7/6/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject :
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Releases First-of-its-kind Public iPhone Application

SAN RAMON, CA – Today the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District (CA) is proud to announce the arrival of its much anticipated iPhone application in the Apple App Store. The FireDepartment.org iPhone application is the first of its kind and defines a new category of iPhone functionality. By providing a virtual window into the District’s 9-1-1 dispatch center, iPhone users now have real-time access to emergency activity occurring in the community. The application also provides the District with a powerful new avenue to communicate with its mobile population during a disaster. Don’t live in the San Ramon Valley? You’ll still find listening to the live actions of our dispatchers, firefighters and paramedics informative and interesting.

Application users are able to view active incidents – including the current response status of dispatched units (enroute, onscene, etc.) and instantly pinpoint incident locations on an interactive map. Think that fire engine or ambulance that just passed might be heading to your house? Is there an accident up ahead causing this traffic tie-up? Just tap the application to quickly retrieve real-time information. A log of recent incidents and a photo gallery of significant events can also be easily accessed.

The FireDepartment.org application also allows residents and other interested parties to choose to be notified of incidents by category as they are dispatched. Users can even listen in on live emergency radio traffic via the modern version of the traditional fire scanner – their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch device. The District also uses the application to communicate with its more than 700 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members and to share information during disasters with all its citizens.

“Using the iPhone and iPad for field-based command and control operations holds great promise for emergency service providers,” said Richard Price, Fire Chief for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District. “This consumer version of our development effort demonstrates the game-changing nature of these revolutionary handheld devices.”

Pricing & Availability

The application is currently available to anyone free of charge. Visit www.firedepartment.org/iphone for additional information including a demonstration video. To try the application for yourself, simply search “fire department” at the Apple App Store or visit the link below to install the application on a compatible device.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fire-department/id376052787?mt=8

The iPhone application was designed by District personnel after successfully implementing similar capabilities on the District’s Webby-nominated website, FireDepartment.org. The District partnered with students at the College of Informatics at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) for iPhone engineering and programming services. By working with the District, students received valuable intern experience in addressing real world business needs.
The San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District provides all-risk fire, rescue and emergency medical services to the communities of Alamo, Blackhawk, the Town of Danville, Diablo, the City of San Ramon, the southern area of Morgan Territory and the Tassajara Valley, in Northern California (Contra Costa County). The District’s service area encompasses approximately 155 square miles and serves a population of 167,500.
Apple, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch are trademarks of Apple.

Additional Press Contact

Lucas Hirst, Project Management/Design
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
lhirst@srvfire.ca.gov
(925) 838-6600

As you can see by the photo the CHP (California Highway Patrol) has made the transition to LED lightbars that are low profile and highly visible. Watch for them on the highways in California and in most states as the new warning technology is released.

PS: Do not take photos while driving it’s dangerous…

See the Internet Storm Center for Internet Updates

I just happened upon a CBS News video that gave me pause for thought.  This once posted back in April however

I missed it until now.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6412572n

The video talks about the fact that "modern" digital copy machines, those sold after 2002, contain a hard drive.  These hard drives store the images copied.  These machines are traded in for new models and then refurbed and resold. However, the hard drives more than likely are not getting scrubbed to remove the content. One of the copy machines in the video not only contained content on the hard drive but also still had documents left on the copy bed.

This brings up some interesting discussions.  What is on your copymachine hard drive?  When it is sent in for repair what information may be gleaned from a quick glance at the drive?  Is your copy machine another potential target to aid in identity theft?
Food for thought.  Should there be processes and procedures in place for the disposal of these devices? Do you know what other devices in your organization contain a hard drive or other storage device?  Is there a process for cleaning before disposal? What does your company do if anything to ensure that no confidential data is leaked by disposal of old equipment?

Deb Hale Long Lines, LLC

http://dougmccune.com/blog/2010/06/05/if-san-francisco-crime-was-elevation/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=65711

dougmccune.com

• Cops Mostly Stop White Drivers Study Says
  • http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/2056165-Calif-cops-mostly-stopped-white-drivers-study-finds/
• Oakland PD Kills Bambi – Vs. Other Options
• Arrested: Teenager allegedly involved in 28 armed robberies in Hayward, CA
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23337768/detail.html
• 25 Arrested in Marijuana Sting – Contra Costa County, CA
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23305524/detail.html
• Officer Dragged 50ft during traffic stop
  • http://www.ktvu.com/news/23313919/detail.html

• Pursuits
• Termination – Why, when, how

NEXT WEEK:

• Whats the difference between city, county and state police?
• What happens if I have to miss my court date?
• If I decide to go to court to fight my ticket what should I expect?
• Arizona Immigration Law Sparks National Uproar - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/20/arizona-immigration-law-s_n_544864.html
• What really ticks us off……..

STAY SAFE OUT THERE!

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

A Thai police force has begun taking a monkey dressed in officer’s uniform on patrol each day to help improve relations with Muslim separatists.

Other forces are said to be considering enlisting a monkey to improve their image

The five-year-old pig-tailed macaque was adopted after policemen in Yaha province in southern Thailand found him injured with a broken arm.

Trainers taught Santisuk, which means peace in Thai, to pick up coconuts and he now lends a hand collecting the fruit with residents.

The monkey also helps supervise a police checkpoint and his boss says he has made it a much happier place.

Motorists now stop to play with Santisuk, rather than getting angry at the hold-up.

Other forces are now considering introducing monkeys to better their image in the troubled province.

Separatists are blamed for most of the attacks in Thailand’s predominantly Muslim deep south.

Buddhists and Muslims associated with the Thai state – such as police, soldiers, government officials and teachers – are often targeted.

It’s ok to laugh but in this time of uncertainty, increased crime and loss of respect to police in the field, new innovative thinking is essential. More power to our brothers overseas to think up creative new ways to establish good public relations with the citizens they server on a daily basis.

@coptalk

by Dana Dratch
Friday, March 19, 2010

Reposted from www.creditcards.com

Debit cards have different protections and uses. Sometimes they’re not the best choice.

Sometimes reaching for your wallet is like a multiple choice test: How do you really want to pay?

While credit cards and debit cards may look almost identical, not all plastic is the same.

"It’s important that consumers understand the difference between a debit card and a credit card," says John Breyault, director of the Fraud Center for the National Consumers League, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "There’s a difference in how the transactions are processed and the protections offered to consumers when they use them."

While debit cards and credit cards each have advantages, each is also better suited to certain situations. And since a debit card is a direct line to your bank account, there are places where it can be wise to avoid handing it over — if for no other reason than complete peace of mind.

Here are 10 places and situations where it can pay to leave that debit card in your wallet:

1. Online

"You don’t use a debit card online," says Susan Tiffany, director of consumer periodicals for the Credit Union National Association. Since the debit card links directly to a checking account, "you have potential vulnerability there," she says.

Her reasoning: If you have problems with a purchase or the card number gets hijacked, a debit card is "vulnerable because it happens to be linked to an account," says Linda Foley, founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center. She also includes phone orders in this category.

The Federal Reserve’s Regulation E  (commonly dubbed Reg E), covers debit card transfers. It sets a consumer’s liability for fraudulent purchases at $50, provided they notify the bank within two days of discovering that their card or card number has been stolen.

Most banks have additional voluntary policies that set their own customers’ liability with debit cards at $0, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.

But the protections don’t relieve consumers of hassle: The prospect of trying to get money put back into their bank account, and the problems that a lower-than-expected balance can cause in terms of fees and refused checks or payments, make some online shoppers reach first for credit cards.

2. Big-Ticket Items

With a big ticket item, a credit card is safer, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. A credit card offers dispute rights if something goes wrong with the merchandise or the purchase, she says.

"With a debit card, you have fewer protections," she says.

In addition, some cards will also offer extended warrantees. And in some situations, such as buying electronics or renting a car, some credit cards also offer additional property insurance to cover the item.

Two caveats, says Wu. Don’t carry a balance. Otherwise, you also risk paying some high-ticket interest. And "avoid store cards with deferred interest," Wu advises.

3. Deposit Required

When Peter Garuccio recently rented some home improvement equipment at a big-box store, it required a sizable deposit. "This is where you want to use a credit card instead of a debit," says Garuccio, spokesman for the national trade group American Bankers Association.

That way, the store has its security deposit, and you still have access to all of the money in your bank account. With any luck, you’ll never actually have to part with a dollar.

4. Restaurants

"To me, it’s dangerous," says Gary Foreman, editor of the frugality minded Web site The Dollar Stretcher. "You have so many people around."

Foreman bases his conclusions on what he hears from readers. "Anecdotally, the cases that I’m hearing of credit or debit information being stolen, as often as not, it’s in a restaurant," he says.

The danger: Restaurants are one of the few places where you have to let cards leave your sight when you use them. But others think that avoiding such situations is not workable.

The "conventional advice of ‘don’t let the card out of your sight’ — that’s just not practical," says Tiffany.

The other problem with using a debit card at restaurants: Some establishments will approve the card for more than your purchase amount because, presumably, you intend to leave a tip. So the amount of money frozen for the transaction could be quite a bit more than the amount of your tab. And it could be a few days before you get the cash back in your account.

5. You’re a New Customer

Online or in the real world, if you’re a first-time customer in a store, skip the debit card the first couple of times you buy, says Breyault.

That way, you get a feel for how the business is run, how you’re treated and the quality of the merchandise before you hand over a card that links to your checking account.

6. Buy Now, Take Delivery Later

Buying now but taking delivery days or weeks from now? A credit card offers dispute rights that a debit card typically does not.

"It may be an outfit you’re familiar with and trust, but something might go wrong," says Breyault, "and you need protection."

But be aware that some cards will limit the protection to a specific time period, says Feddis. So settle any problems as soon as possible.

7. Recurring Payments

We’ve all heard the urban legend about the gym that won’t stop billing an ex-member’s credit card. Now imagine the charges aren’t going onto your card, but instead coming right out of your bank account.

Another reason not to use the debit card for recurring charges: your own memory and math skills. Forget to deduct that automatic bill payment from your checkbook one month, and you could either face fees or embarrassment (depending on whether you’ve opted to allow overdrafting or not). So if you don’t keep a cash buffer in your account, "to protect yourself from over-limit fees, you may want to think about using a credit card" for recurring payments, says Breyault.

8. Future Travel

Book your travel with a check card, and "they debit it immediately," says Foley. So if you’re buying travel that you won’t use for six months or making a reservation for a few weeks from now, you’ll be out the money immediately.

Another factor that bothers Foley: Hotels aren’t immune to hackers and data breaches, and several name-brand establishments have suffered the problem recently. Do you want your debit card information "to sit in a system for four months, waiting for you to arrive?" she asks. "I would not."

9. Gas Stations and Hotels

This one depends on the individual business. Some gas stations and hotels will place holds to cover customers who may leave without settling the entire bill. That means that even though you only bought $10 in gas, you could have a temporary bank hold for $50 to $100, says Tiffany.

Ditto hotels, where there are sometimes holds or deposits in the hundreds to make sure you don’t run up a long distance bill, empty the mini bar or trash the room. The practice is almost unnoticeable if you’re using credit, but can be problematic if you’re using a debit card and have just enough in the account to cover what you need.

At hotels, ask about deposits and holds before you present your card, says Feddis. At the pump, select the pin-number option, she says, which should debit only the amount you’ve actually spent.

10.  Checkouts or ATMs That Look ‘Off’

Criminals are getting better with skimmers and planting them in places you’d never suspect — like ATM machines on bank property, says Foley.

So take a good look at the machine or card reader the next time you use an ATM or self-check lane, she advises. Does the machine fit together well or does something look off, different or like it doesn’t quite belong? Says Foley, "Make sure it doesn’t look like it’s been tampered with."

Summary:

• 55% of businesses reported experiencing fraud in the last 12 months, with 58% enabled by online banking activities.
• 80% of banks failed to catch fraud before funds were transferred out of their institution.
• In 87% of fraud attacks, the bank was unable to fully recover assets.
• 57% of the respondents that experienced a fraud attack were not fully compensated by their banks.
• 26% were not compensated for any part of their losses.
• 40% of defrauded businesses moved their banking activities elsewhere.
• 24% of businesses claim that their banks do not provide a policy explaining the bank’s responsibilities to secure and protect their companies’ accounts from fraud.
• 39% are unsure if such a policy exists.

"The data is clear – financial institutions’ are failing to protect small and medium business assets," says Terry Austin, CEO, Guardian Analytics. "This is crushing to the SMBs, which are at the heart of our economic recovery."

** Please make sure your small business is protected. Many small businesses are in the position where the CEO or General Manager is also the IT professional and with that comes the lack of time to accomplish all the security items needed in today’s society. Please take the time to make sure you are protected online **

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste … and taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9.. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a
fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.
8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2010-01-28-online-crooks_N.htm?csp=usat.me

Criminals are getting smarter and smarter. So, these days, it isn’t enough to just run security software on your computer. You need to keep up with the criminals’ latest tricks. Here are six threats to your security and tips for protecting yourself.

Flash drives

Flash or thumb drives provide an easy way to infect machines with malware. It’s no surprise that criminals are using them, particularly to target companies.

TECH TIPS: Ask Kim

Criminals use a flash drive with a company’s logo. They load it with malware and drop it in the company’s parking lot. An unsuspecting employee picks up the drive and connects it to his or her computer. What happens next is the scary part. Criminals gain access to the company’s network — and trade secrets.

Never use a flash drive that you find. If you find one at your company, alert the IT department. It can find the rightful owner or destroy the drive.

Facebook ‘friends’

Everyone seems to be on Facebook. It can be exciting to find new Facebook contacts. But pay close attention to who you grant access to your profile.

If you use your account for business, it can be a gold mine for competitors. You may unknowingly post information about projects that would benefit competitors. Even your contact list says a lot. It can give hints about an upcoming merger or partnership. It can also give criminals inroads at other companies.

