NEWS ARTICLES
LEIC to Deliver Investigation Protocols to Native American Law Enforcement PersonnelDecember 10, 2020The UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) is partnering on a U.S. Department of Justice grant to develop a program to train Native American law enforcement agencies in the area of forensic investigation. LEIC formed a partnership with the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI), the primary grant recipient. UNTCHI will work with Native American and Alaskan law enforcement agencies on solving cold cases and identifying human remains. LEIC will develop written protocols for an active investigation for the agencies. LEIC’s forensic experts Tim Schade and Jason Jones will also provide technical assistance to agencies when needed. The overall grant is part of Operation Lady Justice, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The executive order formed the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Task Force’s mission is to enhance the operation of the criminal justice system, specifically addressing the concerns of American Indian and Alaska Native communities regarding missing and murdered people – particularly women and girls. “While North Texas will focus on the technical areas of remains identification and DNA processing, our role is to come along and develop protocol for active investigations,” said LEIC Program Manager Jeff Lindsey. “The tribal agencies are similar to the smaller, rural agencies we work with in Tennessee. They lack staff and resources and this assistance will be valuable to them when working missing person or homicide cases.” LEIC’s work with Operation Lady Justice is expected to begin in early 2021. [...]Read more... UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center to launch training program for rural law enforcement agenciesSeptember 23, 2020WATE Story
With the help of federal tax dollars, rural police officers in our area may be able to take advantage of free, specialized, training. The University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center plans to launch a training center, specifically geared toward agencies with fewer resources, this fall. The program aims to help agencies avoid any barriers to the resource, like travel expense or staffing shortages. https://www.wate.com/news/top-stories/ut-law-enforcement-innovation-center-to-launch-training-program-for-rural-law-enforcement-agencies/ [...]Read more... LEIC Receives Grant to Launch Rural Training CenterSeptember 14, 2020Rural law enforcement officers will see the benefits of a $1.3 million grant awarded to the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) by the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). LEIC plans to use the funds to establish a rural law enforcement training center, which will launch this fall.
“With the support from University of Tennessee and our talented team, the Law Enforcement Innovation Center has built a solid reputation across the country,” said LEIC Executive Director Rick Scarbrough. “We deliver quality, consistent and current world-class training. We are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and with their confidence in extending this award to us.”
LEIC’s goals for the center are to meet the training needs of rural law enforcement agencies from across the country, using instructor-led and distance-based learning technologies to decrease course delivery costs; and to develop and implement training practices and modules that can be used to alleviate the cost and travel burden on law enforcement agencies. A 2018 report released by the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that rural law enforcement agencies make up nearly half (48 percent) of all local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Small departments lack funds for officer training and cannot afford to give officers time away from the department for training purposes. When an officer is away at training, another officer must cover the shift. The agency then incurs overtime costs or shortage of staff. Attending training for rural agencies is a real challenge, both financially and operationally.
Overall, the COPS Office announced almost $8 million in funding to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement. Community Policing Development (CPD) program funds help develop the capacity of law enforcement to implement community policing by providing guidance on promising practices through the development and testing of innovative strategies; building knowledge about effective practices and outcomes; and supporting new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities.
“One of the top priorities of the Department of Justice is to keep communities safe from violent crime,” said COPS Office Director and former Knoxville Police Chief Phil Keith. “The two grant programs will promote promising best practices to advance community policing, which is a proven public safety approach, and provide much-needed training against active shooters, which remain a constant threat to the citizens of this great country.” The COPS Office also announced a grant under the Preparing for Active Shooter Situations program at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University.
Contact:
Susan Robertson, UT Institute for Public Service(865) 257-4553 or susan.robertson@tennessee.edu [...]Read more... Police Tactics During Protests, RiotsJune 11, 2020LEIC Training Specialist Greg Coker talks to WBIR in Knoxville about police tactics during recent protests and riots. Click here to see the story. [...]Read more... ‘Random’ shootings are not the same as getting shot by a strangerOctober 22, 2019Author: Shannon Smith
Published: 11:58 PM EDT April 17, 2019
Updated: 11:58 PM EDT April 17, 2019
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Random shootings are not common, but crimes committed by strangers can be.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 50.5% of victims of firearm violence do not know their offender.
