Monday, July 31, 2006

Graduate Research Fellowship

The National Institute of Justice is once again offering two student research opportunities: the Graduate Research Fellowship and the W.E.B. DuBois Fellowship Program.

The Graduate Research Fellowship provides dissertation research support to outstanding doctoral students undertaking independent research on issues related to crime and justice. Students from academic disciplines are encouraged to apply and propose original research that has direct implications for criminal justice. NIJ encourages diversity in approaches and perspectives in an effort to encourage doctoral students to contribute critical and innovative thinking to pressing criminal justice problems. Visit http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000747.pdf to read the current solicitation.

In addition, the W.E.B DuBois Fellowship Program seeks to advance knowledge regarding the confluence of crime, justice, and culture in various societal contexts. DuBois fellows are asked to focus on policy questions that reflect the American past, present, and, increasingly, the future. The Fellowship places particular emphasis on crime, violence, and the administration of justice in diverse cultural contexts. Visit http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000753.pdf to read the current solicitation.

NIJ is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to researching crime control and justice issues. For more information on NIJ, please visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Walking with the Devil

Michael Quinn, the author of Walking with the Devil: The Police Code of Silence, becomes the 73rd police author added to Police-Writers.com. Quinn has over 26 years of law enforcement experience. His book, an examination of the police code of silence and police misconduct in general, is being used in several colleges nationwide and has received glowing reviews from police professionals across the nation. In a review published in the National Lawyers Guild, Minnesota Chapter, June 2005, Walking With the Devil was called "a "must read" for every ethical person involved with the legal system. Police-Writers.com now lists 73 police authors and their 171 books. Also, Police-Writers.com has an extensive collection of blogs and websites authored by police officers.

Click for more information on Quinn’s book

Police, Mafia and Books

The 71st police officer has joined the ranks of Police-writers.com. Lieutenant Rick Porrello of the Lyndhurst Police Department (Ohio) and his books – To Kill the Irishman: The War that Crippled the Mafia; The Rise and Fall of the Cleveland Mafia: Corn Sugar and Bold; and, Superthief: A Master Burglar, the Mafia, and the Biggest Bank Heist in U.S. History have been added to the list. With Rick and his books, the list now contains 71 police officer authors and 168 books.

Click for more information on Rick's Books

Thursday, July 27, 2006

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary July 27, 2006

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, July 27, 2006

"Future 911"
Boston Globe (07/24/06); Cutler, Kim-Mai

Emergency call centers in Virginia and Texas are testing out new technology that would revamp 911 communications by allowing 911 dispatchers to provide emergency responders with an array of high-tech information from emergency scenes. The technology, known as Next Generation 911 (NG911), has been introduced by a consortium that includes the National Emergency Number Association, Columbia University, and Texas A&M University. NG911 is based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, and it allows emergency responders to utilize cutting-edge communications technologies. For example, the system would allow witnesses to a highway accident to send cell phone video or text messages to the 911 center. The system also would allow sophisticated car security systems to automatically call 911 if the vehicle's air bags deploy, forwarding the driver's health history to the 911 call center. The system also could potentially allow first responders to send video demonstrations of the Heimlich maneuver to someone's cell phone or allow fire fighters to receive the floor plan of a building before reaching the building. The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration has provided the consortium with a $570,000 grant. http://www.boston.com/business/
technology/articles/2006/07/24/future_911/

"Adding a Byte to Crime"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (07/22/06); Lazenby, Brian; Wilson, Matt

The Chattanooga, Tenn., Police Department has installed computers into its police cruisers that permit agencies to communicate with each other and transmit warrant data to officers. Sgt. Jim Massengale says a federal grant let the department buy 318 rugged PCs at a price of $5,400 each. He notes that the technology "puts at the officer's fingertips the ability to get immediate information," adding that the department plans to add such features as fingerprint identification, photographs, and video capabilities to enable footage to be distributed over the wireless computer network. Officials also say the technology will let officers benefit from a records management system that will enable agencies to collaborate on cases, allow officers to swap data via instant messaging, and permit the checking of warrants against suspects and reports of stolen vehicles or boats. However, Soddy-Daisy Police Chief Alan Branham says his agency will not be able to connect to the records system or submit reports remotely because his agency lacks the $20,000 to $30,000 required to secure a software licensing agreement. At present, Soddy-Daisy officers are limited to using the equipment to type reports and saving them to a disk or sending them through a PC inside the station, according to Branham. Meanwhile, Sheriff John Cupp says funds requested in this fiscal year's budget will enable the purchase of 30 machines by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. He says the department will soon install the new computers and will train officers on their use. http://www.tfponline.com/
QuickHeadlines.asp?sec=l&URL=

"Police Station Goes Mobile"
Washington Post (07/20/06) P. T3; Rich, Eric

Funds from the USA Patriot Act, the Maryland State Highway Administration, and the Maryland State Police were used to purchase a 56-foot-long mobile command center. The Mobile Incident Command Vehicle--part bus, part truck, and part recreational vehicle--features a dispatch center and rooftop observation deck. It is equipped with an exterior flat-screen monitor and radio, microwave, telephone, and wireless technologies that are compatible with the numerous communications systems used by state, local, and federal agencies. The $1.15 million vehicle will ensure that the state is prepared to handle a terrorist attack or other such disaster. http://www.washingtonpost.com/
wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR
2006071900033.html

"Helicopters Lift Police's Ability to Fight Crime"
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (FL) (07/22/06) P. 1B; Fooksman, Leon

The Palm Beach County, Fla., Sheriff's Office hopes to add a powerful twin-engine aircraft to its two-helicopter aviation unit in 2007. The $5 million helicopter would enable the 12-pilot unit to engage in search-and-rescue missions over the ocean and transport SWAT members into dangerous situations. The current aircraft of the Sheriff's Office feature surveillance cameras, map tracking, and infrared sensors, enabling the aviation unit to use high-technology to search for smugglers and terrorists along the coastline, crack down on burglars in neighborhoods, track drug dealers on street corners, and aerially patrol for missing children and Alzheimer's patients. The aviation unit costs the Sheriff's Office as much as $2.3 million a year in fuel, personnel, insurance, and other costs, and officials hope to pay for a new helicopter using grants and other funding. More law enforcement agencies across the country are looking to replace the old military helicopters they received in the mid 1990s with new multi-million dollar aircraft, according to police aviation experts. Calls to assist officers on the ground increased 35 percent from 2004 to 2005 for the aviation unit, which serves all police departments in the county.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news
/local/palmbeach/sfl-phelicopter22jul22,0,5039745.story?coll=sfla-news-palm

"Oakley to Set Up Camera System"
Contra Costa Times (CA) (07/18/06); McNamara, Danielle