That’s not the only danger. Information you post can be used for targeted phishing attacks. A criminal can post a link to a malicious site. It could be a phishing site or a site that installs malware.

Limit what others see and be careful about your posts. You may also prevent others from posting to your wall. Above all, be vigilant.

Clickjacking

Clicking on malicious links is known as clickjacking. It can happen anywhere online. Most notably, it threatens Facebook and Twitter users. A victim is lured to a malicious page. The victim’s profile page is opened behind the malicious page. The victim has no idea any of this is happening.

In the case of Facebook, clicking on the malicious page causes the victim to sign in to Facebook. The victim could then perform actions that compromise the Facebook account. Or, victims might be tricked into turning on webcams and microphones. They might even delete their Facebook accounts.

There is no certain way to protect against clickjacking. Your best bet is to watch for suspicious links or sites. Be alert.

Smart phone apps

Smart phone apps are hot. Criminals are looking to them to get your information. Apple checks apps before offering them to users. But other app stores may be less thorough.

For example, one developer recently offered banking apps for Android phones. The developer had no ties to the banks. The apps may have been password-stealing tools.

Although it’s less likely, apps could also infect a phone with malware. Even seemingly legitimate apps pose risks. They may collect location information or access information stored on the phone.

Watch out for unknown developers when installing apps. Read the developer’s privacy statement to understand what is collected and how it’s used. And understand the app store’s approval process. Read reviews.

If it is a third-party app, contact the service to which it connects. Make sure the developer is an approved partner. If in doubt, skip the app.

E-mail messages

E-mail has long been a popular method of attack. And e-mail attacks are improving. Obviously, beware of attachments. If you’re not expecting an attachment, call the sender. Verify that it is legitimate.

Watch out for links in e-mail messages as well. These can take you to attack sites. Links to videos are particularly popular. You may be prompted to download something to display the video. You can bet it’s a Trojan.

Remember that e-cards can lead you to malicious sites. So can e-mail messages telling you to check out pictures of yourself. These malicious sites often use drive-by downloads, targeting holes in Windows. Keeping Windows updated will generally protect you from malicious downloads.

Criminals are also targeting their attacks. Malicious messages may be personalized with information about you.

Remember that it is surprisingly easy to find someone’s e-mail address. Business addresses may be gleaned from company websites or directories. Marketing companies sell targeted lists. And, you can find personal e-mail addresses via Intelius.

A spam filter should stop most of these messages. But never underestimate the importance of vigilance.

Porn dialers

Porn dialers are making a comeback on cellphones. The dialers are Trojans posing as videos, software or utilities.

They affect phones that run Java. Many are found on porn sites. Once installed, they send premium text messages or call premium numbers without your knowledge. You’re hit with a whopping bill. The criminals behind the Trojans share in the proceeds.

Be careful about downloading software. Don’t download anything from unknown or untrusted sources. You could also receive links to premium numbers via text message. Be careful when texting or calling numbers sent to your phone.

Now that you are aware of the dangers, one thing should be clear. When it’s all said and done, the responsibility of not falling for these scams is on your shoulders. Keep your guard up.

Kim Komando hosts the nation’s largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen. To subscribe to Kim’s free e-mail newsletters, sign up at www.komando.com/newsletters. Contact her at gnstech@gannett.com.

In the pigeon drop scam, swindlers work in pairs or teams. One befriends an unsuspecting consumer, the "pigeon”, (usually an elderly person) while the other approaches them with money or valuables he claims to have just found. After some rehearsed conversation, the con artists agree to split the money three ways with you and arrange to meet at a lawyer’s office or somewhere else of their choosing. But can they trust you, they ask. To get your share, you’ll need to put up some "good faith" money, which they will return to you after the goods are divided. To prove yourself trustworthy, you turn over a large sum of money to them and later go to meet them at the designated spot. Soon after arriving, you realize the pair is long gone — and so is your money.

Unbelievably, a lot of people still fall for this scam frequently. The list goes on and on. People’s greed often makes them let their guard down or not follow their “gut” instincts. I just finished an investigation that EVERYONE needs to know about. It’s a scam that is claiming victims every day across the country. Here’s how it works:

“Buyers” are searching Craigslists ads all over the United States and responding to the ads telling people that they want their item (laptops, cameras, jewelry etc). The “buyer” tells the person that they will pay via PayPal, the online money transfer and banking site owned by eBay. The “buyer” tells the person that they will add an additional $80 or $100 to ship the item overnight.

The “buyer” often states that they are out of the country and request the item be shipped to a U.S. address. The “buyer” then sends the person a very realistic looking but fake PayPal notice stating that the buyer is a confirmed buyer with a verified address. The fake PayPal notice states that the money has been deducted from the buyers account and is being “held” until shipping confirmation is verified at which time the money will be credited to the persons account.

The scam I investigated was using an address in the city where I work. Unsuspecting victims shipped laptops, cameras, jewelry and all kinds of items to the requested address where a middleman resold the items and sent the “buyer” the proceeds after keeping a cut for himself. The money is usually sent out of the country, in my case, Nigeria. The sellers of the property never receive payment because the e-mail notice was a fake notice from PayPal.

I recovered 4 laptops, several expensive cameras and diamond rings at the residence. There were several empty boxes where the items had already been sold. All of the victims stated that the PayPal e-mail they received stating that the money would be deposited in their accounts after the item was shipped looked very official and real. I posed as the middleman and began corresponding with the “buyer” online who was telling me what items were being sent overnight; there was expensive jewelry, game consoles, more laptops etc. It was an unbelievable amount of merchandise that people were unsuspectingly shipping without any knowledge it was a scam.

I use PayPal myself, it is a fast, secure and protected way of making purchases or receiving money. But please be aware, there are scams using fake PayPal e-mails like the incident above. PayPal DOES NOT hold money until shipping is confirmed. Sometimes a transfer may show as pending but all purchases, transfers and pending transactions will show up on your PayPal account statement. If someone tells you they sent you money via PayPal, log on to your account to verify the funds were sent. You are protected by PayPal this way. Everyone that fell for the scam did not check their PayPal accounts until it was too late. PayPal could not help them because the transactions never went through PayPal, they were all fraudulent fake e-mails.

I see several “phishing” e-mails that try to claim victims. Scammers send out very realistic e-mails with logos from Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Bank of the West etc stating “your account was possibly compromised and your account has been temporary frozen to avoid fraudulent transactions. Please click on the link below to verify your information so we can unlock your account. We are sorry of any inconvenience this may cause you”.

These notices are VERY real looking because they have cut and pasted actual bank logos and wording from real banking websites. If you click on the link it requests your personal information including your PIN to “verify” your account. Your account is then quickly drained of all your money and you won’t realize it until you start getting overdraft notices or bounced checks.

NEVER NEVER NEVER give anyone personal information such as social security numbers, bank account information and PINS, or other personal information unless you know who you are talking to. Request a call back number and call it, call your bank to verify suspicious e-mails. Most sites are secure and trusted so beware of scams or e-mails using the same realistic looking logos asking for your personal information.

All banks and most web-sites have a security department. If you have any doubts, call your bank or send an e-mail to the security department of your bank to see if the e-mail is actually from them. Sites such as PayPal and most banks request that you forward the entire suspicious e-mail to them and they will let you know if it was a scam.

Certain things should raise red flags such as someone offering to pay an unusually large amount of money to ship an item overnight, saying they are out of the Country and asking to ship to a different address, e-mails stating the money will be held until the item is shipped, people selling electronics cheap in a parking lot, promises of large sums of money if you send good faith money, all red flags pointing to a scam.

These scams have been around a long time so none of this is new information for crooks. We are just trying to make innocent people AWARE of these scams and help them avoid becoming a victim of crime.

And follow the old rule; “if it seems too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true”…… Or else you might end up with a box of rocks instead of a TV…….

Mark
© Coptalk.info

Suicide Attempts: "5150"

I have been to a lot of suicide attempts in my career as a police officer. There are many reasons people have for trying to kill themselves. Some want attention, some may have a severe medical situation they want to end, some lose a loved one that they can not handle losing, and some are just drunk, stoned and stupid. Luckily, most people tell someone what they are planning to do, or someone catches them trying to attempt the act. Usually we respond out and put the person on a "5150" hold, which means that the person is sent to County Hospital for a mental evaluation by a professional doctor. The 5150 hold is good for up to 72 hours. Depending on the mental evaluation, the person is released, held longer, or referred to another hospital or psychologist. Very rarely does the police officer find out what happens to the person, unless the person is a chronic "5150" who often gets sent over to the hospital and released, only to be sent over on a weekly basis.

When someone makes a comment about killing themselves, whether or not they mean it, it puts the police officer in a bad situation. If the person tells an officer "I didn’t mean it, I was just angry", and the officer leaves, the officer is liable if the person follows through on his/her threats. Usually the person is sent to the hospital on a 5150 hold and a health professional will make the decision whether to hold the person or not. If someone actually made an attempt like overdosing on pills, or slashing wrist, it’s an automatic "5150" hold. These are the usual types of "5150′s" that I usually deal with. Tonight, I had one that made me think, and brought a tear to my eyes. (Yes, cops do cry at times. Most do)

It was 1809 hrs. (6:09 p.m.) when I got dispatched to a quiet street in my beat. A doctors office called stating that a out of state relative of a person named "Helen" (we will call her Helen to protect her Identity) called saying that they were on the phone with Helen, and that Helen was trying to commit suicide by asphyxiation with a plastic bag over her head. The relative said that Helen then dropped the phone and they tried to call back but only got a busy signal. I arrived moments later, and knocked on the door. No answer. I went around to the back, and saw a light on upstairs in the bedroom. I knocked on the walls, back door, and windows with my flashlight to get a response.

Still, no answer. I had my dispatch call into the residence but they still got a busy signal. I requested a supervisor since I thought I was going to have to force entry to check on "Helen" due to the nature of the call. I again pounded on the front door, and this time, an elderly woman dressed in pajamas answered the door. I asked the woman if her name was Helen, and she said yes. I asked if I could speak with her, and she was hesitant, but agreed to let me in. I explained to Helen why I was there, and she kept telling me to leave her alone, that she was busy. Helen was 90 years old, but still had all her faculties, able to walk, drive, clean her house, shop, etc.

Helen kept saying that her daughter was coming from out of state tomorrow, and for me to leave and come back to talk to her daughter. I told Helen that it was her that I was there to check on, and asked her about the threats. Helen said that she only told her daughter that she was going to suffocate herself to get her daughter to come visit from out-of-state. Helen said that she was lonely and depressed since her husband died years ago, and she had no local family nearby.

Helen went on to tell me about how her late husband used to practice medicine in the city for 40 years, and about her long, interesting life. Helen was almost convincing about just making the suicide comments to get her daughter out to see her. Helen said that she not feeling like hurting herself or anyone else, (a necessity for a 5150 hold). Helen kept telling me to leave; saying that she had things to do. As soon as my Lieutenant arrived, I began to check Helen’s house. Know what I found?

All of Helen’s financial papers were organized on the dining room table, along with attorney names, numbers, and will papers. All of Helen’s relative’s names, addresses, and phone numbers were laid out. A note to Helen’s daughter, with financial instructions. Upstairs, on Helen’s bed, a pad of paper with a note that was just started. Also on the bed, a large plastic bag with a string wrapped around it.

I had obviously interrupted Helen in her suicide attempt. As I banged on her wall, she put the phone back on the hook, put everything aside and answered the door. If we got the call 15 minutes later, it could have been a dead-body call. If someone didn’t call, Helen may not have been discovered for a week or more. Helen still denied wanting to hurt herself until I showed her the bag I found. Then Helen said, "90 is too old to live" You know, it’s sad. I see people in their teens try to commit suicide because of a failed romance. I see a lot of people try to commit suicide because they cant enjoy life like they used to do to a serious injury or illness. But here is Helen, 90 years old, still up and about, good health, driving, cleans her own house, all her senses. But she lost the will to live, because she had no one left to share life with. I admit, I got teary-eyed talking to this wonderful elderly woman, who knew exactly what she wanted to do. I thought about what she might have gone through. Each and every day, alone, no one to talk to, family out of state.

Helen had got all her financial affairs in order for her family, and she was going to "check out" of life. That is until I interrupted her. Helen was not pleased with me.

But I took Helen’s hand as she laid on the ambulance gurney, and I told her that although she may hate me now, I hope that she will appreciate it later. I told Helen that she was a wonderful, interesting woman, and that I was going to make a habit out of stopping by her house to visit her when she gets out. And I meant every word. I just hope that Helen re-thinks her situation and realizes how wonderful life can be. Because Helen seems like a determined person, I can only try to get her some help. To try to help her get rid of the feelings that are making her want to give up on life. Just because there is no one to share it with….

I’m lucky. I have a wonderful caring local family. I have both my parents in their 70′s who still go out, dance, dine, and have a great time. I couldn’t imagine having no one in my life. But a lot of people are in that situation. If you have a relative that is alone or lonely, please call them. You don’t want a call from a police department or coroner with bad news. Sometimes, just a phone call is just what it takes to let someone know that someone still cares. If you know someone who has made comments about hurting or killing themselves, don’t "blow it off" as false threats. You don’t want to live with a death on your conscious that you could have prevented. Even if it is in your own family, and you don’t want your family problems exposed, someone who is making threats to harm themselves is calling out for help. Let a professional make the determination if the threats are real or not. Don’t wait till it’s too late; don’t wait until someone "really" does it. Because it’s too late then.

Most thoughts of suicide, depression, despair, can be corrected through medication, counseling, or both. Whether you or someone you know is having suicidal feelings, please call. There are a lot of cops, paramedics, and professional people who care and who still get a tear in their eye trying to help.

ML

© Coptalk

Duh……

We try to remind people of this every year when the weather starts turning cold. When it starts getting brisk in the mornings, people take chances warming up their cars in the morning while they tend to other things in the house. Or, they pull into a 7-11 to grab something and leave their car running in the parking lot. Everyone believes it won’t happen to them; that is until it happens to them. If you leave your car running unattended to warm up or leave it running while you dash into a store, it’s not a matter of IF it will happen, it’s a matter of WHEN it will happen.

