Latest news with #K-9
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Hinsdale Citizen Police Academy opens lines of communication with community
The Hinsdale Police Department is accepting applications for its annual fall Citizen Police Academy, which was started in 2001 and has been praised by former participants. The next session begins Sept. 3 and runs through Nov. 12, with weekly Wednesday meetings scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hinsdale police Officer Karen Kowal said participants must be at least 18 years old and typically range in age from 28 to 70. 'The course is intended for citizens who reside or work in Hinsdale,' she said. 'However, exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, if there are remaining open spots after the application deadline.' She said the classroom space allows for up to 15 participants each session. 'Smaller classes also help us foster a more personal feel for participants, while interacting with our officers,' Kowal said. She said the goal of the program is to improve communication with the community, while also gaining citizen input, assistance and support. 'The Citizen Police Academy is a free, educational and informative program, which provides participants a comprehensive view of the challenging, yet crucial, work carried out by the Hinsdale Police Department,' Kowal said. 'This program does not create part-time police officers. It is yet another mechanism for our police department to inform the public about what we do, while also allowing participants to meet many of our police officers on a more personal level.' Kowal said another goal of the Academy is to provide a broad overview of important topics with opportunities for the class to be interactive and hands-on. 'Each class builds knowledge and insight that is helpful for each of the following weekly classes,' she said. Information will cover the department's hiring process, procedures and training, the foundation of what provides police powers, the Field Training Program, the Drone Program, the foundation and risks of traffic stops, DUI investigations, the M.E.R.I.T. ('SWAT') team, crime scene processing, the Hinsdale Police Department investigations division and more Kowal said. 'Participants will go hands-on with crime scene investigations, K-9 demonstrations, and traffic stops, to name a few,' she said. 'Also, participants will get the opportunity to experience what it is like to be on patrol in Hinsdale, as they ride in a police car with one of our officers for a four-hour ride-along.' Kowal said there are generally anywhere from one to three officers presenting during any given class session. 'We aim to allow officers to present on their different areas of interest, while also allowing participants to learn from as many different officers as possible,' she said. 'We also coordinate with several outside agencies to present on other important topics, such as dispatching and K-9 programs.' Hinsdale resident Bryan Clapacs, 57, has lived in the village for 15 years and participated in the Police Academy in 2023. '(I had) curiosity and wanted to show support for law enforcement officers that have been unfairly portrayed in the media,' he said, adding that participating gave him a better understanding of what Hinsdale police deal with on a day-to-day basis. His favorite parts of the Academy were getting to know the officers and the ride along. 'I believe that more people should be required to attend this academy and/ or other community outreach programs,' Clapacs said. 'I believe if they attended, more of the public would be more appreciative of our police, and the officers would understand more of the public concerns.' Another 2023 Academy participant was Daniel Krzywiec, 44, who has lived in Hinsdale for seven years. 'I believe in being an informed and engaged member of the community, and this program gave me the opportunity to see the challenges officers face, the procedures they follow, and how they serve the public,' he said. 'It also helped build mutual respect and communication between citizens and the police, which I think is really important.' Krzywiec said he got more than he expected out of the Academy. 'I thought it would be mostly lectures, but it was very hands-on,' he said. 'We got to see real scenarios, interact with officers, and even experience some of the tools and training they use. I gained a much better understanding of how law enforcement operates and the difficult decisions officers have to make. It also helped me build trust with local police and see them as real people doing a tough job.' Mark Sahlol, 44, has lived in Hinsdale for four years and experienced the Police Academy last year. 'I decided to participate because I wanted to learn more about the police and offer help, after having the proper knowledge, if needed,' he said. 'The experience was better than what I expected. There was a lot of exciting information to learn, and the staff was very friendly and supportive.' Marzena Powala, 45, has lived in Hinsdale since February 2022 and was another participant in last year's Academy. 