ISP Trooper to Carry the Flame of Hope for Special Olympics
Indiana State Police Trooper Susan Rinschler
TO CARRY THE FLAME OF HOPEÂ FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS
WORLD GAMES LOS ANGELES 2015 FINAL LEG
Flame serves as beacon of inspiration to thousands during the
Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg in California
Indianapolis—On May 14th, 2015, the Flame of Hope, the official torch for the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015, will be lit at the Sacred Site of Pnyx, opposite the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, formally beginning its journey to the World Games. In keeping with Olympic tradition and custom dating back to the Ancient Greeks, the torch will be lit by the sun’s rays, and will remain lit until the end of the Games on 2 August. Trooper Susan Rinschler of Indianapolis will serve as a Guardian of the Flame of Hope and participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg, the last journey of the flame throughout the state of California. Trooper Rinschler has been selected by the Indiana Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics of Indiana to be one of the 126 Final Leg Team members. Law enforcement personnel are selected for this honor by their local Torch Run and Special Olympics program for their dedication and commitment to the Special Olympics movement.
After the official lighting, the flame will begin its journey through all 50 states and the District of Columbia as a part of the historic Special Olympics Unified Relay Across America presented by Bank of America. At the conclusion of the Unified Relay, the Flame of Hope will be handed over to the 2015 Los Angeles Final Leg Team, where it will travel for 17 days to more than 125 cities and towns throughout California, honoring the spirit of the Special Olympics global movement and delivering a message of hope to communities where people with intellectual disabilities continue to fight for acceptance and inclusion. At each stop, the flame will be carried by teams of law enforcement personnel and Special Olympics athletes representing 48 states and 23 countries around the world, on a course allowing thousands of spectators to witness its important journey.
“The Flame of Hope’s journey is symbolic of our global mission to deliver inspiration and hope to Special Olympics athletes and their families, break down barriers to equality that still exist, and create awareness for social change worldwide,†said Janet Froetscher CEO of Special Olympics, who will participate in the official lighting ceremony in Greece on May 14th. “We are fortunate to be able to deliver the flame and everything it stands for – hope, courage, opportunity, inspiration and equality – to our athletes because of the experience and expertise of our partners in law enforcement throughout the world.â€
Trooper Rinschler, a three year veteran of the Indiana State Police stated, “This is a very humbling and exciting opportunity and I am very proud to not only represent the Indiana State Police but all citizens of Indiana.â€
The Flame of Hope will complete its journey on 25 July when the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg team carries it into the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 World Games on 25 July, and it ignites the cauldron at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, site of the 1932 and ’84 Olympics Opening Ceremony.  The public will be able to see daily photographs, videos and read reports of the Flame of Hope’s journey online at: letr.finalleg.org
About the 2015 Los Angeles Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg
The Final Leg tradition is for law enforcement officers, representing their country, state and Torch Run Program, to act as “Guardians of the Flame†and carry the Special Olympics Torch and “Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics World Games. This Torch Run event is called the Final Leg because it represents the culmination of Torch Run events that have occurred previously throughout the World. The Torch Run Final Leg is not only a salute to the athletes from around the World who will compete in the Special Olympics World Games, but also an honor for the participating law enforcement officers who comprise the Torch Run Final Leg Team. The Olympic flame symbolizes the light of spirit, knowledge and life. With identical power and majesty, the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope,” in the entrusted care of the law enforcement community, symbolizes the courage and celebration of diversity that the Special Olympics movement represents. The 2015 Final Leg will precede the Special Olympics World Games held in Los Angeles, California. The Flame Arrival Ceremony is scheduled for the state capitol in Sacramento, California on Monday, 13 July. The flame will then travel throughout the state before reaching the Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles on 25 July. The mission of the Final Leg is to create awareness and excitement for Special Olympics, support and attendance of the World Games, and involve, inspire and motivate runners to increase their level of commitment to Special Olympics when they return to their local Programs. The Final Leg Team (126 members strong) is comprised of law enforcement runners, Special Olympics athletes, and Logistics Team members from 48 states and  23 countries around the world representing 79 Torch Run programs. Final Leg runners were chosen for their dedication and commitment to the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics by their respective Torch Run Programs throughout the world. For more information on the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for the 2015 World Games, please contact Final Leg Committee Chairman and Team Captain John Newnan at final.leg@gmail.com
About the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?
Gavel Gamut
By Jim Redwine
(Week of 25 May 2015)
WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?
