May 30, 2007 - The Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Police Protective League today issued the following statement regarding the LAPD presentation to the Police Commission yesterday and the City Council today in which the Department agreed that improved training and command and control is necessary in wake of the incident in MacArthur Park on May 1st.
"One of the lessons of the May Day incident is that we have sacrificed training in order to have enough officers available everyday to protect the city. This is a real cost of being understaffed. We need the flexibility to be able to keep our communities safe and at the same time to be able to rotate officers into training modules. While recruitment will help us down the road, we also need to be realistic about the need for overtime now to maintain constant staffing and crowd control, and to allow us to provide adequate training for all of our officers."
The LAPPL recommends that the LAPD adopt the 12 recommendations released yesterday. A complete copy of the recommendations can be found on our website, www.LAPD.com."
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Police and Firearms in England
May 29, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website also separately lists international as well as domestic federal law enforcement officials who have written books. Today, the list added Michael J. Waldren, an expert on the use of firearms by the police in the United Kingdom.
In 1967, after attending college, Michael J. Waldren joined the Metropolitan Police Service in London. During College, Michael Waldren developed a keen interest firearms and shooting. Following his interest, in 1977, Michael, then a sergeant, joined the Firearms Unit of the London Metropolitan Police as an instructor. At the same time, he was also a member of the Operational Firearms Team.
Today, since the vast majority of Bobbies (London Police Officers) do not carry firearms, only certain police officers are trained and armed with firearms. They are called Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO). According to Metropolitan Police Service firearms policy, “the MPS provides an armed capability to assist in the combat of armed criminality within both the Metropolitan Police District and throughout the United Kingdom. These duties will also include diplomatic protection, Royalty protection, airport security, court security, armed surveillance, armed personal protection, proactive armed operations and Central London security patrols. The MPS will only arm officers how have undergone a specific selection and training programme and each Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) will be equipped in accordance with their training and role. AFOs will be required to maintain specific leaves of training and fitness in order to continue their role.”
In 1982, Michael Waldren was promoted to Inspector. His first major command responsibility was at the Libyan Peoples Bureau in 1984. In the late 1970s he was regularly being asked by the media and television companies about the history of police use of firearms and he found that there were very few books on the subject. His research developed into a 1986 book which he co-authored on the subject of police use of firearms in England; tracing the history back to 1829 when the Metropolitan Police Service was first formed by Sir Robert Peel.
In 1987, now a Chief Inspector, Michael Waldren he became the MPS chief firearms instructor and as a result he sat on several national committees, which ultimately formulated police firearms policy throughout the United Kingdom. In 1992, he was promoted to Superintendent and in 1994, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent. In 1999, Michael Waldren was awarded the Queens Police Medal for Distinguished Police Service. He retired in 2000.
Michael Waldren authored the book Armed Police: The Police Use of Firearms Since 1945. According to the book description, “On 7 July 2005, just before 9 am, explosive devices detonated on London Underground trains at Liverpool Street, Edgware Road and Kings Cross stations and on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. Fifty-six people were killed and over 700 injured. Suicide bombing had come to Britain. Two weeks later, the capital's commuters narrowly missed disaster when four more devices failed to explode. Security in London was increased to unprecedented levels as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair said his force faced 'its largest operational challenge since the war'. Heavily armed police officers patrolling the streets became a regular feature of television news programmes, leaving an enduring impression that unarmed policing in Britain had gone forever and with it the kindly image of the archetypal British bobby. Controversy rages over the increased use of firearms because in the public mind, the hallmark of British security has always been unarmed policing. Now, for the first time, former Head of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit, Michael Waldren, gives his insider account of the changes in Britain's policing, spanning over half a century and including many examples of extraordinary heroism, tragedy, controversy, comedy, intrigue and occasional farce.”
According to Bryn Elliott, the editor of Police Aviation News (United Kingdom), “The arrival for review of Armed Police: The Police use of Firearms since 1945 by Michael J. Waldren was like meeting an old friend after a long time apart. A decade ago Michael Waldren teamed up with Bob Gould to write the broadly similar ‘London’s Armed Police’ which effectively covered the history and development of arming the police in the Capital City. The title has been out of print for many years.
The new book effectively updates the same story in some detail since 1945 and although it appears to suggest a treatment in a far wider context it remains very much faithful to that original theme. There are stories from other parts of the UK but from the number omitted I would assume that the knowledge displayed of them is more autobiographical rather that based on pure research. They are very selective.
Likewise the later chapters appear to have become bogged down in reciting too much detail on the reasons the Metropolitan Police pulled their firearms operations out of their main base of Lippitts Hill for the tastes of the average reader. In the main though it is a good factual read and a worthy update on the original.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
In 1967, after attending college, Michael J. Waldren joined the Metropolitan Police Service in London. During College, Michael Waldren developed a keen interest firearms and shooting. Following his interest, in 1977, Michael, then a sergeant, joined the Firearms Unit of the London Metropolitan Police as an instructor. At the same time, he was also a member of the Operational Firearms Team.
Today, since the vast majority of Bobbies (London Police Officers) do not carry firearms, only certain police officers are trained and armed with firearms. They are called Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO). According to Metropolitan Police Service firearms policy, “the MPS provides an armed capability to assist in the combat of armed criminality within both the Metropolitan Police District and throughout the United Kingdom. These duties will also include diplomatic protection, Royalty protection, airport security, court security, armed surveillance, armed personal protection, proactive armed operations and Central London security patrols. The MPS will only arm officers how have undergone a specific selection and training programme and each Authorised Firearms Officer (AFO) will be equipped in accordance with their training and role. AFOs will be required to maintain specific leaves of training and fitness in order to continue their role.”
In 1982, Michael Waldren was promoted to Inspector. His first major command responsibility was at the Libyan Peoples Bureau in 1984. In the late 1970s he was regularly being asked by the media and television companies about the history of police use of firearms and he found that there were very few books on the subject. His research developed into a 1986 book which he co-authored on the subject of police use of firearms in England; tracing the history back to 1829 when the Metropolitan Police Service was first formed by Sir Robert Peel.
In 1987, now a Chief Inspector, Michael Waldren he became the MPS chief firearms instructor and as a result he sat on several national committees, which ultimately formulated police firearms policy throughout the United Kingdom. In 1992, he was promoted to Superintendent and in 1994, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent. In 1999, Michael Waldren was awarded the Queens Police Medal for Distinguished Police Service. He retired in 2000.
Michael Waldren authored the book Armed Police: The Police Use of Firearms Since 1945. According to the book description, “On 7 July 2005, just before 9 am, explosive devices detonated on London Underground trains at Liverpool Street, Edgware Road and Kings Cross stations and on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square. Fifty-six people were killed and over 700 injured. Suicide bombing had come to Britain. Two weeks later, the capital's commuters narrowly missed disaster when four more devices failed to explode. Security in London was increased to unprecedented levels as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair said his force faced 'its largest operational challenge since the war'. Heavily armed police officers patrolling the streets became a regular feature of television news programmes, leaving an enduring impression that unarmed policing in Britain had gone forever and with it the kindly image of the archetypal British bobby. Controversy rages over the increased use of firearms because in the public mind, the hallmark of British security has always been unarmed policing. Now, for the first time, former Head of the Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit, Michael Waldren, gives his insider account of the changes in Britain's policing, spanning over half a century and including many examples of extraordinary heroism, tragedy, controversy, comedy, intrigue and occasional farce.”
According to Bryn Elliott, the editor of Police Aviation News (United Kingdom), “The arrival for review of Armed Police: The Police use of Firearms since 1945 by Michael J. Waldren was like meeting an old friend after a long time apart. A decade ago Michael Waldren teamed up with Bob Gould to write the broadly similar ‘London’s Armed Police’ which effectively covered the history and development of arming the police in the Capital City. The title has been out of print for many years.
The new book effectively updates the same story in some detail since 1945 and although it appears to suggest a treatment in a far wider context it remains very much faithful to that original theme. There are stories from other parts of the UK but from the number omitted I would assume that the knowledge displayed of them is more autobiographical rather that based on pure research. They are very selective.
Likewise the later chapters appear to have become bogged down in reciting too much detail on the reasons the Metropolitan Police pulled their firearms operations out of their main base of Lippitts Hill for the tastes of the average reader. In the main though it is a good factual read and a worthy update on the original.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Arkansas and Colorado
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website added three police officers; two from Colorado and one from Arkansas.
Dempsie Coffman was sworn in as a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police on October 7, 1973 and assigned to the Highway Patrol Division. In 1979, he received the prestigious Trooper of the Year award for saving a woman’s life. He was promoted to Sergeant on November 23, 1984 and then Lieutenant on June 17, 1988. His first assignment as a lieutenant was as the Assistant Commander for Troop “B” at Newport, Arkansas. In March of 1995, he transferred to Troop “J” in Clarksville, where he served the remainder of his thirty-year career before retiring on April 30, 2004. Dempsie Coffman is the author of three books: Arkansas State Troopers: A Breed Apart; Life (It's All about the Family) An Autobiography about the Life and Times of Lt. Dempsie Coffman, Arkansas State Police; and, a book of poetry, Southern Charm: Poems For All Occasions.
Steve Thomas is a 13 year veteran of law enforcement. His experience includes 8 years with the Boulder Police Department (Colorado). While working on the Boulder Police Department, Steve Thomas was a primary investigator on the JonBenet Ramsey case. Steve Thomas took medical leave in 1998 and ultimately resigned from the Boulder Police Department. Steve Thomas is the co-author of JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation.
According to Shawn Carkonen, a reviewer on Amazon.com, “Let's answer the burning question straightaway: Steve Thomas believes that Patsy Ramsey is responsible for the death of her daughter, JonBenét, Christmas night 1996. As a key member of the team assigned to investigate the murder of the 6-year-old girl, the former detective knows the facts of the case as well as anyone, and the conclusion he draws is convincing and clearly presented. And, as it turns out, his theory about who may be guilty of the crime is just one of the shocking revelations in JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation.”
