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Category: Police

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meet Rocky, the longest-staying dog at the shelter

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Rocky is an energetic dog with a zest for life.

    Rocky is a fun-loving, active three-year-old looking for a loving family.

    He’s also the record holder for the longest resident at Domestic Animal Services. The mixed-breed pooch has been waiting 303 days to find his forever family.

    “He’s very playful and loves to play fetch, he knows how to sit, shake, and drop,”

    Jackie Gardner, Assistant Director at Domestic Animal Services, said.

    Rocky is a firm favourite at the shelter for his friendly nature, big energy and zest for life – and it’s not just the humans he’s managed to charm.

    “He has a few girlfriends right now in the shelter too that he plays with,” Jackie said.

    While Rocky has had a few meet-and-greets, potential new homes have ultimately fallen through.

    “Dogs like Rocky get overlooked because people don’t see them as special, or they don’t have a unique look to them or anything like that. But he has the personality to die for, he’s so much fun,” Jackie said.

    Jackie says dogs in the middle age range are often overlooked. But this age, she says, comes with distinct advantages.

    “I think the best thing when you adopt a dog at that age is that you know what you’re getting, you can see the personality.

    “You know the size of the dog, which is always good, because around two years is when a dog stops growing. And at that age they know how to live in a household and understand how to listen when they’re asked to sit and so forth, that’s a big benefit.”

    Jackie says dogs of this age tend to be especially grateful for their adopted family.

    “They do tend to really love the families that they are adopted by. As with every dog, but they seem to just appreciate it so much.”

    Rocky is best suited to an active family keen to explore with Rocky and take him on their daily adventures. Although he’s a medium-sized dog, Rocky is very strong on lead.

    “He has met some really young children during his meet and greets, and he’s been absolutely lovely,” Jackie said.

    “He’s also good with other dogs, as long as they can match that high energy play level of his.”

    If you think that Rocky could be a good match for your family, you can express your interest via the Domestic Animal Services website. An adoption coordinator will call you and discuss the next steps.

    Alternatively, you can visit the Domestic Animal Services shelter in Symonston to meet Rocky, and other dogs available for adoption.

    Walk-in adoptions are available from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: What to do in a thunderstorm

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Volunteers and ACT Emergency Service Agency staff attend to jobs as quickly as possible.

    Canberra has already seen its fair share of storms this summer. And with more stormy weather predicted, it’s important to know how and where to get help if you need it.

    Here’s how to prepare your house for a storm, and what you can do if one affects you or your property.

    Keep across the weather forecast

    Visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website for weather updates, and the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACTESA) website ACT ESA website and social media for the latest advice.

    It’s important to note that a thunderstorm forecast is different to a severe thunderstorm warning.

    • A thunderstorm forecast indicates the possibility of storms throughout the forecasting period.
    • A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when a storm is imminent or impacting an area.

    What to do during a thunderstorm

    • Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
    • Keep clear of flooded creeks, rivers and stormwater drains.
    • Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water
    • Stay indoors away from windows and keep children and pets indoors.

    Get urgent help if needed

    • For help during storms and floods, ring the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) on 132 500
    • Only call Triple Zero (000) if the incident is life-threatening.
    • If your situation changes and you no longer need help, please call back to cancel your request, so resources can be directed elsewhere.

    It can sometimes take a while to get through to the ACTSES when there are many calls for help.

    Similarly, it can take some time for crews to attend to smaller jobs like a leaking roof, or water that has subsided. Please be patient during this time.

    The ACTSES only makes temporary repairs to homes damaged in storms or floods.

    If you have permanent damage to your home, you will need to contact your insurance provider to resolve the problem.

    If you’ve lost power

    Report power outages to Evoenergy.

    If you have a live power line that has come down and is damaged on the ground, do not go near it. Call Evoenergy.

    The latest updates on power outages can be found on the Evoenergy website or on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

    Alternatively, you can call the Evoenergy hotline on 13 10 93.

    Access emergency accommodation

    If you need emergency accommodation, please contact OneLink on 1800 176 468 or via info@onelink.org.au.

    OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT. This includes services for people at risk of homelessness due to their homes being uninhabitable.

    Find emergency food relief support

    If you, or someone you know is experiencing hardship and cannot feed yourself or your family, support is available.

    Volunteering ACT coordinates information about where to get food relief services including meals and local food pantries.

    Find more information on the Volunteering ACT website.

    For further information please contact the Community Info Hub on 02 6248 7988.

    Dispose of spoiled food

    If you have lost power and have food that has spoiled, simply dispose of it in your home compost or your general waste (landfill) bin.

    Remember that you can also remove any recyclable packaging and place it in your recycling bin.

    Dealing with fallen trees

    Do you know what to do if a tree presents a serious and immediate safety risk?

    • Call 000 if a tree is causing an immediate threat to life
    • For assistance with a fallen tree following a storm event, call the SES on 13 25 00
    • If a tree is touching or has fallen on power lines or telephone wires, call Evoenergy on 13 10 93
    • For trees on public land, you can submit a request online using Fix My Street or call Access Canberra.

    If a tree on your property needs urgent attention, you still need permission from the ACT Government to remove it.

    Contact an arborist immediately and call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 to ask for ‘urgent circumstances authorisation for tree removal’.

    To learn more visit https://bit.ly/4661opO.

    Be storm ready – preparing your home

    Ahead of time, remember to do all you can to prepare your home and family for any possible impacts of forecasted storms.

    Complete or update your 20-minute Survival Plan.

    Take some preventative actions around your home. These include:

    • cleaning your gutters
    • checking stormwater drains
    • trimming overhanging branches.

    To prepare for severe weather:

    • move your car under cover and away from trees
    • secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony
    • secure any temporary repairs that are in place as a result of a previous storm
    • stay vigilant and monitor conditions.

    Remember, if you need urgent help

    For assistance in a storm or flood, call the ACT State Emergency Service on 132 500.

    In a life-threatening emergency call Triple-Zero (000).

    You can find more information on storms on the ACT Emergency Services Agency website.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Get ready for the 2024 school year

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    This year there will be changes to term dates, policies and programs that may involve your family.

    Canberra families are about to start another exciting school year.

    This year there will be changes to term dates, policies and programs that may involve your family.

    Here is everything you need to know for the year ahead.

    Student-free days and start of term

    From 2024, there will be four student-free days for ACT public schools. These are the first day of each school term.