It was usually already hot in Oklahoma by Memorial Day. The heat, nor anything else, kept Mom from her appointed rounds at far-flung cemeteries dotting the prairie. My options were limited: swelter in the old Ford or tag along from grave to grave. My brother Philip shared my fate. Our oldest sibling, Sonny, was exempt because he was himself a veteran. Our sister, Jane, was Mom’s willing accomplice, as always.
Mom knew where every departed veteran from our large family was buried. Each one deserved and had to be honored for their service. Poppies were the flower of choice but tall prairie grasses, roses, bundles of home grown petunias and even hollyhocks were drafted into service. The car looked and smelled like a mobile funeral home.
Our family has managed to participate in America’s wars from the Civil War to Iraq. My great grandmother had an article that chronicled her father’s Civil War battles. My Uncle Bill said little about his two years of combat in World War II except to state his respect for the German soldiers. Our son, Jim, served in combat in the Gulf War and the Iraq War and got to know many Iraqi soldiers.
I can only guess at the family’s involvement in America’s next wars. However, I am confident there will be ample opportunity. I note every candidate for president asserts a willingness for others to have that chance. One candidate has even promised to use drones on Americans, in America, if anyone even thinks about investigating the grievances of our current adversaries.
Old people in safe places can be quite brave. On the other hand, maybe the current generation of reluctant young flower bearers will, at least, have air-conditioned cars in which to travel to the graves of our future heroes.
COA reverses felony conviction for lack of evidence
Jennifer Nelson for www.theindianalawyer.com
The state did not prove that a St. Joseph County man intimidated another person when the man pulled out a knife after being confronted about stealing water, the Indiana Court of Appeals held Friday. The dissenting judge believed there to be no distinction between the defendant being “caught†stealing water and “confronting†the defendant about stealing it.
The state charged Leonard Blackmon with Level 5 felony intimidation, alleging “Blackmon did communicate a threat to another person, with the intent that said other person be placed in fear of retaliation for a prior lawful act, to-wit; Leonard Blackmon threatened to cut Donald Courtway with a knife, after Donald Courtway caught Leonard Blackmon stealing water.â€
Courtway was at his daughter’s house when he heard running water and saw a bucket under an outside spigot, which had been locked, but the lock was removed. He confronted his daughter’s neighbor because he knew she did not have running water. After the neighbor agreed to pay for the water, Courtway said he was going to call the police. Then Blackmon, who was with the neighbor at the time Courtway confronted her, pulled out a knife and brandished it.
“Here, the State presented no evidence that Courtway caught Blackmon stealing water nor did it present any evidence that Blackmon believed he had been caught stealing water. Courtway did not testify that he believed Blackmon would retaliate because he had been caught stealing water. Courtway testified that Blackmon said nothing prior to drawing the knife. It was not until after Courtway threatened to call the police that Blackmon drew the knife,†Judge John Baker wrote. “While this may have been evidence that Blackmon intended to stop Courtway from calling the police and thereby intended to make Courtway engage in conduct against his will – a crime under Indiana Code section 35-45-2-1(a)(1) – this was not how the charge was brought. Consequently, we are compelled to conclude that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that Blackmon intended to put Courtway in fear of retaliation for having caught him stealing water –an essential element of the crime as it was charged.â€
Judge Cale Bradford took issue with the majority’s differentiating between the charging information using the word “caught†and what they said Courtway actually did, which was confront Blackmon because Courtway did not see Blackmon actually stealing the water.
“I find it inconsequential that Courtway did not know affirmatively that it was Blackmon, specifically, who had stolen the water considering the circumstantial evidence that indicated as much. In fact, the victim’s subjective knowledge is irrelevant under Indiana’s intimidation statute so long as the victim’s prior act was lawful. Regardless of Courtway’s knowledge, Blackmon seems to have been of the mind that he had been caught and reacted aggressively. As such, I think it was reasonable for the jury to find that Blackmon threatened Courtway in retaliation for the prior lawful act of catching Blackmon stealing water,†Bradford wrote.
Governor Pence to Honor Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
Will Also Join First Lady Karen Pence to Participate in the 500 Festival Parade, Attend Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence and First Lady Karen Pence will participate in the 500 Festival Parade tomorrow and will attend the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. On Monday, the Governor will honor fallen heroes by offering remarks at the Washington Park East Memorial Day Service. Details below.