Philip Swift was born into an Episcopal Church and grew up in both Missouri and Colorado and under the watchful eye of his father, an Episcopal Priest. At a young age, Philip decided that his life's work would not be found within the church but within the law enforcement community. Cradle to Grave is a unique look at an age-old problem. Philip uses his years of service with not only the Denver Sheriff Department's Gang Unit but also the Department Emergency Response Unit to address the problem of monitoring and tracking both gang and Security Threat Groups from the prospective of a correctional setting. His unique look at an often overlooked issue offers a new set of techniques that can be applied to the ever-changing gang culture within today's jails and prisons. The Cradle to Grave philosophy binds together techniques that have been proven in facilities across the country to create a program that can effectively monitor and track gang and Security Threat Groups. Cradle to Grave also offers a view into gang and Security Threat Group culture that enables even a rookie officer to understand the inmates that live within the walls of today's correctional facilities.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Dempsie Coffman was sworn in as a Trooper with the Arkansas State Police on October 7, 1973 and assigned to the Highway Patrol Division. In 1979, he received the prestigious Trooper of the Year award for saving a woman’s life. He was promoted to Sergeant on November 23, 1984 and then Lieutenant on June 17, 1988. His first assignment as a lieutenant was as the Assistant Commander for Troop “B” at Newport, Arkansas. In March of 1995, he transferred to Troop “J” in Clarksville, where he served the remainder of his thirty-year career before retiring on April 30, 2004. Dempsie Coffman is the author of three books: Arkansas State Troopers: A Breed Apart; Life (It's All about the Family) An Autobiography about the Life and Times of Lt. Dempsie Coffman, Arkansas State Police; and, a book of poetry, Southern Charm: Poems For All Occasions.
Steve Thomas is a 13 year veteran of law enforcement. His experience includes 8 years with the Boulder Police Department (Colorado). While working on the Boulder Police Department, Steve Thomas was a primary investigator on the JonBenet Ramsey case. Steve Thomas took medical leave in 1998 and ultimately resigned from the Boulder Police Department. Steve Thomas is the co-author of JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation.
According to Shawn Carkonen, a reviewer on Amazon.com, “Let's answer the burning question straightaway: Steve Thomas believes that Patsy Ramsey is responsible for the death of her daughter, JonBenét, Christmas night 1996. As a key member of the team assigned to investigate the murder of the 6-year-old girl, the former detective knows the facts of the case as well as anyone, and the conclusion he draws is convincing and clearly presented. And, as it turns out, his theory about who may be guilty of the crime is just one of the shocking revelations in JonBenét: Inside the Ramsey Murder Investigation.”
Philip Swift was born into an Episcopal Church and grew up in both Missouri and Colorado and under the watchful eye of his father, an Episcopal Priest. At a young age, Philip decided that his life's work would not be found within the church but within the law enforcement community. Cradle to Grave is a unique look at an age-old problem. Philip uses his years of service with not only the Denver Sheriff Department's Gang Unit but also the Department Emergency Response Unit to address the problem of monitoring and tracking both gang and Security Threat Groups from the prospective of a correctional setting. His unique look at an often overlooked issue offers a new set of techniques that can be applied to the ever-changing gang culture within today's jails and prisons. The Cradle to Grave philosophy binds together techniques that have been proven in facilities across the country to create a program that can effectively monitor and track gang and Security Threat Groups. Cradle to Grave also offers a view into gang and Security Threat Group culture that enables even a rookie officer to understand the inmates that live within the walls of today's correctional facilities.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 560 police officers (representing 234 police departments) and their 1179 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Court Looking for Safest Way to Put Records on the Web"
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (05/20/07) P. 1A; Carmen, Barbara
County courthouses across the country have been placing court documents online, and this practice is exposing the private information of millions of Americans and court officials to the scanning eyes of identity thieves, parties in lawsuits, and professional companies that amalgamate and resell information about people. Franklin County, Ohio, is creating a list of items that should be redacted from online copies of court documents, and they are investing in software that expunges this information automatically. This list includes Social Security records, juvenile evaluations, HIV tests, names of children who are victims of sexual violence, and police officer addresses and phone numbers. In comparison Hamilton County, Ohio, has been publishing its court documents on the Internet for eight years. They have shut down online access three times because private financial and personal information has leaked out. Baseball catcher Johnny Bench filed for divorce in Hamilton County, Ohio, and his divorce papers received more than 18,000 Internet views in just their first day online. "The court has to balance the very important Constitutional requirement of open court with the need to protect individual privacy," says one court spokesperson.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/
2007/05/20/nakedinfo.ART_ART_05-20-07_A1_RS6OV5M.html
"Graffiti Fight Gets Help from Technology"
Desert Sun (05/19/07) P. 1B; Wiedmaier, Stacy
New technology is helping law enforcement agencies in Indio, Calif., control graffiti by tracking vandals. Thanks to GPS and Internet technology provided by a company called Graffiti Tracker, Indio police and government officials have the tools they need to research and decode graffiti markings before they are erased. The tracking system allows law enforcement agencies to link vandals to their graffiti postings, ensuring their prosecution. "I'm very excited about this opportunity," says Graffiti Tracker founder Tim Kephart. "The Indio police departments are motivated hard chargers who will act on the intelligence we're providing. There is actual evidence that these messages can be decoded, but they must be documented before they are painted over."
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070519/NEWS08/705190321/1006
"GPS: Jail of the Future?"
Twin Falls Times-News (Idaho) (05/18/07); Friedman, Cassidy
Jerome County and additional counties in Idaho's Magic Valley region will convene June 14 to talk about constructing a new jail. But Jerome's chief officer of juvenile and misdemeanor probation Kyle Fisher is suggesting taking some inmates and violators out of the Jerome County facility. Right now, younger defendants incarcerated at the Snake River Juvenile Detection Center cost Jerome County $136 each day. Adult inmates, who are frequently forced to sleep on cell floors, cost the county between $30 and $40, if sent to other counties, as well as transportation expenses. On May 16, Fisher ordered four GPS anklets for juveniles, each priced at $9 per day, which will be paid for via a federal grant. He will also propose to commissioners that they invest in the technology for adults--whether they are facing or found guilty of misdemeanors. Fisher explained that the new gadgets have alarms and can be devised to keep alcoholics from going into bars, sex violators from getting close to schools, and abusers from visiting their former wives. http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/05/18/news/local_state/112444.txt
"Push for Cameras at High-Accident Intersections"
Washington Post (05/20/07) P. LZ1; Brubaker, Bill
Loudon County, Va., Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson is pushing to install as many as two dozen red-light cameras at high-accident intersections across his jurisdiction. Motorists caught by the cameras will be mailed a $50 citation, though they will not be charged points on their drivers licenses.' Studies show that the devices can be an effective deterrent against red-light running, and can reduce accidents. However, critics of red-light cameras say they encourage motorists to slam on their brakes in order to avoid getting a ticket. Other critics have questioned the accuracy of the cameras in documenting violations. Despite the criticism, Leesburg Police Chief Joseph R. Price says he is sold on red-light cameras. He noted that while the cameras may increase rear-end crashes, they significantly reduce the number of T-bone type crashes, which are usually more serious in terms of injury and property damage. In order to address concerns that the cameras produce misleading photos, Simpson said he will look into getting the most state-of-the-art red-light cameras on the market. If those concerns are addressed and officials in Loudon County and Leesburg approve the use of red-light cameras, the devices could be up and running early next year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2007/05/21/AR2007052100481.html
"Stun Gun Salve in Miami Cuts Risk of Death"
USA Today (05/18/07) P. 3A; Willing, Richard
Law enforcement officials in Miami have launched a program that aims to prevent deaths that sometimes occur when officers use electric stun guns on unruly suspects. Under the program, which began in October, police officers are required to call emergency medical technicians whenever stun guns are used. If a suspect still cannot be controlled after a stun gun has been used, technicians spray a fast-acting sedative called midazolam into their noses. After the subject has been subdued, technicians inject sodium bicarbonate to counteract acids released by tensed muscles and iced saline to lower body temperature. Many of those who have died after being subdued with a stun gun have been found to have been using drugs that raised their body temperatures to as high as 108 degrees, said John Gardner, chief of Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue's emergency medical services. Gardner noted that the program has been used successfully at least a dozen times since it was launched seven months ago. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-17-stun-gun-miami_N.htm?csp=34
"Federal Airport Security Workers Scanning Bottled Liquids"
Houston Chronicle (05/22/07)
The Transportation Security Administration plans to deploy about 200 hand-held scanners that can detect explosive material in sealed bottles of liquid at airports across the United States by October. The scanners have already completed piloting at Miami International and Newark Liberty International and are undergoing testing at airports in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Las Vegas. Testing in Boston is scheduled to begin later this week. The technology is only used on passengers chosen for secondary inspections prior to boarding. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4824767.html
"Upgrade Should Speed Up 911 Cell Phone Service"
San Diego Union-Tribune (05/18/07) P. B2; Baker, Debbi Farr
The San Diego Sheriff's Department has completed a $1.5 million overhaul of its emergency communication system. Prior to the upgrade, emergency calls passed through the California Highway Patrol (CHP) before going to the department and the response time for CHP dispatchers took 15 to 45 seconds. Now calls will be forwarded directly to the Sheriff's Department and answered by sheriff's dispatchers within three seconds, according to Undersheriff Bill Gore.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/
20070518-9999-1m18pubsafe.html
"Will County Gets Police Podcast"
Chicago Tribune (05/18/07) P. M1; Dardick, Hal
The Will County, Ill., Police Department plans to broadcast weekly police reports over iPod listening device channels, a form of broadcasting known as podcasting. Will County Police Sheriff Paul Kaupas says podcasting will enable police to disseminate information widely, present their point of view on specific incidents, and also send out neighborhood-specific information to reach people in specific neighborhoods. For instance, the department plans to report stories such as this one: During two recent weekends in Plainfield Township, Ill., 31 vehicles were stolen and only a single vehicle was locked. Police department representative Pat Barry notes that "the print media sometimes can only give what they are being told, and they are sometimes limited in what they can say by the space they have." The New York Police Department began podcasting an "Inside the NYPD" show in 2005 that features stories such as recent profiles on a police academy, a fire rescue incident, and a Muslim police chaplain. Will County, Ill. also hopes its podcasting will reach young people, and that this in turn may lead to crime tips coming back in youth-specific cases. The county already sends out email alerts about crimes to around 3,000 recipients, and has garnered tips from this email program.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-
0705171190may18,1,5116468.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed
"Hoosiers Can Track Inmate Status"
Louisville Courier Journal (KY) (05/16/07) P. 1B; Weidenbener, Lesley Stedman