People always say “I was only inside for a minute”. It takes less than 5 seconds for someone to jump in the car and speed away. Not only with your car, but your laptop and purse or wallet on the seat too. Crooks cruise through neighborhoods on cold mornings looking for the telltale sign of steam coming from the exhaust of an unattended car. They dump a stolen vehicle they’ve driven a few days down the street and jump in yours, all warmed up and toasty for them. They’ll use it a few days and then go hunting for a “fresh” one. Or the school kids complaining about the long walk to school can’t resist a free ride already running and waiting for them.

When the weather gets cold we get calls EVERY DAY about vehicles stolen while they were running unattended. Everyone believes “it won’t happen to me”. It doesn’t matter where you live, affluent area or not, rural area or a tract home, it can and will happen sooner or later.

And don’t forget the expense and time to have the locks on your house re-keyed because the thief probably now has the keys to your home, business etc.

So the choice is yours; warm up your car by sitting in it a few minutes or by driving down the street slowly OR spend your morning calling the police, insurance company, banks, credit card companies etc………    

© Coptalk

Why does it work?

To understand the value of neighborhood watch in a community, you must first understand that your local law enforcement agency is limited in their available manpower. A neighborhood watch program in your community will greatly help your local police overcome their manpower shortage. This is done by the use of alert citizens within the community who are constantly observing their neighborhoods for suspicious activities.

On a national average, there is approximately ONE police officer for every 2,000 citizens.

Here’s an example; a police department in a city of 65,000 citizens might have a force of 85 sworn police officers. That may sound like a lot but remember that includes ALL personal including the Chief, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, administrators, evidence personnel, traffic officers, narcotic officers, detectives, etc. Those officers are not on the streets patrolling. A force of 85 sworn police officers may have a patrol force of only 35 officers that regularly patrol the streets. Of those 35 officers, they are divided into different shifts and work days. Depending on how many officers are assigned to a shift, there may be 6-8 police officers on duty during the busiest time of the day or evening. Take away officers for vacations, sickness, injury, court appearances, training etc and there might only be 4-5 officers on the street. As you can see, that’s not a lot for a city of 65,000.

Police officers in high crime areas or busy cities usually have to be reactive, responding to calls and incidents AFTER they occur. There is not much time to be proactive to try and PREVENT crime from occurring. I used to work a very busy graveyard shift running from call to call to call. High priority calls such as fights, robberies, injury accidents etc and most in-progress calls always take priority over a “cold” call where the suspect is unknown or already gone. I’d show up at “cold” theft or burglary call 2 hours after it was called in and the homeowner would be furious at our response time. I’d ask how many officers they thought we had on the street and people would usually say 20 or 25. They would be shocked when I told them that we only had 4 or 5 officers on the street and that there were over 15 calls still waiting to be dispatched.

That’s why neighborhood watch is so important. An alert citizen’s call can be the difference between police responding to an in-progress call such as a burglary and apprehending a suspect versus police showing up hours later to write a “cold” report with unknown suspects. Obviously there are many more citizens than there are police officers. Citizens become an extension of the police department’s eyes and ears.

Here’s an example;

A burglar pulls onto a residential street and cruises slowly through the street. A few open garages with tools and bicycles in view but no one around. He parks near a house and watches for a few minutes. After seeing no one around, he pulls up to an open garage, quickly grabs the toolbox and bicycles and drives off undetected. Or he might have even knocked on a door to see if someone was home, went into the backyard and broke in through a window. After taking jewelry, cash and a gun, he walks back out to his car and drives off unnoticed. The homeowner later arrives home from work to find their house ransacked. The police are called and check the neighborhood for witnesses and a few people say they saw some unfamiliar cars come and go during the day but they didn’t pay attention and couldn’t provide any information. The crime will be unsolved with the suspects unknown.

With a neighborhood watch group in place;

The same burglar pulls onto the same street and slowly cruises through. He sees some people looking out their windows watching him. He parks for a few minutes and he sees another person standing in their driveway writing down his license plate number. There’s no way he’s going to stick around and try to commit a crime with people watching him or with his license plate written down by a neighbor. He knows someone is probably calling the police to report a suspicious car in the area. He starts his car and drives off to find a victim on another street where he goes unnoticed.

Here’s something else: The license plate jotted down by a neighbor can help solve a crime committed elsewhere. Police may be investigating a burglary on one street and check a nearby street for witnesses or leads. A neighbor who reported a suspicious vehicle in the area earlier and provides a license plate number might be the one lead police need to solve the crime. Remember, a thief might cruise through your neighborhood and leave if he is noticed, but he will be going to another neighborhood, probably nearby. That one call of a suspicious vehicle or person in an area can make the difference between burglars being arrested or getting away and committing more burglaries.

How to form or join a neighborhood watch group:

Most police departments have someone assigned to set up neighborhood watch groups. If you are new to a neighborhood there may be one in place already. If there is no neighborhood watch group in place, the police department can help you set up a meeting in your neighborhood and have neighborhood watch signs installed on your street. A police officer assigned to that area or “beat” usually attends the meetings to update citizens of the crimes occurring in their neighborhood and to address the concerns of the residents.

Neighborhood meetings allow residents to get to know each other, know who drives which cars, know who should be home or not. This allows people to call in suspicious activity. For example, if a neighbor knows that you work during the day and that no one is usually home, they would be more likely to call the police if they see a strange vehicle in your driveway or people hanging around your home while you are gone. The police would rather respond to find out it was unfounded rather than get a call from the homeowner hours later reporting that their home was burglarized.

Neighborhood watch groups are not formed for people to take the law into their own hands; they are formed for the residents to be alert and to report any suspicious people or activity in their neighborhoods. Residents should refrain from interrupting suspicious activity and should call the police immediately as a witness. Have a notepad handy by the telephone or window. You might remember a license plate number for a minute or two but it could get mixed up trying to remember it later. Write down a description of suspicious vehicles or people in your neighborhood and save it for a few days. It may be nothing but then again, you may read about a nearby burglary in the paper a few days later and the license plate number you copied down just might be the burglar’s car. Calling the police department and providing the license number of a suspicious vehicle just might help solve a burglary that has occurred. Or an officer on patrol might spot the car “casing” a neighborhood and know from your call that the same car was called in as suspicious hours earlier in another neighborhood.

The bottom line is that neighborhood watch groups work as long as they stay active. Groups usually meet once a month at different residents homes to discuss the things occurring in their area. Some groups even have their meetings on the street during a neighborhood BBQ. Getting to know each other and knowing what belongs in the neighborhood and what doesn’t is the key to a successful neighborhood watch group.

If you don’t have a group formed yet, contact your local police department for information on how to form one. Most departments have booklets with all the information you need to get started!

© Coptalk

75 comments Oct. 5, 2009 05:07 PM
Associated Press

ALBERTVILLE, Ala. – An Alabama woman has been arrested and accused of endangering the welfare of a child after police say she let her daughter ride in a cardboard box on top of their van.

Albertville Police spokesman Sgt. Jamie Smith said the 37-year-old woman was arrested Sunday after police received a call about a minivan on a state highway with a child riding on top.

Smith said the woman told police the box was too big to go inside the van, and that her daughter was inside the box to hold it down.

Smith said the mother told officers it was safe because she had the box secured to the van with a clothes hanger.

The 13-year-old daughter wasn’t harmed and was turned over to a relative. A jail worker said the mother was out on bond Monday.

So if you are serious about being a police officer, how can you prepare yourself and get ahead of those competing against you? The answer is simple: start researching and doing the things will best prepare you for the police training and possess the skills that will impress the hiring board. A great resource for learning www.Policehow.com, a site that provides excellent training recommendations.  The website can also be quite helpful for those interested in similar types of careers, including the FBI, CIA, security, firefighter, etc. Check it out and see what you can get started on today.

Check out: http://www.policehow.com for tips and info

September 11th 2001 Posted to Stories

Horrific – Reads the headlines…

Heroic – Are the people…

Our love and prayers go to the hero’s of New York. The Firefighters and Police Officers who lost their lives in the rescue attempt at the World Trade Towers. The Paramedics and EMT’s who responded to the initial calls for help. And to the heroic efforts of citizen volunteers who risked their own lives to save the lives of others.

I was touched but not surprised to hear countless statements made by eyewitnesses at the scene, who had escaped the carnage.

“We couldn’t believe those guys (the firefighters and cops), we were all trying to escape down the stairwell and get the hell out of there, and those guys just kept passing by us as they climbed the stairwell to help the injured”.

Incredible Bravery – Incredible Heroism – Incredible people.

Yes it really happened. We’ve all seen the pictures, the news coverage, the personal stories of tragedy and loss. We are hopeful that the current investigation taking place to identify the responsible parties in this senseless tragedy will be swift, thorough, and complete. Our hope is that retaliation measures will be equally as swift and thorough.

Where a tragedy such as this brings a country together, it is amazing to me to listen to talk radio and hear some callers say how war is not the answer. How we should not put ourselves on the level of terrorist causing senseless destruction and death. We need to be civil….

It would not be appropriate to comment on just how misinformed these people are. I will only say this. “Every action has a reaction.” Our Nation’s reaction to this terrorist action will determine what kind of message we send to the world as to how much tolerance we have towards terrorism.

I heard a talk show radio host say he supported arresting the responsible persons, bringing them to justice, and locking them away forever. Uh huh…

When you think about these animals watching Cable TV in prison for the rest of their lives, working out in the weight room, eating 3 meals a day, and writing daily letters to their comrades back home, think about something else.

Think about being at work in the World Trade Center having your morning cup of coffee and the nose of a 767 jetliner being flown by terrorist smashing through your office and ending your life and the lives of thousands in an instant inferno.

Think about being the Husband or Wife of the Firefighters or Police Officers who lost their lives in that carnage.

Think about your daughter on the street below pushing the baby stroller with your brand new grand daughter in it, being crushed by falling debris.

Think about being a passenger on one of those 4 planes.
Think about having a relative on one of those 4 planes, calling you on a cell phone to say goodbye for the last time.

Think about looking out an office window and having to make the decision of burning to death, or jumping 110 stories down to your death. Think about the targets that could have been anywhere in the United States.

The bottom line is, think about this having happened to you, or near you.
Hey, it doesn’t matter that this happened in New York and that you may not have known any of the victims personally.

It happened to all of us. In an unexpected second, it happened to each of us who calls ourselves an American. We all became victims of terrorism and we must all remember this could have happened anywhere in the United States.

Terrorists are like a cancer. If not treated properly and swiftly, a cancer can quickly take over a body and death is soon to follow. This cancer must be removed completely and swiftly. It has nothing to do with being “civil”. It has everything to do with establishing one thing and one thing only that these people will understand. Force and Fear.

I will say it again…. these people will understand one thing and one thing only. Force, and fear. In this case, all bets are off. It’s a case of being “an eye for an eye”. Not a pleasant thought for a “civilized nation” to think about but our reaction must set a tone of zero tolerance…or we will be experiencing these tragedies on a much more regular and severe basis.

God Bless our Firefighters and Police Officers who lost their lives. God bless their families and loved ones. God bless those who lost their lives in this tragedy, and for those who are trying to do so much to help.

To sum it all up…God Bless America, and help us stay strong.

Jim Lambert
Netcops PSI

One of the most beneficial tools to law enforcement and crime solving.

· If you do not have a neighborhood watch group in place, contact your local police or sheriff’s department for information on how to form one. Most law enforcement agencies have some form of community policing in place.

· Most law enforcement agencies offer street signs or window signs advertising that a particular area is a neighborhood watch area. See what your local law enforcement agency has to offer. It’s a proven fact that neighborhoods with active neighborhood watch groups suffer less crime than other neighborhoods.

· If you see a suspicious person or vehicle in your area, call the police. Copy down the license plate of a suspicious vehicle. It may be nothing, but then again, it may solve a crime.

· Be aware, be alert. Know what the “normal” is for your neighborhood.

· A neighborhood BBQ, party, or neighborhood watch meeting may be all that is needed to get a caring, watchful neighborhood working together to prevent or solve a crime.

· With a shortage on cops, and a surplus of criminals, an active neighborhood watch program may be just the solution to reduce crime in your neighborhood.

· It’s a proven fact that criminals have a information network amongst themselves. If word gets out that your neighborhood is difficult to get away with crime, that cops are called on the first sign of suspicion, then crooks will go to easier pickings.

· Control your temper. The angrier you get, the more of a chance of a confrontation. Go ahead and say what you want inside your vehicle, but don’t flip off or confront the other driver. Don’t get into a stare-down or any type of confrontation. Chances are, if you ignore the other driver, they will just pass you by.

· If someone gets behind you, starts flashing lights or tailgating you, pull over to the next lane when possible and let them go by. Don’t get into a stare down or flip off confrontation. Let them go by to get on someone else’s nerves. Chances are, if you let them go by, you’ll forget about them in moments. If you get in a confrontation, it will bug you and have the opportunity to escalate into more if the situation persist.

· Always Remember: Don’t do something out of anger that you will regret later. It’s just not worth the risk nowadays.

· If by chance someone does start following you, whether from a vehicle incident or any type of incident, DON’T drive home. Drive to the nearest Police station. If you don’t know where a police station is, pull into a gas station, store, anywhere there is alot of people around. Usually, the other person will leave because they don’t want to be identified. If they don’t leave, yell for someone or the clerks to call for the police.

· I still get angry if someone tailgates me, especially if I see someone tailgating my wife. It’s human nature to have pride or to defend our families or ourselves. But it’s when pride overrides common sense when we get into trouble. It’s gotten to be a violent world at times and it’s not worth the risk to show our anger over minor traffic altercations. Take a deep breath, pull over, let the idiot go by even if he’s flipping you off. Then you can laugh a few miles up the road when you see him pulled along the side of the road with a police vehicle with flashing red and blue lights behind him. Revenge can be sweet at times.