'I also saw it as a valuable opportunity to meet new people and, most importantly, to broaden my knowledge of law enforcement and public safety,' Powala said. 'it was the best experience ever. 'One experience I will always remember is the evening spent patrolling our town alongside a police officer. I can confidently assure our residents that we are served by some of the most dedicated and passionate law enforcement professionals in the county.' Michael Siffermann, 38, is a four-year resident of Hinsdale and participated in the Academy in 2022. 'Many of my family members are in law enforcement, so I was naturally interested in getting a look into local police operations,' he said. 'But it was also a good chance to connect with other members of the community — fellow classmates and the Hinsdale PD officers. It definitely enhanced my understanding of the type of work Hinsdale PD does and deepened my appreciation and respect for our officers.' Krzywiec said he recommends the Citizens Police Academy to all Hinsdale residents and anyone who wants to understand their community better. 'It breaks down barriers, builds respect, and shows just how much goes on behind the scenes to keep us safe,' he said. 'It's eye-opening and definitely worth the time.' Applications for the Academy are due by Aug. 15 and may be completed online at or by picking up an application in the Police Department lobby, 121 Symonds Drive.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Bomb-sniffing NYPD K-9s, handlers honored at French consulate for beefing up Paris Olympics security
It's nothing short of a grand prix. Four NYPD officers and their bomb-sniffing canine partners were honored for their service safeguarding the Paris Olympics at a ceremony at the French consulate in Manhattan Monday afternoon. Police Officers Rafael De La Cruz and Michael Fenimore and Detectives Nick Valez and Andrew Barron — and their hero dogs Davie, Gunner, Rico and Vito — received distinctive service awards at the Upper East Side delegation commemorating their service protecting last summer's international games. Advertisement 4 Michael Finamore and his dog Gunner (who passed away), Andrew Barron and his dog Vito, Nicholas Velez and his dog Rico and Rafael De La Cruz and his dog Davie received awards. James Messerschmidt The K-9 teams were tasked with patrolling the Paris Games' grounds and keeping a nose out for bombs, consulate reps said. 'The challenges were enormous in Paris last summer to ensure the safety of 15,000 athletes, 45,000 volunteers, and overall, 11 million spectators,' Consul General Céderik Fouriscot said to the officers. Advertisement 'The Paris game went off perfectly, and I want to say that you are an integral part of this success.' The massive undertaking to host the Olympics required French authorities to call on foreign law enforcement. 4 The K-9 teams were tasked with patrolling the Paris Games' grounds and keeping a nose out for bombs. Instagram/@k_9_gunner French authorities' liaison to the NYPD Police Commander Jean-François Meunier noted the host country 'asked especially for dogs because we didn't have enough dogs to cover all the Olympic sites.' Advertisement The NYPD officers and their dogs are specially trained to locate bombs, with K-9s assigned the critical duty of sniffing out chemicals associated with explosives. 'We take the odor and tie it to a toy, like a ball, and it's just repetition. The odor is just different chemical explosives,' said honoree Valez, 52, who has since retired from the force — as well as his K-9 Rico. 4 The massive undertaking to host the Olympics required French authorities to call on foreign law enforcement. James Messerschmidt Absent from the ceremony was Fenimore's dog, Gunner, who died in February. Advertisement Fenimore, who has since moved from the NYPD to the Clarkstown Police Department in Rockland County, said the loss of his four-legged friend deeply affected him. 'He was a perfectly healthy German Shepherd. Got blood cancer and was gone in three months. It's been brutal. He was my buddy for six years. He was the greatest dog. He was my life,' Fenimore said. 4 The NYPD officers and their dogs are specially trained to locate bombs. Instagram/@k_9_gunner Paris is one of five overseas posts the NYPD outsources assistance to, in addition to London, Madrid, INTERPOL and EUROPOL. 'It's operational exchange, information sharing. Share best practices and this is done on a daily basis,' Detective Nicolas Gouzien, the NYPD's liaison to Paris and Monaco said. 'This is a great inflection point in our relationship between NYPD and French law enforcement. This was an opportunity to showcase specialty capabilities that the NYPD has and the whole world was watching our canines protect the games in an incredibly complex threat environment,' Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said. 'It was a tremendous honor and opportunity for the NYPD.'