Indiana is now part of a multi-state inmate tracking network called SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification), which is available around the clock at www.vinelink.com or by calling 1-866-959-8463. Now, residents in Indiana can access the status of more than 27,000 inmates in the state's correctional system as well as county jails in Floyd, Marion, Warrick, and Henry counties. Residents can opt to be notified about inmates' placement, release, transfer, or other changes, and can use the service anonymously in English or Spanish. Java Ahmed with the Indiana Department of Correction said additional counties would be added to the system as the technology expands and more prison officials become trained. By the end of 2008, all 92 counties in the state are scheduled to be online, she said. The U.S. Congress committed $17 million to launch the nationwide system; Indiana received roughly $1.25 million. The state is providing approximately $950,000 in matching funds for the initiative through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the state Department of Correction. Becky Dunlap with Crisis Connections anticipates that SAVIN will help reduce her organization's need to consult with law enforcement and prosecutors.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070516/NEWS02/705161256
"Grant Will Fund Police Technology"
Rockford Register Star (Illinois) (05/16/07) P. 2C; Gurman, Sadie
The helicopters that assist Rockford, Ill., officials with search-and-rescue operations will soon be able to employ heat detection to locate people who escape in complete darkness. The infrared equipment can detect the warmth of a missing person and the heat of a just-fired gun, according to Deputy Chief Kurt Ditzler. The technology will be implemented in one of the helicopters the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department utilizes through the Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition. Rockford Area Crime Stoppers will pay for the $186,000 price tag as part of a $578,000 grant the crime-combating initiative will divide between area law enforcement groups. Ditzler explained that the infrared equipment will permit officials to scan big sections of land, seeking temperature changes, which can help them locate missing individuals, nighttime car accident victims, and suspects on the lam. Crime Stoppers is also purchasing surveillance cameras for the Rockford Police Department. Rockford police will receive during a three-year period $350,000 to implement the cameras in the city's problem neighborhoods. http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007105160030
"Hale County in Texas Selects Omnilink Systems to Electronically Monitor Juveniles on Probation"
Business Wire (05/16/07)
The Juvenile Probation Board of Hale County, Texas has selected Omnilink Systems to provide electronic juvenile offender monitoring services for several county youth that are on probation. Omnilink provides sophisticated location awareness information in real-time, offering a product that is completely waterproof and capable of tracking people and valuable assets inside buildings, buses, trains, and more. After relying on landline-based monitoring, which only notified probation officers when offenders were home, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Eddie Subealdea stated that Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 monitoring technology solution allows the Hale County officers to know the location of their assigned juveniles at all times. "With Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 monitoring technology solution, my officers know within a minute when a juvenile breaks curfew or is somewhere off limits. And, they can view reports telling them where the juveniles have been previously. The adolescents themselves can't believe it and seem more apt to stay out of trouble," Subealdea says. "With this increased efficiency, electronic monitoring has proven to be an effective alternative to juvenile placement, which can cost 10 times as much as monitoring. That's a lot of savings which allows the tax payer dollars to be spent in other ways to improve safety or juvenile services." Omnilink uses a combination of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), wireless network technologies, RFID and situation-specific sensors to transmit information to a monitoring center using commercial cellular networks and then applying predefined supervision rules on a Web-based application. Recently updated in conjunction with law enforcement feedback, Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 also features automated voice alerts when an offender location violation has occurred. In addition, Focalpoint 2.0 offers a victim safeguard that tracks the victims' off-the-shelf cell phones, in addition to the related offender, and then alerts both the victim and law enforcement when the two are within a designated proximity to each other.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=
news_view&newsId=20070516005196&newsLang=en
"Relentless Search by Police Pays Off in a Heartbeat"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (05/16/07) P. B1; Kriegish, I. Harrison
Earlier in May, state police searched Butler County, Pa., for 10-year-old John Paul May, a Harrisville resident who was awaiting a donor heart. When UPMC Children's Hospital staff could not find the boy or contact his mother when a heart became available, the police were called. Cpl. James Green was able to convince Sprint Nextel to locate Mrs. May's cell phone utilizing incorporated GPS technology, which can only be used in "life and death" situations. The police were able to track down John Paul and his mother at a concert in Slippery Rock, and the child was taken by ambulance to the children's hospital in Oakland with under an hour to spare. The surgery went well and John Paul is recuperating.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07136/786281-54.stm
"Biometrics Enter DHS Exit System"
Federal Computer Week (05/14/07); Chan, Wade-Hahn
To the great relief of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 7 that it intends to quickly implement its biometric-based exit system for verifying the identities of foreign travelers who are leaving the United States. Over the past three years, the DHS US-VISIT program has been testing biometric exit technology at 14 airports, and since 2005, the DHS has been working on creating plans that detail how a secure, biometrics-based exit strategy can be implemented. The DHS had been testing the use of RFID technology for the program, but ended the tests earlier this month. The DHS then announced that it would implement 10-fingerprint scans as a means to verify the identities of foreigners who are leaving the United States via airports. Over the next several months, the DHS will introduce new regulations that explain the working details of the biometric exit system. DHS spokeswoman Anna Hinken noted that travelers in airports typically have about two hours before leaving on their flights. "The visitors could just go up and check out whenever they wanted," Hinken said. http://www.fcw.com/article102688-05-14-07-Print
"Send in the Robots: Robot Teams Handle Hazardous Jobs"
Kansas State University News (05/01/07); Hall, Michelle
Kansas State University associate professor of computing and information sciences Scott DeLoach has been using a $219,140 grant from the Department of Defense to research and create intelligent sensor networks. DeLoach's approach uses robots, sensors, laptops, and servers to handle dangerous but necessary tasks such as searching buildings for weapons of mass destruction or clearing supply routes of improvised explosive devices. DeLoach's projects examine how robot teams can respond to changing environments when performing a task, an action that will require the robots to have knowledge of the team's organizational structure, individual team member capabilities, the environment, the team goal, and appropriate reasoning mechanisms. "The goal is to establish 'organizational reasoning' as a key component in a new approach to build highly robust cooperative robot teams," DeLoach says. So far, a model of autonomous teams has been developed that allows teams to reason about organizing and reorganizing, along with a goal model for dynamic systems that allows the dynamics of the environment to be captured, according to DeLoach. The project has also developed a high-level simulator that tests the teams reasoning algorithms to determine if the team actually adapts the problem-solving process to their environment. The robotic team structure will allow a small number of operators to control multiple teams of robots, rather than multiple operators controlling a small number of robots.
http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/may07/deloach50107.html
"Map Quest"
Fire Chief (04/07) P. 34; St. John, Michael
New technology enables fire fighters to respond effectively and safely to emergencies by providing access to a community's ever-evolving geospatial data. Instead of having to memorize everything from new streets to wildland-urban interface areas, fire fighters can use GIS databases and aerial maps. In terms of prevention, fire fighters can employ GIS programs to assess their service capacity by plotting and rating area risks like hazmat facilities and high life-hazard occupancies. During emergencies, updated street and building information, like emergency exits and sprinkler system valves, is invaluable; fire fighters can absorb GIS data from handheld devices and "rugged" laptops while traveling to emergencies, facilitating swift action upon arrival. Two new GIS data systems are currently being developed, the first a vehicle location system providing the real-time position of emergency vehicles. The second is a gps location system that tracks individual fire fighters, allowing the incident commander to know precisely where each of his fire fighters is within the building.
http://www.firechief.com
"Analog to Digital"
Security Technology & Design (04/07) Vol. 17, No. 4, P. 36; Ladd, Matt
Security practitioners can switch their analog video systems to digital, at a modest price, by following the advice of some top systems operators. For example, one operator recommends that security practitioners switch the head-end equipment but keep as much of the remaining infrastructure as possible. "As a rule, the cost of replacing the infrastructure is fairly significant, so we start by replacing the VCRs or DVRs and the matrix switches, and put the video on a network to be recorded by an NVR," he says. Security practitioners should try to switch from analog to digital as fast as they can and in as few steps as they can--if they have the budget to do so. In situations where new analog cameras are being installed, security practitioners may want to avoid using coax cabling and instead use Cat 5 or Cat 6 cabling and video baluns, assuming the run is less than 300 feet. Cameras can also be powered via the same Cat 5 cable, thereby reducing costs and eliminating the need to run separate power cables. Practitioners should also consider replacing a non-working DVR with a hybrid DVR capable of supporting a few IP cameras--this provides an easy and inexpensive way to test out IP cameras. At present, only about one in 10 security cameras that are sold are IP cameras, but industry observers predict that within about three to seven years 90 percent of cameras sold will be IP.
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/print/Security-Technology-and-Design/
Video-Surveillance/Analog-to-Digital-/11153SIW2
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Court Looking for Safest Way to Put Records on the Web"
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (05/20/07) P. 1A; Carmen, Barbara
County courthouses across the country have been placing court documents online, and this practice is exposing the private information of millions of Americans and court officials to the scanning eyes of identity thieves, parties in lawsuits, and professional companies that amalgamate and resell information about people. Franklin County, Ohio, is creating a list of items that should be redacted from online copies of court documents, and they are investing in software that expunges this information automatically. This list includes Social Security records, juvenile evaluations, HIV tests, names of children who are victims of sexual violence, and police officer addresses and phone numbers. In comparison Hamilton County, Ohio, has been publishing its court documents on the Internet for eight years. They have shut down online access three times because private financial and personal information has leaked out. Baseball catcher Johnny Bench filed for divorce in Hamilton County, Ohio, and his divorce papers received more than 18,000 Internet views in just their first day online. "The court has to balance the very important Constitutional requirement of open court with the need to protect individual privacy," says one court spokesperson.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/
2007/05/20/nakedinfo.ART_ART_05-20-07_A1_RS6OV5M.html
"Graffiti Fight Gets Help from Technology"
Desert Sun (05/19/07) P. 1B; Wiedmaier, Stacy
New technology is helping law enforcement agencies in Indio, Calif., control graffiti by tracking vandals. Thanks to GPS and Internet technology provided by a company called Graffiti Tracker, Indio police and government officials have the tools they need to research and decode graffiti markings before they are erased. The tracking system allows law enforcement agencies to link vandals to their graffiti postings, ensuring their prosecution. "I'm very excited about this opportunity," says Graffiti Tracker founder Tim Kephart. "The Indio police departments are motivated hard chargers who will act on the intelligence we're providing. There is actual evidence that these messages can be decoded, but they must be documented before they are painted over."
http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070519/NEWS08/705190321/1006
"GPS: Jail of the Future?"
