NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, May 3, 2007
"Some Crimes Can Be Reported on the Web"
Biloxi Sun Herald (MS) (04/29/07) P. A3; Fitzgerald, Robin
The Gulfport police force is the first law enforcement agency in Mississippi to let citizens file online police reports for certain types of crimes. The Desk Officer Reporting System, or E-Police Department, is intended for no-suspect misdemeanor crimes involving losses below $500--not for emergencies. The tool makes it easy for individuals to file such complaints, and provides documentation as well. The system helps the police by automatically printing the reports, freeing officers to focus on emergencies; unlike other systems, the program requires no extra staff to retype the data. In addition to assisting the public, the online police reports will be used to identify trends in crime and to compile statistics. The software was donated to the police department by Cop Logic after Hurricane Katrina.
http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/42264.html
"General Dynamics to Build Integrated Radio System"
Washington Post (04/30/07) P. D04; Dizard III, Wilson P.
Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics has received a 15-year, multibillion-dollar deal to construct a national interoperable data and voice radio network for federal law enforcement groups. Operated by the Department of Justice, the Integrated Wireless Network program is meant to offer compatible radio systems to federal police institutions, so that they can work together well during terrorist attacks and weather disasters. The network, which is predicted to cost as much as $10 billion, will enable the federal police to connect to state and local networks. The primary radio systems that the program will offer to participating groups will depend on the Internet Protocol Version 6 standard, the same kind of next-generation online technology that will increasingly power the operations of the global Web. The network will use different kinds of gateway systems to combine the latest digital radio systems with the older analog ones that are still employed by a large number of police departments nationally. New technology employed in the network will permit numerous simultaneous conversations to happen across what used to be an open circuit meant for one transmission. The network can facilitate the transmission of streaming video to police officers on foot or in their cruisers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/2
9/AR2007042901077.html?hpid=sec-tech
"DeLuca Vows to Prevent Mistakes in Criminal Cases, Use Technology"
Wilkes Barre Times Leader (PA) (04/26/07); Weiss, David
Attorney Vito DeLuca has promised to make a number of changes if elected to the Luzerne County, Pa., District Attorney's Office, including ensuring that prosecutors have the proper technology to handle cases. According to DeLuca, there have been several cases that have been thrown out because prosecutors failed to meet certain deadlines. He noted that while it is expected that those mistakes will happen occasionally because a police officer held up a case too long, they should never happen because a prosecutor forgot to do something. DeLuca also promised to use more technology in courtrooms if he becomes the next district attorney. The use of technology in courtrooms is important, because jurors watch television court shows that impact their thoughts, DeLuca said. "They want to be entertained," he said.
http://www.timesleader.com
news/20070426_26deluca_dw_ART.html
"Judge: Cellular GPS Data Can Be Used as a Tracking Device"
Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) (04/27/07) P. 19; Satterfield, Jamie
On April 26, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton decreed that law enforcement can employ GPS information from cell phones as monitoring devices. The decision occurs in the case of a father and son charged of transporting almost 1,000 pounds of marijuana in an RV. Michael Davis and Drew Lewis, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, had utilized real-time information from a GPS unit implemented in a cell phone to locate accused traffickers Melvin and Samuel Skinner at a truck stop in Texas on the night before a July raid of businessman Scott West's properties. Once arrested, the Skinners protested that federal prosecutors breached regulations in their effort to bust West and his brother. The attorneys had argued at earlier hearings in 2007 to persuade Guyton that law enforcement should not be permitted to employ GPS devices on cell phones as monitoring devices without obtaining legal permission. Guyton determined, though, that cell phone users relinquish privacy rights on a daily basis. He wrote that since a broad variety of individuals and companies already use cell phone GPS information, law enforcement officials should not be treated any differently. http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/
0,1406,KNS_347_5507506,00.html
"Campus Safety Gains Sharper Vision With New Breed of Surveillance Cameras"
Chronicle of Higher Education (04/27/07) Vol. 53, No. 34, P. 15; Fischman, Josh; Foster, Andrea L.
To boost security in its dormitories, Johns Hopkins University relies on "smart TV," according to Edmund G. Skrodzki, executive director of campus safety and security. Over the past two years, the university installed 101 surveillance cameras in dormitories along Charles Street in addition to some off-campus sites. The cameras are linked to computer software that can determine such things as when a person has his or her arms in the air or a vehicle is moving in a suspiciously slow manner; the software also issues alerts to campus security. Skrodzki says the new cameras at Johns Hopkins have made the campus "more proactive rather than reactive," and have already helped catch a person trying to steal a motorbike and identify an armed thief. Campus crime at Hopkins has declined by 43 percent since 2004, and some of that can be attributed to the cameras, he says. Before installation of the cameras began, Johns Hopkins officials asked the student chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to talk about the system in an effort to reduce concerns over privacy. The students learned, for example, that the cameras block out any footage of direct window views. The technology reflects the growing presence of camera-based surveillance at universities, which may increase even more in the wake of the April 16 Virginia Tech shooting. http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i34/34a01501.htm?pg=dji
"Beaverton Police Cut Cord to Office"
Oregonian (04/25/07) P. B01; Anderson, David R.
The Beaverton, Ore., Police Department has installed a wireless broadband network in the city's downtown, thanks to the help of almost $266,000 in grants from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The network, which consists of 21 wireless nodes placed along routes where officers patrol, gives officers at a crime scene access to key information--such as how many times police have been to a particular house and who lives there--on mobile data terminals in their patrol cars. Officers no longer have to call on the radio and have someone read the data back. In addition, officers conducting follow-up investigations do not have to return to headquarters or stop at a satellite office. By the end of this year, the system could be connected to an electronic citation system--which would allow officers to write tickets from handheld personal digital assistants--as well as an electronic fingerprint system. The Beaverton Police Department also hopes to expand the wireless network to neighborhoods in the city beyond downtown. http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/
base/news/117747691176480.xml&coll=7
"New Phone Technologies Can Help Colleges Communicate Campuswide in Emergencies"
Chronicle of Higher Education (04/27/07) Vol. 53, No. 34, P. A16; Fischman, Josh; Foster, Andrea L.
