INVESTIGATOR’S THOUGHTS TO PONDER
From the web site of Diogenes LLC, a full service investigative agency named after the ultimate skeptic, Diogenes. Their motto: “Truth is knowledge, only verified”.
"A man does not look behind the door unless he has stood there himself."
"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... it is a bird of some sort."
Benedict Arnold was always the first one to rise when George Washington walked into the room.
"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
"Singularity is almost invariably a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more difficult it is to bring it home."
"I have become convinced there is no one truth, nor two; there are often several truths."
"In the war between falsehood and truth, falsehood often wins the first battle, but truth wins the last."
Their web site has an excellent Investigative Resources page. Check it out, and bookmark it; you’ll probably find yourself referring to it often.
http://www.diogenesllc.com/axioms.html
Sunday, October 23, 2005
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR’S ROLODEX
Tele-Track: Tele-Track is otherwise referred to as the “Fourth Credit Bureau”. It’s a great source for locating hard to find low income and transient persons. TeleTrack collects information from what are referred to as “Sub-Prime” businesses such as rent-to-own furniture stores, check cashing facilities, used car dealers, secured credit card issuers, cable TV companies and others. To find out more, check out their site at:
www.teletrack.com800-729-6981770-449-8809
Tele-Track: Tele-Track is otherwise referred to as the “Fourth Credit Bureau”. It’s a great source for locating hard to find low income and transient persons. TeleTrack collects information from what are referred to as “Sub-Prime” businesses such as rent-to-own furniture stores, check cashing facilities, used car dealers, secured credit card issuers, cable TV companies and others. To find out more, check out their site at:
www.teletrack.com800-729-6981770-449-8809
HIDDEN GOOGLE FEATURES
Did you know that you can type a VIN into GOOGLE and it will link you to information on the year, make and model of the VIN? Likewise, this same type of search can be performed with several other number sets including UPS/Fed EX tracking numbers, UPC codes, telephone area codes, patent numbers, FAA tail numbers and FCC equipment IDs. For more details go to google.com and click the What's new at Google? link and then scroll down to search by numbers.
Did you know that you can type a VIN into GOOGLE and it will link you to information on the year, make and model of the VIN? Likewise, this same type of search can be performed with several other number sets including UPS/Fed EX tracking numbers, UPC codes, telephone area codes, patent numbers, FAA tail numbers and FCC equipment IDs. For more details go to google.com and click the What's new at Google? link and then scroll down to search by numbers.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN TIMES SQUARE
If you want to check out the live camera feed of Times Square, go to:EarthCam- Times Square
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/
If you want to check out the live camera feed of Times Square, go to:EarthCam- Times Square
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/
INTERESTING WEB SITES FOR THE INVESTIGATOR
Here are some sites that are very useful in helping to locate people.
PeopleSpot: A portal dedicated to helping you find people. There is a huge reference list of sources, aids, and resources you can use from this new portal.
www.peoplespot.com
SkipEase: A massive link list providing links to dozens of search sites that are very useful in locating missing persons.
www.skipease.com/index.html
Skip Tracer Tool Box: Another very well done and extensive links page.
http://skiptoolbox.freeyellow.com/
Telephone Directories on the Web: This site links you to over 350 telephone directories, yellow pages, business directories and email directories in over 150 different countries.
www.teldir.com/eng
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR’S ROLODEX
Insurance companies maintain a Special Investigations Unit to conduct specialized fraud investigations. Usually staffed by retired detectives, the Special Investigations Unit’s are probably a good starting point for the detective seeking investigative assistance. When contacting an insurance company, ask to speak to someone in their Special Investigations Unit. For more information you can check out the web site for the:International Association of Special Investigations Units 410-931-8100
www.iasiu.com
Here are some sites that are very useful in helping to locate people.
PeopleSpot: A portal dedicated to helping you find people. There is a huge reference list of sources, aids, and resources you can use from this new portal.
www.peoplespot.com
SkipEase: A massive link list providing links to dozens of search sites that are very useful in locating missing persons.
www.skipease.com/index.html
Skip Tracer Tool Box: Another very well done and extensive links page.
http://skiptoolbox.freeyellow.com/
Telephone Directories on the Web: This site links you to over 350 telephone directories, yellow pages, business directories and email directories in over 150 different countries.
www.teldir.com/eng
FOR THE INVESTIGATOR’S ROLODEX
Insurance companies maintain a Special Investigations Unit to conduct specialized fraud investigations. Usually staffed by retired detectives, the Special Investigations Unit’s are probably a good starting point for the detective seeking investigative assistance. When contacting an insurance company, ask to speak to someone in their Special Investigations Unit. For more information you can check out the web site for the:International Association of Special Investigations Units 410-931-8100
www.iasiu.com
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Identity Theft Protection
There is a website available to assist with Identity Theft:
www.optoutprescreen.com
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance. The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you.
