On Tuesday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) signed a controversial bill that will allow guns to be conceal-carried in churches, mosques, and synagogues.  Concealed carry permits and training will also apply and, according to the bill, require the officiating church leader to announce to the congregation that there are “individuals armed on the property as members of he security force.”

Gun-free zones like schools, churches, hospitals, and malls have become easy targets for criminals.  Since churches across America have seen at least 20 church shootings in the last decade, this bill could potentially save lives.

In December 2007, gunman Matthew J. Murray stormed a youth center in Colorado, killing two people, then proceeded to a Colorado Springs church where he shot and killed two more.  His shooting rampage was stopped when he was shot and wounded by Jeanne Assam, a local member and voluntary security guard.  Assam’s heroic act prevented many more deaths.  Church-goers that have been trained and properly licensed to carry can help prevent harm to a congregation’s unarmed worshippers.

Law enforcement firearms trainers teach local concealed-carry classes in communities throughout the United States.  To find a class in your area, visit http://www.carryconcealed.net/courses.

Would knowing there were people in the congregation at your church with a gun in their pocket make you feel safer?  Or less likely to return?

The term “CSI effect” was coined in 2008 by American criminologist Monica Robbers, calling it “the phenomenon in which jurors hold unrealistic expectations of forensic evidence and investigation techniques, and have an increased interest in the discipline of forensic science.”  Due to this increased interest from juries in forensic evidence, crime labs are seeing a big increase in their work load to produce evidence, and unless undeniable evidence is present, juries are hesitant to convict criminals.

But the CSI effect has positive benefits as well.  In a murder trial in Virginia, the judge was asked by a juror whether tests had been done on a cigarette butt for possible DNA matches to the defendant.  Because the DNA test results had not been introduced as evidence, when they were, the defendant was pardoned and released.

If the CSI effect has you itching to jump start a criminal justice career, you’re not alone.  Universities across the nation that offer forensic science programs have experienced record growth by potential students interested in a career in forensic science.  Classes like forensics medicine that were never well attended now have standing room only.  Learn more about a criminal justice career program today!

Is TV Making Criminals Smarter?

We’ve all watched shows like CSI in which we witness the crime, investigation, and evidence which leads to the conviction of the criminal, all within the hour.  While not entirely realistic, investigators are beginning to wonder if watching these types of crime scene investigation shows are actually making criminals smarter.

Pittsburgh police Sgt. Paul McComb, the head of the department’s crime unit, believes TV is changing the way that criminals behave because they’ve become aware of what evidence can be connected to them through criminal investigation TV shows.  “These suspects are very cognizant about what they’re doing and what evidence they’re leaving behind,” McComb says.  “Most of them are already very cunning, but CSI and other shows show them how to be better.”

With rapists reportedly wearing gloves and having their victims shower to remove DNA evidence, the FBI’s calculations show that the number of rape cases being solved by the police have gone down in the last ten years.  While 51.3% of rapes were solved a decade ago nationwide, in 2005 the number had decreased to 41.3%.  The numbers support Sgt. McComb’s belief that TV is making criminals smarter.  “When the secrets get out about how we solve crimes, the criminals change their habits.”

If criminals are becoming smarter, then law enforcement need to be as well.  With over 40,000 projected job openings and faster than average growth projected for this industry over the next decade, charting a career as a police detective is an excellent choice.  Be part of the solution and learn more about a criminal justice career today!

Homewood Police. Photo c/o NBC

Criminal justice programs provide students exciting opportunities to learn and apply their skills in many unique ways, such as working within the criminal justice field with law enforcement and inside a court room.

In a program through the University of Birmingham’s Department of Justice Sciences, three students invested several months working on an unsolved cold case with the Homewood Police Department.  During the ten months spent on the project, the students studied reports from law enforcement, detectives, and forensic scientists, reviewed recorded statements, and scrutinized suspects and witnesses’ behavior.

Professor Beth Gardner, Ph.D. who supervised the project, says, “[T]he purpose of the project was not to solve the case, but to conduct that first step that’s very necessary for reopening any cold case.”

The work presented to Homewood Police Sgt. Doug Finch was more than he’d expected: “The work that the students did really helped us to see the case in a new way.”  Because of their impressive progress and fresh perspective, the case may be reopened.

