Latest news with #PoliceCommission
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Westfield Police Department to acquire new K-9 unit, handler needed
WESTFIELD — With the Westfield Police Department planning on acquiring a new K-9 unit in late summer, four officers currently on the force are competing to become its handler. 'You've got to run with the dogs,' police Capt. Steve Dickinson said on the importance of the unit's next handler being in excellent shape. To learn if the candidates can meet the physical fitness requirements, they performed the Cooper Test Monday morning at the Roots Athletic Complex. The test is designed to provide a simple way to assess an individual's cardiovascular. 'When the dog is running through the woods during a search, they've got to be able to stay with them the whole time,' Dickinson said about the handler. The department hasn't had a K-9 unit for several years, but starting in 2000, it acquired Duke, who eventually retired and was replaced by Falco, Mako, and Ares. That would change when Jerome Pitoniak was named the department's chief in October 2023. During his interview in front of the Police Commission, Pitoniak, responding to a question about the new initiatives for the department if appointed, acquiring a K-9 unit was one of his goals. With Pitoniak appointed, police Detective Christopher Coach applied to The Hometown Foundation Inc., a Connecticut-based nonprofit that raises money for animal welfare, providing assistance to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, helping those affected major illnesses, providing assistance for military service members and their families, and helping emergency response personnel, which includes providing grants to police departments to acquire K-9 units. Coach said the foundation donated $14,500 for the purchase of a new unit, a GPS tracking collar, and a bullet- and stab-proof vest. He wanted to thank the foundation, including Meghan Sullivan. 'She was great to work with. We're grateful for their support,' Coach said. Coach said one of the reasons the department qualified for the grant was because many of the departments in neighboring towns only have access to State Police K-9 units. The Southwick Police Department has a K-9 unit, but other towns like Montgomery, Russell, Southampton and Granville don't. Those units, including Southwick's, are not always immediately available, and time, especially when searching for suspect that has run from the scene of a crime or for an elderly person with dementia that has wandered away from home, becomes important, Dickinson said. 'Those minutes matter,' he said. How the dog is trained determines what types of roles it will have. Dickinson said the department is planning on using the unit primarily for searching, but it will also used for narcotics detection and general patrol duty. The training is provided by the Hampden County Sheriff's Office, Coach said. It has two certified trainers, and the service is offered at no charge to the city. The first step, however, is to find the right officer. That officer will spend a significant amount of time during the training process, which can take months, and then when on duty. Off duty, the unit usually goes home with its handler. Read the original article on MassLive.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
City councillors feel relationship with police improving
Edmonton Watch Some Edmonton city councillors said there was a noticeable and positive shift in the tone in the meeting between council, police and the police commission Friday. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson reports.
Epoch Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott Steps Down After 8-Year Tenure
SAN FRANCISCO—Mayor Daniel Lurie announced in a that Police Chief William 'Bill' Scott is leaving the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) in June ' to pursue a new opportunity' after eight years serving in the role. Scott's tenure at the SFPD has covered three mayors and one interim mayor and is the Scott oversaw major policing reforms and led the department through tides of crime, including car break-ins peaking in 2017 and increased shoplifting following the COVID-19 pandemic. 'On behalf of the city, I want to thank you, Chief Scott, for your steady leadership, your commitment to reform, and your dedicated service to the people of San Francisco,' Lurie said at the press conference. Scott said at the conference, 'Never in my wildest dreams when I told my wife in 1987, shortly after we were married, that I wanted to live in San Francisco, could I have imagined that we would get here by me becoming the chief of police of this great department in this great city. ... But some things are just meant to be.' The resignation came at a time when the city's crime rate is historically low. According to Scott, the homicide rate in 2024 was the lowest in 60 years, and gun violence has been reduced by approximately 50 percent from previous years in the southeast part of San Francisco. Related Stories 4/21/2025 4/17/2025 Property crime, which has challenged San Francisco for decades, is at a 20-year low and continues to fall, he said. Auto burglaries, which peaked in 2017 at more than 31,000 car break-ins, were reduced to less than 10,000 last year and continue to decline even more this year, Scott said. 'Those accomplishments and more occurred while we reduced uses of forces dramatically over the last eight years, cut officer-involved shootings approximately in half, and our officer-involved shooting presentations, which I believe is one of the most consistent and transparent processes in this country, has made us more transparent and increased trust with communities that we serve,' Scott said. 'There's no question that our city continues to get safer,' Lurie said in the press conference. Scott will become chief of a newly Lurie's public safety czar, former police commander Paul Yep, has been appointed interim chief, and he will return to the police department on May 12 to work with Scott and the leadership team to prepare for the transition. The search for the next SFPD leader will be initiated by the Police Commission in the coming days, Lurie said. 'I have full confidence that we will find a leader who shares our values and commitment to public safety,' Lurie said. 'I am committed to building a leadership team in the SFPD that builds on our early progress, strengthens and deepens the ranks of our officers and command staff, and uses all the tools available to continue our comeback.' Supervisor Matt Dorsey said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times on May 7: ' Bill Scott has been an accomplished reformer and extraordinary leader. On the occasion of his announced retirement today, I'm incredibly grateful for his friendship and his service to our City, and I wish him the very best on his career's next chapter. '
