Latest Law Enforcement Headlines
All the headlines from our Law Enforcement Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Ill. State Police Reject Many Requests for Public Information, Report Says
Apr 25 2007 // Illinois state police routinely turn down requests for public information, whether from grieving relatives, insurance companies deciding whether to pay a claim or even other police officers doing research, a review...
As Injured Gov. Corzine Recovers, N.J. Asks, ‘Why No Seat Belt?’
Apr 19 2007 // Last year, New Jersey law officers ticketed 271,182 people for not wearing seat belts in violation of state law. This year, one violator will stand out: Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt when he was...
Missouri Seat Belt Law Faces Stiff Opposition
Apr 6 2007 // Stiff House opposition to a proposal that would allow Missouri police to stop drivers solely for not wearing seat belts forced leaders to cut off debate before a vote Wednesday night and could threaten the entire...
FBI to Launch Retail Theft, Loss Prevention Database
Apr 5 2007 // In response to Congressional legislation intended to combat the growing problem of organized retail theft, the FBI has worked with the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leader’s Association...
Case of Wrongly Arrested WTO Protesters Settled for $1 million
Apr 4 2007 // Seattle’s insurance company has agreed to pay $1 million to settle claims that about 175 people were wrongly arrested during a peaceful WTO protest in 1999. The case went to trial in January, and a federal jury found...
Narcotics Found in Des Moines Insurance Company Restroom
Apr 2 2007 // Police closed a downtown street last week after finding a suspicious powder in the restroom of an insurance company. Police determined the powder, found in a small plastic bag, was an illegal drug. “We tested it with...
Ill. House Approves Driving Certificates for Illegal Immigrants
Mar 30 2007 // The Illinois House voted Wednesday to give illegal immigrants a way to drive legally on the state’s roads, a move supporters say will be controversial but should improve highway safety. Illinois police organizations...
Virginia Police Traffic Sting Catches 3,500 Drivers in 2 Days
Mar 29 2007 // Virginia police stopped more than 3,500 drivers for traffic violations during a statewide crackdown along Interstate 64 last Friday and Saturday. Virginia State Police’s “Operation Air, Land & Speed”...
Former La. Cop, Wife, Plead Not Guilty to Insurance Fraud
Mar 14 2007 // A former Shreveport, La., police officer and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges arising from an allegedly altered police report. Ronald Small and his wife, Tracey, entered the plea Mar. 12 in state district court...
With Auto Surcharge Failing, Ore. Lawmakers Look to Lottery
Mar 13 2007 // With Ore. Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s proposed surcharge on auto insurance to pay for more state troopers not gaining any traction, some lawmakers are pushing for a proposal to set aside $65 million in lottery proceeds to...
Rare Violin Recovered by Police to be Auctioned by Insurer
Mar 5 2007 // A violinist whose missing instrument valued at about $50,000 was recovered by police says it will be auctioned. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate how the instrument ended up in the hands of a Billings, Mont., man...
ABI Notes Imminent Closure of UK Uninsured Driver ‘Loophole’
Feb 21 2007 // New model policy wordings issued by the Association of British Insurers “will prevent drivers collecting confiscated vehicles using the ‘Driving other Cars’ provision in their motor policy, which normally...
Almost Half of Conn. Cell Phone Violators Let Off the Hook
Feb 14 2007 // Violators of the state’s cell phone ban ponied up about $700,000 last year by mailing in the $100 fine and not contesting the citation, but the state potentially missed out on more money by not prosecuting the...
Pa. Insurance Mandate Violates Free Speech, White Supremacists Tell Court
Feb 2 2007 // A white supremacist group asked a panel of federal judges Tuesday to throw out the city of York, Pennsylvania’s public-assembly ordinance, saying it violates the right to free-speech by putting an unfair burden on...
S.D Bill Would Seal Driving Records of Police, Fire, Ambulance Employees
Jan 31 2007 // The South Dakota House passed a bill this week that would close the driving records of firefighters, police, ambulance employees and other emergency personnel when they have accidents on duty. That would insulate those...
La. police officer resigns after fraud accusation
Jan 28 2007 // A Shreveport, La., police officer resigned after he was accused of changing a police report to claim that his wife had insurance when another car hit hers. Cpl. Ronald Small and Tracey Small were booked Jan. 12 at Caddo...
Fla. CFO Launches Nationwide Search for Fraud Director
Jan 23 2007 // In effort to combat the mounting rate of insurance fraud, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has launched a nationwide search for a “highly-experienced and talented” law enforcement official to lead the...
La. Police Officer Resigns After Fraud Accusation
Jan 15 2007 // A Shreveport, La., police officer resigned after he was accused of changing a police report to claim that his wife had insurance when another car hit hers. Cpl. Ronald Small and Tracey Small were booked Jan. 12 at Caddo...
Police Increase Patrols as Fires Hit 2 Churches in N.C.
Jan 15 2007 // Police increased their patrols of churches across the city after fires broke out at two Baptist churches during the night and a break-in was discovered at a third — all within an hour. “We’re going to be...
Oregon Proposal on Auto Insurance Surcharge Losing Support
Jan 11 2007 // With his proposed surcharge on auto insurance going nowhere fast, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is pressing state lawmakers to find another way to fund 139 additional state troopers so the state can have 24-hour patrol...