Through this website, you may request to:
Opt-Out from receiving firm offers for 5 years
Opt-Out from receiving firm offers permanently
Opt-In and begin receiving firm offers. This option is for consumers who have previously completed a request to Opt-Out.
If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm offer lists provided by these four consumer credit reporting companies. If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In. In doing so, you will soon be among the many consumers who can significantly benefit from having ready access to product information on credit and insurance products that may not be available to the general public.
Taking part in this program (if you "opt out") will remove the opportunity that thieves will have to grab your mail with those "free Offers" of credit cards we all get (most of us...) Once in the hands of the bad guys, they can apply for and receive the offered credit card. Billing can then be re-directed and you may not know for months you have been a victim.
OptOutPrescreen.com is a centralized service to accept and process requests from consumers to "Opt-In" or “Opt-Out” of firm offers of credit or insurance. OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture among Equifax Information Services, LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Innovis Data Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion, LLC (collectively the "Consumer Credit Reporting Companies").
OptOutPrescreen.com is the only internet website authorized by Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion for this purpose under the FCRA. Please note that, as a security precaution, consumers should never provide their personal information to any other company or person in connection with requesting Opt-In or Opt-Out services. OptOutPrescreen.com will not contact consumers via email, telemarketing or direct mail solicitations.
There is a website available to assist with Identity Theft:
www.optoutprescreen.com
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance. The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you.
Through this website, you may request to:
Opt-Out from receiving firm offers for 5 years
Opt-Out from receiving firm offers permanently
Opt-In and begin receiving firm offers. This option is for consumers who have previously completed a request to Opt-Out.
If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm offer lists provided by these four consumer credit reporting companies. If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In. In doing so, you will soon be among the many consumers who can significantly benefit from having ready access to product information on credit and insurance products that may not be available to the general public.
Taking part in this program (if you "opt out") will remove the opportunity that thieves will have to grab your mail with those "free Offers" of credit cards we all get (most of us...) Once in the hands of the bad guys, they can apply for and receive the offered credit card. Billing can then be re-directed and you may not know for months you have been a victim.
OptOutPrescreen.com is a centralized service to accept and process requests from consumers to "Opt-In" or “Opt-Out” of firm offers of credit or insurance. OptOutPrescreen.com is a joint venture among Equifax Information Services, LLC, Experian Information Solutions, Inc., Innovis Data Solutions, Inc., and TransUnion, LLC (collectively the "Consumer Credit Reporting Companies").
OptOutPrescreen.com is the only internet website authorized by Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion for this purpose under the FCRA. Please note that, as a security precaution, consumers should never provide their personal information to any other company or person in connection with requesting Opt-In or Opt-Out services. OptOutPrescreen.com will not contact consumers via email, telemarketing or direct mail solicitations.
Friday, October 14, 2005
INFO FOR THE INVESTIGATOR:
READING SIM CARDS
A device has recently been developed that reads SIM cards from mobile phones.
The new program can recall all deleted messages in the card. As long as there is memory available, the program will show what is in the card. The information can be copied to a spreadsheet for future reports and analysis.
Some police agencies have already started using the device, which originated in Europe.
Sound interesting? You can check the company’s web site at:
www.verdisikring.as
Or you can e-mail them direct at: post@verdisikring.as
READING SIM CARDS
A device has recently been developed that reads SIM cards from mobile phones.
The new program can recall all deleted messages in the card. As long as there is memory available, the program will show what is in the card. The information can be copied to a spreadsheet for future reports and analysis.
Some police agencies have already started using the device, which originated in Europe.
Sound interesting? You can check the company’s web site at:
www.verdisikring.as
Or you can e-mail them direct at: post@verdisikring.as
Sunday, October 02, 2005
POLICE HUMOR
Sick Trinkets
There is a growing community of collectors seeking items now known as “murderabilia.” Paintings by serial killers and other garbage are being scarfed up on the internet as soon as the stuff is posted. It’s hard to imagine spending one’s extra cash on crap that used belong to the “Unabomber,” Ted Kaczynski, but people are lining up on E-bay to buy everything that the whack-job used to own. Among the items for sale are Ted’s smelly sneakers, his infamous typewriter, and his copy of Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style.”
Wrong
In Detroit, the graduates of a recent police academy class are going back to school after 26 recruits made a rather large error when Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings visited them. What was their mistake? They forgot to salute the boss as is called for in departmental procedures. The recruits will now have an extra week of classes to brush up on their technique.
Sleepy
The last thing you want to do if you’re operating a mobile meth lab out of your car is fall asleep in the vehicle. But if you do decide you need some rest, do not park the drug lab in front of the county jail. Otherwise it might get written up in American Police Beat. In Waterloo, Iowa, drug manufacturer and total idiot Kirk Alan Marvel, 42, was busted in his mobile meth lab when officers noticed that he was not responding to series of green lights at an intersection. They woke Mr. Marvel up, arrested him, and took him across the street for booking.
