Free Officer Safety Training from Below 100

1943 and 1944 are significant years in law enforcement history not because of what did happened, but what didn't happen. They are the only two years over the past century in which line of duty deaths didn't reach 100. Although this milestone can almost certainly be attributed to the fact that most of America's men were busy fighting in WWII, getting line of duty deaths back below 100 is a goal every law enforcement officer can stand behind today.

Earlier this year the Below 100 was created by some of the leading law enforcement trainers in the nation. This training is absolutely free, and has been taught in major cities throughout the United States and Canada. ODMP has partnered with Below 100 to spread the word about this free training, as we are committed to completely eliminating preventable line of duty deaths.

Below 100 is finishing off the year with four back-to-back Train the Trainer workshops in three different states: Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Any law enforcement officer or training can sign up for these free officer safety training sessions, which include videos and sample policies that you can take back to your departments.

More information about these classes can be found on the Below 100 Events website.

Below 100 Train-the-Trainer Arkansas
Monday November 7, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST
University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute
7723 Col. Glenn Road
Little Rock, AR 72204
Register: http://tinyurl.com/3jhxkfh
Seats are filling fast. Register today!

Below 100 Train-the-Trainer Oklahoma
Tuesday November 8, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST
Oklahoma City Police Department
800 N. Portland Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Register: http://tinyurl.com/5t9vfe8

Below 100 Train-the-Trainer Texas
Wednesday November 9, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST
El Centro College / Bill Priest Institute
1402 Corinth Street
Dallas, TX 75215
Register: http://tinyurl.com/3sdthwy

Below 100 Train-the-Trainer Texas
Thursday November 10, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM CST
Beckendorf Conference Center Lone Star College/Tomball
30555 Tomball Parkway
Tomball , TX 77375
Register: http://tinyurl.com/6jtueo5

Line of Duty Deaths on Halloween

Officer Timothy Brenton

Halloween is a day of celebration in which law officers stand extra vigilant to make sure no harm comes to all of the children who are out trick-or-treating. Halloween is also a day on which 53 law enforcement officers have died in the line of duty, more than half of whom where shot and killed.

Sergeant Michael King

The two most recent incidents of Halloween line of duty deaths involved the most unthinkable murders of police officers. Sergeant Michael King, of the University City (Mo.) Police Department, and Officer Timothy Brenton, of the Seattle (Wash.) Police Department, slain in 2008 and 2009 respectively, were gunned down from ambush, in unprovoked attacks, while keeping the streets safe for children.

Sheriff Raymond Warf

Seemingly harmless Halloween pranks can also have a deadly result. On Halloween in 1970, Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Raymond Warf responded to a call involving a group of men attempting to dismantle a bridge as part of a prank. When he arrived, the men became combative and Sheriff Warf suffered a fatal heart attack.

The three fallen officers mentioned above are just three of the 53 law enforcement who have died on Halloween serving their communities. Visit the ODMP to read more about these heroes.

This Halloween, while you are keeping your community's children safe, please be sure to keep yourself safe too! Download ODMP's newest officer safety poster now to post in your roll call room.

Police Deaths on Halloween:

Assault: 1
Automobile accident: 3
Drowned: 2
Explosion: 1
Gunfire: 32
Gunfire (Accidental): 2
Heart attack: 1
Motorcycle accident: 1
Stabbed: 1
Struck by train: 1
Struck by vehicle: 4
Vehicle pursuit: 1
Vehicular assault: 3

United States Postal Inspection Service: Protecting the Postal System

ODMP staff had the privilege of being invited to visit the United States Postal Inspection Service's Training Academy in Potomac, Maryland. Every new Postal Inspector and Postal Police Officer attends this FLETA accredited academy, which offers a complete curriculum customized for the unique needs of the USPIS. Numerous other federal agencies take advantage of its proximity to Washington, DC, and use the facility for in-service training.

Postal Inspector Jennifer McDaniel (L) and
ODMP's Executive Director Chris Cosgriff at the USPIS Academy

Originally created by Benjamin Franklin in 1772, the United States Postal Inspection Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the country and even predates the formation of the United States. Over the past 200+ years, Postal Inspectors and Postal Police Officers have been protecting postal employees, postal customers, and the postal system from abuses by criminals.

This fight has come at a steep price, claiming the lives of 12 Postal Inspectors and one Postal Police Officer. The Postal Service's Office of Inspector General, which is a separate and distinct agency from the USPIS, has also suffered one line of duty death.

These brave men will always be remembered for their service and sacrifice in protecting America's laws. Click on their names to view their full memorials.

Postal Inspector Charles Fitzgerald - Shot and killed in Clinton, Mississippi, September 23, 1908.