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Teledyne FLIR Defense Announces Winners of 30th Annual FLIR Vision Awards for Airborne Law Enforcement at APSCON Conference
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), announced the winners of the 30th Annual 'FLIR Vision Awards' at the APSCON 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. 'For 30 years, we've recognized the work of men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe. The FLIR Vision Awards highlight the heroic efforts of police aviation crews worldwide for whom thermal imagery systems play a key part in success." Share The FLIR Vision Awards are presented to members of the airborne law enforcement community who have best demonstrated use of thermal imaging systems in carrying out their missions, whether conducting search and rescue efforts, pursuing suspects, or saving lives in other ways. The awards are divided into four categories, including the FANG Award for operations involving a K-9 support team. This year's winners are … Vision Award: First Place Marion County Sheriff's Office (FL) Command Pilot Craig Kinsey; Master Sergeant John Rawls Vision Award: Second Place Riverside County Sheriff's Office (CA) Sheriff Corporal Jerry Osterloh; Deputy Sheriff Jake Fink Vision Award: Third Place Houston Police Department Senior Police Officer Ismael Rodriguez; Senior Police Officer Jose Guzman Life Saver Awards Prince George's County Police Department (MD) Mr. Bo Corser; Corporal Christopher Elrod Michigan State Police Sergeant Cole Martin; Trooper Brandon Franklin Pursuit Award Houston Police Department Senior Police Officer Chris Thompson; Officer David Kassir FANG Award Tampa Police Aviation Flight Officer Brian Alofs; Tactical Flight Officer Rob Williams Officer Joshua Yungaitis; K-9: Sly 'For three decades, we have recognized and honored the work performed by the men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe,' said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. 'The FLIR Vision Awards highlight the heroic efforts of police aviation crews worldwide for whom thermal imagery systems play an integral part in successfully performing their missions. 'We salute their commitment to public safety and congratulate the winners, and all entrants, on a job well done,' Lei added. Teledyne FLIR has presented the FLIR Vision Awards and sponsored the APSCON conference for more than 25 years. A panel of judges nominate finalists and choose the winners based on several criteria, including: Crew Coordination – how well did the aircrew communicate and manage the incident, both inside the cockpit and with ground officers? Technical Competence – skill-level shown around search techniques, anticipating suspect behavior, focus under pressure, and operating imaging systems. The 'FLIR Factor' – how instrumental were Teledyne FLIR thermal cameras in completing the mission? Visit us online to learn more about Teledyne FLIR's Surveillance and imaging solutions for airborne, land and maritime applications. About Teledyne FLIR Defense Teledyne FLIR Defense has been providing advanced, mission-critical technology and systems for more than 45 years. Our products are on the frontlines of the world's most pressing military, security and public safety challenges. As a global leader in thermal imaging, we design and build sophisticated surveillance sensors for air, land and maritime use. We develop the most rugged, trusted unmanned air and ground platforms, as well as intelligent sensing devices used to detect chemicals, biological agents, radiation and explosives. At Teledyne FLIR Defense we bring together this expertise to deliver solutions that enable critical decisions and keep our world safe – from any threat, anywhere. To learn more, visit us online or follow @flir and @flir_defense. About Teledyne Technologies Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne's operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne's website at
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Man charged in Portage murder facing misdemeanor gun case