The city of Oakley, Calif., will spend $30,000 to install two surveillance cameras--one at Neroly Road and Main Street and the other possibly at the Laurel ball field--and the accompanying infrastructure. The cameras are intended to deter crime, as well as enable the city's police department to quickly determine whether a reported crime actually occurred. More than a dozen such cameras were installed around Pittsburg with the help of more than $100,000 in grant and redevelopment funds. These infrared-capable cameras can transmit images to police department monitors. At some point in the future, they could be upgraded to send images to squad cars. http://www.contracostatimes.com/
mld/cctimes/news/local/states/california/15063310.htm

"Lafayette in 3-D"
KATC (LA) (07/23/06)

Officials in Lafayette, La., have unveiled a new computer program called 3-D Pictometry that will give first responders access to three-dimensional views of buildings as well as other important features. The system includes live cameras that police can click on in cases, for example, of a car wreck to know what they're dealing with before they arrive. Fire fighters will benefit from a feature that allows them to measure distances. "They put the mouse on the fire hydrant very quickly--drag their mouse to the place that's on fire, and if it's 162 feet--they know exactly how much hose to pull off the truck," explains Lafayette's Chief Information Technology Officer Keith Thibodeaux. "They know if they have what they need when they get there." Fire fighters and police also can click on floor plans before deciding on a plan of action in emergencies. http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=5186442

"Funding Sought for Jail Security"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (07/18/06); Johnson, Jim

The Monterey County (Calif.) sheriff's office has requested $19,000 for security monitoring cameras and other equipment to be placed in especially high-risk areas of the county jail. The request, which will soon be reviewed by the County Board of Supervisors, comes in response to elevated levels of inmate-on-inmate violence in the jail's E and F pods, which house members of the Norteno gang. The additional cameras would provide stronger monitoring of the highest-risk inmates, which corrections officials hope will reduce the risk that they will attack others. Eventually, officials would like to expand the jail to reduce overcrowding that also contributes to violence; however, they argue that until then, more video monitoring is necessary in order to control inmates when deputies cannot be physically present. http://www.montereyherald.com/
mld/montereyherald/news/15063174.htm

"Federally Funded Security System Keeps Eye on Tri-Rail Passengers"
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (FL) (07/23/06) P. 1B; Turnbell, Michael

Law enforcement officials in Florida's Broward and Palm Beach counties will greatly benefit from a new $1.1 million security system aboard the Tri-Rail commuter rail line, according to officials. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has funded the security system, but the chances of a terrorist attack on the commuter train remain low. Tri-Rail is currently testing the security system, which allows officials to monitor commuters from a flat video screen at the head of the train, and it is expected to be up and running in August. Globe-like cameras, about the size of a softball, have been mounted to the ceiling inside every car of the train, which carries approximately 10,000 to 12,000 passengers a day. Sheriff's deputies from Broward and Palm Beach counties patrol the trains, along with Wackenhut security guards. Passengers have reported 151 incidents of common crime, such as disorderly conduct and vandalism, from July 2005 to June 2006, according to Tri-Rail. "The cameras are just another layer of security we're providing for our passengers," says Brad Barkman, operations director for Tri-Rail. "It's better to be prepared than be sorry."
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news
/local/southflorida/sfl-csecurityjul23,0,3572784.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

"Eye Scanners to Help Track Sex Offenders"
Charlotte Observer (NC) (07/18/06); Lyttle, Steve

Jim Pendergraph, the sheriff of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, says his agency will be the first in the nation to rely on iris scanning technology to identify registered sex offenders. The police technology, called the Sex Offender Registration and Identification System (SORIS), will be accessible by parents to make identification tags for their children. Pendergraph says the technology is more dependable compared to fingerprints and is also "much easier to use in the field." SORIS features non-invasive digital cameras that take high-resolution images of individuals' eyes, and have been proven to be accurate, according to officials at Iridian Technologies, which is supplying the equipment to the sheriff's office. Pendergraph said his agency will allocate $110,000 for the system using funds from drug asset seizures and sales of firearms permits. Pendergraph says the iris-scanning system will create a database featuring all jail inmates, adding that the cameras and scanners will be especially helpful to discern criminal identities when they deny who they are. For example, when deputies make visits at offenders' residences, they sometimes claim that the offender has moved away. "There's no way of fooling the equipment," says Sean Mullin, head of The Child Project, a national project to create a database of children using iris-scanning technology. http://www.charlotte.com/
mld/observer/news/local/15061888.htm

"Prison Security System Bids 'a Little Bit Over'"
Greensburg Tribune-Review (PA) (07/20/06); Hunt, David

Three bids to overhaul Westmoreland County,Pa., Prison's 13-year-old automated cell lock control system have come in slightly above the $2 million prison officials hoped to pay after rejecting a $2.7 million bid to install a new security and surveillance system last month. On July 5, the control system failed. Though it was restored to most of the prison by the following day, the first floor remained down for more than a week. "Everything's been back up, and it's running good," said Deputy Warden Steve Cmar. "If it goes down again, we'll go back to keys." Commissioner Phil Light said bids that were slightly higher than the target could still be managed provided the cost is justified, "We may have to ask if there's anything that can be modified to reduce the cost," he reported. "I'm assuming if they're in the ballpark, then we're going to do it because it needs to be done." http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x
/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_462633.html

"Videoconferences Save Court Money"
Pocono Record (07/11/06); Scott, Andrew

Pennsylvania's Monroe County Court is preparing to implement a live video link system that is expected to save the county time and money because it will no longer be necessary to transport prisoners to and from jail. The use of the system also makes it less likely that inmates will escape. "It's something that can save us a significant amount of time and money while still guaranteeing the rights of incarcerated defendants to fair and equal representation in court," says Commissioner Bob Nothstein. Currently, two sheriff's deputies are in charge of transporting inmates. The new videoconferencing system will allow these deputies to perform other tasks, and it will also reduce the amount of money spent on gas and vehicle mileage. The Luzerne County Court System implemented videoconferencing in 2002, and it has saved about $1 million in that time, says Bill Ostroskie, the court system's management information analyst. http://conferencingnews.com/news/11915

"San Diego Launches MAPS"
Government Technology (07/18/06)

San Diego County has launched MAPS -- a new crime mapping application. The Internet-based mapping system allows the user to get crime information throughout San Diego County by region, neighborhood, date, and time. The project is being coordinated by the DA's Office, managed by the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS), and involves representatives from the Diego Association of Governors (SANDAG) Public Safety Committee, local law enforcement agencies, and the community. The service will allow San Diego area residents to get information about crime near their homes, schools or when looking to move to another neighborhood, while providing law enforcement with a regional approach to fighting crime," DA Bonnie Dumanis said. The MAPS project allows for the sharing of criminal justice-related information across jurisdictional boundaries and enhances interagency communication, intelligence gathering, strategic planning, homeland security, and crime prevention efforts. http://www.govtech.net/localgovt
/story.php?id=100231

