investigation is continuing.
Phoenix cardiac surgeon fined $100,000 for posting patients information on Internet www.privateofficer.com
Phoenix Cardiac Surgery has agreed to pay the penalty to settle the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) violations and take steps to safeguard the health information of its patients, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The HHS investigation found that Phoenix Cardiac Surgery didn’t have policies and procedures to safeguard patient information and had few safeguards to protect patients’ electronic health information.
Phoenix Cardiac Surgery also didn’t document that it trained employees for privacy and security rules, conduct a risk analysis or identify a security official.
Fort Campbell soldier wanted for killing wife commits suicide during police chase www.privateofficer.com
A news release from Fort Campbell says Spc. Rico L. Rawls Jr., 22, died around 2 p.m. Monday. Rawls Jr. was wanted by military police in connection with the shooting death of his wife, Jessica T. Rawls, of South Bend.
The mother of three was found dead Friday evening at the couple’s home within the military installation, which straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee state line. Military police say they were led to the home following a domestic dispute call.
“I got onto Facebook and saw posts about her passing and I just kind of lost it,” Rawls’ longtime friend JaNetta Jenner said.
Jenner met Rawls as a fourth grade student at Kennedy Elementary School on South Bend’s west side.
“I came to Kennedy with no friends and she was the first person that I became friends with. If you ever had a problem she was there, she was really my best friend,” Jenner added.
Rawls moved to Florida in middle school, only to return to South Bend in the late 1990s. Reunited as freshman, Rawls and Jenner played basketball and softball together at LaSalle High School until graduating in 2002.
“It’s heartbreaking because we won’t be able to build future memories. At least I’ll always have the memories of walking down the hall, going to school with her and just growing up together,” Jenner commented.
Police said Rawls Jr. shot himself following the police chase which started near Chattanooga, Tenn. Georgia authorities said the suspect reached speeds of up to 120 mph before being forced to stop just before 3 a.m. near Lake Allatoona, Ga. Rawls Jr. was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
In a media statement the U.S. Army said Rawls Jr. was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group where he worked as an information systems operator/analyst. He had been at Fort Campbell since January 2010 and was deployed to Iraq twice; most recently returning in Nov. 2011.
In a written statement released to NewsCenter 16, Jessica Rawls’ mother Dawn Williams said, “My son-in-law Rico came back from Iraq a different person. We asked, pleaded and begged for help for him, but no one listened. I pray that someone will listen now. The pre-Iraq Rico Rawls would not have done this. Someone needs to listen and act or this will continue to happen.”
NewsCenter 16 asked the U.S. Army if it neglected to give Rawls Jr. proper psychiatric treatment following his latest deployment. Although the military would not comment on his personnel file, a spokeswoman did say the Army takes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues very seriously with specialized programs implemented on most bases, including Fort Campbell.
Both deaths remain under investigation by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies detain 65 students in alcohol-fueled disturbance www.privateofficer.com
DEWEY AZ April 20 2012 – Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies say they detained 65 students after an alcohol-fueled after prom party in a remote area west of Dewey.
Sheriff’s spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn says deputies were called after a young man was found lying in the middle of Iron King Road early Sunday and several fights were reported.
Arriving deputies found a very large after-prom party was being attended by more than 150 people. Some ran into the desert or tried to drive away when deputies, Prescott and state police began arriving.
Officers detained 65 people between 15 and 21 years old. They cited 34 for underage drinking and held those under 18 until an adult arrived to pick them up.
The party had been planned far in advance and involved students from most area high schools.
Source:azcentral.com
Tampa police seek new uniforms for Republican National Convention security www.privateofficer.com
Police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said police will ask the council Thursday to approve spending for the uniforms, which would be made from khaki tan cotton materials instead of the usual midnight-blue polyester to protect officers from the August heat during the convention, the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg, reported Wednesday.
“This is the hottest time of the year for us, so we want officers to be in uniforms that breathe,” McElroy said.
She said the uniforms would also be worn by law enforcement personnel traveling to Tampa to help with convention security.
Source:www.upi.com
Company whose security guards patrol the White House files for bankruptcy www.privateofficer.com
Washington DC April 20 2012 A company whose security guards patrol the White House filed for bankruptcy with an emergency request to transfer a series of its government contracts to a competitor, a move to ensure that President Barack Obama’s home and other federal buildings don’t go unwatched.
