Since the Tampa Theater opened its doors in 1926, it has been a Tampa institution and icon.  The Tampa Theater website sums it up best by saying, “Tampa Theatre is a passionately protected landmark and one of America’s best-preserved examples of grand movie palace architecture.”  This is the precise reason why Tampa attorney Kevin Napper, of law firm Carlton Fields, pledged his support to the theater for years.

Kevin Napper is an ardent supporter of film and the arts, so his involvement with the Tampa Theater is naturally symbiotic.  Much like his support of and work with WMNF, Kevin quite enjoys giving back to his community.  He thinks that the Tampa Theater serves a special purpose in the community, in a variety of ways.  “Something like 60,000 school kids go to the theater every year on field trips in one form or another. They go for musical performances, for lectures, for puppet shows, for musical acts.  And it also serves as, I think, an important bridge, sort of an historical bridge between Old Tampa and New Tampa,” says Napper.  The theater’s cultural and artistic significance isn’t lost on him either.

It was the first air conditioned theater in the South. It’s been continuously operating since 1926. They don’t make them like that anymore. John Eberson who was the architect that designed it, also designed the Gusman Theater in Miami Beach, which is another historical theater.”  Mr. Napper’s appreciation of the theater grew so much, that he eventually joined the board of directors, later becoming the chairman of the board for 3 years (1999-2002).

“I was on the board for 6 years at least; maybe 8 in four two year terms.  It’s a great historic theater.  It’s on the national register of historic places.  It’s the Tampa city landmark.”  Kevin continues discussing his fondness of the theater, noting, “I have been there a lot for concerts and movies. My wife and I both like films, we go to a lot of films there, and I just really liked it.”  Eventually his patronage of the theater got noticed.

“The former board chair…knew that I liked the theater and they had a board opening coming up, and asked if I was interested on applying.  I did.  I got appointed to the board…just sort of worked my way up. Attended monthly board meetings, and we started a capital campaign during that time.  We started a number of things when I was on the board including the largest annual fundraising activity they have.”  Kevin helped the theater immensely by working through the complex real estate challenges facing it.

“We were able to consolidate some of the real estate through the city and the theater.”   The real estate consolidation led to a “… partnership with the county, the city, a private foundation, and the state.  And we get funding from the feds, the state, the city, and the county, so it was very complicated; a lot of moving parts, and very unmanageable arrangement in terms of budgetary concerns,” says Napper.  He concludes saying, “It’s a very difficult financial arrangement, and it’s very difficult to manage and to keep all the parts moving. You have a 100 year old building that needs a lot of expensive maintenance, that the city is primarily responsible for maintenance and upkeep but a little bit of the county is responsible, and a little bit of the state, and you get a little bit of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. It’s a difficult situation.”  Nevertheless, you can tell that despite the challenges and hard work, Kevin’s tireless support and passion for the theater never wanes.

About Kevin Napper

Kevin J. Napper is one of Carlton Fields’ top attorneys. A graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Law, Mr. Napper has been practicing for over 28 years, and he has successfully represented executives in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations involving allegations of bribery of foreign government officials. He has also successfully represented executives involved in federal grand jury investigations into a range of allegations, including violations of criminal antitrust law and the Food and Drug Act.  Kevin Napper is widely recognized as a leading expert in the field of white collar defense.

Links:

• http://dooid.me/kevinnapper
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevin-napper
• http://about.me/kevin.napper
• http://www.kevinnapper.com
• http://www.legalprofile.info
• http://www.lookuppage.com/users/kevinnapper/
• http://www.kevinnapper.net
• http://www.kevinnapper.org
• http://www.kevinnapper.weebly.com
• http://www.kevinnapper.info/
• http://www.quora.com/Kevin-Napper
• http://500px.com/kevinnapper

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Dallas, U.S.A-From its headquarters in Lyon, France, INTERPOL’s police network spans its 190 member countries enabling it to consistently assist in the pursuit of fugitives for both high profile and lesser-known crimes. As a result of years of films and novels glamorizing INTERPOL agents as fast-draw superheroes, there is still some public confusion regarding what they do and how they do it.

One of INTERPOL’s most effective “tools” is the Red Notice, which has assisted in the apprehension of thousands of wanted persons this past year.Last month, Luka Magnotta was charged with murdering his former lover, Jun Lin, in Montreal, Canada, and mailing body parts to the Canadian Prime Minister and schools around that country. Canadian police identified Magnotta as the probable killer and issued their warrant for his arrest copying INTERPOL through its National Central Bureau in Ottawa.

Hours later, the warrant seeking Magnotta’s arrest had been reviewed by INTERPOL, translated into INTERPOL’s four official languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic), attached to a Red Notice and electronically circulated to all 190 INTERPOL members. The Red Color of INTERPOL’s emblem on the Notice signals police to stop the person and determine if their national laws will permit the fugitive to be detained until Canada can seek his formal extradition.