Suds
China has surpassed both the U.S.A. and Europe in terms of total beer consumption world-wide. Chinese people now account for one out of every five beers consumed on earth.
(reprinted from APB)
Sick Trinkets
There is a growing community of collectors seeking items now known as “murderabilia.” Paintings by serial killers and other garbage are being scarfed up on the internet as soon as the stuff is posted. It’s hard to imagine spending one’s extra cash on crap that used belong to the “Unabomber,” Ted Kaczynski, but people are lining up on E-bay to buy everything that the whack-job used to own. Among the items for sale are Ted’s smelly sneakers, his infamous typewriter, and his copy of Strunk & White’s “Elements of Style.”
Wrong
In Detroit, the graduates of a recent police academy class are going back to school after 26 recruits made a rather large error when Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings visited them. What was their mistake? They forgot to salute the boss as is called for in departmental procedures. The recruits will now have an extra week of classes to brush up on their technique.
Sleepy
The last thing you want to do if you’re operating a mobile meth lab out of your car is fall asleep in the vehicle. But if you do decide you need some rest, do not park the drug lab in front of the county jail. Otherwise it might get written up in American Police Beat. In Waterloo, Iowa, drug manufacturer and total idiot Kirk Alan Marvel, 42, was busted in his mobile meth lab when officers noticed that he was not responding to series of green lights at an intersection. They woke Mr. Marvel up, arrested him, and took him across the street for booking.
Suds
China has surpassed both the U.S.A. and Europe in terms of total beer consumption world-wide. Chinese people now account for one out of every five beers consumed on earth.
(reprinted from APB)
Saturday, October 01, 2005
A Call To Arms
“Our brother and sister police officers in New Orleans are currently carrying a double burden: the job of trying to maintain law and order in a devastated major American city, all the while trying to cope with their own pain and loss – of their homes, families, friends, and their town. This is the worst imaginable scenario police officers can face. There may be many organizations that claim to assist the police, but if you donate, you should do so with confidence. The Police Association of New Orleans, the organization representing New Orleans’ police force , is working with NAPO’s Relief Fund to ensure that your donations will go directly to their members in need.” The National Association of Police Organizations is a Washington, DC based coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States. NAPO serves to advance the interests of America’s law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. Both the NYC Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA) and the Police Association of New Orleans (PANO) were founding members of NAPO when the organization first formed in 1978. Donations can be made by check or credit card. Donation forms can be downloaded from www.napo.org or donations can be sent directly to the NAPO Relief Fund, c/o NAPO, 750 First Street, NE, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20002-4241. Phone: 202-842-4420 Fax: 202-842-4396
(reprinted from NY COP Online Magazine)
“Our brother and sister police officers in New Orleans are currently carrying a double burden: the job of trying to maintain law and order in a devastated major American city, all the while trying to cope with their own pain and loss – of their homes, families, friends, and their town. This is the worst imaginable scenario police officers can face. There may be many organizations that claim to assist the police, but if you donate, you should do so with confidence. The Police Association of New Orleans, the organization representing New Orleans’ police force , is working with NAPO’s Relief Fund to ensure that your donations will go directly to their members in need.” The National Association of Police Organizations is a Washington, DC based coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States. NAPO serves to advance the interests of America’s law enforcement officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. Both the NYC Detectives’ Endowment Association (DEA) and the Police Association of New Orleans (PANO) were founding members of NAPO when the organization first formed in 1978. Donations can be made by check or credit card. Donation forms can be downloaded from www.napo.org or donations can be sent directly to the NAPO Relief Fund, c/o NAPO, 750 First Street, NE, Suite 920, Washington, DC 20002-4241. Phone: 202-842-4420 Fax: 202-842-4396
(reprinted from NY COP Online Magazine)
Thursday, September 29, 2005
THE NIGERIAN (419) SCAM
The “NIGERIAN (419)” Scam – named after the code in the Nigerian Criminal Code that relates to larceny by fraud, is a widespread scam that – like many con games – is hard to believe that someone would fall for. But fall for it they do, to an enormous amount of money as well. The Nigerian Scam is, according to published reports, the Third to Fifth largest industry in Nigeria. This appears to be one of the largest, and longest running, scams in the world. It is also a very dangerous one. According to the State Department, by 1996 over 15 people had been murdered after they travelled to Nigeria to participate in this "opportunity." Even more have been beaten or subject to threats and extortion. There are a number of variations on this scam, but all involve the same themes: You receive a letter, fax or email from a government official or businessman from Nigeria, telling you confidentially of a large sum of money that is available. You are asked to assist in the transfer of that money, for a share of the profits. The proposal, typewritten on official-looking stationary(lately not though), offers a 25 percent commission for assistance in transferring surplus funds of up to $38 million (obtained from "over-invoiced government contracts") from Nigeria to the United States. The solicitations request the reader provide a bank account number in order to complete the transaction. "Investors" who respond to the offer will be required to pay a never-ending assortment of legal fees, personal expenses and government bribes until the victim is drained of all assets. If you go along with the ruse, you will be asked to send money for transaction and transfer costs. Sequential "emergencies" come up requiring further payment and causing delay in the transfer of funds to you. This confidence scheme is very elaborate and sophisticated. Some of the con artists are Nigerian civil servants, and they will forward to