American Forces Press Service  Feb. 25, 2008 - Veterans looking for a job in the Cincinnati area should have an easier time, thanks to a new partnership.  The Thank You Foundation has partnered with Careers in Focus to offer resume services, job coaching and job leads to veterans, the foundation's president said today.  "We hear plenty of stories about (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the suicide rate among veterans," John Guinn said. "At the same time, many of these men and women are able to think on their feet, cope under pressure, and many possess technical skills valuable to most any employer.  "If we can help just one person through our efforts, it is worth it," he said.  Veterans and their families will receive a special discount from Careers in Focus, an organization that assists individuals changing careers. This discount is available only through The Thank You Foundation. In addition, the foundation will seek funding to sponsor veterans to receive these services at no cost.  "Over the last year, we have identified areas in which we can be of greater service to veterans. The areas of health care and employment services seem to be the most needed," Guinn said. "It is our hope that we can assist those who are looking (for) employment in the civilian sector by leveraging the network of contacts that Careers in Focus has, in order to help find jobs for these men and women."  In November, the foundation launched an initiative to build a mobile health unit for the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It also has been in discussions with Drake Hospital to explore options for providing quality health care for veterans.  Recently, the foundation partnered with Team Fastrax and Start Skydiving to offer the opportunity for disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to go tandem skydiving with the goal of helping them overcome challenges and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.  "We realize that saying 'thank you' is simply not enough. Those words need to be followed up with action and a commitment," Guinn said. "We all should be willing to commit to the betterment of the lives of our nation's heroes.  "We view building partnerships, encouraging cooperation amongst the various support groups and working with the business community as steps towards that commitment," he added.  The Thank You Foundation is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.  (From a Thank You Foundation news release.)  The July issue of the Hi Tech Criminal Justice newsletter sponsored this entry.

American Forces Press Service  Feb. 25, 2008 - The U.S Embassy in Baghdad and Multinational Force Iraq today strongly condemned al Qaeda's attacks on Iraqi citizens making their way to Karbala for a Shiite holy festival yesterday.  A suicide bomber struck near Iskandariyah, killing 40 and injuring 60, according to initial reports from local officials. Hours earlier, a suicide-bomb attack in southern Baghdad killed three and wounded 36 others, according to other news sources.  The violence reflects the nature of an enemy who will target even those practicing their religion in an effort to reignite sectarian strife in Iraq, the statement said.  "Yesterday's attacks further demonstrate the importance of national unity and resolve in countering these terrorists," it added. "We will work closely with the government of Iraq and their security forces to help bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice."  (From a Multinational Force Iraq news release.)