In the Houston, Texas area, criminal justice, paralegal, and court reporting students from Alvin Community College were given an exceptional opportunity to work on a mock trial with Berg & Androphy attorneys and gain valuable courtroom experience.

Criminal justice instructor Joseph Gutheinz is a retired criminal defense attorney who makes arrangements for mock grand jury trials each semester.  “I have had the opportunity to see law enforcement officers take the stand for the first time and either through nerves or inexperience blow it,” says Gutheinz.  “My mock grand juries and now mock trial are designed to give our future law enforcement officers experience before a friendly crowd, where they are free to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes.”

In the actual case where their client Charles Raby had been convicted and sentenced to death for murder, attorneys at Berg & Androphy brought new DNA evidence in the mock trial to see how whether this new evidence would make a difference in the outcome.  Says an associate with law firm, Stephanie Gutheinz (and Gutheinz’s daughter-in-law), “[H]ad the results been available at the original trial, it is reasonably probably that Charles Raby would not have been prosecuted or convicted.”

Through the mock trial, not only did the students gain workable experience in the court room, but the attorneys also gleaned beneficial outside perspective from the students.

Thanks to shows like CSI, criminal justice is a popular and fascinating field.  If you’re interested in law enforcement, law, court reporting, or paralegal, start a criminal justice program today!

Christopher Franko, 17, and girlfriend Dana Saltzman, 16.

Thanks to an alert social worker and computer forensics, a deadly plot to bomb a Long Island high school and massacre students and faculty has been averted.

Christopher Franko, 17, and girlfriend Dana Saltzman, 16, had plans to construct a bomb and gun down Franko’s former high school classmates and teachers on June 10, similar to the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.  Having already attempted to purchase a firearm, the teenagers were turned away because they were minors.  The pair were planning to wait until Franko turned 18 and could legally purchase firearms.

According to Suffolk County police Sergeant Bill Doherty, Franko’s social worker alerted authorities last month about a potential attack.  After confiscating Saltzman’s cell phone and computer, computer forensics revealed text messages between the two, discussing their devious plans to purchase firearms and kill people.  The computer’s search history uncovered several bomb-making and explosive websites that had been recently visited.  The pair were charged with conspiracy and arrested.

Computer forensics effectively prevented a high school massacre and bomb plan by uncovering evidence sufficient to charge the teenagers.  A growing sector in the criminal justice field, computer forensics uses digital evidence such as emails, phone records and other electronic records to solve and even prevent crime.  The computer forensics industry is growing much faster than usual, making it a terrific career choice.  If you are interested in criminal justice and have a strong computer background, look into a computer forensics program today.

Take this Arizona man, for example.  After announcing he was going on vacation, he returned to find his home had been broken into and thousands of dollars of video equipment had been stolen.

The information you share on your social networking pages can be a wealth of information to criminals.  When you say where you’re going for dinner, it’s easy to deduce you won’t be home.  Much like the newspaper funeral announcement chasers of yesteryear (who targeted loved ones that would surely be at the funeral), Facebook and Twitter can make you vulnerable to criminals.

And it’s not just status updates that can dangle the carrot in front of criminals.  A picture is worth a thousand words.  While the subject of your photo may be your house party guests from last month, thieves may be looking at your flat screen TV in the background.

Teenagers are particularly susceptible to over sharing.  They have no problem posting their name, face, school, and city of residence online, without the realization that they become even more vulnerable to predators.

Captain Karen Ruff of Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department is part of a Cyber Unit and says adults often over share online.  “They’re putting their life history online,” says Ruff.  “They’re putting how old they are, what their date of birth is, all the different places that they’ve worked, the dates that they worked there, their children’s names, their children’s dates of birth.  When you start putting that much information out there it makes it that much easier for a thief to take over your life or to commit identity theft.”

To help protect the community from these online criminals, why not consider a criminal justice program.  With your education you can share important social networking precautions with others and help ensure a safer community for everyone.

Officer Wayne Rhatigan. Photo c/o Taggart for News

Times Square experienced a bomb scare Saturday night after a T-shirt vendor noticed smoke coming from an SUV parked on 45th St. and Broadway in New York City.  After alerting local law enforcement officer, Wayne Rhatigan, he and two new female police officers expedited the evacuation of hundreds of people from the scene while calling for backup.

