MA KI NG MOBI LE T HE S A FES T CI T Y I N AMER I C A WI TH RESPEC T F OR E V ERYON E
MPDTheBeat
September 2018 ISSUE 12
SWAT TEAM RAPPELS FOR THE REAL SUPERHEROES DRIVERS EARN WRECKMASTER CERTIFICATION
PROJECT THRIVE HELPS TRAUMATIZED VICTIMS
HOOPS FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS
Officer of the Month
A MESSAGE FROM THE
CHIEF OF POLICE Entering the 4th Quarter of 2018 We have now entered the fourth quarter of 2018. Looking back over time to what has already passed, even with the heartaches that our department has endured as we have had to say farewell to the fallen or saw dreams of blissful retirement turn into a period of physical despair, I am reminded of how grateful I am to serve alongside men and women of such noble, yet humble existence. Although sometimes seemingly so effortless because of your dedication to this mission, the service that each of you render is on every level self-sacrificing and unassuming. In this race of life, we will not always defeat evil. It will oftentimes be the stand against evil that is more significant. As law enforcement officers, we stand because it is the right thing to do, and not because we believe we will walk away with our lives. This is selfless courage and it is victory in itself. Thank you for all that you do for our communities. I would like to commend the extraordinary work of the Investigative Operations Division for its relentless efforts and subsequent successful apprehension of the suspects wanted in the shooting of three innocent victims that occurred at the Chevron Gas Station. The collaboration of the Department’s Tactical Intelligence and Robbery Units with the U.S. Marshall’s Task Force was unyielding. Therefore, I am confident that I speak on behalf of the Department’s administration and staff, as well as the citizens of Mobile as I say that your persistent quest to remove perpetrators such as these who maleficently terrorize our law abiding citizens is most graciously appreciated. Congratulations respectively, to Officers Justin Washam and Daniel Marlin as well as Olivia Bradley and Amanda Salas on being selected as Officers of the Month and Civilian Employees of the Month. Your contribution to promoting the safety of our city and the efficiency of our department is appreciated. A very special thank you to all of our members that participated in the University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital Bell Ringing Ceremony, which celebrates the bravery of our children who with strength of character and optimism, and often with more smiles than tears fight against one of humankind’s overwhelming enemies – cancer. You adorned yourselves in caped costumes and scaled the walls to celebrate their victories bringing joy and encouragement to them. As your Chief, I proudly salute you and loudly proclaim “Not all flying heroes wear capes!”
Daniel Marlin, the Officer of the Month for August 2018, joined the force in March 2016, and works patrol in Precinct 1. During the month, Marlin responded to 100 calls for service and 24 backings. He made 16 felony and 126 misdemeanor arrests, and wrote three traffic citations. Marlin is commended for removing several criminal suspects and contraband off the streets in Mobile. Read more about Marlin’s accomplishments.
Justin Washam, Officer of the Month for July 2018, began his career with the department in February 2015. For the past three years, he has served in patrol at Precinct 2. According to his superiors, Washam has a professional demeanor and establishes quick rapport with the citizens of Mobile to give them the very best service possible. Read more about Washam’s accomplishments.
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” (Psalms 82:3-4)
EDITORIAL CONTACT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
The Mobile Police Department “non-caped crusaders” are soaring. Thank you again for all that you do, as always, I remain humbly appreciative to each of you and may God bless you all.
Charlette Solis ext. 1918 Corporal LaDerrick Dubose ext. 1926
THIS ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Sgt. Tina Zanca, Chaplain Connick, Heidi Robinson, John Smith, Meosha Hart, Officer Radwan Habibi, Officer Lawrence Goff
ON THE COVER: Officer Tanner Whipkey Submit ideas and info for the next issue! EMAIL: charlette.solis@cityofmobile.org
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January 2013 - Newsletter Template September2018 | MPDTheBeat
Sounding the alarm for good deeds: Off-duty officers paint vandalized fence The night of the McGill vs. Murphy football game, Ricky Bradford noticed a blue stripe along his fence. Mr. Bradford lives on the corner of South Lafayette and Brown Streets. He had recently painted the fence. That Saturday Officers Aaron McKee and Cathryn Cormier stopped by his house, while on break, offering to paint over it. Mr. Bradford said he was truly impressed with the officers and liked how they engaged with the community in this way. WATCH Fox 10 News story.
MPD Praise & Recognition from the Community
“This made my son’s day!”