By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service  Feb. 25, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today heralded Indonesia as a leader in its region and pledged U.S. support to help the country continue its military reforms and build airlift and maritime capabilities.  The secretary landed here this morning to meet with Indonesia's president and its defense and foreign ministers.  He held a short news conference alongside Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and later spoke to the Indonesian Council on World Affairs. In both events, the secretary reaffirmed the two countries' friendship and said he considers Indonesia "an important regional leader with global reach."  "Our relationship with Indonesia has made great strides in the past few years, and I have every expectation that it will continue to do so in the near and far future," Gates said.  Gates' first visit to Indonesia comes at a time when the government here is reforming its military and national security programs. The country is pulling its military out of domestic policing functions and is backfilling those roles with a police force. It also is revamping its budgeting process and removing much of the military's private business influence, and it is putting more separation between its officers and politics, a senior U.S. defense official said, speaking on background before the visit.  The secretary's visit shows the Defense Department is accepting Indonesia's place as a pivotal country in the region, the official said. The country is key to regional security because of its strategic location astride a number of key international maritime straits, particularly the Malacca Strait.  Discussions here today centered on ways the United States can work more closely with the Indonesian military, Gates said, specifically helping the country's military continue its reformation and develop capabilities in the airlift and maritime domains.  Indonesia's armed forces total about 350,000, members, according to U.S. State Department figures. The army is the largest branch, with about 280,000 active-duty personnel.  The 250,000-member Indonesian National Police was a branch of the armed forces for several years, but was separated from the military in April 1999.  Indonesia, rebounding after a crippling financial crisis in the late 1990s, has seen a commodity boom, and there is growing self-confidence within in the country. But much of its military equipment is old and in need of repair or replacement. Gates said U.S. help could come in the form of providing training or equipment.  Indonesia has emerged as the third-largest democracy in the world after decades of military-dominated rule. In November 2005, the United States normalized military-to-military relations with the country. Gates said the Indonesian military has become more capable and more professional. He lauded its peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon, Congo, Liberia, Georgia, Nepal and Sudan.  Speaking to the Indonesian Council on World Affairs at the end of the day, Gates called Indonesia's shift "remarkable," considering it took place against the backdrop of a devastating tsunami, one of the world's most severe financial crises, a rise in terrorist activity and a transformation of both the government and military.  These internal changes have played out against the backdrop of overall shifts in the region as a whole, Gates said. Since the end of the Cold War, Asia's security environment has undergone remarkable change, and in recent years, the nations of Asia have, for the most part, achieved unprecedented wealth and stature as they have forged more mature political, economic and military institutions, he said.  As a result, new centers of power have risen alongside new sources of instability. Piracy, ethnic strife and poverty, as well as emerging terrorism, pose the region's threats, Gates said. To combat these challenges, countries must work together, the secretary said.  "What these challenges have in common is that they simply cannot be overcome by one, or even two countries, no matter how wealthy or powerful. They require multiple nations acting with uncommon unity developing areas where each partner can bring its unique capabilities to bear," Gates said.  Gates went on to say that there has been a shift, as well, in the U.S. defense strategy in Asia to one that moves away from a permanent presence and direct action by U.S. forces toward building the capacity of partner nations to better defend themselves. He referenced a mix of military, diplomatic, cultural and humanitarian efforts.  "In this vein, the United States military -- even with ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Iraq -- is engaged with more Asian governments doing more things in more constructive ways than at any time in our history," Gates said.  During the speech to the council, Gates called for an end to the Cold War model of Asian security that put the United States at the center with a series of bilateral alliances with other countries. He cited the need for multilateral alliances instead, in which all countries cooperate.  "This does not mean any weakening of our bilateral ties, but rather enhancing security by adding multilateral cooperation," Gates said.  This multilateral approach, Gates said, will be needed to take on the spread of terrorism and other security threats.  "We live in a world today where the most pressing problems confronting us, ... for the most part, cannot be solved by any single nation," Gates said. "And, therefore, recognition that there are a number of powerful nations and groups of nations that must play a part in solving these problems ... is the first step to begin solving them."  This is the approach the United States has taken in recent years, Gates said.  "I believe that an underlying theme of American history is that we are compelled to defend our security and our interests in ways that, in the long run, lead to the spread of democratic values and institutions," the secretary said. "That is to say, the spread of freedom and security in places like Indonesia both manifests our ideals and protects our interests."  This is Gates' third stop on a nine-day, around-the-world trip to this region that also will include visits to India and Turkey.  Information on driving and force simulation was helpful in sponsoring this article.

