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Peace be with you on this reflective and somber Memorial Day.  Thank you very much for joining us!   We are excited to share this investigative and educational brand-new episode with you!We currently are being downloaded in 100 countries, globally!On this incendiary edition of Light ‘Em Up, ripped straight from the headlines — we examine the New York City Subway choking death of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old, unhoused black man who after the tragic death of his mother suffered and struggled extensively with mental illness.Jordan’s death on May 1st came on the dirty floor of a northbound F Train at the hands of Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old, white subway rider, from Queens, NY, described as a former decorated U.S. Marine. We ask the question outright, is Daniel Penny a Gotham City “hero” or a “man-slaughtering-menace”?  A GiveSendGo Account has raised close to $3 million for Perry’s legal defense fund.Can you think of a worse way to be killed, than by being asphyxiated?  This is precisely what happened to George Floyd at the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.Like a laser-beam we’re focused on this case and the breaking news surrounding it!Our learning objectives will examine:♦ The role race played in this case, if any.Many people have considerable doubt and question if the roles were reversed — if a black man choked to death a white man — there would certainly be hell to pay!♦ The fact that Mr. Penny was granted bail ($100K) and released.♦ We review the 5 M.O.D.’s (Manners of Death).♦ We probe if the criminal charge is correct or should this incident merit a more serious charge such as murder?♦ If there was a “duty to intervene” for the riders on the subway car?  ♦ How a “reasonable person” is expected to act under the law.♦ An up-close analysis of NY Penal Law §125.15, Manslaughter in the Second Degree.♦ And we reflect on our relationship towards our fellow man — especially those who are most in need and perhaps spiraling downward in the grips of a mental health crisis.  We so often give “lip-service” as to how mental health “matters” — yet we do little to nothing to help those in the most need.Jordan Neely was on the City’s “radar” for years before his death on the Subway — yet he continued to slip through the cracks and wasn’t able to get lasting and impacting help.This was a preventable tragedy.From coast to coast our country seems to be gripped by fear.  We’re reminded of the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt assuming the Presidency at the depth of the Great Depression.  He helped the American people regain faith in themselves. He brought hope as he promised prompt, vigorous action, and asserted in his Inaugural Address, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.We have exclusive audio from a press conference we attended during pre-production of and in preparation for this episode with The Office of The NY Public Advocate Mr. Jumaane Williams, as we have boots on the ground in the Big Apple.In a time of uncertainty, facts provide calm, reassurance and clarity! The truth must be investigated and defended at all costs!We pride ourselves on asking the tough questions — so that you’ll be informed going forward.We want to hear from you!  Share your thoughts with us on this episode and any of our episodes that you’ve listened to.  Email us at:  prizzo@rpgconsultingltd.comTune in and be empowered and simultaneously follow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot  here:We are here for you and because of you!Thanks!Executive Producer— Phil Rizzo

Thank you so much for helping us achieve our goal of being actively downloaded in 100 countries, globally!On this explosive edition of Light ‘Em Up, ripped straight from the headlines — like a laser, we re-focus our attention on the breaking news in the killing of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old, unarmed black man, in Akron, Ohio, our hometown.  None of this story is foreign to us, we live here, we work here, we’ve raised our families here, we broadcast from here.After what seemed like an eternity — the 10-month investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Office within the office of the Attorney General for the State of Ohio — the investigators concluded their report of all actions taken in this use-of-force investigation.On Monday, April 17th a Special Summit County Grand Jury that was empaneled to hear the case of the 8 Akron Police Officers who shot 94 rounds, hitting Jayland Walker 46 times, returned a “no bill” verdict and none of the officers will be indicted on any charges stemming from their actions in gunning down Walker in a hail of bullets in an empty parking lot of the Bridgestone Center for Research & Technology at approximately 12:40 am on June 27th, 2022.Rhetorically we ask, “who gets shot 46 times and lives”?  These 8 officers of the Akron Police Department, once they decided to fire upon Jayland Walker, they were determined to shoot until he was dead.  Sadly, it has become more and more apparent that “contempt of cop” can easily get you killed in 2023.The police have very little tolerance for those who don’t immediately “comply”.  “Comply or die” sadly, has become more of a standard versus an anomaly or aberration.While there is no way that we can adequately cover the entire story in 1 episode, in this episode, our learning objectives are itemized below, as we endeavor to educate and empower you with facts that explain:♦ What is a Grand Jury?♦ What does a Grand Jury consist of?♦ What is the Grand Jury’s role in the judicial process?♦ The State of Ohio’s BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s) Official Report.♦ The evidence, sifting through and combing-over the detailed fact-pattern in this case.♦Separating the facts from fiction and the truth from innuendo.The truth is difficult to hear for those who would wish to cover it up!The truth has no agenda and is very much worth fighting for!This case has E-X-P-L-O-D-E-D with breaking news!  We’re on the scene with members of our team with boots on the ground in order to keep you up to the minute and informed.You’ll also hear:♦ The original police radio transmission of the chase as it unfolded.♦ A portion of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s press conference.♦ And Akron’s Chief of Police, Steven Mylett, regarding the aftermath of his department shooting tear gas canisters to disperse a crowd that had been peaceful for two previous hours marching and protesting in accordance with their 1st amendment sanctioned constitutional rights.Note well: We advise you ahead of time — regarding the audio of the original chase you will hear coarse language and you will hear multiple gunshots; anticipate them and be forewarned, some may be disturbed by this content.We want to hear from you!  Share your thoughts at prizzo@rpgconsultingltd.comTune in and be empowered and at the same time follow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot here:Thanks!Executive ProducerPhil Rizzo