    Student-free days are for staff development, enabling teachers and schools to plan in a student-free environment.

    Monday 29 January will be a student-free day.

    On Tuesday 30 January, new students will start school. Continuing students will return to school on Wednesday 31 January.

    Other term dates for the 2024 school year:

    • Friday 12 April– Term 1 ends
    • Tuesday 30 April – Term 2 begins (students start school)
    • Friday 5 July – Term 2 ends
    • Tuesday 23 July – Term 3 begins (students start school)
    • Friday 27 September – Term 3 ends
    • Tuesday 15 October – Term 4 begins (students start school)
    • Tuesday 17 December – Term 4 ends.

    Financial assistance

    The Future of Education Equity Fund (Equity Fund) offers eligible families financial support to help with school essentials. It supports the more vulnerable families in our community.

    Low-income families of students – from preschool through to year 12 – can receive  a one-off, annual payment. This is to help cover the costs of schooling, such as:

    • uniforms
    • sport equipment and activities
    • tuition
    • music lessons.

    The Equity Fund payments are $400 (preschool), $500 (primary school), and $750 (high school and college level, including CIT Year 11 and 12).

    Equity Fund applications  for the 2024 school year are now open.

    Families can apply for all eligible students in their family in the one application, regardless of whether they attend different schools.

    School staff are also able to help families to apply.

    Applications close in November 2024.

    Find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply online.

    Mobile phone policy

    A new mobile phone policy for all ACT public schools starts in term 1 2024.

    • Students in preschool to year 10 at ACT public schools may not use or access personal communication devices at school. This includes recess and lunch, and during school authorised events.
    • For year 11 and 12 students, mobile phones and other personal communication devices must be silenced and put away during class time.

    Students can request an exemption if they need their device for medical or other specific reasons.

    Schools will communicate their expectations about how and where to store devices at the beginning of the school year.

    Healthy lunches

    It includes a Grab and Go shopping list and tips for a waste-free lunchbox. You’ll also find tips on which food groups to include and how to swap for healthier options.

    Wellbeing for students

    A new school year can be tough for some students, whether they are:

    • starting a new school
    • moving into high school or college
    • just dealing with any of the life changes thrown their way.

    The ACT Government has online resources that could be helpful in starting conversations on finding ways to support them.

    Asthma management

    If your child has asthma, the start of the school year is a good time to make sure you’re managing it.

    You may wish to:

    • book an asthma review with your child’s GP
    • update your child’s asthma action plan with their GP
    • make sure the school has your child’s reliever medication and spacer
    • talk to school staff
    • book an appointment with one of the asthma nurse educators at Canberra Health Services.

    Child development

    Are you concerned about your child’s development? The start of a new year is a good time to contact the Child Development Service, to access free drop-in clinics and assessments.

    Free three-year-old preschool

    ACT three-year-olds can now benefit from 300 hours of free preschool at over 140 locations.

    This will save the average family around $1,329 a year.

    Read more and find where to access three-year-old preschool.

    Period products at all schools

    In 2023 the ACT Government passed new legislation to make free period products available at a range of community locations across the ACT for anyone who needs them.

    This includes at every ACT public school, which is something we already do as a system, and will continue to do.

    Pads and tampons are available in ACT public high schools, colleges, and combined schools. Pads are available in ACT public primary schools.

    They can be accessed at any time during the school day from the school front office for staff, students, and visitors.

    The ACT Government will deliver the broader project in stages and a procurement process for dispensers to be installed in public places, including ACT public schools, will occur in 2024.

    The Education Directorate will continue to work with ACT Health to ensure age-appropriate information on menstrual hygiene is available for students through our schools.

    Read more about free period products.

    Public transport for students

    From Monday 29 January dedicated school services will resume. This includes ‘S’ trips which divert into schools.

    Please check your timetable so you are prepared and ready.

    If your child is in primary school, you can refer to your school’s pack to plan your child’s travel. Find it on the Transport Canberra website.

    If your child is new to school or changing schools, please check available school bus and light rail information on the Transport Canberra website.

    Familiarise yourself and your child with their school routine. They should know which stop the bus will pick up from in the morning and where to get off at the end of the day.

    Make sure your child has a MyWay card that is registered and topped up with sufficient funds. A MyWay card is easy to get and will save you time and money. Find out more about ticketing and MyWay.

    School bus services are available to school students only. Under special circumstances, parents with young children may apply to travel on these services for a few weeks to help their child get used to bus travel.  Find out more about parents travelling on school bus services.

    If you’re a student in college or tertiary education, check the Journey Planner for timings. Just enter your destination for the fastest, most convenient options.

    To stay up-to-date with Transport Canberra updates, including changes to services and latest news, you can:

    40 km/h school zones

    Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. As students return to school, remember to slow down and stick to the 40 km/h limit around schools between 8am and 4pm.

    Mobile speed vans and police regularly patrol school zones. Let’s all slow down and support kids’ safety.

    Parking around schools

    The start of the school year is a particularly busy time in Canberra’s school carparks and surrounding streets.

    Unsafe and illegal parking reduces visibility for students and motorists. This creates a hazard when students cross the road.

    Parking inspectors and license plate recognition vehicles will be out and about enforcing safe parking around schools.

    For drop-offs and pick-ups, arrange a meeting spot, arrive after the rush, or park a little further away from the school and walk with your kids the rest of the way.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Free period products for Canberrans

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Students in ACT public school can access free period products.

    The ACT Government is supporting free period products for Canberrans.

    Students in ACT public schools can already access free period products.

    Free period products are also available at some locations in Canberra including:

    • some ACT public health services
    • the Child and Family Centres located in Gungahlin, West Belconnen and Tuggeranong
    • the Child Development Service in Holder.

    The ACT Government will make period products in more locations in a staged approach over the coming months and years.

    The government will provide regular updates about the availability of free period products. It will also provide age-appropriate information in languages other than English.

    This is an important initiative to reduce period poverty. It will help people who menstruate to manage their periods in a safe and healthy way.

    The ACT follows Scotland as only the second jurisdiction in the world to enshrine free period products in law. This aims to end period poverty and give people who menstruate the dignity they deserve.

    The ACT Government remains committed to free period products for Canberrans.

    In the 2023/24 mid- year budget, the ACT Government has committed to support the roll out of free period products, ahead of the start of the Period Products and Facilities (Access) Act 2023.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Support for Canberra Olympians and Paralympians

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Extra funding will support local athletes like Jack Cleary, Angela Ballard and Chad Perris.