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police Department officers and resident recognized for outstanding service
WESTFIELD — At the city's Police Commission meeting on Monday, 14 Police Department officers and one resident were recognized for their outstanding service that included saving lives, organizing a successful sting operation, and safely taking into custody a man wanted for a stabbing. The ceremony in Council Chambers was led by Police Capt. Eric Hall, with assistance from Chief Jerome Pitoniak, Capt. Stephan Dickinson, and the members of the commission, Richard Sypek, James Irwin, and retired Judge Peter Velis. Police Commendation Shield On Oct. 18, 2021, officers responded to a call at a convenience store where its clerk had been stabbed multiple times and had significant injuries, Hall said during the ceremony. The Westfield District Court issued the suspect an arrest warrant for attempted murder, Hall said, and when officers went to the man's residence to arrest him, he had barricaded himself inside and refused to surrender. After a three-hour standoff, members of the Special Response Team came up with a plan to take the man into custody. He had covered all the windows, turned off the lights and appeared to be preparing to ambush the officers. With no choice but to forcefully enter the residence, the team went in, and despite the man's resistance, took him into custody — no officers were injured, Hall said. Because the officers displayed 'exceptional bravery' and put themselves at 'great risk' to apprehend the man with no officers being injured. 'Their actions serve as an inspiring example and reaffirm the trust and respect that the public places in our police department,' Hall said. The seven officers recognized with the shield are: Sgt. Seth Florek, Officers Aleksandr Golenev, Patrick Lusteg, Bradley White, and Steven Wood, and detectives Scott Schuster and Edward Tosado. The Police Commendation Shield was also presented to Samuel Rivera, a civilian who put out a fire that started outside a home located at the end of a dead-end street that abuts the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, where its occupants were sleeping. Halls said Rivera was walking on the trail with his niece Gianna Flanigan when they spotted the flames on the front side of the home. Both ran from the trail to the front of the house. Rivera tore open a bag of playscape sand and used it to smother the flames. Because of his quick thinking and prompt action, Hall said, the fire would have likely gone unnoticed. 'Your actions serve as an inspiring example to our community. We are proud to have you as a member of our city and look forward to your continued contributions to our community,' Hall said. Life Saving Medal Three officers were recognized with a Life Saving Medal for their actions during two medical emergencies. On Nov. 21, 2024, Officer John Fitzgibbons was on patrol when he spotted a woman unconscious on the sidewalk of Court Street. Springing into action, Fitzgibbons checked for a pulse and breathing, finding neither, Hall said. After placing her on her back, he began CPR and continued until Fire Department paramedics arrived, he said. It was learned later the woman had suffered a heart attack. 'Had it not been for Officer Fitzgibbons' quick and decisive actions, the woman wouldn't have survived,' Hall said. On Feb. 5, Officer David Burl and Sgt. Seth Florek were dispatched to a residence where it was reported there was an unresponsive man, Hall said about the other two officers awarded Life Saving Medals. When they arrived, they found the man unconscious and wedged between a bed and a dresser. The officers were able to extricate him and determined he had no pulse and was not breathing, he said. They performed CPR for several minutes before being relieved by paramedics. 'Thanks to the combined efforts of the officers and paramedics, the man regained a pulse and was transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition,' Hall said. Police Achievement Ribbon Detective Jason Williams set up a sting operation after investigating a man who used a counterfeit check to steal a city man's expensive watch, Hall said. Williams also learned that the man had scammed a person in West Springfield during his investigation. During the sting operation, the suspect was led to believe he could conduct the same scam again and the transaction would be completed in the lobby of the police department, When the man arrived, he was arrested. Hall said the man had another fake check on him and several counterfeit IDs. During his investigation, Williams learned there were 16 other cases the man was linked to in which hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of goods was stolen. The man is currently in jail in New Jersey, Hall said. 'Your actions serve as an inspiring example to your colleagues and reaffirm the trust and respect that the public places in our police department,' Hall said. Letter of Commendation On Aug. 5, 2024, Officers Bryan Turgeon and Zachary Adam responded to a residence for a man who was harming himself. Upon arrival, officers found the man in a shed, covered in blood, Hall said. He was cooperative, but not responding coherently, and bleeding from several wounds, including one on his forearm, he said. Pressure on the wound didn't slow the bleeding and they resorted to using a torniquet on his arm to control the bleeding. