Nashville Tennesee Bombing

 

Phil Pulaski has 38 years of law enforcement experience including more than 33 years with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). During 2014, Phil Pulaski retired as NYPD’s Chief of Detectives where he was responsible for more than 3,600 personnel. Additionally, Phil Pulaski has 25 years of bomb operations experience and was commanding officer of the NYPD’s Arson and Explosion Squad. He managed numerous post-blast and pre-blast operations including the Times Square terrorist attempted bombing on May 1, 2010 and NYC subway terrorist planned bombing on July 31, 1997. Phil Pulaski also led a team of NYPD investigators who immediately responded to Oklahoma City to assist the FBI during the investigation of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. In the aftermath of the September 11^th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Phil Pulaski worked jointly with his FBI counterpart to manage numerous investigations involving terrorist bomb threats and potential bombings.

On December 25, 2020, a car bomb was detonated in downtown Nashville Tennessee. The explosion took place at 166 Second Avenue North between Church Street and Commerce Street at 6:30 am, adjacent to an AT&T network transmission hub building. The explosion caused days-long extremely serious communication service outages. The vehicle containing the bomb was parked outside the AT&T building in downtown Nashville at 1:22 am on December 25, 2020. Four to five hours after being parked, residents in the vicinity were awakened by what seemed to be the sound of rapid gunfire in at least three bursts, followed by a computerized female voice broadcasting over a public address system: "This area must be evacuated now. If you can hear this message, evacuate now." Witnesses recalled that the broadcast warned that there was a bomb in the vehicle. Prior to the explosion, a 15-minute countdown was broadcast from the vehicle. 

Responding to reports of shots being fired at approximately 5:30 am, two Metropolitan Nashville Police Department officers arrived at the incident scene. Though they did not hear any shots, they discovered the parked vehicle and heard the warning. They and three other responding officers subsequently evacuated homes in the area and called in additional police while a sixth officer stayed on the street to redirect pedestrian and vehicular traffic. At one point, two of the officers investigated the vehicle and observed a camera positioned above its rearview mirror. At 6:30 am, while the bomb squad was on its way to the area, the vehicle exploded. The explosion was felt miles away from the blast site. Three innocent people were injured and dozens of buildings were severely damaged.

The investigation of the incident is being led by the FBI. Currently, authorities are stating a suicide bomber detonated the vehicle bomb and that he intentionally remained in the vehicle when it detonated. Additionally, authorities are stating that the suicide attack was perpetrated by 63-year-old Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville resident who is believed to have acted alone.

 

Executive Leaders at the International Association of Chiefs of Police

During March 2014, Phil Pulaski retired as Chief of Detectives of the NYPD with more than 33 years of law enforcement experience including 22 years of executive experience managing patrol, investigative, counterterrorism, community affairs, quality of life, traffic and other public safety operations. Phil Pulaski is currently serving on the command staff of the Miami Beach PD (MBPD) and is commanding officer of the Criminal Investigations Section. Phil Pulaski and his MBPD team are currently developing national standards and protocols for the use of RAPID DNA technology by crime scene technicians in a non-laboratory environment to expeditiously produce actionable investigative leads and CODIS eligible DNA profiles.

Phil Pulaski is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and actively participates in the Forensic Committee and the Police Investigative Operations Committee. Phil Pulaski has given presentations at several IACP annual conferences and mid-year conferences on a variety of law enforcement topics. 

Founded in 1893, the IACP dedicates itself to advancing the profession of law enforcement through initiatives focused on education, advocacy, and outreach. To carry out these efforts, the IACP relies on the leadership of Louis M. Dekmar, the president of the executive board of directors, and Vincent Talucci, the executive director and CEO. 
Louis M. Dekmar possesses more than 40 years of experience as a law enforcement professional. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, he has held several roles, including chief of police, with police departments in Wyoming and Georgia. In addition, he has provided leadership to law enforcement organizations such as the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, which he served as president. 

Vincent Talucci also has a deep background as an executive with law enforcement organizations. Prior to joining the IACP, he managed criminal justice initiatives at the National Institute of Justice, a part of the United States Department of Justice. He rose to his current post after serving the IACP as deputy executive director.

NYPD Places Embedded Intelligence Officers around the Globe

Phil Pulaski has 36 years of law enforcement experience, and was Chief of Detectives of the NYPD for more than 5 years where he was responsible for 3,600 personnel. During his 33 year career with the NYPD, Phil Pulaski managed patrol, investigative, counterterrorism, community affairs, quality of life, traffic and other public safety operations. Phil Pulaski is currently serving as a sworn member of the command staff of the Miami Beach PD, and is managing the Criminal Investigations Section. In addition to conducting major crime investigations, his team is developing national standards for the use of RAPID DNA technology by crime scene technicians to expeditiously produce actionable investigative leads.

