Public Safety Technology in the News

Idaho Lab Develops a Quicker Way to Catch a Thief
The Columbian, (04/28/2008), Todd Dvorak

A faster and possibly cheaper method of human identification using antibodies, unique to everyone, has been developed by Federal researchers. However, proponents want to stress this new method is not designed to replace present DNA testing. These antibodies can be found in bodily fluid and are used by the body to fight disease or assist in any number of other bodily functions. The technology to conduct this testing has been licensed to Identity Sciences LLC, and by fall 2009 the company anticipates providing testing kits and training to the law enforcement, military, and forensic communities worldwide.
news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP04282008news310529.cfm?modifyFont=L

Microsoft Helps Law Enforcement Get Around Encryption
PC World, (04/29/2008), Nancy Gohring

Encryption software use by cyber criminals is increasing, and in an effort to assist law enforcement in getting around such technology, Microsoft has developed the Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE) toolkit. Microsoft first released the product last June for free and it is now in use by roughly 2,000 agents worldwide. This software, made up of 150 tools, can be stored on a USB flash drive for use at the scene of a crime. This mobility and portability can prevent officers from having to turn off a computer, which can result in lost data. Also, processing a computer with COFEE can take about 20 minutes, versus previous methods that produced results in 3 to 4 hours.
www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145318/microsoft_helps_law_enforcement_get_around_enc

Dallas-Area Law Enforcement Agencies Unveiling Online Services to Share Local Crime Reports
The Dallas Morning News, (05/02/2008), Richard Abshire

The Plano Police Department hopes that keeping the community informed regarding crimes that occur near churches, homes, or schools will be key in developing strong working relations with the citizens they serve. Citizens can sign up to receive e-mail alerts using a system that is accessible through the crimereports.com website. The system can also provide the public with access to incident reports by location on a map, along with a description of the crime and other related information. This can be useful for Neighborhood Watch groups and coordinators, as well as free up time relating to routine requests for records.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/plano/stories/DN-planopd_02met.ART.North.Edition1.46e5342.html

Simulator Trains Police for the Worst
KAAL TV, (05/01/2008), Jackie Orozco

Simulators offer officers and cadets a safe place to learn and prepare for the volatile and nastiest situations their job can offer. As real-life situations such as college campus or school shootings become more common, the simulator can be updated to include the situation as part of the training scenarios. Officers and cadets are provided with a special 9mm weapon and expected to verbally interact with the scenario as it takes place. The simulator is also capable of shooting back at participants and plans are in place to add a "recoil pack" to the 9mm to offer even more realism to the experience.
kaaltv.com/article/stories/S430530.shtml?cat=10151

Technology Deters Bank Robberies
Madison County Journal, (05/01/2008), Staff Reporter

Would-be bank robbers in Madison County (Mississippi) are facing deterrent mechanisms of the high-tech kind with digital surveillance and the low-tech kind with common courtesy or "Southern hospitality." Area banks, while working with law enforcement, have installed digital surveillance to achieve higher resolution images of most bank patrons. However, banks are also finding that being courteous and welcoming bank patrons as they enter can also have a deterrent effect and give would-be robbers a moment of pause. Another alternative deterrent method is banks implementing "dress codes" that forbid the wearing of hoods or clothing that can conceal a person's identity.
www.onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=20188&TM=18291.84

Google Adapts YouTube's Copyright-ID Technology to Combat Child-Porn
International Business Times, (05/01/2008), Vivek Gangjee

Google is working to fight child pornography. Google engineers have repurposed a video and image analysis tool used to identify and remove copyright-protected videos from its YouTube site. Google has partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to test the technology, which will identify patterns in still images and videos. NCMEC can use the analysis to track down predators. The tools have been developed to help NCMEC arrange and index its data, as well as cross-reference historical data, for better, more efficient handling of new images and footage submitted to the center. The goal of this technology and the partnership is to make it more difficult for predators to use the Web to exploit children or traffic child pornography.
in.ibtimes.com/articles/20080501/google-child-pornography-youtube-copyright-technology-ncmec.htm

Amber Alert Technology Will be Used to Notify Public of Officer's death in Line of Duty
Suncoast News, (05/06/2008), Associated Press

A 56 percent increase in officer deaths across Florida has prompted an executive order that indicates that the State's Amber Alert system will be activated in the event of an officer being wounded or killed in the line of duty. The alerts will broadcast when an officer has been reported down and provide further information regarding the incident.
www.mysuncoast.com/Global/story.asp?S=8276061&nav=menu577_2_1

The Camera That Wears a Badge
The New York Times, (05/04/2008), Joe Sharkey

Photo enforcement to catch red-light runners or speeders has all but eliminated the need for law enforcement to hide behind bushes and billboards waiting to stop motorists. However, with the implementation of photo enforcement has also come some unexpected results such as an increase in citations to rental companies. When the rental companies receive these fines they pay the fee and then charge the customer the fine plus a processing fee. Also, in anticipation of the revenue from the cameras, some municipalities are rewriting motor vehicle codes so that such violations are treated like parking tickets with no points being issued. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which supports camera use, feels the cameras assist the law enforcement community, whose resources are stretched, keep up with vehicle violations. But motorists are using the Web to find services offered by Njection or Trapster to locate both manned and photo-enforcement locations.
www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04bug.html?ref=technology

Street Sweeper Cameras Get OK
Washington Times, (05/07/2008), David C. Lipscomb

The District of Columbia Council recently passed legislation to allow the installment of license plate scanning cameras on the city's fleet of 20 street sweepers. Initially, two sweepers will be outfitted for testing prior to the entire fleet being updated. The cameras will allow the Department of Public Works to be more proficient in ticketing violators who park on street-cleaning routes. For the first 45days after cameras are installed, violators will receive warnings. After the 45-day grace period ends, violators will receive a $30 ticket in the mail.
www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080507/METRO/684495592&SearchID=73317047977076