YOU have to be your own firefighters! You have to do your own Fire Prevention.

· If you live in a heavily wooded area you had better have your house surface area cleared of weeds.

· If you live in an apartment complex you had better consider the possibility of one of your neighbors smoking in bed and you having to evacuate in seconds.

· You need to have fire extinguishers located throughout your home.

· You need to have Smoke Alarms and Evacuation Routes.

· You need to pay attention to outlets that “crackle and spark” when you use a plug.

· You need to check extension cord and appliance cords that get warm, an obvious sign that the cord is being overloaded.

· You need to use the ASHTRAY IN YOUR CAR instead of throwing lit cigarettes out your car window.

· You need to get those Gas Cans out of the garage.

· You need to check for the smell of propane before lighting barbecues and portable heaters.

· You need to get rid of those Shake Roof Shingles and have your chimney cleaned on a yearly basis.

· You can’t leave young children unattended at home for ANY REASON. Earlier this year a father in a nearby community left for work leaving his two young children home alone for a short time until they left for school. The children started a fire, were quickly overcome by smoke, and never went to school. They went to Heaven. YOU CAN’T LEAVE KIDS ALONE!

· You need to contact your local fire department and see if they offer free home fire safety inspections. Their fire prevention officers can point out ways to not only make your home safe for prevention, but can also advise on what types of fire fighting protection you need in your home as well as the importance of Fire plans and Evacuation routes.

· Watch for groups gathering or forming near your house. Gangs are usually unmistakable in the clothing they wear, but with increasing gang enhancement penalties, some try to avoid police detection by only wearing some articles of clothing that shows their "colors". Such as a blue bandanna, a red belt, etc. Tattoos and graffiti are big with gangs, usually 13 or 14, or XIV or X111, are signs of gang activity. There are so many branches and trickle-down gangs formed; it would be impossible to even try to name them all. Gangs can be any race, age, sex, or combination.

· If you see groups hanging out, especially if "tagging" starts to occur, (tagging means spray painting or marking walls, fences, etc. with gang logo), this is a dangerous start. The gang is "marking their turf" and your neighborhood becomes a battlefield if rival gangs come into the area.

· Keep an eye out for drug activity in your neighborhood. If you notice dealers starting to loiter on the street corners, or in front of a drug house, call the police. Once dealers become established in the area, they are hard to get rid of. The neighborhood also becomes the target of a hostile and often deadly takeover. Drug dealers are only after one thing. $M$O$N$E$Y$. And if your neighborhood is producing alot of sales, which translates into money, it becomes a prime target for drive-bys to claim the area.

· Call the police, form neighborhood watch groups, keep control of your neighborhood. Drug dealers and gangs will only gather where they are allowed to. We don’t expect you or your neighbors to move the groups on, or to confront the groups, that would be dangerous. Call the police; explain if you have suspected gang members gathering, or if you have drug dealing going on in front of your house. Report any weapons or drugs seen, and who is holding drugs or weapons, or where they are hidden. You can remain anonymous.

· Believe me, if the dealers or gangs have the police moving them along, or arresting them everytime they gather in your neighborhood, they will find somewhere else to gather. Somewhere people don’t care, where they can peddle their dope, shoot off their guns, gamble and drink in the streets. Somewhere where no one calls the police. The choice is yours. Gangs and drug dealing almost always invite shootings, violence, noise, fights and the decline of a once nice neighborhood.

· It’s never too late to take back your neighborhood, I see it all the time. When the pressure is on, the gangs and dealers move on to easier pickings.

· Contact your local Police Department or Sheriff’s Office for more information on neighborhood watch programs. A good neighborhood watch group with neighbors who care really does work. Besides, whose neighborhood is it? Yours, or the drug dealers from across town trying to set up shop? You CAN make the difference………

I’m still seeing a lot of fake e-mails from scammers trying to lure people into disclosing their financial information. Not just the guy in Nigeria who wants to split $10,000,000.00 with you if you just send him "good faith" money, but e-mails from what appear to be genuine notices from major banks and credit unions. And some of these e-mails look extremely real. There are many scams on the internet from crooks trying to get peoples personal information and believe it or not, some people actually fall for these scams. If someone banks at Bank of America and they get an e-mail stating that their account will be frozen unless they update their personal information, some people actually enter their account numbers, PIN numbers, Social Security numbers, etc thinking that they are keeping their accounts active. What they are actually doing is providing a thief all the information they need to drain their bank account and open new accounts in their name. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime nationwide. And if you become a victim of identity theft, it takes years to try to straighten out your tarnished credit history. You could be the victim of identity theft and not know about it until your credit history is ruined. A few tips to avoid identity theft:

NEVER, NEVER give out personal information on the internet unless it’s a site you initiated, know and trust. Even then, most just ask for names, addresses and credit card info. Be leery of sites asking for name, date of birth, social security numbers and other personal information. I never give out my social security number unless it is absolutely necessary and I know and trust the company I am dealing with. Most companies have a contact phone number if you are unsure. Banks, credit unions etc will never ask you to update your personal information over the internet. Also be suspicious of phone calls threatening interruption to your phone or utility service unless you verify your personal information over the phone. If in doubt, call your bank or utility company to verify.

Get a copy of your credit report from the three major reporting agencies at least once yearly and verify that all the information is correct. You can get one free copy of your credit report each year by checking with the credit reporting agencies. There are also companies offering services that you can purchase which monitor your credit history and notify you whenever an inquiry is made to your accounts or new accounts are opened in your name.

NEVER give out your PIN number to anyone and do not write it on the back of your card or keep it in your wallet or purse. If someone finds it they can clean out your account. If you need to write the PIN number down to remember it, hide the PIN in a false phone number. (example: if your PIN number is 4419, write a number down such as 516-4419. It looks like a phone number to anyone else but you’ll know the last four digits are your PIN #. Cover the keypad numbers with your hands when entering the PIN number in a store, store clerks already has access to your credit card or ATM number; don’t let them see what your PIN is too.

If a purse or wallet is stolen or lost, report the loss to the credit card companies, banks and DMV immediately. A 2 hour delay can clean out your accounts. I once had a case where $20,000 was charged on various cards within 2 hours of a purse theft. Also report the loss to the local police department if credit cards and a driver’s license is stolen. 

And back to what we originally spoke about, fake e-mails. I’ve seen these for Bank of America, Bank of the West, ebay, PayPal, Wells Fargo, several Credit Unions and many others. They send them out whether you actually bank at these establishments or not, hoping that it will reach some people that will actually fall for it. And they look EXTREMELY real because they use the company’s logos, graphics and other information. Most say there is suspicious activity on your account and your account has possibly been accessed by an unauthorized person. They say your account will be frozen unless you update and verify your personal information by clicking on a link and filling in the information. No matter how real they look DO NOT click on the link or put in your personal information. If in doubt, call your bank or account holder to report the suspicious e-mail. Many companies request that you forward the entire fake e-mail to their security departments.        

I could go on for hours on the topic of identity theft and the nightmares it creates but just use common sense to protect your personal information. Check out the rest of our web-site for lots of FREE safety information. While your browsing our site, check out our book "Coptalk" to find out how to keep yourself and loved ones from becoming victims of crime. In this day and age, there is no Mayberry left. Protect yourself and keep yourself safe.

Mark
Coptalk.info

· First, a kidnapper is going to look for an easy target. A neighborhood with kids about, no adults in view or a child who walks up to his car when asked something. What’s easier? He simply has to reach out and grab a child, pull them in a car, and disappear forever. Now the same kidnapper comes in your neighborhood, good, kids running about. But what’s this, a few adults sitting out front, reading, washing a car, playing with kids, Oh No, they are looking at him. Better get out of here before they get a good look at him. As he drives out, he sees a lone child walking around the corner. AHH might as well try this kid. The kidnapper asks the kid for directions. The kid sees the kidnapper is a stranger and ignores him. The kidnapper pulls the car to the curb and stops, calls to the child again and opens the door. The child yells for help and runs. The kidnapper wants NO attention brought to him so he quickly leaves for easier targets. No kidnapping suspect wants attention that can identify him or her. Teach your children to avoid strangers, and to scream or yell for help if they feel threatened. Keep an eye on your kids when they play. A yard is great, but alot of kids want to play "out front". Maybe neighbors can all keep an eye out, or take turns watching the kids. If an abductor sees even one adult in view of his intended target, chances are he will pass up that child.

· Tell all the neighborhood kids to promptly tell a parent, neighbor, baby-sitter, etc. of any suspicious persons or cars in the area. People who are not familiar to the area, starting up conversations with children, asking kids for help looking for lost pets, offering toys or candy, all should be warning signs. If your children do not know a person, they should avoid conversations or close contact with strangers when you are not with them.

· If you see a strange car cruising through the neighborhood, jot down the license plate and description of the car and driver. It may be nothing. But then again, that may be the bit of information needed to get a child back alive and unharmed.

· Teach your children self defense moves or strikes to free themselves from an attacker if grabbed. Kick, hit, bite, punch, scream, anything and everything to get away.

· Remember what your child is wearing when they go outside. It helps a lot during a search to look for particular clothing worn by your child rather than just a physical description. Tell your children the importance of letting you know when they leave, change friends houses, or even come home. You should know every moment where your child is. A little leeway can be given for older teens, but the same rules apply, since older kids can be kidnapped too. Kidnappings occur from babies taken from a hospital, up to adults taken by force or with a weapon.

· Don’t let hours slip by if you cant find your child, especially a small child. Time is critical. After an initial search, call the police. We would rather get canceled half way to your house when you find your child, than to respond 3 hours later wishing we got the call hours earlier when it was still light. Think about how far someone can travel in 3 hours. Even on foot! Now a car!

· Have a recent photo of your child. Alot of city functions offer child fingerprinting and photographing, I have even seen companies donate equipment to videotape your child. You don’t want to search for a photo at a critical time, then to only find one from 2 yrs. ago.

· Remember if the dispatcher ask alot of questions on the phone, it’s to relay the information to officers arriving in the area to begin a search. The more information we have, the quicker we get it, the better chance we have of bringing your child home safe.

The more information you have, the more information you give your children, the better chance we all have of keeping our children safe.

“Plenty of government agencies are dipping their toes into the Twitter waters these days, but when we found the Denton Police Department’s Twitter page this afternoon, we knew we’d found something truly special.”

To See the rest of the story here – Click Here

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

Why? Because even basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues—especially when they’re timely.

• Eating soup? Research shows that moms want to know.
• Running late to a meeting? Your co–workers might find that useful.
• Partying? Your friends may want to join you.
• Fighting Crime?

With Twitter, you can stay hyper–connected to your friends and always know what they’re doing. Or, you can stop following them any time. You can even set quiet times on Twitter so you’re not interrupted.

Twitter puts you in control and becomes a modern antidote to information overload.

You can join and follow us here at Coptalk on twitter by going to:

www.twitter.com/coptalk

Stories of how Twitter and Craigslist (the popular online classifieds) help to solve or deter crime:

Reposted from: www.Techdirt.com

“With all the stories of police getting worried about new technologies, it’s always good to see cases where they seem to be using them appropriately. Rick recently wrote in to point out a story where police in Maine used Craigslist to track down a prostitution ring. Compare that to others who have been blaming Craigslist for prostitution. And, now we’re seeing stories about some police departments that are actively using Twitter either to send out emergency alerts to people, or to better connect with the community they’re supposed to be protecting. Of course, that story worries about "impostors," but there are ways to deal with that issue. For police looking to make use of the technology, it can be quite useful, and it’s great to see some actually realizing that and embracing the technology.”

Related Stories:

Craigslist used in prostitution sting

What’s the newest police tool? Try Twitter

Please remember Twitter like any other online service comes with its issues for safety and security – please follow good online password practices and also understand how to use it and who to follow or not follow before you dive right in……

· ALWAYS leave space between your car and the car in front of you at a stop sign, stop light, etc. This leaves you room enough for an escape to turn and accelerate out of a dangerous situation if possible.

· Always watch for suspicious persons or activity around you. People loitering near stop signs, intersections, etc. People getting out of cars next to you or behind you.

Keep your doors locked. While a locked door wont keep everyone out; it could give you the split-second advantage you may need to escape.

· If you suspect suspicious activity, drive through a stop sign or stop light (if safe to do so) to get away. Police would rather have you explain why you drove through the red light rather than have you be the victim of a robbery or car jacking

· Don’t stop for people (especially undesirable looking people) who try to “flag you down”. If you don’t know them, you’re taking a risky chance by stopping.

· Remember that most carjackers want only your car, not you. A car can be replaced, you can not. Your chances of being hurt or taken hostage greatly increase with your resistance.

· If you are confronted by a carjacker, especially with a weapon, comply with his demands. Most will order you out of the car. When they leave, call the police as soon as possible, and give a detailed description of your car, the carjacker, and if a weapon was involved. The most important thing is for you to remain safe. A car is not worth getting hurt over.

· If you have a child in the car, or in a car seat in the back, chances are a carjacker does not even know that a child is there. Inform the thief that you have a child in the car, and you are going to take the child out and give him the car. Most do not want the extra person in the car with them, but all situations are different.

Do not make any move that can be mistaken by the suspect as aggressive or resistant. If you plan on making any moves (getting out, getting a child, etc.) let the suspect know beforehand to avoid any surprises.

· Most injuries or shootings involve some type of resistance the carjacker encounters. They will shoot you rather than fight you. That is why it is important to comply with demands, especially from an armed suspect. Remember most of the time the car is abandoned shortly after. The thief’s know that police everywhere will be looking for the car as soon as you get to a phone. (Besides most of us have insurance, right?)