Maryland-based TW & Co. filed for Chapter 11 protection Wednesday and sought to borrow $1 million to pay its 617 employees, who are due to receive their next check on Friday. That loan would come from an Alexandria-based subcontractor that wants to take over nearly two dozen contracts that TW holds to provide “armed and unarmed guard services at highly sensitive government agencies and facilities,” according to papers filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt, Md.
“Due to its financial difficulties, the [company] is similarly unable to perform under certain existing contracts with the government and several commercial entities,” the company’s attorney said in court papers. “A disruption in the services may also present national security concerns.”
The company didn’t explain why it faces financial hardship. Its president, Tanya Walker, wasn’t immediately available to comment Thursday.
In court papers, the company said it provides security guards for the U.S. Army, the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its Federal Protective Service agency. A list of contracts shows that it has also sent security guards to the Smithsonian, the historic Winder Building and several Air Force bases.
A judge still has to sign off on TW’s proposed bankruptcy loan. Company officials explained in court documents that if TW misses payroll on Friday, the company risks losing the ability to collect $5.3 million for services it has provided.
The loan would come from Chenega Integrated Systems LLC, which would also take over the company’s contracts. It’s unclear whether TW would be left with any work after the handover
Jackson MS police arrest car restoration business owner with $500,000 stoeln nissan parts www.privateofficer.com
JACKSON, Miss. April 20 2012 (AP) – The owner of a car restoration business charged with possessing an estimated $500,000 in parts apparently stolen from the Nissan North American plant in Canton is expected to make an initial court appearance Friday.
Jackson police arrested 49-year-old Eric Brown on Wednesday at Precious Automotive Auto Restoration. Court officials say he was being held without bond on felony theft charges and a $2,025 bond on a misdemeanor marijuana citation, pending court appearances Friday.
Jackson Police Sgt. L.C. Russell said the department will charge Brown with receiving and possessing stolen goods, but it’s not clear how many counts he will face because investigators are still doing inventory on the parts.
The parts included catalytic converters and batteries.
Nissan spokesman Steve Parrett says the company is “supporting the investigation efforts.”
Plane crashes into Gulf of Mexico after pilot becomes unresponsive www.privateofficer.com
Mobile AL April 20 2012 A twin-engine airplane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about three hours after Federal Aviation Administration officials lost contact with the aircraft.
Two F-15 fighter jets were scrambled to observe the airplane after the FAA lost contact with the lone pilot about 9 a.m. ET on Thursday. NORAD says the jet pilots reported seeing the windows fogged up.
That implies the airplane may have lost cabin pressure.
The pilot was identified by friends as Dr. Peter Hertzak, a gynecologist and cosmetic surgeon from Slidell, LA, according to the AP.
CNN reported Hertzak was unresponsive and may have been suffering from a lack of oxygen as he circled the Gulf. The plane was observed at an altitude of 28,000 feet off the coast of the Florida Panhandle.
The Jacksonville FAA Center last saw the plane around 12:03 p.m. ET at an altitude of 9,600 feet, moving at 93 mph, according to FlightAware.com. Just a minute before, the Jacksonville FAA had tracked the plane at an altitude of 11,400 feet.
It has since dropped off the radar and the transponder has stopped working.
The Coast Guard dispatched an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew out of Mobile, AL, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crews from the Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater, FL and the Coast Guard Cutter Coho to assist the plane.
The airplane crashed around 12:15 a.m. The nose of the plane is submerged, according to the Coast Guard. There is no word on the pilot’s condition.
The plane took off from Slidell headed to Sarasota, FL. If the plane was fully loaded with fuel, it would have run out of gas by about 12:30 p.m. ET.
The plane, a Cessna 421, is a twin-engine propeller plane that seats eight. It is registered to Lee H. Aviation, Inc.
On April 3, a pilot and two passengers disappeared in their Cessna over the Pacific while they were searching for a boat fishing illegally about 500 miles off the coast of the Philippines. The search for the men was called off two days later.
In 1999, professional golfer Payne Stewart was killed while his Lear jet was flying to Dallas from Orlando, FL. F-16 Falcons were scrambled from Elgin Air Force Base in Florida when Stewart became unresponsive.