Saturday, May 23:
12:00 p.m. EDT – Governor Pence and First Lady Karen Pence to participate in the 500 Festival Parade
*Media are welcome to attend.
Indianapolis, IN
Sunday, May 24:
12:00 p.m. EDT – Governor Pence and First Lady Karen Pence to attend the Indianapolis 500
Monday, May 25:
10:30 a.m. EDT -Â Â Governor Pence to honor fallen heroes by offering remarks at Washington Park East Memorial Day Service
*Media are welcome to attend.
Hoosier Patriot Memorial, Washington Park East Cemetery and Funeral Center, 10612 East Washington Street, Indianapolis
Evansville Area Scores High in Cardiac Care
Successes are higher in Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack
(Evansville, Indiana) — Throughout the United States, persons fall victim to heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrests every day. The Emergency Medical Services system is there to care for and help provide better outcomes for those individuals who suffer these events. In Evansville, the fire department first responders and American Medical Response have focused on improving the outcomes of our patients. Two of the most time critical, life threatening conditions are heart attacks and cardiac arrest.
In May, American Medical Response and the Evansville Fire Department received word that the community’s cardiac arrest outcomes during 2014 exceeded the national aggregate by a significant amount. The numbers, reported by the CARES (The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival) program, a national cardiac arrest measurement group supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Emory University, showed a drastic difference in outcomes for Evansville and Vanderburgh County when compared to national averages. Bystander CPR is the first link in the chain of survival. The  quality CPR and basic life support care provided by the Evansville Fire Department and surrounding Vanderburgh County fire departments coupled with the Emergency Medical Dispatch instructions for callers to 911 and the paramedic care provided by AMR has resulted in a higher success rate.
Below is a summary of these important numbers:
- Bystander CPR: National – 40.4%, Evansville – 43.8%
- Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) applied prior to EMS arrival: National – 27.1%, Evansville – 52.6%
- First Responder Defibrillation: National – 6.1%, Evansville – 13.0%
- ROSC (Return of a pulse by EMS): National – 32.2%, Evansville – 35.4%
- Survival to discharge from Hospital: National – 10.8%, Evansville – 14.6%
- Utstein Survival (presumed cardiac nature): National: 32.5%, Evansville – 47.6%
In addition to exceptional care provided for cardiac arrest, AMR was recognized in May as a Gold level provider in the American Heart Association’s Mission Lifeline program. The program focuses on the application of 12-lead electrocardiograms in the prehospital setting and the relay of that information to the receiving hospital for the purpose of decreasing time to critical interventions in the cardiac catheterization lab. AMR was one of only three Indiana EMS providers recognized this year by the AHA.
THE GOVERNOR IN THE TIN FOIL HAT
By Jason Stanford
Operation Jade Helm has inspired a million jokes, and some of them have even been funny. But as much as comedians might jump on Greg Abbott for sending the Texas State Guard to monitor military exercises as the latest excuse to mock the reactionary rubes south of the Red River, Texas now faces an existential crisis: Is the Governor really this crazy?
From a distance, Gov. Abbott indulging the paranoid delusion that a special operations training exercise in Bastrop County is a precursor to an invasion looks absolutely crazypants. Oh, look at the Texans, they say, they’ve gone and done it. They’re being Texans again.
Said HBO’s Bill Maher to Texas, “You are the White Somalia,†which probably makes sense and might even be funny in context.
Rachel Maddow, checking in from the liberal flagship at MSNBC, said the “panicked, paranoid conspiracy†is one big joke. “Fearful Texas GOP base amuses nation with conspiracy panic,†blared a headline. Even for those inclined to agree with Maddow, the smugness was unbearable.
Too many are using the paranoia as a joke that never pays off. The problem is that the set up is all “you gotta be kidding me,†but the payoff is simply, “Nope.†Just because something is ludicrous and embarrassing doesn’t make it funny. Otherwise, I would have been more popular in high school.
Once you get past the regional bias underlying most of the “jokes†about Jade Helm, what you find is actually frightening: Greg Abbott either truly does not trust the United States military and the commander-in-chief to respect the sovereignty of Texas, or he’s pandering to his slightly seditious and extremely paranoid base. Sadly, it’s not clear which sin we need to forgive here.
Obviously, Barack Obama does not want to invade Texas and place it under martial law. This is silly. What is not silly is that the Governor may have taken this idea seriously. So now Texas, by all rights a home to millions of reasonable and good people as well as many others, has to ponder whether it elected a Governor who keeps an eye peeled for black helicopters.