A 21-year-old Gary man charged with murder after a fatal Portage shooting in April 2024 was arrested Thursday on misdemeanor gun charges for violating a court order while his murder charge is pending. Montrell McLaurin Jr. was charged Friday with two counts of unlawful carry of a handgun, a Class A misdemeanor, for violating a court order against possessing firearms while his murder charge is pending. It's the second time he has faced the charge in as many months. On May 23, McLaurin was also charged with unlawful carrying of a handgun and possession of marijuana. McLaurin, who was released from the Porter County Jail on his own recognizance on the murder charge while the case is pending, was pulled over Thursday on U.S. 20 and Clem Road in Portage for not having registration visible on the rear of the white Ford Fusion he was driving westbound, according to a report from the Porter County Sheriff's Department. The officer's report states that online court records showed McLaurin has a pending murder case and was arrested for unlawful carrying of a handgun after the murder charge. During a previous police stop, McLaurin and the same passenger who was in the car with him Thursday were charged with possession of marijuana, leading the officer to call for a free-air sniff with a K-9 unit on Thursday. The K-9 gave a positive alert, so a probable cause search was conducted. A Glock 31C handgun was located under the front passenger seat, loaded with 21 rounds, plus one in the chamber, and a Diamondback Firearms DB15 loaded with 40 rounds, plus one in the chamber, was also found in the vehicle, according to the police report. McLaurin is accused of murdering 19-year-old Darion Anderson in the early hours of April 29, 2024, in the 5300 block of Aspen Avenue in Portage, allegedly during a drug deal. He is charged with murder, murder in perpetration of a robbery and attempted robbery. Prosecutors have requested a firearms enhancement for the charges. McLaurin has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Miami Herald
Miami Gardens police chief pushes back on allegations of discrimination
Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt on Thursday pushed back on allegations of racial discrimination, calling claims made by five Hispanic officers 'baseless' after they announced plans to file a federal class-action lawsuit accusing the department of targeting them for speaking out. 'These allegations are without merit,' Noel-Pratt said at a news conference outside police headquarters, where she stood flanked by dozens of officers from Miami Gardens, Miramar and the Florida Highway Patrol. 'Every decision I make, as difficult as some may be, is rooted in operational necessity — not personal bias.' MORE: Hispanic officers allege mistreatment in Miami Gardens, call for chief's removal The officers — Juan Gonzalez, Christian Vega, Francisco Mejido, Rudy Hernandez and Sgt. Pedro Valdes — claim they were demoted, suspended or reassigned after raising concerns about unfair treatment. They've also demanded Noel-Pratt's resignation. 'The current police chief is out of control in terms of the mistreatment and abuse of officers — in particular Hispanic officers and officers who complain about wrongdoing,' said their attorney, Michael Pizzi, during a news conference Wednesday. Noel-Pratt, the city's first Black female police chief and appointed in 2017, strongly denied that race played any role in personnel decisions. She said all transfers were made based on 'feasibility, staffing needs and the goal of maintaining effective and efficient departmental operations.' 'These decisions are not made lightly,' she said. 'And certainly not based on race, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristic.' She also addressed specific allegations, including claims that Mejido had his K-9 partner unfairly taken from him. Mejido, a 13-year veteran, said he was removed from the K-9 unit and disciplined for a minor body camera infraction, while his replacement had committed the same violation. 'I had to break that news to my two young kids, to my wife,' Mejido said. 'Ever since then, the agency has come after me with multiple forms of discipline.' Noel-Pratt dismissed the K-9 claim as misleading. 'The canine in question was city property,' she said. 'A canine assignment is a privilege based on performance and operational needs — not an entitlement.' Sgt. Valdes, a 17-year veteran, also claimed retaliation. He said he was relieved of duty for six months without explanation and only recently reinstated. Noel-Pratt confirmed Valdes had been informed of the reason for his leave but declined to provide details. While she acknowledged the situation has affected morale in the department, Noel-Pratt made it clear she's not stepping down. 'While I acknowledge the officers' right to voice their concerns, the demand for my resignation is misguided and misplaced,' she said. 'I will not allow these claims to overshadow the progress we've made or disrupt our service to the people of Miami Gardens.' Noel-Pratt said officers who no longer feel the department aligns with their values or career goals can explore other opportunities. And to the officers threatening legal action? 'I'm not afraid of a federal lawsuit,' she said.
