ITV News’ Post

I try to keep an open mind when reading these accounts - I realise that the media don’t always report things accurately or fairly, and that often, they aren’t in receipt of all of the information anyway. However, we need our most senior representatives in all roles, especially in policing, to do the right thing, always, and remember that those that cause harm walk among us. The greater the power, the easier it is to hide in plain sight. The harder it is to speak out. If we can’t trust the individuals then we can’t trust the system. If we can’t trust the system, we have no system. No system means no accountability. Which means the harm continues. The system clearly needs total reform, where do we start? 👇🏻

It's 'Emergency Service Dispatchers and 9-1-1 Awareness Week' in Canada. In most cases, our calltakers and dispatchers are the *literal* first responders to the absolute worst moments in a citizen's life. Whether a citizen is calling to seek help from police, fire/rescue, or paramedics, it's the person who answers the phone that sets the stage for how we will respond. More than simply taking calls and putting calls out up on the board or over the air, many dispatchers also do an absolutely superb job in helping run the call- from start to finish, collecting more information and broadcasting it, calling in more units, officer safety checks, and more. At this time, I will shoutout to the public safety communicators of the Calgary Police Service, especially those who worked at ResOne and on the D1 channel, who, in my opinion, are the best in the business, bar none, and who kept me alive, supported, and frequently entertained during five crazy years policing Cowtown. In the case of major incidents, such as the appalling murder of Chicago Police officer Ella French, EOW 2021-8-7, dispatchers like Keith Thornton literally coached and quarterbacked the entire 'play' from the time Ella and her partner were shot, to the simultaneous apprehension of the shooters and the evacuation of the officers to hospital, to the crime scene management which ensured that vital forensic evidence was captured, and witnesses identified for interview. Her killers are in jail now because of that response. Mister Thornton did all this with a calm, firm, loving sense of urgency that is palpable in audio recordings of the call- I urge you to listen to it, and reflect upon what we ask of our men and women who answer your call when you dial 9-1-1. To public safety communicators everywhere- we see you, we thank you, we love you. https://lnkd.in/gZwN23yD #911 #911awareness #dispatcher #calltaker #publicsafety #publicsafetycommunications #publicsafetycommunicator #PSAP #publicsafetyansweringpoint #999 #incidentcommand #police #fire #paramedic #thinblueline #thingreenline #thinredline #inomniaparatus #ChicagoPolice #CalgaryPolice #Chicago #Calgary

#MistySeemans, a #Delaware #PublicDefender Leader who is a Waltz Family Friend who graduated #CabCalloway with our son #AndrewWaltz, publishes an #OpEd in today's #Gatehouse #Gannett #DelawareNewsJournal calling for opening of #PoliceMisconductRecords. Nicely done, Misty! Friends know we're a #PoliceFamily, and in fact my nephew #MichaelWaltz is a #PoliceLieutenant and #PatrolCommander in #NashvilleTN. My own background has included decades working with #Uniformed #PublicSafety #Sworn Officers, as a #VietnamEra #USArmyCounterIntelligence veteran, a #PoliceReporter Journalist covering what we called "the Cop Shop," and as Clients, and more. I've counseled #SeniorPoliceLeaders. But no good excuse exists for Proven Cases of #PoliceMisconduct, which of course always are at risk of being #Politicized. Police, of course, are human, like each of us as #Professionals, but their special status as a #SwornOfficer elevates their levels of responsibility to a higher level. Plus, as #LifelongDemocrat who is a #CenterRight #LimitedGovernment #SmallGovernment #Patriot guy, #BigGovernment is tasked with a special obligation as well for #Transparency as part of its #Accountability Nicely done, Misty!

With the festive time approaching and peoples focus can be on parties and good times, we also should remember it can create opportunities for the less desirable element in society. Please be aware of, consider and talk about Drink spiking. Have that open discussion with family, friends and partners "what would I/we do if I/we had our drinks spiked?" This is one of the topics we cover and make other aware of in our personal safety workshops. Spread the word and together lets stop drink spinking. #safespacesforall #stampoutspiking #askforangela #askforclive

Representing the Public Defenders' Department along with my colleague Shuzvon Ramdass featuring on a live broadcast hosted by the Rise Maximum Radio, a radio station based in Maximum Security Prison, Arouca. This monthly initiative of the PDD is meant to reach the inmates to provide much needed information about their legal rights, options available to them, and how the Criminal Justice System works. The PDD is a department that provides quality defence representation to legally aided clients in the High Court. #publicdefenderstt #publicdefenderstrinidadandtobago #pddtt

“The lawsuit argued that the policies violated the First #Amendment and effectively silenced jail employees, hampering important investigative reporting about issues at the Allegheny County #Jail, which in recent years has been the subject of coverage examining the deaths of men incarcerated at the jail, personnel vacancies and turnover, and allegations of deficient medical care..” Look at the number of things you can #discover from taking action on a situation you have a feeling is #corrupted through evidential #information, especially before it’s sealed or erased. There’s hope for journalists. People like Brittany Hailer are the reason I continue to fight for #injustice. Whenever I’ve said I enjoy making a good #impact on the people, that includes other journalists as well. Our #society has become such a place filled with cracking eggshells, that many journalists have forgotten what it means to continue stepping over them. What is #journalism without the eggshells being cracked? That’s the point…read it again. 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞. If journalists can merge the traditional way of getting out there and doing “old-school” reporting despite the quick innovations of #technology, and also hiring more people with different sets of skills (as our skills expand BECAUSE technology is expanding…that means our minds have to expand, too…) than we would have more genuine reporting through #acceptance (OTHER than race and culture — yes…we need — or should — KEEP innovating ideas…) without feeling unethical or feeling like you have impostor syndrome… Did you know that #assertiveness is a #skill, too? If you don’t, you might as well start to consider it one because ask yourself — 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐝? 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰 -- 𝐧𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝? #spj

Criminal justice and the prison system is such a hot topic – with many hours of tv shows, films, radio programs and features in the news dedicated to it. If you are interested in what 2025 might look like in the sector, take a look at this article from Russell Webster: https://buff.ly/4gVi4Xa Whatever the year holds, Langley will be there, supporting people with convictions to transform their lives and improve our society... because everyone deserves another chance. #criminaljustice