Once the bomb squad arrived, it played like the Academy award-winning Hurt Locker movie, with bomb technicians in full gear and robots approaching the abandoned Nissan SUV.  According to the police, the vehicle was chocked full of propane, gasoline, a clock, electrical parts, and gunpowder.  Said a source in law enforcement, “It looks as if the perp was trying to light it up, and was interrupted by the cops, panicked and took off.”

In a press conference on Sunday, Mayor Bloomberg praised local law enforcement for their role in preventing a crisis.  “Thanks to alert New Yorkers and professional police officers we avoided what could have been a very deadly event.”  White House officials reported President Obama commended the “excellent work by the NYPD.”

Law enforcement professionals are everyday unsung heroes, periodically receive glowing accolades from the likes of the President of the United States.  Become a hero and enroll in a criminal justice program.

Detectives Olivia Benson and Eliot Stabler: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

For the last ten years, Law and Order: SVU has been driven by the awesome chemistry between Detectives Olivia Benson and Eliot Stabler.  The performance by Mariska Hargitay, the actor behind Detective Benson, won her an Emmy, the first ever Emmy for a Law & Order series actor!

Detective Rey Curtis: Law and Order

Benjamin Bratt play Detective Rey Curtis from 1996-1999 when his character retired from the force to care for his ailing wife.  Come on — admit that you watched Law and Order just to see Det. Curtis!

Samantha Spade: Without a Trace

Doe-eyed Samantha Spade has terrific blonde ambition on the CBS show, Without a Trace.  Men love a women with a gun who knows how to use it!

Who do you think TV’s Hottest Cops are?

My Colleges and Careers is looking for real-life hot cops. Visit www.mycollegesandcareers.com for more information.

Facebook photo of convicted sex offender, Adrian Hill

When fugitive sex offender Adrian Hill was apprehended in Lansing, Michigan this month, it wasn’t an FBI database, but the popular social media website Facebook that led to his capture.

On Easter morning, Michigan Messenger reporter Todd Heywood was contacted by several concerned local citizens to report that fugitive sex offender Hill was working at a daycare center in the area.  Hill was apparently helping with organization of a charity event at the community center which many of the youth in the area attended.  Heywood started some research online and was able to track Adrian Hill’s exact location on Easter morning.  In an article for the Michigan Messenger, Heywood documents his investigation:

Hill, 37, made little effort to conceal his identity or location, which were easily uncovered by a Michigan Messenger investigation. The information about Hill was discovered on publicly available websites including Facebook, where Hill maintained a page under his own name, using his actual birth date. In addition, that website indicated that the convicted sex offender was actively involved in a Jackson daycare center and was preparing a large event to feed the homeless at a community center frequented by many of Lansing’s poorest youth. The profile also indicates Hill had been running a non-profit ministry reaching out to support the disabled and their families.

Most chilling of all, Hill is pictured on his Facebook page with a young child in his lap.

Heywood shared his research with the Lansing police which led to Hill’s arrest just days later.

Thanks to the internet and social media sites like Facebook, criminal justice officials can apprehend criminals faster than ever before.  If you have a knack for social media and an interest in criminal justice, imagine what good you could do in the world.  Click here to investigate a criminal justice career.

The police found counterfeiting equipment, multiple forms of identification (including passports), weapons, ammunition, narcotics, and $15,000 worth of counterfeit bills.  Things got even more interesting when detectives on-site realized the penthouse had a clear view of the U.S. Federal Reserve building across the street.  For the last week, police have been searching for 33-year-old New Jersey native, Brian Alexik, though they’re not sure that’s even his real name.

If you’ve been following every new development of this real life Jason Bourne on the loose and are itching get in on the action, consider a a career in criminal justice.  A criminal justice degree program can lead to an exciting career as a police officer, FBI agent, and Secret Service agent.  Click here to learn more about a criminal justice career.

Lindsay Lohan recently participated in a controversial “artistic” photo shoot with Tyler Shields and Tweeted a photo of herself with a gun to her mouth this week.

Lohan could learn a thing or two about gun handling.  Three safety rules about firearms include the following:

1. Always point a gun in a safe direction
2. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re ready to pull it
3. Always treat a gun as though it is loaded

As you may notice, Lohan’s photo shoot violates every single one of these gun handling rules.

