Fallen Officer: P.O. John Falcone: Update

I recently posted about fallen officer John Falcone of the Poughkeepsie City PD -- the hero cop who saved a three year old child before making the ultimate sacrifice. I just read a beautiful tribute post on www.policeone.com, "Mourning Our Slain LEOs" by Terrence P. Dwyer, a retired 22-year-veteran of the New York State Police. His post reminded me of standing alongside thousands of brother and sister officers at the funeral of P.O. Glen Ciano in February 2009. I had the privilege of working with Glen in the Second Precinct in Huntington for several years.

In Dwyer's post, I learned that Officer Falcone was posthumously promoted to Detective and awarded a department Medal of Honor. According to Stephen, who blogs at EMT to Physican Assistant, it was the first time ever in the history of the Poughkeepsie City PD a Medal of Honor was bestowed.

This information warranted a new post and a tremendous "thank you" to Detective Falcone for his service and sacrifice on this "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," that is celebrated on Twitter each Thursday. I am so grateful that the Poughkeepsie City PD honored Detective Falcone in this appropriate manner.

Thanks also to retired officer Terrence P. Dwyer, for his years of service, and for this graceful post honoring our slain LEOs. Thirty-two officers have died in the line of duty in the U.S. in 2011 so far -- that's thirty-two too many. I pray there will be no more.

Read more on the origin of "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday." On Twitter, use the hashtag: #tacop.

On Twitter, follow @PoliceOne and Stephen @emttopa.

Image source: EMT to Physician Assistant

Serial Killer Indicted in Cold-Case Murders

A serial killer on death row in California for the murder of a 12-year-old girl and four other women, incarcerated since 1980, has been indicted for the murder of two New York women: Cornelia Michel Crilley in 1971 and Ellen Jane Hover in 1978. Both women were 23 years old at the time of their deaths.

In a creepy twist, the suspect, 67-year-old Rodney Alcala (photo, above, via the New York Post) had appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game in the late '70s ~ and he won. However, the woman ultimately decided not to go on a date with him ~ she found him "too creepy," according to New York magazine. At the time he appeared on the show, he had already committed two murders.

Alcala, a photographer, used an alias of John Berger when he lived in New York, according to the New York Times article by Mosi Secret. The New York Daily News indicates that Alcala studied film with Roman Polanski and had a genius IQ.

The New York Daily News has a collection of 215 photos taken by Alcala in the '7os, in which NYPD is looking for clues from the public. Anyone with information about the photos is asked to call 1-800-577-TIPS.

On this Thank-a-cop-Thursday (#tacop on Twitter), I'd like to thank the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and his cold case squad who didn't give up on the murders of Ellen Jane Hover and Cornelia Michel Crilley. Thanks to Detectives Wendell Stradford, Robert Dewhurst, and (retired) Stefano Braccini for their efforts.

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: Robbery in Progress

This video is awesome ~ for a rare and unusual moment caught on tape: a robbery in progress occurring right in front of a cop.

At 5:45 a.m. on December 16, 2010, Police Officer Joshua Campbell walked in to a Walgreen's in Dayton, Ohio, to pick up a surveillance video of a robbery that occurred at 2:15 a.m., involving the use of a firearm. He waits for the clerk to finish her transaction before approaching the counter. The customer, completely unaware that a police officer stands behind him, decides to pull a robbery. Officer Campbell notices the customer reaching over the counter to grab cash from the register. Officer Campbell draws his weapon and confronts him. The pair end up in a violent struggle, which can be seen on another video, which includes commentary by Officer Campbell.

Who says there's never a cop around when you need one? Thanks, Officer Campbell, for a job well done!

Don't forget ~ today is "Thank-a-Cop Thursday" on Twitter, using the hashtag #tacop.

"Keep A Cop Bored" video

Check out this light-hearted video "Keep a Cop Bored" to encourage drivers to stay home to drink.

Thanks to videographer Frank Vespe, the East Hampton Police Department, and all the parties involved who supported this project. Check out Erin Geismar's story of the video in Newsday. The video stars East Hampton Police Officer Matt Rodriguez, and the voice over is provided by WKJY "KJOY" radio DJ Steve Harper.

Twitter fans: Don't forget, Thursdays are "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," using the hashtag #tacop.

May everyone have a safe New Year's!

Keeping Kids Safe in Cars

Did you know that on the average, five children a day are killed in car crashes? That's a tragic statistic, and one that could be reduced through the proper use of child safety seats.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, ages 3-14, in the U.S. Statistics show that nearly 80 percent were unrestrained or were in adult seat belts.

Child Passenger Safety is addressed today at NPR.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will hold a forum today and is open to all, and is free to attend ~ no registration required. The forum, "Child Passenger Safety in the Air and Automobile" will take place at NTSB's Board Room and Conference Center, 439 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington D.C. (On Twitter, follow #NTSB today).

The event will be webcast live.

One of my former partners in the police department is a certified technician who assists motoring parents to ensure the safety seat for their infant or child is positioned properly.