Pilots noticed that the cockpit windows had frost or condensation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the plane lost cabin pressure and those on board died of hypoxia. The plane crashed in a field in Mina, SD.
Dallas airport security officer finds-returns $9500 to passenger www.privateofficer.com
But for one passenger last week at Dallas/Fort Worth International airport, the honesty of a security officer served as a reminder of the TSA’s good work, WFAA reports.
According to Fox News, Carlos Palma dropped an envelope full of money at the airport’s security checkpoint. Unaware of his loss, Palma rushed on to catch his flight home to Iowa.
Thankfully for him, TSA officer Don Williams was nearby and spotted the envelope.
“I picked it up off the floor and palmed it in my hand so that no one could see it,” Williams said, who added that he could immediately tell that it was a wad of cash.
Williams then made an announcement, asking passengers if anyone had lost anything. When no one responded, Williams and a supervisor took the stuffed envelope to a private screening, NBC News reports.
Opening it, the two found a cool $9500 — all in $100 bills.
Somewhere far away in the sky, Palma finally realized that he had lost his envelope of money.
Officer Williams said that he lives by a simple childhood lesson. “Always do the right thing and that way you can live with yourself,” he told NBC News.
Landing in Iowa, Palma’s son called the TSA to locate the money — and of course, he soon found it.
“I trusted the TSA personnel,” Palma said. “And I’m very proud of having that type of security.”
Talking to Williams over the phone, Palma was effusive with gratitude.
But Williams said that he’s just glad that Palma has been reunited with his money — adding that this is all just part of an honest day’s work.
“We found $400 a few minutes ago,” Williams told WFAA. “It’s not that unusual here.”
New Hawaii security guard requirements will impact thousands www.privateofficer.com
HONOLULU HI April 20 2012 - Under existing Hawaii regulations, security guards are required to have an eighth-grade education before being deployed to a job site.
But, under legislation known as Act 208, anyone in the security profession will be required to obtain a high school diploma or the equivalent. They must also be free of any psychiatric or psychological disorders that may impact their work and complete a nationwide FBI background check.
“Everyone will have the same minimal training, and even if you decide to change areas of security, it’ll be covered,” said Charlene Tamanaha, executive officer of the Board of Private Detectives and Guards, the state panel responsible for implementing the new mandates.
The law is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2013, after receiving overwhelming support from state lawmakers in the House and Senate during the 2010 legislative session.
The law also requires all present and future security guards to complete an eight-hour course at one of seven community colleges across the state. The course, which has yet to be finalized, will be followed by a written exam and four hours of on-the-job training. Those who pass the course must also continue their training by receiving four hours of classroom time every year, or a total of eight hours in a biennium.
It’s estimated community colleges will charge $40 for the classroom instruction time, or about half of a day’s pay for the typical security guard that makes $9 to $10 per hour.
“I’m sure there will be some guards that may not meet our standards, but that’s not to say that they cannot be trained, or go and do courses that may help them to achieve that level and pass the test,” said Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry, who’s also a member of the Board of Private Detectives and Guards.
The new mandates are expected to increase the cost of doing business for security firms that contract services to a variety of government and private entities.
“It’s going to add to the costs because we have to do all this training,” said Lee Donohue, director of security at Securitas, the state’s largest security firm. “Right now, we haven’t made a decision whether we’ll ask our employees to bear the cost of the new (community college) course.”
State Sen. Rosalyn Baker was one of the lead sponsors of the bill. She told KITV4 many people were questioning the training of security guards after having a few bad experiences.
This is really to standardize the training, to upgrade the training and make sure that everybody is on the same page,” said Baker.
Perry believes the new requirements will help law enforcement deal more effectively with security guards, who are often called upon to assist police as witnesses to crimes or the identification of suspects.
“We work hand in hand with the security guard agencies, so we want to make sure that what they do has been done properly, and this Act 208 will assist us in doing that,” said the Kauai police chief.
In 2010, the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations estimated the number of security guards in the state at 10,700. However, the number may be much greater when including bouncers, loss prevention officers and private security guards who work at condominiums and home associations.
Source:KITV.com
Kingsport teacher arrested for lining up his students, firing blank shots from gun www.privateofficer.com
Abingdon VA April 20 2012 A Kingsport man who teaches at a vocational school in Abingdon, Va., has been arrested after allegedly pulling a blank firing gun on his students, pointing it their direction and firing multiple times.
