Friday, July 31, 2009

Man Arrested For Several Topeka Vehicle Burglaries

Man Arrested For Several Topeka Vehicle Burglaries

This story is a great example of how crime analysis works when it works.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Common Threat, Collective Response: Protecting Against Terrorist Attacks in a Networked World

Common Threat, Collective Response: Protecting Against Terrorist Attacks in a Networked World (speech transcript)

Speaker: Janet Napolitano, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Presider: Paul E. Steiger, Editor in Chief, ProPublica
July 29, 2009, New York
Council on Foreign Relations

Excerpt:

"We've now moved three dozen intelligence analysts out to the field. In other words, as we build the fusion centers, we need to move analytic capacity from the Beltway to the country. So let's -- how this is used. And I'll take it out of the terrorism context for just a moment. That if a law enforcement agency reports an increase in drug seizures of a particular type, that is a data point. That's a piece of intelligence. But a whole range of agencies working together in a particular fusion center can analyze that trend to understand what it means, how it will affect particular neighborhoods, and whether it foretells something even larger on the horizon."

(Hopefully, we are moving into the direction that this blog advocates.)

The website also has links to audio and video of the speech.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Eugene Matthews on CRIMINT - Criminal Intelligence Development in the Military

New Analysts' Corner Podcast: Eugene Matthews on CRIMINT - Criminal Intelligence Development in the Military Join me, Deborah Osborne and Eugene Matthews, instructor in the Criminal Justice program at Lincoln University in Missouri. Mr. Matthews led the in the initial development and implementation of the US Army Police Intelligence Operation (PIO) doctrine. In this show we discuss the relationship between criminal intelligence analysis in policing and in the military, as well as its future development. A must listen!

'Smarter patrols' needed: Review faults Alexandria police for lack of data-driven strategy

'Smarter patrols' needed: Review faults Alexandria police for lack of data-driven strategy

This article is about Alexandria, Louisiana - not Virgina. I see this assessment as a step in the right direction - the fact that the value of intelligence-led policing is mentioned at all is great!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Free and Low-cost Webinars

Please note that I am providing free webinars - look to the right top postings and you can sign up for one if you are interested. Some webinars will be offered for a cost, but there will always be free events, so keep looking.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Toward Operational Art for Policing

Toward Operational Art for Policing

I highly recommend this article. It was posted on an interesting blog called GroupIntel.

Middletown adds crime analyst

Middletown adds crime analyst

I like it when a crime analyst is the center of a news story. In this story, they say data analysis is a new frontier - and it still is if people think it is.

Global Terrorism Database

Global Terrorism Database

"The Global Terrorism Database (GTD) is an open-source database including information on terrorist events around the world from 1970 through 2007 (with annual updates planned for the future). Unlike many other event databases, the GTD includes systematic data on domestic as well as international terrorist incidents that have occurred during this time period and now includes more than 80,000 cases."

Friday, July 24, 2009

Few property crimes end in arrests

Few property crimes end in arrest

This news article on low clearance rates for burglaries oin a particular jurisdiction reports that if the jurisdiction had a crime analysts, the stats would be maintained better. A crime analyst should not be doing that! An analyst would help correlate cases once an arrest was made, and more cases might be cleared, but they should not be just a stats fixer-upper.

How Prepared Are State and Local Law Enforcement for Terrorism?

How Prepared Are State and Local Law Enforcement for Terrorism?

Quote from this RAND Research Brief:

"For many local law enforcement agencies, investing departmental resources in terrorism preparedness was a low priority compared with other agency needs. Still, after 9/11, about a quarter of local agencies (particularly those in large counties) increased agency spending or internally reallocated resources to focus on terrorism preparedness. But only about one-fifth received external funding to do this, raising concerns about what public safety trade-offs are being made at the local level to focus on terrorism preparedness."

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Excel Pivot Tables on YouTube - for Analysts!

Pivot tables were my FAVORITE tool as an analyst. Here are two short videos (1 & 2) "Introduction to Pivot Tables for Law Enforcement" by Mercyhurst College student Brent Pearson, from Kris Wheaton's blog, Sources & Methods:



Crime Analysis Unit Overview

Here's a nice youtube video highlighting crime analysis in the Gainesville FL Police Department:

Perception of Crime

I was reading an interesting blog post on the problem of perception, which discusses how, while crime is down 5% in England and Wales, the surveyed public thinks it is worsening and out of control.

This morning, before I read this particular post, I was thinking about this topic. If doctors surveyed the public to see what infections to treat - and how to treat them - would that make sense? If patients came into the hospital and said, "I want you to treat me for this disease because I am afraid of it," would hospitals agree?

