On November 1, 1983, the doors to Nebraska’s largest industrial savings and loan company were closed, as Commonwealth was declared insolvent. The 6,700 depositors with $65 million dollars at stake would never be fully compensated for their loss, ultimately receiving about 59 cents on the dollar for their deposits, which they all mistakenly believed were insured up to $30,000 through the Nebraska Depository Insurance Guaranty Corporation, which actually was essentially an insurance pool with assets of only $3 million.
The case dominated Nebraska news for months. The case and investigation ultimately led to the conviction of three members of the prominent Lincoln family that owned the institution, the resignation of the Director of the State Department of Banking, and the impeachment of the Nebraska Attorney General and the suspension of his license to practice law. State and Federal ligitagion arising from the failure of Commonwealth drug on for years.
Here at the police department, the Commonwealth failure led to the formation of a specialized white-collar crime detail, now known as the Technical Investigations Unit. At the time, municipal police departments in the United States had virtually no capacity for investigating financial crime and fraud of this magnitude, and we quickly became well known for our expertise in this area. The early experience served LPD very well in the ensuring years.
The Sereies:
Monday, October 18, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Number 6: Another nightmare
Number 6: Candice Harms
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on September 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a corn field north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County--as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trail was a life changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, Nebraska who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County Sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second most prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
The Sereies:
Candi Harms never came home from visiting her boyfriend on September 22, 1992. Her parents reported her as a missing person the following morning, and her car was found abandoned in a corn field north of Lincoln later in the day. Weeks went by before her remains were found southeast of Lincoln.
Scott Barney and Roger Bjorklund were convicted in her abduction and murder. Barney is in prison serving a life term. Bjorklund died in prison in 2001. Intense media attention surrounded the lengthy trial of Roger Bjorklund, for which a jury was brought in from Cheyenne County--as an alternative to a change of venue. I have no doubt that the trail was a life changing event for a group of good citizens from Sidney, Nebraska who did their civic duty.
I was the Lancaster County Sheriff at the time, involved both in the investigation and in the trial security. It was at about this time that the cellular telephone was becoming a consumer product, and I have often thought that this brutal crime probably spurred a lot of purchases. During my career, this is probably the second most prominent Lincoln crime in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage.
The Sereies:
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Number 7: Worst nightmare
7. Jon Simpson and Jacob Surber
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September, 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the midwest, and many thought that these cases were related--the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed, William Guatney was released, and has since died.
The Sereies:
A parent’s worst nightmare unfolded in September, 1975 when these two boys, ages 12 and 13, failed to return from the Nebraska State Fair. The boys were the victims of abduction and murder. The case was similar to a string of other murders of young boys in the midwest, and many thought that these cases were related--the work of a serial killer. Although an arrest was made in the case here in Lincoln, the charges were eventually dismissed, William Guatney was released, and has since died.
The Sereies:
Monday, October 11, 2010
Number 8: Shady Sheedy
8. John Sheedy
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P Street in January, 1891. Prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, Sheedy’s case became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trail. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multi-media web site, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Dr. Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
The Sereies:
Saloon and gambling house owner John Sheedy was gunned down outside his home at 1211 P Street in January, 1891. Prominent in Lincoln’s demiworld, Sheedy’s case became the talk of the town when his wife, Mary, and her alleged lover and accomplice, Monday McFarland, were arrested. Both were acquitted at trail. The Sheedy murder is chronicled in a great interactive multi-media web site, Gilded Age Plains City, an online version that builds upon an article published in 2001 by Dr. Timothy Mahoney of the University of Nebraska.
The Sereies:
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Number 9: Midwest crime spree
The next in my list of Lincoln's most infamous crimes.
9. Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August, 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa; and raped, shot and left a for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
The Sereies:
9. Patricia McGarry and Catherine Brooks
The bodies of these two friends were found in a Northeast Lincoln duplex in August, 1977. Their murderer, Robert E. Williams, was the subject of a massive midwest manhunt during the following week. Before his capture he committed a third murder in Sioux Rapids, Iowa; and raped, shot and left a for dead a victim who survived in Minnesota. He is the last man to be executed in Nebraska, sent to the electric chair in 1997.
The Sereies:
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Number 10: On the bench
This is the second post in a series "Crimes of the Times"--my opinion on the ten most significant crimes in Lincoln's history.
10. Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge Morning was murdered in February, 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
The Sereies:
10. Judge William M. Morning
District Court Judge Morning was murdered in February, 1924. He was shot on the bench by an unhappy litigant in a divorce case. His court reporter, Minor Bacon, was also shot, but a notebook in his breast pocket deflected the bullet and saved his life.
The Sereies:
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Crimes of the times
For the next couple of weeks, I am going to write a series of blog posts about the most significant crimes that have occurred in Lincoln’s history. This is simply one man’s perspective from the early 21st century. I had to make a decision about crimes that occurred at locations that are inside the city today, but were outside our corporate limits at the time they occurred. I chose the later.
