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 40AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: APRIL 2016 13 T he bridges of the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area pres- ent police departments with unique challenges regarding first responder roles. These joint exercises allow for emergency pre-planning for such events as construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents and emotionally disturbed persons. In addition, climbs familiarize ESU officers with the structures they will encounter when performing high angle rescues. Probably the most important fact these officers must understand is the George Washington and Brooklyn Bridges are among the top five terror targets in the number one terror-targeted city in America. It is these officers who will respond to any such incident. In the picture above, ESU officers got to a height of 604 feet above the Hudson River. Above, Emergency Service police officers from the Port Authority Police Department, Jersey City Police Department, New York City Police Department and New York City Department of Corrections combine in a joint bridge climb exercise on the bridge last month. The exercise was hosted by the Port Authority Police Department. The George Washington Bridge’s pedestrian walkway on the bridge’s upper level is between 225 and 250 feet above the water and is a favorite site for those contemplating suicide. During 2014 and 2015, Port Authority police officers recovered 36 bodies at the George Washington Bridge as a result of suicides. During that same period, officers performed 160 suicide interventions on the bridge. As sad as these figures are, it should also be understood that the George Washington Bridge is New York City’s life line to the rest of the nation. As a result, it is the most traveled roadway in America. Training where eagles soar When you’re a sheriff running for office or re-election, the fact of the matter is you’re going to spend a lot of time on politics – that’s just part of the job. But it’s where you get the money for political activities that concerns folks like the team at the conservative Goldwater Institute. That group has announced an in- vestigation into political spending by Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. At issue is the claim that the sheriff used law enforcement funds to send a politi- cal mailer exclusively to Republicans. Babeu’s office has claimed that the mailer was an informational newsletter sent to residents across the county. Pinal’s not running for sheriff though – he’s trying to get elected to Con- gress. The well-funded Goldwater Institute recently filed a public-records request for documents explaining how the county is using assets seized from criminals. The Goldwater Institute says it specifically wants to know about the mailer, as well as RICO grants the sheriff gave to non-profit organiza- tions. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Babeu, Pinal County officials and the state in 2015 over Arizona’s civil-asset forfeiture laws, questioning the use of money and property seized from people even if they had not been charged with a crime. That lawsuit has yet to be resolved. “We want to be sure taxpayer money isn’t being misused for personal gain or in violation of the Arizona Constitu- tion,” said attorney Jared Blanchard who represents the Goldwater Institute. Conservative group goes after AZ sheriff on political spending Photo courtesy of the Port Authority PBA.