Lpl G3d August 1989 Law Enforcement Bulletin
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lPl g3D August 1989 Law Enforcement Bulletin Also In This Issue: Computer Expert Systems Policing Demonstrations Drug Detection Dogs Crime-Time Television August 1989, Volume 58, Number 8 Features 1 Crime-Time Television By Scott A. Nelson 12 Expert Systems for Law Enforcement By Roland Reboussin and Jerry Cameron 18 Policing Demonstrations By Robert J. Johnston, Jr., and Lawrence F. Loesch , Jr. 26 Hounding Drug Traffickers: The Use of Drug Detection Dogs By Kimberly A. Kingston Departments 10 The Bulletin Reports 17 Book Review 24 Police Practices lJSrn1J Law Enforcement Bulletin United States Department of Justice Published by the Office of The Cover: Featured on the cover are Federal Bureau of Investigation Public Affairs, John Walsh, host of " America's Most Washington, DC 20535 Milt Ahlerich, Assistant Director Wanted," and Robert Stack, host of " Unsolved Mysteries." See article p. 1. William S. SeSSions, Director Editor-Stephen D. Gladis The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Managing Editor- Kathryn E. Sulewski (ISSN-0014-5688) is published monthly by the The Attorney General has determined that the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 10th and Penn• publication of this periodical is necessary in the Art Director-John E. Ott sylvania Ave ., NW., Washington, DC 20535. transaction of the public business required by law of the Department of Justice. Use of funds for Production Manager-Andrew DiRosa Second-Class postage paid at Washington, DC. printing this periodical has been approved by the Postmaster: Send address changes to Federal Director of the Office of Management and Bureau of Investigation, FBI Law Enforcement Budget. Bulletin, Washington, DC 20535. ISSN 0014-5688 USPS 383-310 Crime-Time Television By scon A. NELSON Section Chief Office of Public Affairs Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, DC --------------------------------------------------------------------___________________ August1989 1 mericans live in an ever "crime-time" television shows The success of this program changing electronic world have resulted in the apprehension is well documented. Within the A where "one picture is of fugitives, the solution of diffi first year, 9 of the first 20 "Top worth a thousand words. " One cult cases, and positive publicity Tenners" were arrested as a result particular medium that has exerted for the law enforcement agencies of citizen tips. To date, informa a dominant influence over our involved. tion from citizens alone has led to society is television. Ninety-eight This article discusses the the capture of 121 of the 426 percent of all American homes development of crime-time televi "Top Ten" fugitives who have have at least one television set sion and its pros and cons. It also been added to the list. Obviously, which is turned on for more than 6 offers suggestions to the law the widespread publicity generated hours a day. I enforcement manager who may be by the printed media worked. The value of citizen participation in TV has an almost mesmeriz approached by a local or national capturing the mobile, elusive ing power over viewers. It can network to participate in a crime criminal cannot be questioned. captivate an audience to such an solving program. extent that it can influence public Law Enforcement From Print to Picture Tube opinion and set public policy. and the Printed Media During the 1960's and early Why? The answer is simple- tele The FB I' s "Ten Most 1970's, television crime dramas vision is everywhere. It is also Wanted Fugitives" Ii t was law dominated the airwaves. One of entertaining, requires little effort, enforcement's first major union the most popular was "The FB I," and presents information in both with the media. A newspaper story which is considered to be one of visual and audio terms. in 1949 led to the creation of the the top five longest running televi Law enforcement agencies Iist after a reporter asked the FB I sion series. The program, tarred are just beginning to realize the for the names and descriptions of Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., as Inspector full potential of this powerful the "toughest guys" the Bureau Erskine and aired from 1965 to medium and to use it to their would like to capture. The story 1974. It occupied a highly coveted advantage. In recent years, the law generated so much positive pub time slot-Sunday at 8:00 p.m. enforcement profession has joined licity that on March 14, 1950, for considered by many to be the forces with the TV media and, in mer FB I Director J. Edgar Hoover "family hour." The series drama turn, with the public to form a approved the "Most Wanted Fugi tized actual FBI cases that had beneficial partnership. Weekly tive" Program. been solved. In the wake of the Vietnam War, crime dramas became unpopular to American television viewers. An anti-establishment Two of the most mentality prevailed, and this impacted dramatically