Santa BOLO Crime Broadcast Alert

Every year on Christmas Eve, thousands of police and fire agencies across America join in on a long-standing tradition - the annual Santa BOLO ("Be On the Look Out") Crime Broadcast Alert for Santa and his reindeer.

The BOLO crime broadcast is put out over dispatch channels alerting all field units be on the look out for a "suspicous suspect" (Santa) and his "eight" accomplices reported to be possible burglery suspects.

The broadcasts usually take place just before or after midnight and last around a minute. In addition, the contents of the broadcast vary from agency to agency and not all agencies partake in the fun.

So, keep your ears open and you just might hear a Santa Bolo Crime Broadcast near you!

Below are a few samples from years past:

• Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Santa Alert
  (1min, 96K) - This is the LA County Sheriff department's countywide version.

• Orange County Sheriff's Department Santa Alert
  (2min:29sec, 2.3MB) - This is the Orange County, CA Sheriff department's countywide version.

• Orange County Fire Department's Santa Alert
  (1min:03sec, 996K) - This is the Orange County, CA Fire department's agency wide version.

That's it for now, this is the last post of the year. Till next time, stay safe, happy scanning and I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS AND/OR HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

-RF
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

Remembering Police Officers & Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty

The dictionary defines "hero" as one having exceptional courage and fortitude.

This definition has never been more true for the men and woman who put their lives on the line everyday to maintain law and order and keep us from harm's way.

They are police officers, sheriff deputies, firefighters, and paramedics that are the first to respond to the scene of an emergency disaster or other dangerous situation. These men and woman are know as "first responders".

"Without their courage and bravery, CHAOS would surely reign" -RF

Rememering Fallen Heroes

As the Christmas Holiday draws near and the year 2009 comes to an end, I would like everyone to pause and take the time to remember the 117 Police Officers and 87 Firefighters killed (as of 12/16/09) in the U.S. in line of duty in 2009 - the ultimate sacrifice!

Sadly and unfortunately, the numbers above will likely rise as there are still fifteen days left till year's end. At the bottom of this post you will find links to Police Officer and Firefighter Memorials. If you have the time, visit the memorials and read some of the entries.

I am sure you will be deeply moved as I always am by the countless stories of selfless courage and heroism exhibited by police officers and firefighters who lost their lives while serving and protecting the citizens of this great nation in 2009 and years past.

Also, there are also links to donate to police officer and firefighter memorial funds. All donations go towards helping families of officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty get through the difficult times of their loss.
 
Line of Duty Deaths By the Numbers

Here are some somber statistics on Police Officer Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) in 2009 from the Officer Down Memorial Page. (as of 12/16/09)

+ Top-3 Line of Duty Death by Cause:

• 46 - by Gunfire
• 33 - by Automobile Accident
•  9  - by Vehicular Assault 

+ Top-3 Line of Duty Deaths by Month:

• 14 - in April 
• 13 - in October
• 10 - in January, May, June, & July 

+ Top-3 Line of Duty Deaths by State: 

• 11 - in Texas
•  8  - in California
•  8 -  in Florida 

+ More By the Numbers:

• 37 - Number of Average Age 
• 9yr.,11mo. - Number of Average Tour of Duty Years 
•  1  - Number of Female Officers Killed in the Line of Duty 

RELATED LINKS OF INTEREST

• Officer Down Memorial Page

• US Fire Administration Firefighter Fatalities

• Latest Headlines: Officer Down - Fallen Firefighter

• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

• National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund

• Police-Scanner.info's First Responder Tribute Page

That's it for now, till next time stay safe and thank a police officer or firefighter for their service next time you see one, they will appreciate it!

-RF
Bloghost & Webmaster @ Police-Scanner.info

Four Lakewood, WA Police Officers Killed in Ambush

A tragic day in the law enfocement community. Sad news to report out of Pierce County, WA.

Four Lakewood Police Officers, three male and a female, have been killed in an ambush execution early this morning at a coffee shop in Pierce County.

From the Seattle Post Intellegence:

"Four uniformed police officers were shot and killed in Pierce County Sunday morning in a coffee shop as they worked on their laptop computers, authorities said.

Investigators believe the officers were targeted, and it was not a robbery. A suspect remained at large."

Read the full story and view press conference video and photos at Seattle Post Intellegence:

• Four Officers Killed in Pierce County

My thoughts and prayer go out to the families and friends of the fallen officers as well as to the entire law enforcement community.

-RF

UPDATE (11/30/09, 5:25AM PT):  The suspect, apparently shot and wounded during the ambush, has been tracked to a Seattle home and is currently in a barricaded standoff with police. Also, the four fallen officers have been added to the Officer Down Memorial Page. -RF

UPDATE (11/30/09, 9:11PM PT): The suspect wanted in connection with the shooting eluded police this morning. Police surrounded a second home is Seattle this evening, however, the manuhunt continues as the suspect was not found. Several relatives believed to have helped the suspect elude police have been arrested. Read full story... -RF

REWARD INFORMATION

There is a warrant and $125,000 REWARD for information leading to the arrest of Maurice Clemmons, the suspect in the Lakewood police officer shooting. The warrant is for four counts of first degree murder. He has a gunshot wound and knows there is an ongoing law enforcement manhunt and should be considered armed and dangerous.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has jurisdiction and is continuing their investigation into the shooting deaths of the four officers and anyone with information on the crime is urged to call 866-977-2362. The reward money was put up by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations), ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) and Crime Stoppers. -RF

FINAL UPDATE (12/01/09, 4:52AM PT): Maurice Clemmons, the suspect wanted in connection with the deadly shooting of four Lakewood, WA Police Officers, has been shot and killed by police in a confrontation around 2:30AM PT ending a near 48-hour massive manhunt.  Read full story... -RF