    The ACT Government is backing Canberran Olympic and Paralympic athletes with extra funding.

    The Paris Olympic Games are in July, and the Paralympic Games are in August this year.

    The extra funding will help local athletes prepare to qualify to represent Australia in the lead up to the games. “The funding to me and the whole rowing team allows us to be the best we can be,” Olympic athlete Jack Cleary said.

    “At the games, it is an absolute whirlwind, and we need to keep ourselves central and not worry about the things you can’t control. They are being managed by the staff who come along to help us – which this funding helps to support,” he said.

    The ACT has a history of supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It was the first jurisdiction in Australia to fund the Olympic and Paralympic Teams equally.

    Paralympic athlete Chad Perris says the timing of the funding is key.

    “We have a lot of extra costs, whether travel, equipment, there are a lot of things that go into getting us over the line to get us to Paris,” he said.

    “I’m really excited about this funding and to have it as equal funding with our Olympic counterparts is really exciting.”

    “The Paralympic team funding from the ACT Government is huge,” Paralympic athlete Angela Ballard said.

    “I know from behind the scenes how much it takes just to get our athletes over there and make sure we have the resources we need to perform.

    “On a personal level, the ACT Government funding grants for individual ACT athletes will make a big difference. We still have a lot of work to do to keep up our training and to qualify between now and the Games, and this support will be of great help,” she said.

    Canberra is home to elite athletes training at both the Australian Institute of Sport and ACT Academy of Sport. Despite being the smallest jurisdiction in Australia, ACT athletes have a strong presence at each Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

    The ACT Government will provide funding support through the Mid-Year Budget Review. This includes both direct financial assistance and in-kind training assistance through the ACT Academy of Sport.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Career change renews teacher’s passion

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Blair Merton is excited to get back into teaching and has several goals for the year ahead.

    After a 15-year break from teaching, Blair Merton is keen to return to the classroom.

    The avid reader and history buff will teach history and geography at Kaleen High.

    He will also run a Strategy Games Club, where students play miniature wargames.

    He’s the ideal person to coordinate this, having served in the Australian Army during his teaching pause.

    “I’d taught at a few different high schools around Canberra throughout the 2000s – Canberra High, Lanyon and Belconnen – before taking an extended hiatus from teaching in 2009,” Blair said.

    He moved to the Education section of the Australian War Memorial before enlisting in the Army and being posted to Darwin.

    “Life in the military meant that I was part of a wider family of a diverse range of people and experiences, and as an older soldier, I often found myself helping others through their personal trials and tribulations. I often found myself helping some younger soldiers with their written aspects of their courses and administrative work. I was probably the worst shot in the Army, but I did have a knack for communicating,” he said.

    The thought of returning to teaching was never completely out of his mind.

    “My wife began working as a midwife, and we both decided that due to the stresses and strains of our professions we would return to Canberra where we could be closer to our extended families,” he said.

    Although Blair isn’t new to teaching in the Territory, he joins the almost 170 new educators working in ACT public schools this year.

    He is excited to get back into it and has several goals in mind for the year ahead.

    “I’m aiming to improve my student outcomes, their skills. I want to inspire curiosity and build people of good character. I always try to remind my students that a good life means building a balanced life, and I try to remind them of the principles of justice, courage and wisdom. The Ancients started this kind of education back in the day, and there’s still a lot of merit in those principles.

    “The best thing about my subject area is that you make links between all the various disciplines of science, literature and maths in order for students to see the world around them and develop an appreciation of that world, because one day they’ll take custodianship of it,” Blair said.

    Blair understands how a good schooling experience can shape a person.

    “My favourite subjects in school were History and English. My favourite school was Higgins Primary – I have so many good memories from those days. Playing rugby and cricket, watching BTN on the TV trolley, the fetes, discos and Saturday afternoon matinees in the school hall,” he said.

    He is pleased to be back in Canberra and views the lifestyle here as conducive to an active family life.

    “Canberra has lots of opportunities for my children to play sport, attend events and take up hobbies. My family loves living near the bushland, and we regularly run and walk our greyhound on the back tracks. I love playing music in my band, The Lonely Fates, and the Canberra music scene is so much bigger and more professional nowadays,” he said.

    Who knows? For someone so comfortable with change, perhaps a move into Kaleen High’s music department could also be on the cards in future.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Next stage in city-wide FOGO collection

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberra’s FOGO facility will recycle food waste at scale into valuable compost, reducing waste going into landfill.

    Canberra’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) facility has reached a milestone with the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) now open for community feedback.

    Delivering a large-scale FOGO facility remains an ACT Government priority.

    The industrial-level facility will be capable of processing 50,000 tonnes of FOGO material per year.

    It will recycle food waste at scale into valuable compost, reducing waste going into landfill.

    Since November 2021, the FOGO collection pilot has serviced households in Belconnen, Bruce, Cook and Macquarie. In that time, it has collected more than 2,844 tonnes of food waste.

    These insights will assist the ACT Government to roll out the service city wide.

    The composting facility is proposed to be an in-vessel facility, with indoor composting tunnels and other mitigation measures minimising odour impacts.

    Local residents and the wider Canberra community are encouraged to take a look at the EIS and provide any feedback.

    The public notification period for the EIS commenced on Monday 29 January 2024, and closes on Tuesday 12 March 2024.

    Community feedback has already been taken onboard in the preparation of the EIS.

    Additional feedback from the community and key stakeholder groups is an important part of the government’s decision making as it progresses to the next steps of planning and design.

    FOGO is a key part of the government’s plans for a circular economy in Canberra.

    Organic waste decomposition in landfill currently accounts for more than seven per cent of Canberra’s greenhouse emissions.

    Canberrans can share their thoughts on the draft environmental impact statement on the ACT Planning website.

    There will also be three information sessions:

    • Session 1: Saturday 17 February 2024, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, Chisholm Village Shopping Centre
    • Session 2: Wednesday 21 February 2024, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Gowrie Shops
    • Session 3: Thursday 29 February 2024, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, Mawson Southlands Shopping Centre.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Shirley Smith High School opens its doors

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    School principal Rebecca Pearce looks forward to welcoming students.

    Shirley Smith High School in East Gungahlin has officially opened its doors to students for the first time.

    More than 80 year seven students now attend the new school, located in Kenny.

    “No matter what school I’ve worked in, there’s nothing like that first day, when the kids come with their brand-new uniform and their bags and their excitement about the shift from primary school to high school,” Shirley Smith High School Principal Rebecca Pearce said.