· If you do become the victim of a carjacking, someone points a gun at you at a stop sign, etc, and orders you out of the car, use common sense. Some low-life dirtbag may shoot at you or your car if you try to speed away. Some innocent victims have been injured or even killed by trying to get away. Every situation is different and the risk of injury greatly increases with resistance, especially if weapons are involved.

http://www.eeye.com/html/conficker/index.html

Conficker Worm Overview

Introduction

The Conficker worm is a very formidable threat to modern-day networks. The worm uses multiple methods to infect remote systems, and utilizes a very advanced P2P architecture in order to communicate with other infected systems. Furthermore, it has shown signs of an advanced update mechanism that would allow infected systems to rapidly received updates in order to evade detection or to be used in some malicious manner.

Below is a visualization of the propagation and communication mechanisms currently seen within Conficker infections.

As depicted above, Conficker is a very powerful threat utilizing a blend of exploits and functionality issues within the Microsoft Windows Operating System, while also utilizing human propagation means via thumb-drive sharing. The worm has been identified on millions of workstations, servers, and laptops throughout the world.

Suggested Actions

Administrators are strongly urged to utilize the Free Conficker / MS08-067 Detection Utility available for download here:

http://www.eeye.com/html/downloads/other/ConfickerScanner.html

This utility allows network administrators to rapidly assess their networks in order to find hosts that are infected by Conficker, or are missing the most critical patch necessary to blocking Conficker network propagation attacks.

Free Protection Utility

Users are also urged to use a powerful host-based protection suite with anti-virus, such as eEye’s Blink Personal or Professional. In addition to the detection of the Conficker worm, eEye Digital Security’s Blink Endpoint Protection Platform can effectively protect hosts, even if they are not patched, from the propagation of this worm. Using protocol based IPS analyzers, Blink can detect and stop the malicious traffic associated with MS08-067 and block the worm from self propagating. For installations that are already infected, Blink’s multi layer antivirus engine will remove the Conficker worm and provide protection until a permanent remediation is performed on the host. Free trials are available for Blink Professional here, and a free version of Blink is available for personal use here.

Maintain Microsoft Updates

Users and administrators are strongly urged to maintain all of the latest patches from Microsoft and all other software vendors with applications on endpoint systems. This can be easily maintained by using eEye’s Retina Network Security Scanner to identify all vulnerabilities on a network. Windows users can also enjoy the benefits of this vulnerability assessment by using eEye Digital Security’s Blink Endpoint Protection Platform to perform a vulnerability assessment of the host system on which it is installed.

References The HoneyNet Project:
http://www.honeynet.org/papers/conficker/
Felix Leder and Tillmann Werner Analysis:
http://iv.cs.uni-bonn.de/wg/cs/applications/containing-conficker
Microsoft Advisory – 967940
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx
Microsoft Malware Protection Center:
http://tinyurl.com/absz6f
Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx
SANS – Internet Storm Center:
http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=5860
Shadowserver Foundation:
http://www.shadowserver.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Calendar.20090212

By Robert Salonga
Contra Costa Times

Posted: 03/29/2009 02:49:59 PM PDT

PITTSBURG — As smoke overtook the rear bedroom, Officer Mark Mays remembers that he had his arms through a window opening, hoisting a young girl who had been cornered by the fast-moving fire.

The girl was trying to do her part, supporting herself on the post of a bunk bed. Officer Ryan Wilkie was using his baton to shatter the window to help free the child.

Mays says what happened after that is fuzzy to him. He just knows that they got the girl out of the burning house.

"All I remember was her going over my head," he recalled.

Seconds later, the room exploded into flames.

SEE THE FULL STORY HERE – CLICK HERE

Trust funds established thus far are as follows:

Persons wishing to express contributions for the trust funds of fallen officers may do so by two methods:

1. Individual Checks made out to families and mailed to: c/o OPOA Attn: Rennee Hassna 555 5th Street Oakland Ca, 94607

Make checks out to the following: “Dunakin Children’s Family Trust” “Romans Children’s Family Trust” “Sakai Family Trust”

2. Wire transfers directly to Merrill Lynch Accounts… “Dunakin Children’s Family Trust” a/c #204-04065 “Romans Children’s Family Trust” a/c #204-04066 “Sakai Family Trust” a/c #204-04064

The California Transplant Donor Network Wednesday issued the following statement on the donation by Officer John Hege who was recently killed in the line of duty:

“Our hearts go out to the family of Officer John Hege, who gave his life to protect our community. Officer Hege was registered on the Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Registry, which his family also supports. He chose in death as he did in life to help those in need. His organ donations saved the lives of four Californians, and his tissue donation will enhance the lives of as many as 50 others. We know those who are receiving his gifts thank him and his family with gratitude and a shared sense of loss at his passing.

“Officer Hege’s untimely death, while tragic and the extraordinary support of his family also provide an opportunity to inspire others to commit to becoming donors by registering at Donate Life California All of us at the California Transplant Donor Network thank Officer Hege for these generous gifts, and on behalf of the more than 21,000 Californians who desperately wait for the gift of life from those like Officer Hege. Such donors recognize that donation can save lives and bring hope to family members

www.KTVU.com – Original Story Link

Posted: 4:42 pm PDT March 28, 2009Updated: 6:36 pm PDT March 28, 2009

TRACY, Calif. — Police are looking for a missing 8-year-old girl in the largest missing person search Tracy has seen in at least a decade.

The FBI has also been involved in the search which started at 8:15 p.m. Friday night, four hours after the little girl was last seen in the mobile home park where she lives.

Sandra Cantu, a second grader from Jacobsen Elementary, was last seen around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon after leaving her neighbor’s house in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park.

“We saw her yesterday at our house,” said neighbor Nahum Diaz. “She was playing with my 5-year-old sister. Then she left, she told her she had to go do her homework, and I didn’t see her anymore.”

Saturday, family and more than 50 volunteers walked door to door handing out fliers with the girl’s picture while police searched nearby schools and parks. FBI agents also began stopping every car entering or leaving the complex and searching trunks. Police are concerned about the neighborhood’s proximity to Interstate 580. It’s less than half a mile from the freeway entrance.

“It’s just a long time for an 8-year-old to be gone,” said Tracy Police Sgt. Tony Sheneman. “We’re very concerned about that.

Sandra’s cousin says the little girl lived with her mother and grandparents and that the father has never been in the child’s life and may be living in Mexico.

“She’s got a fiery personality,” said her cousin, Janet Anderson. “She is very — and this is what scares me — she’s very friendly. She just loves everybody and is very trusting.”

Candice Vega says just two weeks ago she warned her little cousin about being safe.

“I told her, ‘Gosh, you’re so pretty and cute and little’. I said, ‘you know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers, right?’ She said ‘yeah’. I said, ‘because there’s a lot of bad people who like to take pretty, little girls like you’. She said, ‘Do you know anyone who’s been kidnapped?’ I said, ‘No, but I see it on TV all the time’."

She describes Sandra as a happy girl who was close with her family and wasnt the type to run off.

The family told KTVU about an incident at the mobile home park pool two years ago, when a middle aged male resident came up to the then 6-year-old and kissed her on the mouth.

Police say they’ve searched several homes in the mobile home park and have no persons of interest and no evidence of an abduction.

“She’s an awesome sister,” said her sister Simone Chavez. “She’s always happy. She’s always doing carwheels. And I want her to come back home, you know?”

Sandra Cantu has light brown hair, brown eyes, is 4 feet tall and weighs 45 lbs. She was last seen wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt, a striped dress and black leggings.

Anyone with information is asked to call the National Center For Missing And Exploited Children at 1-800-the-lost or Tracy police at 209-831-4550.

Last Saturday on March 21st 2009,

I returned home in the evening to numerous phone calls from my co-workers who gave me the shocking news that 4 Oakland Police Officers had been gunned down earlier in the day…

Today, those 4 heroes were honored at a memorial service at Oracle Arena attended by over 22,000 people. Police Officers from across the country, Fire Fighters, Military Personnel, Government dignitaries, and thousands of citizens attended this very emotional and moving ceremony to pay respect to 4 men who were all remembered as beloved Fathers, Sons, Uncles, Brothers, Friends, Partners, and -  Police Officers for the City of Oakland.

Sgt. Mark Dunakin
Sgt. Ervin Romans
Sgt. Daniel Sakai
and Officer John Hege

Most people in life may never actually understand the dangerous challenges police officers face on a daily basis. Some people’s opinion may be limited to that one time they got a ticket for speeding on the freeway, or riding a pwc too fast in a no wake zone, or for talking on a cellphone while driving.

Chances are, you’ve never had to call a cop because you just got robbed at gunpoint by a career criminal parolee who places no value on your life – or anyone else’s. Chances are, you’ve never been involved in a high speed pursuit of a subject considered armed and dangerous. Chances are, you’ve never had to respond and diffuse a violent domestic violence call. Chances are you’ve never been shot at, or had rocks and bottles thrown at you in a riot situation.

We are used to hearing about occasional incidents where a single officer’s life is taken in a situation that took a tragic turn, but in this case 4 officers were killed during the deadly confrontation with this suspect…

We learned today, about the faces behind the badges. We learned about what kind of people Mark, John, Erv, and Dan were away from work. Loving Fathers, sons of proud Fathers and Mothers, Brothers, Uncles, Teachers, role models, coaches, neighbors, and best friends to all. We also learned what exceptional police officers and partners they were – in the city they loved to work.

I’ve attended way too may police funerals in my 22 years as a cop – and the one for a close friend will always hurt the worst – but today’s outpouring of support by so many was beyond overwhelming… I thought about a lot of things today. The pride I have for my profession. The brotherhood of the badge. People’s conceptions of police officers. How bad it sucks when life is unexpectedly taken away in an instant, and good-byes and I love you’s can’t be said. It was clear today to see just how many people loved Mark, John, Erv, and Dan – and it was equally as clear to see how much these 4 larger than life hero’s loved their families, friends, co-workers, and their chosen profession as police officers.

I ask you as well – to love and remember these guys for who they were in life.

For what they represented. For the ultimate sacrifice they made. There are thousands of different jobs and professions in life, but few where your life can change from having a cup of coffee at starbucks, to moments later being engaged in a violent gunfight with a violent criminal. The stern looking cop who might give you a ticket for being reckless and endangering yourself or others, could very well be the same individual who is called to face danger beyond most people’s comprehension – and if they are challenged to make the ultimate sacrifice, they will do so without hesitation, without fear, without regret, and they will do it for you…

Just like Mark, John, Erv, and Dan.

True heroes who will be remembered forever? Absolutely.

Please remember them and their families in your prayers tonight.

I pray for the safety of my own brother – also a police officer in the Bay Area.

I pray for the safety of my partners at work.

I pray for every member of the Oakland Police Department.

And I pray for the safety of police officers around the world who all share one thing in common…

We serve and protect – and we do it with honor – day in and day out.

All who know us – all who love us – and all who work with us know with certainty,

that if the unthinkable happens and we are taken away unexpectedly,

we were doing what we loved more than anything in this world

and regardless of outcome – we will have no regrets.

The pain and sorrow felt within the ranks of the Oakland PD will be present for a long time to come,

and this tragic loss will always be a constant reminder of the risks and dangers

every police officer faces on a daily basis – but the love and support

from the citizens of the cities we serve, makes the pain just alittle bit more bearable…

That was more than evident today and I cannot begin to tell you

just how much that means to the families left behind… 

Sgt. Mark Dunakin
Sgt. Ervin Romans
Sgt. Daniel Sakai
and Officer John Hege

I salute you for who you were as police officers,

I commend you for how you lived your lives at work and home,

I thank you for all you gave to the citizens of Oakland,

and we will never forget you – or your families you left behind…

Rest in peace always -

Jim Lambert

Click the photo to see the photos of the event.

Posted: 1:37 pm PDT March 21, 2009Updated: 4:21 pm PDT March 21, 2009

OAKLAND, Calif. — A massive manhunt was underway in Oakland Saturday after four police officers and a suspect were severely wounded in two separate shootings within the troubled MacArthur Blvd. neighborhood, authorities said.

Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said the two officers shot in the initial incident were in critical condition at Highland Hospital. The condition of the two other officers and the suspect who were shot in the second shooting was not immediately known.

The coroner’s office has been called to the hospital. There was a chaotic scene outside the emergency department with officers hugging and crying.

See the full story: Click Here

“Did a search on your site for gangstalking and didn’t get any results, yet on the Internet there are jillions of results for the search. Maybe you could investigate this and expose who is in on it, because they say the cops and firemen, etc are in on it. Why don’t the cops have to enforce the law? We call them for tons of violations and they say it will take them three days to come out and then they never do. People park in red fire zones all the time, leave their vehicle there for weeks and months and nothing is ever done. Junk cars and trucks on their front lawns and in the streets and they don’t run and have body damage and sit for as long as fifteen years without moving and no matter how many times it is reported nothing is done about it. Basketball hoops in the street and people playing basketball all day, obstructing traffic, endangering lives, all this is illegal and yet the cops and the city let them do it and tell everyone who complains to go you know where. In California you must have a front license plate but millions of vehicles don’t have them, probably one out of four doesn’t have one and the cops don’t do anything about that. The state could collect hundreds of millions of dollars for their budget if the cops would give tickets for these things. No wonder they have a budget problem. And so much crime, vandalism and fires being set, etc. Is there someone else we could call to do the job the cops won’t do?”

Here is our reply:

“Did a search on your site for gangstalking and didn’t get any results, yet on the Internet there are jillions of results for the search. Maybe you could investigate this and expose who is in on it, because they say the cops and firemen, etc are in on it.”

Being a cop for over 20 yrs I’ve never seen incidents that you describe as "gang stalking". There are jillions of results for almost anything you search for on the internet, that doesn’t mean it is a legitimate problem or issue. I don’t know where you live but I have not heard of gang stalking until you mentioned it in your post so obviously it is not an issue here where I live in CA.

To read more – Click below:

“Why don’t the cops have to enforce the law? We call them for tons of violations and they say it will take them three days to come out and then they never do.”

