Abandoned Vehicles: Sales and Titles 4/12/24 Vehicle Services requested I share this information regarding Abandoned Vehicles with our members. The information pertains to a bill passed last year. The following is the summary I provided in my 2023 Legislative Guide: Abandoned or Disabled Vehicle Sale A public agency or person providing wrecker or towing service shall provide a certification of compliance to a purchaser upon the sale and transfer of a vehicle pursuant to KSA 8- 1102 and 8-1103 (abandoned or disabled vehicle). The certificate of compliance allows the purchaser to apply for and receive a certificate of title from the division of vehicles that is free and clear of all liens, security interests and encumbrances. The certificate of compliance is completed on a form to be developed and approved by the Department of Revenue. The certificate of compliance certifies all requirements of KSA 8-1102 through 8-1104 and any VIN inspection requirements have been met. There is a $20 fee to the division of vehicles or the county treasurer that processes the certificate of compliance. The $20 can be assessed to the owner, if the owner claims the vehicle prior to sale. HB2147 (2023 SL Ch 52) §1, 3, 4, 5. Bill Summary. Eff. 1/1/24. KSA 8-1103 was further amended by SB106 (2023 SL Ch 91) §1. Bill Summary. Effective 1/1/24. (New law) KSA 8-1109; KSA 8-1102; 8-1103; 8-1104. See this entire section of law at: https://www.kansasleo.com/KSAs/Ch8Art11.htm. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Message from the Division of Vehicles: Along with the changes to possessory liens from the 2023 legislative session HB2147, effective 1/1/2024 the Certificate of Compliance process also applies to abandoned vehicles which are tows for or by public agencies and impounded by those public agencies. The new policy and revised form for abandoned vehicles, TR-105 Abandoned Vehicle Affidavit and Certificate of Compliance Application, is available at (Abandoned Vehicle Affidavit (TR-105). Please feel free to share it with any local police departments your county has who do their own impound for abandoned vehicles rather than letting tow companies handle them as possessory liens on law enforcement tows which end up at tow/wrecker services lots.
Jodie Soldan Communication Specialist Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles (785) 368-6274 Jodie.soldan@ks.gov | www.ksrevenue.org 300 SW 29th St Topeka, KS 66612
COPS Hiring Program (CHP) 4/12/24 The 2024 COPS Hiring Program is a competitive grant program designed to provide funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire existing career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. All local, state, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies that have primary law enforcement authority are eligible to apply. Up to $156 million is available for this program. Applications are due by June 12, 2024 at 4:59 PM ET. Please click here for more information on the 2024 COPS Hiring Program.
US Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing 4/12/24 Nominations must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, May 6, 2024 The Department of Justice has launched the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This award recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn, rank-and-file police officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in innovations in community policing, criminal investigations, and field operations that have proven effective in enforcing our laws.
The Department is requesting nominations for the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. The nomination period is now open and will close on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 8 p.m. (ET). Detailed information regarding the nomination process for this award is now available at www.justice.gov/ag/policing-award.
Nominations may be submitted by the potential recipient’s supervisors, professional peers, or members of their local community. Nominations may include references and URL links to news sources and promotional or other materials that describe or substantiate the activity, program, or initiative for which the nominee(s) is being nominated. Please note: Nominees (rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers) must be in a non-supervisory position at the time the nominated event, activities, and/or programs occurred to be an eligible candidate for this award.
Nominations must be submitted through the web-based application form in the following format. Nominations are limited to 5 officers/deputies per nomination. The online application will direct the nominating individuals to complete the following fields:
Name and rank of nominee(s) (must be rank-and-file officers, deputies, or troopers in a nonsupervisory position), the lead agency name, and the size of population served by the agency
Name and affiliation of the nominating individual
Nomination category for the action(s), program(s), or initiative(s) for which the nominee(s) is being nominated (Criminal Investigations, Field Operations, or Innovations in Policing)
A detailed description of the specific action(s), program(s), or initiative(s) of the nominee(s) for which s/he is being nominated
Agency point of contact information
To nominate someone for this award, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/webform/policing-award-nomination. Nominations must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, May 6, 2024. In the event that agencies or other nominating parties are unable to access the online application, nomination letters may be sent via email. The nomination letter should be no longer than two pages and should include the fields listed in the nomination form. Nominations submitted in letter format must be sent via email to dojpolicingawards@usdoj.gov by 8:00 p.m. (ET) on Monday, May 6, 2024.