The incident occurred April 4 at William H. Neff Center. Manuael Ernest Dillow, 60, of 840 Liberty Drive, Kingsport, was arrested Wednesday for the alleged incident and charged with 12 felony counts of brandishing a firearm on school property.
The Washington County Sheriffs Office reports the charges are class 6 felonies, with each count punishable up to five years incarceration and a $2,500 fine.
Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman reports School Superintendent Jim Sullivan notified the Sheriff’s Office of the incident. An investigation reportedly discovered Dillow “gathered” the attention of the 12 students in his welding class and lined them up near a garage door in the shop.
“He then pulled a ‘blank firing handgun,’ black in color, from the back waistband of his pants and discharged the weapon between four and ten shots in the direction of the line of the students,” states a Wednesday afternoon press release. “The ‘report’ of the firearm was similar to that of a firearm that fires a projectile, thus placing the students in fear, according to statements. No students were physically injured as a result of the incident.”
Dillow was released on a $20,000 unsecured bond with a hearing date scheduled for May 7.
Atlanta family sue security company, apartment complex in death of son www.privateofficer.com
The family of Canard Arnold is filing suit nearly four months after he was allegedly killed by security guard Christopher Hambrick at the DeLane Court Condominiums on Myrtle Drive in Atlanta. Hambrick was not charged in the case.
“He showed no remorse. he didn’t say he was sorry…or nothing. So, I feel like he doesn’t care,” said Bernar Arnold, Canard’s father.
Arnold family attorney Christopher Chestnut is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Hambrick, the security company he works for, and the owner of the Atlanta apartment complex where the shooting took place.
The 17-year old Arnold had gotten into an altercation with another man at the Drive on Dec. 31 of last year. Shots were fired and Arnold fled the scene.
Arnold family attorney Christopher Chestnut says Hambrick shot Arnold in the back, as the teen ran from the area. They admit Arnold was armed with a gun but say he never displayed the weapon. They insist Arnold never confronted or threatened the security guard.
Another man, Anthony Hines, is being held on murder charges connected to the case. Arnold’s family still hopes that Hambrick will face criminal charges.
McHenry city police officer arrested, charged with theft www.privateofficer.com
McHENRY IL April 20 2012 – An 11-year veteran of the McHenry Police Department was charged Tuesday with theft of money confiscated in a drug arrest, Police Chief John Jones said.
Dale Hojnacki, 35, of McHenry, was charged with felony theft of more than $500, according to a statement by Jones. Hojnacki was taken to the McHenry County Jail. Bond was set at $15,000.
Police discovered that money was missing during a routine audit. The exact amount is under investigation, Jones said.
According to the criminal complaint, the theft took place between June 23, 2010, and Nov. 22, 2011, and occurred at 333 S. Green St. – the McHenry Police Department. After his arrest, Hojnacki resigned from the police department, according to the statement.
“During the course of the investigation, witnesses were interviewed and evidence was collected,” Jones said in the statement. “The investigation has determined that Hojnacki acted alone and is the sole offender.”
Jones said the investigation into Hojnacki’s conduct is ongoing, and additional charges against him could be forthcoming.
“I find Officer Hojnacki’s actions to be despicable and I will not tolerate any act that makes him no better than the criminals we arrest on a daily basis,” Jones said in the statement. “We hold our officers to the highest of standards, allowing the public to trust in those men and women who are sworn to uphold the law.
“Any officer that would tarnish the uniform worn by so many fantastic officers of the McHenry Police Department deserves to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Upon conviction, the theft charge carries a sentence of two to five years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.
Source:northwest herald
Commissioned NASA security police officer arrested for embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
HOUSTON TX April 20 2012 - A woman who swore to enforce the law has been accused of stealing from her union.
Kemberly Fields is a commissioned security officer for NASA. She was also the president of the local chapter of the Security, Police and Fire Professionals Union.
Fields controlled the chapter’s bank accounts, up until Wednesday. That is when she was accused of taking $23,000 of union money.
“She simply went to branch locations and made withdrawals,” Assistant Harris County District Attorney Martin Longoria said. “Nobody checked the records because she was the president and in charge of those funds. Eventually, the treasurer, who lives in California, looked at the records and discovered these missing funds.”
Field was arrested and charged with misapplication of fiduciary property. She posted $5,000 bond on Thursday. If convicted of the charge, she could face up to 10 years in prison.