Welcome to this incendiary episode of Light ‘Em Up!Tonight, on this explosive investigative edition we examine the death of Leevon Smith.We’re certain that his name won’t ring a bell.BANG!  BANG! BANG!  On January 18th, 2023 Smith was shot 3 times at point-blank range on a sidewalk near the 1300 block of West 90th Street in Chicago by off-duty Chicago police officer Precious Dunn.Levon Smith grabbed Precious Dunn. Were his intentions to rob her or assault her?  He shouldn’t have grabbed her.  Beyond that we can’t speak for him, nor can he – he is dead.You will see on video, suddenly, and without warning, Leevon Smith grabs Dunn around her upper body.  Is he trying to take her gun?  Did he even know she had a gun?  He certainly found out quickly that she was armed.You can audibly hear him call her a b*tch.  The video will show a life and death struggle ensued.BANG!  Dunn shouts, “I’ll kill you, watch this”! 2 more shots ring out.  In this episode – we deliver the exclusive raw, agony-filled audio of Leevon Smith after each individual shot – as he lay on the ground bleeding out. We’ll provide a link so you can have an eyewitness view of the video of the shooting taken from a nearby surveillance camera.Many people commenting on this case on social media have expressed that “Leevon Smith got what he deserved.” Others feel what the off-duty female cop delivered went beyond self-defense and in a blink of an eye became “street justice” – stepping over the line from being proportional and justifiable force.As a case study we will examine not only the specific fact pattern in this case, but also, we hope to educate you, (our listeners), on crucial facts that you need to know.We’ll unpack what exactly are the “3 prongs” of Graham v Conner as they apply to the lawful use of force by law enforcement officers. We endeavor to clarify the narrow and very limited prohibitions imposed on police and the use of force.We challenge you to think critically about the myriad of legal questions that this unique case poses as you listen in:  We want to involve you actively and directly.● Was Precious Dunn acting as a private citizen or in her capacity as a police officer?● Will the fact that she failed to render any aid to her victim expose her to any criminal liability?● Will this shooting be ruled as a justifiable homicide?● Will she or should she be indicted?● Was the use of force necessary, objectively reasonable, proportional and lawful?● Was this an overt act of self-defense protected within the framework of the current law or did the off-duty Chicago Police Officer step over the legal boundaries for what is permitted by law and commit 2nd degree murder, exposing herself to criminal liability?We examine what exactly is the “reasonableness standard” of the 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that influences police behavior today.  This is a must listen for ALL, especially for individuals of color, as the 6th leading cause of death among black men comes at the hands of a law enforcement officer.We advise you ahead of time, you will hear coarse language and you will hear gunshots in the audio clip that are extremely loud; anticipate them and be forewarned.This investigation is currently on-going and it may take as much as 18 months in order to complete.Please send this episode to a friend.  We want to hear from you!  Share your thoughts at prizzo@rpgconsultingltd.comTune in and be empowered and at the same time follow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot here:

We're proud to announce that we're being downloaded in 99 countries!In this explosive episode we share our final installation of an incredibly informative and intense 3-part series of conversations with our most downloaded special guest, Dr. Sandy Womack, Jr., the Region 3 area superintendent of the Columbus, Ohio school district and a lifelong educator with 30+ years of experience.He’s the author of two books which are a must for every educator and leader:●"Even the best of plans go astray" and●"Creating Successful Urban Schools: The Urban Educators Month by Month Guide to School Improvement”.In our hard-hitting, truth-telling and daring conversations, we’ve covered topics that very few others have the courage to unpack, speaking truth to power on the topics of:● Effective 21st Century Policing● The truth about Critical Race Theory (CRT), and● We set the record straight on the current state of affairs in Ohio regarding charter schools and voucher programs (under Governor Mike DeWine’s budget proposals) and how this will impact public education and ultimately the school to prison pipeline.Dr. Womack says, “25% of the state budget appears to be set aside for charter and voucher schools,” which he says is “significant” because “only about 11% of the students in Ohio will attend charter schools. “It sets the agenda, because you truly put your money where your mouth is.”● We look back on the 50th Anniversary of Hip-hop music and how it has impacted urban education and beyond.  He stresses the impacting force of an education and knowledge of self.  Dr. Womack mentioned that he “came up in the era where you had ‘conscious rap’ from artists like KRS-One, Public Enemy, The Pharcyde and De La Soul”, just to mention a few.Dr. Womack shares that, “Hip hop has made a tremendous impact because it gave a lot of young African Americans the ability to see themselves in a positive light – through music and the ability to use their vocabulary and true to life story-telling.” ● The importance of celebrating “the firsts” (first black pioneers and significant role models of color) in a world that goes out of its way to try to devalue these accomplishments.  Dr. Womack says, “recognizing and identifying ‘firsts’ is very important to do, because so many people today are trying to strip people of color of their history.” We drilled down on the de-regulation of educational certification (something that is not a new phenomenon), and discussed the rarely-mentioned fact that hundreds of thousands of Black educators lost their jobs when Brown v Board of Education was implemented in 1954.  A case argued by the great legal scholar and pioneer Associate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall exposed the fact that unqualified white milkmen were used to replace qualified black educators when Brown v Board was implemented.  These educators were leading professionals in education and in their communities.In the decisive leadership of Dr. Womack, Jr., which has led many young people back onto the path to progress, “truth” is at the root of his essential core.  The truth “cultivates”.  It “digs up” … it “reveals”.  His dear grandmother, Alice Womack once said, "the difference between a lie and the truth is normally just half of the story.”Tune in and get your truths!  Follow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot here:

As we promised, this is a continuation of our intensive discussion during Black History Month, a “Light ‘Em Up” “After-dark Special Edition”.In this empowering episode, our returning special guest, Dr. Sandy Womack Jr., the Region 3 area Superintendent of the Columbus City School District (the largest district in the State of Ohio) defines for us exactly what Critical Race Theory (CRT) is.He shares that CRT is an academic and legal framework that denotes that systemic racism is part of American society — from education and housing to employment and healthcare.  It recognizes that racism is more than the result of individual bias and prejudice. It is embedded in laws, policies and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities. According to CRT, societal issues like Black Americans’ higher mortality rate, outsized exposure to police violence, the school-to-prison pipeline, denial of affordable housing, and the rates of the death of Black women in childbirth are not unrelated anomalies”.“CRT is a doctoral epistemology, no one is teaching that outside of graduate and doctorate level courses.  Kids in K-12 are not doing anything on that level,” Womack said.Faithful Fox News watchers, tele-prompter-readers such as Tucker Carlson, political hacks like Marjorie Taylor Greene & QAnon conspiracists who don’t read have co-opted the term “critical race theory” and use it as talking points and as a catch-all and rallying cry to silence any discussions about systemic racism, ban the truthful teaching of American history, and reverse progress toward racial justice.Dr. Womack rhetorically asks, “Who benefits from not telling the truth?”The term CRT has been unjustifiably used to include all diversity and inclusion efforts, race-conscious policies, and education about racism, whether or not they draw from CRT. Attempts to ban CRT are really attacks on free speech, on discussions about the truthful history of race and racism in the U.S., and the lived experiences of Black people and other people of color.Lawmakers and proponents of the bans insist they are advocating for a balanced and “patriotic” education. In reality, these bans do the exact opposite: deny the truth about our nation’s history, silence dissent, and punish those who speak the truth to counter whitewashed falsehoods.For 30+ years Dr. Womack has labored tirelessly to destroy the “deficit mindset” that plagues so many of our inner-city youth.He shared unequivocal truths with us regarding how “in the U.S. we have laws, rules and policies that have been set in place that have impacted African American people economically, politically and legally — policies that have impacted the ability of certain indigenous and marginalized people to improve economically, educationally and have access to better and affordable health care … etc., cannot move forward unless these facts are acknowledged”.   He spoke eloquently and convincingly how “So many people have fought and lost their lives for the right to vote and to be enfranchised” and the importance of being an educated, informed voter.He expressed that, “until we embrace everybody that’s here (in the U.S.) and let everybody have a chance to tell their truth … then we as a people become weaker”.Tune in and be exposed to the truth which always disturbs, divides but ultimately delivers right here on “Light ‘Em Up” - now being downloaded in 99 countries.You can find a wealth of resources and more detailed information about Dr. Womack, Jr. by following this link:  www.urbanschooleducation.comFollow our sponsors Newsly & Feedspot here:

