NORTHEAST

POLICE RETHINK ‘ALWAYS ARMED’ POLICIES

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An old police tradition of requiring off-duty officers to carry their weapons – “always armed, always on duty” – is being scaled back in police departments nationwide following the shootings of off-duty officers by colleagues who thought they were criminals.

The policies require officers to respond to crimes even when they’re not on duty. Supporters say they also protect officers from criminals bent on revenge.

But critics point to the shooting of officers in Providence, R.I., Orlando, Fla., Oakland, Calif., and elsewhere as reasons for change.

Providence’s policy is now at the center of a $20 million civil rights lawsuit over the shooting of Sergeant Cornel Young Jr., who was killed in 2000 while he was off duty and trying to break up a fight. He was dressed in baggy jeans, an overcoat and a baseball cap, and he was carrying a gun.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police has called “always on duty” policies a costly tradition. The group, which has more than 20,000 members, recommends that off-duty officers who witness a crime call for assistance rather than pull a weapon.

According to the FBI, 43 police officers have been killed since 1987 by friendly fire. Some were caught in crossfire, or killed by firearms mishaps. A handful, like Young, were mistaken for criminals and shot by fellow officers.

– Associated Press

WASHINGTON

TIME REPORTER ASKED TO TESTIFY IN LEAK CASE

A second Time magazine reporter has agreed to cooperate in the CIA leak case and will testify about her discussions with Karl Rove’s attorney, a sign that prosecutors are still exploring charges against the White House aide.

Viveca Novak, a reporter in Time’s Washington bureau, is cooperating with Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, who is investigating the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity in 2003, the magazine reported in its December 5 issue.

Ms. Novak specifically has been asked to testify under oath about conversations she had with Rove attorney Robert Luskin starting in May 2004, the magazine reported. Ms. Novak, part of a team tracking the CIA case for Time, has written or contributed to articles in which Mr. Luskin characterized the nature of what was said between Mr. Rove and Matthew Cooper, the first Time reporter who testified in the case.

Mr. Cooper appeared before the grand jury in July after Time surrendered his notes and e-mails detailing a conversation with Mr. Rove. Mr. Cooper agreed to talk and avoid jail after disclosing that his source – now confirmed to be Mr. Rove – released him from his confidentiality agreement.

A grand jury indicted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Cheney’s former chief of staff, on perjury and obstruction charges on October 28. Mr. Fitzgerald said in court papers earlier this month that he will present additional evidence to another grand jury.

– Associated Press

WEST

TWO JAIL ESCAPEES ON THE LOOSE

YAKIMA, Wash. – Two jail inmates remained at large yesterday, two days after escaping with seven others from a maximum security area of a county jail by using bed sheets tied into ropes, officials said. The remaining seven escapees were captured by authorities – including a murder suspect discovered Saturday in his sister’s attic. The men broke through the ceiling of the four-story Yakima County Jail and used a rope made of bed sheets to climb down Friday, authorities said. Five were recaptured on the jail grounds. One of the two inmates still at large yesterday had been spotted Friday evening, but fled on foot before officers arrived, police chief Sam Granato said. The two missing men are Luis Soto, 28, of Toppenish, who was facing trial January 3 on a second-degree theft charge; and Gianno Alaimo, 26, of Yakima, who had been charged with assault, officials said.

– Associated Press