CONSTABLE RON HICKMAN has a focus on catching sex predators in the Houston Area, including the State of Texas. Hickman named Constable of the Year Call for speaking engagements: 281-401-6205.

Recently, Constable Hickman presented a targeted research paper in his meeting with Tim Braaten, Executive Director for the Texas Commissioner on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. His research found the following to be true.

Advances in technology and the expansion of the Internet have placed huge demands on Law Enforcement professionals. There is a significant likelihood that any crime investigated will have some element of digital evidence involved. For example, something as common as a missing child investigation might now involve any combination of the following: Internet social websites like MySpace, instant messages, email, cell phone records, portable media storage devices, Blogs, Internet browsing history and so on. This shift in the nature of criminal investigations can be applied across the board. Thieves now use Internet auction sites to fence stolen property where they once used pawn shops. The “Pigeon Drop” has moved from the neighborhood mall to email boxes by the tens of thousands. The average homicide investigation requires a search of the victim’s computer records for evidence. Bomb threats now occur by email and text message, creating a nightmare for Homeland Security interests. Perhaps the most egregious change is the explosion of cases involving child exploitation. Pedophiles no longer have to haunt playgrounds; they simply log on to a computer and prey on our children. Amazingly, child solicitation is a pervasive problem that seems to be expanding despite the media attention it receives. More than ever before, today’s police officer must be “in tune” with our digital world. No one is more adept at exploiting this new frontier than children and criminals. Law Enforcement must be equally prepared. 

While we have thousands of tenured and experienced peace officers on the streets today, very few of those are being taught to deal with the technical aspects of digital evidence and the steps necessary to successfully investigate cyber crimes. More importantly, our law enforcement academies are not addressing this issue in any type of structured manner. We desperately need a visionary approach in order to successfully prepare law enforcement professionals to deal with the rapid expansion of computer related crimes. Computer Forensic Analysts are currently being certified on everything from the rules of digital evidence, the methods of protecting digital evidence and the use of forensic software to analyze digital evidence. The forensic labs are certified to “ASCLD” (American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors) standards and are frequently tested, as are the forensic analysts. Our current weaknesses in these cases lie in the original detection, collection of evidence, and investigation of the crime. Historically, officers are considered ‘experts’ on common crime by the general public. When an officer arrives at a scene he is expected to be able to intelligently discuss the crime with the victim; at least be able to provide a basic explanation of how the investigation will be handled. Unfortunately, the average officer has no idea how to proceed with an investigation of this type. This jeopardizes the fundamental public trust in the ability of law enforcement to do the job, which is unacceptable.

To be certain, the challenge of keeping officers informed of the evolving laws concerning cyber crimes is daunting. However, not everyone involved in the prosecution of these crimes is idle. Defense attorneys have set up websites and training seminars describing how to expose the limitations of investigator training in this area. This is a portent of things to come if we do not act swiftly to bring law enforcement up to speed.

Basic Peace Officer Training

Currently law enforcement officers are not trained to investigate crimes involving computer technology during the “Basic Peace Officer Certification” program, nor does such training appear in any of the courses currently mandated for continuing education. This lack of training and knowledge exposes our criminal justice system and those subsequent investigations to fatal flaws. Across the country these deficiencies are being brought to light as more and more computer crime cases go to court. While the knowledge necessary to “protect” digital evidence is not significant, it is critical that steps be taken to prepare all peace officers with the “basic” knowledge to ensure successful investigations and prosecution in computer related crimes. Simple modifications should be made to the existing Basic Peace Officer Certification course which would introduce cadets to the concepts and legal ramifications of cyber crime. These changes would simply compliment the current curriculum. Digital evidentiary protection issues can be taught during Crime Scene Search and Investigation. Internet jurisdictional issues can be taught during the Code of Criminal Procedure/Penal Code segments. Search and Seizure class should include a portion devoted to the specific legal instruments used to obtain digital evidence from online sources, and should cover in detail the Electronic Communication Privacy Act and the Personal Privacy Act as they relate to collecting it. In addition to these changes, a two hour block of instruction devoted specifically to basic computer crime investigation should be mandated to complete the Basic Peace Officer Certification course. This should be a minimum standard to prepare new officers for investigation of computer related crimes.

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education

Technical Issues For Consideration in Peace Officer Training

Certification of Computer Crime Investigators

The volume of cyber crime cases increases daily and comes from such diverse national and state sources as the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the recent initiative called Project Safe Childhood. Adding to that our own Texas Attorney General’s Office often responds with their ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) task force to jurisdictions throughout the state. The training proposed at the cadet level is simply a starting point. The knowledge and experience necessary to investigate, document, and prepare for prosecution, computer related crimes is extensive. The understanding required by investigators of the highly technical issues unique to computer crimes (such as network protocols, IP addressing, messaging software, and email tracking) can be quite daunting and is longer than this summary is designed to contain. Across the United States, there are several Federal, State and Local agencies offering training to prepare police officers to successfully investigate computer crimes.