Welcome to this Special Edition of Light ‘Em Up.  We are currently being downloaded in 99 countries globally!Tonight, we feel very fortunate, highly honored and richly blessed to deliver this Special Black History Month “Short Sojourn” with one of our most popular guests, Dr. Sandy Womack Jr.Dr. Womack Jr. is the Region 3 area superintendent of the Columbus, Ohio school district (the largest in Ohio) and a lifelong educator with 30+ years of experience.He is an inspirational, motivational leader, frequent keynote speaker, role model, an Urban Educational Transformation Expert, and the author of 2 books: "Even the best of plans go astray" and "Creating Successful Urban Schools: The Urban Educators Month by Month Guide to School Improvement”.The cornerstone of Dr. Womack Jr.’s educational philosophy that has led to phenomenal positive outcomes is that "exposure changes expectations and experiences change lives”.  Dr. Womack Jr. earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Ashland University. He is a devout man of learning, wisdom and history – most importantly to me, he’s a dear friend of mine.In this in-depth, educational and explosive episode we examine the root cause of:● The “culture of brutality, the ingrained and the tireless dedication to lie and cover up the truth” in the policing profession.  Just what does “21st century policing” require in the wake of the killing of Tyre Nichols, in Memphis, TN on January 7, 2023?● The cancer(s) that continue to plague the policing profession – the extra-judicial, excessive use(s) of force under the color of authority.  Dr. Womack Jr. expresses that The Kerner Commission got it right, in 1968, but no one listened!● The importance of the appreciation of black and brown lives – that our society and especially members of law enforcement clearly lack an appreciation for.● The fact that even today there are still 2 separate and unequal sets of rules in the U.S. as it relates to contact with law enforcement and persons of color, and this fact continues to be perpetuated in many other areas of society, as well, such as education, financial red-lining, justice, equity, health care and fair & decent housing, just to name a few.● What does Dr. Womack Jr. mean by "stinkin’ thinkin’”? ● He tests our knowledge of U.S. History and lays down the challenge to name 10 famous African-Americans in 60 seconds or less that ARE NOT athletes, entertainers, from slavery or civil rights.● He probes us to see if we know who was the first black governor in the U.S.    I’m fairly certain you won’t know this answer, unless you “Google” it.● And he challenges us to “go deep” and truly “press into” our critical thinking and self-educate ourselves by reading the “Willie Lynch Letter and The Making of a Slave” which concerns the brutal and inhumane psychology behind the African slave trade and exposes the twisted thinking and the realities of life for a slave in the colonies.If that wasn’t action-packed enough, he even throws in some profound wisdom from his uncle that states “If you’re not sittin’ at the table … you often are on the plate”.You certainly need not be a person of color to benefit from the (always) profound messages shared by Dr. Womack Jr., you need only to be human. You can shop and see all of the extremely valuable resources he has available for educational purposes at this link.Hey!  Don’t forget to follow our cross-promotional sponsors Newsly and Feedspot here:

Welcome to this incendiary, investigative episode of Light ‘Em Up! As we wrap-up our multi-episode series where we’ve analyzed how nuanced and deadly policing the mentally ill has become – tonight, we dig deep into the killing of Brian Umana at the hands of 2 officers with the National City, CA Police Department (NCPD), near San Diego. Brian, 28, the father of a little girl, found himself in the unrelenting grip of a mental health crisis that was rapidly spiraling downward.  He suffered from bipolar disease and schizophrenia, according to our special guest, his brother Roberto Umana, whom we have the distinct honor and privilege of speaking with. ● In the U.S. about 1 in 5 adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year. ● According to The National Alliance on Mental Illness, 43.8 million adults in the U.S. experience mental illness each year. Brian needed help – not 10 bullets.  He needed to be afforded the chance to be taken to the hospital and assessed and treated – as is the case in New York City where Mayor Eric Adams has ordered law enforcement to bring those who are on the streets and suffering mental health issues to a hospital for “involuntary hospitalization”. Sadly, we see this far too often.  People with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement.Barefoot, in the rain and silently pacing back and forth in the early morning hours of October 8, 2021, holding a machete in his right hand, was how the NCPD encountered Brian when they arrived on the scene. Within 3 minutes he was dead.  Shot 10 times by officer Evan Davis and Michael Sportelli (4 times with a handgun and 6 more times with a long gun at close range). The NCPD had a K-9 officer on scene and they never deployed him. They could have employed a less-lethal bean-bag weapon, they never deployed it.  A taser was deployed but did not subdue Brian. We ask: What was the pressing rush to bring this encounter to an immediate conclusion? The sidewalk was empty of people. It was raining at about 4 am in the morning. After the officers felt that they had given a sufficient number of “commands”, they moved in and approached Brian -- Brian didn’t approach them. Why has the city of National City and its police department “stonewalled” this family for more than a year in not releasing the police report regarding the shooting? The Umana family has now filed a federal lawsuit against the city, police department and officers involved in the shooting for the violation of Brian’s civil rights under the color of authority. It could easily be argued that from watching the body worn police camera footage that the National City Police Department could stand to undergo far more rigorous Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and educate its officers with far more zeal and rigor.  Too often, the police are thrust into a position of providing a type of “triage service” to the mentally ill that they are neither trained to deliver nor prepared to perform. Ride along with us as we investigate the tragic killing of Brian Umana - a heart-breaking story that certainly should and could have been avoided – as we continue our quest to bring freedom, justice, dignity and equality – and to endeavor to persevere in being a “voice” for the “voiceless” – in a time when the truth is under attack. You can find Roberto’s petition for justice on behalf of his brother, Brian, here. Follow our cross-promotional sponsors Newsly and Feedspot here: Executive Producer, Phil Rizzo

