Latest news with #InternationalAssociationofChiefsofPolice
Boston Globe
05-08-2025
- Boston Globe
New State Police boss pledges to combat ‘erosion of trust' between the force and the public
When Advertisement Noble said he has spent much of his first 10 months on the job 'understanding the culture' of the State Police and the challenges the department faces. 'My takeaway right now as I'm in my 11th month is that this department has work to do, that we have work to do,' he said. 'But I'm also very confident in this department. I have a high degree of confidence in our team and in the systems that we are putting in place.' Advertisement Earlier this summer, Noble and the department announced the launch of an agency-wide operational strategy called the 'Excellence Initiative.' In a statement announcing the initiative in June, State Police said the plan aims to enhance accountability to build public trust, strengthen organizational health and operations, deepen community relations, and promote safety through crime reduction and violence prevention. A page on the State Police Just weeks before Noble took the reins at State Police headquarters, the agency was rocked last fall by the death of a recruit, Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, who authorities said suffered critical injuries during a training exercise in a boxing ring at the State Police academy in New Braintree in September. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell launched an investigation into Delgado-Garcia's death and tapped veteran attorney and former prosecutor David Meier to lead the independent probe. Noble said it was 'the right call' for the state to hire an independent prosecutor to investigate Delgado-Garcia's death and that the State Police are fully cooperating. Once the investigation is complete, 'we are eager to review those findings and, where appropriate, we will make adjustments,' Noble said. 'We have a lot of the same questions that the public rightfully does and that the family rightfully does,' he said. Advertisement Meanwhile, Noble and the State Police have turned to the International Association of Chiefs of Police to examine the agency's training practices. Noble also replaced the head of the State Police training academy in May and split the incoming class of recruits to lower the ratio of trainees to instructors. 'I felt that a smaller class size allows for a better instructor-to-student ratio, which just gives us a better quality training experience,' Noble said. 'It also allows us, during this assessment, to really have some more granular attention to what's occurring in the classroom, in self-defense, during PT, or on the firing range.' Noble said he believes 'stress training' must be a part of the academy's program, but there needs to be 'a properly calibrated balance' with classroom work and other training. 'I believe that as a police officer [and] troopers, we need to train our troopers to the highest standards so that when they're in a stressful situation, we need to know that they will handle themselves appropriately and accordingly,' Noble said. 'Every trooper at some point in their career is going to have a very stressful situation.' Noble's first year with the force also coincided with the second trial in Karen Read's murder case. Read was accused of backing her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, on a snowy night in January 2022 and leaving him for dead after a night of drinking. During Read's first trial in 2024, Michael Proctor, the lead State Police investigator that was assigned to probe O'Keefe's death, was forced to read a series of text messages on the witness stand that he shared with friends and colleagues, including his State Police supervisor. Among the texts were crude and degrading messages about Read. Advertisement During both trials, Read's attorneys asserted the texts showed that investigators were biased against Read from the start. Proctor was not called to testify during the second trial, and Noble fired him in March. When asked if Proctor had damaged the credibility of the State Police, Noble said, 'absolutely.' 'Being tasked with handling very complex, critical major investigations, particularly that involve real victims and death and injury, that is an awesome responsibility for any police officer, and it's a responsibility that comes with an expectation of integrity, and we did not see that expectation met.' 'Obviously Trooper Proctor is no longer part of this department,' he added. 'I think, clearly, I have demonstrated that there was an expectation that fell short of mine.' A Rhode Island native who began his policing career as a summer officer on Nantucket, Noble attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey, where he remained after graduating and joined the New Jersey State Police. He stayed on the New Jersey force for nearly three decades and climbed the ranks to to lieutenant colonel, where he oversaw daily operations in the department until he retired in 2022. Noble came out of retirement to take the helm with the Massachusetts State Police and has settled with his family in the state. 'Massachusetts is special to me,' he said. 'This is very much a bit of a coming home for me. But that said, I have a mission. I'm laser-focused on why I'm here and I am here to get the job done.' Advertisement Nick Stoico can be reached at
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Days after backtracking on low budget for FBI remarks, Kash Patel chairs meet with police chiefs
Just days after retracting his call for a $1 billion boost to the FBI's budget, Director Kash Patel chaired a meeting with the International Association of Chiefs of Police , seeking to reinforce the Bureau's ties with local law enforcement . 'Starting off Police Week by spending time with the International Association of Chiefs of Police,' Patel wrote on X. 'We discussed how to strengthen our partnership and how the FBI can better serve them. .. This FBI will always Back the Blue.' — FBIDirectorKash (@FBIDirectorKash) The timing of the outreach comes amid intense scrutiny of Patel's leadership and a turbulent week in Washington. In testimony before a House committee, Patel warned that the White House's proposed budget cutting FBI funding by 5 per cent would force him to eliminate 1,100 vacancies and potentially lay off 1,300 more staff. Yet just a day later, before a Senate panel, he reversed course, saying the Bureau would 'make and agree with this budget as it stands. ' The abrupt turnaround fuelled speculation about Patel's independence, especially given his close ties to President Donald Trump. Some read the initial budget plea as a bid to signal distance from the administration, but his quick backpedal muddied that interpretation. Meanwhile, Patel faces growing controversy on multiple fronts. Former officials and media reports have accused him of being disengaged, claiming he spends more time in nightclubs and sporting events than at FBI headquarters. NBC News reported that daily 8:30 am director briefings have been cut to twice a week. An FBI spokesperson dismissed these claims, insisting Patel attends five meetings weekly, including smaller sessions not open to all staff. Allegations have also surfaced about misuse of FBI aircraft for personal travel and reduced field office engagement. Senate Democrats are now demanding an investigation into his jet usage, following reports that he used Bureau aircraft to visit his girlfriend. Ethics concerns have intensified after it was revealed Patel holds up to £4 million in shares in Elite Depot, parent company of fast-fashion giant Shein. Despite its China ties and allegations of forced labour denied by Shein the FBI has allowed Patel to retain the stake, saying it poses no conflict with his current duties.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