You must live on the moon. Either that or you call 20 times a day for meaningless things and they now ignore you for the minor things. If you called regarding a robbery in progress or your life was in danger you’d see a cop within minutes trying to help you. When people call the police for a legitimate problem they always respond. If it is an emergency, an officer is dispatched immediately. If it is not an emergency and the department is busy, it may take up to a few hours depending on the size of the department, how many officers are available, and the pending calls for service. Fights, shootings, domestic violence, robberies, and most in-progress calls are all priorities over calls such as noise complaints or other calls where peoples lives or safety are not at stake. It would be interesting to hear where you live.  

“People park in red fire zones all the time, leave their vehicle there for weeks and months and nothing is ever done. Junk cars and trucks on their front lawns and in the streets and they don’t run and have body damage and sit for as long as fifteen years without moving and no matter how many times it is reported nothing is done about it. Basketball hoops in the street and people playing basketball all day, obstructing traffic, endangering lives, all this is illegal and yet the cops and the city let them do it and tell everyone who complains to go you know where. “

Again, it would be interesting to hear where you live. Most cities have a code enforcement division to deal with abandoned vehicles or property that is an eyesore. Red zone parking violations and basketball hoops in the street are low priorities when there are calls involving violence or injury but most cops I know will ticket a red zone parker if it is a blatant violation AND if time permits (no calls pending, doesn’t have 3 hours worth of reports to write, etc.)

But with the economy getting bad and police departments having to cut cost, code enforcement divisions are being cut back too so abandoned vehicles and unsightly property calls may not get taken care of as fast as people like.    

“In California you must have a front license plate but millions of vehicles don’t have them, probably one out of four doesn’t have one and the cops don’t do anything about that. The state could collect hundreds of millions of dollars for their budget if the cops would give tickets for these things. No wonder they have a budget problem. “

Yes, some cops write tickets for no front plate and some do not. It is a low priority. If it is a small town with not a lot of crime, some cops may write those tickets because they have time to. Most larger departments are usually too busy responding from call to call involving violent crimes or in-progress calls than to worry about a missing front license plate. You say hundreds of millions of dollars into the state budget if cops write front license plate tickets? Sorry but that wouldn’t happen. It’s a fix-it ticket, not a monetary fine like a red light. And most cops I know would rather focus their efforts on enforcing violations that injure innocent people like red lights, stop signs, speeding, etc rather than just stopping someone because they don’t have a front license plate.    

“And so much crime, vandalism and fires being set, etc. Is there someone else we could call to do the job the cops won’t do?”

Try a ride along some time in a busy city. Most people don’t realize the things cops have to do, things cops have to see. Cops respond to calls that most people run away from. What other profession is there where you have to wear a bullet resistant vest and carry a gun. What other profession is there where you are sent to the report of a man with a gun, an armed robbery in progress, calls of shots fired, dead bodies, horrific vehicle accidents, deaths of children, destruction of life and property, seeing the aftermath of a family destroyed by violence, trying to calm a small child who just lost their mother or father, or both. Cops see things that most people will never see in their lifetime.

Cops put on the badge everyday to go help people, keep people safe, knowing that every call they go to, there is a risk they may not go home to their families again.

Try a ride along and see what cops go through, what they have to do everyday.  

Maybe you wouldn’t worry about front license plates or basketball hoops as much anymore……  

OMAHA, Neb. – A man who stuffed his girlfriend’s cat into a makeshift bong and smoked marijuana through it said Tuesday that he had done it on other occasions and that it calmed the cat down.

Acea Schomaker of Lincoln said he never intended to hurt the 6-month-old cat, Shadow.

Lancaster County sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic disturbance at the residence ticketed the 20-year-old Schomaker on suspicion of misdemeanor animal cruelty Sunday after catching him smoking marijuana from a boxlike contraption that had the cat stuffed inside its 12-inch by 6-inch base.

Schomaker’s girlfriend, Marissa Vieux, also was ticketed for animal cruelty because she didn’t try to stop Schomaker, Sgt. Andy Stebbing said.

Vieux, 22, said she took in the cat about two months ago from friends who abused it.

Schomaker said the cat would bite and scratch them but he didn’t want to discipline it by swatting or squirting water at it. He said they didn’t bring it to an animal shelter because they feared it would be put down.

‘I’m just the first one to get caught’
So Schomaker said he decided to use the makeshift bong because he had heard about people calming their pets by blowing marijuana smoke in their faces.

"I know for sure this isn’t the first time someone has done this," he said. "I’m just the first one to get caught."

He said he put the cat in the bong a total of three times and it seemed to calm the cat.

Cat would ‘act like a stoned person’
"Every time we took her out she would pretty much just lay down and proceed to clean herself and act like a stoned person," Schomaker said.

The bong had a foot-long piece of garden hose coming out of a Plexiglas box, with the top secured with duct tape. Schomaker said it was constructed in such a way that the cat did not get immersed in smoke to the extent some might believe.

Schomaker said law enforcement and animal specialists lectured him about why what he did was cruel, and that he learned from his mistake.

West Palm Beach Channel News
Florida woman calls 911 3 times over McNuggets
Woman has 911 meltdown over McNuggets

WPBF-TV

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – A Fort Pierce woman called 911 three times to report an emergency after McDonald’s had run out of McNuggets, according to a police report obtained Tuesday.

Latreasa Goodman, 27, was issued a written notice to appear in court for misusing the 911 emergency communications system.

According to the report, Goodman called 911 three times Saturday to report that a McDonald’s employee wasn’t giving her a refund for the chicken nuggets she wanted.

When police arrived, Goodman said she purchased a 10-piece chicken McNugget meal, received her change and then was told McDonald’s had run out of McNuggets. Goodman said she tried to get a refund, but the cashier told her it was against store policy and that all sales are final.

"The manager just took my money and won’t give me my money back, trying to make me get something off the menu that I don’t want," Goodman said in one of the 911 calls. "I ordered chicken nuggets. They don’t have chicken nuggets, and so I told her, ‘Just give me my money back,’ and she tells me I have to pick something else off the menu. She is not going to give me my money back, and she don’t have the right to take my money."

According to the report, after police told Goodman the incident was not an emergency, Goodman replied, "This is an emergency. If I would have known they didn’t have McNuggets, I wouldn’t have given my money, and now she wants to give me a McDouble, but I don’t want one. This is an emergency."

Customers at the McDonald’s where the incident occurred had mixed feelings about the McNugget meltdown.

Daniel Slaton said he typically orders McNuggets when he goes to McDonald’s, saying simply, "I just like them better than anywhere else."

But Sallee Bair had a different perspective.

"That’s a little overboard," Bair said. "That’s way too much, way extreme for chicken nuggets. They’re not that great."

Carlos Solorzano, operations manager for all McDonald’s restaurants in Florida, issued a statement Tuesday apologizing for the incident.

"Satisfying each and every customer that visits our restaurants is very important to us," Solorzano said. "Regarding this isolated incident, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. In the event that we are unable to fill an order, a customer should be offered the choice of a full refund or alternative menu items. We regret that in this instance, that wasn’t the case.

"We want to correct our mistake. We will be sending the customer her refund, along with an invitation to return for her original order, on us. We never want to disappoint a McNuggets fan or any McDonald’s customer. Customer satisfaction is our top priority."

** Just think what that officer could have been doing instead of taking time to write this person a citation **

Note to CopTalk Readers – This is an isolated case but the fact it is in the news will lead to others that try to catch you in this scam:

Auto – Pedestrian Scam Alert

The Folsom Police Department wants to make the public aware of a scam targeting motorists.

On February 10, 2009 at approx 11:30 am, an unidentified white male adult, age 20s-30s, 6’01" to 6’02", 220 lbs to 250 lbs, balding, and dressed in all black clothing was seen laying behind a parked car in the parking lot of 370 Plaza Drive. When the man was seen by a customer he got up and ran away. About two hours later, a similar male subject was seen laying down in the street in the area of Wales Drive and Riley Street as a motorist was pulling out of the parking lot. A third incident happened at 5:40 pm at the Folsom Premium Outlets. A male subject matching the description from previous incidents was seen positioning himself under the driver’s side tires of a parked car alleging the motorist had hit him. When he pounded on her window she sounded her horn and called the police. The male was seen running away into the Outlets.

"We believe this is a classic attempt to stage an automobile–pedestrian collision in order to collect money from the motorist in lieu of filing an insurance claim," said Lt. Sheldon Sterling. "There have been no reported attempts to grab any of the motorists and he has not threatened to harm anyone."

We encourage people to continue to be aware of their surroundings. Have your keys in hand and check the area around your car as you approach it. If you see anyone, or anything, suspicious around your vehicle, call 911.

Anyone with information about who this subject may be, or sees someone acting suspicious and matching the description is encouraged to call the Folsom Police Department at (916) 930-1098.

Listen to the Candace Kita Show – Live Sundays 2:00PM (PST)
http://www.latalkradio.com/Candace.php

Today’s special guest is fitness model Jennifer Korbin.  Jennifer is best known as a host of E Network’s Wild On! and has been on “Son of the Beach”, “West Wing” and “Suddenly Susan”.  Jennifer has a degree in criminal justice and was a rape counselor.  Today’s topic is safety while dating.  Jennifer Korbin’s website is: www.jenniferkorbin.com

Download

I came across this article written by a citizen of Oakland, CA – It discusses many points that just need to be heard by all:

Original Link: Click here
** Special Thanks for the approval to reprint part of the article on our site **

Please visit the link above for the entire story – it is well worth the read

As I sit, there are helicopters circling over our house. Normally, we’d see people out and about this time of night, walking dogs or heading home from the grocery store down the street. But tonight, our neighborhood is quiet. A few blocks away, streets are lined with police in riot gear, closely watching the development of a violent reaction to the New Year’s Eve killing by a transit police officer of a young unarmed man. People peer out of windows, wondering what’s going on. A photographer friend of ours works late into the night, snapping shots of quiet protests that soon become raucous riots. Cars are ablaze. Shop windows shatter. Again and again and again, the copters pass over us. The dog paces back and forth, watching the ceiling, waiting to see what comes next.

By morning, the news has hit the national media: “Riots in Oakland!” one paper shouts. “Oakland turns violent over shooting,” another announces. The narrative is disturbing, the images even more so. Most devastating, though, are the many commenter’s. People living hundreds of miles away are unfazed by this. “Oakland? That hellhole?” one writes. “Let the whole place burn!” “Not surprising,” another notes. “It is Oakland, after all.”

Click here for the rest of the story…..

It’s the season for joy and happiness, but it’s also a special time for burglars and thieves. Every year around the holidays, thefts and burglaries spike in every city. Thieves regularly browse parking lots looking into vehicles for the obvious items such as laptops or purses, but during Christmas season, they browse looking for presents, bags and boxes. As people shop at numerous stores, they leave TV’s and electronics, store bags, all kinds of gifts in plain view in their cars. It takes only seconds for a thief to shatter a car window and grab the items they want. Here are a few tips to keep you and your property safe:

NEVER leave anything in view in your car. If a thief does not see anything, they will go on to another car. To a thief, even an empty briefcase or book bag in a car could contain a laptop or wallet. They WONT break in if they DON’T see anything! If you must leave a purse or wallet in your car, at least lock it in the trunk. Most thieves won’t break into a car just to see if anything is in there, they break in when they do see something.

If you go Christmas shopping, hide any items left in the car. Put them in the trunk or cover with a blanket. Take home any expensive items and make a 2^nd trip to other stores. Like I keep saying, a thief will pass up an empty car and will break into a car when they see something they want.

Keep aware of your surroundings and the people around you. Make eye contact with people. Carry a purse close to you or in front of you, thieves often try to grab a purse that is dangling loose on a strap.

At home, don’t leave the house with the front blinds wide open where a burglar can see all the wrapped presents under the tree. If you have an alarm system, USE IT!

I’ve been to many burglaries where I saw an alarm system on the wall that wasn’t used and the homeowner said “I only left for a few minutes”. How hard is it to push a button or two to protect your property?

Lock your doors and windows. I don’t mean to scare anyone but thieves and burglars often roam neighborhoods searching for unlocked doors or windows of homes and vehicles. If you must leave a window open for ventilation, use locks that enable you to lock it open only a few inches. Close your garage door when you are not in there and ALWAYS lock the door from the garage that leads into your home. A brutal rape and murder occurred in Lafayette several years back when 3 thugs got off BART and walked through the neighborhood looking for an open garage door. When they found one, they went inside and found a woman home alone. Her family found her body when they later returned home. When the thugs were later caught, they admitted they chose that home only because the garage door was left open and the door into the house was unlocked.

Don’t leave your car running to warm up in the driveway or while you run into a convenience store for a cup of coffee. This time of year, car thieves drive through neighborhoods (usually in another stolen car) looking for the tell tale signs of steam coming from the exhaust of an unoccupied car. You come out to find an empty driveway or parking spot. Car thieves often steal vehicles this way and sometimes kids walking to school on a cold morning can’t resist the temptation of a free heated ride to school. Warm up your car while you are in it or get a remote starter that will kill the engine if it’s put in gear without your key being in the ignition.

The main thing is to take precautions, not chances. Sooner or later, people who take chances or are careless often become victims of crime.

Please check out the rest of our web-site for lots of free reading on how to stay safe. And while you’re there, check out our book!

Have a safe and happy holiday season,

Mark, Jim and Brent

Netcops PSI

To start a bit about my background and why you might want to think about this advice as well rounded and tested before just believing that I know what I am talking about.

I have been heavily involved in IT for my company for many years now to include network administration and IT infrastructure on top of normal day to day duties. The funny part of all this is I had to learn how to be a tech guy pretty much overnight when we decided it was time to connect all of our employees.

