Trooper’s totaled car to be part of Minnesota State Fair display
A Minnesota state trooper’s squad car totaled in a crash near Cloquet involving a suspected drunken driver has been taken to the Minnesota State Fair to be part of the Minnesota State Patrol exhibit.
The 2006 Chevrolet Impala was struck on the passenger’s side by a 1998 Subaru Legacy driven by Duluth dentist Timothy Langguth, 61, of Moose Lake.
State Trooper Erick Sjodin was parked in a median along Interstate 35 shortly before 12:30 a.m. Saturday looking for a suspected drunken driver when Langguth’s northbound car crossed the median and struck Sjodin’s car.
Sjodin, 31, was treated for minor injuries. Langguth remains in St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth recovering from injuries including a broken leg. Both cars were totaled.
The fair opened Thursday and runs through Labor Day. The squad car will be part of a special display Monday when troopers meet the public and their equipment is on display. The State Patrol placed the badly damaged squad car in the exhibit to show the dangers that troopers face and the impact of a collision like the one early Saturday, Sgt. Mark Baker said.
“Most state troopers can expect to have their vehicles struck once or twice during their careers,” Baker said. “But this is absolutely the worst crash I’ve ever seen.”
No charges have been filed against Langguth. Baker said the State Patrol and the Carlton County attorney’s office are awaiting results of blood tests, which could take up to two weeks.
HPD Uses Wireless Fingerprint Devices
Houston police have a new crime-fighting tool, KPRC Local 2 reported Wednesday.
The department is using the Blue Check Mobile Identification Device and the Mobile ID II device to check the true identities of potential criminals.
HPD has been using five of the Mobile ID II devices in patrol cars since July 31. The devices can scan fingerprints and compare them to those in HPD’s database and in the FBI’s Repository for Individuals of Special Concern. It takes about three minutes for officers to receive results.
The department said 77 Blue Check devices have been linked to the FBI’s database. HPD will have 163 devices by 2010.
“They will enable our officers to immediately identify known wanted persons, and just as importantly, enhance officer safety and the safety of our citizens,” Police Chief Harold Hurtt said.
If there’s a match to the fingerprints submitted, officers are supplied with a photo and other information about the person. If there’s no match, the fingerprints submitted are automatically erased from the system.
Persons must be under reasonable suspicion or arrestable charges for fingerprints to be scanned.
SWAT Team:Getting Ready for a Rescue
Lt. Thomas Hamilton, Lexington SWAT
The Lexington County SWAT team is sharpening their skills in a way they never have before.
“We’re teaching our operators to get comfortable and learn the skills of how to jump out of a helicopter or a boat and into the water, and move up quickly and quietly without being noticed,” said Lexington County Lt. Thomas Hamilton.
SWAT team members could be seen dropping out of helicopters or jumping out of boats into the lake Wednesday. They spent 15 hours taking part in the waterborne operations training class.
“I’m a little winded, but the adrenaline rush has got me going pretty good,” said Christian Smith.
It’s all brand new to most everyone on the SWAT team.
“I was nervous about the helicopter at first, but jumping into the water was nothing,” said Smith.
Since Lake Murray is such a big part of the county, Smith says they’re making sure they’re prepared for any circumstance where they might have to get in the water.
Christian Smith, Lexington County SWAT
“The need for anything at any moment could arise, and we need to be ready. Twenty years ago we never had to worry about someone going into a high school and shooting it up, but now that’s something we have to worry about. Just like someone taking a hostage on an island,” said Smith.
Nothing like that has ever happened out on Lake Murray, but it’s not to say it never will. “We had a lot of fun. It’s training we needed to do. As a SWAT team and sheriff’s department we want to be ready for any and all chances that may arise,” said Smith.
Rest in peace, Ando
It’s not everyday that an Episcopal priest leads a funeral procession for a dog. But it’s not everyday that a community comes together to mourn a dog like Ando.
He was one of a special breed, not in the sense of canine genetics, but in his public service.