Happy New Year to You!  As we kick off our 4th Season, we are currently being downloaded in 98 countries – a fact that we are tremendously proud of and have worked extremely hard to achieve.Thank you for helping us achieve this momentous goal!On this premier, explosive, new episode, we drill vast, deep and wide to bring you the facts, not the fiction. This is another eye-opening episode as we continue with our in-depth analysis focusing on the Police and their contact with the mentally ill.In September 2022 there were at least 60,252 homeless people, with some 19,310 homeless children, sleeping each night in New York City’s main municipal shelter systems.Eric Adams, the 110th Mayor of the Capital of The World (New York City), has announced and undertaken some very bold moves to attempt to address a “crisis we see all around us”.  His administration announced a major push to “remove people with severe, untreated mental illness from the city’s streets and subways” with a process called Involuntary hospitalization.The mayor expressed that we have a “moral obligation” to help those that are not in the position to help themselves. This policy will no doubt face strong opposition from civil liberty groups as it will examine what “liberty” and “freedom from “governmental intrusions” are all about.Does a person lose any of their Constitutional protections simply because they mumble to themselves, have clothes that are soiled, torn and in tatters or haven’t had a shower in months?Some critics have equated this process with “State sponsored kidnapping”.  While it may sound harsh to some, imagine if you were taken somewhere against your will, how would that make you feel?The mayor’s announcement comes at a time when there is an intensive national debate about rising crime and the role of the police – especially dealing with those who are already in a delicate, fragile and tenuous mental state to begin with and may be spiraling downward into a deeper mental health crisis.Join us as we:  ● Examine the issues both pro and con, defining the processes that are in play.● Investigate what other states and cities have done and are attempting to do to daily address this issue and those individuals who lack adequate housing and suffer from some degree of mental illness.● Provide you with un-cut, exclusive audio of the mayor in his historic speech at City Hall.● Customarily ask the tough questions that get at the crux of the issue.● Have our pulse on the city with two other “Light ‘Em Up: Action-Exclusive Reports” from our New York affiliate and social justice correspondents on scene.We’ve worked tirelessly to try to be the “Voice of the people”.  Please share an episode with a friend.  We have more than 52 episodes to choose from. We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot.com as recently we were honored by being ranked #6 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com).And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.The truth is under attack!  The truth is worth fighting for!Thank you so much!Phil RizzoExecutive Producer

It is great to be back with you! As we prep to close out another fantastic year filled with one accomplishment after another for “Light ‘Em Up” … which included new sponsorships … and new underwriters - we wanted to focus on what is most important to us other than searching out the truth. We wanted to take some special time to recognize you, our listeners for your (TSL) time spent listening to us throughout this past year.  We thank you for another fantastic year of growth and achievements, and express our appreciation for your wonderful engagement and your role in helping us grow to 97 countries globally as we close out Season 3.  We never thought this kind of success would be something that we could attain, and we never were concerned about our growth at the inception of this project.   Initially we set out to tell the truth about topics of importance in the U.S. criminal justice system --- and look what it has become!  We have been able to advocate for so many people. The corporate plan is to take the remainder of the year off in order to rest for a week, recover and enjoy some quality time with our families.  We then will begin the process for Season 4 of Light ‘Em Up where we strive to achieve new goals and break the 100 country-mark with the reach of our podcast.   Also, to add more sponsors and underwriters.  The truth is under attack – and the truth is worth defending! We have labored tirelessly to dig deep, vast and wide to bring you a special insight that you really won’t find anywhere else.  We are loyal, consistent and dedicated to you, our listeners.  We are truly here for you and because of you!  We close out the year being ranked #7 … having reached our highest ranking of #6 earlier in the year… according to Global Statistics with Feedspot.com for the: “Top 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts of 2022 That You Must Listen To”. Our commitment to you here on Light ‘Em Up is that we’ve endeavored to tackle topics that have a real impact in your daily lives. We’ve worked tirelessly to try to be the “Voice of the people”.  Please consider joining our Criminal Justice Foundation Justice Rolls Down and its page found on Facebook as well as our worldwide presence on YouTube at:  Rizzo's Protective Group.     Here is our complete catalogue.  Here is our last full episode of the year regarding “Policing the Mentally Ill”.  This advocacy piece touched a lot of lives.   We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot.com as recently we were honored by being ranked #7 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com)   And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings. We thank you and we look forward to you joining us in 2023!  Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to each and every one of our listeners. You'll hear from us early on in January 2023. Thank you!Phil Rizzo Executive Producer 

Welcome to this impacting episode of Light ‘Em Up!We are grateful to you for joining us. Please tell a friend about us!  Remind them that they can find our full catalogue here on every major platform where you get your podcasts!How often do you see or hear where a person who is suffering extremely from some type of a mental health crisis which ends with the person being killed at the hands of law enforcement? Once is too many. I’ve observed this far too many times to count.Tonight, we center our investigative journalistic focus on: Policing the mentally ill. This is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s law enforcement officers.We’ll examine the role law enforcement plays and how their responses have life or death consequences – impacting those who are most vulnerable and in the throes of a mental health crisis which is spiraling rapidly downward.It is important to note that the vast majority of people with mental health conditions are not violent and do not violate laws, but rather are more likely to be victims of violence themselves.● Individuals with severe mental illness generate less than 1 in 10 calls for police service and occupy at least 1 in 5 of America’s prison and jail beds.● In the U.S. about 1 in 5 adults (20%) suffer from a diagnosable mental illness in any given year.● According to NAMI (The National Alliance on Mental Illness) 43.8 million adults in the U.S. experience mental illness annually.It is imperative for you to know if your local police force has a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT).  CIT training is a specialized police curriculum that aims to reduce the risk of serious injury or death during an emergency interaction between persons with mental illness and police officers.The lack of mental health crisis services across the U.S. means that law enforcement officers serve as first responders to most crises. A CIT program is an innovative, community-based approach to improve the outcomes of these encounters.This is especially important if you, a loved one, family member, friend or colleague may suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, or any mental health challenges or issues.  This multi-layer patient-focused collaborative approach can often be the difference between life and death for the person experiencing a mental crisis situation. In this timely and important episode, we’ll unpack:● Riveting case studies of Joshua Barre, Joshua Harvey and Daniel Prude - all African-American men.  All suffering from some form of mental health issue.  All three were killed by police.● Personal insights from having observed a mentally challenged individual unattended in public.● An in-depth analysis of Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT).● The role police play in handling mentally ill persons.● The decision-making process from a police officer’s perspective regarding mentally ill persons.● Law enforcement’s formal and informal “options” for handling mentally ill persons. ● The factors contributing to the problem and the implications of criminalizing mental illness. ●Finally, we focus the conversation on some policy recommendations to help improve the overall process.We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #6 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.We bring the classroom to you! We are here for you and because of you! Executive Producer,Phil Rizzo  