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American Forces Press Service  Feb. 25, 2008 - Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 11 suspects during operations to disrupt al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq today and yesterday. During operations in Iraq today:  -- Coalition forces conducted an operation east of Khan Bani Sad targeting an alleged improvised-explosive-device and suicide-bombing facilitator. During the operation, coalition forces were fired upon and returned fire, killing one terrorist. They also detained two suspected terrorists and destroyed a vehicle found in the area that contained explosive materials.  -- Coalition forces detained two suspected terrorists, including an alleged al Qaeda associate involved in media and propaganda operations. The individual reportedly is associated with suspects detained Feb. 8, including two alleged senior leaders involved in the Baghdad and Mosul al Qaeda media networks.  -- In Anbar province, six suspected terrorists were detained west of Samarra during an operation targeting associates of a senior leader involved in al Qaeda media and propaganda operations.  In other operations around Iraq yesterday:  -- Coalition forces captured an alleged leader of an insurgent group associated with al Qaeda who has worked with that network's senior leadership.  -- South of Baghdad, coalition forces captured a suspected Iranian-backed "special groups" finance facilitator and detained six other suspected criminal in the Suwayrah area. The targeted individual reportedly is a finance leader for Iranian-affiliated special groups in Iraq's southern provinces, including Najaf, Karbala, Babil, Wasit and Qadisiyah. He was allegedly a mortar and rocket specialist who had trained in Iran. During the operation, coalition forces also discovered large amounts of U.S. currency.  -- Coalition forces captured four suspected al Qaeda leaders accused of involvement in numerous terrorist attacks in the Baghdad area yesterday, including car- and suicide-bomb attacks.  In Feb. 22 operations, Iraqi forces in coordination with U.S. soldiers from Troop B, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, discovered five weapons caches in the Busayefi area. The caches consisted of homemade bombs, homemade liquid explosives, 80 mm mortar rounds, 60 mm mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades, an AK-47 assault rifle, 7.62 mm ammunition, and anti-American propaganda. An explosives disposal team destroyed the caches in a controlled detonation.  Also Feb. 22, paratroopers with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Multinational Division Baghdad, detained a suspected special groups facilitator during an operation in Baghdad's Shaab neighborhood.  (Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)  The Hi Tech Criminal Justice Newsletter assisted in the preparation of this entry.

February 25, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.  The website added one police officer from the Austin Police Department and two from the NYPD. Jimmie Davenport is a 18 year member of the Austin Police Department (Texas). He has spent 14 years in the K9 Unit. His duties have included setting up advanced training within the his K9 Unit for new and experienced handlers. Officer Jimmie Davenport also has been a SWAT K9 for ten years and has helped design the SWAT K9 program currently in use. Officer Davenport has also written K9 training columns for SWAT magazine, Police K9 Magazine and International Police Working Dog Association.  Jimmie Davenport is the author of Run, But You Can't Hide. According to the description of Run, But You Can't Hide, it “is author Jimmie Davenport, Jr.'s, wry advice to criminals faced with apprehension by a police K9. In his more than twelve years a K9 handler, including with a SWAT team, Davenport has found his confidence in his dogs more than rewarded, and his engaging account of his experiences with Stuka and Ammo reveal the training, dedication, and determination that goes into forging an effective K9 team. The drama of the stories he relates is complimented by Davenport's genuine affection for his canine partners, and the detailed narrative he has crafted draws readers into this adrenaline-fueled world, leaving us with a new appreciation for the abilities of those animals trained to assist law enforcement.” Robert McGuire was appointed commissioner of the NYPD in 1978 and served for almost six years; making him one of the longest serving commissioners during the modern era. Robert McGuire is the author of In the Line of Fire: A Commisioner's Views on Cops and Crime. Craig Meissner is a sergeant with the New York City Police Department.  He worked patrol, as a robber investigator, patrol sergeant and training officer.  Sergeant Craig Meissner has written extensively about officer safety issues and is the author of Disguised Weapons: The Law Enforcemnt Guide To Covert Guns, Knives, And Other Weapons.  Police-Writers.com now hosts 859 police officers (representing 383 police departments) and their 1805  police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.  Contact Information:Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPAeditor@police-writers.com909.599.7530

