This section of articles provides handy information on a wide variety of current Legal topics and issues. In addition, some of the most famous lawsuits are explored and analyzed.
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Each year, toy companies pour billions into advertising campaigns to place products in front of store buyers, parents and kids. Unfortunately, the "dividends" from these investments often include competitors trying to ride on the coattails of their hot products-often by adopting similar names.
First let me say the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) serves a useful purpose, even though I rarely agree with their take on things.
Deliberately directing bullets at the head may not be politically correct, but the headshot has a specific tactical use.
It made the front page news in our small-town — population 11,000.
Whether done by sketch artist or computer, how accurate is it really?
A few days ago, someone set fire to a tree planted at the local high school in honor of our community's veterans.
Law enforcement copes with young people's use of popular energy drinks containing or combined with alcohol
Responding to an alarm at an elementary school, officers pull into the school's parking lot.
In the "Art of War," Sun Tzu says those "whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.
The answer is what has been dubbed by the media as the "Missouri Miracle" might have been called the "Missouri Nightmare" instead, with Owenby suffering the same fate as Hornbeck — becoming one of America's permanently missing.
The interplay of supply and demand has created a pricey situation for popular law enforcement ammunition across the country
Technology will help achieve the goal
Grant funding gives law enforcement the opportunity to cash in on groundbreaking technologies
There's a new sheriff in town and he's keeping an eye on your driving, my driving, and best of all, my teen's driving — at least if you're living in DeForest, Wisconsin.
Liquid explosives provide an easy means of terror. How does law enforcement detect, prevent and respond to this threat?
"We are sacrificing hometown security for homeland security.
The gun control movement has a face again — 32 of them in fact.
New material aids investigators in lifting trace evidence
There are hundreds of combinations of events that can take place during a traffic stop; the suspect can comply, passively resist, assault, run from the officer, etc.
When manufacturers first began attaching tactical lights to handguns, most experts immediately identified the holster paradox.
Emergency preparedness software gives first responders a better view of the rescue scene with new mapping technologies
After investigating a homicide for four years, Det.
What you really need to do is prevent something like this from happening," says Tom Turner, director of campus safety at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, of the April 16th Virginia Tech massacre.
Are your facilities and communications — including Web sites — accessible to people with disabilities?
Last month, the cover of our issue erroneously showcased a tactical officer with his finger on the trigger, instead of outside of it.
Police and rotating shifts
Everyone in law enforcement understands mobile data and the value of having access to mission-critical information in the field.
One of Minnesota's top cops looks back at the tragic I-35W Mississippi River Bridge Collapse
Deliberately directing bullets at the head may not be politically correct, but the headshot has a specific tactical use.
A woman is held against her will for nearly 36 hours by her common law husband.
Using public surveillance cameras to capture homicides and other crimes
Law enforcement conventions often are gatherings sponsored or convened by private businesses to benefit enforcement professionals.
Is this technological tool the next force multiplier?
Bloodstain pattern software continues to be a mainstay since 1989
Terrorists are spotted building a weapon of mass destruction in an abandoned airport hangar.
Knowing how to properly collect evidence of sexual assault crimes is important for any investigator
The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) covers an expansive geographic area that includes the communities of San Clemente, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santiago Canyon, Stanton, Lake Forest and Laguna Hills.
The changing face of forensic DNA analysis
Law enforcement is becoming more and more clued-in when it comes to both technology and getting the most out of private-sector relationships and nothing could be smarter.
It's a tough day on the job for a police chief when a critical piece of equipment goes missing.
A tactical training expert defines a plan for active shooter situations
A Body bunker basics Firearms tactics body bunker, often called a ballistic shield or ballistic blanket, is a handheld portable bullet-resistant shield designed to augment an officer's vest.
These are common scenarios that first responders encounter daily and that today require the use of creative communication techniques, all involving verbal exchange.
When there are no trees to hide behind, body bunkers provide tactical protection
Law enforcement taps into the Intranet's infinite possibilities
The police carbine is a tool which overlaps the capabilities of the handgun and long-range rifle.
It made the front page news in our small-town — population 11,000.
But without sound policy, comprehensive training and community outreach, departments may find themselves without them
How law enforcement can (and can't) prevent them
When Cory Pulsipher began working in law enforcement more than 20 years ago in Washington County, Utah, the main channel of communication for police and sheriffs was the two-way radio.
The human resources departments of law enforcement agencies go to great lengths to try and hire the best candidates.
Trends in armored vehicles reflect security concerns in a post-9/11 SWAT force
Checklists and logs for the crime scene photographer
Television viewers can tune to just about any episode of the reality show "Cops" and ride along as patrol officers cruise urban streets on routine police calls.
I've seen news stories in the past about cold case squads composed of retired law enforcement officers.
