LEO Round Table is an internet based law enforcement talk show. This is episode 50, recorded on 06/06/2016, with the following on-air personalities: Chip DeBlock (Host), Luke Lirot (Attorney), Mark Hopper, Bobby Alsip, Charles Humphrey and David D’Agresta. We normally produce two 30 minute shows each week that are released on our YouTube channel Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, this is our 50th episode so we decided to make it a one (1) hour show for the week. In addition to your host, the other panelists (except for attorney Luke Lirot) are active or retired law enforcement officers as well.
Topic 1 concerns the new concept of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) originating at the Seattle Public Defender Association (Washington), Santa Fe Police Department (New Mexico) and Albany Police Department (New York). Here law enforcement officers can choose to divert people who have committed low-level drug or sex work offenses to a case manager instead of incarcerating them.
Topic 2 concerns the recent killing of a 17-year-old western lowland (silverback) gorilla at the Cincinnati (Ohio) Zoo after an unsupervised 3-year-old slipped into a moat in his exhibit. Zoo policies and procedures are discussed as well as weapons teams and firearms on-hand. Who is at fault and accountability is also covered. Quoted in the story is Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Stephen A. Bucar.
Topic 3 concerns new tattoo recognition technology thanks to federal researchers at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The next set of experiments, code named “Tatt-E”, will involve the Michigan State Police, Tennessee Department of Corrections and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (Florida).
Topic 4 concerns a ruling by Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina that the Long Beach Police Department (California) unfairly targeted gay men in undercover stings. Quoted and mentioned in the story is Long Beach City Prosecutor Douglas Haubert, Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna, defendant Rory Moroney and attorney Bruce Nickerson.
Topic 5 concerns former Mercer County (New Jersey) Sheriff’s Officer Christopher J. McKenna who was charged and pled guilty to a 3rd degree felony of Wrongful Access and Disclosure of Information. Soon to be former Officer McKenna, he admitted to accessing a restricted database to obtain three (3) arrest photographs of a juvenile and providing the restricted photos to a newspaper reporter. The juvenile has reportedly been identified by his family as Radazz Hearns.
Topic 6 concerns controversy over a new West Virginia law allowing any person 21 or older to carry a concealed weapon WITHOUT having to obtain a permit or training. Quoted in the story is Huntington Police Chief Joe Ciccarelli and Cabell County Sheriff Tom McComas.
Topic 7 concerns a recent move for some law enforcement agencies to start rewarding officers for showing restraint in the line of duty. There is a growing emphasis on “de-escalation” and a strong argument that it could lead officers to hesitate in life-threatening situations. Quoted in the article is Center for Policing Equity Director Phillip Goff.
Topic 8 concerns an update on 74-year-old former Tulsa County (Oklahoma) Reserve Deputy Robert Bates who fatally shot Eric Harris when he mistook his handgun for his Taser. Defendant and subsequently deceased Harris was handcuffed and unarmed at the time. Bates was convicted in April 2016 of second (2nd) degree manslaughter has now been sentenced to four (4) years in prison. Also discussed in the story is the grand jury indictment of former Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz.
Topic 9 concerns a New York Supreme Court Appellate decision backing NYPD’s refusal to reveal the targets of counterterrorism surveillance due to their invoking the Glomar doctrine. Quoted and mentioned in the story is New York City Law Department Spokesman Nick Paolucci, Attorney Omar Mohammedi, target Samir Hashmi, target Talib Abdur-Rashid and NYPD Intelligence Chief Thomas Galati.