When you operate in 190 countries with different legal systems, languages and relationships with one another, you must have a system that is easy to understand and use. The system must also respect the sovereign right of each member country to decide if and how it wishes to cooperate with judicial authorities and police of another country.  For this reason, the INTERPOL Red Notice is not an arrest warrant and is not binding on an INTERPOL member country unless that country decides to make it binding.
Its purpose is to provide countries with information to protect their borders and citizens from fugitives seeking to enter their country while being hunted internationally. The Red Notice has been described as a Wanted Poster with teeth that appears around the world in minutes and includes a picture of the accused, a description of the offense, a supporting arrest warrant and a commitment by the country requesting it to seek the extradition of the person sought.

Magnotta had flown from Montreal to Paris before authorities were aware of his crime, so he was not stopped at either airport as he would have been had the Red Notice been distributed before his attempted flight. Meanwhile, because of the sensational nature of the crime, the story reached the public through media reports even as police in many countries searched.Two days later, Magnotta, who had arrived by bus, visited an Internet cafe in Berlin. The cafe’s owner and other customers immediately recognized him. Police were called and he was in custody in a matter of minutes. ”Public awareness and public support for police in the search for any criminal is perhaps the most important advantage our society maintains, whether hunting terrorists or those accused of individual horrendous crimes like Magnotta,” said INTERPOL’s Secretary-General Ronald K. Noble.

Meanwhile, 5,700 miles from Germany in Cambodia, Alexander Tro­fimov, a Russian national, was being arrested by authorities responding to a Red Notice issued by INTERPOL at the request of Russia. Trofimov, a known pedophile, was wanted by Russia for sex crimes against children.

Former Colombian model Angie Sanclemente Valencia, also the subject of a Red Notice, was suspected of recruiting young women to smuggle cocaine from Argentina to Europe via Mexico. She was arrested in Buenos Aires by Argentinean police after INTERPOL’s Fugitive Investigative Support (FIS) unit, working with police in Buenos Aires, Bogota and Mexico City, provided information to Argentinean police on her whereabouts and travel plans. After her arrest, INTERPOL’s Secretary-General Noble said, “This case has proven to be a perfect model of international police co-operation, combining action by our National Central Bureaus on the ground and our ability to instantly share information on wanted persons via our Fugitive Unit at our Lyon headquarters.”

INTERPOL will issue Red Notices only “if it is satisfied that all the conditions for processing the information have been fulfilled.” For example, a Notice will not be published if it violates Article 3 of the INTERPOL Constitution, forbidding any intervention or activities of a predominantly “political, military, religious or racial character.”

This past year, INTERPOL declined a request by Egypt to issue Red Notices for 15 individuals – 12 American, 2 Lebanese and 1 Jordanian national – with links to several US-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) after ruling that Egypt’s request was a political matter.

In 2011, 7,958 persons were arrested or detained following the publication of INTERPOL Notices. Among the notable successes were:

-Joran Van der Sloot, a Dutch national suspected in Aruba in the case of the missing American Natalee Holloway. He was arrested in Chile after circulation of a Red Notice based on warrants issued by Peru and the United States. His transfer in custody wearing an INTERPOL flak jacket was seen worldwide.

-Austrian police arrested and extradited Ali Achekzai, an Afghani national, based on a Red Notice and INTERPOL’s matching of a DNA linking him to violent sexual attacks in California over a seven-year period.

-Dragan Vasiljkovic, a suspected Bosnian war criminal and the subject of a Red Notice issued at the request of Croatia, was arrested in Australia and extradited.

“People must remember that INTERPOL’s strength comes from countries where fugitives have fled alerting police worldwide via INTERPOL Red Notices to use their national powers and judicial authorities to identify, locate and detain these dangerous fugitives before they can do more harm or escape justice. All too often, local authorities don’t get enough credit for their outstanding law enforcement work,” says Secretary-General Noble.

Image Courtesy of  Interpol

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Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police rescued 24 people kept in “filthy and cramped” living conditions, on Sunday morning. They also arrested 5 persons under the Slavery and Servitude Act 2010.

Greenacre caravan site was disturbed by dog-handling officers, a helicopter and firearms support from local Major Crime units, and UK Human Trafficking Centre in search of 15 possible persons forced to live and work in harsh conditions.

According to Sean O’Neil, Detective Chief Inspector, police units have been aware, since 2008, of 28 persons who have made accusations of slavery. After searching the place, 24 people were found “living and working in a state of virtual slavery.”  The victims were from England, Poland and Romania, while LeightonBuzzardOnline stated Slovakians were involved as well.

“One man was found to be covered in dog excrement, while others were so malnourished that an intake of proper food may kill them,” LeightonBuzzardOnline said. People were recruited from soup kitchens and benefits offices, being promised to receive £80 per day, in addition to board and lodgings.