I would like to send a huge thank you to Officer Deron McMichael. My son was involved in a vehicle accident in July 2018 where another driver hit my son’s vehicle. Officer McMichael responded to the scene and wrote an accident report. The insurance company was refusing to pay for my son’s vehicle unless they talked to Officer McMichael, and his report could prove their client was at fault. Officer McMichael did just that. It’s not everyday that you’ll have an officer to return your call, let alone talk to the insurance company. My sincere thanks to this outstanding officer. —Shonah Pettway I just wanted to say thank you to the wonderful school traffic lady (Wanda Niles) who works in the afternoons at Orchard Elementary . She is always so friendly and I just really enjoy going through that school zone daily. I drive the Moffett Road Baptist bus and she is just a joy to wave to daily. —Rachel Winslett
Pumpkin Carving & Pony Rides The Law Enforcement Officer Wife Ministries invites you to a family-fun gathering of Pumpkin Carving & Pony Rides. The law enforcement social is Saturday, Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Beginner’s Luck, 5392 Dawes Lane Ext. in Theodore. There will be pony rides, games and a prize for first-place pumpkin. Bring your own pumpkin to carve. To RSVP, email leowifeministries@gmail.com by Saturday, Oct. 20. This will allow organizers to know how much food to provide. January 20132018 - Newsletter Template September | MPDTheBeat
Three-year-old Reginal got so excited when he saw Officer Jesse Sluder in the Gulf Coast Challenge Parade. Sluder was one of the parade’s escorts. Reginal spotted Sluder on motorcycle near the CVS on Broad Street while with his mother. The parade was at a stopping point so Reginal’s mother asked Sluder if he would take a picture with her son. She thought it was the perfect opportunity to capture this moment of excitement for Reginal. Officer Sluder was more than happy to do so. The Gulf Coast Challenge Parade was held Saturday, Sept. 22 at 9 a.m.
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Police spouses, the strength behind the badge
Spouses of police officers are often called the strength behind the badge. At this year’s Law Enforcement Officer’s Spouse Dinner, several spouses were in attendance for the purpose of fellowship and to be the strength for each other. The guest speaker was Maria Greenwald, wife of Officer Charles Greenwald who was killed in the line of duty in 1996. Greenwald shared personal experiences of her life as a wife of a police officer and how she coped after her husband’s death.
Habibi meets fellow officers in Paris
During Officer Radwan Habibi’s trip to Paris, France this summer, he was in the company of fellow officers. From hanging out with them, he said it made him realize that we all share the same common things from long-hour shifts to dealing with unstable people. Most importantly, he said they all agreed that being a police officer is a lifestyle, not a job.
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Two representatives from Alabama C.O.P.S., a chapter of concerns of police survivors, were also present. Cindy Warren and Lee Ann Thompson talked about the emotional and financial support available to the survivors of fallen officers, and the training they offer to law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Officer’s Spouse Dinner was held Aug. 10 at Luke 4:18 Fellowship Church. The chaplains of the Mobile Police Department helped make the event possible.
Belfor salutes the blue
Belfor Property Restoration expressed its appreciation for our commitment to serving and protecting the community day in and day out by sending a delivery of 50 boxes of Little Caesars pizza to police headquarters on Aug. 1. September | MPDTheBeat January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template
Civilian Employee of the Month award recipients named Public safety dispatcher Olivia Bradley received the Civilian Employee of the Month Award for July 2018. Bradley joined the Mobile Police Department in March 2017. She is recognized for her attention to detail, strong work ethic and dedication to make Mobile safer. On July 10, 2018, Bradley was assigned to dispatch on Precinct 4. At 8:04 a.m., she received a call from a crisis line employee advising that a voicemail was left by a known person who stated he had rigged up Knollwood Apartments to blow up. The crisis center had been unable to reach the man by phone and requested a welfare check on him because he suffered from several mental issues and substance abuse. Bradley immediately recognized that the call was more than something suspicious and treated it as a bomb threat and followed protocol. She called the field supervisor to apprise him of the situation and dispatched numerous officers due to the fact it was an apartment complex. The fire department was notified and staged in the area. Moments later, units from the Mobile County Sheriff Office and EMS responded to a possible second address in county jurisdiction.
job multi-tasking and remained calm through the entire situation. The man was finally located and taken into custody. Nothing and no one was harmed. On July, 24, 2018, Bradley was assigned to dispatch on Precinct 2. At 1:27 p.m., an officer requested to know if there were any units in the area of Government Blvd. and Lansdowne Drive in reference to a stolen vehicle seen. Bradley immediately got two units to the area to look for the vehicle. The officer advised that there was a person with a weapon at the time it was stolen. Bradley made sure each unit copied the information for their protection. At 1:32 p.m., a patrol unit advised he was behind the vehicle at the light at Knollwood and Government and requested a backing unit before attempting to stop the vehicle. Backing units were in the area within a minute. The suspect refused to stop and a short pursuit ensued. The suspect then bailed into a wooded area near the Crest Motel and a foot pursuit ensued. K-9 Units were advised and responded to the location. A perimeter was set up. Bradley kept up with where all the officers were on the perimeter. The suspect was eventually taken into custody after a job well done by all involved.