"House Bills Target Broader Emergency Communications"
TelecomWeb (07/24/06)

An emergency-alert system that voluntarily enlists traditional TV and radio networks as well as service providers of Internet email and instant messaging, wireless voice and text messages, BlackBerry server systems, and cable communications is the centerpiece of two separate proposals, the Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act and the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act, currently under examination in the House of Representatives. The bills' consideration comes at a point where the Homeland Security Department, the Association of Public Television Stations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and wireline, wireless, and cable community members are testing multimedia alert technologies that tap common traits of digital television, digital paging, and IP network transmissions. "With nearly 200 million Americans carrying cell phones and other wireless devices, it seems only natural to also look to the wireless industry to help communicate in times of emergencies," said House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet Chairman and Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.). The legislation appears to be partially driven by the shortcomings of public alert communications systems exposed by the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act includes no restrictions on available technology usage, a promise not to choose or dictate communications-alert media, and an allocation of $106 million to broaden the alert network and help coordinate various federal initiatives to enhance the system. Meanwhile, the 21st Century Emergency Communications Act would facilitate the creation of interoperable emergency communications standards, ban the expenditure of homeland security funding on equipment that does not conform with standards and statewide compatible communications strategies, and set up a new Office of Emergency Communications. http://www.telecomweb.com/tnd/18288.html

"Judge Rejects Customer Suit Over Records From AT&T"
New York Times (07/26/06) P. A13; Liptak, Adam

Federal District Court judge Matthew Kennelly in Chicago has dismissed a class-action lawsuit against AT&T over the telecom's alleged funneling of customer data to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Kennelly cited state secrets privilege in dismissing the case, while last week a federal judge based in San Francisco allowed a similar suit to go forward despite such claims. Kennelly ruled that his decision is consistent with the San Francisco case because his case seeks each and every phone record given to the NSA, while the San Francisco case is seeking a specific set of communications, if they in fact exist. Kennelly further reasoned that U.S. official recognition of NSA warrantless wiretapping justifies letting the San Francisco case go forward, while U.S. official silence on AT&T's particular role sets a higher bar for a case challenging AT&T. A separate case being adjudicated in Detroit already has moved beyond the procedural stage to consider the legality of the alleged NSA warrantless wiretapping program. The judge there is expected to rule soon. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/26/us/26nsa.html

COP PUBLISHES CHILDREN’S BOOK

(San Dimas, CA) On July 26, 2006, police-writers.com added its first cop authored children’s book. According to Raymond E. Foster, the editor of the list, “Sergeant Randy Garcia, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department authored The Trunk and the Tortoise which is the first in his planned series, The Streamer Trunk Adventures.” Garcia is the 67th state or local police officer to be added to the list. His contribution brings the total number of cop authored books to 158.

In Garcia’s book, the main character Hunter is based on Garcia’s son. According to the book release, “Hunter has just completed the fourth grade and is not looking forward to spending another boring summer hanging around the house. When his grandfather, Captain Mike, sails into town, toting his mysterious steamer trunk, Hunter quickly formulates a plan. He stows away in the trunk, and the two begin an adventurous sailing trip filled with peril and excitement. Unwittingly, they stumble across a nefarious plan to smuggle endangered tortoises from the Galapagos Islands.”

Police-writers.com now lists 67 state or local police officers who have written 158 books. The website can be searched by author, department and category. The categories are fiction, true crime, biographical, academic, tactical and other. The police officers listed on the site come from 35 different departments.

Twenty-six writers are listed from the Los Angeles Police Department, giving it the distinction as the number one originator of cop writers. While the New York Police Department is running a distant second, with eight writers, “that is likely to change.” says Foster. Foster added, “we are finding new authors all the time and given the number there are probably plenty more NYPD cops who have published.”

Friday, July 21, 2006

Terrorism Picks

The Washington Post asked Peter Bergen, a journalists who met and interviewed Osama bin Laden, and Warren Bass, a 9/11 Commission staffer pick the best books on terrorism.

Click to view their selections
http://www.hitechcj.com/homelandsecurity/terrorism_books.html

Thursday, July 13, 2006

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary

"Latest in High Tech Helps Police Keep Ahead of Criminals"
Boston Globe (07/10/06) P. D1; Bray, Hiawatha

Jeffrey Burton works as a digital imaging specialist for the Plymouth Sheriff's Department in Massachusetts, which often entails processing video footage from banks, ATM machines, and stores. His goal is to identify relevant portions of evidence that clearly depict criminal acts and sift it from hours of non-relevant footage. He relies on a video assessment tool called VideoFOCUS, which was recently highlighted at the International Association of Identifications at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. VideoFOCUS also boosts the clarity of images so that their print quality will be high, according to the maker of the devices, Laura Teodosio, who founded the Salient Stills company. She adds that although the software is powerful, officers with non-technical training can easily learn how to use it. Competitors of Salient Stills include Avid/Ocean Systems, whose clients include the Boston police and the MBTA transit police.
http://www.boston.com/business/technology
/articles/2006/07/10/latest_in_high_
tech_helps_police_keep_ahead_of_criminals/

"Computer Modeling Predicts Crashes: Data Help Steer Police to Areas Most Needing Patrol Presence"
Toledo Blade (OH) (07/09/06); Patch, David

The Ohio Highway Patrol (OHP) has deployed a cutting-edge statistical modeling system that allows it to predict where and when traffic accidents will occur. The system was developed by the Ohio State University Statistical Consulting Service. "Troopers traditionally have a good idea where crashes have occurred," says Lt. Rick Zwayer, a spokesman for the patrol. "But this model flags certain areas, times, and even days." The Ohio State system uses data from crashes that occurred across Ohio from 2001 to 2005 to predict crashes. Among the system's forecasts are several seemingly obvious findings: that most alcohol-related crashes occur in the evening; the rate of crashes increases in bad weather; and the number of crashes is highest in the afternoon rush hour. The system's forecasts allow officers to focus their traffic enforcement attention on areas that have high rates of accidents. Data for 2005 fatal crashes is available on the OHP's Web site and can be accessed by the general public.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20060709/NEWS08/607090340/-1/NEWS

"Evidence Gathering Goes Digital"
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (IN) (07/09/06) P. C1; Iacone, Amanda