Manufacturers meet the growing demand for better women's body armor with new designs, new technology and a unique line of new products
Successfully linking law enforcement data between multiple agencies in South Carolina has become a reality, and a helpful one at that.
Unfit and unhealthy officers experience enormous problems.
The Los Angeles Regional Common Operational Picture Program employs technologies to improve off-site emergency operations communications
Michigan departments take technology on the road
Information culled by the NYPD's Real Time Crime Center gives detectives super investigative powers
Regional labs highlight Enforcement Expo video analysis presentation
In a house filled with teenagers, the Constitutional right to privacy need not apply.
Why does so little training exist for the most grim job in law enforcement?
It happened in Canada, when local media representatives got up in arms over a Vancouver police officer posing as a reporter in order to lure a suspect with outstanding warrants into position for arrest.
The tactical officer is a special breed of officer.
The KRISS Vector is to weapons what the M16 was to lever-action rifles.
Memphis police asked how an armed confrontation with a mentally ill individual might have been prevented, and found a unique answer
Enhanced analysis can help law enforcement be more proactive
Children are more vulnerable than ever to predatory grooming via portable multimedia devices
Imagine a subway bombing in a city lacking enough experienced cops to fight ordinary crime, much less terrorism.
In line with his thinking, this issue is chock full of examples to learn from and take home to your own department.
Time for my annual list of things you can do to improve your department.
The Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) was developed to enable federal, state and local justice and public safety agencies to exchange data in a common, replicable format.
Testing a firearm is a lot like getting to know someone.
At the end of every year, I close with a look at selected strategies for making your department both better to lead and more relevant to the community you serve.
The Law Enforcement National Data Exchange may revolutionize information sharing if it proves to be secure, accurate and sound
A big goal of Enforcement Expo, August 12 to 13 in Columbus, Ohio, is to provide expert training and timely discussion for professionals in the field.
Imagine law enforcement enjoying the education only hands-on experiences can offer, networking new ideas in the industry and previewing the possible technologies that could change, shape and revolutionize the future of law enforcement — and that was only last year.
CEDAP is a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
When firearms, protective vests, holsters, flashlights and safety equipment are in discussion, they catch attention.
I was at the park the other day with a friend and her 4-year-old daughter when a "bathroom emergency" arose.
Facial recognition technologies continue to improve in performance
Debuting in 1962, "The Jetsons" animated series was based on a vision of what life in the late 21st century may be like.
A novel means of print detection may be a golden opportunity to improve fingerprinting processes. Why is no one paying attention?
Tactical shooting is like musical chairs; where one is when the music stops is important.
How to train for the real deal
One of the most frustrating experiences for an officer is to lose access to critical information while on the job due to a dropped network signal.
The firearm-mounted laser has made tremendous improvements over time.
Criminal victimization has a widespread impact, requiring extra attention and effective response strategies by agencies
Whether done by sketch artist or computer, how accurate is it really?
The goal of pursuing excellence in a university setting is not uncommon.
Police K-9s really are something special
Flash-Ball is not something from those paintball weekends.
Piecing together the construction of soft body armor
But while celebrities try to steer clear of the SCRAM bracelet, the gadget is topping gotta-have-it lists for supervising authorities nationwide.
Tactics and techniques using contemporary low-light technology in diverse circumstances
A man drives hundreds of miles and parks his tractor in a pond.
Agencies are finding alternatives to the squad car can help them navigate the community
When Henry Montelongo found out he wasn't going to inherit his late father's fortune, he stormed out of the attorney's office.
Picking the right laser for the job
When Soon Kim, a Korean national working at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, disappeared during a boating trip on Lake Powell with his roommate in 1985, the subsequent investigation turned up more questions than answers — about both his life and death.
As the summer approaches, many parents are filled with dread.
Training officers to tackle hazmat emergencies
Where the past meets the future in police bike patrols
As community populations increase, agencies find creative ways to stretch budgets without compromising safety and security on the homefront
The assailant lurked in the shadows outside the Edenton, North Carolina, bingo hall for hours.
Grant funding and groundbreaking legislation help secure one of the nation's busiest seaports
Suarez made the leap from Marine to police work while taking college courses aboard the Marine Corps base where he was stationed.
Clark County Coroner's Office uses Web to put a name with a face
A look inside the document fraud business through the eyes of a counterfeiter
A recent conversation with Professor Ehud Keinan not only gave me much food for thought, but also made me look at the issue of improvised explosives in a completely different way.
The shotgun has long been a mainstay in the arsenal of U.
Marine patrol fleets use Rigid-hull Inflatable Boats (RIBs) versus traditional patrol boats for increased port safety
From local to federal levels, sharing efforts are improving, but more needs to be done
Deputies, officers, clerks and volunteers all seem to have the same two questions when it comes to law enforcement paperwork.