Bradley kept the units updated all while handling extremely heavy radio traffic that was not associated with this particular call. Her supervisor said she did an excellent
Bradley was commended for her commitment to performing her job to the best of her ability. She helped officers throughout the month time after time.
Amanda Salas was Civilian Employee of the Month for August 2018. Joining the department in August 2017, Salas works in the Communications Unit as a public safety dispatcher. She is praised for her excellent work ethic, ability to remain calm under formidable circumstances and her attention to detail. During the month, she helped officers take a violent criminal off the streets.
suspect, necessitating the restriction and subsequent release of traffic. Units on the scene advised of the suspect’s description, and Salas kept meticulous details of everything said.
On Aug. 7, 2018, Salas was assigned to dispatch on Precinct 3. At 9:46 p.m., an officer came across the air advising that she was at the 2800 block of Emogene Street with a victim who had been stabbed. The victim was bleeding severely from the lower back, arm and head. The suspect was still inside the location armed with a machete and was holding a woman and children hostage. Salas immediately sprang into action and started additional units, and notified the sergeant and lieutenant of the situation. Mobile Fire-Rescue was also notified. The severity of the situation was evident when at 9:49 p.m. the officer asked for the estimated time of arrival for medical due to the victim bleeding out. At 9:57 p.m., the lieutenant advised that the suspect was no longer at the scene and there was no hostage situation at the location. Units checked another residence for the January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template September | MPDTheBeat
She was able to multi-task, keeping up with the details and requests pertaining to the call while dispatching other calls, starting units from other precincts when necessary and notifying the supervisors of calls holding. Once on the scene, the K-9 Unit began tracking the suspect in the woods. At 11:22 p.m., the K-9 sergeant advised he had located the suspect who at this point had a gun to his head. A perimeter was set up and hostage negotiators responded to the scene. The magnitude of the intensity increased with each broadcast. The sheer duration of the call was immensely stressful. Nonetheless, Salas did an outstanding job by remaining remarkably calm and her voice never wavered. She followed protocol and did everything that was expected of her. Although Salas has never been faced with a call of this magnitude due to just completing her probationary period by two days at the time of the incident, she performed like a seasoned dispatcher. The suspect was taken into custody at 1:40 a.m. without further incident.
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Communications Unit welcomes six new operators
Levy explains scope of new Gulf Coast Technology Center
On April 14, public safety dispatchers Selenia Westbrook and Kimberly Davis began their career with the Communications Unit. Westrook had previously worked for the unit, which allowed her to quickly complete her training. Davis is currently on her second phase of training that covers dispatching procedures. On Aug. 18, four additional public safety dispatchers were added to the Communications Unit. They are Dominique Hatten, Teairra Ballard, Terry Hudson and Angelique Martin. All are currently training on the call-taking position. Everyone has been enthusiastically learning every aspect of a telecommunicator’s job function.
Congrats Communications Trainer of the 3rd Quarter Communications Training Officer Dakota VestWright is recognized as the Communications Trainer of the Third Quarter. Vest-Wright is commended for taking great pride in her work and striving to give her very best every day. She has been a certified Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials trainer since March 2017. When completing the daily observation report, which provides feedback to the trainee, she is very detail-oriented with listing their strengths and weaknesses. Vest-Wright has created multiple tests and quizzes to help trainees retain and understand information quickly. These tests are not only used by her but also other communication trainers. On several occasions, she has been chosen to conduct remedial training for trainees who have had difficulty in certain areas of the job.
Brew, Que & Rescue by Roberts Brothers
Tuesday, Oct. 23 6 to 8 p.m. A FREE fun-filled evening of great BB-Q, Brew with information available for buying, selling and taking care of your home and family needs. Tons of door prizes and giveaways!
Firefighter Union Hall 4815 Halls Mill Road
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Public Safety Director Barber speaks at a press conference held Aug. 16 announcing the opening of the Gulf Coast Technology Center.
