National News & Announcements
Verizon Supports FCC Chairman’s Call for National, Interoperable Public Safety Network
March 10, 2010 | National News
Tauke Reiterates Call for Reallocation of 700 MHz ‘D block’ to Public SafetyWASHINGTON – Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president for public affairs, policy and communications, issued the following statement on Tuesday (March 9) about a policy matter likely to be addressed in the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan due to Congress on March 17:
Should campus threat assessments be private?
March 7, 2010 | Virginia News
By Brian McNeill The Daily ProgressThe House and Senate have approved competing versions of a bill that differ on whether the public has a right to see the records of campus threat assessment teams in the aftermath of a tragedy such as the Virginia Tech massacre.
Both versions allow the threat assessment teams — which include law enforcement, university administration, mental health providers, residence life representatives and others — to discuss internally the criminal and mental health records of someone deemed a possible threat to campus safety.
Despite fatal crashes, seat belts don’t click with all police
March 5, 2010 | National News
There's an open secret about seat belts at police departments. Many officers killed in line-of-duty car crashes aren't wearing them.Dozens of officers across the country have died in crashes while not wearing seat belts in recent years — at least 64 between 2004 and 2008 alone, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data analyzed for the Houston Chronicle. About 40 percent of officers killed in wrecks during that time period weren't buckled up, the analysis showed.
“The average police officer thinks most cops get killed by felons, and that's not true. Cops are getting killed in traffic accidents,” said Richard Ashton, who studies traffic safety for the International Association of Chiefs of Police. “Officers don't think it can happen to them.”
NCIS does Hampton Roads … for better or worse
March 5, 2010 | Virginia News
"NCIS," the long-running CBS crime drama, has been pretending to visit Hampton Roads for seven years.The show's success can't be denied; its accuracy in portraying this region and its Naval Criminal Investigative Service is a little less solid.
Although the series is set in Washington and story lines regularly bring its characters to the Hampton Roads area, "NCIS" is shot throughout southern California. Sometimes it looks it, executive producer Shane Brennan concedes, but he says the show does rather well, all things considered.
Police officer judgment key in high-stress incidents
March 5, 2010 | VACP
It's the moment that police officers are trained to look out for every day of their careers, but never want to carry out — using deadly force.While police academies across the country teach officers how to respond to stressful situations like shootings, standoffs and high-speed chases, experts say an officer's judgment is what comes into play when he or she is forced to react.
"These are decisions that are made in a nanosecond," said Dana Schrad, executive director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
Making the Most of Social Media: 7 Lessons From Successful Cities
March 4, 2010 | National News
The Fels Institute of Government of the University of Pennsylvania has released a report on their study of the use of social media by local government entities.Ten of the 79 cities/towns surveyed for the study were from Virginia and three of the 21 follow-up interviews were done with representatives from Virginia cities — Alexandria, Richmond, and Virginia Beach. Particular attention was given to the Richmond Police Department's use of social media. This study is the third in a series of Fels "Promising Practices" publications.
Newport News officer wounded, suspect killed in shooting
March 4, 2010 | Virginia News
NEWPORT NEWS -- Newport News police are investigating the death of a suspect and the wounding of an officer.Police say three officers were approaching a suspicious vehicle at an apartment complex late last night when shots were fired from inside the vehicle. One officer was shot in a leg and in his protective vest.
Unpleasant, necessary preparation
March 4, 2010 | Virginia News
At 1:02 Friday afternoon, shots rang out in the front foyer of Orange County High School. Within seconds, three students lay gravely injured. A fourth victim, a teacher, lay screaming and crying in the hallway, begging for help. Another teacher lay sprawled around the corner. Shell casings littered the hallway around her.Five minutes later, Orange County officers were pounding through the hallways, securing the area as shots rang out on the second floor above. Across town at the Taylor Education Administration Complex, superintendent Dr. Bob Grimesey made the call alerting school officials that there was a “live” shooter at the school.
Thankfully, what happened at Orange County High School on Friday was just a simulation drill. However, the above situation has been an unfortunate reality throughout the nation, forever changing the lives of the students, teachers and community members affected. It is because of this reality that Orange County law enforcement officials decided to hold an active shooter drill and hostage negotiation drill at Orange County High School on Friday.
Two troopers, others hurt in multi-car crash on I-64 in Hampton
March 3, 2010 | Virginia News
Local police are responding to a multi-car crash on eastbound Interstate 64 near Settler's Landing Road that occurred while police were chasing burglary suspects.The crash has caused a number of injuries and included more than one state patrol car, one of which is now precariously balanced over the guard rail.
Gretna students receive lesson in driving safety
March 3, 2010 | Virginia News
On Feb. 18, a figure dressed in black from head to toe walked the halls of Gretna High School. Carrying a scythe, Amber Moser, who portrayed the grim reaper, "claimed" 25 of the 650 students at Gretna.The Grim Reaper Day was sponsored by the school's Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) organization in an effort to promote car safety.
"I hope this helps people decide not to drink and drive, not to speed and to wear their seat belts," Moser, the organization's president, said. "Hopefully what we are doing is making them see the reality of unsafe driving."
