Public Safety Technology in the News

New Law to Set Voluntary Standards for 911 Dispatchers
Tallahassee.com, (08/03/2008), Nic Corbett

A new Florida State law, effective October 1, 2008, mandates that the Florida Department of Health establish criteria for certification of 911 dispatchers. The city of Tallahassee and Leon County are waiting to see what requirements are spelled out as part of the certification program. At present, the new standard calls for slightly more than 1 month of training for dispatchers. City police dispatchers, however, receive 6 months of training, which includes 4 to 6 weeks of classroom work. County dispatchers receive 4 months of training and officials are about to include classroom instruction as part of the county training. Construction of a new joint dispatch center for city and county dispatchers continues, which officials believe will make the system more efficient.
www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200808030200/BREAKINGNEWS/80717010

DHS Plans to Unify Emergency Communications
FCW.COM, (08/01/2008), Alice Lipowicz

The National Emergency Communications Plan mandates that cities most at risk for terrorist attacks must be able to demonstrate interoperability among agencies by 2010. The plan has been in development since 2002 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is a direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Goals for the plan include that by 2010, 90 percent of the 60 high-risk areas designated under the Urban Area Security Initiative demonstrate interoperability within 1 hour after a multijurisdictional event. By 2011, 25 percent of all urban jurisdictions must demonstrate communications capabilities 1 hour after a routine event. Finally, by 2013, 75 percent of all jurisdictions must have demonstrated response level communications 3 hours after an event. This plan is in line with the National Response Framework, National Incident Management System, National Preparedness Guideline, and Target Capabilities List, and was developed with input from practitioners and manufactures in the area of communications.
www.fcw.com/online/news/153354-1.html

Information Sharing Effectiveness Questioned by GAO
Homeland Security Today, (07/24/2008), Anthony L. Kimery

Nearly 7 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, State and local agencies are not the only entities questioning the impact of Federal information sharing initiatives, as well as other related reform programs. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the government cannot in fact assess the impact of information sharing or its effectiveness at preventing terrorism. The government needs to create milestones, results, and an overall program definition in order to implement the program successfully. According to GAO, steps have been taken to better implement the Information Sharing Environments (ISE) scope, but elements still require implementation.
hstoday.us/content/view/4394/149/

Fingerprints Provide Clues to More Than Just Identity
Science News, (08/07/2008)

Staff at Purdue University have developed a new technology that is capable of analyzing fingerprints gathered at a crime scene to determine what other materials were left behind with the fingerprint. Along with this development, the technology is also capable of differentiating between two overlapping fingerprints left at a scene. The technology relies on the compounds that comprise a fingerprint; some compounds are natural while others are based on what was handled by the person leaving the print. It is because of this uniqueness of these compounds that the technology is capable of separating multiple prints. The Purdue team's findings will be published in the August 8, 2008 issue of Science.
esciencenews.com/articles/2008/08/07/fingerprints.provide.clues.more.just.identity

West Midlands police Launch 'Untouchables' Team to Tackle Gangsters
SundayMercury.com, (08/02/2008), Ben Goldby

The Serious and Organized Crime Unit, established by West Midlands police, is tasked with the mission of apprehending the most dangerous criminals in the area. The group will be used to target gang leaders, money launderers, street thugs, and drug dealers, and can use whatever laws are at its disposal to apprehend these individuals. The task force can use crimes such as littering or driving while disqualified to make a successful arrest and subsequent prosecution. Since the unit's inception it has already made progress in the region by making two successful gun seizures and the region's largest marijuana bust. The unit consists of five teams that are not based solely in one location, but rather are capable of moving to those areas where the need exists. The unit stresses it will work with those people trying to leave the gang lifestyle, but will go after all members of organized crime with all legal means.
www.sundaymercury.net/news/midlands-news/2008/08/02/west-midlands-police-launch-untouchables-team-to-tackle-gangsters-66331-21455817/

City Would Photograph Every Vehicle Entering Manhattan and Sniff Out Radioactivity
The New York Times, (08/12/2008), Al Baker

The New York Police Department is developing a proposal dubbed Operation Sentinel to further protect the city against terrorist attacks. The program would rely on technologies, such as cameras for still photos, license plate scanners, and radiation sensors. Each vehicle crossing into the city via bridge or tunnel will be photographed and have its license plate scanned and will be checked for radioactive materials. The captured information will be time stamped and the data will then be relayed to the command post in Lower Manhattan, where it will be indexed for at least 1 month storage. If the data is linked to a suspicious vehicle or to a case, the data will be stored longer, but if no connections are made the data will be erased. The proposal is part of a 36-page plan for security at the site of ground zero, and it is hoped to be a step toward adoption of a plan similar to the system implemented in London.
www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/nyregion/12cars.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

police, Firefighters Get New Tool in Responding to Emergencies
phillyBurbs.com, (08/14/2008), Melissa Hayes

First responders in Burlington County, Pennsylvania, will have the ability to view three-dimensional images of locations throughout the county. The county purchased the software from Pictometry International, Inc. Users will have the ability to view properties or areas from multiple angles and be able to zoom in and out on the building, which can help save time and lives during an emergency. Countywide leasing was offered by Pictometry so that other county agencies and municipalities can take advantages of the software. County 911 dispatchers will be trained immediately on the new system.
www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-08142008-1576662.html

GE Security Advanced technology Video Surveillance Solutions Help Support Reduction in Crime at LA's MacArthur Park
Centredaily.com, (08/13/2008)

In an effort to provide a safer environment and efficient response during the 2008 May Day Immigration Rally, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) worked with GE Security to upgrade the security system. The upgrade includes the latest in video management and in stationary and pan, tilt, and zoom cameras to help capture footage of the MacArthur Park area. According to LAPD, surveillance posted at the park has resulted in a steady decline of criminal activity in the area. The system used to update MacArthur Park includes cameras hooked to a wireless system using fiber optic cable. Information is transferred to Rampart Station, located several miles from the park, on the wireless system. The system allows police and other first responders to be more efficient with personnel deployment.
www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/773913.html

Va. DNA Project Is in Uncharted Territory
The Washington Post, (08/17/2008), Maria Glod

Thirty-three years after a rape and murder case had been closed and a man convicted, newly discovered DNA evidence has led to the arrest of another person in relation to the crime. This finding is part of a 3 year, $1.4 million project by the Virginia State Police to reexamine bodily fluid samples from roughly 400 cases involving rape, murder, or other serious crimes from more than 30 years ago. As of yet, no determinations have been made regarding anyone being wrongly convicted. However, there have been at least eight instances in which the convicted persons' DNA does not match evidence from the scene. Defense lawyers and legal scholars are trying to help make the process more clear and open to those convicted.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081602216.html

police Cameras Scan Plates for Stolen Cars
Azcentral.com, (08/14/2008), Michael Ferraresi

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Vehicle Theft Task Force has been using Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras and software to help investigators do their job more efficiently. According to staff, on a good day an officer may be able to manually process 400 plates, but with the new system in place an officer can now process 5,000 plates a day. Phoenix police share a unit between two precincts, and one precinct is attempting to get grant funding to purchase its own unit. The Arizona Department of Public Safety hopes to be able to deploy an additional 25 mobile ALPR cameras during the next 2 months.
www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2008/08/14/20080814phx-autotheft0815.html