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Announcements and News

Turkish National Police Recognize VCPA (12-29-07)
The Turkish National Police have recognized and honored the VCPA by posting information about the Best State Crime Prevention Program award, presented to the VCPA by the National Crime Prevention Council, on the Turkish website - International Strategic Research Forum.

The VCPA has been partnering with the Turkish National Police since early 2006. Nearly 200 representatives of the Turkish National Police and the Turkish Institute of Police Studies (TIPS) are attending Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University, as well as many other universities across the US, to earn advanced higher education degrees. In the fall of 2006, the VCPA partnered with the TIPS program to develop and conduct a one day crime prevention seminar that was attended by 75 individuals at VCU in Richmond. This past summer, at the invitation of the Turkish National Police, VCPA Executive Director Patrick Harris presented a workshop presentation crime prevention at the Second International Conference on Democracy and Global Security in Istanbul.

The VCPA has been working with Major Ulvi Kun, who is very interested in incorporating more crime prevention and CPTED into the policing services offered by the Turkish National Police. Since he has been at VCU, Major Kuhn has earned his masters degree and is currently working on his Ph.D. Major Kun is an individual member of the VCPA and the TIPS program is an organization member. At the request of Major Kun, the VCPA submitted a training and technical assistance proposal for the Turkish National Police. This proposal is currently being reviewed by Turkish National Police command staff. More information about the Turkish National Police and the TIPS Program can be found at http://tipsonline.org

VCPA Interview - Code Red! Radio Show - 8th National Conference on Preventing Crime (12-19-07)
Listen to a radio interview of Kim Vann and Ed O' Carroll taped at the 8th National Conference on Preventing Crime in Atlanta in October at Code Red!
Alfred McComber, a seasoned law enforcement veteran, high profile dignitary protection agent and host of the Code Red! radio show dedicated to Personal Security, Safety and Emergency Preparedness issues heard on Federal News Radio, AM 1050 in Washington, DC and around the world via the internet at: www.coderedradioshow.com conducted a special, live two-hour Code Red! radio broadcast from the National Crime Prevention Council's 2007 Conference.

Bike Smart Virginia Helmet Grants (12-19-07)
Bike Smart, Virginia! is a state program to prevent bicycle-related injuries in communities. A critical component of the program is the promotion of proper helmet usage when a child engages in any wheeled mode of transportation (i.e. bicycle, inline skates, scooters, skateboards). Funding is now available for communities to implement helmet safety projects for school age children. Organizations selected will receive educational materials (brochures, posters, videos and a bike rodeo guide) and up to $1,000 for the purchase of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) certified helmets to implement a helmet distribution project targeting low income children. Approximately 55 grants will be awarded. Applications are due January 15, 2008. Grant Application

Heather Funkhouser Board, MPH, Director of Unintentional Injury Prevention
Division of Injury and Violence Prevention, Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor St, 8th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
(804)864-7738   FAX (804 )864-7748 www.vahealth.org/civp

Certfied Crime Prevention Communities (12-16-07)

The City of Radford was recognized as the 14th Certified Crime Prevention Community in Virginia at the December 13 meeting of the Criminal Justice Services Board (CJSB) in Richmond. In addition to the certification of the City of Radford, Henrico County and Fairfax County were each recertfied as a Certified Crime Prevention Community. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the Certified Crime Prevention Community program encourages localities to develop and implement collaborative community safety plans within a flexible framework designed by the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Furthermore, it provides an ongoing process by which communities can reassess and update their plans to address emerging community safety issues. To obtain certification, a locality must meet 12 core community safety elements/strategies augmented by a minimum of 7 approved optional elements. Applications for the program are reviewed and approved by the Criminal Justice Services Board and DCJS manages the program. More information: Certified Crime Prevention Community Program Representing their respective communities at the CJSB meeting were: Master Police Officer Patrick Lucas, Fairfax County Police Department; CPTED Planner Kim Vann and Chief of Police Henry Stanley, Henrico County Division of Police; and Sergeant P. J. Rutzinski and Sergeant Kenny Ford, Radford Police Department.

2008 - 2009 Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (12-12-07)

The Department of Criminal Justice Services announces the availability of federal grant funds through the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). Grant applications may be submitted for new projects in the following areas:

1) School and Campus Safety Projects

2) School Resource Officers

3) Crisis Intervention Team Pilot Projects

4) Assessing the Impact of and Responding to the Mentally Ill in the Criminal/Juvenile Justice Systems

5) Crime & Delinquency Prevention in Minority/Immigrant Communities

6) Recruiting and Retention of Criminal Justice Professionals

7) Criminal Justice System Improvements.

Successful applicants will receive funding for 12 months, starting July 1, 2008. Certain limitations and requirements apply to these funds, including the following:

• Grant funds may be used to pay no more than 75% of the cost of a project. The remaining funds must be provided, in cash, from non-federal sources.

• Grant funds may not be used to purchase equipment unless it is a necessary part of an approved project. Grant funds may not be used for construction or renovation.

• Grant funds may not be used to supplant state or local funds that would otherwise be available for these purposes.

Grant guidelines and instructions for preparing and submitting grant applications may be obtained from the Department’s website here. If you are unable to access the information or download the documents, contact Virginia Sneed, at (804) 786-5491 or virginia.sneed@dcjs.virginia.gov, to obtain copies of the grant guidelines and application forms. Completed grant applications for these funds must be received at DCJS no later than 4pm on Friday, February 29, 2008.

