In this issue: Around The Nation: A coast-to-coast roundup of police news. “Black boxes” are changing accident probes. Gains and losses: 2003 crime stats roll in. No fueling: Dallas police to get natural-gas cars. People & Places: The Big D in D-Day; Eugene gets its man; Dayton’s loss; Knapp time; sheriff’s new POST; back in action. Another fine meth: What to do with seized drug-lab chemicals. Fresh start: Getting your community relations house in order. Missouri’s finest? Rogue, uncertified officers raise eyebrows. In the courts: A roundup of reccent rulings. Forum: Making little things mean a lot. Mixed bag: Tulsa PD gets its first race-bias review. Short Takes: Easy-to-digest news capsules. Lights, camera, interrogation: Videotaping’s appeal grows. Fringe benefit: Why Omaha likes its Compstat. Upcoming Events: Professional development opportunities. Time capsules: 25 years ago in LEN. --top--

People & Places The ‘Big D’ in D-Day      Instead of a French musical group performing the American national anthem at this coming June’s 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy, the honor will go to the Dallas Police Choir next summer.      “This is once in a lifetime,” Lt. Sally Lannom, a supervisor in the police department’s Youth and Family Support Division, told The Dallas Morning News. “The vets are dying out. This is the last of the big anniversaries. I just hope I can make it through the performance without crying. I can’t even get through the first part of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ without crying.”... --top-- Eugene gets its man      Eugene, Ore., has its first permanent chief since 2001, following the appointment in December of Tucson, Ariz., police veteran Robert Lehner.      Lehner assumed command of the agency on Jan. 5. He was an assistant chief in Tucson, having joined the police force there in 1978 and working his way through the ranks. ... --top-- Dayton’s loss      Dayton, Ohio, officials were disappointed when William McManus, the city’s police chief for less than two years, left in December to assume command of the Minneapolis Police Department.      A veteran of the Washington, D.C., police, McManus was recruited to Dayton in 2000 by then-City Manager Valerie Lemmie. Shortly after McManus was sworn in in January 2001, Lemmie left, to be succeeded by Jim Dineen, and the city reported its worst quarter in 20 years for income tax revenues.... --top-- Knapp time      In the middle of huddling with other local law enforcement officials to prepare for a visit from President Bush last August, Medina, Wash., Police Chief Michael Knapp also took a call from a resident of the wealthy community about a missing cat.      The anecdote, say observers, perfectly illustrates why the former FBI official was such a perfect fit in the well-heeled suburb of Seattle that Bill Gates calls home.... --top-- Sheriff’s new POST      While renowned for his political acumen and annual corn boils — an event that attracts politicians statewide — the legacy of long-time Cobb County, Ga., Sheriff Bill Hutson will be his innovations in jail construction and programs, observers said.      Hutson retired in December after 26 years in office, having been tapped by Gov. Sonny Perdue to head the state’s Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. Neil Warren, the chief deputy, will finish out the remaining two years of Hutson’s term, then run for the office himself.... --top-- Back in action      A 30-year veteran of the Suffolk County, N.Y., Police Department returned from retirement in January to lead the agency.      Richard Dormer, 63, was named by County Executive Steve Levy to succeed John Gallagher as police commissioner. Gallagher said he would step down in 2004 after seven years in the post in order to give Levy a chance to name his own commissioner. Levy, a Democratic assemblyman, beat Republican Edward Romaine in November to replace Republican Robert Gaffney, who retired after serving three terms.... --top--