That’s from crimes that happened from 2013 through 2016.
Nationwide, the FBI reports more than 15,000 homicides in 2017.
And 9.7% of those victims were killed by strangers.
Law enforcement said being shot by a stranger and a random shooting aren’t always the same thing.
Random shootings are just that: random.
” shootings that are unexpected in places that you typically don’t see,” said Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker.
Places like Tanger Outlet Mall in Sevierville.
“Unfortunately it’s becoming more common than it has been,” said Chris Jones, training specialist at the UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center. “It is definitely rare. Although the one we had recently in Sevierville hits really close to home.”
These really are rare occurrences, especially in Tennessee.
The latest TBI data from 2016 said half of gun violence victims were shot by strangers.
Barker said few if any were random.
“Generally you’re already the victim of another crime if something like that’s gonna happen,” he said.
For example, if a stranger is robbing someone, and shoots that victim during the robbery, that’s not considered a random shooting.
“They might have selected the person at random, but as far as just a complete random shooting where somebody shows up , that kind of stuff is very rare,” said Barker.
It’s hard to prevent a random shooting.
Barker said with most shootings, there’s a domestic element to them.
It’s an argument between friends or relatives, and often officers have responded to those locations before on disturbance calls.
With random shootings, there’s no warning or rarely any clues someone is planning the crime.
Police and people can practice how to respond.
“Observe, orient, decide and act,” said Jones.
Being aware of your surroundings is a big factor, Jones said.
If you notice someone acting strange, report it, and be prepared to protect yourself.
“Even in those instances where running and hiding and fighting aren’t gonna work or aren’t gonna be effective, organizations can do things like train their employees in First Aid, or have first aid kits available,” said Jones.
Jones and Barker both stress random shootings like the one in Sevierville are very rare.
Law enforcement said people shouldn’t be afraid to go to the mall or other public places for fear of being shot.
Barker said you’re much more likely to get in a car accident than be randomly shot.
Click HERE to view the video interview. [...]Read more... LEIC’s Chris Jones discusses how to respond and prepare for an active shooterOctober 22, 2019East Tennessee officials are still investigating what they call a “random” shooting at the Tanger Outlets in Sevierville. The attack on April 16, 2019 killed a Pennsylvania woman and injured a man from Massachusetts, both visitors to our state.
Click HERE to view the video interview. [...]Read more... Former Police Officer Discusses How to Harden Soft Targets in ChattanoogaFebruary 27, 2018Originally posted by Stephanie Santostasi for NewsChannel 9 on Tuesday, February 27th 2018
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Since the school shooting in Florida two weeks ago, student safety is still on the top of every parent’s mind. Downtown, near Ross’s Landing, is where Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival happens every summer. It draws in large crowds with tens of thousands of people gathered there. But, how safe is a public open space like that?
We asked Chris Jones, a former police officer who now serves as a training specialist with UT’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center.
“The more public a place, the more vulnerable it is,” he said. “A soft target is a place that is frequented more by the public, and it gives them basically free reign and free access.”
Last week on our NewsChannel 9 Facebook page, we asked your opinion about the gun control debate. Thousands of you replied.
Thursday, our question asked: what is the best way to curb mass shootings in the United States?
43% of you said the answer was greater security at public places.
“For any crime to exist, there has to be the desire to commit the crime, the opportunity for the crime to be committed, and the ability of the offender to commit the crime.” Jones said. He says when you take one of those away, the crime does not get committed. So, what can be done here?
For starters, he says, lighting is the biggest thing.
“Don’t create any dark spots. There are so many advancements with lighting now. The more visible a place is, the less likely crime is to occur and it goes back to natural surveillance,” Jones told NewsChannel 9.
He says it’s also important to establish boundaries, and to always plan for the worse but expect the best.
“You want to make sure that you’re taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to crime prevention,” he said.
At Riverbend last year, law enforcement agencies put up water barriers at entrances to prevent cars from driving into the crowds, as well as increased their presence downtown.