Tonight, on this educational, empowering and explosive episode of Light ‘Em Up — our investigative journalistic focus is on the raw underworld of Confidential Informants or CI’s — a term that is often kicked around among the criminal element and the seedy underworld — but in the real-world very little is really known about CI’s and their intricate role and the crucial impact they have in and on the criminal justice system.This is another installation in our recent series as we continue to investigate and probe deeply — exploring law enforcement policies, practices, and procedures and their impact on the public’s civil-liberties and constitutional rights.Regardless of how you refer to them: snitches, rats, stoolies, stool pigeons … they can be a cop’s eyes, ears and calling cards.  Confidential Informants can vouch for undercover investigators and get them inside the inner circles of criminal enterprises. In the criminal justice system, some say “police-generated witness testimony”, by that we mean confessions, police informants, and eyewitness identifications or that testimony from confidential informants, is essential to the overall process — just like the process of plea-bargaining.Among academia in Criminal Justice, we’ve heard it said that the system would “grind to a halt and collapse without the use of CI’s” – while others feel very strongly that CI’s are “rats” and rats bring plague and infestation to everything they touch, and the criminal justice system and process is no exception.On the streets it is said that: “Snitches get stitches” … among Italian mobsters — “gli mafiosi” — ALL rats deserve and should get the same treatment … “morte” … or death (in Italian). After tuning in to this fact-packed episode you will know:♦ What exactly is a CI?♦ The 3 different types of informants.♦ How a “CW” (cooperating witness) differs from a CI.♦ The “motivations” of CI’s.  (Are CI’s paid?)♦ The "Initial Suitability Determination" used by JLEA’s (Justice Law Enforcement Agencies).♦ The Standards for Eligibility of becoming a CI.♦ How police & prosecutors use CI’s to make their cases against YOU!♦ The use of CI’s inside organized crime syndicates.  (Mob snitches)!♦ An exclusive and troubling report on The Chicago PD and its use of informants.♦ Shocking case studies (specifically of Kathryn Johnston): a real-world example where the use of CI’s can instantly become deadly and go terribly wrong – especially when law enforcement officers “conjure up,” manufacture and plant evidence.Few crimes are as reprehensible as those committed by police officers who violate the very laws they have sworn to uphold.  Rhetorically, we ask:  How many warrants are obtained each year based on fabricated informants and conjured up “evidence”?  How many such cases did not have someone stand up for the truth? We know that the truth is under attack and that the truth is worth fighting for.We drill deep into the dirty underworld and the ins and outs of confidential informants (CI’s).Do you want to become a CI? Do you want to learn more about CI’s, now? Good!  Tune in and be empowered!We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #6 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.  We bring the classroom to you! We are here for you and because of you! Executive Producer, Phil Rizzo  

THIS is the 50th episode of Light ‘Em Up!We are excited and humbled to deliver this educational and empowering episode to you! Thanks to YOU, we’re now being downloaded in 95 countries!With this historic episode we investigate and ask:  Is “Big Brother” & your police department watching you? Are your movements being tracked?Whether you like it or not, your driving habits are being observed and specific identifiable information that is only connected to you is being stored in huge databases that the police own and oversee.Our mission and goals are always to educate and empower you with what you need to know in order to protect yourself from any unconstitutional intrusions into your person, papers and effects as well as your personal privacy. It may not always be what you want to hear but it always is what you need to hear.  “Justice comes to those that fight … not those that cry!”You may not know that you may be being tracked by Automatic License Plate Reading Cameras (ALPRs). Today, data is a gold mine.ALPRs use a combination of cameras and computer software to indiscriminately scan the license plates of every passing car.  They log the time and date of each scan, the GPS coordinates, and pictures of the car.  Some can snap pictures of a vehicle’s occupants and create unique vehicle IDs.  The devices send the data to software which can compare each plate against a designated “hot list.” Such lists can include stolen cars and cars associated with AMBER Alerts for abducted children.Since the earliest license plate reader technology debuted in the late 1970s, it has evolved to become one of the most essential and widely used tools law enforcement agencies have in their arsenal. Today’s powerful ALPR systems and touted as being extremely useful not only for enforcing traffic laws — but also as an effective crime fighting and investigative tool that saves precious hours during a critical incident or an investigation.But trust me when I tell you that the technology is not without flaws.  If a plate is misread it can result in you being pulled over at gunpoint.Black Americans are 3.23 times more likely than white Americans to be killed by police, according to a study by researchers at Harvard. In the United States, there is a presumption of innocence and a 4th Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.  How this technology is being applied?  Is everyone a suspect? Is that what our Founding Fathers envisioned?We investigate and ask:  Has the dragnet been flung too far? Too wide?  As ALPRs become more common, the number of erroneous readings will increase.  Placing too much faith in an automated system can have terrible consequences.Does the capture and storage of this specific identifiable information constitute an unlawful search and seizure upon you?  We want to hear what you feel about this.  Do you feel as if you are being “watched”?As always, Light ‘Em Up and our team of researchers are here to speak truth to power.Tune in and hear our shocking case stories.  Tune in and be empowered.  The people have a right to know, and we’re here to shout the truth from the mountain tops.  Forewarned is forearmed!We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #6 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com).And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings. We bring the classroom to you! We are here for you and because of you!Executive Producer Phil Rizzo

