The Badge

Code 2

Frank, Ben, George and Andy (aka Code 2) have been practicing for several weeks. Maybe this year's Christmas Party will rock!

Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert

The FBI today reminds Internet users who receive appeals to donate money in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake in Haiti to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.
Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:

• Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including  clicking links contained within those messages.  
• Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims  or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.  
• Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various  Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence  and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.  
• Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas  in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments  from known senders.  
• Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on  others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are  received and used for intended purposes.  
• Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits  contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and  make you vulnerable to identity theft.

For further information, please visit the FBI's Web site:

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/earthquake011310.htm

Santa Drops by

Santa Dave dropped by to pick up the toys from our two successful toy drives

Toy Drive

The Mounted Patrol will be collecting new, unopened, toys at the Wal-Mart in O'Fallon, Illinois.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Noon til 4:00 PM.

Seattle police kill suspect in officer slayings

Reuters – Maurice Clemmons, 37, a person of interest in the shootings of four Lakewood Department police officers

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer – 19 mins ago

SEATTLE – The man suspected of gunning down four police officers in a suburban coffee shop was shot and killed by a lone patrolman investigating a stolen car early Tuesday. Four people were arrested for allegedly helping the suspect elude authorities during a massive two-day manhunt.

Maurice Clemmons was carrying a handgun he took from one of the dead officers when a Seattle policeman recognized him near a stolen car in a working-class south Seattle neighborhood about 2:45 a.m., Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said.

Suspect in Cop Killings Was Out on Street Despite Lengthy Rap Sheet, Sentences

Monday, November 30, 2009
By Joshua Rhett Miller

As the suspect in the ambush execution of four police officers remains on the run, questions are swirling as to how and why Maurice Clemmons — an ex-con who at one time faced more than 100 years behind bars — was allowed to live free.

Clemmons, 37, of Tacoma, Wash., has an extensive, violent criminal history marked by volatile and unstable behavior, according to court records and news reports.

His criminal history includes at least five felony convictions in Arkansas and at least eight felony charges in Washington, according to The Seattle Times. He had a lengthy prison sentence commuted in 2000 by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who cited Clemmons' youth.

Police officers shot and killed in 'ambush' A reminder to be ever vigilant....

Families of the fallen reflect on BackStoppers' legacy, 50 years

 

Angela Martin reflects back on the day that her husband, Derek Martin, died fighting a fire in St. Louis in 2002. She was sitting with her daughter, Kayla, 11. A photo of Derek is at left. (J.B. Forbes/P-D)

BY CHRISTINE BYERS

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

11/25/2009

ST. LOUIS — Anne Sebold remembers only two things from the day she learned her husband, city police officer Louis Sebold, 45, had been killed in the line of duty:
The looks on her six children's faces, and the visit from two men who called themselves the BackStoppers.
At the time, she didn't fully realize all that they would do for her. But now, 34 years later, she doesn't know what she would have done without them.
"You felt like you had support," Sebold said. "Like you could do this."

For 50 years this year, the St. Louis-area agency — the only one like it in the country — has filled the financial gap left by fallen heroes.
Because of it, widows have been able to remain in their homes.
Children have achieved college dreams.
Families have stayed together.
In all, 119 St. Louis-area public safety workers have died in the line of duty since BackStoppers' founding in 1959.

Guns & Hoses

Rally for Guns 'N Hoses boxing show is Thursday

Firefighters take on police officers

BY JENNIFER A. BOWEN - News-Democrat

A public rally for the 23rd annual Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses boxing show will be Thursday evening in St. Louis.

The event raises money to benefit The BackStoppers. The organization assists families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty.

Male and female boxers from police and fire departments in Illinois and Missouri will be featured during the 17-bout event.

The event is scheduled for Nov. 25 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Tickets to the event are available online at www.stlgunsandhoses.com. Tickets are $30, $25, $20 and $10 plus a $2.50 facility fee. Tickets are also available throught Ticketmaster.com, at the Scottrade Center box office or by calling 622-1507. They will also be available at the door.

The public rally will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon at 800 Cerre St. near Busch Stadium. The rally is intended to raise enthusiasm about the upcoming boxing fundraiser and will feature ring girls, ticket giveaways and attendance prizes.

Participants in the rally will include all boxers who trained for the show, whether or not they were able to be matched on the final card.

"Boxers from police and fire departments throughout the metropolitan area put themselves through rigorous training and we want to show them that we appreciate their support," said Jerry Clinton, executive director of the St. Louis Guns 'N Hoses Boxing Association.

The final card is expected to feature 17 bouts between teams of police officers and firefighters from St. Louis city and the 11 Missouri counties and five Illinois counties covered by The BackStoppers.

First held in 1987, Budweiser Guns 'N Hoses has raised more than $2.6 million for The Backstoppers, which covers first responders in St. Louis city, and the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Jefferson, Lincoln, Warren, Washington, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Pike and Perry. Illinois counties covered are Madison, Monroe, St. Clair, Bond and Clinton. Also covered are members of Troop C of the Missouri Highway Patrol and District 11 of the Illinois State Police.

After a loss of life, The BackStoppers meets the family's emergency expenses and later arranges to pay bills, mortgages, debts, college costs and other expenses.

The BackStoppers is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.