A company called Rave Wireless sells a new type of campus communications system designed to work with cell phones. The system has been installed at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, where over 90 percent of students carry cell phones, notes Ronald G. Forsythe, a vice president in charge of communications systems at the university. In comparison, fewer students check campus email or carry laptops, he says. The university's system relies on sending text messages to students' cell phones if an emergency arises. Monmouth University in New Jersey recently acquired a new cell phone system called Connect-ED that transmits voice as well as text messages to cell phones, says David J. Bopp, the university's associate vice president for telecommunications. One flaw in such systems, however, is that participation is voluntary. In addition, not all students keep their phones on, and text messages are often limited to 100 characters. As a result, such systems are often supplemented with dedicated emergency Web sites, phone message systems, and public address speakers. At Butler University in Indianapolis, a recently installed Internet-based phone system allows certain faculty and staff to issue audio and text messages through special phones in case of emergencies. http://www.chronicle.com
"Domestic Violence Victims are Given Electronic Advice"
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (04/26/07) P. 1; Finch, Susan
Domestic violence victims need to be tech-savvy if they hope to keep from falling prey to high-tech stalking at the hands of their former abusers, said Cindy Southworth, the technology chief of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, at a recent conference in New Orleans. Southworth noted that domestic violence victims need to take steps to both electronically and physically separate themselves from their abusers. For instance, domestic violence victims should use the Internet on a computer at a library or a friend's house, rather than a computer that is being shared with the abuser. Domestic violence victims should also create a new email account in a name that the abuser does not know, in order to keep the abuser from accessing the information. Once this new account is opened, domestic violence victims should avoid opening any attachments that could relay email information to the abuser. Finally, domestic violence victims should stop using cell phones that are part of a family plan shared with the abuser, since abusers can get records of the victim's calls and have a locator feature installed to monitor the victim's location. Southworth advised women to get a new phone with a global positioning chip, which would allow police to find her immediately if she dials 911.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/
news-21/1177568775255780.xml&coll=1
"New Patrol Cars to Get Latest Equipment"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (04/26/07) P. H3; Campos, Art
The Roseville, Calif., Police Department has bought 16 new patrol cars for $376,915 and is customizing them for almost another $400,000. The customizing involves implementing the newest anti-crime equipment, including cameras, police radios, and wireless computer gadgets. The new in-car cameras will cost $82,711, while upgrades to the wireless abilities of in-car computers will total $102,091. The customization and implementation of radios and additional equipment will cost $207,868. An additional request for $136,000 will be presented to the Roseville City Council at a later date for purchasing and implementing mobile computers and accessories in the vehicles. "Patrol cars have literally become mobile offices for the officers because of the tremendous amount of technology that is needed in the field," noted police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther. http://www.sacbee.com/230/story/160988.html
"Minneapolis Cops Reaching for Tasers More Often"
Star Tribune (Minn.) (04/25/07) P. 1A; Chanen, David
A report reveals that incidents of Taser usage by the Minneapolis police department are more frequent than ever before. In 2006, force incidents by Taser accounted for about one in every 60 arrests. Factors attributed to the increase in Taser use include hiring of new and consequently inexperienced officers, and as Deputy Chief Scott Gerlicher states, "Officers have become more comfortable using Tasers." The racial breakdown for the incidents of Taser usage sets blacks at over 64 percent of cases with whites at 19 percent. Chief Tim Dolan says the figures are proportional to the number of blacks and whites arrested in the city. Thirty-nine cases are up for investigation or disciplinary action from 2006, but Lt. Susan Piontek states officers usually file force allegation reports before the public does. University of Nebraska-Omaha professor Sam Walker says Minneapolis' report "is a good thing because it builds public trust." http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1142533.html
"Anoka County Wants to Build a Regional Crime Lab"
Finance and Commerce (04/24/07); Johnson, Brian
Anoka County, Minn., is expected to begin construction on a regional crime lab this year. Like many cities and counties across the country, Anoka has to send its forensic and ballistic evidence away to a lab to be processed. Backlogs in the system mean it can take as long three months for Anoka investigators to receive forensic results. To eliminate this problem, Anoka has asked the state to underwrite the approximately $6 million cost of a regional crime lab that would be part of a $25 million public safety campus that is slated to begin construction this fall. The 135,000-square-foot campus will house all of the departments of the sheriff's office, plus the regional crime lab. The lab will be divided into four sections, including DNA analysis, latent prints, drug chemistry, and toxicology. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says the new regional crime lab would permit the county to expand its use of DNA analysis to property crime.