Twin Falls Times-News (Idaho) (05/18/07); Friedman, Cassidy
Jerome County and additional counties in Idaho's Magic Valley region will convene June 14 to talk about constructing a new jail. But Jerome's chief officer of juvenile and misdemeanor probation Kyle Fisher is suggesting taking some inmates and violators out of the Jerome County facility. Right now, younger defendants incarcerated at the Snake River Juvenile Detection Center cost Jerome County $136 each day. Adult inmates, who are frequently forced to sleep on cell floors, cost the county between $30 and $40, if sent to other counties, as well as transportation expenses. On May 16, Fisher ordered four GPS anklets for juveniles, each priced at $9 per day, which will be paid for via a federal grant. He will also propose to commissioners that they invest in the technology for adults--whether they are facing or found guilty of misdemeanors. Fisher explained that the new gadgets have alarms and can be devised to keep alcoholics from going into bars, sex violators from getting close to schools, and abusers from visiting their former wives. http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/05/18/news/local_state/112444.txt
"Push for Cameras at High-Accident Intersections"
Washington Post (05/20/07) P. LZ1; Brubaker, Bill
Loudon County, Va., Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson is pushing to install as many as two dozen red-light cameras at high-accident intersections across his jurisdiction. Motorists caught by the cameras will be mailed a $50 citation, though they will not be charged points on their drivers licenses.' Studies show that the devices can be an effective deterrent against red-light running, and can reduce accidents. However, critics of red-light cameras say they encourage motorists to slam on their brakes in order to avoid getting a ticket. Other critics have questioned the accuracy of the cameras in documenting violations. Despite the criticism, Leesburg Police Chief Joseph R. Price says he is sold on red-light cameras. He noted that while the cameras may increase rear-end crashes, they significantly reduce the number of T-bone type crashes, which are usually more serious in terms of injury and property damage. In order to address concerns that the cameras produce misleading photos, Simpson said he will look into getting the most state-of-the-art red-light cameras on the market. If those concerns are addressed and officials in Loudon County and Leesburg approve the use of red-light cameras, the devices could be up and running early next year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2007/05/21/AR2007052100481.html
"Stun Gun Salve in Miami Cuts Risk of Death"
USA Today (05/18/07) P. 3A; Willing, Richard
Law enforcement officials in Miami have launched a program that aims to prevent deaths that sometimes occur when officers use electric stun guns on unruly suspects. Under the program, which began in October, police officers are required to call emergency medical technicians whenever stun guns are used. If a suspect still cannot be controlled after a stun gun has been used, technicians spray a fast-acting sedative called midazolam into their noses. After the subject has been subdued, technicians inject sodium bicarbonate to counteract acids released by tensed muscles and iced saline to lower body temperature. Many of those who have died after being subdued with a stun gun have been found to have been using drugs that raised their body temperatures to as high as 108 degrees, said John Gardner, chief of Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue's emergency medical services. Gardner noted that the program has been used successfully at least a dozen times since it was launched seven months ago. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-17-stun-gun-miami_N.htm?csp=34
"Federal Airport Security Workers Scanning Bottled Liquids"
Houston Chronicle (05/22/07)
The Transportation Security Administration plans to deploy about 200 hand-held scanners that can detect explosive material in sealed bottles of liquid at airports across the United States by October. The scanners have already completed piloting at Miami International and Newark Liberty International and are undergoing testing at airports in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Las Vegas. Testing in Boston is scheduled to begin later this week. The technology is only used on passengers chosen for secondary inspections prior to boarding. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4824767.html
"Upgrade Should Speed Up 911 Cell Phone Service"
San Diego Union-Tribune (05/18/07) P. B2; Baker, Debbi Farr
The San Diego Sheriff's Department has completed a $1.5 million overhaul of its emergency communication system. Prior to the upgrade, emergency calls passed through the California Highway Patrol (CHP) before going to the department and the response time for CHP dispatchers took 15 to 45 seconds. Now calls will be forwarded directly to the Sheriff's Department and answered by sheriff's dispatchers within three seconds, according to Undersheriff Bill Gore.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/
20070518-9999-1m18pubsafe.html
"Will County Gets Police Podcast"
Chicago Tribune (05/18/07) P. M1; Dardick, Hal
The Will County, Ill., Police Department plans to broadcast weekly police reports over iPod listening device channels, a form of broadcasting known as podcasting. Will County Police Sheriff Paul Kaupas says podcasting will enable police to disseminate information widely, present their point of view on specific incidents, and also send out neighborhood-specific information to reach people in specific neighborhoods. For instance, the department plans to report stories such as this one: During two recent weekends in Plainfield Township, Ill., 31 vehicles were stolen and only a single vehicle was locked. Police department representative Pat Barry notes that "the print media sometimes can only give what they are being told, and they are sometimes limited in what they can say by the space they have." The New York Police Department began podcasting an "Inside the NYPD" show in 2005 that features stories such as recent profiles on a police academy, a fire rescue incident, and a Muslim police chaplain. Will County, Ill. also hopes its podcasting will reach young people, and that this in turn may lead to crime tips coming back in youth-specific cases. The county already sends out email alerts about crimes to around 3,000 recipients, and has garnered tips from this email program.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/chi-
0705171190may18,1,5116468.story?coll=chi-newslocalssouthwest-hed
"Hoosiers Can Track Inmate Status"
Louisville Courier Journal (KY) (05/16/07) P. 1B; Weidenbener, Lesley Stedman
Indiana is now part of a multi-state inmate tracking network called SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification), which is available around the clock at www.vinelink.com or by calling 1-866-959-8463. Now, residents in Indiana can access the status of more than 27,000 inmates in the state's correctional system as well as county jails in Floyd, Marion, Warrick, and Henry counties. Residents can opt to be notified about inmates' placement, release, transfer, or other changes, and can use the service anonymously in English or Spanish. Java Ahmed with the Indiana Department of Correction said additional counties would be added to the system as the technology expands and more prison officials become trained. By the end of 2008, all 92 counties in the state are scheduled to be online, she said. The U.S. Congress committed $17 million to launch the nationwide system; Indiana received roughly $1.25 million. The state is providing approximately $950,000 in matching funds for the initiative through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and the state Department of Correction. Becky Dunlap with Crisis Connections anticipates that SAVIN will help reduce her organization's need to consult with law enforcement and prosecutors.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070516/NEWS02/705161256
"Grant Will Fund Police Technology"
Rockford Register Star (Illinois) (05/16/07) P. 2C; Gurman, Sadie
The helicopters that assist Rockford, Ill., officials with search-and-rescue operations will soon be able to employ heat detection to locate people who escape in complete darkness. The infrared equipment can detect the warmth of a missing person and the heat of a just-fired gun, according to Deputy Chief Kurt Ditzler. The technology will be implemented in one of the helicopters the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department utilizes through the Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition. Rockford Area Crime Stoppers will pay for the $186,000 price tag as part of a $578,000 grant the crime-combating initiative will divide between area law enforcement groups. Ditzler explained that the infrared equipment will permit officials to scan big sections of land, seeking temperature changes, which can help them locate missing individuals, nighttime car accident victims, and suspects on the lam. Crime Stoppers is also purchasing surveillance cameras for the Rockford Police Department. Rockford police will receive during a three-year period $350,000 to implement the cameras in the city's problem neighborhoods. http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007105160030
"Hale County in Texas Selects Omnilink Systems to Electronically Monitor Juveniles on Probation"
Business Wire (05/16/07)
The Juvenile Probation Board of Hale County, Texas has selected Omnilink Systems to provide electronic juvenile offender monitoring services for several county youth that are on probation. Omnilink provides sophisticated location awareness information in real-time, offering a product that is completely waterproof and capable of tracking people and valuable assets inside buildings, buses, trains, and more. After relying on landline-based monitoring, which only notified probation officers when offenders were home, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Eddie Subealdea stated that Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 monitoring technology solution allows the Hale County officers to know the location of their assigned juveniles at all times. "With Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 monitoring technology solution, my officers know within a minute when a juvenile breaks curfew or is somewhere off limits. And, they can view reports telling them where the juveniles have been previously. The adolescents themselves can't believe it and seem more apt to stay out of trouble," Subealdea says. "With this increased efficiency, electronic monitoring has proven to be an effective alternative to juvenile placement, which can cost 10 times as much as monitoring. That's a lot of savings which allows the tax payer dollars to be spent in other ways to improve safety or juvenile services." Omnilink uses a combination of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), wireless network technologies, RFID and situation-specific sensors to transmit information to a monitoring center using commercial cellular networks and then applying predefined supervision rules on a Web-based application. Recently updated in conjunction with law enforcement feedback, Omnilink's Focalpoint 2.0 also features automated voice alerts when an offender location violation has occurred. In addition, Focalpoint 2.0 offers a victim safeguard that tracks the victims' off-the-shelf cell phones, in addition to the related offender, and then alerts both the victim and law enforcement when the two are within a designated proximity to each other.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=
news_view&newsId=20070516005196&newsLang=en
"Relentless Search by Police Pays Off in a Heartbeat"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (05/16/07) P. B1; Kriegish, I. Harrison
Earlier in May, state police searched Butler County, Pa., for 10-year-old John Paul May, a Harrisville resident who was awaiting a donor heart. When UPMC Children's Hospital staff could not find the boy or contact his mother when a heart became available, the police were called. Cpl. James Green was able to convince Sprint Nextel to locate Mrs. May's cell phone utilizing incorporated GPS technology, which can only be used in "life and death" situations. The police were able to track down John Paul and his mother at a concert in Slippery Rock, and the child was taken by ambulance to the children's hospital in Oakland with under an hour to spare. The surgery went well and John Paul is recuperating.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07136/786281-54.stm
"Biometrics Enter DHS Exit System"
Federal Computer Week (05/14/07); Chan, Wade-Hahn
To the great relief of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 7 that it intends to quickly implement its biometric-based exit system for verifying the identities of foreign travelers who are leaving the United States. Over the past three years, the DHS US-VISIT program has been testing biometric exit technology at 14 airports, and since 2005, the DHS has been working on creating plans that detail how a secure, biometrics-based exit strategy can be implemented. The DHS had been testing the use of RFID technology for the program, but ended the tests earlier this month. The DHS then announced that it would implement 10-fingerprint scans as a means to verify the identities of foreigners who are leaving the United States via airports. Over the next several months, the DHS will introduce new regulations that explain the working details of the biometric exit system. DHS spokeswoman Anna Hinken noted that travelers in airports typically have about two hours before leaving on their flights. "The visitors could just go up and check out whenever they wanted," Hinken said. http://www.fcw.com/article102688-05-14-07-Print
"Send in the Robots: Robot Teams Handle Hazardous Jobs"
Kansas State University News (05/01/07); Hall, Michelle
Kansas State University associate professor of computing and information sciences Scott DeLoach has been using a $219,140 grant from the Department of Defense to research and create intelligent sensor networks. DeLoach's approach uses robots, sensors, laptops, and servers to handle dangerous but necessary tasks such as searching buildings for weapons of mass destruction or clearing supply routes of improvised explosive devices. DeLoach's projects examine how robot teams can respond to changing environments when performing a task, an action that will require the robots to have knowledge of the team's organizational structure, individual team member capabilities, the environment, the team goal, and appropriate reasoning mechanisms. "The goal is to establish 'organizational reasoning' as a key component in a new approach to build highly robust cooperative robot teams," DeLoach says. So far, a model of autonomous teams has been developed that allows teams to reason about organizing and reorganizing, along with a goal model for dynamic systems that allows the dynamics of the environment to be captured, according to DeLoach. The project has also developed a high-level simulator that tests the teams reasoning algorithms to determine if the team actually adapts the problem-solving process to their environment. The robotic team structure will allow a small number of operators to control multiple teams of robots, rather than multiple operators controlling a small number of robots.