I am all for serving the public, but I want it to be served based on reality, not perception fueled by media's tendency to highlight the shocking and bizarre. Crime and intelligence analysis can objectively measure reality using some fairly sophisticated tools along with common sense. Analysts are the think tank of policing. Their goal should be to make a real impact on crime by producing the best information and intelligence for decision-makers, who need to understand that serving the public best usually means thinking strategically rather than reactively.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM: AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM:AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

"This Annotated Bibliography has been produced by faculty and researchers of the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, and is meant to serve as an information resource for students, researchers, policymakers, teachers, the media and the general public. "

Monday, July 20, 2009

FBI Intelligence Analysts Form Professional Association

FBI Intelligence Analysts Form Professional Association

"The steering group is proud to serve as Intelligence Analysts in today’s FBI. We recognize the significant progress the FBI has made in becoming an intelligence-led organization that views Intelligence Analysts as a core part of its mission. However, we believe there is still a clear need to elevate the importance of intelligence in the FBI, enhance the role of the agency’s 2,500 Intelligence Analysts, and provide additional career and professional development opportunities for FBI intelligence professionals."

This is a great development!!!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Crime Drops Despite Fewer Officers in Lean Times

Crime Drops Despite Fewer Officers in Lean Times

This article mentions the catch phrase du jour - "predictive policing." Maybe that is the new term because the US is afraid of the phrase "intelligence led policing?" That's what I think. Many jurisdictions are faced or will be faced with the situation the NYPD is dealing with, as highlighted in this article. Effective crime and intelligence analysis become even more crucial when resources diminish. Call it whatever you will, but analysis is central to positive changes in the future of policing.

Lexis-Nexis Breach Linked to Crime Family

Lexis-Nexis Breach Linked to Crime Family

I have thought for a long time that it is easier for criminals to buy information than for many law enforcement analysts in general to access it for legitimate purposes at work.

Two charged in spree of robberies

Two charged in spree of robberies

A crime analysis/investigation success story in the news...

City considers pawn shop rules

City considers pawn shop rules

Interesting to see a crime analyst in the news credited with requesting a new city ordinance.

Friday, July 17, 2009

The Strategic Value Of Corporate Intelligence

The Strategic Value Of Corporate Intelligence

Some crime intelligence analysts readers may not realize that their skill sets transfer to the business intelligence world, and vice versa.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Policing Terrorism: An Executive's Guide from the Center for Problem Oriented Policing

Policing Terrorism: An Executive's Guide, by by Graeme R. Newman and Ronald V. Clarke, from the Center for Problem Oriented Policing.

"This manual is intended to help police executives and other senior executives meet the new challenges involved in countering the threat of terrorism by summarizing writings on the essential components of a counterterrorism plan. It does not deal with the specifics of such matters as (1) conducting surveillance of suspected terrorists; (2) protecting different types of vulnerable targets, such as ports and chemical plants; or (3) achieving interoperability in wireless communications among different disaster-response agencies, such as fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Although junior officers need this type of detail, chiefs require more general information about a broad range of issues that can help them develop plans and policies to counter the terrorist threat. This manual seeks to meet the needs of chiefs and other senior personnel by summarizing information about 50 key topics in the form of advice to the chief."

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Stages of Intelligence Led Policing

I have created a draft model of what I consider to be stages of Intelligence Led Policing, using models of stages of human development as loose guides. I would appreciate suggestions and feedback in the comments section of this blog, or via email.

Stages of Intelligence Led Policing (c) Deborah Osborne 2009

Stage One: Reactive
Many police agencies are in stage one. Run to calls, investigate, do your best. No analytical support. Little understanding of the value of crime intelligence analysis. Impact on the criminal environment is random.

Stage Two: Relies on Gut Feeling
Agencies with unsophisticated or inadequate analytical capacities that may use analytical resources time-to-time, but generally rely on traditional policing based on trusting past experiences at the gut feeling level. Impact on the criminal environment is random.

Stage Three: Develops the Individual
Agencies that allow individual officers and analysts the freedom to study problems and develop responses fit into this category. This stage supports creativity in problem-solving and long-term projects, but only by select individuals. The work is thus more isolated and limited by individual initiative and time/energy constraints.There is some targeted impact on the criminal environment, but it is not recognized as such nor sustained.

Stage Four: Learns and Takes Risks
Agencies that have engaged in some wide-spread problem oriented policing projects and grant-funded initiatives may have developed some broad-based analytical capacities and learned from them. They continue to experiment with innovation on a limited basis, focused on one or two problems. Analysts provide basic analytical products and support as needed. There is some recognized impact on the criminal environment in one or two areas, but this impact may not be sustained.

Stage Five: Identifies with Institutions
Agencies that have implemented Compstat and/or problem oriented policing across their jurisdiction, who meet regularly and analyze current crime problems tactically and/or specifically, fit in this category. Use of intelligence and crime analysis information is embedded in the work, but it is not often strategic. It contained elements of reactivity. More focus is on the immediate problems compared to the chronic problems of a jurisdiction. Analysis may be diluted by adherence to strictly defined procedures/missions. There is recognized impact on the criminal environment tactically, but long term impact strategies are not in place.