http://www.finance-commerce.com
"Pennsylvania Firm Wins Preston, W.Va., Sheriff's Department Software Bid"
Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV) (04/24/07); Plum, Kathy
The Preston Sheriff's Department has accepted In-Synch Systems Solutions software bid. The Zelienople, Pa., firm's contract was selected from a pool of competing bids by county commissioners. Under terms of the contract, In-Synch will provide the Preston Sheriff's Department and 911 center with new records software. With the new system, officers will be able to download information daily into laptops in their cruisers. The base price of the contract is $44,837 and could reach as high as $50,000 after the purchase of recommended computer hardware. The cost of new equipment will be underwritten by a $74,000 federal grant. The sheriff's department hopes to have the new software installed by July 1. http://olive.dominionpost.com
"Biometrics Would Speed Passengers Through Airports"
Vancouver Province (04/23/07); Weeks, Carly
A coalition of Canadian airlines and airports is calling on Transport Canada to adopt a biometric fast-queue traveler screening program already in use at several major U.S. airports to reduce delays. "It's just another service to passengers," said Scott Armstrong, spokesman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which has signed an agreement with the company operating the biometric screening program in the United States, Clear, but must await federal approval before moving forward with implementation. "Obviously, people are always looking for ways to make the whole airport process quicker." The coalition says that the program will not cost the government anything because it would be paid by the private sector and participating passengers.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id
=312f0f34-5f70-440a-bb38-9b842ee53104
"Each Police Chase Could Mean Change in Policy"
Bellevue Leader (04/18/07); Buzzell, Jason
In general, police departments rarely change their pursuit policies unless death or severe damage occurs; but at the Bellevue Police Department in Nebraska, that is not the case. The eight-page policy is gone over at the police academy and rigorously reviewed periodically to ensure that public safety is a number-one priority when pursuits occur. Officers are trained as recruits for eight-hour stretches when they first sign on with the department and for two-hour stretches periodically as veteran officers. However, officials note that not all chases are perfect; and when officers disobey protocols, they are disciplined accordingly per the instructions of a commander committee that reviews the actions of the officer in conjunction with the current policy rules. The department's pursuit policy was changed in February; and officers now are required to cease pursuit if apprehension is a viable option later on, suspects have crossed state lines, or commanders order the pursuit to stop. The debate over pursuit policy restrictions is heated; but with recent rulings from the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that cities could be held liable for third-party injuries even after the pursuit ended, pursuit policies are carefully monitored for weaknesses.
http://www.bellevueleader.com/site/tab3.cfm?newsid=18221522&BRD=
2712&PAG=461&dept_id=559850&rfi=6
"How to Get the Most Out of Online Education"
Police (04/07) Vol. 31, No. 4, P. 22; Griffith, David
Online learning can be extremely beneficial for police officers, who typically have challenging work responsibilities as well as family obligations. Officers can turn to online degree programs to take classes at times that are convenient for them, even if the institution is far away. The online criminal justice program at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn., for example, which is headed by retired Minnesota police chief Scott Harr, has an online student body that spans multiple countries. Because online programs call for unique approaches for instructing students, dedication from faculty and the institution is crucial. Harr, for example, involves doctoral level law enforcement officers in Concordia's program. At Excelsior College based in Albany, N.Y., credits are accepted "from a variety of sources, including previous college-level study and military or law enforcement training that has been certified by ACE [American Council on Education]," says Excelsior's Bill Stewart. He adds that the college has used grants from the Department of Justice to assess police academy and correction academy programs for credits. Online course typically involve such things as supervised readings of specific texts, audio lectures, discussions via online bulletin boards, term papers, and instant messaging sessions, so it is imperative that each student participate fully in the course; however, Harr emphasizes that officers still need to maintain balance in other aspects of their lives. http://www.policemag.com
"Flower Power"
Law Enforcement Technology (04/07) Vol. 34, No. 4, P. 112; Bertomen, Lindsey
Lasers are an efficient tool in law enforcement patrol, granting officers a greater sense of depth perception in critical situations and in improving overall shooting problems, writes Hartnell College Prof. and retired police officer Lindsey Bertomen. Lasers provide departments an inexpensive means for firearms while enabling crucial advances in law enforcement technology. Since over 80 percent of shootings occur during the dark, an officer can use the glowing light to more accurately pin their target. Additionally, suspects are intimidated when they become aware there is a firearm aimed at them. Officers should take recoil into consideration when trying different lasers, noting barricades keep the laser in place while maximizing their effect. Since lasers automatically enhance peripheral vision, officers should adjust accordingly to the landscape. Most importantly, more than one officer will have a laser, so it is important to assign individual boundaries that team members will be limited to in order to avoid many officers aiming at the same target. http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/
"No Public Safety Agency Is an Island"
Firehouse Magazine (03/07) Vol. 32, No. 3, P. 88; Kuhlmann, Thomas J.; Morkel, Tarquin
Utah County, Utah, serves as an example of how smaller public safety agencies can go about achieving greater interagency cooperation. The second-largest county in the state has created an information-sharing network that enables 22 fire departments and 18 EMS organizations to communicate with each other and at all levels. In striving for interoperability, Utah County focused on facilitating interagency cooperation and support, implementing suitable technology, and developing an effective training plan. By focusing on getting agencies to work together, Utah County was able to make the various departments feel more involved in the initiative, take their specific requirements into account, address funding issues more effectively, and enhance their buying power. Utah County approached technology by focusing on cost-effective, practical features, and choosing flexible solutions that gave it a certain level of control with regard to future decisions. Specific capabilities that end users have gained include mapping, dispatch, lookups, communication, training, reporting, inventory, and administration. County officials also focused on developing an effective training program that would make it easy for paid and volunteer personnel to use the technology.