For today's #TACOP (Thank-a-Cop-Thursday), I'd like to thank him and all certified technicians ~ law enforcement officers, health officials, and other concerned parties ~ who spend their time making sure our future citizens are prevented from becoming one of those five unfortunate losses on the roadways.

For a safety seat check in your area, visit http://www.seatcheck.org or call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK.

Here are ten tips to keep a child safe while riding in a vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also offers information on keeping children safe in vehicles. Don't forget to register your car seat so you can be notified in the event of a recall.

On Twitter: @NHTSAgov, @childseatsafety @NTSB

On Facebook: Child Seat Safety NHTSA

For those on Twitter, don't forget to #TACOP!

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: Fire Rescue

Two Suffolk County Police Officers rescued a 53-year-old woman and a 67-year-old disabled man from a burning house in East Islip on November 21, 2010. Both victims were transported to Southside Hospital.

According to Newsday, four fire departments responded to handle the fire. The Suffolk County Arson Squad is investigating the cause of the fire.

On this special "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday" (known as #tacop on Twitter), a huge Thanksgiving thanks goes out to Officers Jonathan Allen and Kelly Hendrickson of the Third Precinct for the awesome job they do everyday, and for saving the lives of two Long Island residents.

A special thanks to Mike Ellis (@EmergCommNetwrk) and Lauri Stevens (@lawscomm) for their efforts in the creation of Thank-a-Cop-Thurdsay.

(image source for Thanksgiving clip art: www.theholidayspot.com and for flame photo here.)

"Courage to Serve" Exhibit

An exhibit honoring police officers killed or injured in the line of duty by drunk drivers is on display at the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, Long Island, until November 21, 2010 (*update: See the video below of the news conference and display).

According to Newsday, the relatives and supporters of Nassau police officer Kenneth Baribault and Suffolk police officer Glen Ciano gathered at the mall in Nassau County this past Monday to unveil the memorial, which is intended to remind drivers during the holiday season that driving under the influence can ruin many lives -- including those of police officers, such as Baribault and Ciano, whose patrol cars were struck while on duty. The photos below depict the mangled patrol vehicles of Officers Baribault and Ciano (photos via NY Daily News).

The memorial was unveiled less than 12 hours after a DWI arrest of a Brooklyn man who struck and killed an off-duty NYPD officer on the Northern State Parkway.

Suffolk Police Officer Glen Ciano, a 22-year veteran, was struck by a suspected drunk driver and killed on February 22, 2009. Nassau County officer Ken Baribault was severely injured on May 18, 2008, after his patrol unit was struck by an accused drunk driver on the Long Island Expressway during a traffic stop of a suspected drunk driver.

The exhibit was made possible through the efforts of Baribault's sister, Danielle Rella; Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

*****

On Twitter, today is "Thank-a-Cop Thursday." I thank Officers Ciano, Baribault, and all law enforcement officers in New York for their devoted service and sacrifices to make Long Island a safer place to live. As a Suffolk County Police Officer for 21 years, I had the privilege of working with Glen Ciano in the Second Precinct; he is sorely missed by his friends, family, and colleagues.

If you are an active user of Twitter, you can participate in "Thank-a-Cop Thursday" by using the hashtag #tacop. Follow Mike Ellis of Emergency Communications Network, the man behind #tacop, at @EmergCommNetwrk. You can also follow Mothers Against Drunk Driving @MADDOnline.

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: US Marshals Locate Sex Offender

Today is "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday" on Twitter. The hashtag is #tacop. For the origin of #tacop, read here.

I'd like to thank the U.S. Marshals for locating a sex offender wanted by the Southampton Town Police, who was living in a storage facility in Islandia, New York. He had failed to register a new address since May. Read the Newsday coverage here. The sex offender had a bed, space heater, DVD player and television, and was drawing electricity from the storage facility.

If you're active on Twitter, don't forget to thank your favorite cops!

Thank-a-Cop-Thursday: Dancing Traffic Cop

Today is "Thank-a-Cop-Thursday" on Twitter (using the hashtag #tacop).

I'd like to thank the NYPD Dancing Traffic Cop Wil Bert Castillo for having a great attitude and some pretty awesome moves.

For more information on #tacop, read this article on ConnectedCOPS.net.

"Thank-a-Cop-Thursday"

"Thank-a-Cop-Thursday," or #tacop as it is known on Twitter, is the brainchild of Mike Ellis, a Customer Relationship Manager for Emergency Communications Network. You can find Mike on Twitter @EmergCommNetwrk. Mike explains how #tacop came into existence on ConnectedCOPS.net.

So, why not join in and thank a cop on Twitter today ~ or any day.

Thanks, Mike, for recognizing law enforcement officers in the U.S. and around the world, and the fine job they do each and every day.

I was honored that Mike included me in his debut #tacop; he thanked me for my years of service. I tweeted back a kind thank you. He even included it in his explanation post!

Not on Twitter yet? Not sure what it's all about, or how to start? Check out this "Guide to Twitter - The Ultimate Guide for Everything Twitter."