Through a criminal justice program, you’ll learn these critical gun safety rules and more.  It sure seems like Lindsay Lohan could benefit from these gun handling rules as well as a good dose of common sense…

High-speed car chases may be impressive to watch on the big screen, but they’re no pretty picture in real life.  Especially since police cars always seem to be the ones that in Hollywood.  There are new developments in technology that could potentially end these deadly high-speed chases.

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Department of Public Safety

The Arizona Department of Public Safety is testing a new device called the StarChase Pursuit Management Systems that shoots a small GPS dart onto a suspect’s vehicle during a car chase.  Officers have the ability to adjust the aim of the device, mounted to the front of the cop car, and using a laser pointer, shoot the dart that attaches itself to the back of the fleeing suspect’s vehicle.  Thanks to a battery and wireless transmitter in the dart, law enforcement can track the vehicle’s path, follow at a safe distance, dispatch officers to the vehicle’s location, and apprehend the suspect without a potentially deadly high-speed chase.

Photo courtesy of the Arizona Department of Public Safety

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the StarChase Pursuit Management device has been used on stolen cars and human smuggling cases and been extremely effective.  Says retired LAPD officer Lt. Raymond Foster, “Technology has enabled us to find new information and new ways of organizing information to help us solve and prevent crimes.”

With these new developments, police officers benefit from a safer work environment and a world where they still get the bad guy.  If you’ve been contemplating a law enforcement criminal justice career but have been concerned about safety measures, now is the time to enroll in a criminal justice program.  Just think what progress will be made by the time you graduate!

And in case you’re worrying — high-speed chases will never go out of style in the movies.

Law enforcement is a serious profession.  But who says they don’t get to laugh?

(This is supposedly a true account recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota, Florida)

An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.

She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, “I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!”

The four men didn’t wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.

The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver’s seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.

She tried and tried, and then she realised why. It was for the same reason she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat.

A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces farther down.

She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.

The seargent to whom she told the story couldn’t stop laughing.

He pointed to the other end of the counter, where four pale men were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.

No charges were filed.

Ash from Iceland volcano halts European travel

So far 2010 has seen serious disasters that have debilitated a nation, halted European air travel, and left a million people homeless.  Here are some of the biggest natural disasters that affected the planet so far in 2010.

• 7.0 quake hits Haiti; ‘Serious loss of life expected.’ | 230,000 dead
• Chile reels from 8.8 earthquake | 700 dead
• China Earthquake: 6.9 Quake Strikes Qinghai Province | 1100 dead
• Volcanic ash from Iceland halts flights in Northern Europe | 17,000 flights canceled, tens of thousands stranded

Since the devastation of the recent awe inspiring earthquakes, people everywhere have been looking for opportunities to help.  There are trained professionals who have received the necessary degrees and training who are ready to pick up the pieces after a major natural disasters and are among the first on site after disaster strikes.  These everyday heroes include Emergency Management Specialists, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and Paramedics, and Law Enforcement.

Emergency Management Specialist

An Emergency Management Specialist helps plan for emergencies before they happen and provide disaster relief after a natural disaster, wartime or technological disaster, or hostage situation.  Should disaster strike, these professionals help to coordinate relief response in a timely manner, ensuring that the victims receive basic living essentials, such as clean water, food, housing, sanitation, and first aid.

Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

Emergency Responders in Haiti. Photo c/o Margaret Aguirre, International Medical Corps.

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics provide emergency care, and transport the injured to a medical facility to receive appropriate care.  Due to their medical training, EMTs are qualified to diagnose a patient’s injuries on site, provide first aid treatment, and manage cardiac, trauma, and respiratory emergencies.

Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement play a critical role after a natural disaster in keeping order during the chaos that ensues in an emergency.  Law Enforcement are charged with the responsibility to preserve life and property, a critical role in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

If you have felt a need to make a difference in the aftermath of these terrible natural disasters, consider enrolling in a program and working towards a career as an Emergency Management Specialist, EMT and Paramedic, or Law Enforcement.  Your career will make a difference.

Family Photo

Bruce Beresford-Redman, former producer of the reality TV show Survivor, is suspected in the murder investigation of his wife, who was reported missing on Tuesday in Cancun, Mexico.