In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Phil Pulaski managed the NYPD’s counterterrorism and weapons of mass destruction operations. He also supervised, together with his FBI counterpart, numerous terrorism related investigations including the 9-11 World Trade Center attack and October 2001 anthrax attacks. Phil Pulaski also was responsible for the NYPD programs involving (i) human and electronic intelligence collection operations; (ii) intelligence processing, analysis, and dissemination; (iii) counterterrorism technology evaluation; (iv) critical infrastructure risk assessment and protection; and (v) counterterrorism training. He also managed the NYPD officers assigned to 11 cities in 9 foreign countries.

In recent years, the NYPD has ramped up international efforts through positioning officers in major municipal police departments in regions where ISIS and other terrorist groups exist. Since 9-11, embedded intelligence officers have been placed in cities such as Sydney, Paris, London, Amman, and Jerusalem.

According to NBC New York, a compelling reason to do this is to be able to share and assess vital intelligence information in real time, and with minimal interference. Since 2011 there have been more than 20 incidents thwarted, many of which involved perpetrators with international ties.

Another aspect of this operation involves helping prevent terrorism in foreign countries. The Paris terror attacks in 2015 led to NYPD intelligence officers worldwide gathering in London and coordinating approaches to information sharing and logistics with their foreign counterparts.

As Antwerp's intelligence chief described it, the challenge was to go beyond simply sharing information and coordinate expertise and best practices in ways that build capacity synergistically. One example of this was the NYPD reviewing Antwerp's marathon security protocol following the bombings at the Boston Marathon.

Introducing Touro Law's Public Advocacy Center

A former chief of detectives of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Phil Pulaski holds a bachelor degree in chemical engineering and master degree in environmental engineering from Manhattan College in the Bronx, New York. While working full-time as an engineer at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Phil Pulaski attended St. John's University School of Law in Queens, New York at night, and received a juris doctor degree in May 1980. He passed the New York State Bar examination in July 1980, and was admitted to practice law in New York State. Phil Pulaski was subsequently admitted to practice law in the US Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, and US District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of NY. 

Phil Pulaski served as a supervisory attorney in the NYPD’s Legal Bureau for several years and, as he was promoted to higher executive ranks in the department, he continued to closely collaborate with the Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters particularly regarding the law involving search and seizure, arrest, eyewitness identification, interrogation and electronic surveillance. Phil Pulaski also provided a significant amount of legal training to members of the NYPD including 10 New York State Bar Continuing Legal Education courses.

Since retiring from the NYPD in 2014 and continuing to work as a law enforcement executive, Phil Pulaski attended Touro College School of Law in Suffolk, New York at night, and received a master of laws advanced law degree (LLM) in January 2018. While studying for his LLM advanced law degree, he maintained a 4.0 GPA and graduated summa cum laude.

Along with offering several academic programs, Touro Law oversees a number of public service initiatives, including the William Randolph Hearst Public Advocacy Center (PAC). Designed to provide legal training while assisting those in need, the PAC is home to several nonprofit agencies serving the local community. At the Center, Touro Law students meet their pro bono requirements by providing advocacy services, research work, and client-relations support for the member agencies. 

The list of nonprofit groups that currently maintain offices at the PAC includes Breaking Barriers, Long Island Advocacy Center, ProBono Partnership, and the Empire Justice Center. The PAC also works with approximately 20 affiliate members, including Hope For Youth, Literacy First, Prison Families Anonymous, and Vision Long Island. To learn more about the PAC and other Touro Law public service initiatives, visit www.tourolaw.edu.

The ASCLD/LAB International Accreditation Program

Phil Pulaski has 36 years of law enforcement experience, and was Chief of Detectives of the NYPD for more than 5 years where he was responsible for 3,600 personnel. In the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Phil Pulaski managed the NYPD’s counterterrorism and weapons of mass destruction operations. From 1995 until his retirement in 2014, Phil Pulaski managed all NYPD physical evidence programs including the multi-agency “Forensic Initiative” that involved: 
• Overseeing the operations of the NYPD’s uniformed Evidence Collection Teams that annually collected more than 30,000 items of DNA evidence and 5,000 items of fingerprint evidence, and
• Collaborating with the 5 NYC District Attorney’s Offices, Special Narcotics Prosecutor and NYC Law Department; and, the NYC OCME Toxicology, DNA, Pathology and Anthropology units. 

Phil Pulaski received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1980 from St. Johns University School of Law and a Master of Laws advanced law degree from Touro Law School in 2017. He practiced law privately and for the NYPD for more than 35 years. Before going to law school at night, Phil Pulaski received a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1974 and Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering in 1975 from Manhattan College, Bronx NY. Phil Pulaski worked as an engineer for the US Environmental Protection Agency for 4 years. 