Postal Inspector Elbert Lamberth - Shot and killed in Stantonville, Tennessee, August 16, 1917.

Postal Inspector in Charge George Daniel - Drowned near Logan, Utah, September 1, 1919.

Postal Inspector Levi Chance - Accidentally shot and killed in Savannah, Georgia, February 14, 1923.

Postal Inspector Walter Ton - Killed in a plane crash near Bozeman, Montana, January 10, 1938.

Postal Inspector Finton McMahon - Fell while conducting an investigation in Akron, Ohio, August 1, 1939.

Postal Inspector Ernest Harkins - Shot and killed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, January, 12, 1949.

Postal Inspector Bruce Shaffer - Auto accident in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, August 31, 1951.

Investigative Aide Benedetto Spizzirri and Investigative Aide John McAuliffe - Shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, March 14, 1960.

Police Officer Michael Healy - Shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois, June 21, 1981.

Postal Inspector Terrance Asbury - Auto accident in Los Angeles, California, February 3, 1990.

Postal Inspector Robert Jones - Auto accident in Bowie, Maryland, July 14, 2000.

Special Agent Greg Boss (USPS OIG) - Auto accident in Arapahoe County, Colorado, November 8, 2005.

Free Bullet Proof Vests

A major component of our mission to honor fallen officers is to do so by preventing law enforcement deaths and injuries.

In that spirit, we have partnered with two nationally known organizations that provide free bullet proof vests to officers whose departments don't issue them and can't otherwise afford them. It is estimated that, nationwide, as many as 236,000 law enforcement officers are not issued vests by their employing agencies.*

Ten-Four Ministries' Armor of God Project provides lightly used vests to officers both nationwide and internationally. Over 2,000 vests have already been donated to officers and there have been two documented cases of these vests saving their recipients lives. Agencies with with a surplus of used vests can donate them to Armor of God for distribution to officers in need.

Fallen Officers Remembered provides new vests to officers and canines throughout the United States. Created after the murder of their brother, Police Officer Rodney Pocceschi, Jaclyn and Gina Pocceschi co-founded Fallen Officers Remembered to provide new vests to individual officers who cannot afford to purchase their own.

Learn more about both of these organizations, and access their application forms for free bullet proof vests from the ODMP.

* The Life-Saving Effectiveness of Body Armor for Police Officers. RAND Corporation. October 2010.

World-class Honor Guard Seminar Announced for 2012

ODMP is pleased to share the following information from Lt. Kenneth Baine, Honor Guard Commander with the Fairfax County Police Department (Va.):

The Fairfax County Police Department Honor Guard will be hosting a three-day training seminar June 25, 26, 27th, 2012. Attached is the seminar registration form and course outline for your review. This will be our seventh seminar. We have received very positive feedback from all attendees.

The training is broken down into eight training stations which rotate every hour and fifteen minutes:

• Drill / Hand Salute
• Urn Guard / Carry
• Presentations of Colors
• Firing Party
• Casket Guard
• Casket Carry
• Flag Folding
• Posting of Colors

Classroom instruction will provide demonstrate how to prepare a line of duty death Teletype Message (TTY) and produce an Honor Guard budget. Mr. Chris Cosgriff, Executive Director of the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org) will give a presentation on ODMP on day one of the seminar. On day three the class will go to a funeral home/cemetery to practice a mock line of duty funeral.

A small fee of $175.00 per student supports the costs of hosting the seminar. Each student will receive a copy of FCPD's Honor Guard SOP. We have been told the SOP is one of the best written for LE Honor Guards most have ever seen. There will also be a barbeque dinner on the first night which is included in the registration fee.

The class size is limited to forty-eight students and is on a first come first serve basis. The class generally fills up in less than a month. Enrollment is limited to four students per agency. Once Lt. Baine receives your registration form and payment he will send you an e-mail confirming your team members are enrolled.

The seminar partners with Staybridge Suites if you are traveling in from out of town. This is a very nice hotel and their rooms have full kitchens. The hotel serves a hot breakfast daily. The rate is $155.00 per night for a king or two double beds, which is below the GSA room rate for this area. We encourage all attendees from out of town to stay at this hotel due to its close proximity to the training academy. The hotel provides a shuttle service to and from the airport and we can provide a shuttle from the hotel to our training academy if needed. The hotel has blocked rooms at this special rate two days on each end in the event you wanted to come early or stay later for sightseeing etc. Click here to make your reservation: Staybridge Suites Chantilly Va.

Contact Lt. Kenneth Baine with questions or to register (see the registration form below for contact information.)



Document: Registration Form
Document: Staybridge Suites Flyer