On Thursday, Monica Beresford-Redman’s body was found in the sewer of the Moon Palace resort where their family was vacationing.  According to a coroner’s report, the cause of death was a blow to the head.

Bruce was temporarily detained as a suspect.  While he is not authorized to speak to the media at this time, he reported to the police that Monica left the hotel Monday but did not return.

With friends reporting that Bruce Beresford-Redman had recently had an affair, rumors of marital problems, and a police statement laden with contractions, Bruce Beresdord-Redman has found himself in the middle of a real-life reality show.

Investigations will continue in Mexico to determine the murderer of Monica Beresford-Redman.

For people who have been glued to their computer reading the latest reports as the investigation unfolds, maybe you need to look into a career in criminal justice.

Fox confirmed rumors last week that the hit TV show “24″, featuring legendary counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, will be canceled in May 2010 at the end of its 8th season.  The show’s rating soared when it launched in November 2001 as the nation was reeling from the September 11 attacks, but has seen less favorable ratings this season.

Once the show calls it quits, how will die-hard “24″ fans get their fix?

If the thought of preventing an imminent attack on American soil a la Jack Bauer sounds like the job of your dreams, a career in criminal justice with an emphasis in Homeland Security may be ideal for you.  Homeland Security’s job is to prevent terrorist attacks in the US and preserve Americans’ precious freedoms.  Other objectives include national emergency preparedness for terrorism and natural disasters, intelligence activities, border security, detection of radioactive and radiological material and researching better security technologies.  With a degree in criminal justice and a specialization in Homeland Security under your belt, you can make America a safer place.

For further information on criminal justice, visit My Colleges and Careers to see if a career in criminal justice with a specialization in Homeland Security would be right for you.

Interesting Facts about Police Uniforms (policeone.com)

In 1969, the police in Menlo Park, California dispensed with their traditional navy blue, paramilitary-style uniforms and adopted a nontraditional uniform in hopes of improving police community relations. The new, nontraditional uniform consisted of a forest green sport coat blazer worn over black slacks, a white shirt, and a black tie. The officer”s badge was displayed on the blazer and the officer”s weapons were concealed under the coat. Once word spread about Menlo Park’s attempts, over 400 other police department in the United States also experimented with a blazer style uniform. In 1977, after wearing the blazer style uniform for 8 years, the Menlo Park Police Department realized that the sport coat uniform did not command respect and returned to a traditional, paramilitary-style uniform.

Our favorite? Russian Lady Cop. Game Over.

For more information about criminal justice training and careers visit My Colleges and Careers.

Criminal justice is a hot career right now and there are actually many careers besides a police officer available in this exciting field. Sure the cops can catch bad guys, but someone has to keep track of them afterwards. My Colleges and Careers would like to introduce you to a very important person in the San Diego Sheriff’s Department: Fred Hunting.

Fun Fact: Fred was once on the TV show Suddenly Susan!

MC&C: So what is your job title exactly?

FH: Sheriff’s licensing and registration interviewer.

MC&C: What do you do on a day to day basis?

FH: Interview and process drug and sex offenders into the State Registration System.  I also interview and process members ofthe public through the licensing process for any of 32 different licenses (eg: State Concealed Weapons Permits, Taxi, Massage, etc.)

MC&C: How did you get into this career?

FH: I worked in marketing for Universal Studios Recreation in L.A. and when I moved to San Diego five years ago, I couldn’t find anything comparable.  So I decided to think out of the box a bit and randomly ended up looking into law enforcement.

MC&C: Was there some type of training you had to do or any certification?

FH: When I was first hired I attended a post certified course related to emergency dispatch and 911.  I worked in this area for my first year and then transferred to licensing and registration and learned the ropes of this division through on the job training.

MC&C: What is the most interesting thing about your job?

FH: The variety and the unexpected.  In our lobby there are wealthy people applying for Concealed Weapons Permits or Business Establishment Licenses.  There are also immigrant taxi drivers from all parts of the world.  And, whether they know it or not, these people are sitting side by side with sex or drug offenders who have just been released from jail or prison.  It is an incredibly crazy mix of people to deal with all day and it is never boring.

MC&C: Can you think of any awesome stories or crazy anecdotes from your career?

FH: Yes, but unfortunately, I can’t tell any of them — though there is a ton of interesting stuff!  We have to maintain confidentiality of all the clients we serve and even anecdotal stories can’t  be shared in a public forum.

