Venezuelan Drug Trafficking Threatens U.S. Gains in Counternarcotics
from The Los Angeles Chronicle
Venezuela´s cooperation on counternarcotics has deteriorated according to a report released today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report, requested by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., in February 2008, is an effort by Lugar to ensure that funding for United States Government policies designed to interdict narcotics being trafficked through Venezuela in transit to the United States are being used effectively. More

OnStar Launches Industry-Exclusive Technology to Help with Safe and Quick Recovery
from Reuters
OnStar is expanding on its Stolen Vehicle Assistance services with the announcement of a new technology that will give law enforcement another critical tool to help safely and quickly recover subscribers' stolen vehicles. This new technology is called Remote Ignition Block and will allow an OnStar Advisor to send a remote signal to a subscriber's stolen vehicle to prevent the vehicle from restarting once the ignition is turned off. This capability will not only help authorities recover stolen vehicles, but can also prevent dangerous high speed pursuits from starting. More

Program Alerts Drivers to Speed Cameras
from WBAL-TV
Speed cameras are already in Maryland, taking the license plates of speeding drivers, and while the tickets can add up fast, some drivers have already found a way to avoid them. The new program, called Phantom Alert, is installed into GPS units. It collects speed and red light camera locations from police Web sites. Subscribers can also supply camera locations and where police mobile units are parked. More

Disabled Officer, Family Get Glimpse of New Home After Show's Makeover
from The Dallas Morning News
Carlton Marshall can finally tuck his children into bed. In the two years since the Dallas police officer suffered disabling injuries after being shot during a 2007 raid, he couldn't get around in his rural Lancaster home. The narrow doorways kept him out of his children's room. In less than a week, crews and volunteers from the ABC reality television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built a spacious, wheelchair-accessible house for the family of four. More

Role of Constable Changing
from WPSD-TV
You don't often hear a sheriff say he needs fewer patrols out on the streets, but a Tennessee sheriff is doing just that. The author is talking about county constables. The position involves a number of responsibilities – everything from transporting inmates and serving warrants to courtroom security and traffic control. In Henry County, Tennessee there are five constables. All of whom may soon be without a gun or other tools that allow them to enforce the law. More

Pasco Deputies Use New Technology to Identify Suspect
from CNN
A man, who doused himself with gasoline and charged at an officer, burst into flames when he was hit with a Taser, police in Australia said. "He was carrying a lighter and pouring himself with petrol," said Inspector Bill Munnee with the West Australian Police. "We don't know if the lighter set it off or something from the Taser." More

Drug-Sniffing Labs Get Police Badges, Praise
from the New Haven Register
One of the Police Department’s newest members sniffed out $65,000 worth of heroin in his first ten days on the job. He got lunch for his trouble. Recently, department’s two new narcotics dogs received their department badges in a short ceremony at police headquarters and high praise from their boss. More

Texas Reporter Has Seen Unrivaled Number of U.S. Executions
from CNN
It takes seven minutes to execute a death row inmate, according to the state of Texas. At that rate, Mike Graczyk has spent about 40 hours of his life watching men – and a few women – die. Graczyk, a correspondent for The Associated Press, is believed to hold a macabre record. He's almost certainly watched more executions than anyone else in the United States. More

Pennsylvania, Inmate Advocates Challenge Pardons Ruling
from The Philadelphia Inquirer
The state and inmate advocates have challenged a federal judge's ruling last month that Pennsylvania should not apply its tougher 1997 pardon standards to inmates sentenced to life terms before that year. Caputo's ruling revived a 12 year old lawsuit challenging a 1997 change that toughened the voting rules of the state Board of Pardons. Inmate advocates appealed the ruling because Caputo did not order officials to reinstate pre-1997 rules for the affected lifers. More

Jail Difficulties Detailed On Tour
from the Southwest Times Record
Sebastian County Judge David Hudson explained a proposed new jail billing system to Fort Smith elected officials recently, at the same time welcoming any suggestions they might have in keeping those costs down. The remarks came at the beginning of a briefing and tour of the county jail by both county and city officials. The county and city have agreed to end the practice of charging the city a set amount — $500,000 per year — for housing all the city’s jailed inmates. Under a new contract, Fort Smith will be charged a daily fee for each prisoner, the same rate it charges other cities that use the jail. More