    “It’s a really important transition and we want to capture that excitement with them.

    “That’s what I’m really looking forward to: getting their energy and then continuing that energy right through the year.”

    Shirley Smith High School will cater to up to 800 year 7-10 student in the East Gungahlin region. Students will join the school in a phased approach, beginning with year seven students in 2024.

    The school’s motto is ‘grow with us’.

    “We teach the whole child and we’re really about developing a young person to be a successful learner right through their life,” Rebecca said.

    “Rather than trying to focus really narrowly on the curriculum content and concepts, it’s about that broad understanding of who you are as a learner, what are your strengths and weaknesses and building on those within the Australian curriculum framework.”

    The new high school responds to the rapid growth in Gungahlin, one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia.

    “‘Grow with us’ is also about being a high school in a community that hasn’t even been built yet,” Rebecca said.

    “And actually, being a community school that understands who their students and families are and caters to the needs of every single student.”

    For the last nine months, Rebecca has recruited a team that includes specialist teachers across all curriculum areas. She’s also created systems and processes to support the staff and students, while leaving space for decision making in response to the school community.

    “We’ll be able to really listen to what their needs are and make changes in a way that supports positive growth because we’ve got that staggered, staged approach.”

    Shirley Smith High School has been designed with visible and flexible learning in mind.

    “Teachers can move walls and make changes very quickly. I think that’s the key to meeting the young person’s needs: that level of flexibility within the structure of the school,” Rebecca said.

    “We have every resource at our fingertips for us to run a comprehensive program.”

    Spaces for community hire and use are also available at Shirley Smith High School. These include a double gymnasium with basketball, netball, futsal and volleyball markings. There is also a covered hard court suitable for basketball and netball and an oval for soccer, rugby union and rugby league games. The multipurpose hall is also available for community use.

    Read more about Shirley Smith High School.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Susan Ryan sculpture approved for Senate Gardens

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Artist Lis Johnson has completed numerous life-size bronze sculptures in Canberra.

    The Federal Parliament has approved the installation of a sculpture to honour the late Senator Susan Ryan AO FAICD (1942-2020) in the Parliamentary Zone.

    Senator Ryan dedicated her life to public service through many different roles.

    She held public office as a Senator in the ACT and Minister in the Hawke government.

    Senator Ryan also worked in senior roles across the private and public sectors.

    Her distinguished career included many firsts. She was the first Senator for the Australian Capital Territory. She was also the first woman appointed to a Labor frontbench position and the first Age Discrimination Commissioner.

    The life-size bronze sculpture of Susan Ryan will be adjacent to the Senate Rose Gardens eastern central entry.

    The location is near where she once had an office in Old Parliament House. The art work will be in an area featuring a curved bench seat, new paving, and interpretive signage.

    The ACT Government commissioned the sculpture which recognises the contribution that Susan Ryan made to Australian public life.

    It acknowledges her advancement of women’s rights as a Minister and her role in creating the Sex Discrimination Act – an enduring reform that changed Australia.

    Artist Lis Johnson has completed several life-size bronze sculptures. These include those of Dame Enid Lyons and Dame Dorothy Tangney, who stand adjacent to Old Parliament House, and Sir John Gorton (with Suzie Q) in Parkes.

    Lis has been working closely with Susan Ryan’s family, ensuring they are involved at every stage  of the work.

    “We are so thrilled that the sculpture of our mother Susan Ryan will be located in the Senate Rose Gardens at the Old Parliament House,” Justine Butler, Susan’s daughter,  said.

    “For my brother Ben and I, this was the parliament house. We spent a lot of time there, with our mother, and we have happy memories of those gardens, so close to her office.

    “My mother and her colleagues played social tennis games there in the summer, and all year round, the beautiful gardens provided an important place for Susan to think and work,” she said.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: More paramedics to be employed in Canberra

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The new roster will mean the ACT Ambulance Service will be even better placed to meet community demands.

    The ACT Government will increase the number of frontline paramedics employed by implementing a new ACT Ambulance Service (ACTAS) roster.

    These changes mean an additional 11 paramedic crews will be rostered on over a 24-hour period.

    This will improve fatigue management practices and create a better work-life balance for paramedics.  The change will also mean that ACTAS will be even better placed to meet community demands for ambulance services.

    In addition, training and development requirements will be covered by rostered resources and operational resourcing flexibility will be increased. Meal breaks will also be accessed more regularly and there would be less need for paramedics to work past their shift times.

    As part of the 2023-24 Budget Review, the government is investing $19.7 million over four years to enable the implementation of the new roster.

    To achieve the new roster, changes need to be made to the ACTAS enterprise agreement. This agreement has been in negotiation for several months and is in the final stages of negotiation between the ACT Government and the Transport Workers Union.

    Paramedics and the ambulance service perform a vital role in the Canberra community, responding to those in need when and where they need help most. This improved roster will better enable paramedics to meet those needs – while also supporting their wellbeing and professional development.

    “Investing in staffing will mean paramedics will continue to enjoy rewarding careers in the ACT Ambulance Service, with improved rostering leading to better outcomes for all,” ACTAS Chief Officer Howard Wren said.

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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Traffic control in place after burst pipe, Washington Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)


    District:

    Police are assisting with traffic control on Washington Road, Nelson, after a water pipe has burst.

    Diversions are in place near Pioneers Park.

    Motorists are asked to avoid the area, if possible.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent website and social media accounts related to Dah Sing Bank, Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Dah Sing Bank, Limited relating to a fraudulent website and social media accounts, which have been reported to the HKMA. A hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website.
     
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or social media accounts concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Stolen motor vehicles and pursuit – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested four youths in relation to property and vehicle offences in Alice Springs early this morning.

    Around 1:25am, police received reports of an unlawful entry at a residence on De Havilland Drive, Araluen. Two sets of keys were stolen from the location and used to steal a Toyota Prado and a Toyota C-HR.

    A short time later, police sighted the stolen Prado driving dangerously through Amoonguna Community and initiated a pursuit.

    During the pursuit, the Prado rammed the police unit on two occasions and the pursuit was terminated for safety reasons.

    The officers inside the vehicle were not injured.

    Later, a second police vehicle was stationary when the Prado drove at them head-on, ramming the front of the vehicle and then again at the rear. Members subsequently withdrew from the area.