By Fred W. Baker III American Forces Press Service  Feb. 24, 2008 - The recent push of Turkish tanks and troops across the border into northern Iraqi Kurdistan does not pose a threat to security gains in Iraq, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today at a roundtable with members of U.S and Australian media.  Turkish military forces crossed into northern Iraq Feb. 21 to prevent Kurdish PKK fighters from launching attacks into Turkey. The PKK is a militant Kurdish nationalist group that operates in northern Iraq and Turkey. U.S. officials classify the group as a terrorist organization.  Gates said the Turkish operations need to be as short and precise as possible.  "I would hope that it would be short, that it would be precise and avoid the loss of innocent life, and that they leave as quickly as they can accomplish their mission," Gates said.  An open dialogue is necessary between the countries involved during the operations, Gates emphasized.  "The first thing that's important is regular dialogue and openness between the Turkish government and the Iraqi government and, I would say, also the government of Kurdistan, in terms of their intentions, their concerns, their plans and their activities and to work with the Iraqi government in trying to deal with this problem," Gates said.  Gates also pointed out that military operations alone will not resolve Turkey's problem with terrorist attacks by the PKK, which has killed both Turkish soldiers and civilians in its cross-border attacks.  "I think that all of our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan shows us that, while dealing with a terrorist problem does require security operations, it also requires economic and political initiatives," Gates said. "One of the messages that has been a consistent one from the American government at all levels to the Turkish government is that the kinds of military activities that they have been engaged in should be complemented with initiatives to try and address some of the concerns of those who are reconcilable among the Kurds, to win their loyalty to Turkey if they are living in Turkey and to try and eliminate whatever popular base that exists that supports the terrorist activities of the PKK."  Gates said that economic and political measures are important because, after a certain point, terrorists become inured to military attacks and, at a certain point, military efforts become less and less effective.  The secretary gave the Kurdish government credit for recent initiatives and "considerable progress" in trying to curb PKK activities, but said it is a difficult area and the problem is not resolved.  "This is a difficult, long-term problem, and ... it needs to be addressed in a comprehensive way. Just using the military techniques are not going to be sufficient to solve the problem for the Turks," Gates said. "I think Turkish concern will only be allayed when there is a significant diminution in PKK activity in Turkey."  Gates said there is considerable pressure on the Turkish government to deal with the PKK because of deaths the groups' attacks have caused. He added that this is not a problem the Turkish government will be able to resolve by itself.  "Everybody has to participate in this together -- it's the Turks; it's us; it's the Turkish regional government; it's the Iraqi government," he said. "The key thing is close communication and coordination in working these things and a respect for Iraqis' sovereignty, which includes keeping the Iraqis informed and in a dialogue.  Turkey remains a key country in the NATO alliance, and strengthening the United States' ties there would be helpful in the Middle East and Central Asia, Gates said. "I think there are a lot of opportunities for further cooperation with Turkey," he said.  Gates will travel to Turkey this week as part of his nine-day overseas trip, which includes Indonesia and India. The stop was planned prior to any indication of military operations there, he said.  The December Newsletter Hi Tech Criminal Justice supported production of this entry.

February 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.  The website added three NYPD authors who brought the total number of books by police officers to over 1800. Steven  Gure is a former New York City Police Department police officer and the author of Life: A True Story.  According to the book description, “His is a remarkable story.  Born into a family of wealthy European Jews, Steven found his life filled with horror and upheaval after the Nazi occupation of his native Lithuania when he was five years old.  All of his family except his older sister, Ann, perished in the Holocaust.  Eventually, Steven and Ann managed to make their way to the United States, where further insecurities awaited in the form of a series of foster homes, orphanages, and the like. With determination and perseverance, however, Steve managed to survive and even to prosper.  He served in the military, worked his way through college, got married and had children, and joined the New York City police force. Stephen Leinen is a former New York City Police Department lieutenant.  After leaving the NYPD he became a professor of sociology at Manattan College.  Ulitmately, in 2006 he retired as the Chair, Department of Sociology, Manhattan College.  Stephen Leinen is the author of Gay Cops and of Black Police, Whie Society.  According to Publisher’s Weekly, “In the first book-length study of gay police officers, Leinen, a sociologist, author of Black Police, White Society and a former NYPD lieutenant, reports on the coping and surviving strategies of 41 homosexual New York City police officers, both male and female. The author, who is heterosexual and was on the force when he began this study, attended Gay Officers Action League meetings, dances and gay pride parades. He describes the tense passage from being a law enforcement agent who potentially threatens the secrecy of gay officers still in the closet to being a researcher observing their lifestyle.” William Majeski had a 21 year career with the New York City Police Department where retired as a Detective. His law enforcement expertise encompasses a vast array of criminal and internal investigations, from Homicides through to Political Corruption. During his tenure as an NYPD Detective, William Majeski  focused on complex Investigations. Periodically, he took on other assignments; serving as a Panel Member of the Civilian Complaint Board, as a Delegate for the Detective Endowment Association and was selected as a Committee Member to evaluate current and develop new departmental investigative procedures.   William Majeski has a BS Degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Over the years he has successfully completed numerous complex investigations, becoming a recognized specialist in areas of corporate litigation, white-collar crime, internal corruption, personal solutions and interviewing techniques. He developed the Power Interview. William Majeski is the President of Majeski Associates Inc., an Investigative Firm in operation since 1988, creating solutions and serving the needs of clients worldwide. He is the co-editor of Corporate Investigations and the author of The Lie Detection Book.  Police-Writers.com now hosts 856 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1802  police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.  Contact Information:Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPAeditor@police-writers.com909.599.7530