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment. Career Achievement Serving as a police officer in Westfield for over 30 years, and as a detective for more than a decade. Detective Anthony Tsatsos has been the lead investigator on over 1,000 cases, Hall said. His efforts have resulted in removing countless dangerous criminals from the streets of Westfield. He has consistently tackled challenging and sensitive cases, including numerous investigations into child sexual abuse. 'As a tenacious and dedicated investigator, he has consistently demonstrated excellence in his work as a detective over the past 14 plus years, earning a reputation for his commitment and skill,' Hall said.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists warn Police Commission about ICE access to LAPD data on immigrants
Activists rallied outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday to denounce department policies that allow information sharing with federal agencies, a concern amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. In a letter to the LAPD's civilian Police Commission, several watchdog groups said public assurances by city officials that L.A. won't cooperate in deportations ring hollow. Federal authorities, the letter said, already have access to the vast trove of information gathered by the LAPD's license plate readers, body-worn cameras and other surveillance methods. Read more: A rich L.A. neighborhood donated surveillance technology to the LAPD — then drama ensued The Police Department's frequent collaborations with federal law enforcement on investigations "means that any data that is obtained by LAPD will become accessible to federal immigration authorities," the activist group Stop LAPD Spying and others wrote in the letter. Since President Trump returned to office, city officials have considered different proposals to protect the city's immigrant communities, even in the face of White House threats to withhold federal funds. In December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced a sanctuary law barring city employees and city property from being used to 'investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person' for the purpose of immigration enforcement. The activists said they obtained department reports through public records requests that shed light on how interconnected police departments are with one another. As as example, they said, details about a motorist who has been pulled over by the LAPD — such as their name, date of birth, social media handles and other biographic details — could be turned over to intelligence-gathering offices called fusion centers, which local police and federal authorities use to share information on potential threats or terrorist attacks. Read more: LAPD chief ousts lawyer blamed by union for disclosing thousands of officer photos In recent years, fusion centers like the one in Norwalk have focused more on routine street crime. The ability of federal authorities to access the LAPD's information from the centers undermines the city's promises to protect immigrants, said Stop LAPD Spying organizer Hamid Khan at a rally before the commission's regular meeting on Tuesday. "And it's not [like] LAPD has to pick up the phone: It's baked in. It's on autopilot," Khan said. "The only way this will be a sanctuary city is if the source of information is stopped." The LAPD has long vowed to shield sensitive information about people whom officers encounter. A department policy called Special Order 40 prohibits initiating contact with anyone for the sole purpose of learning their immigration status. Police also are not allowed to make arrests solely for immigration reasons. The aim, officials have said, is to ensure crime victims, witnesses and others are willing to come forward without fear of being detained and removed from the country. An exception to the restrictions on cooperation with immigration officials has been carved out for law enforcement investigating serious offenses, such as violent crimes. Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, said he was present at a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in which agents swarmed an apartment building in the 400 block of East 41st Street. Also present at the scene, he said, were a number of LAPD officers. Gochez, whose group seeks to defend immigrant rights, alleged that some of those officers dragged him away when he tried to question the ICE agents, who officials later said were searching for a suspected human trafficker. The department has said its officers were there to help direct traffic, not to engage in the enforcement action — a claim Gochez disputed. "The Los Angeles Police Department did the dirty work," Gochez said. Read more: Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist and sexist comments, complaint alleges LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's record on immigration has faced renewed scrutiny since he took over the department last fall. During his tenure as Los Angeles County sheriff, which coincided with Trump's first term, McDonnell allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely in the nation's largest jail system, targeting people who'd been arrested for deportation. McDonnell and some of his supporters have said his administration handed over only the most dangerous criminals to federal authorities, in keeping with the laws. Public support for immigrants remains strong in California, which has more immigrants than any other state. According to the USC Equity Research Institute, more than 60% of L.A. County's 10 million residents either are foreign-born or have at least one immigrant parent, including about 800,000 people without legal status. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