    Both officers inside the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries. While the vehicle was significantly damaged, the officers did not require medical treatment.

    Strike Force Viper attended and initiated a third pursuit with the Prado, with the offenders abandoning the vehicle and attempting to flee the scene on foot.

    The driver of the vehicle, aged 13, and the three passengers, aged 13, 11 and 11, were arrested without further incident with the assistance of the Dog Operations Unit.

    CCTV operators later observed a 14-year-old male exit the second stolen vehicle in the Alice Springs CBD. He was subsequently arrested and found to be in possession of an edged weapon.

    The second stolen vehicle was located abandoned in East Side a short time later.

    Investigations are ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference P25085673. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Armed with offensive weapon – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 53-year-old male for being armed with an offensive weapon in Alice Springs yesterday.

    Around 12:15pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre (JESCC) received a report of a male armed with an edged weapon in the Alice Springs CBD.

    The offender had allegedly attended a non-government organisation on Leichhardt Terrace earlier in the day and subsequently returned agitated and armed. Staff locked the doors before he could enter and called police.

    The offender allegedly kicked and banged on the doors multiple times, but did not gain entry, and fled prior to police arrival.

    Multiple police units responded and located the offender on an electric bike heading west on Larapinta Drive. He was arrested without incident and the edged weapon was seized.

    The 53-year-old was later charged to appear court at a later date.

    Police urge anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour to contact police on 131 444. In an emergency call 000. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrests – Aggravated assault – Casuarina

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two female youths in relation to an aggravated assault that occurred in Casuarina yesterday afternoon.

    Around 2:40pm, police received reports of a disturbance in the outdoor food court of a shopping centre on Trower Road, involving a group of five female youths. Weapons were allegedly involved in the altercation.

    It is alleged a 15-year-old female victim was struck multiple times to the head with a blunt weapon before a member of the public intervened and removed the weapon.

    The alleged offender then continued to punch the victim before security officers removed the offenders from the area.

    St John Ambulance attended and conveyed the victim to Royal Darwin Hospital.

    Police later located and arrested two females, aged 13 and 15.

    During the arrests, police received reports of a second incident occurring at the nearby bus exchange on Bradshaw Terrace.

    CCTV footage showed a 14-year-old female victim was allegedly assaulted with an edged weapon, sustaining multiple wounds to the back of the neck and head by an unknown female offender.

    The offender fled before police arrived.

    St John Ambulance conveyed the second victim to Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

    The third offender remains outstanding, and investigations into both incidents are ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference number P25084989. Anonymous reports can also be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Queen Mary Hospital appeals to public for missing patient

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
     
        The spokesperson for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) made the following appeal today (March 29) regarding a patient leaving the ward without notifying hospital staff:
     
    A 47-year-old male patient in a Cardiothoracic Surgery ward of QMH was found leaving the ward without prior notification at around 3.50pm. Security guards were immediately deployed to search for the patient within the hospital compound and the vicinity but in vain. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and has immediately informed the patient’s family and reported to the Police for assistance.
     
    The patient is about 1.82 metres tall, with a tall and medium body build and short black hair. He was wearing patient clothes, a grey jacket and a pair of rimless glasses when leaving the ward.

    The hospital appeals to the public to contact Western Police Station at 3661 1618 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Commitment to Women’s Safety

    Source: Government of India

    India’s Commitment to Women’s Safety

    Initiatives leading towards a big change

    Posted On: 29 MAR 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

    Summary:

    • India has implemented legal reforms, taken financial initiatives (Nirbhaya Fund), and launched Women helpline (181) to enhance women’s security.
    • Multipronged approach to promote women’s rights, legal actions against sexual offenses, domestic violence, dowry, child marriage, workplace harassment, and human trafficking to ensure safety and security of women.
    • One Stop Centres (OSCs), Women Helpline 181, Emergency Response Support System (112), SHe-Box, and Women Help Desks provide legal, medical, and psychological assistance to women.
    • Domestic violence and Gender Based Violence impact mental health; Project Stree Manoraksha by NIMHANS provides trauma-informed care at OSCs.

    Introduction

    Women are making a place for themselves in the world. Now, they are not confined to the four walls of a home but are at the forefront of every sector of society, proving their strength, talent, and leadership in fields ranging from business and politics to science and sports. However, true empowerment can only be achieved when women feel safe and secure in every aspect of life. The Government of India has taken remarkable strides to ensure the safety and security of women across the nation. Through legislative reforms, dedicated helplines, and financial support, a multi-faceted approach is being implemented to create a safer environment for women.

    Nirbhaya Fund

    Ministry of Women and Child Development is actively working towards safety and security of women at every place. Looking at the rising cases of crimes against women in past, the Ministry has established a special fund known as Nirbhaya Fund for financing safety projects across country.

    Under the fund, a total amount of Rs 7712.85 crore has been allocated up to the financial year 2024-25, with Rs 5846.08 crore utilised which is nearly 76% of the total allocation. This fund supports various projects and schemes such as One Stop Centres (OSCs), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), Women Helpline (WHL-181), Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), Women Help Desks (WHDs), Cyber Forensic cum Training Labs, Safe City Projects, Rail and Road Transport Safety Initiatives, and the Central Victim Compensation Fund (CVCF) to enhance women’s safety and security.

    Government Initiatives for Women Safety

    One Stop Centres (OSCs): Established under the Nirbhaya Fund, OSCs provide integrated support to women affected by violence. These centres offer medical assistance, legal aid, psychological counselling, and temporary shelter, all under one roof, facilitating a coordinated response to various forms of violence against women. According to the Ministry of Women and Child Development statistics, there are currently 812 operational OSCs across the country.  and they have assisted over 10.80 lakh women since inception (01.04.2015) till 31st January 2025.

    24×7 Women Helpline (181): Women Helpline 181 provides 24/7 emergency and support services for women facing violence in both public and private spaces. Launched on December 3, 2018, under the Universalization of Women Helpline Scheme, it offers referrals to police, hospitals, legal aid, and One Stop Centres (OSC) while also informing women about government schemes. Funded under the Nirbhaya Fund, it ensures continuous support until a survivor’s issue is resolved. Sakhi Dashboard updates and regular feedback collection help track cases effectively.

