The RISS Program was honored to submit statements to the working groups of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.  Several of the working groups are addressing issues in which RISS has experience, including Rural and Tribal Law Enforcement, Police Officer Health, Grant Programs, and Technology. 

Following the submissions, the RISS National Policy Group (RNPG) Chair, Donna Williams, was invited to provide oral testimony to the Rural and Tribal Law Enforcement and Technology working groups.  RISS appreciated the opportunity to share the insight gained through 45 years of providing valuable services and resources to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and encouraged the working groups and the Commission to build on the long-standing, proven, and trusted RISS Program when considering solutions and recommendations to address current and future law enforcement needs.  For more information on the work of the Commission, visit https://www.justice.gov/ag/presidential-commission-law-enforcement-and-administration-justice.

NESPIN recently partnered with the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine and the Maine Office of the Attorney General in presenting an online video discussion forum for Maine law enforcement.  The forum was entitled “Taking Advantage: Scams, Gouging, and Hoarding in the Age of COVID-19.”  In late March, the agencies collaborated with NESPIN to create a system for disseminating information regarding pandemic-related fraud and criminal activities.  Presentations were provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Perry and Assistant Attorney General Linda Conti.  The presentations focused on various COVID-19 fraud and price-gouging acts and what would constitute criminal and civil violations. As the current pandemic continues and associated criminal activity evolves, additional discussion forums will be provided.

The Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC) presented the Kurt Schmid Criminal Intelligence Meritorious Service Award during its virtual meeting in April.  Named in honor of Kurt Schmid, former National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Director and Chicago HIDTA Director and retired captain of the Illinois State Police, this competitive award is presented annually during the spring CICC meeting.   This year's recipient was Donald F. Kennedy, Jr.  One of Mr. Kennedy's major accomplishments was championing the connection of the three officer safety event deconfliction systems, which resulted in the successful linking of nationwide system-to-system event deconfliction to enhance officer safety.  In addition, Mr. Kennedy participated on both the Global Advisory Committee and the CICC, representing the RISS Program for more than a decade.  Mr. Kennedy also served as the RNPG Chair for eight years.  Mr. Kennedy attended the meeting and accepted the award virtually.