http://www.firehouse.com
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Showing posts with label police radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police radio. Show all posts
Friday, May 04, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, April 19, 2007
"System Can Scan Plates, Talk to Officer"
Dallas Morning News (04/15/07) P. 10B; Abshire, Richard
The Mesquite Police Department is the first in Texas to receive the PlateScan system, which uses cameras and computers to "remember" each license plate it witnesses as an officer patrols the streets or the parking-lot at an area mall. In addition, the system records a color picture of the car, with the time, date, and location as configured by GPS satellites. It also checks every plate number against databases that contain stolen and wanted vehicles and registered sex offenders. When it receives a hit, a robotic voice informs the officer. The program was launched on Feb. 28, and to date has cleared a minimum of four stolen cars, notes Mesquite police representative Lt. Steve Callarman. In one situation, a man in a stolen car drove past a parked police car while the officer was making a call. When the officer came back to his car, he was informed by the system about the stolen vehicle, and it was found nearby. It cost approximately $40,000 to outfit two police cars.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/mesquite/
stories/DN-mesplates_15eas.ART.East.Edition1.430b966.html
"Sex-Offender List Goes Online in Kane County"
Chicago Tribune (04/16/07) P. C3; Presecky, William
The Kane County, Ill., sheriff's office now has a computer tracking system for sex offenders living in unincorporated parts of the county, currently totaling roughly 55 individuals. The system is available to the public through the Web site of the sheriff's office, and allows county residents to see the locations of all sex offenders living within a mile of their location. Residents can also opt to have email or postal mail sent to them when a sex offender moves into their area. The county hopes to expand the system soon to track the additional 280 or so sex offenders who live in incorporated municipalities within the county, and plans to update the registry daily so that members of the public have the most accurate information possible about where sex offenders live.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/
chi-0704150314apr16,1,2459254.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
"Standing Guard Over Criminal Evidence"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (04/12/07) P. G1; Richie, David
To ensure the high quality of evidence from crime scenes, the city of Citrus Heights, Calif., has spent $1 million to construct a 5,800-square-foot storage structure. Only two police officers have access to the entire evidence storage facility, which has been incorporated into the existing police station. One of the two officers is Michelle Combs, a crime scene investigator/property-evidence specialist with 21 years experience in law enforcement. Both officers are essentially on-call 24/7 and are dispatched to all major crime scenes. Combs helped design and equip the van they travel in as well as the crime lab and storage facility. She says day-to-day access to the facility needs to be extremely restricted because "almost always a theft is accomplished internally." Some of the features of the facility include lockers that lock automatically after evidence is handed in, an area for drying wet items prior to processing, and a secure, temperature-controlled room to hold perishable items. Vehicles can be towed to a secure area at the back of the site. The majority of operations are conducted internally, with the exception of certain blood and drug assessments that are performed by the Sacramento County district attorney's crime lab. http://www.sacbee.com/190/story/152654.html
"Perry Touts Better Radio System"
Valley Morning Star (Texas) (04/12/07); Hernandez, Elizabeth
Texas has achieved Level 4 emergency radio communications status for interoperable communications as judged on a 1 to 6 scale, reports Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In addition, Austin, Houston, and a few other Texas areas have achieved the top ranking of Level 6. U.S. Homeland Security director for Texas Steve McCraw explains that Level 4 ranking signifies that police, firefighters, and other first-responders can communicate with each other from radios that are connected immediately through some core central command. He notes that Level 6 means first responders have radio systems that act like cell phones, which can roam onto different agency channels themselves. Perry says "radio interoperability" in Texas today enables firefighters, police, and other emergency responders to speak instantly when responding to an event. In fact, since 2003 Congress has invested $2 billion in nationwide radio interoperability. Perry adds that Level 4 communication will impact people in the field. For instance, police who stop illegal aliens will be able to radio the appropriate agency to help handle it. http://www.valleymorningstar.com/onset?id=1833&template=article.html
"Township Approves Police Radio Tower"
Ocean County Observer (04/13/07); Pais, Matt
The building of a new, 150-foot-high tower will provide police with improved radio reception when answering calls in the Whiting, N.J., region. The Manchester Township Council sanctioned a bid from TekTron for the tower during the second week of April, paving the way for the tower to be erected at the public works garage on Route 70 close to the Whiting-Lakehurst border. The tower will allow officers to stay in touch with the township's communications system no matter where they are situated. The present network is inundated with numerous "dead" spots, particularly inside the industrial structures, according to Sgt. Bob Dolan. "We expect [the new tower] will improve the in-building communications in places where officers have to either move to get a signal or often go back to their car," he said. The project is the second stage of a scheduled revamping of the police department's communications systems. Besides Manchester, numerous local police departments, including Lacey, Lakewood, Stafford, and Toms River, have already converted from typical analog radios to a digital network. The new system allows for greater communication with other county police departments and Sheriff's Department officials from Burlington and Ocean counties.