    Emergency Response Support System (ERSS – 112): The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) is an integrated emergency service launched by the Government of India with a single emergency number – 112 to handle all types of emergencies. Citizens can seek help through calls, SMS, email, SOS signals, or the ERSS web portal. The ‘112 India’ mobile app enables users to send alert messages with location data and make emergency calls for quick assistance. Each State/UT capital has a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to coordinate rescue efforts with police, fire, and health services. ERSS also provides real-time tracking of emergency vehicles to ensure timely support. This system unifies all existing emergency numbers, including 100 (Police), 101 (Fire), 108 (Ambulance), and 181 (Women & Child Care), under 112 for seamless response.

    SHe-Box Portal: Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Sexual Harassment Electronic Box (SHe-Box) is an initiative by the Government of India to provide a single-window platform for women to register workplace sexual harassment complaints. It is accessible to all women, regardless of their work sector (organized/unorganized, public/private).

    Once a complaint is filed on, SHe-Box, it is automatically forwarded to the appropriate authority for necessary action. This platform ensures swift redressal and accountability for workplace harassment cases.

    Women Help Desks (WHDs) in Police Stations: Supported by the Nirbhaya Fund, WHDs are established in police stations to make law enforcement more accessible and responsive to women’s issues. To ensure that the Police Stations are more women friendly and approachable, as they would be the first and single point of contact for any woman walking into a police station, 14,658 Women Help Desks (WHDs) have been set up, of which 13,743 are headed by women police officers.

    Psychosocial Support & Awareness

    Violence, especially Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), can lead to depression, anxiety, PTSD, panic disorders, and suicide risk. In India, women can seek help through government initiatives for physical and sexual violence but mental and psychological help is equally important. There is a need for these services to be sensitive to the psychological needs of women facing violence and to be able to provide culturally informed and effective interventions that are context-specific.

    Project Stree Manoraksha, launched by NIMHANS and supported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, aims to strengthen trauma-informed mental health care in One Stop Centres (OSCs). It focuses on training counsellors and staff, including caseworkers, administrators, paralegal and paramedical staff, and security personnel. This initiative ensures that women facing gender-based violence receive empathetic, evidence-based mental health care and counselling when they seek help at OSCs.

    Legal Provisions to Safeguard Women Security

    To address crimes against women, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) regularly compiles data, enabling a data-driven focused approach to tackling safety concerns. Additionally, the government has implemented a number of crucial laws to safeguard women’s physical and mental security.

    These laws include:

    Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023: It introduced stringent penalties for sexual offenses, including the death penalty for the rape of girls below 18 years of age. It also increased minimum sentences for rape and expanded the definition of sexual offenses to ensure more comprehensive protection for women and children. Since October 2019, the Central Government has been running a centrally sponsored scheme to set up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO Courts. These courts aim to quickly handle pending cases related to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

    Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: In India, domestic violence is governed by the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005. Section 3 defines it as any act that harms a woman’s physical or mental health or endangers her safety, including harassment for unlawful demands. The Act applies to women in shared households related by blood, marriage, adoption, or marriage-like relationships.

    The NFHS-5 (2019-2021) report shows spousal violence among married women (18-49 years) declined from 31.2% (2015-16) to 29.3%.

     

    Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Dowry refers to any valuable items, such as cash, property, or jewellery, given by the bride’s or groom’s family as a condition of marriage. It is illegal under the Dowry Prohibition Act, which penalizes giving, taking, or demanding dowry. Harassment related to dowry is also punishable under laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act. If a woman dies under unnatural circumstances within seven years of marriage due to dowry harassment, it is considered dowry death, with severe legal consequences. Authorities such as Dowry Prohibition Officers, police, and NGOs handle complaints, and awareness programs aim to discourage dowry practices.

    Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956: This Act focuses on preventing human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of individuals for commercial purposes. It provides for the rescue and rehabilitation of victims and prescribes penalties for those involved in trafficking offenses, aiming to combat organized exploitation.

    Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) was enacted to prevent child marriages and punish those involved. Section 16 empowers State Governments to appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) to enforce the Act. CMPOs work to prevent child marriages, collect evidence for prosecution, counsel communities, raise awareness, and sensitize the public on its harmful effects. These officers’ function under State Governments and UT Administrations, which are responsible for implementing the Act.

    Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013: The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 applies to all women, regardless of age, job type, or work sector. It mandates employers to create an Internal Committee (IC) in workplaces with over 10 employees, while the Appropriate Government sets up Local Committees (LCs) for smaller organizations or cases against employers. The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) oversees implementation and awareness. To centralize complaint data, MWCD launched SHe-Box, a portal for reporting and tracking cases. The portal went live on October 19, 2024, receiving 9 complaints so far. Inquiries under the Act must be completed within 90 days.

    Conclusion

    The Government of India has taken significant steps to enhance women’s safety and security through legal measures, financial allocations, and support services. While these efforts provide physical and legal protection, a greater focus on psychological well-being is necessary. Initiatives like Project Stree Manoraksha aim to fill this gap by offering trauma-informed mental health care. A multi-pronged approach integrating law enforcement, helplines, rehabilitation, and mental health support is crucial for creating a safer and more empowering environment for women.

    References:

    Click here to download PDF

    *******

    Santosh Kumar/ Ritu Kataria/ Priya Nagar

    (Release ID: 2116557) Visitor Counter : 754

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Missing woman in Tseung Kwan O located

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         A woman who went missing in Tseung Kwan O has been located.

         Tung Kit-yu, aged 22, went missing after she left her residence on Kai King Road on March 23 night. Her family made a report to Police on March 25.

         The woman was located at Tseung Kwan O Station last night (March 28). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal plane crash near Lake Hawea

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can confirm one person has died and another person is critically injured following a light plane crash near Lake Hawea yesterday.

    Emergency services were called to an area east of the lake about 1:30pm.

    One of the plane’s two occupants was helicoptered to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition.

    The second was sadly located deceased.

    The Civil Aviation Authority has been notified, and a scene guard remained in place overnight.

    Police will make inquiries on behalf of both the CAA and the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Name release – fatal crash, Pahiatua-Mangahao Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police can now confirm the name of the man who died following a crash on Pahiatua-Mangahao Road on 25 February.

    He was 17-year-old Corey James Wiki, from Woodville.

    Police extend our condolences during this difficult time.

    Enquiries into the crash remain ongoing.

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Brockville Road, Dunedin

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle on Brockville Road, Brockville, Dunedin.

    The crash was reported around 4:15pm.

    One person has been transported to hospital in a critical condition.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are underway.

    The road is closed and diversions are being put in place, motorists are advised to take the alternate route.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Christchurch Akaroa Road, Birdlings Flat

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Emergency services are responding to a single motorbike crash on Christchurch Akaroa Road near Bayleys Road, Birdlings Flat.