Ando, a German shepherd, served for seven years as Ligonier Township’s K-9 police officer. He was euthanized last week, one month after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. That’s when officials turned to the Rev. Dr. James Simons, Rector of St. Michael’s of the Valley in Ligonier.
“They asked me to officiate at a community memorial service,” said Dr. Simons, who added that he has sometimes been asked by animal owners to help them deal with the loss of a family pet or horse.
More than 200 people turned out to pay tribute to Ando, according to the Tribune Review, one of many news organizations covering the August 23rd event on the Diamond in Ligonier. The service began with bagpipes and prayers; it ended with the retiring of Ando’s badge and the sounding of Taps.
Many denominations, including the Episcopal Church, have prayers for the blessing of animals. Few offer rites for their funerals. Dr. Simons found a service used by an Episcopal Church that spoke to the proper place of animals within all of God’s creation.
“Every creature which is in heaven and on the earth… I heard saying, ‘Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him’,” was read in the opening anthem from Revelation, as was “the soul of every living thing and the spirit of all flesh is in God’s hands” from Job. One prayer recalled that Tobiah in the Old Testament was accompanied by the Archangel Raphael and by a dog.
Ando accompanied his fellow (human) officers on over 450 police calls. He is credited with 254 narcotics discoveries and assisting in 51 arrests.
“I’m reminded of the movie ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven,’” Dr. Simons said at the service. “Well, I don’t know if all dogs go to heaven, but I know this one did.”
Officers Salem County K-9 Association lauds important work of pooch partners
With so much recent high-profile attention placed on the cruel misuse of dogs, the hardest working of the breeds are due their fair shake, according to a newly-established group of county police dog handlers.
That is what the fledgling Salem County K-9 Association intends to achieve, as an organized committee of K-9 cops and the human officers charged with caring for them.
While the dog-fighting bloodsport may grab headlines, police are quick to point out how valuable of a tool these highly trained animals can be in crime fighting.
Sgt. Rob Hans, president of the association, works with two of them: a German Shepherd trained to sniff out explosives named Ben, and a Belgian Malinois who patrols and detects narcotics named Ossy.
“It would take ten guys to search a building, but only one dog could do it a lot faster,” Hans said. “They locate, they apprehend suspects, that’s what they are designed to do.”
Just as nearly 20 Atlantic City police dogs were taken off the streets this week due to citizen complaints, in Salem City, the K-9 association has installed a new “hot dog” system in the vehicle of Ptl. William Robinson, to ensure the animal stays safe in high temps.
Robinson’s patrol and narcotics detecting German shepherd, Jordan, joined the force around February.
The “hot dog” equipment is designed to activate a warning to the handler by pager if the vehicle interior is too hot, if the vehicle stalls or if the air conditioning unit has malfunctioned. The vehicle’s windows then roll down and activate fans to provide air.
The K-9 Association provided approximately $515 to Salem City to install the unit, which was donated from Lower Alloways Creek, Hans said.
Established in April, the association is comprised of any working police K-9 handler that resides in Salem County and their dogs.
The association functions from donations, active members and associate memberships. Funds go solely to supply the dogs with the proper equipment needed for daily operations, Hans explained.
Hans said they aim “to become fully functional and self-sufficient” one day. Robinson serves as vice president and Sheriff’s Officer George Mottola, who handles a patrol and explosives detecting German Shepherd named Frodo, is the group’s secretary/treasurer.
“The K-9s are a necessary and essential tool for our law enforcement community,” Hans said. “Our desire is to ensure that no K-9 program lacks funding.”
Hans said he was in Atlantic City on Wednesday for a training seminar, witnessing with disbelief the number of parked K-9 patrol cars there. For the coastal city, it has become a matter not of financial support, but of support from the mayor’s office.
According to reports, Mayor Lorenzo Langford stopped police dog patrols Monday due to complaints of excessive force being used with them.
“It’s tragic for the police department,” Hans said. “The whole situation is a shame.”
Anyone who would like to become a member of the Salem County K-9 Association or make a donation is urged to contact them at sck9a@verizon.net.