you official and official-looking documents to demonstrate their legitimacy. These rip-offs, which contain variations in theme, are widespread. The U.S. Secret Service gets reports of about 100 victims per day, and receives 300-500 pieces of scam literature forwarded to them each day. In Nigeria, the scam is widely known as the "419" scam, named so after the provision of the Nigerian penal code that relates to fraud. A victim who gets lured into the scam at times will be asked to travel to Nigeria or a neutral country to make certain necessary arrangements for the transfer of funds. He will be asked to bring expensive items, such as high priced pens or jewelry, to facilitate the transaction.Upon arrival in Nigeria, victims are taken to hotels close to the airport. In Nigeria, strings of hotels near to the airport in Lagos are known locally as "419 hotels" because they are known to be used in this enormous rip off. Alone in a foreign country, disoriented, and without familiar resources, the victim has no way to fend off the 419 gang that will target him in the hotel. In an elaborate con, they will arrange meetings with civil servants in government buildings or in official-looking buildings. The victim will be told to transfer even more money and to sign contracts that commit to greater losses of money. If the victim goes along with the con, he will be allowed to leave the country without harm (and without money). But resistance can lead to extortion, beatings and murder. In one case a victim who had already spent thousands of dollars on various fees, was told that additional money was needed to "decoat" a suitcase full of "coated" one hundred dollar bills. The victim was told that the bills were temporarily defaced with a black film to mask the origin of the money, and a special, very expensive solution, must be purchased to "decoat" the bills. To circumvent the expense of mailing the letters, these criminal enterprises use counterfeit postage, costing the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in lost revenue. Under Universal Postal Union regulations, Nigeria is charged a terminal dues fee by the delivering country for this foreign-originating mail. Most 419 letters and emails originate from or are traceable back to Nigeria. However, some originate from other nations, mostly also West African nations such as Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire) etc.
The “NIGERIAN (419)” Scam – named after the code in the Nigerian Criminal Code that relates to larceny by fraud, is a widespread scam that – like many con games – is hard to believe that someone would fall for. But fall for it they do, to an enormous amount of money as well. The Nigerian Scam is, according to published reports, the Third to Fifth largest industry in Nigeria. This appears to be one of the largest, and longest running, scams in the world. It is also a very dangerous one. According to the State Department, by 1996 over 15 people had been murdered after they travelled to Nigeria to participate in this "opportunity." Even more have been beaten or subject to threats and extortion. There are a number of variations on this scam, but all involve the same themes: You receive a letter, fax or email from a government official or businessman from Nigeria, telling you confidentially of a large sum of money that is available. You are asked to assist in the transfer of that money, for a share of the profits. The proposal, typewritten on official-looking stationary(lately not though), offers a 25 percent commission for assistance in transferring surplus funds of up to $38 million (obtained from "over-invoiced government contracts") from Nigeria to the United States. The solicitations request the reader provide a bank account number in order to complete the transaction. "Investors" who respond to the offer will be required to pay a never-ending assortment of legal fees, personal expenses and government bribes until the victim is drained of all assets. If you go along with the ruse, you will be asked to send money for transaction and transfer costs. Sequential "emergencies" come up requiring further payment and causing delay in the transfer of funds to you. This confidence scheme is very elaborate and sophisticated. Some of the con artists are Nigerian civil servants, and they will forward to you official and official-looking documents to demonstrate their legitimacy. These rip-offs, which contain variations in theme, are widespread. The U.S. Secret Service gets reports of about 100 victims per day, and receives 300-500 pieces of scam literature forwarded to them each day. In Nigeria, the scam is widely known as the "419" scam, named so after the provision of the Nigerian penal code that relates to fraud. A victim who gets lured into the scam at times will be asked to travel to Nigeria or a neutral country to make certain necessary arrangements for the transfer of funds. He will be asked to bring expensive items, such as high priced pens or jewelry, to facilitate the transaction.Upon arrival in Nigeria, victims are taken to hotels close to the airport. In Nigeria, strings of hotels near to the airport in Lagos are known locally as "419 hotels" because they are known to be used in this enormous rip off. Alone in a foreign country, disoriented, and without familiar resources, the victim has no way to fend off the 419 gang that will target him in the hotel. In an elaborate con, they will arrange meetings with civil servants in government buildings or in official-looking buildings. The victim will be told to transfer even more money and to sign contracts that commit to greater losses of money. If the victim goes along with the con, he will be allowed to leave the country without harm (and without money). But resistance can lead to extortion, beatings and murder. In one case a victim who had already spent thousands of dollars on various fees, was told that additional money was needed to "decoat" a suitcase full of "coated" one hundred dollar bills. The victim was told that the bills were temporarily defaced with a black film to mask the origin of the money, and a special, very expensive solution, must be purchased to "decoat" the bills. To circumvent the expense of mailing the letters, these criminal enterprises use counterfeit postage, costing the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in lost revenue. Under Universal Postal Union regulations, Nigeria is charged a terminal dues fee by the delivering country for this foreign-originating mail. Most 419 letters and emails originate from or are traceable back to Nigeria. However, some originate from other nations, mostly also West African nations such as Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire) etc.