    The crash was reported around 5pm.

    One person is in a critical condition and the Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

    The road is down to one lane while emergency services work at the scene, motorists are advised to expect delays. 

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal dog incident, Katikati

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    One person has died following an incident in Katikati.

    At around 2.50pm yesterday, Police were alerted to two people sustaining dog bite injuries.

    One person was transported the Katikati Medical Centre in a critical condition, where sadly they died a short time later.

    Another person received moderate injuries and was transported to hospital, where they remain.

    Animal Management staff have taken the dogs involved in the incident.

    Police are making enquiries into the incident on behalf of the Coroner.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hammonds Plains — UPDATE: Missing male found safe

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The 40-year-old male who was reported missing yesterday in Hammonds Plains has been found safe.

    The RCMP thanks Nova Scotians for assisting with missing persons files through social media shares and offering tips.

    File #: 25-15475

    –30–

    Contact information

    Strategic Communications and Media Relations
    Nova Scotia RCMP
    rcmpns-grcne@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Temporary park closures in Townsville

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 27 Mar 2025

    Open larger image
    Open larger image

    Townsville Town Common Conservation Park, Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park and Bowling Green Bay National Park are temporarily closed due to heavy rainfall and ongoing weather conditions in the area.

    The closure includes all visitor facilities, camping areas, walking tracks, mountain bike tracks and vehicle access areas.

    These measures have been enforced to ensure the safety of visitors and to allow the park to recover from the adverse effects of the recent severe weather.

    Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is currently not accepting new camping bookings in affected recreation areas, with refunds available for those who have already booked.

    We encourage members of the public and those leaving camping areas to drive safely and follow the instructions of QPWS rangers and emergency services.

    Visitors and campers are being urged to check Park Alerts for up-to-date information on protected area closures.

    Campers wishing to cancel their bookings can request a camping credit or refund by visiting qld.gov.au/Camping.

    QPWS will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates when the protected areas are safe to reopen.

    For up-to-date weather information see the Bureau of Meteorology.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Witness appeal following violent disorder in Elm Park

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing to the public for help to identify a group of people who engaged in violent disorder in Elm Park.

    On the evening of Saturday, 22 March there was an incident of violent disorder after a large group attended a private event at Elm Park primary school, some armed with weapons, and assaulted and robbed members of the public.

    This incident is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service, with the assistance of the British Transport Police.

    At this time, 12 people have been arrested, aged between 12 and 17, in connection to this incident for various offences including possession of an offensive weapon and assault on an emergency services worker. There have been no charges at this time.

    We are now making an appeal to anyone with information as to the identities of any other people involved in this incident to come forward.

    • If you believe you know anyone involved in this incident then you can report that directly to us anonymously via Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111 and quote PMP/8249/25
    • If you have any photos or videos the of the incident then please also contact us via Crimestoppers, at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111 and quote PMP/8249/25 and an officer will make contact to review
    • We are also making a direct appeal to any victims of crime as part of this incident who are yet to come forward to please do so. We believe that this group have travelled between Elm Park, Dagenham and Barking, using both trains and buses. If you were a victim of crime on Saturday 22 March between 19:00hrs and midnight then please contact us either via Crimestoppers or 101 and quote OP ESTRAGON

    The violence seen on Saturday evening has no place in our society and it will not be tolerated. We will work with our colleagues from the British Transport Police, our partners in Havering, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham councils as well as the local community to ensure those responsible are held to account for their actions.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    Darren M. Wood, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Wednesday, March 26, to 5 years in federal prison without parole.

    On Nov. 20, 2024, Wood pleaded guilty to one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

    On Sept. 15, 2023, officers from the Belton, Mo. Police Department were dispatched on a suspicious activity call for someone sleeping in a vehicle.  Wood exited the vehicle when officers began approaching the vehicle.

    Officers observed a Glock 19, 9mm pistol in the front driver’s seat.  The firearm was loaded with one round in the chamber and a fully loaded 15-round magazine. Officers searched Wood and located over $3,000 cash.  Officers searched the vehicle and located 285 blue tablets labeled “M30” which contained fentanyl, 20 alprazolam tablets, 4 clonazepam tablets, and 2 bottles containing liquid promethazine.

    Wood also possessed a black AR-15 style rifle with a loaded magazine and no serial number, which officers located in the vehicle’s trunk.

    This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings It was investigated by the Belton, Mo. Police Department, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Traffic Stop in Southeast D.C. Leads to Federal Indictment, Firearm Recovery, and Drug Seizure

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

              WASHINGTON – Ikea Gartrell, 35, of Washington D.C., has been indicted on federal gun charges in the latest case to be federally adopted as part of the “Make D.C. Safe Again” initiative, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

              Gartrell was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, following her March 1st arrest in Southeast D.C.

              According to court documents, on March 1, 2025, at approximately 4:49 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department personnel conducted a traffic stop in the 900 block of Barnaby Street SE, Washington, D.C. Officers then made contact with the driver, later identified as Ikea Gartrell, who was allegedly found to be operating without a valid license.

              During the stop, it is alleged that an open container of alcohol was observed, prompting officers to ask all occupants to exit the vehicle. A subsequent investigation led to the discovery of a loaded, unregistered firearm on Gartrell’s person. Gartrell was placed under arrest for Carrying a Pistol Without a License (CPWL) and no permit.

              Records indicated Gartrell had a prior felony conviction.

              The investigation is ongoing.

              The ATF and MPD are investigating this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand.

              This case is part of Make DC Safe Again, a public safety initiative led by U.S. Attorney Martin that is surging resources to reduce violent crime in the District. This initiative was created to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.

              An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ##

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Pomona Gang Members and Mexican Mafia Associates Found Guilty of Racketeering, Murder, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Crimes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Four Pomona gang members and Mexican Mafia associates were found guilty by a jury today of a series of racketeering-related crimes, including the murder of a federal inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in downtown Los Angeles in June 2020.

    At the conclusion of a 20-day trial, the following defendants – all of Pomona – were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, one count of violent crimes in aid of racketeering (VICAR) murder, and one count of first-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States:

    • Michael Lerma, 68, a.k.a. “Pomona Mike” and “Big Mike;”
    • Carlos Gonzalez, 41, a.k.a. “Popeye;”
    • Juan Sanchez, 33, a.k.a. “Squeaks;” and
    • Jose Valencia Gonzalez, 44, a.k.a. “Swifty.”