KBI AFIS Replacement - Go Live Update 3/22/24 The KBI has requested we share an AFIS Project Update: document available at this link.
It is important to note that this plan is still work in progress and no actual date has been set yet but they are targeting early May. Also, all existing live scan machines will continue to work after the new connections are completed.
The law enforcement associations continue to meet with the KBI on this issue and we have another meeting planned for April 25th in Topeka. While we are assured all current livescan machines will connect to the ABIS being talked about in the attachment, we are being told at least some of the older live scan machines will lose their connection at an undetermined future date and new ones will have to be purchased. We still don’t have firm information on which existing machines would become obsolete. What we are told is that the change planned for some time in May and outlined in the attachment will not cause current machines to be nonfunctional or lose connectivity. They will, however, need to have the new connection settings described in the attachment applied to them.
You will see in the attachment the KBI is still working on an RFP that local agencies can purchase from. However, according to the attachment, that is not finalized yet.
We strongly recommend that if you plan on purchasing a new livescan in the near future you might want to wait until the KBI has determined the required specifications for the new system and can provide you the brand and model number that meets those requirements. Part of our discussion with the KBI also includes them looking at any possible grants or State funding to assist in those purchases. We hope to have more details for you after the April 25th meeting.
Lawful Access Data Collection when law enforcement seizes an encrypted device or a device with encrypted applications or software that impacts an investigation. Posted 3/2/24
The FBI has officially launched the Lawful Access Data Collection. The Lawful Access Data Collection will act as the collection tool for tracking the volume of investigations that are impacted by device and software encryption. The law enforcement community and national security community are facing challenges due to the phenomenon sometimes referred to as “warrant-proof” encryption. An encounter with encryption for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) purposes occurs when law enforcement seizes an encrypted device or a device with encrypted applications or software that impacts an investigation.
The FBI collaborated with representatives from various law enforcement agencies and organizations throughout the nation to develop the framework for the scope, data elements, and reporting requirements of the data collection. Data contributors may begin submitting incident information in the Lawful Access Data Collection centralized repository via the Collection of Law Enforcement and Crime Tool, which is located within LEEP. By contributing data to the Lawful Access Data Collection, data contributors can demonstrate their commitment to better data, which will in return inform policy makers on important aspects of lawful access issues with the hope of crafting responsible policies and legislation to ensure both safety and privacy for the public. View the full document. Source: IACP The Lead, March 1, 2024 edition
New Law Enforcement Human Trafficking Protocol Effective January 1, 2024 See the notice from the Attorney General's Office and the revised protocol at this link.
Stephen A. Cyrus Named Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Office FBI Press Release 7/7/23 Director Christopher Wray has named Stephen A. Cyrus as the special agent in charge of the Kansas City Field Office in Missouri. Mr. Cyrus most recently served as the FBI’s legal attaché in London. Mr. Cyrus joined the FBI as a special agent in 1997 and has worked in several FBI field offices throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Throughout his career, Mr. Cyrus has worked international counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber programs related to China and North Korea. Mr. Cyrus also served on the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and has deployed in response to numerous terrorist attacks, hostage takings, and other critical incidents around the world. In 2021, Mr. Cyrus was named to head the FBI’s legal attaché office in London. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Cyrus served in the U.S. Army. He earned a bachelor’s in history from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a master’s in national security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.
DOJ/COPS Announces New Nationwide Public Safety Commitments US DOJ 11/2/23 This year, we prioritized funding for projects and initiatives at the core of our Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, including building legitimacy and trust, community-based approaches to gun violence, and responses to individuals in crisis. To take one example, Mendota, California, will use COPS Hiring funds in its comprehensive approach to residents experiencing mental health crisis, addiction, and homelessness, by hiring additional officers to work alongside trained behavioral health professionals responding to such incidents. We are also announcing almost $74 million through the COPS School Violence Prevention Program. This year our funding will reach 3,974 schools and more than 1.5 million students across the country. For example, the Safford (Arizona) Unified School District is located in a rural area with persistent poverty, and will use funds to improve communications systems, primarily through integrating phones and Public Address systems to ensure consistency and reliability, including for dialing 9-1-1. And we are issuing another $43.6 million through the Community Policing Development Program, which aims to develop and study promising practices and creative approaches to preventing crime and keeping communities safe. This year’s awards include 47 awards across 26 states to support accreditation, which is a particular challenge for small, rural, and Tribal law enforcement agencies, and 51 awards for de-escalation training, including 27 awards for small agencies. For example, in Leon County, Florida, we are supporting the Sheriff’s Office in a research partnership to analyze data on successful uses of de-escalation techniques.