GIS used successfully with leading public safety software will continue to offer the speed and performance needed to respond when seconds matter.
The old cliché is to simply say, "A picture is worth a thousand words.
"In the movie "Mean Girls" the popular girls write disparaging remarks about other young women in what they call a "burn book.
Law enforcers go online with citizen sleuths to bring Internet predators to justice
Does a requirement for public safety video interoperability exist? According to first responders, the answer is 'yes.'
Clearing the muddy waters of drowning investigations
Law enforcement finds comfort with new climate-control apparel technology
The basics of homicidal poisoning investigations
It's better to carry a back-up weapon and not need it, than to not have one at all
Information exchanged through the Terrorist Screening Center raises the red flag on terror suspects
How agencies have made strides to get guns out of the hands of juveniles
Electronic learning tools make it easier for training managers
In college, there is a type of exam students jokingly refer to as the "multiple guess test.
The anthrax attacks of 2001 incited a movement to get microbial evidence accepted in courtrooms
In its fourth year of serving the law enforcement community, the national conference moves to Columbus, Ohio, August 12 to 13
Sheriff Rich Stanek to give keynote address at 2008 Enforcement Expo
The LAPD's new beanbag platform
Patrolling winter wonderlands
Modern helmets are more comfortable and used more regularly for day-to-day officer protection against today's better-armed criminals
Lidar is setting its aim on speed violators in congested traffic areas
"A Flock of Seagulls" once crooned, "You're trying to hide away from me, away from me.
Evidence collection has benefited greatly from lasers.
As the challenges facing public safety communications and emergency response professionals continue to grow, location intelligence technology empowers public safety professionals with the data and tools to make more informed decisions.
Officers find it takes more than a handgun, a badge and handcuffs to protect the public and themselves
Recent technological advances in voice recognition systems have shattered traditional associations with ineffective and often times frustrating automated prompts and customer relationship management technologies.
To better address these and other requirements, law enforcement professionals are working today with technology vendors to develop innovative tools.
Campus law enforcement can help bridge the divide between hate and tolerance
What the Hanover County Sheriff's Office learned from the D.C. sniper investigation
Over the past few years the growing antipathy between law enforcement and the media has turned into the 800-pound gorilla in the room.
The right tools, attitude and time help officers maximize a technology's potential
Outsourcing to private DNA laboratories may be the answer
Get smart about technology choices when mapping crash scenes
Virginia Tech incident puts emphasis on active shooter response
Keeping bullets in the chamber is important to stay in the fight.
Recently, television personality Nancy Grace, along with the rest of the national media, grabbed onto a story originating in the area where I live.
A revolutionary gun identification technology finds favor and foes
When it comes to evidence, complicated cases can certainly challenge the resources of small to mid-sized departments.
BMDTs and laptops: On the road to becoming standard issue in patrol vehicles
The Mobile Tactical Trainer provides a training environment that can replicate a variety of scanrios officers may encounter on the job.
Technology helps officers keep traffic moving in New York City
Prevention is needed to stop the deadly bacterial epidemic plaguing law enforcement
Tactical floor planning software helps agencies plan for emergency
Looking for solutions in all the right places
Storm devastation can't kill the creative spirit of the New Orleans Police Department
The ability to detect explosives from a distance is vital to protecting against terrorist threats.
The 2008 Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation helps law enforcement pick the right ride for the right mission
In sight of the goal line
Photographing crime scenes in poor lighting situations
Miami PD protects a diverse population by building trust
Forensic nursing offers law enforcement something much different than IVs and painkillers
New York City applies DHS funding to create the citywide mobile network NYCWiN
Uncovering clues with 3D diagramming
Individual officers can make a difference saving lives
When investigators examine a computer hard drive for child pornography, it can have more than 100,000 images.
Are brightly colored firearms putting officers in danger?
Taking on online prescription drug diversion
Intelligence sharing to combat illicit online pharmacies
Law enforcement officers must keep an invisible barrier between themselves and the outside world to protect their homes and loved ones.
2007 Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation helps departments pick the best ride for the job
A practical and cost-effective guide to building the ultimate crime scene photographer's toolkit
Mutual aid is an intergovernmental agreement to assist another agency during a disaster, civil unrest or incident that requires participation outside of the agency with original jurisdiction.
Steps that can save an officer's life
Do law enforcement officers worry more about their children? I think we do — and I also think it's tougher being a cop's kid than the child of someone in a more insular profession.
Recently, two Virginia police officers met violent deaths following a shoot-out with a young man who, by all accounts, was mentally deranged.
Solving cold case investigations without DNA evidence is not impossible
Law enforcement firearms training has always adhered to the "keep it simple" axiom.