Body Armor Saves Lives (11-29-07)
On December 23, 1975, Seattle Police Department Patrolman Raymond T. Johnson stood in the checkout line at a local market when a robbery suspect entered the store and brandished a weapon. Johnson lunged for the suspect’s gun. In the violent struggle that ensued, the suspect emptied his .38 caliber pistol, striking Johnson in the left hand and twice in the chest before fleeing. Johnson survived with severe hand injuries, chest bruises, and a unique distinction—the first law enforcement officer saved in a field test of a new generation of soft body armor being conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Johnson was wearing body armor made with Kevlar®, an extraordinarily strong fabric developed by DuPont. NIJ, in partnership with the U.S. Army, began a program in the early 1970s to develop lightweight body armor woven from Kevlar®. Field testing began in the summer of 1975, with 5,000 armors provided to 15 urban police departments. Less than 6 months later, Johnson was the first officer saved by one of the field test armors. In all, 17 other armor-wearing officers were saved during the 1-year field test.

There have been over 3,000 other stories like that of Seattle Police Officer Raymond T. Johnson since that shooting two days before Christmas in 1975. That’s 3,000 families spared the anguish of death or debilitating injury to a loved one in the line of duty, and the evidence is clear. An officer not wearing armor is 14 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury than an officer who is. Therefore, the most important message for the law enforcement community is that officers should continue to wear their body armor.

Unfortunately, many Virginia law enfrocment agencies do not have a policy requiring officers to wear their issued body armor while on duty, it's an option. What's your departments policy on wearing body armor?

Source: Body Armor Safety Initiative: To Protect and Serve…Better, NIJ Journal No. 254 • July 2006, National Institute of Justice

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/journals/254/body_armor.html

National Crime Prevention Association (11-28-07)

The National Crime Prevention Association (NCPA) at the National Crime Prevention Council is an individual membership association for crime prevention practitioners. This association’s mission is to provide a national resource to enhance and promote crime prevention and provide for the development of professional crime prevention practitioners. NCPA will offer training, resources, conference opportunities, and information-sharing outlets for practitioners. This will help programs grow and expand as well as educate practitioners about new emerging trends in the crime prevention field. All membership fees will be waived until July 1, 2008. More information is available at: http://www.ncpc.org/programs/national-crime-prevention-association

Benefits associated with joining the NCPA include:

• Training at the regional and national level
• Ability to network across the country
• Access to publications and crime prevention materials
• A training conference geared toward crime prevention programs
• Ability to access crime prevention training online
• Networking opportunities
• Certification
• CEU credits for various training programs

Past President Kim Vann Invited to Speak at National Conference (11-02-07)
Kim Vann, VCPA Immediate Past President and Henrico County Police CPTED Planner, has been invited to speak on CPTED at the 2008 annual conference of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) The conference will be held in Dallas, Texas. ASPA, which was founded in 1939, is the leading public service organization that advances the art, science, teaching, and practice of public and non-profit administration.

More information about ASPA can be found at: http://www.aspanet.org/scriptcontent/ASPAgeneral.cfm

Neighborhood Watch in Bristol (11-02-07)
The Bristol Neighborhood Watch program and Allen Slagle, past President of the Mountain Empire Crime Prevention Association, are highlighted in the most recent National Sheriiffs' Association on-line E-Zine. The E-Zine states in part: Residents of Leisure Park Towers, an independent living community for senior citizens in Bristol , formed the city's first Neighborhood Watch in 2000, following a spate of petty crimes and suspicious activities taking place near the complex. Today, Bristol is home to 16 Neighborhood Watch programs and, in 2002, the city became the state's third Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services-certified Crime Prevention Community."

The full article can be read at: http://www.usaonwatch.org/EZine/EZineMainArticle.php?EZineID=20071011

Crime Prevention Committee - International Association of Chiefs of Police (11-02-07)
The Internal International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) supports a standing committee on Crime Prevention. The mission of the committee as stated in the strategic plan Towards 2000 and Beyond is: " Establish the prevention of crime as fundamental to a free and safe society; anchor crime prevention in each department's organizational policy; and strive to develop crime prevention as the top priority for comprehensive crime control initiatives."

The full Crime Prevention strategic plan can be viewed at: http://www.theiacp.org/div_sec_com/committees/CPCstratplan.htm

The link for the IACP Crime Prevention Committee is: http://www.theiacp.org/div_sec_com/committees/Crime_Prev.htm

The October 2007 issue of the Police Chief magazine has a special focus on crime prevention. The crime prevention issue can viewed by highlighting the magazine cover to the right.

ICE Campaign - "In Case of Emergency" (10-24-07)
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends. If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency? Hence this “ICE" (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of "ICE" is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name "ICE" (In Case Of Emergency).  For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc.

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as "ICE".

Bright Lights on Virginia Beach (10-23-07)
About two years ago we featured a story about bright lights being used by the City of Virginia Beach along Atlantic Avenue at the beachfront. The city set up brighter street lights on Atlantic Avenue between 17th and 25th streets that switch on at 1:15 a.m., 45 minutes before business are required by state law to stop serving alcohol, to discourage sidewalk stragglers from hanging around after hours. The two pictures below demonstrate the impact of the bright lights. Late night businesses along the beachfront sued the city to stop the use of the bright lights, but their lawsuit was not successful. For more information contact MPO Jeff Eaton at bjeaton@vbgov.com with the Virginia Beach Police Department.

Former VCPA Board Member Seriously Injured (10-21-07)

Sergeant David Tucker, with the Fairfax Police Department and a past member of the VCPA Board of Directors, was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last week. Dave finished midnight patrol and was headed home on his off-duty motorcycle when he was struck by a car that turned into his path. He suffered a severely broken pelvis, a fractured L-vertebrae, some bladder trauma, a torn urethra, a broken collarbone and some bleeding on the brain. VCPA board member Jim Hamilton visited Dave on October 17.  Dave was in good spirits and an operation to stop some internal bleeding went well. He will have numerous operations in the near future and continues to be in severe pain. Notes of encouragements and get well can be sent to his home.