Best described as a partnered, collaboration-focused venture that brings the primary missions of the partnering agencies to one common field of operation, the Gulf Coast Technology Center has three initial centers of focus. With the Anti-Violence Technology Center, new and emerging technology will be utilized to combat, prevent and investigate violent offenses. It will rapidly identify the violent offenders along the Gulf Coast. The Threat Mitigation and Targeted Violence Prevention Center will specifically use technology to combat school-related and workplace-centered threats and targeted violence. Lastly, the Cyber-Enabled Crime, Network and Digital Media Forensics Center will focus on cyber and financial crime. The state-of-the-art facility will house cutting-edge technology and equipment, and provide a collaborative work environment for members of the law enforcement community, academia, and the private industry to share information, new technology, case work, and investigative techniques. This cooperative endeavor hopes to serve as a model for other regions across the country. “The Gulf Coast Technology Center represents the valued relationships and partnerships that have joined forces together, through collaboration and state-of-the-art technology, to combat violent crime, emerging threats and cyber-criminals all for the purpose of making our community safer,” said Kevin Levy, Commander of the Mobile Police Department Technology & Cyber-Intelligence Section. “When we work together with our law enforcement partners, private industry stakeholders, and the best and brightest in academia we can truly achieve great things.” The partners include U.S. Secret Service, BCSO, Foley PD, U.S. Border Patrol, University of South Alabama PD, Saraland PD Fairhope PD, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection and MCSO. Levy added that the Gulf Coast Technology Center will function as a toolbox for the latest intelligence-led strategies. The partners involved also consist of faculty experts from universities studying the science of combating violent crime using technology. September | MPDTheBeat January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template
Impound wrecker drivers earn Wreckmaster Certification
To earn the certification as “wreckmasters” is a high achievement in the towing industry. All three MPD impound wrecker drivers attended the Wreckmaster class in August and successfully passed the exam. Rickey Pettaway, Matt Hoffman and J.C. Smith (pictured above, far right) proudly received their Wreckmaster certification and patch.
Wreckmaster is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the professional development of tow owners and operators. The courses are hands-on and teach the cutting-edge techniques to work faster and safer.
True Blue Appreciation Cookout at St. Pius X Catholic School
Left photo, Traffic Homicide Investigator Lawrence Goff is one of several officers who attended the True Blue Appreciation Cookout at St. Pius X Catholic School on Sept. 10. Pictured right, one to students carries a police flashlight.
The True Blue Appreciation Cookout at St. Pius X Catholic School was well-attended by CID Units, the Traffic Safety Unit and Patrol Units from all four precincts. The school honored the officers for their service and served them lunch. Watch Fox 10 News Coverage of the Event. While spending time with the officers, the kids were allowed to check out the police Tahoes. They worked the blue lights, sirens and radio. The officers also got a chance to play games with the kids. In one of the games they used a giant slingshot to shoot water balloons at targets, which brought about a lot of fun and laughter. January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template September | MPDTheBeat
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MPD SPORTS: Hoops for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
The motivation to play for a worthy cause, mixed with some ball talent, led MPD to take the win 39-23 against MFRD. Hoops for Childhood Cancer Awareness brought MPD and MFRD to the court once again. Officer Nathaniel McCarty and Katina Randolph with the Office of Strategic Initiatives helped organize the basketball game to raise funds to support children’s cancer research. The game was held Sept. 21 at Fonde Elementary School, and played in honor of Aubreigh Nicholoas. From the Fonde students lively chants of cheering, there was
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great love for both teams, allowing $300 to be raised. There was even a coin war where students brought change to vote for the team of first responders that they thought would win. Watch WKRG News 5 Coverage of the Basketball Game. Pictured below from top left, Officer McCarty on defense, Officer Vincent Chestang looks for a pass, Captain Jonathan Lee and Officer Rashad Cunningham scramble for the ball, and Chief Battiste shows off the gold trophy ball with Fonde students.
September | MPDTheBeat January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template
City of Mobile proclaims Sept. 25 Project THRIVE Awareness Day Bess Rich, Council Member of District 6, along with Mayor Stimpson and members of the Mobile City Council, proclaimed Sept. 25 Project THRIVE Awareness Day. Led by the Mobile Police Department Office of Strategic Initiatives, the mission of Project THRIVE is to foster a traumainformed community through strong partnerhips that facilitate trauma healing and resiliency in the wake of violent events. With the common goal to improve community safety, MPD and agency partners work together to provide assistance to citizens who have been victims of traumatic events such as violent crime. The agency partners include the Mobile County Public School System, University of South Alabama, Mobile County Health Department, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama, AltaPointe, Strickland Youth Center, 100 Black Men of Greater Mobile, Child Advocacy Center, and Altas Industrial Outsourcing.