PERMISSABLE INTERROGATION TACTICS & PROCEDURES:
Trickery & Deceit; The leading case in support of the legality of trickery and deceit in the course of a criminal interrogation is Frazier v. Cupp, decided by the US Supreme Court in 1969. The court upheld a conviction based in part upon a confession obtained by trickery and deceit, in that a murder suspect had been told falsely that a suspected accomplice had confessed. The two qualifications to the rule, however, is that the trickery and deceit must NOT be of such a nature as to “shock the conscience” of the court or community, nor can it be one that is apt to induce a false confession. Examples of these exceptions include posing as a chaplain or a defense attorney in order to gain a confession, as well as making promises that cannot be fulfilled and would induce a false confession. You cannot tell a subject “If you confess, we’ll let you go” or “If you confess, the last 10 people that did so only got probation”. You CAN promise that “I will let the judge and the prosecutor know that you have cooperated and ask them to take that into consideration”. Be aware that, when testifying in court regarding a statement, a common cross-examination questioning tactic by a defense attorney is to pose the question in a manner that makes you believe a “Yes” answer is an admission of fault. A common question posed by a defense attorney: “Isn’t it true that you tricked and lied to my client in order to get him to confess?” is intended to make it sound as if doing so is a bad thing. IT’S NOT; trickery and deceit IS ALLOWED! The correct answer to that question, “Yes I Did” is proper.
Trickery & Deceit; The leading case in support of the legality of trickery and deceit in the course of a criminal interrogation is Frazier v. Cupp, decided by the US Supreme Court in 1969. The court upheld a conviction based in part upon a confession obtained by trickery and deceit, in that a murder suspect had been told falsely that a suspected accomplice had confessed. The two qualifications to the rule, however, is that the trickery and deceit must NOT be of such a nature as to “shock the conscience” of the court or community, nor can it be one that is apt to induce a false confession. Examples of these exceptions include posing as a chaplain or a defense attorney in order to gain a confession, as well as making promises that cannot be fulfilled and would induce a false confession. You cannot tell a subject “If you confess, we’ll let you go” or “If you confess, the last 10 people that did so only got probation”. You CAN promise that “I will let the judge and the prosecutor know that you have cooperated and ask them to take that into consideration”. Be aware that, when testifying in court regarding a statement, a common cross-examination questioning tactic by a defense attorney is to pose the question in a manner that makes you believe a “Yes” answer is an admission of fault. A common question posed by a defense attorney: “Isn’t it true that you tricked and lied to my client in order to get him to confess?” is intended to make it sound as if doing so is a bad thing. IT’S NOT; trickery and deceit IS ALLOWED! The correct answer to that question, “Yes I Did” is proper.
INTERPOL
Known worldwide as Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization was established to assist police organizations throughout the world coordinate their efforts. Through the exchange of information that is timely, accurate, relevant and complete, INTERPOL coordinates joint operational activities of member countries, while also making available the know how, expertise, and operational assistance.There are currently 179 member countries belonging to INTERPOL. In the US, the services of INTERPOL are accessed through the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) of INTERPOL.The mission of the US National Central Bureau is to facilitate International law enforcement cooperation as the United States representative with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), on behalf of the U.S. Attorney General. The major functions of the USNCB are to transmit information, respond to requests by law enforcement agencies, coordinate and integrate information for investigations of an international nature and identify those involving patterns and trends of criminal activities. The USNCB serves as a point of contact for both American and foreign police seeking assistance in criminal investigations that extend beyond their national boundaries. Known within the international community as INTERPOL Washington, the USNCB brings together US police at all levels, providing a neutral territory where jurisdictions and mandates are interwoven to permit cooperation and assistance to the fullest extent possible. USNCB assistance is given/extended equally to all US federal, state and local enforcement agencies, as well as to police authorities in INTERPOL member countries. An integral part of the service INTERPOL provides to member country police forces is the dissemination of subject lookouts and advisories through the circulation of INTERPOL notices.