Newly-Formed Walton SWAT Team has Tryouts
Walton County, Fla:
The newly appointed Special Weapons and Tactics(SWAT) Team Tactical Commander for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office says the unit will work with agility and confidence. A few years-ago, the Sheriff’s Office Chief of Criminal Investigations Division, Captain Tom Ring, played a similar role for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Operations Teams.
Captain Ring held a tryout for the newly formed Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. Those who will be selected must demonstrate good decision making skills, physical capabilities, and marksmanship. Captain Tom Ring says “the team will work as a unit to affect a violent felony arrests and when executing high risk search warrants”. The SWAT team members will also be trained to provide protection for visiting dignitaries and high-ranking government officials. Hostage negotiation skills are another important component to training.
Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. told those trying to make the team, “that despite a tight, fiscal budget he will do whatever it takes to make sure the SWAT team members receive the best training, and the best possible equipment”.
“They will work with confidence, and be able to effectively work under intense pressure”, according to Captain Ring. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is expected to employ the SWAT team when affecting felony warrant arrests which is often the case when dealing with violent drug dealers and users’.
The “Tacticalcops.com” training manual states that SWAT training must be continuous and on-going. Instructors and students must be willing to learn new information without any fear of change. Upon completion of each training session trainers must evaluate the objectives that were provided to the team. The thought that “if it’s not broken why fix it” does not apply to Law Enforcement training in general, SWAT in particular.
In coming weeks and months and as the training progresses, Captain Ring will be evaluating the personnel to determine who will make up the SWAT team. Sheriff Adkinson foresees the day when his squad will be ranked with the best in the state, and the nation.
Gov. Kaine awards 2 state troopers for rescuing motorists from fiery crashes
Gov. Tim Kaine is honoring two Virginia State Police troopers with Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards.
Kaine conferred the awards to Justin T. Mahalik and Trooper Kenneth J. Brown on Wednesday during a ceremony at the State Capitol in Richmond.
Mahalik was recognized for rescuing a passenger from his police cruiser after it was engulfed in flames following a rear-end collision during a traffic stop on Interstate 66 in Fairfax. Brown was recognized for his rescuing a driver who suffered a diabetic seizure and crashed his vehicle on I-66.
The Commonwealth Public Safety Medal of Valor Awards have been given annually since 2002. They are the highest honors for heroism conferred upon a public safety officer in the state.
RI trooper delivers baby on highway Advertisement Quantcast Click Here. Click Here.
Awwww, I’m such a sucker for these sorts of stories:)
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A Rhode Island state trooper responding to a call of a medical emergency on Route 146 ended up delivering a baby on the highway in Lincoln.
Police said when trooper Matthew Salisbury arrived at the scene early Wednesday, he saw a man standing outside his pick-up truck and yelling that a woman in the passenger seat was delivering a baby.
Salisbury helped turn the infant while the mother pushed for a final time, then he removed the umbilical cord from the baby’s neck and helped the child to breathe.
The mother and baby are reported to be healthy and resting comfortably at a hospital.
K-9 on Cloud 9
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office recently welcomed a new K-9 officer to its ranks, but with the addition of Chobe comes the retirement of 9-year-old Rin, a Belgian Malinois who has been working off and on with the NCSO for several years.
Rin retired to the home of his handler, Deputy Watkins but is finding it a bit hard to adjust to a life of leisure.
“Whenever I crank the engine [of his patrol car], he’s ready to go to work,” said Watkins.
He was purchased by Watkins from North Carolina but had spent his early years in Miami, possibly as a guard dog. According to Watkins, getting Rin to recognize who the Alpha male was in the relationship was a struggle at first, but one that was quickly overcome.
A certified trainer, Watkins worked with Rin and brought him on at the NCSO as an all-purpose dog in 2005. After a year, Watkins was called away by the military and spent several years serving his country overseas. While Watkins was gone, Rin didn’t work. When he returned, he started back with training but Rin was not needed at the NCSO at that time.
When newly elected Sheriff Ezell Brown took office, he and Chief Deputy Jerry Carter, were very keen on having Rin back on board. He was assigned to the traffic unit and assisted deputies on the interstate.