on the pub " popular shows, lic's perception of law enforce 'America's Most ment. Wanted' and However, in the early 1980's, a 'Unsolved Mysteries' new FBI drama starring Mike Connors appeared on the televi have become sion screen. "Today's FBI" por potent law trayed the changes that had taken enforcement tools. place not only within the organiza tion but al 0 within the criminal Special Agent Nelson world. A female Agent and a black Agent joined the team to " solve cases dealing with modern day crime problems, such as white-collar crime and organized crime. The two shows, "The FBI" viewers demand, networks position In modern-day program and "Today's FB 1," were solei y revamped their programming ming. to entertain the viewing public. schedules. But, the television Two of the most popular The cases portrayed had already shows took on a new look-a new shows, "America's Most been solved; the perpetrators had direction. Wanted" (AMW) and "Unsolved been apprehended and convicted. Dramatized, factual re-crea Mysteries" (UM) have become tions or "reality programming" potent law enforcement tools. Crime-Time Television now appear on the screen. They are basically a more visual By the 1980's, there was a Viewers are asked to help identify and more interesting extension of resurgence of public interest in or locate criminals. Crime-time the "Top Ten" Program that has crime dramas. Responding to television has taken a premier captured America's attention since Inspector Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) and Assistant Director Ward (Philip Abbott) of " The FBI" Mike Connors of "Today's FBI" Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., is trained in the use of firearms at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia 1------August 1989 3 the 1950's. While AMW centers to 15 million viewers, It IS cur viewed by approx imately 30 mil on factual fugitive re-creations, rently the number-one rated Fox lion people every Wednesday UM's format is more varied, television network show. Its popu night. covering not only fugitives but larity has boomed, and it now airs also unsolved criminal cases and on 123 Fox-affiliated stations in A Beneficial Partnership major American cities. unexplained mysteries. Both Although crime-time televi John Walsh describes shows factor in entertainment, and sion is common in such European that, combined with the public's "America's Most Wanted" as a countries as England, West Ger "weekly nationwide criminal desire to help, accounts for the many, and The Netherlands, the manhunt. " The show attempts to audience draw . genre is still fairly new to the United States. Yet, the FB I has cooperated with certain crime-time television shows from the very "Several other Federal agencies ... have also beginning. recognizing the pro cooperated with the television industry to grams as unique opportunities to produce crime-time television shows and are catch fugitives and solve cases through public/ private involve reaping substantial benefits. ment. Several other Federal agen cies, such as the Drug Enforce ment Administration, the Bureau accurately reenact crimes at" the of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire However, according to Executive Producer Michael actual scene whenever possible. arms, and the U. S. Customs Serv Li nder. AM W puts the entertain However, only serious crimes ice, and local and State law ment aspect into perspective: which merit nationwide exposure enforcement agencies have also cooperated with the te levision "We know our program is seen and which can be solved with the industry to produce crime-time as entertainment by the many public's help are reenacted. television shows and are reaping in our audience who are simply "Unsolved Mysteries," cre substantial benefits. According to fascinated by the often bizalTe ated by NBC's entertainment divi Michael Linder: behavior of criminals. But, sion, is hosted by Robert Stack. shock, violence and horror are According to Stuart Schwartz, "We have worked with more dramatic devices we choose to coordinating producer, than 95 law enforcement agen a void. We want to stress .. 'Unsolved Mysteries' initi cies in more than 130 cities and human values. Our cases are ated the crime-solving genre in their cooperation has been sim often the stories of ordinary January, 1987, when our first ply astonishing. I see a new people caught up in extraordi episode aired. The show grew relationship emerging between nary events and people whose out of several TV specials we law enforcement and the lives have been touched pro did called, 'Missing-Have media. In the past, these orga foundly by crime. We intend to You Seen This Person'?' in nizations often engaged in depict their lives with compas which we profiled missing per adversarial politics, but at sion and understanding. In that sons cases and asked our AMW. we believe we're creat way, we believe other viewers audience to call in to an 800 ing a prototype which uses the will be motivated to help out of number with tips.