Investigations

A recent peer exchange between the Vallejo and Aurora Police Departments highlighted the effectiveness of community-based violence reduction programs. The focus of the exchange was the Aurora Stand Against Violence Everyday (SAVE) program. This grant-funded program leverages community partners as much as possible, working through confrontation and offering a concrete letter of support to those in the community most likely to commit violent crimes, specifically focusing on people between the ages of 18 and 25.

The Beverly Hills Police Department hosted three personnel from the Vallejo Police Department October 22, 2024, to learn about its Real Time Crime Center (RTCC). The day began with an overview and discussion regarding the history, technology, funding, and staffing of the RTCC. The attendees also learned about the workflow, the use of drones as first responders, and public perception. The afternoon included a presentation and review of case studies, success stories, and a question-and-answer period. The day concluded with a tour of the Beverly Hills RTCC.

IIR funded three individuals from the Sacramento Police Department to attend the 2024 SAKI TTA Suspect Interviewing Training held on September 23, 2024. The event was hosted by the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Training and Technical Assistance Program at RTI International’s campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The event delved into advanced interviewing techniques, focused on understanding the psychological aspects of interviewing suspects and the importance of credibility and evidence in the process.

Ms. Kristine Hamann from the NRTAC team has been invited to participate in a meeting hosted by the Connecticut Office of the State Attorney General. The meeting will be attended by prosecutors throughout the State of Connecticut. The purpose of Ms. Hamann’s participation in the meeting is to highlight the role prosecutors must assume to appropriately support the various BJA-funded CGICs in Connecticut. Additionally, Ms. Hamann will discuss the prosecutor training curriculum developed by the NRTAC and help coordinate its delivery to prosecutors in the State of Connecticut.

The NRTAC team helped facilitate a peer-to-peer engagement between the Jackson, (MS) Police Department (JPD) and the Chattanooga (TN) Police Department (CPD) CGICs, during which CPD gave JPD an all-encompassing site tour. The purpose of the site visit was to give the JPD CGIC an in-depth understanding of the strategies and resources implemented by the CPD CGIC to effectively employ the CGIC model and procedures to improve clearance rates.

At BJA’s request, Alan Hughes and Sarah Vanselow from the NRTAC team attended BJA’s Violent Crime Reduction Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Additionally, NPI set up an exhibition booth which highlighted the work of NRTAC and available resources to attending agencies.

ATF hosted an in person meeting with the local Northern California NIBIN sites. The purpose of this meeting was to bring these agencies together to highlight the importance of NIBIN, NESS, and eTrace. The meeting was attended by lab personnel, evidence technicians, investigators, and law enforcement executives. The BJA, alongside the NRTAC team was invited to attend to discuss available TTA to CGIC sites in the region. The BJA and the NRTAC team also used this opportunity to make in-person site visits to some of the local CGIC grantee sites in California.

The NRTAC team provided three onsite training sessions on Firearms Identification and Crime Gun Intelligence Exploitation for the Bridgeport (CT) Police Department, with subject matter expert Mark Kraft delivering the content. The training informed attendees about how to identify a firearm for accurate trace results and how crime gun intelligence can be used to investigate and prosecute NIBIN-related cases.

Met and
corresponded with grantee 2 times between July - October 2024
Email 8/16/24 - Check in
Meeting 10/9/24
Summary of Successes:
Introduced Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) to correctional facilities
Onboarded 2 new correctional rehabilitation technicians with COSSUP funding
They coordinate with MRT service providers, track progress of people in the program, discharge planning, and case management upon release
Moving offices to a new, larger space called the Center for Possibilities in November
Summary of Challenges:

CHJ will continue to provide ongoing grantee support and respond to TA requests.
Corresponded with grantee 5 times between July and September 2024
Check in email 8/15/24
Check in email 8/9/24 - connecting to RTI
Scheduling check in meeting emails 8/28/24
Check in meeting 9/4/24
Email sent 9/24/24
Summary of Successes
They are currently at a standstill
Summary of Challenges
Staffing
Lost their Grant Administrator
Significant personnel turn over
General capacity issues