                6603 Indian Moon
                Manassas, VA 20112

VCPA Member Promoted to Captain (10-21-07)

Congratulations to Angie Frye who has been promoted to Captain of the Administrative Services Division with the Radford Police Department. The promotion places here second in command with the department. Captain Frye is a long time member and supporter of the VCPA. She has also maintained her Crime Prevention Specialist certification as she has risen through the ranks with the Radford Police Department.

Auto Theft Prevention Resources - National Crime Insurance Bureau - https://www.nicb.org (10-17-07)

Top Ten Nationally Stolen Vehicles

            Rank     Vehicle                                               Year

            1          Honda Civic                                         1995

            2          Honda Accord                                      1991

            3          Toyota Camry                                      1989

            4          Ford F150 Series                                 1997

            5          Dodge Ram Pickup                               2005

            6          Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup      1994

            7          Nissan Sentra                                      1994

            8          Dodge Caravan                                     1994

            9          Saturn SL                                            1994

           10         Acura Integra                                        1990

Chesterfield County Police Department - Strategic Plan FY 2008 - 2012

GOAL 3: To increase the proportion of crimes cleared by arrest.

3.1: Maintain a 50% Incident Based Reporting Group A clearance rate

• Cold case reviews
• Weekly staff review of reported crimes
• Continue to promote Crime Solvers Program
• Expand community policing programs
• Continue School Crime Solvers Program
• Continue emphasis on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

GOAL 6: Increase citizen safety and perception of safety

6.1: Respond to 100% of crime prevention (support) program requests

• Fill all crime prevention officer vacancies
• Increase safety and crime prevention programs
• Emphasize Crime Solvers Program
• Increase public service announcements
• Provide Neighborhood Watch information via the internet
• Continue Apartment Coalition

6.2 Provide the community with an enhanced child safety education information and support

• Increase school and safety programs
• Obtain funding for two additional school resource officers
• Obtain funding for six additional child safety officers over the next five years
  
  Are crime prevention objectives included your department's strategic plan? If they are, please forward them to vaprevent@aol.com. We are developing a link highlighting crime prevention objectives that are included in law enforcement agency strategic plans.

VCPA Wins National Crime Prevention Awards (09-20-07)
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) announced today that the Virginia Crime Prevention Association (VCPA) is one of six recipients of its national McGruff's 2007 Crime Prevention Awards of Excellence. VCPA President Edward C. O’Carroll, Lieutenant with the Fairfax County Police Department and past president Ms. Kimberly L. Vann, CPTED Planner for the Henrico County Division of Police, will accept the award October 4, on behalf of the VCPA at the NCPC’s national conference in Atlanta, GA. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for their extraordinary accomplishments to prevent crime and create safer and more caring communities.

The NCPC award letter stated that Virginia law enforcement and other organizations know the value of working with the VCPA. The VCPA has saved them more than $700,000 in annual training costs and conducted over 110 training courses and presentations that reached nearly 3,700 individuals in more than 200 locations. Using a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, the VCPA hosted two forums for crime prevention program leaders from twenty states to discuss opportunities to enhance crime prevention services in their areas.

Alfonso E. Lenhardt, NCPC president and CEO of the NCPC said, “It is my honor to recognize these accomplished citizens and organizations that help advance the NCPC mission of helping people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. It is the dedication and hard work of many across the country that gives us the opportunity to feel safe and secure as we go about our daily lives at work, home, and school.”

Other organizations and individuals that received McGruff's 2007 Crime Prevention Awards were:

Nick Arlt (De Pere, Wisconsin ), Crime Prevention Citizen/Volunteer of the Year

Daryl Pearson (Walla Walla, Washington), Crime Prevention Officer of the Year

Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County (Miami, Florida), Crime Prevention Program of the Year (Over 250,000 Population)

Ewa Weed & Seed (Ewa Beach, Hawaii), Crime Prevention Program of the Year (Local or City of Under 250,000 Population) 

Darkness to Light (Charleston, South Carolina), Crime Prevention Program of the Year (State or National)

National Crime Prevention Council

2345 Crystal Drive

Arlington, VA  22202-4801

SunTrust - My Cause Donations to the VCPA (08-30-07)

In the spirit of support, SunTrust Bank recently launched the My Cause promotion to help raise funds for charitable organizations like the Virginia Crime Prevention Association (VCPA). If you have any circumstances that lead you to open a checking account between now and October 12, 2007, we ask that you consider starting a checking account with SunTrust and participating in the My Cause promotion by requesting that $100 be donated to the nonprofit 501(c)(3) Virginia Crime Prevention Association in your name. All donations we receive through this promotion will be used to support VCPA crime programs and services. SunTrust has made the process very easy and has provided the steps below to help you participate in the My Cause promotion.

1. Go to your nearest SunTrust branch and open any type of checking account (personal or business) during the promotion period. You will receive a SunTrust Visa®

Check Card. Please use the check card to make any purchase by November 15, 2007

2. After using your Visa check card to make a purchase, please visit suntrust.com/mycause. This Web site will provide you with a redemption form and a chance to designate the Virginia Crime Prevention Association as the recipient of the $100 donation from SunTrust. You can also call 866.266.2802 to complete your form via phone. You must submit the completed redemption form by November 15, 2007.

If you have questions about the promotion or would like more information, you can visit suntrust.com/mycause.

Office Depot VCPA Credits

If you shop at Office Depot you can help save the VCPA money by having your Office Depot purchases credited to the VCPA Office Depot Rewards Program. After you complete the sale give the cashier the VCPA telephone number 804-231-3800 and he/she can use it to add Reward Points to the VCPA account based on the amount of your purchase. It costs you nothing but provides the VCPA Reward Points that can be used to reduce the cost of purchases.

