Source: Europol
Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians have visited Europol today in The Hague, the Netherlands, where they heard about the Agency’s work in helping EU Member States fight serious and organised crime across Europe.Europol’s Executive Director Catherine De Bolle welcomed their Majesties, who were accompanied by the Belgian Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden.Their Majesties and the…
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rasheem “Coop” Sullivan, 31, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and being a felon in possession of a firearm, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who is handling the case, stated that Sullivan is a member of the nationally recognized Bloods Gang, and the self-proclaimed leader of a local subset known as the Immortal Stone Gorilla Gang. In December 2022, following a lengthy investigation into narcotics trafficking, weapons possession and associated violence, Sullivan and several of his fellow Blood Gang members were arrested. On Dec. 14, 2022, several locations associated with Sullivan’s enterprise were searched, during which investigators recovered narcotics, cash and numerous firearms. Inside Sullivan’s residence, a Glock 10 mm pistol loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition was recovered.
The investigation began in the aftermath of the murder of Rochester Police Department Investigator Anthony Mazurkewicz and the assault of Investigator Sino Seng in July 2022. It’s alleged that individuals associated with Sullivan were engaged in a violent feud with another group led by Brandon “B-Mack” Washington. In September 2022, Washington and several associates were charged with federal drug and weapons offenses.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith; the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 21 before Judge Geraci.
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Source: United States Air Force
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) —
A T-7A Red Hawk, the Air Force’s new trainer aircraft, completed a month-long trial of extreme weather inside the McKinley Climatic Laboratory, Feb. 23.
The Boeing test aircraft endured real temperatures ranging from 110 degrees to minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit as well as heavy humidity conditions. All of those scenarios created within the lab’s 55,000 square foot test chamber.
The goal of these punishing tests was to verify the new aircraft’s sustainability in any operational environment.
“We need to know the T-7A can operate in the environmental conditions it will encounter at pilot training bases around the country,” said Dr. Troy Hoeger, chief development tester for the T-7 with the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center.
Once the lab technicians created the extreme environments, Boeing and Air Force aircrew performed system operations and engine runs to evaluate the aircraft’s reactions in those scenarios.
A significant amount of the test schedule was dedicated to preparing the chamber for the extreme conditions. McKinley’s lab professionals create, break down, and recreate again each new test environment. Technicians worked continuously to go from a superheated 100-degree desert condition to a below freezing icebox in only a few days.
“McKinley Climatic Laboratory maintains quickness and technical proficiency by retaining our own staff of highly experienced welders, machinists, electricians, instrumentation experts, test assembly personnel and refrigeration operators,” said Melissa Tate, the lab’s flight chief. “Our main mission is to support the warfighter and to ensure any environment they encounter in the field; their equipment has already been proven in those extremes.”
With every new aircraft or piece of equipment, the lab crews accommodate and sometimes find new ways to support the specific requirements that may arise. The T-7 was no different. The maintenance and logistics teams ensured things ran like clockwork, according to Tate.
After testing in the climatic lab tests, T-7A will return to Boeing to ensure the aircraft’s technical orders are safe and accurate for the operators and maintainers that will interact with it.
“The T-7A will replace the T-38C Talon, drastically improve training for the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots and will better prepare student pilots to advance into fourth and fifth generation fighter and bomber aircraft,” said Hoeger.
Source: NATO
Czechia will host the next informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which will take place in Prague on 30-31 May 2024.
“I am grateful to Czechia for hosting this informal meeting as we prepare for our Summit in Washington in July,” the Secretary General said. “This year marks 25 years since Czechia joined NATO and 22 years since the Prague Summit where we invited seven more central and eastern European countries to join our Alliance. So this is a fitting place to discuss how we can continue to strengthen and adapt NATO in this important anniversary year,” he added.
At their 2021 Summit in Brussels, NATO leaders pledged to strengthen and broaden political consultations, including through informal meetings of Foreign Affairs Ministers. Such meetings were hosted by Germany in Berlin in May 2022, and Norway in Oslo in May 2023. Czechia joined NATO on 12 March 1999 alongside Hungary and Poland.
Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has submitted its evidence to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) for police officer pay for 2024/25.
Recommendations include calling for an above inflation pay increase across all ranks, increasing the starting salary for constables, in a longer-term strategy to address the real term pay decreases faced by officers over the past decade.
Evidence submitted to the pay bodies recognises the higher-than-expected pay award of 7 per cent received last year, however this is on the back of a long-term decline in police pay, which means officers have still received a real term pay cut on average of over 16 per cent since 2010.
Policing remains an incredibly challenging and stressful occupation, with each police officer facing between 400 and 600 traumatic events during their career, compared with between three and four for most people during their lifetime. The pay premium which was designed to compensate officers for the unique nature of their work physically and psychologically has been eroded due to long-term below inflation pay rises.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Pay and Conditions, Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan, said:
“Our officers deserve pay that reflects their challenging and unique roles, recognising their responsibility to run towards danger and the restrictions we place on them which means they cannot strike or take on second jobs.