NOTICE OF AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL S.T.O.P. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN GRANT PROGRAM Governor's Grants Office 11/2/23
Grant funds are available from the Federal S.T.O.P. (Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Grant Program for calendar year 2024 to award approximately $3 million to support communities in their efforts to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women; develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving crimes against women; and promote a coordinated community response to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault/rape, and stalking. Eligible applicants include units of state and local government; Native American Tribes; and nonprofit, community, or faith-based organizations, including underserved and culturally specific populations.
NOTICE OF AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL SEXUAL ASSAULT SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM Governor's Grants Office 11/1/23
Grant funds are available from the Federal Sexual Assault Services Grant Program (SASP) for calendar year 2024. This grant program recognizes the need to place increased focus on sexual assault, rape, sex trafficking, and other severe forms of trafficking in persons who have also experienced sexual assault in order to address the lack of available direct intervention and related assistance services and the unique aspects of sexual assault trauma. Women and men of all ages, as well as children, can be victims of sexual assault. There is approximately $865,000 available for grant awards. Available grant funds may be awarded to rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations who are accredited by the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence or tribal programs for activities that provide rape and sexual assault services for the defined grant project purposes.
Recruitment and Retention for the Modern Law Enforcement Agency OJA/COPS Office Posted 10/18/23 More than 35 participants met in Washington, D.C. to review the current state of law enforcement recruitment and retention and explore ways they can be modernized to meet the needs of today’s agencies, communities, and workforce. The group pinpointed practices that may be contributing to hiring and retention difficulties in several areas: eligibility, benefits and incentives, work/life balance and officer wellness, diversity, image and public relations, and pipeline programs. In each of these areas, leaders from various agencies and community groups proposed solutions that can be implemented at the agency level and also action steps that can be taken by local and state governments as well as the Federal Government to support and institutionalize these changes. This publication summarizes the convening and presents the group’s recommendations. Download PDF
This Summit will bring together safety stakeholders from across the Midwest with the goal of sharing perspectives, ongoing efforts in crash reduction, current trends and opportunities for collaboration.
The Summit agenda will feature a diverse group of topics and speakers to include:
NTSB - Hon. Michael Graham
Safety at Truck Plaza / Truck Stops - National Association of Truck Stop Operators
Training, Research and Education for Driving Safety - University of California San Diego
Gender Diversity in the Supply Chain - Women in Trucking Association, Inc.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation and Milestones - FMCSA, FHWA and NHTSA
Truck Parking Research - Iowa State University & Purdue University
Distracted Driving and University / State Partnerships - Responsibility.org and the University of Alabama
Issues affecting truckers – Road Dog Trucking Sirius XM
University research - University of Missouri, University of Wisconsin – TOPS Lab, Kansas State University, The University of Kansas Medical Center & University of Minnesota
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety in Work Zones - Michigan Department of Transportation & Ohio Department of Public Safety
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Advocacy - Truck Safety Coalition, Traffic Crash Reconstruction, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Educating/Influencing Behaviors with Digital Media – Australian National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, National Carriers & Kansas Highway Patrol
I will be in attendance along with my staff. I hope to see you there so that we can continue our work together to reduce crashes on our roads.
Captain Wes Ludolph Kansas Highway Patrol Troop I / MCSAP 700 SW Jackson, Suite 704 Topeka, KS 66603
National Common Operation Picture (NCOP) – SWATTING: National Swatting Data Sharing Virtual Overview of Program Due to continued demand, the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement (OPE), along with the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, will conduct four 1-hour overviews on the Virtual Command Center (VCC) known as the National Common Operation Picture (NCOP) – SWATTING. The purpose of the overview is to show participants how to navigate the incident entry process and access other reporting functions.
WHEN: Sept. 25, 2023 TIME: 4–5 p.m. ET WHERE: Microsoft Teams (Virtual)
WHEN: Oct. 10, 2023 TIME: 1–2 p.m. ET WHERE: Microsoft Teams (Virtual)
WHEN: Oct. 19, 2023 TIME: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET WHERE: Microsoft Teams (Virtual)
To sign up, please email OPE-EEU@fbi.gov and request to be added to the VCC-Overview event. Please be sure to include the selected date.