You’ve been summoned to appear for jury duty!How a person thinks about jury service is how a person conceptualizes democracy. After years of widespread abuse by courts stacked with King George's cronies, our Founders established the right to a jury trial. The colonists wanted to ensure that members of their community would be responsible for safeguarding their liberty and rights.Before you can enjoy your constitutional right to a speedy trial, jury selection must take place.  The jury is the ultimate arbiter of the facts. Being a juror and participating in the American judicial process is of great importance. Jurors perform a vital role in the American system of justice. The protection of our rights and liberties is largely achieved through the teamwork of judge, jury and legal counsel whom all work together in a common, cohesive effort and put into practice the principles of our great heritage of freedom. The judge determines the law to be applied in the case while the jury decides the facts. Thus, in a very important way, jurors become a part of the court itself. Your 6th Amendment rights in the U.S. Constitution guarantee the rights of criminal defendants, including the:♦ Right to a public trial without unnecessary delay♦ The right to a lawyer♦ The right to an impartial jury♦ The right to know who your accusers are♦ And the nature of the charges and evidence against you There are two types of juries serving different functions in the federal trial courts: trial juries, also known as petit juries, and grand juries.As we continue our intense focus on the 3 C’s of the criminal justice system (the Cops, Courts and Corrections) this new installation of Light ‘Em Up focuses on doing your civic duty – participating in the jury selection process.Our special guest for this educational episode, April Litman, who is a music business insider, consultant and academic educator, shared that, “a lot of personal questions (were) asked of the potential jurors…I was a bit surprised; I didn’t think they would be digging so deeply into our personal lives and our personal experiences…but they did.  They were directly asking us questions about hardships that we had faced, encounters with violence, any past criminal behavior or activity, convictions…you are asked this in front of everyone and expected to answer under oath truthfully.” Your role as a potential juror is straightforward.  The jury: ♦ Listens to the evidence during a trial♦ Decides what facts the evidence has established♦ Draws inferences from those facts to form the basis for their decision, and finally, yet most importantly,♦ The jury decides whether a defendant is "guilty" or "not guilty" in criminal cases, and "liable" or "not liable" in civil cases.We will educate and empower you with simple to understand descriptions as to:♦ “Voir dire” process♦ Types of questions you’ll be expected to answer under oath♦ The inner workings of the jury from an actual participant’s perspectiveWe explore compensation (for your service), expectations (what will be demanded of you as a potential juror), the basic qualifications for eligibility to be a juror, y mucho mucho más!We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #6 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com)And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings.We bring the classroom to you!We are here for you and because of you!  You’ve received your summons, now, listen to the show!Executive Producer, Phil Rizzo

Globally, we’re now being downloaded in 95 countries! The truth is powerful and under attack!  We won’t be swayed from delivering impactful investigative reporting.Welcome to this episode on knowing your constitutional rights to protect and preserve your life.It’s 3 a.m. and you are lying in bed asleep, “dead” to the world.  Suddenly the front door explodes – you hear loud voices screaming POLICE! SEARCH WARRANT! SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!Knowing your Constitutional rights may protect your legal interests and work towards saving your life – but you’ll still need a new doorframe and front door to your home.As we’ve been drilling deep, vast and wide on policing in America, with this empowering episode we share what you need to know to protect and preserve your rights and to stay safe from unlawful or illegal government intrusion in your home, car, workplace, the streets, and if you are arrested and taken to a police station.This episode can be a companion to the “conversation” that so many parents of children of color have had to have with their kids.We’re not afraid to take a stand to provide helpful information to the people.  Countless people have gone before us, fought, bled and died for the right to be free and to protect and preserve the rights that are enshrined in our Bill of Rights and Constitution. This “experiment” in liberty is delicate and our democracy hangs in the balance.The U.S. Constitution provides a basic minimum of protection for individual rights, while leaving states free to enact laws that protect those rights more broadly.We support the importance of the rule of law in society. Without it there would be anarchy.  At the same time, we push for and demand Constitutional policing where officers enforce the law with courtesy, professionalism and respect to and for the U.S. Constitution and all of its hard-fought freedoms.Breonna Taylor wasn’t afforded her Constitutional rights. George Floyd had his civil rights violated under the color of authority. Both are dead. Both should be alive today. Your rights are crucial, and they belong to you – if you don’t protect them, who will?What you say to the police is crucially important.  We know firsthand of a young, poor, black man who simply told the truth to the police, placing himself at the scene where a murder was committed, and now he finds himself charged with capital murder, simply by being present where the crime took place.We all are very well-versed on our Miranda warnings from watching our favorite police dramas on TV. These rights stem from the Supreme Court decision Miranda v. Arizona 1966.“You have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, that anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law” etc.  Each of these rights is precious, and you need to know and use them if confronted by law enforcement. In the past few years, elected officials have expanded the already wide powers of the police, enacting “must identify statutes”.  23 U.S. states have such laws. Tune in to find out if your state is one of them.Tune in and be empowered as we continue to serve you to build trust, relationships, awareness and mutual understanding that can help to save your life.  This episode is action packed!We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #8 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com)And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings. Note well: No legal advice is being disseminated within this podcast episode.

Welcome to this new, raw and unfiltered episode of Light ‘Em Up!  🌎 Globally, we’re now being downloaded in 94 countries!  From multiple FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of primary source material exclusively for you!   We’ve gone to great lengths to bring you exclusive body-worn-camera-audio (BWCA) that you won’t hear anywhere else but on Light ‘Em Up!   The truth is powerful and under attack!   You’re driving home minding your own business … all of the sudden you see flashing red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror.  You’ve been “lit up” by police and you are being pulled over. What you and the officer do next may very well be a matter of life and death – your life and your death.  On a typical day across the U.S., law enforcement officers make more than 50,000 traffic stops, which translates into nearly 20 million annually.  With this episode we drill down on what you need to know and do in order to reduce your chances of being pulled over by police and having that encounter turn deadly (especially if you are an individual of color). We’ve reviewed a Stanford University study that analyzed nearly 100 million traffic stops. The facts show that black drivers are ticketed, searched and arrested with far more frequency than their white motorist counterparts. More than 400 drivers or passengers that were not armed with a gun or a knife, nor under “hot pursuit” for any violent crimes – a shocking rate of over 1 per week -- over the past 5 years have been killed by law enforcement.  Most were killed while attempting to flee.  Don’t flee from the police, it will only serve to make matters worse. The moment that an officer perceives that you are using your vehicle as a “weapon” they pretty much have legal “carte-blanche permission” to fire at you.   We investigate what “officer-induced-jeopardy” is and how police officers use low-level traffic and equipment violations in order to pull you over to justify a broader search of your person and your vehicle (pretextual traffic stops).  We describe for you in detail how the law looks at an “officer-involved-shooting” so that you know how the police, prosecutor and the law views the use of deadly force so you will be better equipped to avoid placing yourself in any situation that may expose you to deadly force from an officer of the law.  To help educate and empower you -- in this exclusive episode we’ve edited, remixed and remastered the body worn camera audio of the traffic stops for: Philando Castille, Daunte Wright and Patrick Loyoya, all which ended in their tragic deaths.  We put you at the scene as it unfolded!  As a public service we’ve itemized a step-by-step pre-traveling checklist and the foundation of a proactive strategy to help to keep you safe: What every driver should be aware of prior to turning on the ignition of their vehicle and putting the car in drive.    Tune in and be empowered as we continue to serve you to build trust, relationships, awareness and mutual understanding that can help to save your life.  This episode is action packed!  We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #8 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings. The truth is worth defending – as it is under attack daily!  We are here for you and because of you! Much respect, Executive Producer Phil Rizzo