Office of Strategic Initiatives partners with Taylor Park Community Center summer camp This summer the Office of Strategic Initiatives partnered with the Taylor Park Community Center summer camp to provide programming and career exploration. Kids in kindergarten to fifth grade participated in the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program summer curriculum taught by Corporal Joshua Jones. Kids in the sixth to 12th grade participated in Project A.I.M. (Adult Identity Mentoring) taught by Ron Thomas. The G.R.E.A.T. program serves as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence and gang memberships. Students are taught how to make great choices by understanding how their decisions affect outcomes. Project A.I.M. (Adult Identity Mentoring) is a youth development intervention based on the theory of possible selves. It evokes that the possible selves are the selves one believes one might become in the near or more distal future and are therefore important in goal setting and motivation.
Project A.I.M. participants took field trips to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Baheth Research Laboratories. Guest speakers representing Austal, Alabama Power, FBI and Fox 10 News talked to them about career choices.
January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template September | MPDTheBeat
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10 schools Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T.
The G.R.E.A.T. program is a police officer instructed program. For the 2018-2019 school term, 10 schools have been selected to receive the gang resistance education and training program. The Choose to Be G.R.E.A.T. Kickoff was held at Florence Howard Elementary School on Sept. 10.
Family of the Fallen holds Police and Civilian Krewe Challenge
MPD G.R.E.A.T. PROGRAM FACILITATORS
Maryvale Elementary School Officer Joshua Pounds Craighead Elementary School Officer Joanne Watson Holloway Elementary School Officer Vincent Chestang Florence Howard Elementary School Corporal Latonya Thompson Whitley Elementary School Sergeant Byron Sutherland Robbins Elementary Officer Nathaniel McCarty Westlawn Elementary School Officer Gary Owens Fonde Elementary School Detective Sarah Badon John Will Elementary School Detective Ophelia Weathington Morningside Elementary School Corporal Lance Deleston
The Family of the Fallen holds its first Police and Civilian Krewe (P.A.C.K.) Challenge to raise funds to help support the families of fallen officers. The challenge allows civilian and police riders to compete on the same courses —helping to promote rider training among civilian motorcycle enthusiasts. It will be held Oct. 20 at The Grounds, 1035 Cody Road North. To learn more about the Family of the Fallen, and to obtain registration information, visit familyofthefallen.org. According to Sergeant Tina Zanca, one of the first-year goals for the Family of the Fallen is to build a Mardi Gras float for the families of fallen officers.
Public service is a world of opportunity There were several worlds of opportunity at the annual career expo held by the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development for eighth grade students. Our Crime Prevention Unit helped create the public service world to give students insight into a career in law enforcement. New on display this year was a police patrol car. The kids ran, literally, to experience what it is like to be in the driver seat as well as the back seat.
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September | MPDTheBeat January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template
SWAT Team performs “Operation Superhero” in bell ringing ceremony The MPD SWAT Team joined USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital in its annual Bell Ringing Ceremony to help celebrate the end of cancer treatment for 10 pediatric patients. The ringing of the bell is a significant moment as it marks the closure of being in treatment and the journey toward recovery. To set the memories, officers dressed up as superheroes presented Operation Superhero, which is a rappelling performance to recognize the real superheroes –the children surviving cancer.
Officer Rafman Cotten (Spiderman) announces the name of each child during the bell ringing ceremony. Sergeant Allison Garafola (Wonder Woman) holds one of the superhero capes that each child receives.
Statistics show that every two minutes worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer, and one in every 285 children in the U.S. has cancer. Here is another startling fact: more children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease. For this reason, the
Officer An Ngo (Deadpool) rappels down the building.
Officer Greg Bass (Batman)
Officer Daniel McCarthy (Superman)
Officer Philip Morris (Captain America)
SWAT Team is committed every year to do its part for childhood cancer awareness. Also supporting the efforts to create awareness, the Mobile City Council proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, urging all citizens to join the momentous occasion. January 2013 2018 - Newsletter Template September | MPDTheBeat
Since 2015, the MPD SWAT Team has proudly partnered with the hospital for the celebration each September. This year’s ceremony took place in the hospital’s courtyard Sept. 19. Watch Fox 10 News Coverage. The light display atop the Battle House Tower, Alabama’s tallest building, was also lit in gold that night.
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