Family and Intimate Partner Homicide 2005 - Virginia (08-30-07)
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has conducted homicide surveillance since 1999. The most recent annual report provides detailed information about all homicides for 2005 and summary profiles for the seven year period from 1999 to 2005. Homicides related to family and intimate partner violence are emphasized throughout the document. Three trends stand out:

First, nearly one in three homicides is related to family and intimate partner violence. Changes in law, policy and practice between 1999 and 2005 have not significantly altered this pattern.

Second, racial disparities, which have been identified for many other health indices, are also found in intimate partner related homicides. In the seven year period studied here, Black Virginians were at significantly higher risk for death resulting from intimate partner violence when compared with White Virginians.

Third, infants continue to be our most vulnerable citizens. There was a downward trend in infant homicide between 1999 and 2005. At the same time, infants remain at highest risk for family and intimate partner violence when compared with other age groups.

Some would say that, because these deaths occur on the private terrain of family and intimate life, they cannot be avoided. I disagree with that opinion. I urge you to read this report, to review risk factors and characteristics of these homicides, and to reflect on your own abilities to address family and intimate partner violence. Whether a victim is eight minutes old or eighty years old, every violent death is a premature death that suggests continued gaps and failures in our public health and

public safety efforts. I believe in the power of prevention and in the efficacy of communities to take action to end violence in the Commonwealth.The full report study may be found at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/medexam/documents/fiph2005%20final.pdf

National Crime Prevention Association (06-26-07)

The National Crime Prevention Association (NCPA) at the National Crime Prevention Council is  an individual membership association for crime prevention practitioners. This association’s mission is to provide a national resource to enhance and promote crime prevention and provide for the development of professional crime prevention practitioners. NCPA will offer training, resources, conference opportunities, and information-sharing outlets for practitioners. This will help programs grow and expand as well as educate practitioners about new emerging trends in the crime prevention field. The initial launch of this association is scheduled for July 1, 2007. All membership fees will be waived until July 1, 2008. For more information about NCPA, please contact Shaun Campbell at scampbell@ncpc.org. To become a member, please contact Nicole Nasiatka at nnasiatka@ncpc.org. Information will also be posted when available at www.ncpc.org.

Crime Prevention Officer Vincent "Vinnie" DarConte Succumbs to Accident Injuries (05-29-07)

Master Police Officer Vincent "Vinnie: DarConte,with the Fairfax County Police Department, died over the weekendfrom injurieshe received in a motorcycle on May 19. Vinnie was a Crime Prevention Officer assigned to the Sully District Station and had been a member of the VCPA since December 2003. Once we receive more details, the VCPA will send it's sympathies to the Darconte family.

Chief of Police Colonel Dave Rohrer sent a out the following notice about his death.

It is with profound sadness that I regret to announce that Master Police Officer Vincent "Vinnie" Darconte died a short while ago as a result of the injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident early last Saturday morning, May 19. He was surrounded by family and friends.

I know that you join me in extending our deepest sympathy to Vinnie's wife Donna and son Matthew, and to Vinnie's and Donna's extended families, and I ask that you keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers. We also extend our sympathy to the Sully District Station where Vinnie was a Crime Prevention Officer, and also to the Reston and McLean District Stations where Vinnie worked during his career as a part of our 'family.'

Prevention Wins Every Time (05-22-07)
ACUDAT is an acronym we use for our version of COMPSTAT. It stands for Analyzing Crime Using Data About Trends. ACUDAT is a monthly meeting I host on the third Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the LPD assembly room at headquarters. Any officer of any rank and any civilian employee is welcome to attend. It's optional, and open to all. Generally about 20 to 30 people are there.

The purpose of the meeting is to review our current crime trends, patterns, cases, and suspects. We are trying, once a month, to step back from the volume and from the daily drum beat of activity to take a look at a bigger picture: the entire city, the broader pattern, how we're doing, and the connections that might get lost otherwise in the sheer volume of what we do. Read more about how Chief Tom Cassidy in Lincoln, Nebraska using crime analysis data to guide his crime prevention efforts at http://lpd304.blogspot.com/2007/05/prevention-wins-every-time.html

School Violence Prevention Resources (04-20-07)

In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, the Virginia Department of Health - Division of Injury and Violence Prevention has recently posted a web page on responding and preventing school violence. The web page directs viewers to useful state and national resources.  Website address:  http://www.vahealth.org/civp/educator/schoolviolence.asp"

29th VCPA Crime Prevention Conference A Big Success (04-06-07)

Over 300 individuals from 138 organizations attended the 29th Annual VCPA Crime Prevention Conference in Henrico County, March 18 - 21. This year’s conference theme, Safer By Design, was selected by VCPA President Kim Vann, the CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Planner for the Henrico County Division of Police. She designed the conference to focus on safety that can be accomplished through design also known as CPTED. The conference crime prevention training was designed to appeal to planners, architects and designers who are more frequently encountering CPTED concepts when they bring plans to Virginia’s local government boards for approval. Training on a variety of other crime prevention topics including school safety, senior safety, domestic violence, drug abuse prevention and others was also provided.The conference began on Sunday, March 18 with a Safety and Security Fair that was open to the public. Visitors to the Safety Fair were greeted by a 30 tall McGruff inflated balloon. Shred-it®, a nation-wide document destruction company, provided free document shredding to help prevent Identity Theft. H.E.A.T., the Virginia State Police auto theft prevention program, provided free VIN (vehicle identification number) window etching to help prevent auto theft.The conference was opened on Monday morning, March 19 with welcomes from VCPA President Kim Vann; Colonel Henry Stanley, Chief of Police of the Henrico County Division of Police; Mr. George Drumwright, Henrico County Deputy Manager ; and Mr. Leon Baker representing the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The keynote speaker for the opening session of the conference was the Honorable Alfonso E. Lenhardt, President and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council. Fifteen chiefs of police, sheriffs and criminal justice leaders also attended the opening ceremonies to show their support for the work the VCPA has done to educate officers and staff in crime prevention. Day two of the conference included presentations that focused on the Safer By Design conference theme: Designing for the Public Realm - Perimeter Security Post 9/11 and New Urbanist Design and Crime Prevention.