The union and NASA declined to comment on the case.
This is the second time in two years that one of the union’s officials has been accused of stealing funds. The president of a chapter in Illinois pleaded guilty to embezzling $22,000 in 2010. He was given a two-year probated sentence.
Shoplifter attacks Oak Harbor Walmart security with knife, broken wine bottle www.privateofficer.com
OAK HARBOR WA April 20 2012— A 21-year-old Oak Harbor man was arrested last week after assaulting a security guard with a broken wine bottle and knife at the Oak Harbor Walmart.
At around 2:40 p.m. last Thursday, Oak Harbor police officers responded to a call at Walmart of a man trying to stab another man.
It turned out to be a struggle between a security guard and a suspected shoplifter.
The suspect, 21-year-old Addison Vernon, had allegedly filled a backpack with clothing and a bottle of wine and then left the store.
Oak Harbor Police say a Walmart security guard managed to get Vernon into the foyer, but a struggle ensued and Vernon attempted to stab at the security guard’s face with the broken wine bottle.
He later pulled a knife on the security guard, but a retired Island County Sheriff’s deputy, Wayne Lewis, saw what was happening and pulled a handgun.
Vernon sheathed his knife and ran away heading east from Walmart’s main entrance. He was found nearby and arrested.
Vernon was booked into the Oak Harbor jail and then transferred to the Island County jail in Coupeville.
He had a hearing last Friday and bail was set at $50,000.
He remains incarcerated at the Island County jail and faces a charge of assault in the second degree.
Security guard assaulted at shelter www.privateofficer.com
Myrtle Beach SC April 20 2012 Authorities at Myrtle Beach said that a man has been arrested after police said he assaulted a security guard at Street Reach Ministries.
Police Wednesday tool Allan William Anderson, II, 38, of Myrtle Beach into custody and charged him with assault.
According to a report, he was asked by a security guard to leave Street Reach because he was causing a disturbance. Anderson, according to the report, refused to leave and started punching the victim who was found with minor injuries to his nose and left eye.
Anderson was being held at the Myrtle Beach jail pending a bond hearing, according to the report.
CT man charged with 200 counts of fraud, identity theft, forgery www.privaeofficer.com
A man with a record of assaulting woman, stalking woman and trying to drug women for sex was charged Tuesday with more than 200 counts of fraud, forgery and identify theft.
Robert W. Gross, 59, is accused of stealing three credit cards from two real estate agents with whom he had set up appointments to see houses. He told the agents, both women, that he was wealthy. One showed him houses along the shoreline and another homes in West Hartford.
In one case, one of the agents later told police, she was alone with Gross in the basement of an empty house when she got what she described as a “strange feeling.” She told Gross she would wait for him outside. She later dodged Gross’ calls and text message, she told police, because she was concerned.
In Gross’ 27-year criminal record, he has been convicted of exposing himself while holding a knife in front of a female real estate agent and calling a female interior decorator to his house, grabbing her and clamping his hand over her mouth before she escaped. He also has served time for scheming to molest a financial consultant and two other professional women in Vernon.
More recently, Gross was in prison for probation violations and stalking convictions after acting on his compulsion for women in professional attire and their feet, in Buckland Hills Mall. He approached one woman in a department store, telling her she had beautiful feet; she fled. In another instance, he was found on his hands and knees admiring a woman’s feet. He claimed he was looking for shoes.
In a confession to Vernon Det. Steve Sartor, Gross acknowledged stealing the credit cards from the real estate agents, according to the warrant. He told Sartor he had lost his job and needed to support himself.
Gross is already jailed on credit card theft charges from other communities.
Vernon Det. Don Skewes wrote in the warrant for Gross’ arrest that Gross made fraudulent charges in excess of $13,000. He faces 72 counts of identity theft, 72 counts of credit card fraud, 72 counts of second-degree forgery and a single count of third-degree larceny.
Hackettstown NJ woman assaults doctor, security staff www.privateofficer.com
Karen Machacek, 29, allegedly struck the doctor’s back when he attempted to take her vital signs. She also slapped an ER security guard, reports say.
Machacek faces aggravated assault on medical services and simple assault charges. She posted $2,500 bail and was released pending a court appearance.
There was no word on what prompted Machacek to commit the assaults.