http://www.k-state.edu/media/newsreleases/may07/deloach50107.html
"Map Quest"
Fire Chief (04/07) P. 34; St. John, Michael
New technology enables fire fighters to respond effectively and safely to emergencies by providing access to a community's ever-evolving geospatial data. Instead of having to memorize everything from new streets to wildland-urban interface areas, fire fighters can use GIS databases and aerial maps. In terms of prevention, fire fighters can employ GIS programs to assess their service capacity by plotting and rating area risks like hazmat facilities and high life-hazard occupancies. During emergencies, updated street and building information, like emergency exits and sprinkler system valves, is invaluable; fire fighters can absorb GIS data from handheld devices and "rugged" laptops while traveling to emergencies, facilitating swift action upon arrival. Two new GIS data systems are currently being developed, the first a vehicle location system providing the real-time position of emergency vehicles. The second is a gps location system that tracks individual fire fighters, allowing the incident commander to know precisely where each of his fire fighters is within the building.
http://www.firechief.com
"Analog to Digital"
Security Technology & Design (04/07) Vol. 17, No. 4, P. 36; Ladd, Matt
Security practitioners can switch their analog video systems to digital, at a modest price, by following the advice of some top systems operators. For example, one operator recommends that security practitioners switch the head-end equipment but keep as much of the remaining infrastructure as possible. "As a rule, the cost of replacing the infrastructure is fairly significant, so we start by replacing the VCRs or DVRs and the matrix switches, and put the video on a network to be recorded by an NVR," he says. Security practitioners should try to switch from analog to digital as fast as they can and in as few steps as they can--if they have the budget to do so. In situations where new analog cameras are being installed, security practitioners may want to avoid using coax cabling and instead use Cat 5 or Cat 6 cabling and video baluns, assuming the run is less than 300 feet. Cameras can also be powered via the same Cat 5 cable, thereby reducing costs and eliminating the need to run separate power cables. Practitioners should also consider replacing a non-working DVR with a hybrid DVR capable of supporting a few IP cameras--this provides an easy and inexpensive way to test out IP cameras. At present, only about one in 10 security cameras that are sold are IP cameras, but industry observers predict that within about three to seven years 90 percent of cameras sold will be IP.
http://www.securityinfowatch.com/print/Security-Technology-and-Design/
Video-Surveillance/Analog-to-Digital-/11153SIW2
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) FY2007
CEDAP Application Period Extended!
Application Deadline: June 29, 2007, 23:59EDT
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) is an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness. CEDAP transfers specialized commercial equipment, equipment training, and equipment technical assistance directly to smaller jurisdictions and eligible metropolitan areas.
TThe FY 2007 CEDAP will provide equipment, equipment training, and equipment technical assistance valued at approximately $33.7 million to first responder organizations across the Nation. This competitive program is a direct assistance program, not a grant program, and FEMA will provide the equipment and technical assistance directly to the selected jurisdictions.
CEDAP's equipment offerings include:
Personal Protective Equipment
Thermal Imaging, Night Vision, and Video Surveillance
Chemical and Biological Detection
Information Technology and Risk Management Tools
Interoperable Communications Equipment/Technology
Eligible Agencies
Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies, fire, and other emergency responders who demonstrate that the equipment will be used to improve their ability and capacity to respond to a major critical incident or work with other first responders. Awardees must not have received equipment/funding under the Urban Areas Security Initiative or the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program for which the Award Date is October 1, 2005 or later. Awardees that have received grant assistance from FEMA under FEMA's Interoperable Communications Equipment (ICE) program are not eligible for interoperable communications equipment under CEDAP. Organizations must submit applications through the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) website at www.rkb.mipt.org.
Agencies and departments are allowed to submit only one application per year under CEDAP. Receipt of multiple applications from different divisions or units of the same agency or department will automatically disqualify the applicant from consideration for all CEDAP applications submitted. Applicants should select items from the CEDAP Equipment Catalog that they have been unable to acquire through other DHS programs.
Apply Online
The CEDAP application is online at the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) website at http://www.rkb.mipt.org/.
You must register as an RKB user before you can access the application form.
For More Information
Prospective applicants should direct any questions regarding CEDAP, the application process, or the awards process to the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1-800-368-6498 or via e-mail at askcsid@dhs.gov.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Application Deadline: June 29, 2007, 23:59EDT
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) is an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness. CEDAP transfers specialized commercial equipment, equipment training, and equipment technical assistance directly to smaller jurisdictions and eligible metropolitan areas.
TThe FY 2007 CEDAP will provide equipment, equipment training, and equipment technical assistance valued at approximately $33.7 million to first responder organizations across the Nation. This competitive program is a direct assistance program, not a grant program, and FEMA will provide the equipment and technical assistance directly to the selected jurisdictions.
CEDAP's equipment offerings include:
Personal Protective Equipment
Thermal Imaging, Night Vision, and Video Surveillance
Chemical and Biological Detection
Information Technology and Risk Management Tools
Interoperable Communications Equipment/Technology
Eligible Agencies
Eligible applicants include law enforcement agencies, fire, and other emergency responders who demonstrate that the equipment will be used to improve their ability and capacity to respond to a major critical incident or work with other first responders. Awardees must not have received equipment/funding under the Urban Areas Security Initiative or the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program for which the Award Date is October 1, 2005 or later. Awardees that have received grant assistance from FEMA under FEMA's Interoperable Communications Equipment (ICE) program are not eligible for interoperable communications equipment under CEDAP. Organizations must submit applications through the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) website at www.rkb.mipt.org.
Agencies and departments are allowed to submit only one application per year under CEDAP. Receipt of multiple applications from different divisions or units of the same agency or department will automatically disqualify the applicant from consideration for all CEDAP applications submitted. Applicants should select items from the CEDAP Equipment Catalog that they have been unable to acquire through other DHS programs.
Apply Online
The CEDAP application is online at the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) website at http://www.rkb.mipt.org/.
You must register as an RKB user before you can access the application form.
For More Information
Prospective applicants should direct any questions regarding CEDAP, the application process, or the awards process to the Centralized Scheduling and Information Desk (CSID) at 1-800-368-6498 or via e-mail at askcsid@dhs.gov.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
National Institute for Justice 2007 Conference
The NIJ Conference blends research, practice, and policy to share new ideas about what works in criminal justice. The Conference is free, but space is limited. Register as soon as possible.
Some topics this year include:
Forensic sciences: The conference features numerous panels on forensics. In one, highly respected panelists will discuss how scientific advances have affected the way detectives solve cases, labs handle the evidence, prosecutors present the case, and judges oversee the proceedings. Speakers include Mitch Morrissey, the District Attorney in Denver; William Berger, the police chief in Palm Bay, Florida; and Ann Talbot, the specialist for the forensic science improvement grant program in New Mexico.
Less-lethal tools: Where will we be in five years? Which technology is emerging as the best option? What policies are departments putting in place? What are the political liabilities of using less lethal equipment? Representatives from Raytheon, the Air Force Research Lab, police departments, and academia will be among the panelists.
Firearms: Members of the National Academies of Science committee on ballistics will describe up-and-coming techniques and challenges.
Other topics: Officer safety, violence against women, juvenile delinquency, gangs, and evidence-based practices in corrections.
View the agenda and speaker information.
NIJ is hiring:
Manager of the Information and Sensor Technologies DivisionSupervises 15 staff who manage criminal justice related technology research, development, test, and evaluation projects in the area of electronic crime, sensors and surveillance, public safety communications, information technology, and biometrics. Applications will be accepted until June 8.
Manager of the Forensic Sciences DivisionSupervises 17 staff who manage forensic technology research, development, test, and evaluation projects as well as the President's DNA Initiative and Coverdell grant programs. Applications will be accepted until June 19.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Some topics this year include:
Forensic sciences: The conference features numerous panels on forensics. In one, highly respected panelists will discuss how scientific advances have affected the way detectives solve cases, labs handle the evidence, prosecutors present the case, and judges oversee the proceedings. Speakers include Mitch Morrissey, the District Attorney in Denver; William Berger, the police chief in Palm Bay, Florida; and Ann Talbot, the specialist for the forensic science improvement grant program in New Mexico.
Less-lethal tools: Where will we be in five years? Which technology is emerging as the best option? What policies are departments putting in place? What are the political liabilities of using less lethal equipment? Representatives from Raytheon, the Air Force Research Lab, police departments, and academia will be among the panelists.
Firearms: Members of the National Academies of Science committee on ballistics will describe up-and-coming techniques and challenges.
Other topics: Officer safety, violence against women, juvenile delinquency, gangs, and evidence-based practices in corrections.
View the agenda and speaker information.
NIJ is hiring:
Manager of the Information and Sensor Technologies DivisionSupervises 15 staff who manage criminal justice related technology research, development, test, and evaluation projects in the area of electronic crime, sensors and surveillance, public safety communications, information technology, and biometrics. Applications will be accepted until June 8.
Manager of the Forensic Sciences DivisionSupervises 17 staff who manage forensic technology research, development, test, and evaluation projects as well as the President's DNA Initiative and Coverdell grant programs. Applications will be accepted until June 19.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Phoenix Police Officers
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website added the first police officers from the Phoenix Police Department: Richard F. Groeneveld; Jacquelyn MacConnell and Jack McLamb.
Richard F. Groeneveld is a police commander and has been with the Phoenix Police Department for over 26 years. Currently, the director of the Police Department Crime Laboratory, he has worked patrol, undercover narcotics, property investigations, the tactical response unit, the police academy, and the computer services bureau.
He is the author of Arrest Discretion of Police Officers: The Impact of Varying Organizational Structures. According to the book description, “Groeneveld studies the conceptual and fundamental aspects of organizational influence over police discretion in field arrests. He finds that street-level discretion by field officer—the basis of community policing--can, and is, significantly affected by organizational structures. Most departments attempt to limit or at least delimit officer discretion in making arrests. Arrest issues are no less critical to policing than those pertaining to the use of deadly force.
A comparatively small number of arrests results in any appreciable prosecution, and an even smaller number in conviction. The arrest decision process has represented a major gap in the conceptual area of discretion control, especially at the organizational level of scrutiny.”
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1994. During her career she worked as a patrol officer, undercover detective and in the Phoenix Police Department Training Bureau. While assigned to the Training Bureau, in addition to teaching tactical courses, she initiated a Spanish language program for police officers. After leaving the Training Bureau, she became a detective working in the Sex Crimes Unit. Currently, Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell supervises patrol squads Maryvale
Precinct of the Phoenix Police Department.