Crime Prevention Awards

The guest speaker for the VCPA Crime Prevention Awards luncheon was the Honorable Robert F. McDonnell, Attorney General of Virginia. He and Secretary of Public Safety, the Honorable John Marshall assisted President Kim Vann in presenting awards to the following individuals and organizations:

Citizen Award: Kimberly Nelson, Abingdon
Community Organization Award: Newport News Crime Watch Coalition, Lou Farrar

Private Professional Service Award: Mona Vinson, Bristol
Private Industry Award: Wal Mart # 1292, Christiansburg, Daniel Olayvar
Regional Crime Prevention Association Award: Southwest Regional Crime Prevention Association

Professional Service Award: Crystal R. Delk, Henrico County Division of Police
Law Enforcement Executive Award: Henry W. Stanley, Henrico County Division of Police
O. W. Cundiff Statewide Service Award: Richard Arrington, Department of Criminal Justice Services

Election

Following the awards presentation, the new elected officers of the VCPA were announced. Deputy Scott Harrell, with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, was elected Second Vice-president and Officer Patrick Lucas, with Fairfax County Police Department, was elected Secretary. They will serve with incoming President Lieutenant Edward O’Carroll, with the Fairfax County Police Department, and incoming Vice President Deputy David Barke, with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office. The VCPA also paid a special tribute to Deputy Barke who just returned in February from a tour of duty in Iraq with the Virginia National Guard.

The conference concluded on Wednesday March 21, with the HEAT LEO Awards that recognized auto theft prevention, detection and investigation achievements by ocal and state law enforcement officers. Superintendent Steve Flaherty also announced the creation of the Robert. Hill Sr. Virginia State Police Crime Prevention Award and presented it to the wife of Senior Trooper Hill. Senior Trooper Hill, a Crime Prevention Specialist, was killed in the line-of-on duty on Friday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2006, in Southampton County while making a traffic stop. He was the first Crime Prevention Specialist killed in the line of duty.The conference included 7 plenary speakers, 20 educational workshops, 2 crime prevention tours, the VCPA Crime Prevention Awards, the Help Eliminate Auto Theft LEO Awards, election of VCPA officers, a Safety and Technology Fair, 7 crime prevention exhibitors and a Bowl Over Crime Fund Raiser.  The Department of Criminal Justice Services approved the conference for 18.25 hours of law enforcement in-service training credit. Fifty-nine organizations supported the conference with cash and in-kind donations.  Twelve organizations provided cash or in-kind support of $1,000 or more. The conference was supported by 35 volunteers from the Chesterfield County Police Department and the Henrico County Division of Police.

Local New Media Coverage
WWBT (NBC) TV 12: http://www.nbc12.com/news/state/6610932.html
WTVR (CBS) TV 6: http://www.wtvr.com/Global/story.asp?s=6244961
WXEX (ABC) TV 8: new story WRVA radio: interview

Richmond Times Dispatch: quarter page ads March 15 and March 17

Designers of Bridge Predicted Safety Problems (01-24-07)

A Montgomery County public works official acknowledged last night that designers of a pedestrian bridge under the Capital Beltway in Silver Spring had foreseen safety problems in a dark stretch but had thought that design features and lighting would minimize the danger.Bruce E. Johnston, who helped steer the $7.7 million project to completion last summer, told a community group last night that after three recent armed robberies on the bridge, county officials recognize that they did not sufficiently heed concerns about pedestrian safety on the bridge.

Read the full article from the Washington Post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/22/AR2007012201625.html

Local TV news story about the bridge: http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2143122&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Crime Prevention: The Law Enforcement Officer's Practical Guide
Rick Arrington, a Past President of the Virginia Crime Prevention Association and now with the Department of Criminal Justice Services, has written a handbook for crime prevention, Crime Prevention: The Law Enforcement Officer's Guide. This great new crime prevention resource is published by:

Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
40 Tall Pine Drive
Sudbury, MA 01776  Toll free: (800) 832-0034
E-mail: info@jbpub.com ,    ISBN 13: 9780763741303 , ISBN 10: 0763741302
Price: $39.95 (Sugg. US List) Training Site Discount
Cover: Paperback,  Pages: 242,  Copyright: 2007

This reference provides valuable information on crime prevention techniques for creating and implementing crime prevention programs and managing successful awareness campaigns.  Included are steps for the prevention of personal and business theft, property crime, fraud, and violent crime, among others. It covers the many physical devices available to aid in crime prevention and how to use them effectively, as well as prevention techniques using environmental design.  Charts and photos help illustrate the author's explanations, and a comprehensive appendix includes many of the forms and documents that are used in the field of crime prevention.

Vice President David Barke in Iraq (12-31-06) A Christmas photo from VCPA Vice President David Barke who has been serving in Iraq with the 224th Aviation Unit - Virginia National Guard since February. David and his unit will be returning home soon.

Attorney General Releases Final Report of Youth Internet Safety Task Force (12-20-06)
Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell released the final report of his Youth Internet Safety Task Force today at an early afternoon press conference in Richmond. McDonnell was joined at the press conference by members of the Task Force, among them representatives of AOL, Capital One, Myspace, Microsoft, and other technology companies, as well as educators, parents, students, law enforcement officers and elected officials. The final report comes after six months of meetings by the Task Force, which consisted of a law enforcement working group, a parents and educators working group, and a technology partners working group.