Known worldwide as Interpol, the International Criminal Police Organization was established to assist police organizations throughout the world coordinate their efforts. Through the exchange of information that is timely, accurate, relevant and complete, INTERPOL coordinates joint operational activities of member countries, while also making available the know how, expertise, and operational assistance.There are currently 179 member countries belonging to INTERPOL. In the US, the services of INTERPOL are accessed through the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) of INTERPOL.The mission of the US National Central Bureau is to facilitate International law enforcement cooperation as the United States representative with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), on behalf of the U.S. Attorney General. The major functions of the USNCB are to transmit information, respond to requests by law enforcement agencies, coordinate and integrate information for investigations of an international nature and identify those involving patterns and trends of criminal activities. The USNCB serves as a point of contact for both American and foreign police seeking assistance in criminal investigations that extend beyond their national boundaries. Known within the international community as INTERPOL Washington, the USNCB brings together US police at all levels, providing a neutral territory where jurisdictions and mandates are interwoven to permit cooperation and assistance to the fullest extent possible. USNCB assistance is given/extended equally to all US federal, state and local enforcement agencies, as well as to police authorities in INTERPOL member countries. An integral part of the service INTERPOL provides to member country police forces is the dissemination of subject lookouts and advisories through the circulation of INTERPOL notices.
Seems like no matter what, we remain second class citizens...
Deputy, Critical Of Sheriff, Told To Ride The Bus
Deputy, Critical Of Sheriff, Told To Ride The Bus
A deputy in Wisconsin who blasted Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. in a union newsletter has been given a curious new assignment. The deputy was reassigned to a one-man foot patrol.
In addition to walking his new beat, Deputy Michael Schuh, 55, was told he had to take a bus to and from the north side area of Milwaukee – an area that has seen high rates of violent crime and a spike in homicides.
Deputy Schuh was ordered to take a county bus to and from the neighborhood, and to contact every home and business in the area to improve relations with community leaders and business people. Deputy Schuh was also ordered to hand out Sheriff’s Department business cards to the people he visited, according to a report by the Associated Press.
“Convince them that we’re the good guys – we’re on their side and can’t succeed without their participation,” Schuh was informed in a memo from Captain Eileen Richards.
The memo detailing Schuh’s reassignment was given to the Journal Sentinel newspaper by Roy Felber, president of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs’ Association. That organization is calling the reassignment a dangerous form of retaliation and says it’s planning a lawsuit.
The new assignment came just after the publication of the Milwaukee Deputy Association’s newsletter where Schuh questioned Clarke’s courage and the fact that he used deputies to escort him everywhere.
Sheriff Clarke insisted that the reassignment is not retaliatory but rather an operation designed to address a string of murders on the north side. But not everyone bought the argument, including Roy Felber. “You’re not going to solve anything throwing one deputy there,” Felber said.
Schuh, who is a Vietnam veteran, said that danger was part of being a deputy and that he would do as he was told. “I’ll report for duty,” Schuh said. “I don’t work for Clarke; I work for the citizens of Milwaukee County.”
The parent union of the Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), AFL-CIO, was quick to respond with a pledge of legal and monetary help. IUPA President Sam Cabral was clearly enraged at the actions taken against Deputy Schuh.
“To require Deputy Schuh to use public transportation to reach his assigned beat and patrol it on foot without anything as basic as a properly equipped cruiser, to expect him to rely on ahand-held radio to summon backup when the sheriff is accompanied by armed guards to safe havens like the airport, is hypocrisy at best and a complete lack of courage at worst.”
Schuh wrote an opinion column known as “The Sacred Cow” in the July issue of The MDSA Star, the union’s newsletter.
In it he was responding to a written comment on roll call message boards that was viewed as questioning the courage of some deputies. Felber said that deputies were told Clarke authored the message-board comment.
After hearing about the message board posting, Schuh wrote the following about Clarke: “If you are afraid or you have lost your courage and you need two deputies and a sergeant to escort you every time you fly in and out of the airport and patrol deputies to drive by your house when you’re out of town, you should resign and go home!”
Schuh said that he wrote the column out of frustration over deputies’ belief that Clarke too often blames them when things go wrong.
County Supervisor Roger Quindel told the AP he was not aware of Clarke starting a program to assign deputies to patrol the central city on foot.
“It seems like a viciously vindictive, ill-thought-out program to punish an individual for exercising his First Amendment rights,” Quindel said.
Clarke stated he was focused on finding new ways to combat the senseless violence in the community, in a written statement after the controversy erupted.