    The jury also found Lerma and Valencia Gonzalez guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (methamphetamine and heroin) at MDC and in the Pomona area. Finally, the jury found Gonzalez and Valencia Gonzalez guilty each of one count of being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Sanchez was found not guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

    All the defendants have been in federal custody since 2018.

    “These defendants were key players in a criminal enterprise that committed murder, assault, and drug trafficking,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “Today’s verdict will take these offenders off our streets and make our community safer.”

    “This case makes it clear that gang violence by Mexican Mafia members and associates has not only been directed from the streets, but also from prisons in California,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This lengthy investigation exemplifies the commitment by agencies at the federal, state and local level who’ve collaborated for several years on a task force to arrive at justice in this case.”

    According to evidence presented at trial, from February 2012 to June 2020, Lerma – a full member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang – controlled and extorted drug proceeds from Latino street gangs in and around Pomona, as well as from incarcerated Latinos in Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County. Members of Lerma’s criminal enterprise also engaged in robberies, identity theft and fraud, drug trafficking, and other acts of violence. 

    In June 2020, Carlos Gonzalez, Valencia Gonzalez, and Sanchez – at Lerma’s direction – entered the cell at MDC Los Angeles and killed a victim – identified in court documents as “S.B.” The defendants murdered S.B. in retaliation for S.B. failing to pay drug debts deemed owed to Lerma’s cell of the Mexican Mafia prison gang. 

    United States District Judge George H. Wu will schedule sentencing hearings in the coming months, at which time each defendant will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison.

    Federal prosecutors so far have secured 16 convictions in this case, including that of Cheryl Perez-Castaneda, 62, of Pomona, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for using her power on the street as a “señora” – a high-level female associate of Lerma’s – to solicit a murder and for participating in a carjacking attempt that resulted in the July 2013 shooting of M.A.

    Kelly Deshannon, 43, of La Verne, is serving a prison sentence of more than seven years for serving as a “secretary” to Lerma and for facilitating the July 2013 armed robbery of M.A. and for extortion and distributing narcotics.

    The FBI’s San Gabriel Valley Safe Streets Task Force (SGVSSTF), which is comprised of agents and officers with the FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Pomona Police Department, the El Monte Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, investigated this matter in conjunction with the FBI’s Los Angeles Metropolitan Violent Crime Task Force. The Pomona Police Department is the sponsoring agency of the SGVSSTF and has been the headquarters for the task force since its inception in 2008.          

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle W. Kahan and Jason A. Gorn of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Kellye M. Ng of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Serial Robber of Five Cash Stores Convicted at Trial

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    An armed serial robber and convicted felon was found guilty by a jury on March 26, 2025, of robbing five cash loan businesses across the Fort Worth metroplex in May 2024, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham.

    Charles Lenard Brownlee, 37, was charged via criminal complaint in July 2024 and indicted in August 2024.  After two-and-a-half days of trial, a jury convicted him of one count of Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Hobbs Act Interference with Commerce by Robbery, five counts of Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm during a Crime of Violence, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

    According to evidence presented at trial, between May 9 and May 21, 2024, Brownlee robbed at gunpoint five Cash Store businesses in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine. Trying to conceal his identity, Brownlee covered his face with a medical mask and wore different baseball caps and outfits for the robberies. 

    Reviewing hours of surveillance footage from nearby businesses and other camera systems, detectives from the Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Euless, Hurst, and Grapevine police departments ascertained that Brownlee used the same vehicle—a black Hyundai Santa Fe equipped with a blue fuzzy steering-wheel cover—to drive to and from each of the five robberies.

    At trial, the jury heard from an eyewitness who observed the robber drop a Black & Mild cigarillo as he was running from one of the robberies and thereafter enter the backseat of a black SUV that had a blue fuzzy covering on its steering wheel.  Law enforcement collected that cigarillo for DNA testing, and the DNA test results were consistent with Brownlee being the robber from that incident.

    The jury also heard testimony from a member of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team who testified that the cellular phones tied to Brownlee placed him at or near each Cash Store location when it was robbed.

    For two of the robberies, Brownlee enlisted the help of his girlfriend and co-conspirator, who testified that she and Brownlee conspired to rob the Fort Worth and Euless Cash Stores—driving there together in the black Hyundai SUV and with her serving as Brownlee’s getaway driver. She also testified that after committing these “licks” (robberies), Brownlee planned to target jewelry stores and ultimately obtained a Mini Draco-style firearm to do so, since that gun had more “muscle.”

    Shortly after committing the May 21 Grapevine robbery, Brownlee was arrested, and—upon searching the vehicle he was in—law enforcement found a black leather bag that Brownlee used in the Hurst and Grapevine robberies, a blue hat that Brownlee wore during the Euless robbery, a disposable medical mask matching what he wore for all of the robberies, and two loaded firearms—a black Smith & Wesson handgun matching the make and model of the gun identified by one of the victim-witnesses and a Century Arms Mini Draco AK-style pistol. Law enforcement also seized the black Hyundai Santa Fe with the blue fuzzy steering wheel cover, which at the time was being driven by Brownlee’s sister.

    Brownlee’s cell phone showed that he had conducted multiple online searches of and for Cash Stores during the time span of the robbery spree and that he ran searches for nearby jewelry stores and where to purchase a Mini Draco gun. The jury also saw videos and images from Brownlee’s and his co-conspirator’s phones showing them posing with piles of cash and Brownlee smoking a Black & Mild cigarillo like that observed to have been dropped by the perpetrator of the Euless robbery.

    Brownlee now faces a statutory minimum of 35 years and up to life in federal prison. His sentencing date is set for July 11, 2025, before the Honorable Reed O’Connor, who also presided over this trial.

    Brownlee’s co-conspirator pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison. She is set to be sentenced on April 8, 2025.

    “A strong relationship with our local law enforcement partners is crucial to tackling violent crime,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The collaboration with multiple agencies from Tarrant County resulted in a successful guilty verdict and sends a message that we will not tolerate acts of violent crime in our communities.”

    Acting U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham praised the joint efforts of all law enforcement agencies involved in the case, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Fort Worth Resident Agency, Grand Prairie Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Euless Police Department, Hurst Police Department, and Grapevine Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric B. Chen and Levi Thomas prosecuted and tried the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon for the Northern District of Texas provided appellate support. 

    MIL Security OSI –