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell completed the Arizona POST General Instructor Course in 1996. She is also an Arizona POST certified Defensive Tactics, Firearms, High Risk Vehicle Stops, and Spanish Instructor; and holds other instructor certifications. She is a regular instructor at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, specializing in Defensive Tactics and Spanish. Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and Masters in Educational Leadership.
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell is the author of Basic Spanish For Police Officers By A Police Officer. According to her book description, “The author is not a Spanish professor but wrote this book focusing on terminology that will be understood on the street. The book contains closed ended questions for a variety of investigations including assault/domestic violence, robbery, stolen vehicles, burglary, drug possession/sales cases, traffic stops, traffic accidents. The most important part of this book is the high risk stop/contact commands. This book is written for the officers who have little to no understanding/knowledge of the Spanish language, as well as offering information to those who do have a basic understanding/knowledge of Spanish. It is the author's desire that this book allow officers to conduct their jobs safer.”
Jack McLamb joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1976. He worked as a Patrol Officer, Intelligence Officer for City Gang Squad and police academy instructor. In 1986, he sustained a career-ending injury while apprehending a drug smuggler. Jack McLamb is the author of Operation Vampire Killer 2000 - American Police Action Plan for Stopping World Government Rule.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 550 police officers (representing 227 police departments) and their 1164 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Richard F. Groeneveld is a police commander and has been with the Phoenix Police Department for over 26 years. Currently, the director of the Police Department Crime Laboratory, he has worked patrol, undercover narcotics, property investigations, the tactical response unit, the police academy, and the computer services bureau.
He is the author of Arrest Discretion of Police Officers: The Impact of Varying Organizational Structures. According to the book description, “Groeneveld studies the conceptual and fundamental aspects of organizational influence over police discretion in field arrests. He finds that street-level discretion by field officer—the basis of community policing--can, and is, significantly affected by organizational structures. Most departments attempt to limit or at least delimit officer discretion in making arrests. Arrest issues are no less critical to policing than those pertaining to the use of deadly force.
A comparatively small number of arrests results in any appreciable prosecution, and an even smaller number in conviction. The arrest decision process has represented a major gap in the conceptual area of discretion control, especially at the organizational level of scrutiny.”
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1994. During her career she worked as a patrol officer, undercover detective and in the Phoenix Police Department Training Bureau. While assigned to the Training Bureau, in addition to teaching tactical courses, she initiated a Spanish language program for police officers. After leaving the Training Bureau, she became a detective working in the Sex Crimes Unit. Currently, Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell supervises patrol squads Maryvale
Precinct of the Phoenix Police Department.
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell completed the Arizona POST General Instructor Course in 1996. She is also an Arizona POST certified Defensive Tactics, Firearms, High Risk Vehicle Stops, and Spanish Instructor; and holds other instructor certifications. She is a regular instructor at the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy, specializing in Defensive Tactics and Spanish. Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell has an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and Masters in Educational Leadership.
Lieutenant Jacquelyn MacConnell is the author of Basic Spanish For Police Officers By A Police Officer. According to her book description, “The author is not a Spanish professor but wrote this book focusing on terminology that will be understood on the street. The book contains closed ended questions for a variety of investigations including assault/domestic violence, robbery, stolen vehicles, burglary, drug possession/sales cases, traffic stops, traffic accidents. The most important part of this book is the high risk stop/contact commands. This book is written for the officers who have little to no understanding/knowledge of the Spanish language, as well as offering information to those who do have a basic understanding/knowledge of Spanish. It is the author's desire that this book allow officers to conduct their jobs safer.”
Jack McLamb joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1976. He worked as a Patrol Officer, Intelligence Officer for City Gang Squad and police academy instructor. In 1986, he sustained a career-ending injury while apprehending a drug smuggler. Jack McLamb is the author of Operation Vampire Killer 2000 - American Police Action Plan for Stopping World Government Rule.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 550 police officers (representing 227 police departments) and their 1164 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Two Cops and a Civilian
Police-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing state and local police officers who have authored books. The website added two police officers (Martin Turner and Tom Dempsey) and one civilian police employee (Sunny Frazier).
In 1972, Sunny Frazier joined the United States Navy with the idea of becoming a journalist. The Navy had other ideas, assigning her as dental technician. In 1976, At the end of her enlistment, Sunny Frazier was honorably discharged as a Dental Technician, Third Class. After her military service, she went to university and worked as a photo journalist for a newspaper. Ultimately, Sunny Frazier would join the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department (California), where she worked as a civilian employee. Sunny Frazier worked in the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department records department with warrants for six years. She then worked as a secretary in the Narcotics Section for 11 years.
Sunny Frazier is a contributing author to Valley Fever: Where Murder Is Contagious: A Collection of Short Stories Set in the San Joaquin Valley. Sunny Frazier is also the author Fools Rush In. According to the description of Fools Rush In, “On a blazing July day in Central County, California, snitch Johnny Blue is murdered by a lethal heroin injection. Undercover narcotic detective James Wolfe, the operative who handled Blue, goes to the Sheriff's Department substation seeking ex-girlfriend Christy Bristol. In the past he ridiculed her hobby of casting horoscopes. Now he needs her expertise to catch the man he suspects is behind Blue's murder, a drug dealer named Lloyd Parr.”
Martin Turner began his career with the Burbank Police Department (California). In 1988, he began working as a Deputy Sheriff in the Washakie County Sheriff’s Department (Wyoming). Martin Turner is the author of A Common Sense Approach to Raising Your Children; from a Cop's Perspective.
According to the description of Martin Turner’s book, “with over twenty-six years in law enforcement, Marty Turner overcame many obstacles while growing up. Marty applied his life lessons to helping others throughout his career and now he wants to share them with you. Learn through the eyes of those who see it firsthand, day after day. Some of those experiences are humorous, some are tragic.”
Tom Dempsey has been the Director of the Police Training Institute (PTI) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign since June 2002. In that capacity he directs the activities of the only law enforcement training activity in the United States that is a unit of a major research institution. Prior to accepting his current position, Director Dempsey was a faculty member and program director at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.
Tom Dempsey was a Torrance Police Department police officer for eighteen years. He served in a variety of assignments including as a police officer, supervisor and manager in patrol, investigations, vice and narcotics and administration. He is also a former United States Marine Corps officer. Tom Dempsey holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and Master’s degrees in public administration and in criminal justice administration from California State University.
Tom Dempsey is the co-author of Law Enforcement for the Twenty-First Century. According to the book description, Law Enforcement for the Twenty-First Century, “continues to be a valuable tool for both instructors and students of law enforcement because it identifies and thoroughly examines the entry-level training topics that form the foundation of the successful law enforcement officer’s career.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 544 police officers (representing 224 police departments) and their 1154 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
In 1972, Sunny Frazier joined the United States Navy with the idea of becoming a journalist. The Navy had other ideas, assigning her as dental technician. In 1976, At the end of her enlistment, Sunny Frazier was honorably discharged as a Dental Technician, Third Class. After her military service, she went to university and worked as a photo journalist for a newspaper. Ultimately, Sunny Frazier would join the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department (California), where she worked as a civilian employee. Sunny Frazier worked in the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department records department with warrants for six years. She then worked as a secretary in the Narcotics Section for 11 years.
Sunny Frazier is a contributing author to Valley Fever: Where Murder Is Contagious: A Collection of Short Stories Set in the San Joaquin Valley. Sunny Frazier is also the author Fools Rush In. According to the description of Fools Rush In, “On a blazing July day in Central County, California, snitch Johnny Blue is murdered by a lethal heroin injection. Undercover narcotic detective James Wolfe, the operative who handled Blue, goes to the Sheriff's Department substation seeking ex-girlfriend Christy Bristol. In the past he ridiculed her hobby of casting horoscopes. Now he needs her expertise to catch the man he suspects is behind Blue's murder, a drug dealer named Lloyd Parr.”
Martin Turner began his career with the Burbank Police Department (California). In 1988, he began working as a Deputy Sheriff in the Washakie County Sheriff’s Department (Wyoming). Martin Turner is the author of A Common Sense Approach to Raising Your Children; from a Cop's Perspective.
According to the description of Martin Turner’s book, “with over twenty-six years in law enforcement, Marty Turner overcame many obstacles while growing up. Marty applied his life lessons to helping others throughout his career and now he wants to share them with you. Learn through the eyes of those who see it firsthand, day after day. Some of those experiences are humorous, some are tragic.”
Tom Dempsey has been the Director of the Police Training Institute (PTI) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign since June 2002. In that capacity he directs the activities of the only law enforcement training activity in the United States that is a unit of a major research institution. Prior to accepting his current position, Director Dempsey was a faculty member and program director at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.
Tom Dempsey was a Torrance Police Department police officer for eighteen years. He served in a variety of assignments including as a police officer, supervisor and manager in patrol, investigations, vice and narcotics and administration. He is also a former United States Marine Corps officer. Tom Dempsey holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University and Master’s degrees in public administration and in criminal justice administration from California State University.
Tom Dempsey is the co-author of Law Enforcement for the Twenty-First Century. According to the book description, Law Enforcement for the Twenty-First Century, “continues to be a valuable tool for both instructors and students of law enforcement because it identifies and thoroughly examines the entry-level training topics that form the foundation of the successful law enforcement officer’s career.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 544 police officers (representing 224 police departments) and their 1154 books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
NIJ Corrections Technology Institute
Dates: September 16 – 21, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: July 13, 2007
Overview
NIJ's annual Technology Institute for Corrections is designed for corrections managers to learn about and discuss technology initiatives and issues affecting the corrections community.
Agenda
During the weeklong institute, attendees will receive information and assistance about existing and developing technologies, problem solving relating to technology implementation, and exchange technology lessons learned. Attendees also will participate in briefings and demonstrations at various locations in the metropolitan area, which may include agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, and local corrections facilities.
Goals
Provide Participants the opportunity for continual education on technologies applicable to corrections.
Provide Participants the opportunity to meet and interact with other corrections professionals.
Provide NIJ the opportunity to improve and build on its technology development programs based on participant experience and comments.
Application
Attendance is limited to 25 mid-level managers from State and local corrections and community corrections agencies who are involved with technology and technology initiatives within their departments.
Applications may be obtained online by visiting http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/events/techinstitutes/corrections.htm or request one by contacting Laura Luhn at 800-248-2742 ext.5145 or lluhn@nlectc.org.
An agency may submit one application for consideration. Former attendees from previous Institutes will not be considered. The application must be completely filled out for the applicant to be considered. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses for participants are paid by NIJ.