The full report of the Youth Internet Safety Task Force is available online at the following link: http://www.vaag.com/InternetTaskForce/ReportYISTFfinal.pdf

Major recommendations of the report are:

• Launch Statewide Media Campaign about Dangers of the Internet
• Reduce the Time Required for Law Enforcement to Obtain Information from Electronic Communication Providers
• Allow Courts to Issue Subpoenas for Out of State Electronic Communications Providers
• Require Registration of Email Addresses and other online identities for Individuals on Sex Offender Registry
• Enact Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Sexual Predators
• Expand Statutory Forfeiture of Equipment Used in Child Exploitation Crimes
• Prohibit Online Solicitation of Children Ages 15-18

A Last Salute - Trooper Robert A Hill, Sr (12-11-06)

Senior Trooper Robert A. Hill. Sr. Virginia Department of State Police, was killed in the line-of-on duty on Friday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2006, in Southampton County. He was a Crime Prevention Specialist and attended the VCPA Basic Crime Prevention course in Newport News in January 1997.

Senior Trooper Hill was struck by a vehicle during a traffic stop. The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. on Route 58 near the Southampton County community of Adams Grove.He stopped a 2002 Mercury Cougar headed westbound on Route 58 for a traffic violation. At approximately 1:10 p.m. as Senior Trooper Hill was in the process of issuing a summons to the driver, a westbound 1995 Cadillac ran off the highway and into the right shoulder. The Cadillac struck the stopped car and Senior Trooper Hill. The 19-year Virginia State Police veteran died at the scene. The driver of the Cadillac, Lowell J. Carrington, 84, of Southampton County, was flown by Virginia State Police Med-Flight helicopter to Norfolk Sentara Hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries is not known at this time. The driver of the Mercury Cougar, a Virginia Beach woman, suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. No charges have been filed at this time.Senior Trooper Hill is survived by a wife and two children, a 17-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.

Concept Smoke Screen - first stand alone security smoke generator (12-04-06)
Concept Smoke Screen have produced a stand alone smoke generator for temporary risk defence. Driven by a request from the police, the Rapid Deploy is now in service with many police forces and several of the country’s top retailers.  The Deploy is being used in high risk situations and sites that have suffered a break-in and are awaiting the installation of a permanent security smoke system. Statistics show that if you have suffered a break-in, you are 70% more likely to suffer a burglary (in other words, a repeat attack). The Deploy is the instant loss prevention solution!
http://www.sourcesecurity.com/new-products/listing/1/product-profile/intruder-alarms/detectors.2/detectors/concept-smoke-screen-rapid-deploy.html

McGruff the Crime Dog Presides Over the Market Close (10-15-06)
Al Lenhardt, President and CEO of the National Crime Prevention Council along with special guest McGruff the Crime Dog, rang the NASDAQ Stock Market Closing Bell on Wednesday October 11, 2006 at NASDAQ’s MarketSite in New York City. McGruff was on hand to ring the closing bell last year for his 25th birthday.
To see pictures of this event, visit: www.nasdaq.com/reference/200610/market_close_101106.stm#reprints

National Crime Prevention Institute - New Name & Expanded Mission (09-19-06)
he National Crime Prevention Institute, University of Louisville, has updated its name and expanded its scope of trainings and classes. It is now known as The Institute of Community Security and Public Safety.  The updated schedule is at http://delphi.louisville.edu/cont_prof/prodev/Safety_and_Security/seminars.html

Long Time Crime Prevention Supporter Passes (08-07-06)
Tony Scarangella, a long time supporter of crime prevention, died this past week, he was 86.  Tony was made a lifetime member of the VCPA in the late 1980's because of his support and contributions to crime prevention in Virginia. Tony was well recognized for his great McGruff voice.

He served four terms as president of the North Camellia Acres Civic League, originating and instituting the Neighborhood Citizens Patrol in Norfolk. Because of his superb volunteerism and leadership in his community, he was affectionately called "Mr. Civic League" for his many years of service with civic league improvement programs, police causes, youth work and neighborhood schools. He served as "Captain Crime Line" as an auxiliary police officer for the Portsmouth Police Department for 14 years including graduating from the Norfolk Police Academy. As Captain Crime Line he battled crime in the role of a caped crusader wearing boots, a black cape, goggles and a helmet where people were urged to come forward with information about crimes. He was known as McGruff the crime dog, entertaining in nursing homes and citizen homes playing the guitar, piano and organ. He got paid in kisses not dollars. He was among the first to state that crime prevention plays a major role in law enforcement. Through his work with McGruff and Adopt-a-School, kids have learned that police officers are our friends and not to use drugs or bring weapons to school to "take a bite out of crime."

His obituary can be found at  http://home.hamptonroads.com/obits/details.cfm?obitID=39319

Gas Complaints Turn Ugly at the Pump - by Tim Alloy, AP (05-30-06)
This is part of an AOL internet article posted by the Associated Press. For the complete article link to Gas Complaints.

Police in Los Angeles and San Diego - the city with the highest gas prices in the nation - haven't noticed any violent trends toward gas station workers. But there have been gas-related crimes around the nation.  In Austin, Texas, a man was arrested this month on suspicion of stealing hundreds of gallons of fuel from underground tanks while posing as a parking lot cleaner. He sold the gas from his driveway, police said.  

In Fond du Lac, Wis., the number of reported cases of customers driving off without paying for gas doubled to 100 in the first four months of this year compared to the first four months of 2005, police Maj. Kevin Lemke said.  "We've talked to a lot of the owners that are having problems and made some suggestions like maybe they need to start thinking about pre-pay," Lemke said, "but in a small community like Fond du Lac they don't want to inconvenience even their good customers because of a few bad customers."  Retailers in other areas have had the same problem with pre-pay, the convenience store association said.  Gasoline theft cost the industry an estimated $237 million in 2004, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the group. Some retailers have installed security cameras, increased employee monitoring of pumps and advised workers to greet customers to take away their feeling of anonymity.  An incident last August prompted gasoline industry groups to tell workers not to risk lives by trying to stop drive-offs.  In Fort Payne, Ala., station owner Husain "Tony" Caddi, 54, was killed while grabbing the vehicle of a man trying to drive away without paying for $52 worth of gas.  The driver, Alvin Dwight Benefield, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years in prison.  