As Commanding Officer of the Forensic Investigations Division, Deputy Commissioner of Operations and ultimately as Chief of Detectives, Phil Pulaski significantly re-engineered the operations of the NYPD Police Laboratory, Crime Scene Unit, Latent Print Section, Bomb Squad, Forensic Artist Unit, Computer Crimes Squad and NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) Liaison Unit. Because of his remarkable educational background and extraordinary experience he was chosen to serve as a Commissioner on the US Department of Justice’s “National Commission on Forensic Science”. Phil Pulaski was responsible, together with the Director of the Police Laboratory, for ensuring the NYPD’s Police Laboratory was accredited twice under the ASCLD/LAB International Program and once under the Legacy Program. Phil Pulaski is currently leading a team that is developing national standards and protocols for the use of RAPID DNA technology by crime scene technicians to expeditiously produce actionable investigative leads and CODIS eligible DNA profiles

A program of authorization and certification that is overseen and approved by the ASCLD/LAB Board of Directors, the ASCLD/LAB International Accreditation Program attests to the overall proficiency of a forensic laboratory’s general technical operation and management system. This accreditation is intended to contribute to a comprehensive framework of quality assurance measures that should also include regular continuing education and customer liaison efforts. 

Designed to provide an independent and objective system of forensic laboratory standards, the ASCLD/LAB International Accreditation Program strives to improve the quality and efficiency of individual forensic laboratory services while offering a context in which to assess these improvements. The program also endeavors to serve the general public by identifying specific forensic laboratories that have demonstrated full compliance with industry standards.

IACP Technology Conference Examines New Law Enforcement Technologies

Phil Pulaski is a law enforcement executive with over 35 years of experience. Phil
Pulaski formerly served as chief of detectives of the New York City Police Department,
and was responsible for 3,600 personnel who investigated more than 256,000 felony
and misdemeanor crimes, and arrested more than 39,000 offenders. During his career
in the NYPD Phil Pulaski also served as Deputy Commissioner of Operations and
Commanding Officer of several large commands including the Intelligence Division,
Counterterrorism Bureau, FBI / NYPD Joint Terrorist Task Force, Detective Borough
Manhattan, Detective Borough Bronx, Special Investigations Division and Forensic
Investigations Division.

Phil Pulaski belongs to a number of law enforcement associations, including the
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The organization will hold its 2018
IACP Technology Conference in May.

The conference provides a forum for the exploration and discussion of information,
learned lessons, and best practices regarding the latest law enforcement technology.
Addressed areas range from information management and sharing to communications
and interoperability, and the conference highlights information about technology
standards. Attendees can participate in training and professional development sessions
while learning about new and emerging technologies.

Scheduled events include more than 30 technology-oriented educational sessions that
cover a wide array of topics, such as next-generation first responders and real-time
monitoring of social media. A number of plenary sessions and concurrent workshops
will also be available throughout the conference. In addition, networking events give
attendees the opportunity to meet leading solution providers and connect with other
agencies and practitioners.

Registration fees vary according to membership with IACP and the chosen registration
category, which includes categories for exhibitors, speakers, and students. Individuals
unable to attend the entire conference may also purchase a single-day pass.
The 2018 IACP Technology Conference will take place May 21-23 at the Rhode Island
Convention Center.

The National Commission on Forensic Science Looks Toward the Future

Phil Pulaski is an experienced law enforcement professional who served more than 33 years with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), ultimately retiring in 2014 as the chief of detectives. Among his other accomplishments, Phil Pulaski is extremely well versed in forensic science, and managed all NYPD physical evidence programs including the multi-agency “Forensic Initiative”, and the NYPD’s uniformed Evidence Collection Teams that annually collected more than 30,000 items of DNA evidence and 5,000 items of fingerprint evidence. During December 2013, Phil Pulaski was selected to serve as a commissioner on the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS).

For a period of four years, the NCFS diligently worked to improve the practice of forensic science by developing guidance concerning the intersection between forensic science and the criminal justice system. The NCFS also worked to develop policy recommendations for the U.S. Attorney General, including uniform codes for professional responsibility and requirements for laboratory accreditation and forensic scientist certification. The NCFS also worked in partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to refine operational practices and improve overall reliability within the forensic sciences.

Although the federal charter of the NCFS expired on April 23, 2017, the Commission released a final business document that identified the important work that other agencies and organizations must address going forward. Entitled “Reflecting Back-Looking Toward the Future,” this document summarized the many accomplishments of the NCFS and then described the work that still remained to be done. Among the recommendations, the NCFS called upon qualified individuals and organizations to promulgate nationally accepted forensic analysis standards, address context and cognitive bias, implement policies to promote a uniform code of professional responsibility and address rapidly evolving technological advancements in the field of digital forensics.