http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070413/NEWS01/704130327/-1/SPORTS06
"Cops Spike Spoke Thieves"
Yuba City Appeal-Democrat (04/12/07); Young, Rob
When bicycle thieves attempted to steal an expensive model bike in Yuba City, Calif., they were not aware they led the police department to their location. On loan from Pegasus Technologies, Yuba City police planted a motion-activated transmitter on the bike, hidden in the seat. Nationwide, about 150 U.S. police departments have employed this tracking system, with prospects for it becoming a solution to automobile theft. Universities also use the tracking system, where bicycle thefts on campus are more prevalent. Although car owners can use the transmitter, Jason Cecchettini of Pegasus says bike owners cannot because the radio frequency can only be accessed by police.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=46900&template=article.html
"System Will Notify Crime Victims of Inmate Releases"
Harrisburg Patriot-News (PA) (04/11/07) P. A3; Lenton, Garry
Within six months, Pennsylvania plans to roll out in midstate a free service that will allow crime victims to track the whereabouts of their offenders when they are moved, released, or escape. Crime victims will be able to anonymously sign up for the Statewide Automated Victim Information Network (SAVIN) by telephone or online, and the notification system will provide alerts by telephone, email, or text message. "Any crime victim can use this software," says Jennifer Storm, executive director of the Dauphin County Victim Witness program. "It really broadens who is allowed to receive notification." Appriss, a software development company in Louisville, Ky., assisted the state in developing SAVIN, which will be limited to tracking offenders in county prisons initially. SAVIN cost $1.5 million to develop, and about $600,000 will be needed each year to maintain the system. Appriss says 1,500 communities in 43 states are using the system.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=
doc&p_docid=11874E566D19E218&p_docnum=1
"Fingerprints Give a Hand to Security"
Wall Street Journal (04/12/07) P. B4; Keeton, Ann
Fingerprints are increasingly becoming the preferred way to use biometrics to verify an individual's identity. Roughly 10 percent of new laptops come with fingerprint sensors, which eliminate the need to remember passwords. Fingerprints are also being used by 20 million consumers in Japan for access to online bank accounts, ATMs, and point-of-sale credit card purchases. The use of fingerprints as a form of identification has taken off because many of the problems surrounding fingerprint identification--most notably hacking and spoofing, or fooling a system with a false print--have largely been addressed. AuthenTec, a maker of commercial fingerprint sensors, has patented technology that reads prints on living tissue in a layer of skin below the surface. This eliminates the possibility of the system being spoofed by someone lifting a print from a piece of tape or using a fake finger made from a mold of a real finger. In addition, stored fingerprint information is encrypted. However, spoofing and hacking remain potential problems that require continuous software updating, said AuthenTec President Larry Ciaccia.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117633761672067121.html
"Wood Co. Sheriff Plans to Monitor Prisoners"
Marshfield News Herald (WI) (04/11/07) P. 1A; Madden, Karen
The Wood County, Wis., Sheriff's Department is developing an electronic monitoring program that will allow the county to scale back the Wood County Jail work release program. The county will use technology, such as ankle bracelets, to closely monitor the location of inmates at all times. According to Sheriff Thomas Reichert, an ankle bracelet worn against the skin will even reveal blood alcohol concentration. The Sheriff's Department plans to reassign a correction officer to oversee the electronic monitoring of selected prisoners. Most residents are concerned about replacing the work release program with electronic monitoring. "It's unfortunate that we must deal with a decision on how to house our prisoners," says Reichert. "However, we are dealing with extremely limited budgets, and I am forced to decide whether to implement this type of program or lay off deputy sheriffs and correction officers."
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070411/MNH0101/704110500/1980
"Backing Up Backup Calls"
Indianapolis Star (04/11/07) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic
To prevent the occurrence of radio dead zones, or isolated areas with little or no radio reception, officials in Marion County, Ind., agreed in 2006 to replace the county's existing 16-year-old system with a digital one. Officials say the new system will be financed through grants and a bond that will be repaid using local tax money, and workers have already launched construction on new communication towers. The Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency (MECA) will replace all its analog radio equipment with digital gear from Motorola and will also build six extra antenna towers to accompany the existing five. Such actions are expected to virtually eliminate all the areas with poor reception. Officials say the new system will also enhance communication in high-rise buildings. New communications sites are being built at Butler University, Lawrence, Geist, and Cumberland, while removing towers and backup power systems will be improved. More than 6,500 new radios and 80 dispatch consoles will be distributed among public safety and public service personnel, including the Department of Public Works and IndyGo. The new gear will allow emergency responders to be able to talk with one another during crises regardless of where in the county they are, according to Ray Raney, executive director of MEC. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704110508
"Tool Helps Police Track Sex Offenders"
Florida Times-Union (04/11/07) P. B5; Kerr, Jessie-Lynne
With help from LexisNexis, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new investigative tool to enable law enforcement to take faster action against child abductors and absconding sex offenders. According to Jim Peck, chief executive officer of LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group, there are 600,000 sex offenders nationwide, but 100,000 of them fail to register as legally required and move across state borders to remain anonymous. LexisNexis' system mines through public records to gather various types of data about sex offenders. These people "ultimately get into our system, and our system is able to distinguish between an innocent person and a sexual predator who happen to have the same names," says Peck. In the case of a child abduction, officials can key in the ZIP code of the incident to obtain a list of all the registered and unregistered sex offenders in the area. The system helps lead officers "to the right doors," says Peck. FDLE official Mary Coffee says any law enforcement agency in the state can use the technology through the state's secure and private network. She says the system has already helped the state locate more than 1,300 unregistered sex offenders.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041107/met_9164427.shtml
"Training Planned to Improve Campus Security"
Boston Globe (04/18/07); Smalley, Suzanne
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered the state's 29 public colleges to assess their emergency response plans and security practices in response to the Virginia Tech shooting rampage. Local and state government and law enforcement officials met privately Tuesday to discuss ways to improve security on Massachusetts campuses and prepare for emergencies. To that end, the Boston Police Department announced that it will train local college security teams on how to react to school shootings, though this training will take different forms, depending on whether campus security forces are armed or unarmed. Armed security forces will receive training on SWAT techniques, while unarmed security guards will mostly be trained on how to quickly call for police help and how to work with responding officers. Officials have also discussed the use of emergency communications technology to alert students about school shootings, including an initiative aimed at connecting campuses to a police radio network used by Boston law enforcement. A heavy emphasis is also being placed on preventing shootings by paying more attention to the red flags and danger signs that could indicate a student is about to become violent. A spokesman for the University of Massachusetts at Boston said that the Virginia Tech shooting underscores the unpredictable nature of events that university security efforts must be prepared for--and that there is always room for improvement, more cooperation, more thoroughness, and greater adaptability.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/
04/18/training_planned_to_improve_campus_security/
"New 911 System Gives Responders Huge Boost"
Minneapolis Star Tribune (04/11/07) P. 1A; Chanen, David