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

Design Against Crime: Time spent at the drafting table can make parks and green spaces safer. (05-17-06)
National Recreation and Parks Association Website

"Imagine being afraid to jog in your local park. Or perhaps you’re one day shocked to find graffiti painted on the playground where you like to take your children. Imagine avoiding a nearby green space because of fear.This isn’t a myth for many communities; it’s areality." This is a short quote taken from a website article written by Joel McCormick with the Lynchburg Department of Recreation and Parks. The full article can be found at: http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=4205

Avoid ID Theft (05-15-06)
This new website sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission  is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. The website address is http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. It provides detailed information to help you Deter, Detect, and Defend against identity theft. While there are no guarantees about avoiding identity theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and minimize the damage if a problem occurs:

Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements
Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect a problem

This site also is a comprehensive reference center – for consumers, businesses, law enforcement, and the media – with access to specific laws, contact information, and resources from state and federal government agencies.

Metro Richmond Crime Prevention Officers Sow Seeds of Safety this Summer (05-02-06)
RICHMOND, Va. - The Central Virginia Crime Prevention Association joins forces with local law enforcement agencies to, “Sow Seeds of Safety with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).”  The program is designed to teach homeowners and gardeners how to prevent crime through the choices they make when buying new plants trees and shrubs or when planning the landscape design for their homes. The program is free and open to the public. 

Crime prevention police officers from Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, Virginia State Police and crime prevention deputies from Hanover are offering the new program to big box home centers, local nurseries, garden groups and other citizen groups.  Sowing Seeds of Safety with CPTED explains how CPTED’s key concepts help prevent crime and how those principles can be combined with the concept of sustainable landscaping to create an environment that is safer for homeowners, the surrounding neighborhood, and the community.

The program will discuss choices in fencing, lighting, choosing plant materials, and maintaining the environment once it has been created in addition to some basic crime prevention principles.  At this time of the year, homes, garden sheds and garages are often robbed while people are still at home, but in their back yards gardening or cutting the grass, so officers also will remind folks of some basic crime prevention measures. 

Crystal Martin, Public Information Coordinator for Henrico County Division of Police said, “When citizens implement these principles into their landscape or garden design plan, they can improve their environment aesthetically and improve their quality of life.  It is not necessary to turn a home and its landscaping into something that looks like a fortress.   With the knowledge citizens gain from this program, they can make their home safer as well as more beautiful.”

For more information about the program and where it will be held or to schedule a program for your group, call your local police/sheriff’s department’s crime prevention unit or the Virginia State Police Crime Prevention Unit.   The telephone numbers are: Hanover: 365-6335; Henrico: 501-4838; Chesterfield: 674-7006, Ext. 112; Richmond: 646-6754 or 646-0407; Virginia State Police Crime Prevention-674-4632.

Historical Perspectives on Crime Prevention
Why do we use a fork and blunt knife when we eat? In 1669, King Louis XIV of France banned pointed knives at the dinner table as a measure to reduce violence. This allowed the two tined fork, which was being used in some parts of Italy, to replace the pointed knife as a method to spear meat and other food at the dinner table. King Louis XIV was a strong proponent of crime prevention. The success of an idea by a priest named Laudati to provide torchbearers to accompany those who needed to be abroad at night gave King Louis the idea of raising new taxes to install the first permanent street lighting system in Paris.

We all have heard the phrase, “Guns don't kill people, people kill people.” It's not a new idea. In the first century, Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger stated in his Letters to Lucilius, “A sword never kills anybody, it is a tool in the killer's hand."

Its primary goal is to formulate a healthy organizational network capable of sustaining the goals of the organization that is not reliant on a few individual personalities. In addition, we strive to:

1. Expand the awareness of professional administrators concerning the authority with which their positions are empowered. Provide a reliable communication network for the use of administrators to develop solutions to various zoning problems. Increase the visibility of the organization and develop an identity as a legitimate member of the public administration organizational community. Provide high quality programs to members of the organization with consistently high standards of excellence. Continue to improve member development. Instill on the part of all members a desire to make VAZO the model for future organizations.
2. Develop a mentoring program among Virginia’s zoning officials.

JustStolen.net - Property Tracking and Recovery System
JustStolen.net was created by police officers to provide the best possible asset tracking and property recovery services in the world.  We offer a free, safe and secure on-line, information repository for the registry of one’s valuable property.

Our innovative and powerful database provides businesses and consumers a place to safely record valuable information about their belongings.  This easy to use service allows members, who spend their hard earned money on computers, digital cameras, cell phones, entertainment equipment, and other items of value, a place to register unique identification information about those valuables.  The data may include brand name, model number, serial number, color, description identifying marks, photographs, VIN numbers (last 8 digits), credit and debit card(s) customer service phone #'s and just about anything else you can think of!

JustStolen.net works with law enforcement to return the property to its rightful owner.  Members receive a personal, password protected; information repository and need only provide their first name, their e-mail address, and their Zip Code.  JustStolen.net gives law enforcement agencies a safe and powerful tool to cross-reference necessary recovery information.  Once law enforcement has identified the rightful owner, he or she may then be notified on how to reclaim their valuable(s).

