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Just the Facts

Every month, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund gives readers a look at significant historical law enforcement moments, milestones and trivia, from a glimpse at the first law enforcement officer to be killed in the line of duty in 1791 to the first use of fingerprinting by U.S. law enforcement in 1902. For more information on the Memorial Fund, visit our partner page.

Online at: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Title Published Date Author
National Police Week 16 May 2013 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
The Forgotten Story of Marie Connelly Owens of the Chicago Police Department 15 March 2013 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
The Waco Raid 14 February 2013 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Law Enforcement Deaths in 2012 17 January 2013 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Service to Country, Service to Community 13 December 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Witness to History: Washington, D.C.-Area Sniper Attacks, 10 Years Later 08 November 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Register for the Second Annual Law Enforcement Ride and Run to Remember 11 October 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Next Witness to History Event: Washington, D.C.-area Sniper Attacks, 10 Years Later 09 August 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Independence Day: Law Enforcement Serves to Protect American Liberties 12 July 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
National Law Enforcement Museum’s Witness to History Event Recap: Sirhan Sirhan and the Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy 14 June 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
National Police Week 10 May 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
The Early Days of American Law Enforcement 12 April 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
NLEOMF Celebrates National Women’s History Month 08 March 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
The U.S. Secret Service: Protecting Presidents throughout History 09 February 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Major Moments in Law Enforcement History: Young Brothers Massacre of January 2, 1932 12 January 2012 National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Takedowns

Mailing of Pipe Bombs and Threatening Letters Stating "BANG!! YOU'RE DEAD." Lands Iowa Man in Prison for 37 Years

A former Iowa machinist has been sentenced to prison for mailing two pipe bombs and a dozen threatening letters to investment firms and advisors to help increase the value of the stock he owned in two companies.

John Tomkins, from Dubuque, Iowa, received 37 years in prison for, among other things, using a destructive device while mailing a threatening communication. Evidence presented at trial showed that the mailed parcels contained improvised explosive weapons (“pipe bombs”) which were capable of exploding and causing serious injury or death. Each parcel also contained a letter which stated “BANG!! YOU’RE DEAD.” Some of the letters were signed by “THE BISHOP” and concluded with “TIC TOC.”

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GEICO's Good Stuff

Navy Prepares to Purchase Ship Network Systems

GEICO’s Good Stuff is a column series highlighting great stuff happening in the federal community.

The Navy may soon be looking to procure standard networking computing equipment for its ships and submarines, according to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

Navy is expecting to release a request for proposals for the systems before the end of May. The Command had previously awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. an initial contract for its Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services system in February 2012. That contract was valued at $637.8 million and covered installation of the gear on 54 ships.

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Case Law Update

Seventh Circuit holds that a Suspect's Inquiry "Can you Call my Attorney?" Invoked Right to Counsel

Casey Hunter was shot by police officers in the course of a pursuit.  While Mr. Hunter was in the hospital and under the influence of medically administered morphine, he was Mirandized so that law enforcement officers could interrogate him.  Before answering questions, Mr. Hunter requested that officers contact his parents and his criminal defense attorney; Mr. Hunter specifically asked “can you call my attorney?” and identified his attorney by name as Herb Schultz, a criminal defense attorney, who one of the interrogating officers had previously worked with on several occasions.  Mr. Hunter’s attorney was not called, and additional law enforcement officers then arrived and subsequently interrogated Mr. Hunter.  Mr. Hunter made incriminating statements during his interrogation.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the statements made after the request for access to counsel violated the suspect’s constitutional right to counsel and must be suppressed. 

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