Send completed applications to:
Laura Luhn
Administrative Coordinator
NLECTC-National
2277 Research Blvd., MS-8J
Rockville, MD 20850
Fax: 301-519-5149
Deadline
The deadline for receiving applications is July 13, 2007. All applicants will receive notification by mail as to the decision regarding their application.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Location: Washington, DC
Application Deadline: July 13, 2007
Overview
NIJ's annual Technology Institute for Corrections is designed for corrections managers to learn about and discuss technology initiatives and issues affecting the corrections community.
Agenda
During the weeklong institute, attendees will receive information and assistance about existing and developing technologies, problem solving relating to technology implementation, and exchange technology lessons learned. Attendees also will participate in briefings and demonstrations at various locations in the metropolitan area, which may include agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, and local corrections facilities.
Goals
Provide Participants the opportunity for continual education on technologies applicable to corrections.
Provide Participants the opportunity to meet and interact with other corrections professionals.
Provide NIJ the opportunity to improve and build on its technology development programs based on participant experience and comments.
Application
Attendance is limited to 25 mid-level managers from State and local corrections and community corrections agencies who are involved with technology and technology initiatives within their departments.
Applications may be obtained online by visiting http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/events/techinstitutes/corrections.htm or request one by contacting Laura Luhn at 800-248-2742 ext.5145 or lluhn@nlectc.org.
An agency may submit one application for consideration. Former attendees from previous Institutes will not be considered. The application must be completely filled out for the applicant to be considered. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses for participants are paid by NIJ.
Send completed applications to:
Laura Luhn
Administrative Coordinator
NLECTC-National
2277 Research Blvd., MS-8J
Rockville, MD 20850
Fax: 301-519-5149
Deadline
The deadline for receiving applications is July 13, 2007. All applicants will receive notification by mail as to the decision regarding their application.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, May 17, 2007
"New York Plan for DNA Data in Most Crimes"
New York Times (05/14/07); McGeehan, Patrick
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to broaden the state's database of DNA samples to include individuals found guilty of a majority of crimes, while making it simpler for inmates to utilize DNA to attempt to prove their innocence. Presently, the state obtains DNA from people convicted of around 50 percent of all crimes, usually the most serious. Spitzer's idea would mandate DNA to be taken from individuals deemed guilty of any misdemeanor, including minor drug violations, harassment, or unsanctioned utilization of a credit card, according to a draft of his proposal. It would not include acts regarded as violations, such as disorderly conduct. In widening its database to include all misdemeanors and felonies, New York would be fairly unique, although a group of states obtain DNA from certain defendants when arrested, even prior to conviction. In addition, Spitzer wants required sampling of all inmates in New York, and of those people on parole, on probation, or who are registered sex offenders. That change would add around 50,000 samples to the database, at a price of around $1.75 million. Police authorities and prosecutors nationally have lauded DNA collection as one of the best law-enforcement tools. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/nyregion/14dna.html
"HPD Wants Cameras to Monitor Crime"
Houston Chronicle (05/15/07); Stiles, Matt; Glenn, Mike
The Houston Police Department wants to install red-light cameras to catch drivers breaking the law at 50 intersections around Houston, Texas. The department already is installing over a dozen pedestrian-surveillance cameras in Houston, with four located downtown, as crime-deterrence and quick-response tools. Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo says the four downtown cameras should help modify and corral behavior by "giving the public an expectation that the police are there." Signs will be posted announcing the presence of the downtown cameras to the public. The police are facing some criticism for these cameras from citizens and groups concerned about their civil liberty and privacy rights. Thirteen other hidden cameras to be installed around Houston will be positioned to deter illegal dumping in empty city lots. Houston Police Department CFO Joseph Fenninger says the police department may expand this camera project further if successful. Police departments in Chicago and Baltimore have already installed cameras, some with flashing lights affixed as a warning, and both cities claim to have witnessed a resulting drop in crime.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4804059.html
"New Computer Program Stops Sex Offenders at School Doors"
Ocala Star-Banner (FL) (05/14/07); Callahan, Joe
Jeanine Mills, principal of Oakcrest Elementary School in Ocala, Fla., thinks new computer sign-in software for school visitors is the most effective security gadget Marion County Public Schools has at its disposal. In only a few weeks, the Raptor Identification System has found a pair of child-sex offenders as they signed up as visitors at two elementary schools. The individuals, though, were not under court supervision and had legitimate purposes to be at the schools. The Web-based, sign-on software system, which is manufactured by V-Soft and sold by Raptor Technologies, was implemented at the schools last month. When a driver's license is run through the system, it investigates each state sexual-violator database. After the identification is scanned, it will compare the pictures to all of the individuals on nationwide sex offender lists. In certain cases, the system will hit on incorrect matches and then the school worker must decide whether the warning is real. School Superintendent Jim Yancey stated that for April, the system cost each school around $2.50 a day.
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070514/
NEWS/70514005/1368/googlesitemapnews
"'Arm' Can Reach Into Cupboards"
Boston Globe (05/14/07); Baard, Michael
A new "snake-arm" created by engineers in Britain to assist the military may also be used in the home in the near future. Made by OC Robotics of Bristol, the snake-arm can be equipped with cameras and tools, and utilizes its wires and actuators to grasp objects in confined areas, making it suitable for constructing and checking airplane parts, notes OC Robotics CEO Rob Buckingham. Currently, the firm is working with the United States and British military to incorporate the snake-arm into bomb-disposal robots. An iRobot PackBot outfitted with a snake-arm, for example, would be able to look underneath a vehicle for explosive gadgets. Buckingham also expects to talk this week with other scientists and investors in Cambridge, Mass., to look into ways the invention can be utilized in the home. A snake-arm robot, for instance, might be able to access cupboards and obtain an item inside, without knocking anything else over.
http://www.boston.com/business/personaltech/articles/2007/05/14/
arm_can_reach_into_cupboards/
"Captured on Video But Not by Police"
Chicago Tribune (05/14/07) P. 1; Ahmed, Azam
Despite the obvious security feature of cameras to capture thieves in action, many incidences of crime in Chicago that have been captured on camera have yet to result in arrests. "Even though you have a very clear-cut, positive depiction of someone on video, it doesn't mean it's easy for you to know where the offender could be apprehended," says the city's police department representative Monique Bond. In the case of the "Cubs bandit," infamous for wearing a Cubs hat during committing crimes, clear images of his face have been taken in robbing three banks, yet the suspect has not yet been held. In the case of randomized crimes, suspects who have no links to their target tend to elude authorities. Despite blatant crime footage, limited area circulation of videos that capture the crime, in addition to suspects altering their appearance pre or post the crime, thwart attempts at tracking perpetrators.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0705130435may14,
1,6451182.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
"New Jail Brings Technology to Visitation"
Walton Sun (05/05/07); Magliano, David
Florida's Walton County jail will offer visitation via a video conferencing system. The jail has created a room filled with 28 stations, whereby guests and inmates can have contact via monitors and speak through a telephone connection. The new system fosters a more "controlled environment," said Walton County citizen services director Ken Little. Inmates are kept close to their cells during visitation hours, minimizing the possibility for outside materials reaching them, Little added. Isolating prisoners from guests also enhances a safer experience for visitors and for the staff needed during visitation. http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/05/05/2584479.htm
"Local Police Consider Starting DNA Labs"
State (SC) (05/13/07); Tate, Ishmael
Many South Carolina law enforcement agencies are considering the creation of their own agency DNA labs, because the state-wide DNA lab has a backlog of around 700 cases and may face an increased workload. Richland County has its own DNA lab and can process DNA profiles in 24 hours. Greenville County is planning to build one now, and other counties are considering it. The State Law Enforcement Division in Columbia (SLED) handles about 20,000 DNA cases per year. SLED in fact may see more cases soon because the South Carolina legislature is considering a bill to require all people arrested for felony crimes to submit evidence to SLED. This would add 75,000 DNA cases to their docket each year, and the bill adds only nine new laboratory positions. Currently only people who are convicted of felonies in South Carolina must submit DNA evidence to SLED for processing. South Carolina prosecutors also say television shows are raising expectations among juries that the state will present DNA evidence. Lacking it may hurt the state's case. Richland County's lab cost $350,000 to build and $100,000 to operate annually, not including staff costs. http://www.thestate.com/154/story/62607.html
"Police Use Cell-Tracking Technology to Find Transplant Patient in Time for Surgery"
San Diego Union-Tribune (05/10/07)
Pennsylvania State Police used global-positioning technology to track down a 10-year-old boy and get him to a hospital in time for a life-saving heart transplant. The police were called after hospital officials couldn't reach the family to be told a heart was available. The trooper working the desk sent out patrols to search for the family and eventually called communications company Sprint to track May's cell phone, then sent officers to a concert at Slippery Rock University, where they notified the parents.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/tech/20070510-0658-gps-transplant.html
"BombBots Save Lives"
Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register (WVA)) (05/15/07); DeGenova, Annie
The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization annual Mock Prison Riot showcased the latest innovations in law enforcement technology. Among the products displayed was Innovative Response Technologies' BomBot 2. Already being used by U.S. troops in Iraq, the remotely operated vehicle is versatile and can be used for bomb detection, search and rescue, disposal, and even hostage negotiation. "It can also deploy gas and set up surveillance," says West Virginia High Technology Consortium mechanical engineer Matthew Uhle. The show is unique because it allows officers to handle the latest technology and offer input on how to improve it.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/community/articles.asp?articleID=19367
"Haverstraw Wants Police to Monitor Surveillance Cameras Via Web"
Westchester Journal-News (05/10/07) P. 1A; Matsuda, Akiko
The surveillance cameras situated in Haverstraw, N.Y., might be remotely watched in the near future from the town's police headquarters. Town Board member Jay Hood Jr. stated recently that he believes he has uncovered an affordable way to remotely watch the cameras. He explained that a high-speed online connection, such as FiOS from Verizon, would provide a fiber to the camera locations and send the cameras' feed to police headquarters. The cameras could be operated by a joystick via the Internet from the headquarters. Hood thinks the price of new equipment and a rapid online link would be around $30,000, while the monthly price to retain the online connection would be around $200. Haverstraw Mayor Francis Wassmer claimed the village would begin looking into Hood's idea. Town and village authorities note that the cameras record the day-to-day occurrences on the streets and that the recordings have been utilized for police investigations.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070510/NEWS03/705100420/1019
"In the Age of Technology, Police Get Valuable Leads Online"
Business Wire (05/11/07)
LeadsOnline (www.leadsonline.com), used by more than 670 law enforcement agencies, makes it possible for detectives to search for criminals who may have disposed of stolen goods in pawn and secondhand stores across the country. Detectives may find a Rolex from Portland in a store in Las Vegas, or a gun from Seattle in a store in Boise. Although most pawn customers are pledging their own property, real-time access to electronic records in a criminal investigation speeds up the process that used to be handled through a time-consuming collection of paper slips and store visits. Police say the instant access to information gives citizens a better chance of having their stolen property recovered. In Tacoma, Washington, Detective Chris Taylor says "It's accessible 24 hours a day, and the more agencies that are online, the better chance citizens have of getting their stolen property back. It helps every department clear cases faster, and the retailers find it helpful to them in complying with their own reporting requirement." U.S. Marshals deputies and Corpus Christi Police investigators used LeadsOnline to identify two men who brutally murdered a man in his doorway and stole several items from his home. By searching transaction records within a radius of the crime scene, a description of the victim's jewelry and the name of the person who sold the items were right there online, bringing the case to a speedy close. The system is accessible only by authorized law enforcement investigators. Agencies that are not yet users can access the system through the www.leadsonline.com website and receive a 30 day trial.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=
news_view&newsId=20070511005593&newsLang=en
"Local Police to Get Upgrades"
Danville Register Bee (VA) (05/08/07); Taylor, Kyle
The police department of Danville, Va., is using Homeland Security, earmark, and other grants to obtain new technologies, such as an imaging system. Officers say the system will feature pictures of crimes scenes, suspects, and written reports that officers can access as needed. Danville currently has 11 wireless hotspots, but that number is anticipated to rise to 47, according to Lt. J.T. Henderson; those hotspots offer wireless connectivity to officers in squad cars within about a quarter of a mile of a tower. The city's squad cars also feature digital video cameras and Panasonic CF29 notebook PCs. The quality of the video footage is better compared to VHS tapes, says Henderson. The digital footage can also be used as evidence, and can be transferred to computer or DVDs at headquarters. Training for the imaging system will be provided.