International Tactical Officers Training Association (ITOTA) The ITOTA is an international association designed to offer quality, professional academic and practical training. The ITOTA recognizes the need to expand and share tactical knowledge by focusing on the wealth of information and experience that exists in the global tactical community.  The ITOTA is currently seeking qualified, experienced instructors to instruct tactical courses for military, law enforcement and corrections located at CONUS and OCONUS locations. ITOTA instructors will be assigned to and mentor specific courses during established instruction periods and will be deployed to various training sites globally.  MORE INFORMATIONhttp://www.criminaljustice-online.com/forum16/1090.html

February 23, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books.  The website added three NYPD authors who made significant contributions to the field of criminal justice. Joseph Fink’s 30 year law enforcement career with the New York City Police Department culminated with his retirement at the rank of Deputy Inspector.  Joseph Fink received his education at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and would return there after his retirement to serve as a professor of Police Science.   Joseph Fink is the co-author of The Community and the Police: Conflict or Cooperation. Lloyd George Sealy became a New York City Police Officer in 1942.  While working full-time he earned a BA degree in sociology and a law degree from Brooklyn law School.  In 1962, Lloyd George Sealy was promoted to the rank of captain and he ultimately became the first African American New York City Police Officer to take command of a precinct in Harlem.  In 1966, he became the first African American Chief Inspector and the first African American commander of the Brooklyn North Patrol Area. In 1969, Lloyd George Sealy left the NYPD to become an Associate Professor of Law and Police Science at John Jay College.  Later, he would serve three terms as the chair of that department at John Jay College.  Lloyd George Sealy is the author of The Problems of Black Police Executives and Minority Recruitment for the State of Tennessee, Department of Safety; and, the co-author of The Community and the Police: Conflict or Cooperation. Robert Gallati, a depression era lawyer, turned to police work as an alternative to hard times.  When he began the police academy, he already had a law degree from Fordham University and a Master’s from St. John’s University.  By 1962, he had risen to the rank of Assistant Chief Inspector and was named the NYPD Chief of Planning.   In 1964, he took a leave of absence from the NYPD to become the first director of the New York State Identification and Intelligence System.  For the next eight years he developed the computerized fingerprint system that would become the model for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Robert Gallati returned to the NYPD, retiring in 1973.  He then served as a Deputy Police Commissioner in Mount Vernon (New York) and later as a the Chief of Police for the Brockton Police Department (Massachusetts).  Robert Gallati died in 1996.  He is the co-author of Introduction to Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and co-author of Criminal Interrogation; and, the author of Introduction to Private Security and A plan for the Utilization of Lieutenants as Platoon Commanders in Selected Precincts in the Police Department, city of New York. Police-Writers.com now hosts 853 police officers (representing 382 police departments) and their 1798  police books in 32 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.  Contact Information:Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPAeditor@police-writers.com909.599.7530

American Forces Press Service  Feb. 24, 2008 - Afghan and coalition forces have killed enemy combatants and destroy