Instead, they had their hair cut off; they were kept in “horseboxes, dog kennels, and old caravans” and worked for nothing or for little food. The time they spent there ranged between a few months to 15 years, being forced to work for British and Scandinavian projects, detectives said.

In some cases, on Sundays, the prisoners’ only day of rest, they were obliged to get up at 6 a.m. to clean the travellers site. The individuals’ present mental conditions are poor. Immediately after the raid, they were given medical and professional assistance – a specialist in torture was there to offer support and assistance as well.

Most of them were among the most “vulnerable category of people in society, who can disappear and be held here without anyone knowing they were missing,” Sean O’Neil said, according to BBC UK. The five persons arrested are 4 men and one woman, being identified as Irish. Further interviews will be held and accusations established. Money, drugs and weapons were found at the location.

In light of such events, many believe it is necessary that Europe revisit it’s policy of respect for human. Migrants to Western Europe as well as nomadic population are still an issue for the European Community and their living conditions and working facilities are to be revised in order to avoid such inhumane cases of abuse and mistreatment from reoccurring.

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I guess it is not just in Illinois. Police officers do not like to be videotaped in any state. And they will charge anyone who tries to record their activities, even when it is legal. The latest example of police abusing their power is in western New York.

In the city of Rochester, a woman filmed a police officer searching a man’s car from her yard. She was charged with obstructing governmental administration. Even though videotaping a police officer in public view is legal in New York State. Emily Good uploaded the video this week, more than a month after her May 12^th arrest. The video shows an African American male being questioned by police officers at around 10 p.m.

“I just got out of the house, man, I’m sick, man,” the man says from nearby his car on the video while other police officers search his car. Then one of the officers, identified as Mario Masic in the arrest report, turns to the camera and asks, “You guys need something?”

“I’m just — this is my front yard — I’m just recording what you’re doing. It’s my right,” Good replies.

“Actually, not from the sidewalk,” the officer replies, incorrect about the legality of Good’s actions.

“This is my yard,” Good says.

“I don’t feel safe with you standing behind me so I’m going to ask you go into your house, you understand?” Masic says.

The conversation then escalates into a confrontation. Masic alleges that Good had already expressed other, unspecified anti-police statements before she began recording the scene.”Due to what you said to me, before you started taping, I think, uh, you need to go stay in your house, guys,” Masic stated.

Good’s public defender, Stephanie Stare, told The Huffington Post that she has talked to several of Good’s neighbors who were present that night. None of the neighbors stated that Good made any threatening comments prior to filming. Ryan Acuff, a friend of Good’s who witnessed the exchange, agreed. “None of us was talking to them until they came to us,” Acuff said. “The first contact was definitely on tape.”

The officer and Good argue about whether she is threatening his safety until Masic arrests Good. “You know what, you’re gonna go to jail. That’s just not right,” Masic stated after a minute of arguing. Acuff claimed that he and Good were complying with the policeman’s order to return to their porch when she was arrested. “The real reason they arrested her was because she was videotaping,” Acuff said. Both he and Good are activists who have previously protested foreclosures in the area.

The police report from the arrest also contains discrepancy from the video. The report stated that the traffic stop targeted three individuals who “were all chalkem south gang members.”The video, however, only shows one man led out of the car.

In a statement released to the press, Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard said that while he had “researched” the incident, “With the case still pending and my unfamiliarity with the specific details, any assumptions at this time would be premature.” An internal investigation is underway. Meanwhile, Good and her attorney are prepared to bring this case to trial if charges are not dismissed.

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The sex assault accusations of attacking  a housekeeper in a hotel room in Manhattan were too harsh for Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn to handle. Therefore, on Wednesday he proceeded to resign his position as  head of the International Monetary Fund.

While leaving his position, Mr. Strauss-Kahn said, “I want to say that I deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me.”

Early this morning, a statement released by the I.M.F, exposed some words from Mr. Strauss-Kahn, “It is with infinite sadness that I feel compelled today to present to the Executive Board my resignation from my post of managing director of the I.M.F.  I think at this time first of my wife — whom I love more than anything — of my children, of my family, of my friends.”

After Mr. Strauss Kahn’s resignation was announced, Ms. Le Pen claimed: that France needed to learn a lesson from his arrest, and guarantee “rich and poor are treated with an equal footing.”

He is being legally charged with severe accusations such as rape, forced oral sex and to force another person against her will. His arrest was conducted on Saturday, while he was in an Air France airplance. The action was taken, 10 minutes before his plane was due to depart, when two detectives of the Port Authority boarded the Air France Flight 23.

These accusations intervene with many plans ahead for MR. Straus Kahn. Not only he had a great position as a former French finance minister, but also he was a political figure that if enrolled in the presidential candidatures, he could have a great percentage to defeat President Nicolas Sarkozy.

On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund stated on Wednesday night that John Lipsky would stay as acting managing director

It is interesting to notice the reaction in France. On Wednesday, a poll conducted by CSA showed that 57 percent of people surveyed think he was “the victim of a plot.”

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