TASER maker Axon raises annual revenue forecast, shares jump
People gathers at the Axon booth on the exhibit floor during the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in San Diego, California, U.S.,October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake (Reuters) -TASER maker Axon Enterprise raised its full-year revenue forecast on Wednesday, banking on sustained demand for its software products and security devices, sending its shares up more than 7% after the bell. The Arizona-based company makes law enforcement technology such as body cameras, drones and sensors. Axon expects 2025 revenue to be between $2.60 billion and $2.70 billion, compared with its prior range of $2.55 billion to $2.65 billion. Analysts on average estimate of $2.62 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. The company is the leading maker of police body cameras in the U.S. and supplies drones to law enforcement authorities across North America, Europe and Australia. Capital expenditure for the year is expected to be in the range of $160 million to $180 million, excluding costs related to investments in a new headquarters, the company said. On an adjusted basis, Axon earned $1.41 per share for the first quarter ended March 31, while analysts estimated $1.27 per share. Its quarterly revenue was $603.6 million, compared with the estimate of $583.8 million. (Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta and Abhinav Parmar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Vermont trooper who saved 8-year-old girl from icy pond in 2023 honored for heroism
A Vermont State Police trooper who plunged into an icy pond in Cambridge to save an 8-year-old girl in 2023 has been once again recognized for her heroism that day. Vermont State Police Trooper Michelle Archer has received a Carnegie Medal for Heroism, one of 17 people in the U.S. and Canada who 'risked death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others.' Archer was patrolling in Cambridge on December 17 when two children fell through thin ice into a private pond off of Eastview Road. The landowner rescued one child. When Archer arrived, she grabbed a life preserver from her cruiser, dove into the pond and rescued the eight-year-old girl from the icy water. VSP trooper credited with saving life of 8-year-old girl in Cambridge 'When I jumped into that frozen pond, the only thing I was thinking about was reaching that little girl and trying to save her life,' Archer said. 'You don't get into the profession of policing for accolades; you do it because you believe in serving your community and keeping people safe. As humbling as all the awards and attention are that followed what I did that day, nothing can overshadow the biggest reward of all: The little girl survived and fully recovered.' Last year, Archer received a Vermont State Police Lifesaving Award, among other honors. She was named a finalist for International Association of Chiefs of Police / Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year. Vermont trooper involved in July 2024 shootout in Burke nominated for Trooper of the Year award ''This recognition, coupled with numerous others that members of the state police have received in recent weeks and months, reflects so highly on each and every person who works for this agency,' said Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police. 'Vermonters have much to be proud of when it comes to the state police, from these high-profile awards to the unsung, everyday acts of selflessness, bravery and heroism that people rarely hear about.' More information about the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and the 17 newest recipients is available on the fund's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Vermont trooper involved in July 2024 shootout in Burke nominated for Trooper of the Year award
A Vermont State Trooper involved in a July 2024 shoot-out in Burke with a wanted man from Rhode Island is a finalist for a prestigious law enforcement award. Richard Berlandy is one of four finalists from the United States and Canada for the International Association of Chiefs of Police / Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year Award. The award recognizes state troopers and provincial officers who have demonstrated bravery, courage, leadership and professionalism in the line of duty. It's the second year in a row a Vermont trooper has been nominated for the award. Last year, Michelle Archer of the Williston Barracks was nominated for diving into a frozen pond in December 2023 in Cambridge to save a young girl from drowning. Berlandy has been assigned to the Derby Barracks since joining the Vermont State Police in 2019. He and two other troopers were on duty on July 14, 2024, when they were advised that a man wanted in Rhode Island for possessing altered firearms with large capacity magazines was in the area. According to police at the time, US Border Patrol agents saw the man's pickup truck in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and followed him into Vermont. Agents attempted to stop the man, identified as Brendan Sackal, with a tire-deflation device, but he continued to try to flee. Berlandy joined the pursuit northbound on VT 114 and attempted to box in Sackal's truck. Sackal then rammed the cruiser and got ou of his truck firing what prosecutors later described as a privately manufactured 5.56 caliber AR-type pistol. Berlandy and Mikola returned fire, wounding Sackal, who surrendered. They then tended Sackal's wounds until emergency medical care arrived. Sackal was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in critical, but stable condition. 'The selection of Trooper Berlandy as a finalist is a recognition of the courage, professionalism and determination he and his fellow troopers demonstrated that July day,' Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew T. Birmingham said, noting that agencies can submit only one name for award consideration. Berlandy said his experience and training, as well as the presence of other law enforcem,ent officers, prepared him to handle the dangerous encounter. 'Once everything started to happen, I didn't have to think about what I needed to do. Everything was reactionary, and I was able to focus on the task at hand. All of my training just instinctually kicked in, helping me and eventually saving my life,' he said. Finalists for the Trooper of the Year Award are chosen by members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police State and Provincial Police Trooper Berlandy represents the North Atlantic Region. One of the four finalists will be named the overall IACP / Motorola Solutions Trooper of the Year at a banquet Friday in Orlando, Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