In order to prepare Texas law enforcement for a successful future it is vital to begin addressing this issue through the creation of a TCLEOSE subcommittee of experienced and knowledgeable police officers, tasked to research a curriculum for certification of Computer Crime Investigators. This may be accomplished through either a singular certification, or a “Basic to Advanced” certification path. The advantage of designing a stepped certification process would be that we would be able to rapidly establish a significant baseline of qualified first responders throughout the State. Too much technical information at once will result in spotty (or negative) retention, but a basic level of certification will reinforce the concepts suggested for inclusion in the academy curriculum, and hone the basic skills required for day-to-day duties involving cyber crimes. The more advanced certification would be designed for detectives and those with specific assignments to conduct complex investigations.

Such a committee could compare the curriculum of colleges and agencies currently teaching or preparing courses today. Although there are many public and private organizations offering different certifications for various elements of cyber crime investigation, there is no existing encompassing standard. This committee would have the job of setting such a standard for Computer Crime Investigators in Texas.

Federal agencies and other states are already working on this goal. Texas should be at the forefront of this effort, and continue to bring our citizens the level of investigative service they have come to expect.

Starting as a cadet with the Houston Police Department in June of 1971, Ron Hickman served in a variety of assignments to obtain a broad range of experience in law enforcement. Assigned to the Accident Investigation Division and Radio Patrol Bureau for four years each, Ron Hickman also obtained the necessary training to become a search and recovery diver on the Department's Dive Team. Serving as a dive master and coordinator, he worked on the team for nearly ten years. He attended the Redstone Arsenal for training as a hazardous devices technician and became a member of the Houston Police Department's Bomb Squad. Assigned to the Planning and Research Division of the Department he began his exposure to building computer programs.

BIO - Constable Ron Hickman

Beginning as a patrol deputy with the Precinct 4 Constable's Office in 1983, he worked for a year and a half on the street before being promoted to Sergeant over the Communications Office. The absence of computerization initiated a challenge that drove the search for serious improvements in automation for both the Constable's Office and the remainder of law enforcement in Harris County. Working on the development team for the County's first attempt at a consolidated computer aided dispatching system, Ron Hickman provided crucial input for building a computer system that supports a strong cooperative environment among the County's law enforcement agencies. This consolidated system has been in place for a fifteen years and houses the offense reporting, dispatching, alarm permits, and towed vehicle systems. Expanding on his knowledge in computerization, he set out to build a local area network for the Precinct 4 Constable's Office to extend the computer resource to the numerous remote offices.

Attending the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute at Sam Houston State was a pivotal opportunity and immediately upon graduation in 1995 was asked to return as an instructor on Information Technology. "Sharing experiences and offering guidance to other agencies is important as a participant in the brotherhood of policing." He taught from 1995 through 2000 as a faculty member for the Institute sharing his technical experience with officers from across the State.

With a strong emphasis on the use of technology and progressive policing practices, Constable Hickman continues the practice of two way communication with community leaders and members of local neighborhoods. He also believes strongly in increasing professionalism through training and advancing educational opportunities for police officers. Ron graduated from the University of Alabama's with a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ron lives in the Spring Cypress/249 area and was elected as Constable of Precinct 4 in November of 2000 and took Office January 1st, 2001.

Community and Professional Activities & Affiliations

Texas Supreme Court Process Server Review Board

              Chairman Process Server Complaint Committee

Tomball Hospital Board of Directors (3 years)

Planning Committee

Nominating Committee

By-laws Committee

Appeals Committee

Greater Houston Regional Computer Forensics Lab

              Vice Chairman – Executive Board

FBI – National Program Office

              Member - Regional Computer Forensic Lab National Steering Committee

Boy Scouts of America - Polaris District 

Vice Chair of Community Relations

County Information Resource Agency (CIRA)

Vice Chair of eCounty Task Force

Texas Association of Counties

Law Enforcement Education Committee

Charter Member - Texas Leadership Foundation Class

Member – Texas Leadersip Foundation Board of Directors

Justice of the Peace and Constable's Association of Texas

President-Elect

Chairman - Constables Legislative Committee

Chairman – Auditing Committee

Vice-Chairman Convention Oversight Committee

JPCA Association Website Maintenance

Promotions Committee

Gavel & Badge Newsletter Editor

Leadership Command College Alumni Association  (Sam Houston State University)

Past President LCC

Spring Independent School District 

Safe and Drug Free School Committee Member

Houston Gunners Football Team

Honorary Board Member

Academic Background

Splendora High School – 1969

Houston Community College 1989-1994

Bachelor of Arts - University of Alabama -  2005

Professional Educational Activities

              Houston Police Academy – 9-17-1971

              Master Peace Officer Certification – TCLEOSE

              Police Instructor Certification

              Police Baton Instructor Certification

              Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas – 1995

              Underwater Search & Recovery Training

              Deep Sea Diver Certification

              Bomb Technician – HPD Bomb Squad

Awards & Recognition

JPCA  - T. A. Vines Award

Houston Northwest Chamber Bill Hilbert Public Servant of the Year Award

Boy Scout Polaris District Award of Merit

Boy Scout Polaris District Don Collins Community Leader Award