The Minneapolis Police Department has a new dispatching tool for its 911 center, allowing dispatchers to visually track the movements of every police car, fire truck, and ambulance on the streets via the global positioning system. In addition, police can access an aerial view of crime scenes to determine which cars are closest to the scene and then dispatch those cars as quickly as possible. The new system cost $4.3 million, and was funded through a federal Department of Homeland Security grant. When a 911 operator forwards a call to a police dispatcher, the computer system automatically locates the nearest vehicles to the address from which the call originated; information about vehicle location is never more than 10 seconds old. In addition, the system can inform officers via their laptop computers which other squad cars are responding to a particular crime scene. Fire trucks are also being equipped with laptops connected to the system, allowing them to receive turn-by-turn directions to a scene and look at the architectural plans and any particular hazards of the building to which they are heading. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1112764.html
"With a Zap or Swipe of IDs, Device Helps Nab Scofflaws"
USA Today (04/10/07) P. 3A; Coolidge, Sharon
The Clermont County of Ohio Sheriff's Office is the first U.S. civilian law enforcement agency to test a new data device that enables officers to check a suspect's identity against 140 "wanted" or "watch" lists in the United States. Officers will use Mobilisa's m2500 Defense ID system, which can check a suspect's identity and provide answers using numerous fugitive watch lists, criminal background databases, and convicted sex offender lists in just one second. The device reads the barcode on a state ID or U.S. passport. Some privacy advocates such as Cato Institute information-policy expert Jim Harper says that if this device is used to scan crowds, for instance, it may go against the constitutional barring of unreasonable search and seizure. Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg calls the device "the future of crime fighting." http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-09-handheld_N.htm
"Security Cameras Work, Group Told"
Reading Eagle (PA) (04/12/07); Spatz, Don
Reading, Pa., is considering a $1.8 million security camera system. The City Council is being asked to finance the $390,000 initial stage of the 25-camera plan. "Where we've installed cameras, they've made a difference," noted Lancaster Community Safety Coalition executive director Dale B. Witmer. The coalition has implemented 35 security cameras throughout Lancaster. Nearly every crime-ridden neighborhood is his city has asked the coalition for the cameras, Witmer added. Reading Councilman Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr., who initially had been reluctant about the proposal, stated on April 11 that he is now in favor of the cameras. In addition, Councilman Stratton P. Marmarou, also a supporter, announced he would like to see Berks County assist with the financing, as Lancaster County did with the cameras in the city of Lancaster. Former city policeman Michael A. Garipoli is urging Reading to spend enough money to purchase cameras that offer crisp images, as one-day photo recognition software could be implemented that can automatically concentrate on passing faces and determine which of them possess outstanding warrants. http://www.readingeagle.com
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
"System Can Scan Plates, Talk to Officer"
Dallas Morning News (04/15/07) P. 10B; Abshire, Richard
The Mesquite Police Department is the first in Texas to receive the PlateScan system, which uses cameras and computers to "remember" each license plate it witnesses as an officer patrols the streets or the parking-lot at an area mall. In addition, the system records a color picture of the car, with the time, date, and location as configured by GPS satellites. It also checks every plate number against databases that contain stolen and wanted vehicles and registered sex offenders. When it receives a hit, a robotic voice informs the officer. The program was launched on Feb. 28, and to date has cleared a minimum of four stolen cars, notes Mesquite police representative Lt. Steve Callarman. In one situation, a man in a stolen car drove past a parked police car while the officer was making a call. When the officer came back to his car, he was informed by the system about the stolen vehicle, and it was found nearby. It cost approximately $40,000 to outfit two police cars.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/mesquite/
stories/DN-mesplates_15eas.ART.East.Edition1.430b966.html
"Sex-Offender List Goes Online in Kane County"
Chicago Tribune (04/16/07) P. C3; Presecky, William
The Kane County, Ill., sheriff's office now has a computer tracking system for sex offenders living in unincorporated parts of the county, currently totaling roughly 55 individuals. The system is available to the public through the Web site of the sheriff's office, and allows county residents to see the locations of all sex offenders living within a mile of their location. Residents can also opt to have email or postal mail sent to them when a sex offender moves into their area. The county hopes to expand the system soon to track the additional 280 or so sex offenders who live in incorporated municipalities within the county, and plans to update the registry daily so that members of the public have the most accurate information possible about where sex offenders live.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/
chi-0704150314apr16,1,2459254.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
"Standing Guard Over Criminal Evidence"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (04/12/07) P. G1; Richie, David
To ensure the high quality of evidence from crime scenes, the city of Citrus Heights, Calif., has spent $1 million to construct a 5,800-square-foot storage structure. Only two police officers have access to the entire evidence storage facility, which has been incorporated into the existing police station. One of the two officers is Michelle Combs, a crime scene investigator/property-evidence specialist with 21 years experience in law enforcement. Both officers are essentially on-call 24/7 and are dispatched to all major crime scenes. Combs helped design and equip the van they travel in as well as the crime lab and storage facility. She says day-to-day access to the facility needs to be extremely restricted because "almost always a theft is accomplished internally." Some of the features of the facility include lockers that lock automatically after evidence is handed in, an area for drying wet items prior to processing, and a secure, temperature-controlled room to hold perishable items. Vehicles can be towed to a secure area at the back of the site. The majority of operations are conducted internally, with the exception of certain blood and drug assessments that are performed by the Sacramento County district attorney's crime lab. http://www.sacbee.com/190/story/152654.html
"Perry Touts Better Radio System"
Valley Morning Star (Texas) (04/12/07); Hernandez, Elizabeth
Texas has achieved Level 4 emergency radio communications status for interoperable communications as judged on a 1 to 6 scale, reports Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In addition, Austin, Houston, and a few other Texas areas have achieved the top ranking of Level 6. U.S. Homeland Security director for Texas Steve McCraw explains that Level 4 ranking signifies that police, firefighters, and other first-responders can communicate with each other from radios that are connected immediately through some core central command. He notes that Level 6 means first responders have radio systems that act like cell phones, which can roam onto different agency channels themselves. Perry says "radio interoperability" in Texas today enables firefighters, police, and other emergency responders to speak instantly when responding to an event. In fact, since 2003 Congress has invested $2 billion in nationwide radio interoperability. Perry adds that Level 4 communication will impact people in the field. For instance, police who stop illegal aliens will be able to radio the appropriate agency to help handle it. http://www.valleymorningstar.com/onset?id=1833&template=article.html
"Township Approves Police Radio Tower"
Ocean County Observer (04/13/07); Pais, Matt
The building of a new, 150-foot-high tower will provide police with improved radio reception when answering calls in the Whiting, N.J., region. The Manchester Township Council sanctioned a bid from TekTron for the tower during the second week of April, paving the way for the tower to be erected at the public works garage on Route 70 close to the Whiting-Lakehurst border. The tower will allow officers to stay in touch with the township's communications system no matter where they are situated. The present network is inundated with numerous "dead" spots, particularly inside the industrial structures, according to Sgt. Bob Dolan. "We expect [the new tower] will improve the in-building communications in places where officers have to either move to get a signal or often go back to their car," he said. The project is the second stage of a scheduled revamping of the police department's communications systems. Besides Manchester, numerous local police departments, including Lacey, Lakewood, Stafford, and Toms River, have already converted from typical analog radios to a digital network. The new system allows for greater communication with other county police departments and Sheriff's Department officials from Burlington and Ocean counties.
