The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators 4th ED

The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators – 4th Edition

By: Joseph Giacalone

Great news! In March 2023, The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators has been completely revised and updated to the 4th Edition. I am very proud how this edition has turned out.

Not only is this a brand new edition, I also have a new publisher, Blue 360 Media which bought out the original publisher, Looseleaf Law.

In 2011, the original text was published. Since then it has been updated every few years to keep readers informed of the latest changes in criminal investigations.
Continue reading “The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators 4th ED”

The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act: Is it Enough?

The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act was signed into law recently by President Joe Biden. Did it go far enough?

The Cold Case Problem

Cold case homicides have become a national problem. In recent years, homicides continue to surge and case clearances continue to drop. What has made matters worse, is the rocky start of the the FBI’s new National Incident-Based Reporting System or NIBRS for short. Many cities, including both Los Angeles and New York City, did not report homicide data to the FBI in 2021. In 2023, the FBI announced that it will make an ‘estimation’ of crime statistics. That’s not a good plan.
Continue reading “The Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act: Is it Enough?”

Policing Our Way Out of Crime

Policing Our Way Out of Crime

Policing our way out of crime has fallen out of favor over the past two years. However, New Yorkers woke up the other day to the news that their two most wanted perpetrators were been apprehended. Gary Cabana, the man wanted in the Museum of a Modern Art attacks was captured in Philadelphia and the man believed to be the serial killer of homeless people was arrested in Washington DC. Continue reading “Policing Our Way Out of Crime”

Crime in NYC Continues to Surge

Crime in NYC Continues to Surge

Crime in NYC continues to surge. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be going in the right direction for the new mayor and his police commissioner. The best cop I ever met was Mother Nature and she was no help this week either. Snow and freezing temperatures didn’t keep the criminals away. February is not off to a good start. This post covers the week beginning January 31, 2022 and ending February 6, 2022.
Continue reading “Crime in NYC Continues to Surge”

NYC Crime is Off to the Races So Far in 2022

NYC Crime is Off to the Races So Far in 2o22

NYC crime is off to the races so far in 2022. Yes, it’s only one month into the new year, but a cold and snowy January didn’t deter the criminals. This post covers the week beginning January 24, 2022 and ending January 30, 2022.

Mother’s Day is often the signal for the warm weather and a common joke amongst cops that it also signals the ‘Opening Day’ for crime. The warm weather is still a few months away and residents of New York City should be concerned.
Continue reading “NYC Crime is Off to the Races So Far in 2022”

2021 Officer-Involved Shooting Database

2021 Officer-Involved Shooting Database

The 2021 Officer-Involved shooting database compiled by the Washington Post has been updated and I don’t understand why people aren’t talking about it. Why aren’t politicians and activists taking a victory lap? According to the database, law enforcement officers shot and killed 888 people in 2021. That is a 13% decrease from 2020’s total of 1,021. It is also the lowest number of shootings recorded by the Post since in began in 2015.

Continue reading “2021 Officer-Involved Shooting Database”

Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later

Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later

It’s been ten years since Shannan Gilbert’s body was discovered in the marshes behind the Oak Beach Community. Shannan was last seen on May 1, 2010, running and screaming for her life. It was more than a year later before Suffolk Police finally found her remains.
Continue reading “Shannan Gilbert: 10 Years Later”

Social Media is a Police Chief’s Nightmare

Social Media is a Police Chief’s Nightmare

By: Joseph Giacalone

Social media is a police chief’s nightmare. Amongst the other hundred things that could go wrong for them, social media has reared its ugly head in a terrible way. The Facebook post of Cherokee County Captain Jay Baker, the Public Information Officer, has caused a stir. As a result, the reaction was to delete the posts and then his entire account. That’s the equivalent of dumping bleach at a crime scene. “You are what you post” has become a real problem for police departments. Continue reading “Social Media is a Police Chief’s Nightmare”

A Defund The Police Experiment Gone Wild

A Defund The Police Experiment Gone Wild

By: Joseph Giacalone

A defund the police experiment gone wild. Minneapolis is a Defund the Police research experiment in real-time. The results so far are grim. Will politicians from other cities see the light or will they continue to charge into the Defund Abyss? New York City has two major elections coming up with serious implications for its future: Mayoral and Manhattan District Attorney. Will all of the candidates address the elephant in the room? Continue reading “A Defund The Police Experiment Gone Wild”

It All Can Change on a Dime

It All Can Change on a Dime

By: Joseph Giacalone

It can change on a dime. I know, I’ve been there. It’s nothing but a routine “clothes job.” Nothing routine about police work – nothing. Two NYPD officers were assigned d to aid a women remove some personal items that she shared with her significant other. The cops asked the right questions and deployed good tactics. That’s what kept them and the woman alive. Watch what happens and how fast it does: Continue reading “It All Can Change on a Dime”