“We’ve had over 170 murders in this county in the last 18 months, the last three in a 12-hour time frame, countless shootings, armed robberies and other aggravated assaults and you’re asking me about some deputy’s assignment? Are you kidding me?” the statement read.
The deputies’ union and Clarke have clashed repeatedly over the Sheriff’s disciplinary moves. Sheriff Clarke says that he is trying to instill a more demanding culture in the agency, but the union is saying his decisions are arbitrary and unfair.
As we went to press, Sheriff Clarke said he would let Deputy Schuh have a partner and a police car for his new assignment. But the Deputy’s Association said it was too little, too late.
They want the entire order rescinded, period – otherwise they will move ahead with their lawsuit against the county charging that the agency is in violation of Deputy Schuh’s First Amendment rights of free speech.
(reprinted from APB).
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
SO YOU SAY YOU’RE A DOCTOR?
How can you verify someone’s credentials when they claim they are a Ph.D.? One way of doing this is to make a personal visit to the University library of the school that granted the degree. Another way, which is much easier to try, is to attempt to verify the existence of the individuals doctoral dissertation on-line. The web site, Dissertation Abstracts, is a free and easy to use service. www.UMI.com. When you open to their home page, look at the right hand side and choose “Dissertation Express”. Then select “Individual Searcher”.Scroll through, read the agreement pages and follow the instructions. You will only need to pay a $30 fee if you wish to actually purchase a copy of the dissertation. You select the category to “Pay By Credit Card”; DON’T WORRY – you won’t actually have to pay anything to conduct the search, only if you eventually want to purchase the actual paper. By typing in the subjects last name and first initial you will be able to scroll through the choices. You will be given the persons full name, school for which it was written, and the year it was published. The database dates back to the 1860’s, so it should be there. However, like anything else on-line, it is not a fail safe method; not being listed does not necessarily mean that person is not a Ph.D. Listing is not mandatory. The only true fail safe method is to actually visit the school library to hand search their records.
How can you verify someone’s credentials when they claim they are a Ph.D.? One way of doing this is to make a personal visit to the University library of the school that granted the degree. Another way, which is much easier to try, is to attempt to verify the existence of the individuals doctoral dissertation on-line. The web site, Dissertation Abstracts, is a free and easy to use service. www.UMI.com. When you open to their home page, look at the right hand side and choose “Dissertation Express”. Then select “Individual Searcher”.Scroll through, read the agreement pages and follow the instructions. You will only need to pay a $30 fee if you wish to actually purchase a copy of the dissertation. You select the category to “Pay By Credit Card”; DON’T WORRY – you won’t actually have to pay anything to conduct the search, only if you eventually want to purchase the actual paper. By typing in the subjects last name and first initial you will be able to scroll through the choices. You will be given the persons full name, school for which it was written, and the year it was published. The database dates back to the 1860’s, so it should be there. However, like anything else on-line, it is not a fail safe method; not being listed does not necessarily mean that person is not a Ph.D. Listing is not mandatory. The only true fail safe method is to actually visit the school library to hand search their records.
SOME EARLY NOTABLE DATES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
With the help of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, here are some notable dates in law enforcement.
April 1631: Boston establishes first system of law enforcement called the "night watch." Officers served part-time, without pay.
1712: First full-time, paid law enforcement officers hired by the City of Boston. September 24, 1789:
Congress creates the first Federal law enforcement officer, the United States Marshal. May 17, 1792:
The first officer in United States history, Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith, of the New York City Sheriff's Office, is killed in the line of duty.
With the help of the National Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, here are some notable dates in law enforcement.
April 1631: Boston establishes first system of law enforcement called the "night watch." Officers served part-time, without pay.
1712: First full-time, paid law enforcement officers hired by the City of Boston. September 24, 1789:
Congress creates the first Federal law enforcement officer, the United States Marshal. May 17, 1792:
The first officer in United States history, Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith, of the New York City Sheriff's Office, is killed in the line of duty.
