Mayor Dave Bing (pictured) appointed Ralph Godbee Jr. as the city's permanent top cop. Godbee, 42, is a lifelong Detroiter who came up through the ranks of the department he joined at age 19. He has been interim chief since July. Detroit Free Press
Cops and Retired Cops Square Off in California Marijuana Fight
In the cop vs. cop politicking over Proposition 19, the California initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use, there are a few words that may help determine who may be endorsing which side. The opposition to Proposition 19 is dominated by a vast list of current law enforcement office holders, including 39 sheriffs and 33 police chiefs, and organizations including the California Police Chiefs Association, the California State Sheriffs' Association, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California District Attorneys Association. But the Yes on 19 campaign recently released a list of its own cop endorsements. And most come from people sharing some common modifiers in their titles -- namely "former" or "retired." Sacramento Bee
Police Testing Cameras on Uniforms
Government Can Require DNA Samples for Bail
The government can require a man accused of possessing child pornography to submit his DNA sample in order to make bail, the 9th Circuit ruled. Jerry Pool was indicted for allegedly possessing child pornography. As a condition of his pretrial release, the district court ordered him to give his DNA so authorities could confirm his identity. Courthouse News
Old Age is Killing People
Should "old age" under some circumstances be considered an actual cause of death -- equal to lung cancer, leukemia and diabetes? Those questions are becoming increasingly important as more and more people die at very advanced ages without an obvious cause that can be confidently entered on the death certificate. Washington Post
Justice Dept. Looking into New York City Voting Machine Contract
Fire Dept. Hiring -- Enforced Racial Quotas?
New York City rejected a federal judge's proposals to hire 300 new firefighters, claiming the options are illegal racial quotas. New York Daily News
County Spends $1 Million on Search for Boy
The investigation into Kyron Horman's disappearance has cost the Multnomah County, Ore., Sheriff's Office more than $1 million, forcing the department to pull staff from the case and ask other agencies for help. Oregonian
Electronic Ticketing System in Patrol Cars
Traffic stops in New Jersey are getting a digital revamp: electronic tickets. At least a dozen police departments, including Clinton Township, Mountainside and the New Jersey State Police, have installed e-ticketing systems, which allow officers to print receipt-like summonses from their patrol cars and cut the duration of stops in half, authorities say. New Jersey Star-Ledger
City May Eliminate Police and Fire Chiefs
Teaneck, N.J., may eliminate fire and police chiefs and combine the two departments into a public safety department under a civilian. New Jersey Star-Ledger
Proposed Legislation will Strengthen Pipeline Safety and Enforcement
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today sent to Congress proposed legislation to provide stronger oversight of the nation’s pipelines and increase the penalties for violations of pipeline safety rules. This legislation complements the department’s additional planned regulatory initiatives to continue to improve pipeline safety. USDOT