http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070413/NEWS01/704130327/-1/SPORTS06
"Cops Spike Spoke Thieves"
Yuba City Appeal-Democrat (04/12/07); Young, Rob
When bicycle thieves attempted to steal an expensive model bike in Yuba City, Calif., they were not aware they led the police department to their location. On loan from Pegasus Technologies, Yuba City police planted a motion-activated transmitter on the bike, hidden in the seat. Nationwide, about 150 U.S. police departments have employed this tracking system, with prospects for it becoming a solution to automobile theft. Universities also use the tracking system, where bicycle thefts on campus are more prevalent. Although car owners can use the transmitter, Jason Cecchettini of Pegasus says bike owners cannot because the radio frequency can only be accessed by police.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=46900&template=article.html
"System Will Notify Crime Victims of Inmate Releases"
Harrisburg Patriot-News (PA) (04/11/07) P. A3; Lenton, Garry
Within six months, Pennsylvania plans to roll out in midstate a free service that will allow crime victims to track the whereabouts of their offenders when they are moved, released, or escape. Crime victims will be able to anonymously sign up for the Statewide Automated Victim Information Network (SAVIN) by telephone or online, and the notification system will provide alerts by telephone, email, or text message. "Any crime victim can use this software," says Jennifer Storm, executive director of the Dauphin County Victim Witness program. "It really broadens who is allowed to receive notification." Appriss, a software development company in Louisville, Ky., assisted the state in developing SAVIN, which will be limited to tracking offenders in county prisons initially. SAVIN cost $1.5 million to develop, and about $600,000 will be needed each year to maintain the system. Appriss says 1,500 communities in 43 states are using the system.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=
doc&p_docid=11874E566D19E218&p_docnum=1
"Fingerprints Give a Hand to Security"
Wall Street Journal (04/12/07) P. B4; Keeton, Ann
Fingerprints are increasingly becoming the preferred way to use biometrics to verify an individual's identity. Roughly 10 percent of new laptops come with fingerprint sensors, which eliminate the need to remember passwords. Fingerprints are also being used by 20 million consumers in Japan for access to online bank accounts, ATMs, and point-of-sale credit card purchases. The use of fingerprints as a form of identification has taken off because many of the problems surrounding fingerprint identification--most notably hacking and spoofing, or fooling a system with a false print--have largely been addressed. AuthenTec, a maker of commercial fingerprint sensors, has patented technology that reads prints on living tissue in a layer of skin below the surface. This eliminates the possibility of the system being spoofed by someone lifting a print from a piece of tape or using a fake finger made from a mold of a real finger. In addition, stored fingerprint information is encrypted. However, spoofing and hacking remain potential problems that require continuous software updating, said AuthenTec President Larry Ciaccia.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117633761672067121.html
"Wood Co. Sheriff Plans to Monitor Prisoners"
Marshfield News Herald (WI) (04/11/07) P. 1A; Madden, Karen
The Wood County, Wis., Sheriff's Department is developing an electronic monitoring program that will allow the county to scale back the Wood County Jail work release program. The county will use technology, such as ankle bracelets, to closely monitor the location of inmates at all times. According to Sheriff Thomas Reichert, an ankle bracelet worn against the skin will even reveal blood alcohol concentration. The Sheriff's Department plans to reassign a correction officer to oversee the electronic monitoring of selected prisoners. Most residents are concerned about replacing the work release program with electronic monitoring. "It's unfortunate that we must deal with a decision on how to house our prisoners," says Reichert. "However, we are dealing with extremely limited budgets, and I am forced to decide whether to implement this type of program or lay off deputy sheriffs and correction officers."