JustStolen.net 60 Station Street Hingham, MA. 02043 (781) 828-4332   Fax: (781) 828-4332      Email: Info@juststolen.net

New Zealand CPTED Design Guidelines   http://www.justice.govt.nz/cpu/publications/index.html

Crime prevention takes many forms and New Zealand's local authorities approach crime prevention in different ways and with different emphasis. One of these approaches is Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTED provides a framework for incorporating crime prevention within quality urban designs by focusing on reducing the opportunity to commit crime, therefore lessening the motivation to offend. While many local authorities are already using CPTED concepts in their work, the National Guidelines for CPTED in New Zealand now provides all local authorities with an opportunity to introduce these concepts in ways that are appropriate to the New Zealand context. This document introduces seven qualities of safer places (qualities that will improve the urban environment while reducing crime and the fear of crime) it establishes the benefits of CPTED and it suggests possible organisations to involve and their roles. The Ministry of Justice hopes those involved will find the National Guidelines helpful in achieving safer places that all residents and visitors enjoy.

VCPA Selected to Serve on Two National Policy Committees
The VCPA has been selected by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) to serve on the Executive Committee of the Crime Prevention Coalition of America. The mission of the Crime Prevention Coalition is to lead collective efforts of individuals, communities and government to improve the quality of life by preventing crime. The Crime Prevention Coalition is made up of 65 national, 100 state and 170 affiliate organizations dedicated to preventing crime. The VCPA was also selected by the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) to serve on the Neighborhood Watch national policy advisory board. The mission of the Neighborhood Watch national advisory board is to work with the NSA and the Bureau of Justice Assistance to identify ways to expand the Neighborhood Watch programs and to assist law enforcement. The NSA has been involved in expanding Neighborhood Watch to support Homeland Security since September 11, 2001. Patrick Harris, Executive Director of the VCPA, will represent the VCPA on both committees.

WAWA in Virginia Beach Requiring PrePay for Gasoline (09-06-05)
After extensive contact with the employees of Wawa Corporation this summer, I wanted to share with all of VBPD that Joyce Laughner: Regional Manager of Wawa for Tidewater Virginia has issued an "all pre pay gas purchase policy to be effective 09-03-05 at 0100 hours"    This should significantly reduce the Larceny: gas drive off case load for all of VBPD.

Detective  MPO R.J. Tominich
rtominic@vbgov.com
Virginia Beach Police Department
Second Precinct
820 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, Va 23454
Office: 219-2757    Fax: 437-4866

LAND Online - Landscape Architecture News Digest - American Society of Landscape Architects (June 27, 2005)

Virginia Looks to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design - Roundtable discussion lays out plan for cohesive CPTED action.

Several organizations dedicated to the principals of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) gathered in Henrico County, Virginia, last month to discuss ways in which they could better coordinate their separate efforts to implement sound design principals throughout the state. Lynn Crump, ASLA, environmental program planner for Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation took part in the roundtable discussion and drafted a summary memo on the proceedings for the Virginia Chapter of ASLA and ASLA National. Here are some of the key points she recorded from the meeting:The Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and local police and fire officials see an increasing demand for and interest in CPTED principles on a national basis, as well as on the community and municipality level.Personal safety and CPTED is broadly related to issues of community health and the environment. Current planning philosophies and approaches such as the social life of spaces, New Urbanism, conservation development, walkable communities, sustainable design, smart growth, and others are all part of the discussion around community health and should include CPTED in their equations. A key objective of security design proponents should be the establishment of an authority for CPTED through legislation and regulatory standardization. This could happen on a state or national basis.Resources for standardization include:

The “Safe Spaces” publication that resulted from the joint ASLA-APA conference on security design FEMA documents that deal directly with the prevention of terrorist attacks The National Capital Planning Commission’s Urban Security Design Guide

Oceanfront Businesses Sue Over Bright LIghts (06-15-05)
Marisa Taylor - The Virginia-Pilot, Virginia Beach, reach Marisa Taylor at (757) 222-5108 or marisa.taylor@pilot online.com.

The owners of five resort restaurants asked a judge Friday to stop a city program that beams bright lights on Atlantic Avenue after hours. In a lawsuit filed in Circuit Court, the restaurant owners accused the city of illegally setting up the program to drive away patrons. Last winter, the city set up brighter street lights on Atlantic Avenue between 17th and 25th streets that switch on at 1:15 a.m. to discourage sidewalk stragglers from hanging around after hours.

As part of the same program, the city also set up a sound system in the same area to pipe in jazz and classical music. City officials said they were reacting to problems with crowds overwhelming police and alarming business owners. Kevin E. Martingayle, an attorney representing the restaurant owners, said city officials have no legitimate reason to set up the program other than to harass certain businesses. The restaurants suing the city are Live, Crazy Charlie’s, Chicho’s, Sandbar and The Edge. They all serve alcohol and remain open until 2 a.m.

Martingayle said his clients think they’re losing customers because the city’s lights are so bright. “The message they’re sending is ‘Go away,’” he said. “That’s not only bad for business, but we also think it exceeds city authority.”  Before filing the lawsuit, the owners tried to seek a compromise. They asked the city to turn on the brighter lights at 2 a.m. instead of 1:15. Under state law, restaurants must stop serving alcohol at 2 a.m., but they can remain open and continue serving food.

Martingayle said his clients already agreed to close at 2 a.m., partly at the city’s request. He has asked for a hearing for a temporary injunction against the city to be heard next Friday.

Deputy City Attorney Mark Stiles said the lawsuit is without legal merit. “It’s clear that the intent of this lighting program is to increase the security of the area during a time when most people are preparing to leave the Oceanfront,” Stiles said. “I think it’s also clear that these plaintiffs are looking out for their own economic interests.”  City Councilman Richard Maddox, who represents the resort district, said the program received wide support from owners of restaurants, hotels and shops. “This was lobbied for aggressively,” Maddox said. “We’ve had people shot and knifed down there. This is not the result of someone’s imagination.”