“The pay premium reflecting this has decreased substantially over the past decade, and our increasingly young workforce has meant many within policing are at the lowest pay ranks.
“Over the past 3 years, policing has recovered some of the reduction in officers caused by a decade of austerity, and we are now financially locked into maintaining these numbers. With increasing demand on policing and tight budgets, police forces face difficult decisions, with less money to put officers on the frontline and recruit staff to carry out critical back-office roles.
It is important that the recommendations to government reflect these financial challenges and are funded appropriately to support us in keeping the public safe.”
Source: United States Coast Guard
02/26/2024 03:04 PM EST
SAN DIEGO — Crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Sea Otter rescued four adults and one child from the 58-foot pleasure craft Playhouse after the vessel began taking on water between San Clemente Island and Dana Point, Calif., Saturday afternoon. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Diego’s Joint Harbor Operations Center received a distress call from the Playhouse at approximately 11 p.m., reporting a shaft seal failure that led to 2 feet of water entering their engine room during transit from San Clemente Island to Dana Point. The crew of the Playhouse successfully halted the leak and promptly alerted the Coast Guard.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Detectives investigating the death of a man in Streatham have made a second arrest.
On Monday, 26 February a 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remain in police custody.
Police launched an investigation after we were called to the multi-occupancy house in Glenister Park Road by the London Fire Brigade at 19:07hrs on Sunday, 25 February.
A 49-year-old man was found dead inside the property. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers.
The fire is thought to have been started deliberately and is being treated as suspicious.
Further enquiries are taking place.
On Monday, 26 February, a 34-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder and arson with intent to endanger life. She remains in custody at a south London police station.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation, and we are working quickly to piece together the events last night in Glenister Park Road that sadly resulted in a man losing his life.
“Detectives have spent the day gathering footage from nearby doorbell cameras and other CCTV. The scene of the fire has undergone extensive forensic examination to help us understand how the fire started.
“I would ask anyone in the area who saw any activity on Sunday evening around 6.45pm in Glenister Park Road, between Drakewood Road and Streatham Vale, or has information about the incident, to come forward immediately.
“We understand that such a tragic incident will cause concern among the wider community, however we believe that this is an isolated incident and we have arranged for additional patrols in the area over the coming days to help provide reassurance.”
A post-mortem examination will take place in the coming days to establish the man’s cause of death.
Anyone who can help the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 5631/25Feb.
Information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council
NPCC responds to a House of Commons Committee report, which has made recommendations to government.
National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Protests, Chief Constable Chris Noble said:
“We welcome the observations made by the Committee and thank them for the opportunity to provide a perspective of policing protest on behalf of all police forces.
“The right to lawful protest is a key part of any democracy, which UK police uphold and facilitate. Our staff will continue to carry out this vital work for as long as necessary.
“After dealing with a prolonged period of activity like we’ve seen recently, it is only right that we collectively recognise the impact that this has had on our resources.
“In recent months, the level of activity that we’ve been responding to has meant that our people have worked long hours, had leave and rest days cancelled, and have had to travel across the country to support their colleagues. They do this in order to keep people safe, investigate crime that has occurred, and bring offenders to justice, and for that they have my gratitude.
“Inevitably when we push resourcing into one part of policing, that will mean that there are less people to fulfil the needs in another.
“We will take away the findings of this report, examine the recommendations, and work with the Government and our partners to ensure that we have the resources that we need to continue to deal with these events effectively and sustainably.”
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Austin Tennant, age 29, of Phoenix, New York, was convicted on Friday, after a four-day jury trial, on four counts of Distribution of Child Pornography, three counts of Receipt of Child Pornography, and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. The charges relate to Tennant’s distribution of child pornography he downloaded from the Internet as well as child pornography he received directly from child victims he chatted with online.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The evidence at trial established that, between September 2022 and January 2023, Tennant obtained from the Internet and directly from child victims hundreds of videos and thousands of images of child pornography. The evidence further established that Tennant later redistributed that same child pornography to others, including to other children in an effort to induce them to provide him with sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2024, in Syracuse, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. For each of his convictions on Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, Tennant faces a term of imprisonment between five and twenty years, and a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years on his conviction for Possession of Child Pornography. Tennant also faces a fine of up to $250,000, mandatory restitution to the victims, and a term of supervised release between five years and life. Tennant will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The case was investigated by HSI Syracuse with assistance from the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael C. McDermott, age 30, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for stealing six firearms from a Walmart, a federally licensed firearms dealer. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Bethlehem Police Chief Gina F. Cocchiara made the announcement.
When pleading guilty last October, McDermott admitted to forcing his way into the Walmart in Glenmont, New York, while it was closed overnight, smashing the glass gun case, and stealing five shotguns and one rifle. McDermott also admitted that when employees chased him into the woods, he pointed a firearm at them.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release, which includes a special condition of supervision barring McDermott from any association with members, associates and/or prospects of the Suicide Squad motorcycle gang.
The ATF and Bethlehem Police Department investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.