MC&C: Are you ever scared of the people you have to supervise?

FH: There are armed sworn officers just an emergency button away at all times and even threatening individuals are aware of this fact and know that they are in a Sheriff’s building.  I have never felt unsafe.

MC&C: What types of people do best in Criminal Justice fields similar to yours?

FH: People who can work with all types of individuals without judgment and those that have the ability to maintain confidentiality.

MC&C: What do you dislike about your job?

FH: Honestly there isn’t anything about it that I dislike.  I enjoy it and actually like being at work.

MC&C: What levels of advancement are available within your field?

FH: Supervision and management of the registration process, and also general administration.  For the licensing portion it, there is a licensing specialist path which involved in-the-field inspections of licensed establishments.

Thanks Fred! For more information about a career in the criminal justice field please visit My Colleges and Careers.

They surveyed 830 randomly selected cops using The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Scale to get to the bottom of things.

• The majority of those surveyed categorized themselves as a “Typical Cop” with qualities like self-discipline, social boldness, extroverted and emotionally tough.
• Traffic officers and deputies shared many characteristics such as high energy, dominance, independence, spontaneity, socially flexible and free from anxiety-related behaviors.
• Previous research has used the MMPI as a test to determine psychological characteristics of police officers, and it was suggested that the MMPI was the most commonly used psychological test of law enforcement officials and that research on psychological assessment of police officers is so mixed that it may even be questionable to advance generalizations about possible discriminating characteristics.
• A similar study found a wide variety of behaviors between police officers from different departments. The interpersonal skills of community college law enforcement officials were rated higher than major university and inner-city police officers.
• Police officers as a group tend be more homogenous than other career groups. They tend to be cheerful and outgoing with a strong interest in practical matters.
• Female participants were also found to be more likely to present a good impression of themselves, to be less depressed, to be more psychologically mature, more assertive and more aware of the needs of others as compared to the normative population data.

Does this list sound like a comprehensive rundown of you or someone you know? It may be time for a Criminal Justice career!

A wise man once said, “perhaps the crime situation would be improved if we could get more cops off television and onto the streets.” Fictitious police officers are all the rage these days and My Colleges and Careers has compiled a list of Hollywood’s Most Wanted Officers. Sometimes they play good cops. Sometimes they play bad cops. Sometimes they look so good in the process that we don’t really care. So scroll on enjoy our list. You have the right to remain silent.

Clint Eastwood:  Harry Callahan

Clint Eastwood pretty much wrote the book on how to play the gritty, anti-hero cop in “Dirty Harry.” Both Steve McQueen and Paul Newman turned down the role previous to it being offered to Eastwood. And boy, we are happy he got it.

Benjamin Bratt: Det. Rey Curtis

Benjamin Bratt played Detective Rey Curtis on Law and Order.  Bratt play Det. Curtis from 1996-1999 when his character retired from the force to care for his ailing wife.  Come on — admit that you watched Law and Order just to see Det. Curtis!

Russell Crowe: Bud White

Crime movie L.A. Confidential explores the bubbling crime and corruption of 1950s Los Angeles. Russell Crowe plays one of three cops investigating a murder at a local cafe. The movie’s body count is thirty and somewhere in the midst of all that bloodshed you’ll might catch a glimpse of Crowe’s  swagger.

Al Pacino: Lt. Vincent Hanna

Mr. Pacino’s acting chops are a force to be reckoned with and most know him for his chilling performance as a criminal in mobster classics like Scarface and The Godfather. At one point he traded all his dirty money in for a badge, when he played good cop in 1995 movie “Heat.”

Matt Damon: Colin Sullivan

Damon plays a police officer in the Boston PD with less than pure motives. In “The Departed” he feeds information to his gangster pal and in turn helps the bad guys get richer. According to powerhouse  director Martin Scorsese, it was “the first movie I have ever done with a plot.”

Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan

Early in Locklear’s career she played Officer Stacy Sheridan in the cop drama T.J. Hooker. As the only female member of the squad the stakes were high and her hair: even higher. Ironically enough, she and both of her ex-husbands have all been arrested. Hmmm….

My Colleges and Careers is looking for real-life hot cops. Visit www.mycollegesancareers.com for more information.