Nearly 300 police officers in Fort Wayne, Ind., started using digital cameras a year ago, and now regularly use them as a means for collecting evidence. Officers have taken pictures of car collisions, victims, and crime scenes, including those of robberies and domestic violence. The cameras were bought using grant money geared toward reducing domestic violence in the city. The images can be easily retaken, saved, copied, or printed because of their digital qualities. But after adding some 90,000 pictures to the police department's database, the department's computer technology division saw a need to contain more storage space to store images and accelerate the speed of the software used to access the database, according to officer Scott Kizziar. The Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) has ordered a new $12,000 server capable of storing up to eight times more information than the current system, and the addition of hardware and some other technical modifications will decrease the time needed to save and extract photos. This will also allow officers to go back on duty quicker; the existing server takes as long as 45 minutes to an hour for pictures to download. The FWPD expects to retain the images on the server for three years to five years and subsequently store them long-term on DVDs. Kizziar said the photos are encrypted because they are viewed as evidence. http://www.fortwayne.com/mld
/journalgazette/news/local/15000774.htm

"Shreveport Police Using High-Tech Cars as Bait"
Associated Press (07/08/06)

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is helping Shreveport, La., reduce incidents of car theft, which have increased 15 percent in the city over the past year. Cars donated by insurance companies will be used by the local police department as bait. Equipped with tracking technology and a hidden camera, the cars will be used to lure thieves. When one is stolen, dispatch officers will be alerted through a computer alarm. Patrol officers at the scene will be told by the dispatch offers when they are ready to remotely shut the car down. Stops will only be made when no danger is posed to the public.
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.
ssf?/base/news-26/1152387857104390.xml&storylist=louisiana

"Police Have Eye on Cameras for Taser Guns"
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (07/08/06); Ramirez Jr., Domingo

A small camera that links to a Taser gun to obtain the moments before the weapon is discharged is catching the interest of police departments in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as that of the weapons' opponents. Created by Taser International, the Taser Cam is an audio and video recorder that fits to the stun gun's butt and begins taping when the weapon is switched on. Taser International executives stated that the camera adds an extra layer of accountability for officers who employ the weapon. Taser Cams could capture what is being said and done in the moments prior to somebody being hit by a Taser gun blast, which contains 50,000 volts, Taser International officials stated. Some Fort Worth police officials wonder about the video quality of the Taser Cams. The cameras record in black and white but are outfitted with infrared technology to record images in light that is very low. Taser Cams cost around $400. http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/14996233.htm

"DOD Wants to Field Non-Lethal Weapons in Hurricane-Prone States"
Inside the Army (07/10/06) Vol. 18, No. 27,

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) wants to furnish certain National Guard divisions with new non-lethal weapons so that they will have added capabilities that go beyond those of conventional weapons. This includes states that are vulnerable to hurricanes, those with large population centers, and those along the Mexican border. The effort derives from lessons learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which triggered the dispatching of active-duty and National Guard units. The DOD is requesting $8.8 million to purchase 94 "non-lethal capability sets" and 47 "acoustic hailing devices" for the National Guard in 16 states, U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. The request is a part of $4.4 billion fiscal 2006 omnibus reprogramming request recently sent to Congress by the Pentagon. The equipment sets comprise many items already used by several law enforcement groups that seek to control large numbers of people without the use of deadly force. Such equipment would eventually be supplied to all 54 states and territories, according to a DOD official. The sets feature non-ballistic face shields, expandable riot batons, non-ballistic body shields, non-ballistic riot shin guards, flexicuffs, Tasers, Taser cartridges, FN-303-type paint guns, and a Mossberg 12-gauge beanbag shotgun. The acoustic hailing devices allow sound waves to travel distances that exceed the range of small-arms weapons, and can also concentrate sounds, including voice commands.
http://defense.iwpnewsstand.com/showdoc.asp?docid=ARMY-18-27-5

"Lehigh County Prison Eyes New System for Inmates' Accounts"
Morning Call (07/05/06); Varghese, Romy

Lehigh County, Pa., Prison authorities intend to install technology that would allow family and friends to electronically place money in inmate accounts. People now line up at a window at the prison and present a clerk cash or money orders, which is then credited to the account of am inmate. Inmates utilize the accounts to order a variety of items, such as little TVs or snack items, from the commissary two times per week. With the suggested new system, individuals would seek out an inmate in an ATM-style kiosk, then utilize cash, credit cards, or debit cards to put money into the account and obtain a receipt.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/
all-b4-5prison-4rjul05,0,677521.story?coll=all-newslocalbethlehem-hed

"Satellite Monitoring Falls From Orbit"
Charleston Post and Courier (07/06/06) P. A1; Smith, Glenn

Magistrates in Charleston County, S.C., have put a stop to the release of criminal defendants on bail with satellite tracking bracelets while a study is conducted to determine if the technology is reliable. The decision is in response to a case in which a defendant charged with rape allegedly committed another sexual assault while wearing such a device, which he later cut off in order to hide from authorities. "The concern is that we're giving people in the community a false sense of security when we tell them we're putting someone on monitoring," explains Chief Magistrate Henry Guerard. Guerard notes that most people believe the tracking devices let the police know when a defendant is violating the terms of release. However, Guerard says court hearings are necessary in the event of possible violations, and not much else can be done unless police witness the crime in action. http://www.charleston.net/

"District Judges Getting Cameras in Court"
Allentown Morning Call (PA) (07/05/06) P. B1; Garlicki, Debbie

The first phase of security upgrades to district judge offices recommended by the Pennsylvania Judicial Council's Committee on Judicial Safety and Preparedness--created after the assault of a judge in Berks County--has been completed. As part of the phase, 752 digital video cameras and 1,433 panic alarms have been installed in 553 district judge offices, central booking, and night court facilities to discourage violent outbursts from defendants. Upcoming projects include the installation of shatter-proof safety glass and the bolting of chairs to floors. The committee has also suggested gun lockers for defendants with concealed weapons permits and the replacement of named parking spaces with numbered spaces. "The committee did extensive study and found that the district courts, which are really the courts on the front line of our judicial system, are housed in leased property and did not have adequate security equipment," said Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts communications coordinator Steve Schell. An automated incident reporting system launched by the Administrative Office last year will be used to determine what else is needed to beef up security, says State Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, who chairs the safety committee. http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-
b1_5securityjul05,0,588839.story

"Metro Fire Rips Its Radios"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (07/07/06) P. B1; Werkman, Dirk

