News & Announcements
Tasers not heart risk, study finds
January 15, 2009 | National News
Long considered controversial and possibly deadly, police stun guns received a clean bill of health from a medical study released today by the Annals of Emergency Medicine.The three-year study found no links between the 50,000-volt weapons and fatal heart attacks.
Supreme Court says evidence is valid despite police error
January 15, 2009 | National News
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press WriterWASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court said Wednesday that evidence obtained after illegal searches or arrests based on simple police mistakes may be used to prosecute criminal defendants.
The justices split 5-4 along ideological lines to apply new limits to the court's so-called exclusionary rule, which generally requires evidence to be suppressed if it results from a violation of a suspect's Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches or seizure.
Police have to cut cell phones
January 15, 2009 | Virginia News
HOPEWELL — Hopewell police officers recently had to exchange their cell phones for old fashioned pagers.An Internal Revenue Service investigation of the city found that some police officers used the phones to make personal calls while on duty — calls that would be subject to taxation. The IRS also demanded that officers keep exact logs of all their calls, incoming and outgoing.
“Our officers don’t really make personal calls, except to maybe let their wives know that they may be coming home late,” Police Chief Steven D. Martin said. “But the IRS considers those calls personal and they are taxable.”
FOIA Council recommends weapons legislation
January 14, 2009 | Virginia News
The Freedom of Information Advisory Council recommended legislation yesterday that would prevent the public from getting the names of concealed weapons permit holders from the Virginia State Police. The public could continue to get names from local Circuit Courts.The proposed legislation stems from a controversy in 2007 in which The Roanoke Times published on its Web site the names and addresses of 135,000 Virginia residents who have obtained court permission to carry concealed handguns.
Challenging Session Ahead in Va. General Assembly
January 13, 2009 | Virginia News
Budget-balancing — job number one of the 2009 General Assembly — could require something old (spending cuts), something new (higher taxes), something borrowed (debt-backed bonds) and something blue (Democrats).Time, money short in 2009, state leaders say
January 13, 2009 | Virginia News
The primary issues facing last year's General Assembly will lead the docket again this year, with two big differences: This year there's little money to address state concerns and less time to do it in.During even years, state legislators meet for a 60-day regular session and reconvene in April to follow up on unfinished business, mainly the state's biennial budget. Lawmakers met for two additional sessions in 2008 to address budget concerns and transportation needs.
Hickory, NC draws ex-chiefs
January 11, 2009 | National News
3 former police bosses from elsewhere retire in area and sometimes meet with city's chief.Hickory's mild winters and low crime rate are attracting a new breed of retirees – former police chiefs.
At least three retired chiefs call the Hickory area home, bringing with them almost a century of law enforcement experience. The three men, from Connecticut, Missouri and New York, have traded snow shovels for sweet tea and barbecue.
Controlling Costs: Fuel
January 6, 2009 | National News
By W. Dwayne Orrick, Director of Public Safety, Cordele, GeorgiaThe currently volatile world economy affects the United States as a whole, but it also has an impact on Main Street and local police budgets. Although controlling costs has always been a priority in police administration, the uncertainty of today’s economy, which likely will decrease tax revenues, has placed new requirements on agencies. A large part of the fuel costs incurred by local government comes from police departments. Adopting different policing procedures will assist in controlling these costs during times of economic crisis.
Achieving Communications Interoperability In Central Virginia: The COMLINC Project
January 6, 2009 | Virginia News
By Captain H. Wayne Duff Jr., Lynchburg Virginia, Police Department; and Gil Amendariz, Chairman, SyTech Corporation, Alexandria, VirginiaWhen experiencing an emergency situation, citizens expect their calls for service to be answered and handled in the most expeditious and professional manner possible. The general public does not worry if emergencies occur in overlapping jurisdictions; people simply want to know that their situation will be handled properly. This proper handling of emergencies must be a primary consideration when public safety leaders strategically plan how best to deliver service.
Portsmouth names new police chief, from Camden, N.J.
January 6, 2009 | Virginia News
The city manager announced the hiring of Edward G. Hargis as Portsmouth’s new police chief Monday night and described him as a “cop’s cop.”Hargis, who starts today , said he would bring his experience in one of the most violent cities in the United States to the Portsmouth position.
Hargis, 45, retired in September as interim police chief in Camden, N.J., where he worked for more than 20 years and started as a sworn officer. He began his law enforcement career as a civilian dispatcher in Cherry Hill, N.J.