So how do you become a tech IT wizard overnight, well you don’t and on top of that you cannot even expect to be able to grasp all the information you will need. Here is how I did it, I simply concentrated on what I knew how to do, supplemented that with items I knew I could learn quickly and then joined forces with an expert for the items I had no idea how to do. It makes much better business sense to sub out for services you might never really need to do again. Another incredible resource for internet security knowledge is: Security Now! located at www.GRC.com

you will find a ton of very in depth information there that will help you to better understand what is going on in the world of internet security. I can listen to one podcast a week and stay up to date on all security issues in the hour I drive into work. Like everything these days it all comes down to time and making the best use of it, and I ma sure all small business owners reading this can relate.

So in the end I have seen just about all the user issues I can stand and I have worked on everything from my own machines to company machines to servers. With all this I have made allot of mistakes and thus learned allot of lessons, so hopefully this multi-part series will help you to better understand what needs to be done to try to prevent both identity theft on the net and also how to deal with some of the hardware and software problems we are exposed to daily.

The Series will somewhat follow the below topics but might not be presented in the order below:

• Identity Theft
• Preventing Identity Theft
• Email – Spam and Nightmares!
• Viruses and Spyware! – What should I do?
• How do I stay secure on the internet?
• What is a good backup solution?

As I write the above articles I am sure I will be revising and adding to this short list of topics, but if you have specifics you want to hear more about please let me know by commenting or via email…

I believe giving a child a fully loaded cell phone is the worst decision a parent can make. A plain cell phone with limited minutes or a pre-paid cell phone “just for emergencies” is fine but kids don’t use the phones of today “just for emergencies”. Parents buy their kids phones that enable the kids to access everything the parents may ban at home. Here are just a few examples of what kids are doing with their cell phones:

Sending explicit photos of themselves or messages to their friends.

Sending threats or rumors to others that usually end up in a fight.

Filming fights at school or gang fights and posting them on the internet site called youtube or myspace.

Disobeying school rules by sending text messages to each other across the room, campus, or even across town.

Causing automobile accidents by trying to read or send text messages while driving.

Notify each other of where the party will be, who has drugs for sale, where to meet when they sneak out, all without parent’s knowledge.

Text to each other late at night without parent’s knowledge that the child is even awake.

Access the internet and inappropriate web sites including porn sites.

Read the whole article by clicking below:

Filming each other breaking the law or doing dangerous stunts.

These are just a few! I’m shocked to see some of the photos and text messaging on kid’s phones nowadays, especially at the Junior High level. Things a parent would be shocked over too.

Why does your child really need a camera in their phone?

Why does your child really need a phone that they can type messages on?

Why does your child need unlimited minutes and text messaging?

Why does your child need a phone that takes movies?

Why does your child need a phone where they can access the internet without supervision?

We didn’t need these things when we were growing up, why do kids of today need phones that fancy?

How about a bare plain cell phone with a limited amount of minutes? Afraid of going over the minutes? Then get your child a pre-paid cell phone. You purchase minutes from local convenience stores or on-line and when the minutes are gone, the phone wont work except for dialing 911. For emergencies, that’s all they need!

That way your kids can still have a phone in case of an emergency but can’t do inappropriate things with it or rack up huge bills.

If you still want your kids to have a fully loaded phone that does everything, at least monitor your kid’s phones. Learn how the phones work and access your kids phones to see what pictures are there, what messages are stored, what they are accessing on their phone. Closely look at the phone bill to see who they are calling or texting, what internet sites they are visiting. You’ll be amazed what some of these kids are doing. Go to your service provider and they will show you how to access the menu and features in your child’s phone. You might be surprised or even shocked at what you find.

You can also get phones with GPS now. You can go on the computer and see exactly where your child is (or at least where their phone is). I wish they had that feature when my kids were growing up.

If you have a mature child that acts responsible with a cell phone, great. But I see too many young kids using cell phones for the wrong reasons.

Nowadays it’s too easy for kids to lie about where they are, what they are doing or who they are with.

How about going back to sending your kid out the door with a pocketful of quarters and telling them to check in every hour?

The last thing we need is to give our kids the opportunity to be able to do things while they are away from home that they are not allowed to do at home. And by giving a child a fully loaded full feature cell phone, that’s exactly what you are doing.

Aside from the gangs for a moment, there are taggers. Taggers may work alone or in a group at times, but they usually are not confined to a particular area, and usually are not associated with the same kind of street violence that the street gangs are known for. Near my area, there was a group of “taggers” working the area. This type of “graffiti artist” usually is just that, graffiti artist. Usually not associated with a street gang, the taggers usually just spray pictures or spray their moniker names in as many places as they can, usually just for recognition. The ones near my area used a train barrier wall to display their pictures. One thing that I’ve noticed is that some of these taggers are actually pretty good. If they replaced the spray cans and concrete walls with paintbrushes and paper, they could probably earn a living doing the same thing that most call vandalism now. It takes millions of dollars each year to cover the graffiti now displayed almost everywhere you look. I have passed by a location several times in a night while on patrol without seeing anything suspicious, but when first light hits in the morning, the same area is covered with graffiti. Although taggers are usually annoying and bothersome, they are usually harmless, not wishing to become involved in the violence associated with the street gangs.

Street gang graffiti is the graffiti to be very concerned about. I’m sure you’ve driven down a road and saw some writing on a wall, overpass, building, and not thought much about it. What you saw, probably meant nothing to you. But that may have been a threat of impending death to a rival gang. A slap in the face is for a rival gang to come into an area and cross out or deface a rival gangs graffiti, replacing it with their own symbols. In my area, the biggest gangs are Nortenos and Surrenos. These are usually identified as Norte and Sur, or XIV and XIII painted on the side of fences, garages, houses, etc. There are a lot of small gangs which have formed using their own gang name, usually reflecting the area or location where they live, but they are almost all in alliance with one of the above sects. The most common colors for the gangs are red or blue. I have seen innocent people shot for simply unknowingly wearing red or blue in a rival gang’s area. A lot of gangs have become aware of increased penalties for gang association, and some have gone to wearing neutral colors. But they wear the red or blue underneath the neutral colors, and most carry a bandanna with their color of choice in a pocket, able to be quickly displayed when needed. It doesn’t take long for a quiet, peaceful neighborhood to turn into a loud, noisy, and dangerous place to live with gangs, comes drugs, noise, graffiti, and gunfire. It is common to go into a gang infested area and see graffiti covering almost everything, bullet holes in houses, cars, and people afraid to come out of their houses. The scary part is seeing children playing in the same area. Unfortunately, gang members have children too, raising them in this dangerous situation. How did it get this way? People would rather hide in their homes instead of getting involved in neighborhood watch groups, getting police assistance, and rallying together to rid the neighborhood of the problem. You cannot do it alone, and the police cannot do it alone. But together, a gang infested neighborhood can be cleaned up. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.

Chances are that you live in a nice, quiet neighborhood without a gang problem. But it could change, wherever you live. A gang or gang member is probably living a lot closer to you than you think. Maybe right next door. And it doesn’t take much for the gang to start hanging out at a particular member’s house.

The first thing you might notice is increased traffic, cars, and people to a particular house. Then you might start seeing graffiti in the area. Usually a gang banger wont tag their own house, but they will tag the area. Walls, fences, even the street or sidewalk. (Although I did see a group of wanna be’s tag their own house. Might as well paint a target on it since it was shot up within 2 days).

Here are a few tips if you suspect gang activity in your area. (If gang activity is already heavily established in your area, it is harder, but not impossible, to get rid of).

· Don’t ignore a problem. A problem will get bigger if ignored. If allowed to “hang out”, a gang will quickly claim the area as their turf. It won’t be long before graffiti covers everything and gunshots ring out. If you see people starting to hang out at a location, drinking, gambling, and even illegally parking call the police. You can remain anonymous, and if the problem people get “harassed” by the police enough, they will leave for another location where everyone looks away and allows them to terrorize the neighborhood.

· Dont be intimidated. Gangs work on intimidation and violence. In most areas, people are afraid to stand up to the gangs. I have been to the scene of a shooting where 40-50 people witnessed the shooting, but not one will talk to the police. (Some will come to the police station or call in a tip anonymously later). This intimidation is what fuels a gang and gang activity. By no means should you stand up to a gang physically; you do it through the police and as a neighborhood group. A gang will not remain in an area if their intimidation does not work, where they are constantly reported, where they can be driven out.

· Call your local police department. In this day and age, almost every police department has a gang task force, or at least a gang expert. Talk to the gang unit; tell them of your observations, any graffiti you see forming. They are the experts in your area, and they can tell you if this might be a kid playing with a spray can, or if it is a serious problem forming that they need to be aware of. Gangs forming in an area are like a health problem. If it is caught early enough, it can be solved rather easily. If allowed to grow and fester, it is harder to get rid of.

· If you see graffiti, report it immediately to the owner of the property, the police, or your local code-enforcement division if you have one in your city. If allowed to stay, it invites more graffiti, rival gangs coming in to tag their names, and a turf war erupts. The police know this and they dont want gangs infesting neighborhoods either.

I used to live next door to a painter. A nearby concrete wall became the “billboard” for a local gang that formed, and they tagged it daily. My painter neighbors wife took all his scrap paint, and every morning she would go to the wall and paint over all the graffiti. The next morning, more graffiti. Off she went again with a brush and bucket of paint. Eventually, the gang got tired of having their tags painted over, and they went somewhere else. I dont recommend standing up to gangs like my neighbor did, because it could be dangerous, but this shows how determination and persistence drove away a gang. And this was just one woman. Imagine what an entire neighborhood joined with a police force could do. The gang may not go far, but the more resistance they meet, the more likely it is that they will leave. If your block succeeds in driving out a gang, but the next block down ignores the problem and lets it form, it is still a problem for you. Bullets travel miles.

· Be persistent, slumlords can be held responsible for owing a problem house (gang or drug house). I have seen neighbors get together and sue a landlord (and win) for allowing a problem to exist in a rental property. Property ownership is public record, and a strong neighborhood watch group can easily find out the owner of a problem rental house. Chances are, the owner may not even know a problem exist. And if a landlord does know of a problem, and ignores it, he can be sued. Most would rather evict a problem tenant than to be sued by a whole neighborhood.

· If a gang is formed in your area, chances are that you hear a lot of gunfire. A simple handsign from a passing car can erupt in a gunfight. Be a good witness. Dont put yourself in danger, but if you witness gang activity, a drive-by shooting, even just a gangbanger shooting a gun in the air, call the police. You can remain anonymous. Give a good description of the shooter, where the gun is, (a garbage can, waistband, on a girlfriend, etc.) so the police can protect themselves and apprehend the suspect. Guns are kept in bushes, garbage cans, and mailboxes. Innocent children can find these and a tragedy occurs.

This only scratches the surface regarding gangs or graffiti, and there are many good books out which go into detail about gangs. But this article is just to give you an insight into how gangs become established and what you can do to prevent it. With support from neighbors, the police, and persistence, you can live in a quiet gang free neighborhood.

Should a family be allowed to have a firearm in the home for protection? Yes.

Should that family have proper training before being allowed to possess a firearm? Yes.

Should that family take EVERY step possible to avoid accidents in the home? YES!

AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!

Read the text on illegal weapons. Sometimes I scratch my head over the laws we enforce. They just don’t make any sense. You can have a police type baton or club in your car, and you are guilty of a FELONY charge. You drive around with a loaded firearm under the seat of your car, and you’re guilty of a slap on the wrist MISDEMEANOR charge. What’s the logic here? Let me remind you that the caliber of person we stop with guns under the seat, are those who have usually been bed and breakfast residents of the local county jail or state prison.

You tell me if this disgust you. While I was assigned to my departments felony arrest team, several of us went to a reputable gun dealer in the bay area, because our department had just authorized us to carry semi-automatic pistols. Although we had to buy our own, they were a great improvement over the antique revolvers we had been issued in the academy.

We were in the store and I saw 4 of our local gang bangers also in the store. Buying guns! They looked at us and just smiled. 2 of these subjects were suspects in numerous gang murders that happened in our district, but investigators were still putting the pieces together. How could these low lives be buying guns you ask? No valid driver’s licenses or identification, no legitimate address, no employer, no proof of validity to life at all.

But the 3 girls that they had met at a party last week had agreed to buy the guns for the guys, in exchange for money or dope. 3 girls who had not yet been introduced into the criminal justice system. 3 girls who had I.D and addresses, (with mommy and daddy) that could be verified. But mommy and daddy would never know because technically these girls were of legal age.

This goes on everyday. Everywhere! It is too easy to buy guns. The laws are too lenient in regards to possessing and transporting guns. PERIOD.

If you do not think this is a problem that’s cool. You’ll get no lectures from me.

But when you see on the news about the drive-by shooting that happened in your area tonight, where a young child was innocently gunned down. Or if you can envision your wife or girlfriend being the victim of the real life tragedy that occurred near my home around Christmas time, then think again. (Re-read our intro regarding that freeway off-ramp murder!)

Every action has a reaction. Change the action, then you’ll change the reaction.

Our Lawmakers have to be made aware that these laws MUST BE greatly increased in Severity.

Get involved and voice your opinion. It’s your society. Unless of course you think it’s ok for murderers to be buying guns fraudulently in public. I’m hoping that you’ll agree with us, THAT IT’S NOT OK!

JL

So the email you might get that looks like spam first – then the backup…

D U S T I N G

First, I’m going to tell you a little about me and my family. My name is Jeff. I am a Police Officer for a city which is known nationwide for its crime rate. We have a lot of gangs and drugs. At one point we were #2 in the nation in homicides per capita. I also have a police K-9 named Thor. He was certified in drugs and general duty. He retired at 3 years old because he was shot in the line of duty. He lives with us now and I still train with him because he likes it. I always liked the fact that there was no way to bring drugs into my house. Thor wouldn’t allow it. He would tell on you. The reason I say this is so you understand that I know about drugs.

I have taught in schools about drugs. My wife asks all our kids at least once a week if they used any drugs. Makes them promise they won’t.

I like building computers occasionally and started building a new one in February 2005. I also was working on some of my older computers. They were full of dust so on one of my trips to the computer store I bought a 3 pack of DUST OFF. Dust Off is a can of compressed air used to blow dust off a computer. A few weeks later when I went to use one of them they were all used. I talked to my kids and my two sons both said they had used them on their computer and messing around with them. I yelled at them for wasting the 10 dollars I paid for them.