The Sacramento Regional Communication Radio System, which links emergency responders to area dispatchers, is being upgraded from analog to digital at a cost of $8 million. However, the process is causing disruptions for police and fire departments across the county, prompting Sacramento's fire chief Don Mette to write a letter to Sacramento County CIO Patrick Groff. Mette criticized the county for making the public and emergency responders vulnerable and said Groff and the county would be held liable for any injures caused by the defunct system. Mette also urged officers to restore at least five additional radio channels from among the system's original 25. After receiving the letter, Groff immediately restored five channels and pledged to eventually restore all 25 channels. Groff said the system's 25 radio channels were cut to 12 to allow technicians to overhaul one-half of the system. The improvement initiative began on April 24 and is expected to be finalized by early August at the latest. The 25 channels had supported 14,000 radios used by police, sheriff's deputies, firefighters, trash collectors, and other municipal employees. County officials are collaborating to upgrade the system, which is being paid for through a $6 million federal grant and $2 million from a coalition of local fire and police agencies. Problems with the system have also been experienced by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, according to Sgt. R.L. Davis.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/142756
00p-15085187c.html

"FBI Plans New Net-Tapping Push"
CNet (07/07/06); McCullagh, Declan

Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) intends to introduce legislation that would make it a requirement for ISPs to set up wiretapping hubs for law enforcement monitoring and for networking equipment manufacturers to incorporate backdoors for surveillance, according to FBI agent Barry Smith in a private conference with industry representatives on July 7. DeWine's bill would amend the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) to the effect that any maker of "routing" and "addressing" hardware would be required to offer upgrades or other "modifications" necessary to the enablement of Internet wiretapping; extend wiretapping requirements to "commercial" Internet services if the FCC believes it to be within the "public interest;" coerce ISPs to filter their customers' communications to spot, for example, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls only; and jettison the current legal requirement that Justice must annually issue a public "notice of the actual number of communications interceptions" as well as the "maximum capacity" needed to handle all the legally authorized wiretaps that federal agencies will "conduct and use simultaneously." The FBI says CALEA must be expanded in order to beat terrorists and other criminals who are exploiting technologies such as VoIP. "The complexity and variety of communications technologies have dramatically increased in recent years, and the lawful intercept capabilities of the federal, state and local law enforcement community have been under continual stress, and in many cases have decreased or become impossible," states a summary accompanying the draft bill. However, critics say the legislation infringes on Internet users' privacy, while the bill's political outlook is also muddied by continued debate concerning supposedly unlawful eavesdropping by the National Security Administration. http://news.com.com/FBI+plans+new+Net-tapping
+push/2100-1028_3-6091942.html

"Data Sharing Gets on Track--Finally"
InformationWeek (07/03/06) No. 1096, P. 58; Ambrosio, Johanna

Governments at the federal, state, and local levels have begun to find success in data sharing after some high-profile early failures. An example is the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (Linx), in which six states are already participating and others are about to go live. Linx enables information sharing at all levels of government for catching criminals and fighting terrorist threats, and it has already demonstrated its efficacy by enabling an arrest to be made in the killing of a police officer within 24 hours of the crime being committed. Meanwhile, the Utah state government presents another example of enhancement of government data-sharing. Several Utah state agencies are now able to share eligibility information for citizens qualifying for such services as Medicaid, food stamps, and child care, so that case workers no longer need to conduct separate interviews each time. "If a person or family is eligible for one of these programs, often they're eligible for several of them," says state CIO J. Stephen Fletcher. Reporting requirements forced the state to get several federal agencies' permission to bring the databases together, and this underlines "a big challenge in the interaction with the states and the feds," he says, arising from the constraints placed on federal agencies by congressional funding and watchdogs. Public sector data sharing is likely to expand further thanks to the examples set by Utah and other government entities.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle
.jhtml?articleID=189800152

"Online Wagering Under Attack in Congress"
Associated Press (07/11/06); Zuckerbrod, Nancy

Today the House of Representatives is slated to vote on a bill sponsored by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Jim Leach (R-Iowa) to outlaw the use of credit cards and other payment forms to settle online bets, which has the potential to muzzle Internet gambling. The legislation would also empower law enforcement officials to collaborate with Internet providers to impede access to gambling Web sites. Some critics of the bill believe regulating the online gambling industry and collecting taxes from it is a better option, while other opponents say the proposal fails to address all forms of wagering, such as online lotteries. Among the bill's supporters are pro-sports leagues, who claim their sports' integrity could be compromised by online betting. Meanwhile, the horse racing industry is in favor of the legislation because online gambling on horse races would be permissible under the Interstate Horseracing Act, which means that the venue would attract a lot of business from online gamblers. But this is seen as an unfair loophole by some: "Somehow we find ourselves in a situation where Congress has gotten in the business of cherry-picking types of gambling," argued Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who campaigned unsuccessfully to have online betting for dog racing and jai alai--both popular in his home state--declared exempt. On the other hand, the Department of Justice cited the illegality of Internet gambling on horse races under the 1961 Wire Act in a World Trade Organization case that involved Antigua. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060711/ap_on_go_
co/internet_gambling_11

"Michigan Photo Database Receives Grant, Accolades"
Public CIO (06/29/06)

The Michigan State Police (MSP) has received a $25,000 grant from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance to upgrade the Statewide Network of Agency Photos (SNAP) database of mugshots and identifying marks. SNAP uses Livescan technology developed by DataWorks Plus of South Carolina to transmit images via the Web along with fingerprints and arrest records. The data can then be accessed statewide through the Michigan Criminal Justice Information Network. The grant will expand use, allowing more law enforcement agencies to link to the system. "This enhancement will encourage more users of SNAP and with more users, the photo database will continue to grow, thereby increasing the benefit to law enforcement in identifying known and unknown suspects," says Diane Sherman, director of the MSP Criminal Justice Information Center. The technology allows officers to conduct digital lineups, create missing and wanted posters, and conduct facial recognition searches. The database today includes over 1 million images from 54 participating law enforcement agencies, compared to about 150,000 when launched nearly three years ago. http://www.public-
cio.com/newsStory.php?id=2006.06.29-100036

"Testing New Laser Speed Enforcement Technology"
Police and Security News (06/06) Vol. 22, No. 3, P. 91; Fors, Carl

Unlike radar, police officers can use laser tools to distinguish between the speeds of different vehicles during heavy traffic. One laser gun called Pro-Lite from Kustom Signals features a new binocular-type technology and weighs less than one pound. The easy single-button operation triggers multiple fires at moving vehicles. Kustom, along with a firm called Applied Concepts, offers laser guns featuring digital cameras that allow officers to print out images on-site. Pictures from the Kustom LaserCam can display the date, time, and speed, while the Stalker LiderCam can display the speed/distance. And in tests, Laser Atlanta's SpeedLaser was able to target a vehicle's speed from as far away as 9,204 feet, although such distances cannot be legally used because it lacks a visual tracking history. Laser Atlanta's guns also can report instances of jamming using Class 1, 2, and 3 jammer types. At present, no federal law prohibits laser jamming but some states such as California have passed laws that ban the jammers. Laser Technology's UltraLyte, which can run on two "C" batteries or a permanent power source, helps officers identify tailgating and also features software that can facilitate
accident reconstruction. http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com/

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

66th Police Writer

Police Writers a website dedicated to police officers who have written books adds 66th Police Officer – Nick Mangieri, formerly of the Palmer Police Department (Alaska). Nick’s three books bring the total number of listed books written by police officers to 157.