I’m not remotely someone who would ever vote for Abbott, but even I would like to believe that he’s pandering. The evidence to the contrary, however, is worrisome.
For starters, when it comes to campaigns he’s no smooth criminal. His huge margin of victory masked a ham-handed operation. His campaign spent two weeks flubbing the equal pay question, which was before or after he got bogged down in questions about Ted Nugent. There was also that awkward period when he waited too long to disavow “retard Barbie.†And who could forget the time he said Texans just needed to “drive around†to find out which warehouses contained chemicals that could explode?
If Abbott were a peanut butter he’d be chunky because he is not and never will be smooth.
Admittedly, there is recent evidence of him trimming his sails to capture the prevailing wind. When he went from insisting on a cut in property taxes to simply demanding a tax cut, he looked like a politician who knew which way the wind blows. That’s the kind of politician clever enough to pander to his base even when he doesn’t necessarily agree with it.
Abbott is more consistent as an ideologue. He famously described his job as attorney general thusly: “I go into the office, I sue the federal government, and then I go home.â€
Keep in mind that Abbott is Ted Cruz’s mentor. And while Texas’ very junior senator bears all the tell-tale signs of having no core beliefs, there’s not much in the way of evidence that Abbott is as calculating.
I would rather believe that I merely disagree with Gov. Abbott and not that he is so disagreeable as to think Texas faces a threat of invasion from a country it is, it should be said, already a part of. But whether Abbott believes that Jade Helm is the tip of the spear for martial law or whether he’s merely pretending to might, in the final analysis, not matter.
If the tin foil hat fits, wear it.
“Indiana’s Not Buying It†aims to raise awareness on sex trade during the Indianapolis 500
Demand for commercial sex increases dramatically when large numbers of men gather for sports
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Today, Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller announced the ongoing efforts of a statewide awareness campaign aimed at combatting child sex trafficking. These efforts coincide with the upcoming Indianapolis 500, which could exceed attendance of 300,000 people, with many visiting from out of town.
The “Indiana’s Not Buying It†campaign focuses on reducing the demand for commercial sex that fuels human trafficking. Human trafficking occurs when people are recruited into the sex or labor trade through force, fraud or coercion or when a child is used for commercial sex. It happens in all corners of the state, and primarily to young, vulnerable populations, said Zoeller. The average age at which children in the U.S. first become victims of sex trafficking is 13. The average age of death of a person involved in prostitution is 34, and the most common cause of death is homicide.
“The violent, exploitive sex trade that victimizes far too many children will not end unless we stand up as a society and refuse to tolerate commercial sex,†said Zoeller, who co-chairs the Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans (IPATH) Task Force. “With a major sporting event approaching, I hope this message reaches men who purchase sex that we are no longer buying any excuses.â€
Last month “Indiana’s Not Buying It†campaign launched in conjunction with the 2015 NCAA Final Four championship, which was held in Indianapolis. It is well documented from events from around the nation that demand for commercial sex increases dramatically when large numbers of men gather for sports or another party atmosphere. Last year in an analysis of Backpage.com ads in the Louisville area, researchers found the largest spike in adult services classified ads occurred during March Madness with more than 100 ads per day. Similarly, when the Super Bowl was held in Indianapolis in 2012, the number of Indiana-specific “escort†ads on Backpage jumped from eight in December prior to the event to 129 the day before the Super Bowl.
According to law enforcement, there were 18 commercial sex related arrests during the 2015 NCAA Final Four.
Following the launch of the campaign, IPATH launched a training and awareness blitz in Central Indiana. Flyers and other victim recovery materials aimed at reaching and providing resources to victims were distributed at truck stops, rest areas and taxi cab services, in addition to local restaurants, bars and other tourism hot spots. The Indiana Motor Truck Association and Indiana Department of Transportation facilitated the distribution of these materials. IPATH also worked to train area hotel staffs on spotting the red flags associated with trafficked victims. 40 hotels/motels in the Indianapolis and surrounding area received awareness materials.
Similarly, to reach those that are in town for the Indianapolis 500, IPATH specifically targeted businesses in the Speedway area and hotels around the city by distributing resources and victim recovery materials.