“I give all the credit to Rin coming back to Sheriff Brown and Chief Carter,” said Watkins. “They have been very supportive and Chief Carter also came and watched some of the training of Rin, which is very positive for him to be out there supporting the program.”
Most recently Rin has worked as a narcotics dog, assisting in several drug busts on Interstate 20. In his career, however, he has worked as a tracking dog, in handler protection and in criminal apprehension.
“It’s pretty hard to get out there without a narcotics dog,” said Watkins. “You just never know what you’re going to have when you make a stop.”
Although he still keeps up with his training at home with Watkins, his age is starting to show.
“His muzzle has whitened and his eyes are getting a little cloudy,” said Watkins’ wife Carrie. “He’s starting to move a little slower and there are days when he’s not feeling well and will lie in the house all day. I think his hearing and eyesight are leaving him, but Rinny’s nose is still very strong.”
Although Rin still has the desire and the ability to work, he is very much a family dog now. He plays with Watkins’ two boys, Conner and Kyle, and is very protective of 4-month-old Casey. But when given the chance, Rin’s still ready to work, jumping right into the patrol car and sitting down in his place in the back, eager to get back on the road.
“Rinny could still work,” explained Watkins. “His nose is still sharp; he still follows commands. But he’s just getting older.”
But until the time comes that he’s needed back at work, Rin can spend his retirement like most people do, relaxing. Although his brand of relaxation includes a shaded spot under the children’s trampoline and a rubber toy tire, perpetually hanging from his mouth.
Waukegan team scores at K-9 Olympics
Police K-9 teams from northern Illinois spent two days in a quarry pit in Algonquin testing their individual and combined skills, and the Waukegan Police Departments unit took the top prize.
Dave Mahoney and his German shepherd, Matt, took top honors in the 6th annual K-9 Olympics event sponsored by TOPS Kennel Complex in Grayslake.
“This is probably the hardest thing we do,” said Alex Rothacker of TOPS, which trains police dogs and offers boarding, grooming and obedience training for the general public. It also boards cats and offers luxury accommodations, like private rooms with a television.
TOPS is run by Paula and Alex Rothacker. They met at a training kennel where they both worked, and both received training under famed trainer Willie Necker. The Rothackers have been training dogs since 1974. They opened TOPS in 1984 and moved to Grayslake in 1991.
This year, 15 teams competed for two days. Rothacker said one of the hardest drills involved was a teeter-totter that moved up, down and sideways. The dog and handler had to maneuver onto a platform.
Another platform drill involved the dog and handler in different inner tubes paddling out 100 feet into the lake where the dog had to transfer onto another inner tube with a platform without falling in the water.
There was also a toy retrieve from a canoe. The dog had to pick the toy out of the water without dumping the canoe, Rothacker said.
The competition also included traditional police scenarios — shooting, drug searches and driving a course forward and backward. Everything was timed.
“You can get bonus points for some events. One you have to wheel your dog in a wheelbarrow 100 feet while dragging two, four or six tires. Mahoney did all six tires,” he said.
Bonus points shaved time off final time, and mistakes added time.
“Mahoney was phenomenal,” Rothacker said, adding that the officer had not placed at all in the last four years.
The final event is a sprint up an 80-foot sand hill.
Mahoney and Matt had competed in 2006, but Matt injured his back jumping onto a huge block. Recovery involved months of rehabilitation at TOPS.
“It’s just the whole endurance thing. You and your dog have to be in shape,” Rothacker said.
“It’s hard, but you can work through it. It depends on your dog. Sometimes you are directing them with hand commands, and other times with verbal commands,” he said.
The hardest task was the teeter-totter.
“You’re three foot up and directing the dog platform, and then you get on another teeter-totter,” he said.
“Sure enough, he did it perfectly,” he said of Matt.
First: Dave Mahoney and Matt, Waukegan Police Department
Second: Jim McKinney and Rex, Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Third: Phil Mazur and Shane, Gurnee Police Department
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