On February 28 I went back to the computer store. They didn’t have the 3 pack which I had bought on sale so I bought a single jumbo can of Dust Off.  I went home and set it down beside my computer. On March 1st, I left for work at 10 PM. Just before midnight my wife went down and kissed Kyle goodnight. At 5:30 am the next morning Kathy went downstairs to wake Kyle for school, before she left for work. He was propped up in bed with his legs crossed and his head leaning over. She called to him a few times to get up. He didn’t move. He would sometimes tease her like this and pretend he fell back asleep. He was never easy to get up. She went in and shook his arm. He fell over. He was pale white and had the straw from the Dust Off can coming out of his mouth. He had the new can of Dust Off in his hands.  Kyle was dead.

I am a police officer and I had never heard of this. My wife is a nurse and she had never heard of this. We later found out from the coroner, after the autopsy, that only the propellant from the can of Dust off was in his system. No other drugs. Kyle had died between midnight and 1 AM. I found out that using Dust Off is being done mostly by kids ages 9 through 15.  They even have a name for it. It’s called dusting. A take off from the Dust Off name. It gives them a slight high for about 10 seconds. It makes them dizzy. A boy who lives down the street from us showed Kyle how to do this about a month before. Kyle showed his best friend. Told him it was cool and it couldn’t hurt you. It’s just compressed air. It can’t hurt you. His best friend said no. Kyle was wrong. It’s not just compressed air. It also contains a propellant called R2. It’s a refrigerant used in your refrigerator. It is a heavy gas, heavier than air. When you inhale it, it fills your lungs and keeps the good air, with oxygen, out that’s why you feel dizzy, buzzed. It decreases the oxygen to your brain and to your heart. Kyle was right. It can’t hurt you. IT KILLS YOU!

The horrible part about this is there is no warning. There is no level that kills you. It’s not cumulative or an overdose; it can just go randomly, terribly wrong. Roll the dice and if your number comes up you die. IT’S NOT AN OVERDOSE. It’s Russian Roulette. You don’t die later. Or not feel good and say I’ve had too much. You usually die as you’re breathing it in, if not you die within 2 seconds of finishing “the hit.” That’s why the straw was still in Kyle’s mouth when he died. Why his eyes were still open.

The experts want to call this huffing. The kids don’t believe its huffing. As adults we tend to lump many things together. But it doesn’t fit here.  And that’s why it’s more accepted. There is no chemical reaction, no strong odor. It doesn’t follow the huffing signals. Kyle complained a few days before he died of his tongue hurting. It probably did. The propellant causes frostbite. If I had only known. It’s easy to say hey, it’s my life and I’ll do what I want. But it isn’t. Others are always affected. This has forever changed our family’s life. I have a hole in my heart and soul that can never be fixed. The pain is so immense I can’t describe it. There’s nowhere to run from it. I cry all the time and I don’t ever cry. I do what I’m supposed to do but I don’t really care. My kids are messed up. One won’t talk about it. The other will only sleep in our room at night. And my wife, I can’t even describe how bad she is taking this. I thought we were safe because of Thor. I thought we were safe because we knew about drugs and talked to our kids about them.

After Kyle died another story came out. A probation Officer went to the school system next to ours to speak with a student. While there he found a student using Dust Off in the bathroom. This student told him about another student who also had some in his locker. This is a rather affluent school system. They will tell you they don’t have a drug problem there. They don’t even have a dare or plus program there. So rather than tell everyone about this “new” way of getting high they found, they hid it.

The probation officer told the media after Kyle’s death and they, the school, then admitted to it. I know that if they would have told the media and I had heard, it wouldn’t have been in my house. We need to get this out of our homes and school computer labs. Using Dust Off isn’t new and some “professionals” do know about. It just isn’t talked about much, except by the kids. They all seem to know about it.

April 2nd was 1 month since Kyle died. April 5th would have been his 15^th birthday. And every weekday I catch myself sitting on the living room couch at 2:30 in the afternoon and waiting to see him get off the bus. I know Kyle is in heaven but I can’t help but wonder if I died and went to Hell.

This Officer is asking for EVERYONE who receives this email to forward it to everyone in their address book, even Law Enforcement Officers. Even if you do not have children, you can still forward this to friends & family who do.

Now here is the backup:

Snopes.com has an entire back story to this to validate the information here is the link:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/dustoff.asp

_____________________________________________________

Two men learned the hard way in Antioch and ended up being arrested, police said today.

James Ayers, 26, of Bethel Island and Frederick Guilliee, 38, of Antioch broke into a vacant building at 1700 West Fourth St. about 6 p.m. Tuesday in hopes of stealing copper wiring, police said.

They had no idea that the Antioch police K-9 unit was due for a training session at the building, which once housed a cardboard-processing plant.

And at first, the police had no idea that the burglary suspects were inside.

As part of the training, an officer hid inside the 40,000-square-foot building. A K-9 officer then called out that a dog was about to be released and that anyone inside should immediately give up or risk getting bitten.

That’s when Ayers surrendered, police said.

K-9 officers then searched the building and found Guilliee, police said.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of commercial burglary.

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.

Attitude and Alcohol…

It was Cinco De Mayo over the weekend, and I saw more fights than if I had ordered a weekend special from pay-per-view…

Went to a noise call which ended up being a juvenile drinking party. While Mom’s away up in Napa for the weekend, her 15 year old “responsible” daughter decides to have a party. (Wasn’t quite what she had told Mom in regards to how “she’d be staying at a girlfriend’s house”)

While we were responding to the call, the neighbor called back to say it looked like a group of male subjects were getting ready to fight in front of the house.

When I pulled onto the street, the cowardly 6 or 7 drunken idiots who had ganged up on one guy, scurried away into the darkness like scared little rabbits. 7 against 1 – now that’s pretty classy.

The 19 year old kid with his ribs and face kicked in was so drunk he couldn’t feel a thing.
God help him the next morning because he’ll be feeling it then…

Inside the house, we found 14, 15, and 16 year old girls passed out in various stages of being intoxicated, and waiting around like vultures we found 18, 19, 22, 24, year old guys, as well as a 34 year old guy trying to hide under a table when we entered the house.

I looked around the room at the group of losers and saw an 18 year old we had arrested a month ago for stabbing someone else. Dude, I thought you were in jail for attempted murder? His sheepish reply….. “I’m out on bail” (Great system we have)

Another 20 year old sitting on the couch had been arrested in the past for rape of a minor.

The 24 year old who fled is a well known drug dealer and burglar in the area who loves to fight and hang out with the high school crowd.

The 34 year old hiding under the table like he was a high school kid?
“Uh ya, well I, uh, well I was just here picking up my brother….”

Nice guest list Buffy!

But of course when we attempted to call Mom to let her know what was going on…
All we got was voice mail. Buffy didn’t know the name of the hotel Mom was staying at.
Mom hadn’t notified her neighbors as to where she would be staying in case of emergency. There were no family members there to keep watch over a 15 year old girl who suddenly decided she was grown up enough to have a party.

The parents of the drunk juvenile girls weren’t too happy when we called them to the house to pick up their offspring. Hey who knows, some of these parents might become grandparents in 9 months time… And the proud father will be a 24 year old unemployed drug dealing loser who likes to party with 15 year old girls. Nice!

Many kids of today haven’t got anything going in life, but they got plenty of hate and attitude! 7 guys against 1, brutally kicking a guy in the face and ribs whose down on the ground.

Attitude and alcohol – nice mix!

We go to another party call because the neighbors are tired of the yelling, swearing, and skidding tires in front of their houses. Oh yeah, they didn’t appreciate the groups of male juveniles urinating on their lawns either. A neighbor asked one of the kids to stop urinating on his lawn and the overly confident 18 year old threatened to get a gun and shoot up the house.

The attitude quickly went away when he was wearing handcuffs getting stuffed into a patrol car. You want to play Barney Bad Ass junior? Well come on, lets play!
Now you’re under arrest for public intoxication, and even better, the felony of making criminal threats to another.

5 minutes ago you had 3 dollars in loose change in your pocket that you stole out of your little sister’s coin jar at home, but now you get to call Mommy and Daddy from the big people’s jail and tell them how your bail is $75,000.

If junior had kept his mouth shut and showed a little respect to the homeowner, he never would have gotten into the situation of getting arrested – but junior wasn’t smarter than a 5th grader, and when he starts filling out job applications so he can pay back Mommy and Daddy for bailing him out of jail, he’ll have to remember to check the little box that says “Have you ever been arrested – please explain”.

We’re sorry junior, we discovered you’ve been arrested in the past for a felony charge, and we can’t hire anyone with a felony conviction – so please

GET THE HELL OUT OF OUR OFFICE!

Attitude and Alcohol – Nice mix!

The kid hosting the party?
A nice 17 year old young man – dripping with attitude!
Where’s your parents?
They’re away?
Did they know you were having a party?
No.
How can I get a hold of them?
I don’t know, I don’t know where they’re at.
What if there was an emergency?
I dunno, like what?
You have a trash bag?
Yeah, why?

Cuz you have 5 minutes to get the street cleaned up of all the broken bottles and red plastic cups or you’re going to be figuring out what Mommy and Daddy’s phone number is from juvenile hall.

I grew up in Oakland California. If I ever showed any disrespect to an officer, not only would the officer kick my ass, but my Dad would do it all over again after the officer took me home! I learned at a young age to respect the cops, the firemen, and the paramedics who are out there to keep the rest of us safe.

But in this day and age?

What’s being taught to these youngsters dripping with attitude?
I left a phone message for junior’s Mom and Dad to call me upon their return so I could discuss the party their son had while they were away. They never called. Guess it wasn’t important enough to be bothered with.

I drove past the house a week later and saw Mommy and Daddy’s car at the house so I stopped in to talk to them. Mom came to the door drunk as a skunk – nice!

So glad to see it runs in the family!

Another nearby police agency called for mutual aid because a large fight was taking place inside and outside a popular nightclub. Some drunk dude throws a punch at another drunk dude, and all of a sudden every drunk dude in the place has to show how tough they are by getting into a fight not even involving them. And then when the cops get there, the cops become the target of everyone’s drunken hostility….but in the end, the cops aren’t there to lose and order is quickly restored.

Man, what a cool way to end Cinco De Mayo… sobering up in a smelly room, with a bunch of other smelly drunks at the county jail… You take your girlfriend out for a nice night to be with friends, have a couple drinks, listen to some music, and the night ends up in the toilet because you can’t handle your alcohol, and you have way too much attitude to mix with it… Nice!

But don’t worry about your girlfriend. As you were being driven off to jail in the police car, she was the one the bar staff was leading out of the bar because she could barely walk… She was the one with her arms around the 5 gallon bucket that she was puking into. Yes, someone’s parents are very proud!

Attitude and alcohol – Nice mix!

At least in my area, we don’t have shootings on a regular basis although they are becoming much more frequent. Watch the evening news. Read the newspapers.
Nightclub shooting leaves 3 dead and 9 injured. Don’t think attitude and alcohol doesn’t cause these.

Stupid 1 says something that makes Stupid 2 angry, and Stupid 2 runs out to his car in the parking lot to get his 9mm manhood. Stupid 2 shoots blindly at Stupid 1, but of course misses and hits 12 other innocent people. Stupid 2 then finds himself wearing a spiffy little blue jumpsuit for the rest of his life after he gets sentenced to life in prison…

And for what I ask?

Attitude and Alcohol – nice mix!

Guy with a 2 year old being kept up by loud music and swearing from a backyard party at 2am, drives around to the party house to ask the homeowner if they can lower the music because of the late hour. The guy is instantly surrounded by 10 drunk people from the party who literally chase him out onto the street. When he tries to get into his car to leave, someone throws a bottle from across the street which hits the guys in his jaw.

As he tries to drive away, the attitude and alcohol kicks the mob mentality trait into high gear, and the subjects began punching and kicking every inch of the car to the point where all the windows were smashed out.

The guy hosting the party jumped up onto the hood of the car and began stomping out the windshield. 26 years old, 5-9, and 135 lbs. Yes, that’s 135 lbs. A real brute!
I’m thinking if this little scrawny 135 wimp was by himself, he wouldn’t have attacked his “neighbor” simply for asking for the music to be turned down.
But attitude, alcohol, and 9 dumb ass friends? Nice Mix!

Know what the sad thing is?
I used to enjoy an ice cold beer. I used to enjoy a cold margarita.
I used to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I used to enjoy going out to nightclubs every now and then to hang out, meet new people, and listen to some good bands.

But now whenever I feel like having an occasional drink, all I can think of is all the drunk losers I run into during my shifts at work. Juveniles and adults alike… You can have it!
I’ll stick with my venti non fat iced lattes, but here’s some free friendly advice.

If you can’t drink alcohol responsibly – then don’t drink.
If you go to a night club and see trouble brewing – leave.
If a fight breaks out nearby – stay out of it and leave.
If you’re a designated driver – don’t drink!
If you’re drinking and driving – you’re an idiot and I can’t wait to meet you.

If you have teens at home and you leave for the weekend without them, don’t leave them unsupervised at home. You might have the greatest kids in the world, but their friends may not be as responsible or trustworthy, and more often than not, it’s the “friends” who will influence good kids into making poor decisions.

Leave contact information with the neighbors, and tell them to call you, or the police, at the first signs of anything unusual taking place.
If you’re going to have responsible kids, you have to show them you’re responsible parents. Don’t leave them unsupervised with no way of you being contacted!

To all the great parents out there with great kids who know more about love and trust than how much orange juice to pour in with Meyers Rum…. God bless you!
My frustration isn’t directed at you.
But to those of you with Attitude and Alcohol on the brain?
See you soon!
Attitude and Alcohol – Nice Mix!
Can’t wait for next years 5th of May celebrations!

JL