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070411/MNH0101/704110500/1980
"Backing Up Backup Calls"
Indianapolis Star (04/11/07) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic
To prevent the occurrence of radio dead zones, or isolated areas with little or no radio reception, officials in Marion County, Ind., agreed in 2006 to replace the county's existing 16-year-old system with a digital one. Officials say the new system will be financed through grants and a bond that will be repaid using local tax money, and workers have already launched construction on new communication towers. The Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency (MECA) will replace all its analog radio equipment with digital gear from Motorola and will also build six extra antenna towers to accompany the existing five. Such actions are expected to virtually eliminate all the areas with poor reception. Officials say the new system will also enhance communication in high-rise buildings. New communications sites are being built at Butler University, Lawrence, Geist, and Cumberland, while removing towers and backup power systems will be improved. More than 6,500 new radios and 80 dispatch consoles will be distributed among public safety and public service personnel, including the Department of Public Works and IndyGo. The new gear will allow emergency responders to be able to talk with one another during crises regardless of where in the county they are, according to Ray Raney, executive director of MEC. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704110508
"Tool Helps Police Track Sex Offenders"
Florida Times-Union (04/11/07) P. B5; Kerr, Jessie-Lynne
With help from LexisNexis, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new investigative tool to enable law enforcement to take faster action against child abductors and absconding sex offenders. According to Jim Peck, chief executive officer of LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group, there are 600,000 sex offenders nationwide, but 100,000 of them fail to register as legally required and move across state borders to remain anonymous. LexisNexis' system mines through public records to gather various types of data about sex offenders. These people "ultimately get into our system, and our system is able to distinguish between an innocent person and a sexual predator who happen to have the same names," says Peck. In the case of a child abduction, officials can key in the ZIP code of the incident to obtain a list of all the registered and unregistered sex offenders in the area. The system helps lead officers "to the right doors," says Peck. FDLE official Mary Coffee says any law enforcement agency in the state can use the technology through the state's secure and private network. She says the system has already helped the state locate more than 1,300 unregistered sex offenders.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041107/met_9164427.shtml
"Training Planned to Improve Campus Security"
Boston Globe (04/18/07); Smalley, Suzanne
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered the state's 29 public colleges to assess their emergency response plans and security practices in response to the Virginia Tech shooting rampage. Local and state government and law enforcement officials met privately Tuesday to discuss ways to improve security on Massachusetts campuses and prepare for emergencies. To that end, the Boston Police Department announced that it will train local college security teams on how to react to school shootings, though this training will take different forms, depending on whether campus security forces are armed or unarmed. Armed security forces will receive training on SWAT techniques, while unarmed security guards will mostly be trained on how to quickly call for police help and how to work with responding officers. Officials have also discussed the use of emergency communications technology to alert students about school shootings, including an initiative aimed at connecting campuses to a police radio network used by Boston law enforcement. A heavy emphasis is also being placed on preventing shootings by paying more attention to the red flags and danger signs that could indicate a student is about to become violent. A spokesman for the University of Massachusetts at Boston said that the Virginia Tech shooting underscores the unpredictable nature of events that university security efforts must be prepared for--and that there is always room for improvement, more cooperation, more thoroughness, and greater adaptability.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/
04/18/training_planned_to_improve_campus_security/
"New 911 System Gives Responders Huge Boost"
Minneapolis Star Tribune (04/11/07) P. 1A; Chanen, David
The Minneapolis Police Department has a new dispatching tool for its 911 center, allowing dispatchers to visually track the movements of every police car, fire truck, and ambulance on the streets via the global positioning system. In addition, police can access an aerial view of crime scenes to determine which cars are closest to the scene and then dispatch those cars as quickly as possible. The new system cost $4.3 million, and was funded through a federal Department of Homeland Security grant. When a 911 operator forwards a call to a police dispatcher, the computer system automatically locates the nearest vehicles to the address from which the call originated; information about vehicle location is never more than 10 seconds old. In addition, the system can inform officers via their laptop computers which other squad cars are responding to a particular crime scene. Fire trucks are also being equipped with laptops connected to the system, allowing them to receive turn-by-turn directions to a scene and look at the architectural plans and any particular hazards of the building to which they are heading. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1112764.html
"With a Zap or Swipe of IDs, Device Helps Nab Scofflaws"
USA Today (04/10/07) P. 3A; Coolidge, Sharon
The Clermont County of Ohio Sheriff's Office is the first U.S. civilian law enforcement agency to test a new data device that enables officers to check a suspect's identity against 140 "wanted" or "watch" lists in the United States. Officers will use Mobilisa's m2500 Defense ID system, which can check a suspect's identity and provide answers using numerous fugitive watch lists, criminal background databases, and convicted sex offender lists in just one second. The device reads the barcode on a state ID or U.S. passport. Some privacy advocates such as Cato Institute information-policy expert Jim Harper says that if this device is used to scan crowds, for instance, it may go against the constitutional barring of unreasonable search and seizure. Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg calls the device "the future of crime fighting." http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-09-handheld_N.htm
"Security Cameras Work, Group Told"
Reading Eagle (PA) (04/12/07); Spatz, Don
Reading, Pa., is considering a $1.8 million security camera system. The City Council is being asked to finance the $390,000 initial stage of the 25-camera plan. "Where we've installed cameras, they've made a difference," noted Lancaster Community Safety Coalition executive director Dale B. Witmer. The coalition has implemented 35 security cameras throughout Lancaster. Nearly every crime-ridden neighborhood is his city has asked the coalition for the cameras, Witmer added. Reading Councilman Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr., who initially had been reluctant about the proposal, stated on April 11 that he is now in favor of the cameras. In addition, Councilman Stratton P. Marmarou, also a supporter, announced he would like to see Berks County assist with the financing, as Lancaster County did with the cameras in the city of Lancaster. Former city policeman Michael A. Garipoli is urging Reading to spend enough money to purchase cameras that offer crisp images, as one-day photo recognition software could be implemented that can automatically concentrate on passing faces and determine which of them possess outstanding warrants. http://www.readingeagle.com
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
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