I will be identifying the top 10 most significant crimes in reverse order, saving the biggest for the end. This, of course, is just based on my own perception. Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order. Later this week, my top 10 list will begin.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital. Governor Charles Bryan came to his aide and summoned assistance.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Since Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer murdered on duty. One of his collegues who were present at the motel and involved in the gun battle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, where they both influenced many young charges (like me) and left his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD, its current chief, and the community.
The Series:
I will be identifying the top 10 most significant crimes in reverse order, saving the biggest for the end. This, of course, is just based on my own perception. Before beginning, though, I have to deal with three crimes that stand apart: the murders of three police officers in Lincoln. I’m not quite sure how to place them in a list. They all had huge impacts on the community, and on the police department in particular. Because these are my colleagues, I deal with them separately and in chronological order. Later this week, my top 10 list will begin.
Patrolman Marion Francis Marshall
Shot in the shadow of the new Nebraska State Capital. Governor Charles Bryan came to his aide and summoned assistance.
Lt. Frank Soukup
Since Marion Marshall was technically not a Lincoln police officer, Lt. Soukup was actually the first Lincoln police officer murdered on duty. One of his collegues who were present at the motel and involved in the gun battle, Paul Jacobsen, went on to enjoy a long career and command rank at LPD, where they both influenced many young charges (like me) and left his mark on the culture of the agency.
Lt. Paul Whitehead
In the space of a few months, three LPD officers died in the line of duty. Frank Soukup had been murdered, George Welter had died in a motorcycle crash. Paul Whitehead's partner, Paul Merritt, went on to command rank, and like Paul Jacobsen left an indelible mark at LPD, its current chief, and the community.
The Series:
Friday, October 1, 2010
Problem based learning
A couple of years ago at the Problem-Oriented Policing Conference in Bellevue, WA, I attended a breakout session on PTO programs: Police Training Officer. PTO is a model of experiential training that differs from the widespread Field Training Officer (FTO) programs, in that it incorporates the principals of something called problem-based learning (PBL).
Without naming it, I have been an amateur dabbler in problem-based learning all along. I used this approach quite successfully during the years I taught Criminal Justice 403, Criminal Justice Organization and Administration, at the University of Nebraska—although I was missing one key element. In the LPD academy, I have used bits of this approach for the most significant class I personally teach, Information Resources.
As I’ve learned more about PBL, however, I have improved. This year, I strongarmed the training staff into providing me a second full day, which is devoted to problem-oriented policing using a format that leans on problem-based learning principles: problem solving by students working collaboratively on challenging and somewhat open-ended problems. The second day really builds on the first day’s focus on using the information resource tools.
After a short primer on problem-oriented policing and the SARA model, the bulk of the day was active and student-centered. Six students worked on formulating approaches to crime and disorder problems I posed as the facilitator. I asked them these questions about each problem:
Not only was I pleased with the students work, I also got the strong sense that the level of learning had jumped up to a new plateau. This seemed to me to be a huge improvement over “death by PowerPoint,” and I was impressed with our recruits’ performance. I will get better at using this approach next time. I think the principles of PBL can be incorporated into almost everything we do in training new recruits. I am convinced that students learn more and that the training is more engaging for everyone involved—student and instructor—when it is based on principals of adult learning.
Here are the problems the students worked on:
Without naming it, I have been an amateur dabbler in problem-based learning all along. I used this approach quite successfully during the years I taught Criminal Justice 403, Criminal Justice Organization and Administration, at the University of Nebraska—although I was missing one key element. In the LPD academy, I have used bits of this approach for the most significant class I personally teach, Information Resources.
As I’ve learned more about PBL, however, I have improved. This year, I strongarmed the training staff into providing me a second full day, which is devoted to problem-oriented policing using a format that leans on problem-based learning principles: problem solving by students working collaboratively on challenging and somewhat open-ended problems. The second day really builds on the first day’s focus on using the information resource tools.
After a short primer on problem-oriented policing and the SARA model, the bulk of the day was active and student-centered. Six students worked on formulating approaches to crime and disorder problems I posed as the facilitator. I asked them these questions about each problem:
- What more do you need to know about this problem?
- Where can you find that information?
- What strategies did you consider, which did you select, and why?
- How will you determine if it is working?
Not only was I pleased with the students work, I also got the strong sense that the level of learning had jumped up to a new plateau. This seemed to me to be a huge improvement over “death by PowerPoint,” and I was impressed with our recruits’ performance. I will get better at using this approach next time. I think the principles of PBL can be incorporated into almost everything we do in training new recruits. I am convinced that students learn more and that the training is more engaging for everyone involved—student and instructor—when it is based on principals of adult learning.
Here are the problems the students worked on:
- Daytime residential burglaries seem to be increasing on your beat.
- Several indecent exposures have occurred in parking lots of apartment complexes on your team area.
- There have been a number of construction site thefts on your beat.
- A series of cases have been investigated in which iPods have been stolen from school lockers.
- A small group home for the developmentally disabled on your beat has been the site of a large number of police dispatches this year.
- Three businesses on your beat have been the site of 5 or more false burglary alarms so far this year.
- There has been a large increase in graffiti vandalism citywide
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
