Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 4010 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: FEBRUARY 2017 NATIONWIDE What’s up in law enforcement across the U.S.A. THETOPTEN No charges According to multiple media reports, there will be no criminal charges filed against a police officer in a San Diego suburb in the shooting death of a mentally distressed black man. Prosecutors ruled that the shoot- ing was justified, but the family of the man who was shot say they will be pursuing legal action. Prosecutors ruled that an El Cajon officer had reason to believe he was in danger when 38-year-old Alfred Olango suddenly raised both hands and pointed something at the officer. It turned out to be an e-cigarette device. San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’s office found that “the only reasonable conclusion was the officer’s actions were justified,” she said. RIP Stevie Sadly, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald has passed away. If you’ve been around a while you might remember McDonald as the police officer who forgave the teenager who shot him, despite the fact that the shooting left him in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic. The cause of death was a heart attack. “No one could have predicted that Steven would touch so many people, in New York and around the world,” NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said. “Like so many cops, Steven joined the NYPD to make a difference in people’s lives. And he accomplished that every day.” McDonald’s son, Conor, who was born six months after the shooting, is a sergeant with the New York Police Department and represents the fourth genera- tion of the family to serve in the department. Hollyweird Welcome to Hollyweed! The prankster that changed the iconic Hollywood sign in Los An- geles to read “Hollyweed” was arrested recently by officers with the LAPD. Zachary Cole Fernandez, 30, was arrested about a week after he pulled the sign stunt. Fernandez came with his lawyer to a police station and turned himself in. He was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor trespassing and released. But despite the fact that Fernandez told VICE magazine that he was the one that changed the sign, police were apparently unable to confirm that he was the one that changed the sign, which would explain the charge. Stiffed According to The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news orga- nization, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders owe police agencies some money. All three politicians have run out on the bill for their security – provided at great expense by local law enforcement. All told, the three politicians owe local police $24,000. It’s not huge money, but there’s the whole principles thing. “We appreciate, and we feel honored, when the candidates come to Green Bay,” said Celestine Jeffreys, chief of staff to Mayor Jim Schmitt. “We are also very appreciative when they honor their debts.” And at least three dozen municipal governments and law enforcement agencies say presidential campaigns have ignored hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding bills related to costs for police security for campaign events. 1. You just bought a new app to manage all four of your “productivity” apps. 2. When you leave your phone in another room you immediately feel like the Mom in “Home Alone” when she remembers they forgot the kid. 3. After looking up from the iPad at the dinner table and asking which kid invited friends, your husband says, “No, honey – that’s our son, Jeff. He’s 12 now. Maybe if you weren’t binging on Game of Thrones you could actually see your kids grow up.” 4. Your data charges exceed the amount you spend every month putting two kids through college. 5. You just downloaded an app that alerts you if there’s a problem with downloading apps. 6. “OK Google, where can I buy a toothbrush?” 7. Fruit Ninja crashed and you had a panic attack. 8. You haven’t actually completed one single task in three years. You’re buying an app to get that straightened out. 9. You got so wrapped up playing Candy Crush Saga you missed an entire shift. 10. Because you text so much, you now prefer not to talk to actual people except when you absolutely have to. signs you’re digitally addicted Graduates of the most recent NYPD Academy celebrate in New York City recently. A ccording to mul- tiple sources, California’s first- in-the-nation law requiring prosecutors, rath- er than secret grand juries, to decide whether a police officer who kills someone should be charged with a crime was declared uncon- stitutional. This is the result of a de- cision by a state appeals court. The law was supported by defense lawyers and civil rights groups and opposed by police and prosecutors. The Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said the law interferes with a county grand jury’s responsi- bilities and lawful authority. “The Legislature does not have the power to enact a statute that limits the consti- tutional power of a criminal grand jury to indict any adult accused of a criminal offense,” Justice M. Kathleen Butz said in the 3-0 ruling. Otherwise, she said, law- makers could go further and eliminate a grand jury’s role in all criminal cases. The ruling preserves the status quo in California. California allows prosecu- tors to submit criminal cases toagrandjuryforindictment. Should they choose to do so, they can also file charges on their own. This is different than the U.S. Constitution. That document requires Police and prosecutors like ruling a grand jury indictment for any federal felony charge unless the defendant waives that right.