Month: November 2022

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Defense News: USNS Comfort Arrives in Colombia

Source: United States Navy

This visit marks the third of five mission stops as part of CP22 and the eleventh visit to Colombia since 2007.

“The impact Continuing Promise 2022 has showcased so far in both Guatemala and Honduras has surpassed mission expectations,” said Capt. Kathryn Elliott, commanding officer of Medical Training Facility (MTF) aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). “From exceeding the number of planned patients seen, to repairing important medical equipment, our team has expressed a passion for this mission, these countries, and building relationships. We are looking forward to continuing this work in Colombia.”

For the duration of this stop, Comfort will provide medical services at two different medical sites, one at Coliseo de Deportes and the other at Institucion Antonia Santos. Dental, optometry, adult care, pediatric care, women’s health and various ancillary support services will be available at these two sites. Additionally, surgeries will be taking place aboard the ship.

The Comfort will also be supporting through Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR) training and demonstrations, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) seminars with the host nation, veterinary subject matter expert exchanges, as well as community relations projects to include musical performances, ship tours, and the refurbishing of Tierra Bomba school.

The Continuing Promise 2022 Team in Colombia will include U.S. and partner nation medical and veterinary personnel, as well as the U.S. National Guard personnel from South Carolina, Colombia’s State Partnership Program (SPP) partner. Medical personnel from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, the Netherlands and United Kingdom will also be a part of the team at this mission stop.

Since its inaugural mission in 2007, Continuing Promise missions have treated more than 582,000 patients and conducted over 7,000 surgeries in the region. Comfort’s current mission will be the 12th Continuing Promise mission conducted in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

Comfort is also scheduled to visit Dominican Republic and Haiti during CP22.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about CP22 and USNAVSO/4th Fleet at
https://www.facebook.com/continuingpromise22 and @NAVSOUS4THFLT

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Defense News: USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) celebrates Armistice Day in Toulon, France

Source: United States Navy

Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and the ship’s crew visited Toulon’s war memorial to participate in a wreath laying ceremony commemorating Armistice Day. The ceremony honored the legacy and sacrifices of allied forces in World War I and II.

Armistice Day also coincides with the American holiday, Veteran’s Day.

“Our activities this month with the French navy will provide a key opportunity to interoperate with one of our oldest allies,” said Cmdr. John Mastriani, Roosevelt’s commanding officer. “Beginning our operations with a celebration of Armistice and Veteran’s Day in Toulon is particularly meaningful to the Roosevelt team.”

This liberty port visit also gave Roosevelt Sailors a chance to experience the sights and culture of France.

“I feel like this is an amazing opportunity for the crew to experience France and its beautiful culture,” said Yeoman 2nd Class Renato Tanamachi. “This is my first time visiting this part of the world, and I’m looking forward to making great memories.”

Prior to this port visit, Roosevelt conducted a port visit in Copenhagen, Denmark, after completing operations in the Baltic Sea.

Roosevelt, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, began its fourth Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) patrol Sept. 27.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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Security News: Baltimore Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge for Illegal Possession of a Firearm in a School Zone

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Baltimore, Maryland – Malcolm Goods, age 31, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal charge for illegal possession of a firearm within a school zone.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to Goods’ guilty plea, on September 12, 2021, Baltimore Police officers received a call for an armed person at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Cumberland Avenues in Baltimore.  The person was carrying a gun, wearing a white construction hat and orange safety vest, and riding a bicycle.  An officer monitoring a closed-circuit television camera located an individual, later identified as Goods, matching that description in the 600 block of Cumberland Avenue.

When officers arrived on scene, Goods got on a bicycle and rode on the sidewalk for a few blocks.  Near the 1600 block of N. Carey Street, officers pulled over next to Goods told Goods to stop.  They needed to speak with him because riding his bicycle on the sidewalk was prohibited by a local ordinance.  The area is about one block away from Sandtown-Winchester Achievement Academy, a Baltimore public elementary and middle school.  Goods initially agreed to stop, then rode away on the bicycle.

After briefly losing sight of Goods, officers found him knocking on someone’s front door and placed him into custody.  An officer saw the grip of a firearm in Goods’ waistband and recovered a.40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition.  During his arrest, including after he was read his Miranda rights, Goods made several spontaneous, incriminating statements which indicated that he was aware that he possessed a firearm.

Goods and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Goods will be sentenced to two years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has scheduled sentencing for March 3, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Moore and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Security News: Maryland U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron Announces End of Year Strategies to Reduce Violent Crime

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Baltimore, Maryland – At a press conference yesterday, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, joined by federal, state, and local partners announced new initiatives to fight violent crime in Maryland.  These efforts build on previous successes and are intended to prevent and reduce violent crime in Baltimore City.  Partners at yesterday’s announcement included:

            U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron;
            Governor Larry Hogan;
            Colonel Woodrow W. “Jerry” Jones III, Superintendent, Maryland State Police;
            Colonel Kevin Anderson, Chief, Maryland Transportation Authority Police;
            Colonel Joseph Conger, Baltimore County Police Department; and
            Deputy Chief Gerard Fleming, Anne Arundel County Police Department.   

This announcement was also following consultation with federal, state, and local partners including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison.

U.S. Attorney Erek Barron stated, “I have consulted and discussed these plans with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who provided ideas regarding strategy and implementation.  I have also been in close communication with Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison who welcomed these new initiatives and our ongoing partnership.”

As discussed at the press conference, as part of our continued partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement, we are initiating a Feeder Route Task Force, which draws upon the federal resources of the United States Attorney’s Office in tandem with the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Anne Arundel County Police and Baltimore County Police.  If you are driving with a gun or drugs on a Maryland road know that task force members will be on the lookout.  Prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office will screen any related traffic stops for potential federal prosecution. 

One of the cornerstones of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods is Community Outreach and Prevention.  U.S. Attorney Barron, Governor Hogan, and Secretary Green of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services also announced a new strategy focusing on a “knock and talk” initiative involving unannounced home visits to parolees by a team that includes law enforcement and a social worker, to provide opportunities for education and job training and to connect parolees and their families with needed services while in their communities. 

In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is sponsoring and attending reentry events for returning citizens; participating in call-ins for those at risk of re-offending; and engaging the community members and youth through gang and internet safety training. 

“All of us in law enforcement are committed to trying new and innovative ways to reduce violent crime.  As we end 2022, we must continue to focus on preventing and reducing violent crime,” U.S. Attorney Barron concluded.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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