The Chattanooga Police Department says they work with different venue managers and event organizers to identify potential security concerns related to a building, structure, or event. They say each place is different so security suggestions change too.
Click HERE to view the article and video interview. [...]Read more... New Law Enforcement Training Focuses on CommunicationAugust 8, 2017Originally published as a guest column in the Knoxville News Sentinel.
By Don Green, LEIC
In a recent article, Yolanda Jones and Daniel Connelly with USA Today Network reported on recent law enforcement involved shootings in the Memphis area. In each of the cases, there is concern over the justification of the shooting. Law enforcement executives across the country are aware of the scrutiny in which officer involved shootings are reviewed and they consider it a major concern impacting the entire profession. Even in Knoxville, a recent shooting has generated controversy over the details that seem to conflict with law enforcement statements and physical evidence.
One concern that continues to surface is the manner in which officers receive firearms training. The Police Executive Research Forum has initiated seminars across the nation on Integrating Communication, Assessment and Tactics Training (ICAT). Similar to the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center’s De-Escalation Training, it promotes the communication and assessment of situations as to the most appropriate use of force prior to employing tactics. Law enforcement executives are becoming more cognizant that the firearms training that officers are exposed to is structured toward accuracy when employing firearms. Officers are required to attend a minimum number of hours of firearms training that may only consist of drawing their weapon and firing. When exposed to turning targets, they discharge their weapon every time the target turns. Rarely, is there an instance where the target is exposed that officers draw their firearm and not fire. And when the target has a weapon, are they ever exposed to a target that turns and no weapon is exposed?
At the same time, many officers may go through their entire career and rarely become exposed to incidents where deadly force may be needed. In those situations where it is thrust upon them, the manner in which they respond may go back to how they were trained. If their only training has been to respond with deadly force, it may lead to many of the questionable shootings related in recent news articles.
The two training programs mentioned above, as well as many others employed by law enforcement agencies, use realistic firearms simulators to allow for interaction between the officer(s) and the individuals they encounter during scenarios. No longer is the target a paper cutout that doesn’t speak; now with updated technology, the suspect engages the officer, talks and responds to the officer’s verbal commands. The situation may still require a deadly force situation, but offers the officer an opportunity to employ communication / de-escalation skills, assess the appropriate action prior to employing tactics. It provides officers an opportunity for exposure to potential deadly force situations in a training mode, prior to a real-life encounter.
These simulators are not inexpensive, and the investment of funding and resources is a difficult decision. But providing the training for officers aids them in responding to critical incidents in a manner that reflects positively for them and their agency. Eliminating questionable police shootings improves public trust in the community. The University of Tennessee hopes to play a part in aiding both agencies and their communities.
Don Green is a former deputy chief of police with the Knoxville Police Department and current director of the Law Enforcement Innovation Center, an agency of the The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.
[...]Read more... Drug Exposure Poses a Risk for First RespondersJuly 25, 2017(First appeared as a Knoxville News Sentinel guest column by LEIC Executive Director Don Green)
The rash of overdoses related to opioid use is skyrocketing. Not only are individuals caught in the grips of addiction at risk, but innocent victims who may come into contact with these substances can be impacted. Most recently, an Ohio police officer was inadvertently exposed to fentanyl during a traffic stop, and nearly lost his life.
The University of Tennessee in collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Health Foundation has taken a positive step in responding to this problem. Through grant funds, BCBS, is able to provide law enforcement agencies and their officers with the product NARCAN, which can counter the overdose capability of opioids. UT’s Law Enforcement Innovation Center, and agency of the Institute for Public Service, is providing the information to law enforcement officers on the risks of exposure, training on responding to an overdose situation, and the use of NARCAN. This statewide outreach is having an impact in overdose deaths, and in many cases can aid with the addiction issue.
While some may question law enforcement’s responding as a medical first responder, it is certainly not outside their mission. Historically, officers have responded to incidents of attempted suicide brought on by depression, other mental issues or life stresses. At traffic accident scenes, crimes involving personal injury, or even accidental injuries police are trained to provide basic first aid to those victims. This response is no different.