Stage Six: Combines Logic and Intuition
Agencies at this stage realize the value of crime intelligence analysis, combining crime analysis with intelligence, quantitative information with qualitative information. They use the street knowledge of officers and investigators and incorporate it with analytical information. Analysis is a valued commodity to inform decision-making at the level of the working officer as well as the top decision-makers. There is recognized impact on the criminal environment, both short-term and long-term.

Stage Seven: Holistic and Adaptive
Agencies at this stage see beyond their jurisdictional boundaries, since crime knows no such boundaries. They are interested in developing and sharing information/intelligence, as well as obtaining information/intelligence, with every relevant source. They form and maintain strategic partnerships to build their analytical capacity. They identify and respond to their chronic problems and their worst offenders, by developing strategies to create lasting change. They continue to respond the daily needs of their community, but with a true focus on crime prevention to improve public safety. Crime intelligence analysis is central to their decision-making processes. They invest in quality analytical staff and provide the technology and training needed to do the job right. Analysts and decision-makers collaborate to develop innovative and lasting solutions. There is significant impact to the criminal environment, both short-term and long-term, with a conscious effort to collaborate in problem-solving with those entities outside the jurisdiction with shared crime and criminal problems.

(c) Deborah Osborne 2009

Saturday, July 11, 2009

The Blog@Homeland Security

The Blog@Homeland Security is the Department of Homeland Security's blog which was launched last month (June 2009).

CRIMINT

In the last few years the US Army has developed a new category of intelligence - one you should know about. Read the following to learn about CRIMINT:

"During the early part of 2002, the Military Police Corps recognized the need to better collect, collate, analyze, and disseminate police information and develop criminal intelligence (CRIMINT) from that process." Read more...

Police Intelligence Operations

The Evolution of Police Intelligence Operations

U.N., Interpol plan to fight W. Africa crime

U.N., Interpol plan to fight W. Africa crime

Great quote from this short article: "The best way to combat networks is with networks," Hughes said. "That's what we're aiming for with the transnational crime units."

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Partnerships with University-Based Researchers

Partnerships with University-Based Researchers

This The Police Chief magazine article makes some good points. I was lucky enough to have active research partners when I was a crime analyst at the Buffalo Police Department. Academics can also get you valuable interns and support your analytical endeavors. Just make certain that your work doesn't become too academic for your department to use - analysts need to create resources for their decison-makers. Interesting research is just that.

Applying ILP to traffic accidents

Kanes Corner leads way as city's accident hot spot is a great article illustrating how intelligence led policing can be applied in the real world.

FBI's 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report “Year in Review”

FBI's 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report “Year in Review” is available online.

"The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the breadth and depth of mortgage fraud crimes perpetrated against the United States and its citizens during 2008. This report updates the 2007 Mortgage Fraud Report and addresses current mortgage fraud projections, issues, and the identification of mortgage fraud “hot spots.” The objective of this study is to provide FBI program managers with relevant data to better understand the threat, the trends, allocation of resources, and to prioritize investigations. The report was requested by the Financial Crimes Section, Criminal Investigative Division (CID), and prepared by the Financial Crimes Intelligence Unit (FCIU), Directorate of Intelligence (DI)."

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Self-study Courses in Homeland Security

Self-study Courses in Homeland Security

"The Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security is now offering non-credit, self-study courses online. These courses are developed by the NPS CHDS teaching faculty and are derived from course content (lecture material and course readings) from the Center's homeland security master's degree curriculum. The courses, offered at no cost, are designed for homeland defense and security professionals who wish to enhance their understanding of key homeland security concepts and require the flexibility of self-paced instruction. NPS does not provide graduate credit for the courses; however, participants are encouraged to check with their professional associations regarding continuing education units/credits. Upon completing each course, participants can download a record of completion.

Registration for the courses is open to local, tribal, state and federal U.S. government officials; members of the U.S. military; and corporate homeland security managers or contractors. Registration information will be verified."

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Officer’s killer no stranger to police

Officer’s killer no stranger to police: Deported once, he’d had several HPD traffic stops

Thank you to a blog reader for this link to a very tragic story that focuses on illegal immigration and policing policies.

Collaborative Justice Resource Center

Collaborative Justice Resource Center is a website promoting collaboration in the criminal justice system as well as in partnerships in the community. It is worth exploring.

Black-Market Cigarettes: Miami's New Vice

Black-Market Cigarettes: Miami's New Vice

Great article! Thanks to the Miami New Times web editor Jose D. Duran for sending this link to me. I welcome relevant information from my readers, for my readers.

Big-City Police Chiefs Urge Overhaul of Immigration Policy

Big-City Police Chiefs Urge Overhaul of Immigration Policy

So many implications!

(BTW, this is my 601st post since starting this blog in January 2008!)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Report cards left on local vehicles

Report cards left on local vehicles

Thanks to a blog reader for this article - another example of being proactive. :-) I surely would never get such a ticket. Nobody reading this blog should, either.

Burglary warning for Quail Hollow

Burglary warning for Quail Hollow

This is good. (I like it when policing is proactive.)