Click to visit the site

ICCA’s 14th Annual International Research Conference

ICCA’s 14th Annual International Research Conference
“Doing What Works”
October 8-11, 2006 Norfolk, Virginia ICCA’s

14th Annual International Research Conference “Doing What Works” scheduled for October 8-11, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia. U.S. Representative Bobby Scott keynotes, with plenaries featuring new research from Faye Taxman, Norman Hoffman, Donald Braman and Gordon Bazemore. Four full-day pre--conference workshops on implementing best practices, motivational interviewing, PREA, and assessing co-occurring disorders in juveniles, Forty 90-minute workshops on topics of high interest in community corrections.For More Information: ICCA Online

SSCA 27th Annual Training Conference

SSCA 27th Annual Training Conference
July 16 - 19, 2006
Charleston, West Virginia

This Southern States Correctional Association conference provides relevant training to virtually every type of corrections agency – youth and adult services, probation and parole, counselors, teachers, administrators and volunteers. SSCA’s greatest asset is the combined knowledge, experience, and dedication of approximately 1,000 members from its 14 state region. There will also be an exhibit hall that will provide an excellent opportunity for participants to obtain information about products available to for the correctional environment.

For More Information Contact:Kevin Murphy870-850-8524Kevin.Murphy@Arkansas.gov

11th National Conference of 'Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile

11th National Conference of 'Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile Justice'September 10-13, 2006Phoenix, Arizona

The Association for Women Executives in Corrections and the Arizona Probation, Parole & Corrections Association are co-hosting the 11th National Conference of 'Women Working in Corrections and Juvenile Justice' in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme for the conference is "Inspiring Excellence" and the location will be the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs.

For More Information:Women In Corrections - www.womenincorrectionsaz.org

Monday, July 10, 2006

65th Police Writer

Dale Ford, retired from the Midwest City Police Department (Oklahoma), joins his brother and sister police officers with Inconceivable Danger; a true crime story about the hunt for a dangerous drug lord in the Midwest. Dale is the 65th police officer to be listed on www.police-writers.com and marks the 154th listed book written by American Police Officers.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

64th Police Writer

Police Writers, a website dedicated to police officers who have written books added the 64TH author, retired sergeant David Jebb, of the San Diego Police Department (California). Jebb's book, The Thirteenth Time Zone brings the total number of listeed books written by police officers to 153.
Click to visit Police Writers
www.police-writers.com

Police Writers add author

Police Writers, a website dedicated to police officers who have written books added the 63rd author, Quintin Peterson of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington DC. Peterson’s two books, “The Wages of Sin” and “Sin” bring the total number of listed books written by police officers to 152.

Click to visit Police Writers
http://www.police-writers.com/

Friday, July 07, 2006

Hurricane and Disaster Planning Workshop for Law Enforcement and Emergency Planners

Dates: August 17, 2006

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Application Deadline: July 27, 2006

The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Southeast Region (NLECTC-Southeast), a program of the National Institute of Justice, and the University of South Carolina's Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice are sponsoring a Hurricane and Disaster Planning Workshop for August 17, 2006. The purpose of this one-day workshop is to bring representatives of agencies likely to experience a hurricane or similar disaster (natural or man-made), together with those who have experienced one to share solutions, discuss outstanding issues, and review current disaster plans. Attendees will gain insight into the hard lessons learned from past events, along with knowledge of model plans that have been developed from these experiences.

Application Form
Space is limited. Please download the application form and fax or mail the completed form to:

http://www.justnet.org/pdffiles/hurricane_workshop_2006.pdf


NLECTC-Southeast
Attn: Bill Deck
5300 International Blvd.
North Charleston, SC 29418
Fax: 843-207-5283

Tentative Agenda
0900-0930 Opening Remarks
University of South Carolina
NLECTC-Southeast
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
0930-1045 Definition of a Disaster
Experiences of the Slidell, Louisiana Police Department
Chief Freddy Drennan
1045-1115 Break
1115-1230 Law Enforcement Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina
Mike Smith and Jeff Rojek
University of South Carolina
1230-1400 Lunch (not provided)
1400-1600 Planning, Preparation, and Response to Disaster
Jim Madden, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
1600-1630 Questions and Closing Remarks
Freddy Drennan, Jim Madden, Jeff Rojek, and Mike Smith

Thursday, July 06, 2006

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary

"Ankle Monitors Alert Cops, Victims"
Cincinnati Enquirer (07/02/06) P. 1A; Horn, Dan

Ohio's Hamilton County's Sheriff's office started employing electronic monitoring nearly two decades ago as an alternative to sending low-level criminals to prison or to keep suspects locked away while they waited for trial. The system mandates offenders to sport an ankle bracelet that transmits an electronic signal to a monitor in their homes. They are usually allowed to travel to and from work during particular hours but must otherwise stay at home. If they go out during restricted hours, the monitor notifies the sheriff's department. Since electronic monitoring is not perfect, however, county authorities added another system 14 years ago known as JurisMonitor. The system is devised to caution potential victims when a violator breaches the conditions of his monitoring or removes the ankle bracelet. JurisMonitor offers a monitor that cautions victims if a violator is within 500 feet of his or her house. In addition, it has a medallion with a panic button, permitting them to call 911 if they are in trouble.
news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID
=/20060702/NEWS01/607020391/1077


"South Texas City Posts High-Tech Cameras at Border Bridge"
Associated Press (07/04/06)

Texas' Eagle Pass Police Department will employ new high-tech-surveillance cameras to stop drug smugglers and thieves, instead of to prevent illegal immigrants coming into Texas from Mexico. While Eagle Pass has the same trouble with illegal immigrants coming into this country from Piedras Negras, Mexico, as numerous other Texas border towns, a federal crackdown and rapid deportation program for migrants from nations other than Mexico has slowed the immigration inundation and a great deal of other criminal behavior in the city. Eagle Pass will launch three new surveillance cameras, one with night vision and one with a 360-degree view. The surveillance video will be watched full-time to locate criminal activity, public security emergencies, and homeland security risks, but will not be a means for local police to fight immigration breaches. The city's video footage will just be available to law enforcement. The $100,000 camera system was financed by the National Institute of Justice's Border Research and Technology Center. The new software, created by University of California at San Diego engineers with federal grants of around $1 million, will notify viewers of the video to any suspect activity. The new technology will be tested and provide Eagle Pass officials with a new look at sections around its bridge.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4024725.html

"Macomb County Sheriff Ready to Say, 'Let's Roll'"
Detroit Free Press (07/02/06); Christoff, Chris

The Macomb County Sheriff's Department has a new $150,000 mobile command center equipped with four dispatch stations, a self-contained cell phone system, a remote-controlled camera on a 30-foot extension pole, surveillance equipment, a meeting room that can accommodate up to 20 people, an electronic chalkboard that can send instructions by fax, and an electric generator "that'll light up a city," according to Sheriff's Capt. Dave Teske. The converted RV replaces a converted ambulance, offering more comfort for officers responding to situations such as hostage takings that can take days to resolve. The mobile crisis center was funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of efforts to revamp local public safety agencies. A second, smaller mobile command unit will be shared with local communities for disaster response and other emergency needs.
www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20060702/NEWS04/607020672/1006

"New Technology, Techniques Aid Police in Investigations"
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) (07/02/06) P. A16; Valencia, Milton J.