The awareness campaign features a PSA starring local professional athletes and sports personalities, including IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter, Lavoy Allen from the Indiana Pacers, Matt Hasselbeck from the Indianapolis Colts, and Donnie Walsh of the Pacers. The PSA can be viewed at www.INNotBuyingIt.org. The Not Buying It message is being publicized on 35 billboards throughout the state, as well as on the local public transit system, IndyGo. The Outdoor Advertising Association of Indiana (OAAI) donated the billboard space, and the PSA was produced by the Pacers.
During the 2015 legislative session, the Attorney General’s Office has worked with state legislators to strengthen Indiana’s human trafficking laws and provide more support for victims. These bills include:
- Senate Bill 532, will go into effect on July 1, 2015 and allows prosecutors to seek civil forfeiture of the assets of a person accused of human trafficking, such as a house or vehicle. The value of any property seized in connection with human trafficking would be split, with 80 percent going to the human trafficking prevention and victim assistance fund, and 20 percent going to the county prosecutor’s office. This new law will also require a person, who holds an alcohol permit for an establishment that provides adult entertainment, to require adult performers to provide proof of age and legal residency. Establishments must also require all performers and employees to sign a document acknowledging their awareness of the problem of human trafficking as well as display human trafficking awareness posters on the premises.
- House Bill 1216, which would ensure children are not held criminally liable under Indiana’s prostitution laws if they are victims of human trafficking. It would also require a law enforcement agency to immediately contact the Department of Child Services if the law enforcement agency detains an alleged victim of human or sexual trafficking who is less than 18 years of age.
Zoeller appreciates the support of the authors and sponsors of these bills for their work to advance these critical initiatives.
For the past several years, Zoeller has supported legislative changes in Indiana that make it easier to prosecute and hold traffickers accountable. He also serves on the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Standing Committee Against Human Trafficking.
For more information about Indiana’s Not Buying It campaign and the Attorney General’s other human trafficking prevention efforts, visit www.INNotBuyingIt.org. To schedule a human trafficking prevention training event or to learn more about these efforts, contact humantraffickinginfo@atg.in.gov.
Human trafficking tips can be reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at: 888-3737-888 (text BeFree to 233733). If it is an emergency, call 911. If a child may be in danger, call the Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-800-5556. Tips can also be reported to the Indiana Attorney General’s Office by emailing humantraffickingtip@atg.in.gov.
Siepierski named the 2015 Trustees Distinguished Merit Award winner
After completing a double major in political science and philosophy at the University of Southern Indiana in 2014, John Siepierski of Bradford, Pennsylvania, decided to further his education by working toward a degree in engineering. His hard work and academic achievements has earned him the 2015 Trustees Distinguished Merit award. The award recognizes outstanding achievement not only in the student’s major but also in the liberal arts and sciences that form the core curriculum. Each College at USI nominates one student for the honor, which includes a $1,500 award.
At USI, Sieperski has served as a physics supplemental instructor, a writing tutor and physics tutor. As president of the USI Political Science Society, he led a campaign to allow a polling location on campus. In 2014, he was awarded an Endeavor grant for test flights for high altitude balloons, a University-funded independent research project.
He also has received the Philosophy Recognition Award, the Academic Achievement Award in Philosophy and the Student Ambassador Scholarship, which allowed him to study abroad in Finland.
Sieperski says the USI faculty has been inspirational, including faculty mentor, Dr. Glen Kissel, associate professor of engineering. “Working with him has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences at USI,†Sieperski said. He also credits Brian Steinkamp, instructor in physics for being a “great mentor and friend,†as well as Dr. Mary Lynn Stoll, associate professor of philosophy, whose class he enjoyed so much he added philosophy as a second major.
After attaining his degree in engineering, which he expects to complete in 2016, he plans to pursue a career in the aerospace industry.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY FELONY CHARGES
 Below is a list of felony cases that were filed by the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, May 21, 2015
Jerry Camden                             Unlawful Possession of Syringe-Level 6 Felony
Possession of Narcotic Drug-Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Darcy Loving-Packer               Burglary-Level 4 Felony
Residential Entry-Level 6 Felony
Paul Rhodes                           Possession of Methamphetamine-Level 6 Felony
Possession of Paraphernalia-Class A Misdemeanor
Paul Vessechia                        Legend Drug Deception-Level 6 Felony
Possession of Marijuana-Class B Misdemeanor
James Taylor                   Burglary-Level 4 Felony
Residential Entry-Level 6 Felony
Battery-Class B Misdemeanor