It is also not uncommon to hear skeptics who say why go to the effort to try to respond to overdose issues, it may only lead to continued use. According to statistics from the Knoxville Police Department, that is usually not the case. It is the rare exception that repeat uses of NARCAN are documented by the department for the same individual. And again, law enforcement efforts have always been focused on saving lives, regardless of the situation they encounter.
What is different in these situations is the cause of the addiction that law enforcement is facing. Early in my own career, overdose issues were originating from what began as recreational use of an opioid. Today, the addiction is most likely occurring from prescription use that has escalated. What began as a prescribed pharmaceutical used to combat pain, has now become an addiction that exceeds the individual’s legitimate ability to secure their drug. In order to address both the psychological and physical consequences of non-use, they must find other means. And, when driven to cheaper, alternate substances, the level of opioid cannot be determined. That use may result in an overdose.
As mentioned earlier, law enforcement officers may inadvertently be exposed to these substances. It is not solely their own lives at risk. Children, family members, and co-workers may also come into contact, and the levels may only need to be minimal to cause an overdose. First responders who have the training, knowledge and ability to aid are essential in preserving all life.
Addiction is a serious issue and is a community problem. I don’t have an answer but do know that it has escalated to taking a toll on our first responder community. And to truly realize the problem is to watch an advertisement on television that deals with providing a medical remedy to a symptom of continued opioid use. When we acknowledge that we need a solution to a problem without addressing the problem seems we have surrendered on the issue.
Don Green is a former deputy chief of police with the Knoxville Police Department and current director of the Law Enforcement Innovation Center, and agency of the The University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service. [...]Read more... BCBST, LEIC Partner to Prevent Overdose DeathsJune 28, 2017BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Law Enforcement Innovation Center Partner To Prevent Drug Overdose Deaths
The UT Law Enforcement Innovation Center’s work highlighted in new issue of Better Tennessee Magazine
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Each year, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation partners with local organizations to improve community health. This year, BlueCross and the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center (LEIC) are providing a naloxone training program for first responders who answer to drug-overdose calls. Narcan, or naloxone, is a drug that counteracts overdose effects, allowing first responders to save lives in seconds.
“We are helping in the outreach that will eventually get Narcan out to law enforcement officers across the state,” said Don Green, LEIC executive director. “We want to make responders aware of the product first of all, and then show them what they can do for victims of opioid overdoses.”
The training reviews how to inject the nasal spray, as well as the product’s shelf life and how it works, says Chris Jones, training specialist, who adds that putting Narcan into responders’ hands will help them in a wide variety of calls, not just those related to possible drug overdose.
“It’s amazing,” said Corporal Alex MacPherson from Columbia, Tenn. “We get people who have overdosed, and you do everything you can, but get very little physical stimulus to show that CPR or whatever you’re doing is working. A monitor spike shows they’re still alive, so you keep going and hope you can keep them from dying. With Narcan, they get up and walk around. Nothing is like this.”
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation provided $35,000 for Narcan training provided by LEIC. And to raise more awareness for the cause, LEIC was featured in the latest edition of Better Tennessee magazine, published by BlueCross.
“We are thankful for the Law Enforcement Innovation Center and how they’re equipping first responders to save lives,” said Chelsea Johnson, interim director of community relations and foundations at BlueCross. “Supporting organizations that improve community health is core to our mission.”
Through grants from the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, as well as corporate sponsorships, BlueCross invested nearly $10.5 million in Tennessee communities in 2016.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust
The Community Trust is a 26 U.S.C. (c)(4) organization designed to allow BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to offer additional support to charitable and civic causes in the communities we serve.
About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc.
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, Inc. was established in December, 2003 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the philanthropic mission of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The foundation awards grants focused on high-impact initiatives across the state, which promote healthy lifestyle choices and help control health care costs for all Tennessee residents. Working with civic and economic partners, the foundation is dedicated to the support of research, innovative programs and creative approaches to improve the health and quality of life of Tennesseans for generations to come.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and across the country. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com. [...]Read more... |