Welcome to this incendiary new episode of Light ‘Em Up!  As you read this, we are now being downloaded in 94 countries!  This episode is our most ambitious of our entire three season catalogue. We’ve gone to great lengths to bring you exclusive audio that you won’t hear anywhere else but on Light ‘Em Up!   Gunned down in a hail of bullets.  Some reports say as many as 90 rounds were fired. 46 bullet wounds killed Jayland Walker in the parking lot of the Bridgestone Center for Research & Technology in Akron, Ohio in the early morning hours of June 28, 2022.  From multiple FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests we’ve uncovered a treasure trove of primary source material exclusively for you!   With lights flashing and sirens blaring, 10 police vehicles caravanned down Route 8 southbound chasing Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old black man, much like bloodhounds chased Frankenstein in the dark of the night. Firing upon him in ways that you wouldn’t even shoot a rabid animal.   For what started as a minor equipment and traffic violation ended in the brutal killing of yet another unarmed black man. While a gun was in fact found in the vehicle, and police maintain that a “shot came from the door of the suspect’s vehicle during the pursuit” the fact pattern shows that Jayland was unarmed when he was gunned down.   You’ll hear exclusive in-car police radio audio transmissions with dispatch from the officers involved in the 10-car chase.    You’ll be an ear-witness on scene to the body worn camera footage: the raw, intense, crude and nearly unintelligible commands the 8 officers that were super-charged with adrenaline and filled with fear were screaming at the top of their lungs while running – as they pursued Jayland, ordering him to “stop” and “show them his hands” before gunning him down in what seems like an endless barrage of bullets.   In the hope that it truly resonates with you, you’ll hear multiple times throughout the broadcast the actual gunfire from beginning to end.   We put you at the scene as it unfolded.  Making national and international news – this case has the entire City of Akron, Ohio on the edge of exploding!   The city has witnessed repeated protests.  People demanding, “Justice for Jayland”!  We place you on the front lines at the street level protest – in front of the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, which houses the Akron Police Department.  You’ll hear the red-hot, heartfelt pain-filled words from a young mother who is filled with anguish over Jayland’s killing as she expresses her fears for the future of her young black children in this country.  At night you can hear the Ohio State Highway Patrol helicopters hovering overhead as they use their infrared cameras capturing endless video footage of the protestors.  Since day one of this incident, we’ve been gathering information – cataloguing and compiling the facts in order to deliver them to you!  We now have this exclusive episode ready for you! Tune in and be empowered as we put you in the eye of the current storm that is brewing! We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #8 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your 10% savings. The truth is worth defending – as it is under attack daily!    

Tonight, on this explosive episode of “Light ‘Em Up” … we shine the light of the truth on:  The cancerous face of Antisemitism – the hatred towards all things Jewish that has permeated our society and the world. Antisemitism is a global problem today. Hatred of Jews based on religious, political, or racial ideologies continues among ordinary citizens, people of influence, and even under state sponsorship.  From tiki-torch toting white supremacists in Charlottesville, VA, to attacks at synagogues in Pittsburgh, PA to Poway, CA – there has been an outsized increase in the number of hate crimes perpetrated against members of the Jewish community across the U.S. According to the Anti-Defamation League there were more than 2,024 Antisemitic incidents in 2020 – the third highest year on record. Simply wearing the “Kippah” has rendered many Jews as a target – and it shouldn’t be that way.  Recent incidents have ranged from being taken hostage in their own synagogue, to attacks at Jewish Community Centers, Kosher markets and on the streets in Brooklyn, New York. People who want to study the Torah have had to learn Tactical Techniques to help preserve their lives and mitigate the risk of being victimized. Jews are the minority most often targeted for hate crimes according to the FBI. Jews make up less than 2% of the U.S. population - yet 60% of the faith-oriented- hate crimes target Jews across the country.  Although Antisemitism predates the advent of the internet, the internet is a hot-bed filled with the sewage of Antisemitism. Taking the witness stand is our dear friend and special guest Mr. Alan Fortnoff.   Alan is a peace warrior!  For the longest, he has labored with all of his heart in the area of interfaith dialogue and social justice. His strong leadership skills have led him to be the past President of the Akron Interfaith Caregivers and the Akron Area Interfaith Council.  Alan is a founding member of the Akron Interfaith Immigration Advocates and the Akron Interfaith Social Justice Group. He is a devout man of peace. He firmly believes that interfaith dialogues and interfaith action is the answer to issues that divide us in our communities. His interfaith efforts are “designed to develop great peace and tranquility. From this, friendships are created that result in interfaith experiences and from that you create leaders, then you create the communities that are enriched with a wealth of inferfaith dialogue and wisdom … suddenly you realize peace and tranquility”.  Explosive and highly informative!  We hope this episode educates and empowers you! Phil Rizzo, Executive Producer We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #9 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your savings. In a time of anxiety – facts comfort.

On this special edition of: Light ‘Em Up: We focus the light of the truth on the slaughter in Uvalde, TX – the cold-blooded, calculated murder of 19 little children and 2 teachers. We’ll highlight a specific Active Shooter Risk Mitigation Protocol, “FASTER”, with our expert special guest, Mr. Jim Irvine, and explore the highly divisive issue of the 2nd Amendment.  Is the 2nd Amendment being used as an “alter” for which to sacrifice innocent people, like grandparents shopping for food at a supermarket in Buffalo, NY; people gathered in a church in Laguna Woods California; or children attending a public elementary school in Uvalde, TX?  The 2nd Amendment reads:  A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. It’s only 1 sentence, consisting of only 27 words – nevertheless, its impact is outsized as to the issues, which divide and the debate focused around what these 27 words have spawned since being ratified in 1791. Finally, we’ll briefly explore what the immediate future looks like for the Great State of Ohio.  Is it headed towards The Wild, Wild, West as it will no longer require permits for carrying a concealed weapon? We explore the topic of the new Constitutional Carry Law in Ohio. Taking the witness stand today is our trusted and respected friend Jim Irvine. Jim is a commercial airline pilot, currently flying the B-737. Jim and his wife Lisa live in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area with their four children. Jim has volunteered his time for various organizations for over 20 years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Second Amendment Foundation and Buckeye Firearms Foundation. As a co-director with the “FASTER Saves Lives” Program, Jim helps schools, churches and businesses prepare for active killer events. In this explosive episode, Jim mentioned, "All of the training in the world doesn't do anybody any good if you don't have the proper response in using that training."  From our Security and Risk Mitigation Consultancy at Rizzo's Protective Group, we know and always train to the concept that: "The best time to prepare for an emergency is before one occurs, not during nor after."  This episode will help to prepare your mindset to mitigate your risk of being killed by an active killer. "Time" determines how many people an active killer will kill. Unabated, they will kill more people. The "FASTER Saves Lives" program enables staff to train with experts on mindset shooting and medical care. Jim and his colleagues have reached thousands of people with proven methods that have saved lives, all across the nation. Jim is also Chairman of the A1S4 Protection PAC. Jim’s work includes working with candidates to help them better understand the various firearms related interests and disciplines. He has worked extensively to elect good legislators and then work with them to enact better laws related to firearms, self-defense and school safety. By combining education and advocacy, Jim is able to work with a wide range of people and bring consensus to challenging issues.  You can reach Jim at the Buckeye Firearms Foundation by emailing him at: jirvine@buckeyefirearms.org or visit www.fastersaveslives.org We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #9 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your savings. In a time of uncertainty – facts provide clarity. We hope this episode educates and empowers you!Phil Rizzo, Executive Producer