The National Common Operation Picture (NCOP) – SWATTING, has been activated to share swatting incidents. All agencies may enter their own swatting incidents that have occurred, as well as those that are occurring so a national common picture can emerge. While the owning agency may be the preferred method of entry, we defer to each agency to decide how their swatting information is entered into the VCC-NCOP.
Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Posted 8/8/23 Notice of Available Grant Funding Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)
The Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating oversees Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). The JAG program guidelines establish eligibility criteria for all organizations receiving JAG funds. Eligible applicants for JAG funding include units of state and local government; Native American Tribes; and nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations, including underserved and culturally specific populations.
Priority will be given to applications clearly supporting the objectives of the current Kansas Statewide Strategic Plan and submitting a complete application. A copy of the Strategic Plan, as well as a copy of the JAG solicitation, may be downloaded at JAG Strategic Plan and Solicitation. The solicitation is also available on the Kansas Governor’s Grant Portal at https://www.kansas.gov/grants/index.do.
All grant applications must be submitted via the Kansas Governor’s Grant Portal by 11:59 p.m. September 14, 2023. To quickly locate the solicitation in the grant portal, use ‘‘JAG’’ for the keyword in your search. For more information, contact the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program at (785) 291-3205 or at kggp@ks.gov.
Information from Kansas Division of Vehicles 5/22/23 The Kansas Division of Vehicles has advised they have resumed producing Kansas Driver's licenses with the ability to show both CDL and regular DL status on the same license. They advise these are not produced in great numbers and will more likely be seen in rural areas of the state.
NICS Denial Notification Act: Notifications to state and local law enforcement begin on September 26, 2022, via your NCIC connection. Posted 9/23/22.
The notification will include details related to the subject and the attempted purchase.
The NICS Denial Notification Act (NDNA) was passed in March 2022 and requires the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to report denied attempts to purchase a firearm within 24 hours to local authorities based on where the firearm dealer is located and, if different, where the subject resides. Each state and/or agency will establish its own protocol, policy, and/or procedure as it relates to the receipt of this information. The notification also includes other agencies that have been notified of the denial to help facilitate collaboration and to ensure deconfliction.
Cold Case Playing Cards Project; Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards
The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), in partnership with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP), the Kansas Sheriff’s Association (KSA) and the Kansas Peace Officers Association (KPOA) are asking for your help with an innovative initiative - the creation of a deck of Kansas Cold Case Playing Cards.
Other states have solved multiple cold case homicides, missing person cases or suspicious deaths through the use of specially created playing cards. Distributed to residents of state correctional facilities and county jails, these cards highlight case information in hope that persons familiar with a case will come forward with a fruitful tip. As an example, Connecticut has produced multiple decks and has solved 20 cases with their program. For more information about Connecticut’s program, visit their website by clicking here.
Your agency is asked to submit suitable cold cases that could possibly be featured on a playing card. Direct questions about case submission or this project by email to KDOC_Cold_Case_Cards@ks.gov.
Adult Abuse and Neglect Investigation Assistance Available from the Kansas Office of Attorney General and Reporting Requirements 11/7/21 The Office of Attorney General has requested distribution of information about Adult Abuse and Neglect Investigations. See the information at this link.
KBI Releases Use of Force Reporting Briefing Packet 10/11/21 The KBI has released a briefing packet for Kansas LE Agencies on the new state Use of Force Reporting System. The packet document document is available on the KCJIS Website. See the KBI Director's letter at this link with more information on accessing the packet. See the proposed form at this link.
This episode will not be a detailed account of any line of duty deaths, but rather the focus will be on the survivors: the family members and co-workers and their stories of loss. Listen to Teresa and Dustin explain what their experience was like and how it impacted them.
Secure E-mail Available from the FBI Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal Posted 11/15/20 Any criminal justice agency employee is eligible to have a secure email account through the FBI Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP). This is no cost and will also provide access to the Virtual Command Center, a secure platform providing seamless, real-time, situational awareness and critical information awareness. This is available at no cost to criminal justice agency employees with and without a secure token. For more information see the November 2020 KCJIS Newsletter, or contact the KBI Help Desk at (785) 296-8245.
New Law Ensures PSOB Benefits for Officers Who Die From COVID-19 8/18/20 President Trump has signed legislation that includes extending the benefits of the Public Safety Officers Benefits to officers who die or become disabled from COVID-19. The new law establishes a statutory presumption that law enforcement officers and other first responders who die or become disabled from COVID-19 or complications related to COVID-19 did so because they sustained a personal injury in the line of duty, provided that the officers engaged in the line-of-duty actions between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2021.