TRACE EVIDENCE
Trace evidence is evidence that may be present at a scene, but its minuteness necessitates special scrutiny. The particular evidence may hold some specific significance in linking a victim, a suspect, a scene, and the activities of what has occurred. An investigator, evidence technician, and other support personnel determine the significance it may play in understanding what happened and who was responsible; a crime lab technician analyzes and interprets the evidence. Trace evidence is based on the philosophy that there must be an exchange of items between individuals and an environment. This exchange – known as Locard’s Principle – includes trace materials that may only be discovered through a deliberate and thorough processing procedure. The clothing of the suspect is a primary source of trace material. Three possibilities exist for developing trace evidence: 1. Trace materials from the victim may have collected on the suspect.2. Trace material from the environment, linking the particular suspect to a particular location, may be present on the suspect. 3. Standards from the suspect must be collected and compared with items collected from the victim and the scene to link the individual to the area and the crime. From the victim, you may find trace evidence collected that came from the suspect. Trace evidence from the scene may also be found, which comes important in cases where a body has been “dumped”. Clothing is a primary accumulator of trace evidence, and care and caution must be taken in handling, collecting, and packaging these articles. If a suspect is still wearing the clothing believed to have been worn at the time of the crime, you should first examine visually for any signs of evidence. The suspect should stand on a clean piece of wrapping paper. As each item of clothing is removed, it should be wrapped separately. After the suspect has removed all his clothing, the wrapping paper should be collected, folded inward, and bagged separately. Never shake or handle possible evidence any more than absolutely necessary. Never place clothing items in a plastic or an air tight container. Moisture causes bacterial growth, which makes analysis unproductive. Never turn the pockets inside-out. The pockets, cuffs, and pants pleats often are receptacles for trace evidence. If trace evidence is removed from clothing prior to sending it off for trace analysis, note the precise location of where the item was recovered.
Trace evidence is evidence that may be present at a scene, but its minuteness necessitates special scrutiny. The particular evidence may hold some specific significance in linking a victim, a suspect, a scene, and the activities of what has occurred. An investigator, evidence technician, and other support personnel determine the significance it may play in understanding what happened and who was responsible; a crime lab technician analyzes and interprets the evidence. Trace evidence is based on the philosophy that there must be an exchange of items between individuals and an environment. This exchange – known as Locard’s Principle – includes trace materials that may only be discovered through a deliberate and thorough processing procedure. The clothing of the suspect is a primary source of trace material. Three possibilities exist for developing trace evidence: 1. Trace materials from the victim may have collected on the suspect.2. Trace material from the environment, linking the particular suspect to a particular location, may be present on the suspect. 3. Standards from the suspect must be collected and compared with items collected from the victim and the scene to link the individual to the area and the crime. From the victim, you may find trace evidence collected that came from the suspect. Trace evidence from the scene may also be found, which comes important in cases where a body has been “dumped”. Clothing is a primary accumulator of trace evidence, and care and caution must be taken in handling, collecting, and packaging these articles. If a suspect is still wearing the clothing believed to have been worn at the time of the crime, you should first examine visually for any signs of evidence. The suspect should stand on a clean piece of wrapping paper. As each item of clothing is removed, it should be wrapped separately. After the suspect has removed all his clothing, the wrapping paper should be collected, folded inward, and bagged separately. Never shake or handle possible evidence any more than absolutely necessary. Never place clothing items in a plastic or an air tight container. Moisture causes bacterial growth, which makes analysis unproductive. Never turn the pockets inside-out. The pockets, cuffs, and pants pleats often are receptacles for trace evidence. If trace evidence is removed from clothing prior to sending it off for trace analysis, note the precise location of where the item was recovered.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
“YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP”
An e-mail that was sent to a friend, that I thought I should share, notes some of the stupid label instructions that are taken from actual consumer products. Some of them are noted here:
On a Bag of Fritos: “You could be a winner. No Purchase Necessary! Details Inside”(The shoplifters special?)
On Tiramisu dessert printed on BOTTOM of box: “Do Not Turn Upside Down”
On bread pudding box: “Product Will Be Hot After Heating”
On Nytol Sleeping Aid: “Warning: May Cause Drowsiness”
On a child’s Superman costume: “Wearing Of This Garment Does NOT Enable You To Fly”
An e-mail that was sent to a friend, that I thought I should share, notes some of the stupid label instructions that are taken from actual consumer products. Some of them are noted here:
On a Bag of Fritos: “You could be a winner. No Purchase Necessary! Details Inside”(The shoplifters special?)
On Tiramisu dessert printed on BOTTOM of box: “Do Not Turn Upside Down”
On bread pudding box: “Product Will Be Hot After Heating”
On Nytol Sleeping Aid: “Warning: May Cause Drowsiness”
On a child’s Superman costume: “Wearing Of This Garment Does NOT Enable You To Fly”
INTERESTING WEB SITES
Cemetery Records online
Over two million records from nearly 4,00 Cemeterites worldwide. This site is very well organized and allows visitors to browse cemeteries by locale or perform a surname search of the entire site.
http://interment.net/Find a grave.
Here is another surname search--results returned of include name, date of birth, date of death, and the place of burial.You can also search for a specific cemetery.
http://www.findagrave.com/index.html
Cemetery Records online
Over two million records from nearly 4,00 Cemeterites worldwide. This site is very well organized and allows visitors to browse cemeteries by locale or perform a surname search of the entire site.
http://interment.net/Find a grave.
Here is another surname search--results returned of include name, date of birth, date of death, and the place of burial.You can also search for a specific cemetery.
http://www.findagrave.com/index.html
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