As I write this column, the families of Virginia Tech students and faculty gunned down by an obviously disturbed young man are still reeling, while university and law enforcement officials sort through the puzzle, looking for answers.
More than just firearms and sports equipment, SHOT Show 2006 offered a smorgasbord of items for the technical investigator
Each year, toy companies pour billions into advertising campaigns to place products in front of store buyers, parents and kids. Unfortunately, the "dividends" from these investments often include competitors trying to ride on the coattails of their hot products-often by adopting similar names.
Innovative funding ideas keep metro Atlanta protected and prepared
Program trains detectives to help child victims find the words to describe their abuse
Understanding how a gunman thinks could help law enforcement prevent another shooting tragedy
Dozens of California police agencies have teamed with criminal justice-based unions and special interest groups to oppose legislation changing a state Supreme Court ruling barring public access to police disciplinary hearings.
RSAN and WAVES mass notification systems inform the public of impending harm
The most readily available firearm for the patrol officer is the handgun.
Facial recognition systems help officers make timely decisions
New intelligence network fosters information sharing among southwestern Pennsylvania departments
LET talks with an expert about the issues and advances in low-light training and technology
To resolve the manpower shortage will take quick and innovative thinking.
This Christmas we were unexpectedly detained for an extra day when Mother Nature dumped 12-plus inches of snow in northern Wisconsin.
Inside law enforcement recruiting efforts nationwide
LEDs are proving to be the bright spot in lightbar innovation
Time-saving software makes scheduling and managing time off no sweat
A police officer, alone, has a vehicle stopped by the side of the road late at night.
Mobility gives law enforcement command and control on scene
Getting a driver's attention today can be nearly impossible.
From the business world to government and public safety, hosted software solutions are changing the paradigm for how software is purchased and used.
Safety in America's schools — from truancy to sex crimes
I can't tell you the last time I read a book in two days straight, but that's what I just did.
Part of what makes these cases so difficult to prevent, detect and catch is that banks and retailers have little way of knowing that fraud has occurred until after a customer notifies them of an unauthorized withdrawal or an identity theft, which can be up to 60 days after the fact.
The first Segway PT (originally referred to as a Human Transporter, or HT) was unveiled in late 2001 and started hitting the market in 2002, raising quite a stir.
CCTV — when implemented and used properly — can be a force multiplier
Emergency notification systems and the confusion surrounding them
Read more on Shared info solves crimes ...
Records management and data sharing goes electronic
A report for the forensic and technical investigator
Interest in night vision gear and what it offers to law enforcement and civilian users has increased.
Prevailing wisdom has it that crowds can be unpredictable even under the best of circumstances.
No one can predict when the next hate crime will occur, but being informed can help law enforcement extinguish the terror in victims and communities throughout the nation
Far too often high-speed police chases end in a fiery crash, serious property damage or needless injuries to innocent bystanders, officers and suspects.
Today, officers wearing the new VIDMIC, a fully operational shoulder mic equipped with a video and audio recorder and a still camera, might say something similar to the suspects they encounter in the field.
DNA evidence puts law enforcement hot on the perpetrator's trail in high-volume serial crimes
Criminal justice agencies step up to the environmental plate
Vehicle ergonomics consists of more than equipment design — it involves the officer as well
Enforcement Expo speakers to detail the nuances of undercover Internet investigations and predator interviews/interrogations
Law enforcement officers almost have to be de facto criminologists.
Out of curiousity I recently searched online for the Top 10 New Year's resolutions.
Lessons from a task force
Is law enforcement ready?
It pays to be vigilant in the fight against antibiotic-resistant super bugs
Wanted for burglary, they were seen leaving the scene of a residential neighborhood where two daytime burglaries just occurred.
The synergy concept says the sum of any given combination is greater than the sum of its individual parts.
Manufacturers of floor planning software
How to keep news-hungry media fed
Industrialist Andrew Carnegie once said, "Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision.
An interview with Scott Barker
In the LAPD, high-tech gizmos are increasing efficiency and boosting the ranks
Living where I do, smack in the middle of the frozen North, I have a great appreciation for vehicles that will get me where I want to be, when I want to be there.
First let me say the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) serves a useful purpose, even though I rarely agree with their take on things.
Achieving optimum performance of detector dog teams and exploring tactics for survival in police canine
A look at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
In the mind of Lafourche Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff Craig Webre, law enforcement is a major player in this industry.
A precision shooter must be able to make a shot under any condition.
By Troy Lyons
Even though it happened more than six years ago, he remembers it as if it were yesterday.
Enforcement Expo aims to foster strong relationships between law enforcement and schools
I like to play a little game of what if's when I buy a lottery ticket.
Ahhhhhhhh, the life of a narcotics officer.
What happens to law enforcement if high-tech security systems fail?