HomelandSecurityLeader.com

Monday, December 31 - No public events scheduled

Tuesday, January 1 - Federal Holiday

Wednesday, January 2 - Friday, January 4 - No public events scheduled

24th - 25th  Federal Holiday

26th - 28th  No public events scheduled

From PoliceMag.com

Paducah, Ky., authorities say that longtime convict Timothy Krajcir has confessed that he killed a Kentucky woman, his ninth victim.

Krajcir, 63, reportedly gave police a detailed account of the 1979 murder of Joyce Tharp, whose naked body was found dumped behind a Paducah church.

Authorities say Krajcir, who was living in Carbondale, Illinois at the time, went to Paducah to cruise for victims. He saw Tharp in her home, broke in, and abducted her.

Full Story…

From www.wnbc.com 

New York — As New York gets ready for its New Year’s celebration in Times Square, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said there are no specific threats to the city at this time. Speaking with WNBC’s Jonathan Dienst, Chertoff said while the release of recent al Qaeda tapes overseas are always of concern, he said there is no reason for the region to raise its alert status.

“There’s nothing specific, credible about an imminent threat,” Chertoff said in his interview on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “Obviously whenever crowds gather, it is wise to be alert … but there is nothing in this imminent period that we are worried about.”

Full Story…

By Secretary Michael Chertoff

I am pleased that the Senate moved to confirm four key leaders at the department last night. Each of them has contributed significantly to the safety and security of our homeland and is integral to the continued maturation of the department.

Robert D. Jamison, Under Secretary, National Protection & Programs Directorate, is an outstanding leader on a number of our highest priorities, including strengthening our cyber security and working with private industry to harden critical infrastructure. I also rely on Robert for his work with US-VISIT, as the program rapidly expands 10-fingerprint collection at our ports and overseas.

Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has this new and powerful law enforcement agency performing the way Congress envisioned when it was created almost five years ago. Under her leadership, worksite enforcement arrests have quadrupled, gang members and child predators are being apprehended in record numbers, deportations are at an all time high, and the number of fugitive alien operations teams are growingly dramatically. I want to personally thank Chairmen Lieberman and Leahy, Ranking Members Collins and Specter and their committees, as well as Majority Leader Reid, for their recognition of the performance of the men and women of ICE during Julie’s tenure.   

Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Health Affairs, has been key in coordinating federal efforts in the areas of bio-defense and medical planning and preparedness. I have relied heavily on Jeff’s experience and intellect for more than two years on the most pressing health and public safety issues facing the American public.

Ross Ashley, Assistant Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), brings important energy and ideas to a new FEMA, and will further strengthen the agency’s ability to effectively and efficiently prepare for and respond to emergencies and natural disasters. 

I congratulate each of them on their confirmation and look forward to their ongoing service to the homeland.

From PoliceMag.com 

Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill this week to end capital punishment in New Jersey, making it the first state to repeal its capital punishment law since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed its reinstatement in 1976 after a four-year federal ban on the practice.

New Jersey last carried out an execution in 1963, although the state voted to reinstate the death penalty in 1982.

The eight men who had been on New Jersey’s death row will now serve life without parole.

Full Story…

From Salem Times-Commoner 

Homes have been decorated, gifts will soon be unwrapped and New Year’s resolutions are ready to fill everyone’s thoughts. With the onset of post-holiday activity, it’s important to keep safety at top of mind.

That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent safety testing organization, are joining together this post-holiday season to remind consumers to practice safety as they put away holiday decorations.

According to the NFPA, 13 percent of the home fires attributed to Christmas trees have occurred in January. The NFPA recommends consumers remove real trees from their home and properly dispose of them once their holiday celebration ends.

Full Story…

No public events scheduled.

The Tactical Medicine Conference reports a strong lineup of experts, trainers and instructors for the upcoming conference, February 19-22, at the Long Beach Convention Center, in Long Beach, California.

The Tactical Medicine Conference, co-located with TREXPO West, is where emergency medical providers meet and share the latest tips and insights on trauma and emergency surgery, disaster medicine, mobile medical response systems, nuclear, biological and chemical threats, and much more. Sessions will feature a variety of topics, including the new POST and EMSA tactical medicine model for the state of California, raising the bar to the 2008 standard for Tactical Medicine, combat physiology and performance enhancement, and tourniquets and hemostatic agents in the modern tactical environment.

The complete lineup of sessions is now available on the Tactical Medicine Conference website.

Tactical Medicine Conference attendees also have the opportunity to attend all TREXPO West and CAPTO seminars and to hear the TWO TREXPO West keynote sessions by John Giduck, author of Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy With Lessons for America’s Schools, on Wednesday, February 20 and Thursday, February 21, with book signing before and after his keynote presentations. Giduck will present a compelling review and analysis of the Beslan school attack.

Sign up online by January 28 and you’ll save $50 on the full conference pass price. Go to www.TREXPO.com or call 817-635-0302 to register by phone.
Use promo code: TACMED3

Call 800-576-8788 for additional conference information.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the award of $33.7 million to fund equipment and training for first responders across the nation as a part of the fiscal year 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). Since the program’s inception in 2005, DHS has provided roughly 5,800 direct assistance awards worth more than $103 million for all hazards in smaller jurisdictions nationwide.

“Local police and emergency personnel are the first on the scene of any incident, and often the cause is not immediately known,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “This direct funding equips first responders with technology and training to complement local resources, and helps communities develop tools and capabilities that they may not otherwise be able to afford.”

Eligibility for CEDAP is limited to law enforcement and other emergency responder agencies with specific financial and capability needs in five categories: personal protective equipment; thermal imaging, night vision and video surveillance tools; chemical and biological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and interoperable communications equipment. 

CEDAP equipment awards are integrated with state planning processes for regional response and asset distribution. Each state’s administrative agency has the opportunity to review applications submitted by first responder organizations within their state to ensure that equipment requests are consistent with their state homeland security strategy. 

Applications were accepted from April 25 to June 29, 2007 through the Responder Knowledge Base (www.rkb.mipt.org) Web site. For more information on CEDAP and other DHS grant programs, visit www.fema.gov.