Police Links: Breaking the Ice

There's so much happening out there related to law enforcement that it's difficult to keep on top of it all. Starting with this first monthly blog post, I'm going to provide a sampling of items of interest you might have missed online. Let me know if there are items you’d like to pass along and I'll consider them for inclusion in future posts.

So far, 2012 statistics show total law enforcement fatalities down by 43% and traffic-related fatalities down by 40% compared to last year, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. That's good news, especially considering traffic-related incidents had previously been one of the top causes of law enforcement deaths in the line of duty.

On a lighter note, somehow stupid crook stories never get old. Happyplace.com provides a humorous look at some of the most ridiculous crimes ever committed by people on drugs.

In entertainment news, as you've probably heard, the TV show "Southland" has been renewed for a fifth season to air on TNT. The scripted show focuses on what it's like to patrol the streets of Los Angeles. If you haven't watched it before, I recommend you give it a try. You can even watch full episodes on the TNT Website .

Linda Craig, president of the Arkansas chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), has been honored by local law firm Rainwater, Holt, & Sexton , for her positive effect on the community. If you're not familiar with the services C.O.P.S. provides to the families and co-workers of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, you can find out more about the organization at the C.O.P.S. Website .

If you haven't already, check out Web Editor Paul Clinton's first installment of PoliceMag.com's " Returning to Duty " Web-only series about the challenges officers face getting back to police work after sustaining injuries on the job. Look for the next installment in June.

Want your law enforcement-related info considered for a future column? E-mail the information including at least one Web link to Managing Editor Melanie Basich at Melanie.Basich@policemag.com .