The development of technology and investigative tactics are providing police detectives with greater leverage in reopening cold cases and solving new cases. Many murders have been solved by studying blood patterns, obtaining evidence, and testing fingerprints and DNA. Police are even starting to save fiber and glass in hopes new inventions will offer even greater opportunities in studying evidence. One case involves detectives saving a single-cell sample of semen discovered on a victim, in the hopes that one day technology that has yet to be invented might name the murderer. In Worcester, Mass., police Lt. David Grady and other detectives were able to solve the murder of two women discovered 20 feet apart by identifying the bite marks on one of the women. The marks were made by a man who knew both women. Grady has a picture of the man's teeth taken and obtained dental impressions, and a lab confirmed the pattern was identical to the one on the body of the woman.
www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20060702/SUMMERSERIES/607020488

"New Tool Helps Law Enforcement Map Crime"
Daily Herald (UT) (07/01/06); Ashton, Katie

Law enforcement personnel in Utah County are using electronic crime mapping to help fight crime. Police officers can access the technology either from a laptop in their police cruisers or via a desk computer. Every law enforcement agency in the county, excluding those in Provo, can use the technology. However, Provo law enforcement agencies may eventually join the system. The technology, which works in combination with the Utah County mapping program, allows officers to see where different criminal activities occur in the region. Officers can conduct searches by type of offense and limit searches to specific timelines. The technology provides the added benefit of helping officers coordinate anti-crime efforts with the community by identifying locations of concern. http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/184793/

"License-Plate Scanners: Snap Reads in Hunt for Stolen Cars"
Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA) (06/30/06) P. A01; Burge, Sarah

Riverside, Calif.-area police departments are trying out a new license-plate-scanning technology that could make it hard for thieves to drive around in stolen vehicles. The systems employ roof-mounted cameras on police cars to take digital photos of the plates on passing cars. A computer program obtains license plate numbers form the photos and checks them against databases of stolen cars and other "vehicles of interest," such as those lined with Amber Alerts or felony warrants. Several firms sell the technology, including Civica, which says its PlateScan system can read plates on cars going 110 miles per hour. Rancho Cucamonga's Police Department has a pair of cruisers equipped with license-plate-recognition systems. Meanwhile, Ontario, Calif., has grant money to purchase up to three of the systems, which cost around $20,000 a car. Riverside Police Department has asked for grant money after trying out numerous models this year. The Long Beach Police Department implemented four of the scanners in December, and has since found 234 stolen vehicles and arrested 48 individuals.
www.pe.com/localnews/morenovalley
/stories/PE_News_Local_R_plate30.293686a.html


"South Dakota Starts Statewide Internet Registry of Sex Offenders"
Associated Press (06/30/06); Brokaw, Chet

South Dakota residents who want data about sex offenders residing in their neighborhoods can now access a new state Internet site. For the last 12 years, the state has mandated that convicted sex offenders register with area law enforcement agencies, and data about those offenders has been accessible at city police departments and county sheriffs offices. Under a law approved by the 2006 Legislature, though, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation is mandated to maintain an Internet site that lists all registered sex offenders in the state. The site has a warning that users can be prosecuted if they utilize the data to bother, threaten, or indicate an offender or that person's family. Certain problems are unavoidable with the new Internet site, and offenders sometimes offer incorrect data, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation computer technology and fingerprint identification manager Bob Grandpre noted. Anybody who notices incorrect information on the Web site, such as an offender residing at a different address, should inform the local police or county sheriff's office, he added. Users can look for offenders by name, address, city, county, or ZIP code, or look by clicking on city and county maps that possess red dots to find regions where registered offenders reside.
hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SD_SEX_REGISTRY_SDOL-?
SITE=SDSIO&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

"County to Use GPS Technology to Track Offenders"
Lebanon Daily News (PA) (06/30/06); Shuey, Karen

Lebanon County, Pa.'s adult probation division is using technology that enables the military to align targets and helps drivers find their way in order to follow defendants set for trial and nonviolent criminal offenders on parole or probation. The county's commissioners announced their approval on June 29 for the county's police department to purchase and implement GPS technology to oversee and follow offenders electronically. Officials stated they hope the technology can upgrade the monitoring of individuals inside and outside the home. With the installation of GPS tracking systems, probation officials will be able to track offenders' movement all the time. Subjects under GPS monitoring will sport a removable personal tracking device and a nonremovable wireless ankle cuff. The tracking device obtains its location from the Department of Defense's GPS satellites and lists the time and location in an Internet-based database system. This data can be transmitted to probation and court authorities. http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_3998492

"Stun Gun Law Mandates Training"
Palm Beach Post (FL) (06/27/06) P. 8A; Kam, Dara

Police officers in Florida will be required to receive training on stun gun use and safety under a measure signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush. The bill also restricts stun gun use to individuals being arrested who have the ability to harm an officer or others and suspects who are running away. Officers' training must cover the stun gun's effects, which have been associated with over 100 deaths across the country. Scientists and human rights proponents are concerned that the guns could have deleterious effects on pregnant women, old people, children, people on drugs, and people with heart and neurological conditions. www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content
/state/epaper/2006/06/27/a8a_stungun_0627.html

"New Computer System to Aid Police"
Hartford Courant (CT) (06/27/06) P. B2; Grogan, Jennifer

Hartford, Conn.'s police department is receiving a new computer system that will permit officers to easily get data and file reports from their cars, instead of returning to the station. The department's old system will be replaced by the Law Enforcement Administration System, a computer-assisted dispatch and record management system that is sold by NexGen Solutions. The police department is working with NexGen to implement the software, educate the officers to utilize it, and move the old information to the new system so that is operational by this fall. The software will help with record-keeping, overseeing case data, and sharing data with the fire department and dispatching, which includes recording the call data, prioritizing calls, and following officers' availability. A mobile component will permit officers to obtain in-house records from their cruiser laptops and to file reports from their cars. The NexGen system, including training, costs $176,000. The mobile unit required to link the station house to the cruisers will cost an extra $13,000 to $41,000, depending on the type of system the police department selects. http://www.courant.com/

