Ranger, Police Officer — The monikers that stick with you

Ranger, Police Officer — The monikers that stick with you

“So, I’ve got three hypothetical stories for you,” Patrick Bacon said as he sipped his beer and leaned back into his couch. “Let’s say, right after high school, Pat Bacon drinks way too much and decides to drive. Let’s say he hits someone and it’s all over the news. ‘Pat Bacon kills bystander.’ It probably […]

A decade of service: From an Army Ranger to a DC Police Officer

A decade of service: From an Army Ranger to a DC Police Officer

Patrick Bacon joined the United States Army when he was 21 years old. He would make it through the rigorous schools and selections required to enter the 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion, spending five years in the military and leaving as a sergeant with multiple deployments under his belt. […]

What if terrorists got their hands on explosives and a drone?

What if terrorists got their hands on explosives and a drone?

Our air traffic control system successfully monitors thousands of aircraft per day. Yet, no such system for monitoring drones exists, yet. And UAVs are not required to report their location, as aircraft does. Even so, drones are quickly becoming ubiquitous in our society, making it less likely for us to know if the flier has ill intentions, until it’s too late. A group of no-goodniks could easily fly an explosive-laden drone, or half a dozen of them, into an office building, a park, city square, or even a stadium full of spectators.

Double standard for Muslims forces counterterrorism official to quit

Double standard for Muslims forces counterterrorism official to quit

Muslim officers working for London’s Metropolitan Police were often racist toward white officers. But few people take seriously the claim that a minority can be racist against a non-minority. What’s often called “reverse racism” is dismissed as being racist itself. The conversation, it would seem, is closed on this issue. Only whites can be racist. If minorities have negative views of whites, it must be because of their history of oppression.

3 brothers in south Texas, one a Border Patrol agent, charged in drug cartel-linked murder case

3 brothers in south Texas, one a Border Patrol agent, charged in drug cartel-linked murder case

Joel Luna seemed an ideal Border Patrol hire: south Texas native, high school ROTC standout, Army combat veteran.

A ledger documented the sale of drugs, guns and ammunition. Most damning of all, authorities said, was a commemorative Border Patrol badge and documents belonging to Joel Luna, including his work station password and Security Service Federal Credit Union account number.

Joel said he “had no knowledge of the safe,” according to investigators’ dash camera video. He was arrested on various charges, including tampering with evidence and capital murder. In his mugshot, he looked weary.

Facilitated illegal immigration: Nationalities of the most prolific European migrant smugglers revealed

Facilitated illegal immigration: Nationalities of the most prolific European migrant smugglers revealed

In a bid to stem the flow of migrants, the EU struck a controversial deal with Turkey.

In exchange for political sweeteners such as visa-free access to the Schengen zone for Turkish people, Ankara agreed a ‘one-in-one-out’ system for migrants trying to cross into Greece.

Implemented in March, it is aimed at halting the mass movement of migrants into Europe by sending those who do not apply for asylum or if their claim is rejected back to Turkey.

This is a likely explanation for the meteoric rise in Turkish smugglers, as new ways are found around security measures implemented by governments, leading to ever-shifting routes.

NYPD’s Intelligence Division: answering the terrorism challenge post 9/11

NYPD’s Intelligence Division: answering the terrorism challenge post 9/11

The Deep Undercover Program

The Intelligence Division Undercover [UC] Program is arguably the most unique in the world. It consisted of young officers – typically 22-26 years old – almost all born abroad or first generation Americans, all U.S. citizens, and all with native fluency in languages ranging from Bengali to Urdu. Over time, the cadre consisted of men and women with roots in over a dozen countries, mostly South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Instead of using experienced detectives who couldn’t blend in with investigative subjects, these rookies entered the Department via the Intelligence Division rather than the Police Academy. Hand chosen, they were smart, highly motivated, and fully understanding of the complexity of what they were about to do as professionals.

France arrests 3 minors in a week during counterterror offensive

France arrests 3 minors in a week during counterterror offensive

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that Wednesday’s arrest was part of French authorities’ efforts to target people vulnerable to “calls to carry out killings, led by a certain number of actors in Syria.” But he didn’t elaborate on any direct links between the boy and the IS group.

The extremist group “uses encrypted means to encourage increasingly young” individuals, he said, citing the messaging application Telegram.

France is currently in “an exceptional level of mobilization” following two failed attacks in six days, he added.

‘Wolf Boys’: How two American teens were trained as Mexican narcos cartel assassins

‘Wolf Boys’: How two American teens were trained as Mexican narcos cartel assassins

Cardona’s future became clear when he and a second American teen were assigned two $5,000 commission jobs in Laredo. The first target was a Mexican cop, Bruno Orozco, who’d defected from the Zetas to join a Sinaloan boss, Chuy Resendez, in Laredo. The teens murdered Orozco by the side of a busy road in broad daylight. Most of the hastily assembled crew escaped, but Cardona landed up in the Laredo police station for questioning by Detective Robert Garcia.