Welcome! We are now heard in 93 countries across the globe! Thank you so much! On this explosive new episode of: “Light ‘Em Up”, we peel back the raw, unfiltered emotion as we explore the deep mental anguish and emotional heartache and pain that can only fill a mother’s heart on Mother’s Day–while the razor wire and steel bars of prison separate her from her child who is incarcerated (and in this specific case, even more hurtful – wrongfully incarcerated). A mother’s burden is the pain of her children. As other mothers of incarcerated children have attested to – this pain is vast, deep and wide. “It is difficult to pretend to be okay when a piece of your heart is locked up behind bars.”  For many people, Mother’s Day is a time of celebration. It is a time to honor mothers and those who play a maternal role. For those that are blessed to still have their mothers in their life, some will celebrate their mothers by bringing them breakfast in bed, treating them to brunch, buying them flowers, etc. For mothers of incarcerated children, it is also a time of deep anguish. Our special guest, Kimkeshia Johnson says, “It is extremely hard – this is what knocks you to your knees and what keeps you hitting your knees in prayer knowing that the State has your child and is holding them for something he did not do.”  Offenders are stigmatized for their offense, and their families often are stigmatized as well. Families are seen as “guilty by association” even though they’ve done nothing wrong and may have had no involvement in the charged offense whatsoever.  This stigma makes the imprisonment even more difficult for family members, and it can also mean that families are treated negatively by members of their community, co-workers, and even friends and family. This only serves to add to the suffering of a family member, and in this specific case, to a mother who is already suffering. “A society should be judged not by how it treats its outstanding citizens ― but by how it treats those it incarcerates.”  With nearly 2.3 million people locked up in 1,719 correctional facilities, the U.S. imprisons more people per capita than any other nation on earth. Mass incarceration has made family member incarceration a common thing. Low-income families of color are disproportionally impacted as we have moved more towards an “incarceration nation”. To help financially with the legal defense fund for Ter’Rion and provide any benevolent monetary gifts and support for the family, you can do so at this web address: https://gogetfunding.com/Justice4TerRion/ We were thankful to be able to feature a few of the responses from those that wrote in from the Facebook group: Parents of Incarcerated Children. When was the last time you considered anyone that is incarcerated? You, I, anyone can be arrested.  Jesus was arrested.  Just because you were arrested – doesn’t mean you committed the crime. Justice comes to those that fight … not those that cry! We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #9 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your savings.   Phil Rizzo, Executive Producer

Welcome to this new episode of: Light ‘Em Up!  We are now being heard in 93 countries! Thank you!On this explosive episode, we shine the “light of the truth“ on Eyewitness Mistaken Identifications.From behind the one-way mirrored glass in a dimly lit room in the precinct police station, the police detective (or line-up administrator) has just given you these instructions:“Turn to the right, turn to the left, step forward, step backward.” This is the opening scene in your personal nightmare.  You’ve just been identified – mistakenly – in the commission of a major felony, and arrested.  As this nightmare unfolds in front of your very own eyes, the horror continues: You go to trial, are wrongly convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for a crime you did not commit.Trust in the fact that this happens more often than a person may care to know.Mistaken identifications in a criminal justice setting are a leading factor in wrongful convictions and are the leading cause of wrongful convictions in sexual assault and robbery cases. Let’s not be naïve nor be in denial about the facts – while African Americans make up only about 13% of the U.S. population, they represent a majority of innocent defendants wrongfully convicted of crimes and later exonerated.People wrongfully convicted are exonerated for a variety of reasons: Official misconduct, perjury, false forensic evidence, false confessions, etc. By far the single greatest cause of wrongful convictions nationwide is eyewitness error.An eyewitness could be 100% confident and still be 100% wrong. Two exonerees were condemned to death and their sentences were carried out.We delve into:● the definition of an “in-custody eyewitness lineup” and explore the “procedural safeguards” (that prior to 1967 did not exist) in order to protect defendants from erroneous conviction resulting from mistaken eyewitness identifications.● best-practice solutions as to how to protect suspects and defendants from the devastating and life-changing consequences of mistaken eyewitness identification. ●to educate and empower you, we have painstakingly “cleaned up” and digitally re-mastered a portion of the original oral argument from U.S. v Wade (1967), argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. The landmark decision established 5th & 6th Amendment privileges of the right against self-incrimination and the right to counsel as it pertained to in-custody eyewitness lineups. ● we’ve itemized the 5 step “model lineup procedure” and discuss the traditional eyewitness identification practices and problems with the process.  Would it surprise you to hear that the NYPD uses Adobe Photoshop to “doctor” its in-custody “filler” photos?In order to continue to be a voice to the voiceless – we probe this perplexing issue that the Supreme Court has been grappling with for more than half of a century.You, I, anyone can be arrested.  Jesus was arrested.  Just because you were arrested – doesn’t mean you committed the crime. You’ve been “fingered” in a lineup, now what will you do?  Know your rights – before you’re “railroaded” for a crime you didn’t commit.We’d like to thank our friends at Feedspot, as recently we were honored by being ranked #10 in their most recent poll out of the 40 Best Criminal Justice Podcasts.  Visit their blog at www.Feedspot.com or simply follow this link:  Best 40 Criminal Justice Podcasts You Follow in 2022 (feedspot.com) And for all your news and current affairs check out our friends at Newsly by visiting https://newsly.me.  Use the promo code L1GHTEMUP to launch your savings.  Phil Rizzo, Executive Producer