"Police Identify Oregon Man Shot at Las Vegas Airport Checkpoint"
Las Vegas Sun (06/28/06); Ritter, Ken

Police shot a man at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas Wednesday after the man grabbed a boy from an airport toy store, held a knife to the boy's throat, and ran past a security checkpoint at the airport. The man, identified as 19-year-old Michael John Allgood, lunged at a police officer with the knife, prompting police to shoot him, including one officer who stunned Allgood with a Taser. Allgood was in critical condition as of Wednesday, and police said that he has a mental illness and that the incident was not related to terrorism.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories
/nevada/2006/jun/28/062810034.html

"Congress Takes Aim at Social Network Sites' Safeguards"
SiliconValley.com (06/29/06); Davies, Frank

A U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee plans to create anti-pornography legislation to help shield Internet users and especially young Internet users from online pornography. The legislation will require companies to take precautions to safeguard Internet users from both pornography and online predators that troll social-networking Web sites, chat rooms, and other online hot spots. Social-networking Web site MySpace.com now has 85 million registered users and gains 250,000 new users each day, and Congress is concerned about online predators targeting teenagers there. Connecticut police detective Frank Dannahey says teenagers are "very trusting and are willing to share very personal information with strangers." Dannahey himself has investigated 17 cases in Connecticut of girls who say they were assaulted by people they met through MySpace. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) says it is easy for young users to "get on MySpace," though the Web site's policy says users must be 14 years or older. Social-networking Web site Facebook has 8 million college and high school users, and blogging Web site Xanga has 27 million users. http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley
/business/technology/14930139.htm

"The Mobile Identifier--Instantaneous Mug Shots on Demand"
Police and Security News (06/06) Vol. 22, No. 3, P. 39; Siuru, Bill

A device from Neven Vision called Mobile Identifier is designed to help police officers identify criminals. The company asserts that its facial analysis software is the market leader in accuracy and enjoys identification rates of over 99 percent in mobile devices. The Mobile Identifier software can be used to spot gang members, fugitives, and those wanted on warrants, and has been tested by the Los Angeles Police Department, which plans to soon launch a larger follow-up initiative. The firm hopes to eventually offer three versions of the devices ranging from under $1,500 to $5,000. Officers operate the device by aiming its 1.3 megapixel lens towards a suspect; the device's LED lighting is able to sufficiently illuminate suspects even in low light conditions. The image is compared to those in the Mobile Identifier's database, after which the device displays nine pictures on its 3.5 inch display screen. Typically, the first or second picture yields a positively identified person. The unit can connect to its onboard database when it is placed in its cradle and can also link to other databases through Bluetooth, USB, RS232, or 802.11g Wi-Fi. But the facial recognition system might encounter difficulties when dealing with such changes as weight gain or loss, facial hair, sunglasses, aging, and different light conditions. In addition to assessing mug shots, the device can also assess fingerprints; future versions may also be able to analyze irises and skin. http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com/

"Software Calculates Distances in Photos"
Sheriff (06/06) Vol. 58, No. 3, P. 24

The Washington State Patrol's Major Accident Investigation Team is using a computer application created by Eos Systems to aid probes of highway accidents. PhotoModeler reduces the time that investigators spend at accident scenes reconstructing what occurred by using photos to create three-dimensional models. Investigators can then access the models back at their office. The technology uses photogrammetry to develop measurement data and is compatible with all digital or film cameras. A single copy of the software application is priced at $895, though no additional costs are required later. Washington State Patrol Sgt. Jerry Cooper notes that the technology is best applied for "more compact scenes," but can work with larger scenes as well. http://www.sheriffs.org/

"Wauconda Fire Department Granted Advanced Radio System"
Chicago Daily Herald (07/05/06); Evdoxiadis, Georgia

The Department of Homeland Security provided a grant to the Wauconda Fire Department for purchasing the "incident commander's radio interface" system. The technology facilitates communication between law enforcement and fire department officials by allowing them to use a number of different radio bands. The Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program grant also covers the cost of training for a single member of the department. Wauconda Fire Chief David Dato indicated other fire departments and villages will be granted access to the system. Island Lake Police Chief John Fellman believes that the technology will help his department fulfill its responsibilities. Fellman added that the department is eager for the system to become Internet-enabled. http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=205274

"Lighting the Way"
Police (06/06) Vol. 30, No. 6, P. 36; Smith, Scott

When selecting a multi-use duty flashlight, law enforcement officers have many vendors and many configurations of lights to choose from. Lights made by name-brand companies will be of higher quality than generic brands. When purchasing a duty light, officers should look for one that best meets the various duties associated with their job. For example, bright lights are better for use in large, open spaces, while dimmer lights are more appropriate for the confines of warehouses, parking garages, or indoor areas. Bright lights that reflect off of indoor objects can temporarily blind an officer. Lights that are appropriate for duty belts include the one-inch diameter two- or three-cell CR123A lights, which are compact and weigh little. The brightness of LED lights has evolved to the point where these lights are comparable to xenon bulbs, though xenon bulbs have greater distance than LED lights. A small complaint about the LED lights is that they cast a bluish light, but a positive is that they last two to four times longer than xenon lights and their overall life expectancy is thousands of hours greater than xenon bulbs. The key to a flashlight's brightness is the lamp and reflector assembly. Officers are advised to choose a flashlight with a lens of tempered glass or Pyrex for greater durability. Lights with built-in batteries recharge faster than lights with removable/rechargeable battery packs. http://www.policemag.com/t_cipick.cfm?rank=92787

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

NOW RECRUITING - Intelligence Research Specialist

NOW RECRUITING

Intelligence Research Specialist, GS-0132-13

We currently have several opportunities for you to serve with distinction as an Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Our organization has the exciting mission of protecting United States citizens and assets from terrorists and smugglers, and in preventing a broad range of other criminal activities within our Area of Responsibility. We are looking only for exceptional, high-energy intelligence professionals with successful track records providing meaningful intelligence information to their customers. You must also be able to obtain a Top Secret Clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. If you are interested in joining a growing organization with tremendous possibilities for challenge, personal and professional growth, and you meet these qualifications; please apply to this Vacancy Announcement by July 7, 2006.

Where are the positions being filled? Washington, D.C.

Mandatory Training. Those selected must successfully complete five and ½ weeks of paid training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. Successful completion of all segments of training is mandatory.

In order to apply, you must go online between June 26, 2006 and July 7, 2006,

Click here to view the announcement