http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/
DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351110749&path=
"Greene to Test Reverse 911 System"
Kinston Free Press (05/09/07); Marshall, Katie
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management will be testing telephone emergency notification systems in nine counties statewide. One of them is Greene County, where three state prisons are located, and residents have voiced concern over knowing the whereabouts of escaped convicts. The county's existing phone tree system is ineffective when residents are not at home, according to county officials. The new system will be a reverse 911 automated phone system that will cost the county just 18 cents per phone call and $125 per month to Emarq for updated land line numbers. The system alerts residents via pagers, PDAs, text messaging, email, telephone, cell phone, and through posted messages on a Web site; the county is not charged for email, text messages or PDA notifications. MyStateUSA would house the phone database on Greene County's secure servers and offer connection information that could be placed on any county or public Web site. Officials say the system can be used for inmate escapes as well as emergency evacuations and other emergencies. Calls can also be limited according to region, officials say. Individuals who lack land line service will be allowed to sign up for emergency and weather alerts via a public subscription service. Another feature of the system is that local personnel can pre-load information as a template, including geographic data. http://www.kinston.com/articles/_38214___article.html/_.html
"Birmingham Police Get $1 Million Gunfire Detector"
Birmingham Business Journal (05/01/07); DeButts, Jimmy
Birmingham, Ala., Police Chief Annetta W. Nunn believes a new gunfire detector will help improve the quality of life in the city for residents. The city has acquired a ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System using a $1 million grant that it has received from the U.S. Department of Justice. A telephone-based sensory system, ShotSpotter will be able to detect when a gun has been fired over an area covering more than six miles, and pick up information for forensic and intelligence analysis that will allow local police to determine the type of weapon used, the direction of the shots, and the location of drive-by shooters on the move. The information will be provided in real time, and will include an audio file. "We must work to ensure that law enforcement has the most technologically advanced tools available to combat violent crime," says Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who secured the funds for the city. Law enforcement agencies using ShotSpotter report a 50 percent increase in arrests involving gunfire, and a 30 percent decline in the rate of violent crime.
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/
2007/04/30/daily7.html?surround=lfn
"Can Text Messaging Improve School Safety?"
CIO Today (04/20/07); Lane, Frederick
Virginia Tech's recent tragedy provoked questions regarding the competency of emergency notification measures on university campuses nationwide. Universities are seeking more efficient means of notifying students in times of a crisis, because methods such as email can be delayed reaching students and can even be rejected by a full inbox. Virginia Tech not only used email messages to alert students, but also announcements on its Web site and alerts through the dormitory phone system--all of which were ineffective in warning students. E2campus Director of Communications Bryan Crum says text message alerts can reach users within 4 seconds to 8 seconds, can be grouped by particular categories (i.e. faculty, students, administration staff), and up to 18,000 messages can be sent from authorized personnel's handheld devices per minute. "It's great for brief, non-emergency messages, too, like 'the shuttle is out of service' or 'Seinfeld on campus tonight,'" Crum added.
http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?
story_id=110008AFXMEI&nl=5
"Solving True Crimes"
American City & County (04/07) Vol. 122, No. 4, P. 26; Mamroth, Doug
To upgrade the way police, prosecutors, courts, and additional criminal justice groups communicate with one another, the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative has created an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema and datamodel that enables agencies to swap electronic data kept in various formats. To send and get data coded with XML, though, the groups must make complex interfaces function with their current systems. Some are instead deciding to employ "adapter" software that can quickly code information with XML tags and translate various formats for essentially any system. Adapters lessen custom programming and change information so it can be studied and taken apart in computer-assisted dispatch, records and court case management, and violator monitoring systems. Numerous law enforcement and judicial agencies, such as the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Colorado Department of Corrections, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, are employing adapter software to share data rapidly about criminal events, repeat violators, and criminal backgrounds. New York City's public safety portal connects 17 agencies throughout a half-dozen counties, all of which can share data about arrests, convictions, and releases. Though prior to the portal being established, the agencies utilized several programs to swap information with one another, there was a discrepancy between the time the events took place and the time the data was exchanged. http://americancityandcounty.com/technology/government_solving_true_crimes/
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
"New York Plan for DNA Data in Most Crimes"
New York Times (05/14/07); McGeehan, Patrick
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to broaden the state's database of DNA samples to include individuals found guilty of a majority of crimes, while making it simpler for inmates to utilize DNA to attempt to prove their innocence. Presently, the state obtains DNA from people convicted of around 50 percent of all crimes, usually the most serious. Spitzer's idea would mandate DNA to be taken from individuals deemed guilty of any misdemeanor, including minor drug violations, harassment, or unsanctioned utilization of a credit card, according to a draft of his proposal. It would not include acts regarded as violations, such as disorderly conduct. In widening its database to include all misdemeanors and felonies, New York would be fairly unique, although a group of states obtain DNA from certain defendants when arrested, even prior to conviction. In addition, Spitzer wants required sampling of all inmates in New York, and of those people on parole, on probation, or who are registered sex offenders. That change would add around 50,000 samples to the database, at a price of around $1.75 million. Police authorities and prosecutors nationally have lauded DNA collection as one of the best law-enforcement tools. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/nyregion/14dna.html
"HPD Wants Cameras to Monitor Crime"
Houston Chronicle (05/15/07); Stiles, Matt; Glenn, Mike
The Houston Police Department wants to install red-light cameras to catch drivers breaking the law at 50 intersections around Houston, Texas. The department already is installing over a dozen pedestrian-surveillance cameras in Houston, with four located downtown, as crime-deterrence and quick-response tools. Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo says the four downtown cameras should help modify and corral behavior by "giving the public an expectation that the police are there." Signs will be posted announcing the presence of the downtown cameras to the public. The police are facing some criticism for these cameras from citizens and groups concerned about their civil liberty and privacy rights. Thirteen other hidden cameras to be installed around Houston will be positioned to deter illegal dumping in empty city lots. Houston Police Department CFO Joseph Fenninger says the police department may expand this camera project further if successful. Police departments in Chicago and Baltimore have already installed cameras, some with flashing lights affixed as a warning, and both cities claim to have witnessed a resulting drop in crime.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4804059.html
"New Computer Program Stops Sex Offenders at School Doors"
Ocala Star-Banner (FL) (05/14/07); Callahan, Joe
Jeanine Mills, principal of Oakcrest Elementary School in Ocala, Fla., thinks new computer sign-in software for school visitors is the most effective security gadget Marion County Public Schools has at its disposal. In only a few weeks, the Raptor Identification System has found a pair of child-sex offenders as they signed up as visitors at two elementary schools. The individuals, though, were not under court supervision and had legitimate purposes to be at the schools. The Web-based, sign-on software system, which is manufactured by V-Soft and sold by Raptor Technologies, was implemented at the schools last month. When a driver's license is run through the system, it investigates each state sexual-violator database. After the identification is scanned, it will compare the pictures to all of the individuals on nationwide sex offender lists. In certain cases, the system will hit on incorrect matches and then the school worker must decide whether the warning is real. School Superintendent Jim Yancey stated that for April, the system cost each school around $2.50 a day.
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070514/
NEWS/70514005/1368/googlesitemapnews
"'Arm' Can Reach Into Cupboards"
Boston Globe (05/14/07); Baard, Michael
A new "snake-arm" created by engineers in Britain to assist the military may also be used in the home in the near future. Made by OC Robotics of Bristol, the snake-arm can be equipped with cameras and tools, and utilizes its wires and actuators to grasp objects in confined areas, making it suitable for constructing and checking airplane parts, notes OC Robotics CEO Rob Buckingham. Currently, the firm is working with the United States and British military to incorporate the snake-arm into bomb-disposal robots. An iRobot PackBot outfitted with a snake-arm, for example, would be able to look underneath a vehicle for explosive gadgets. Buckingham also expects to talk this week with other scientists and investors in Cambridge, Mass., to look into ways the invention can be utilized in the home. A snake-arm robot, for instance, might be able to access cupboards and obtain an item inside, without knocking anything else over.
http://www.boston.com/business/personaltech/articles/2007/05/14/
arm_can_reach_into_cupboards/
"Captured on Video But Not by Police"
Chicago Tribune (05/14/07) P. 1; Ahmed, Azam
Despite the obvious security feature of cameras to capture thieves in action, many incidences of crime in Chicago that have been captured on camera have yet to result in arrests. "Even though you have a very clear-cut, positive depiction of someone on video, it doesn't mean it's easy for you to know where the offender could be apprehended," says the city's police department representative Monique Bond. In the case of the "Cubs bandit," infamous for wearing a Cubs hat during committing crimes, clear images of his face have been taken in robbing three banks, yet the suspect has not yet been held. In the case of randomized crimes, suspects who have no links to their target tend to elude authorities. Despite blatant crime footage, limited area circulation of videos that capture the crime, in addition to suspects altering their appearance pre or post the crime, thwart attempts at tracking perpetrators.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/north/chi-0705130435may14,
1,6451182.story?coll=chi-newslocalnorth-hed
"New Jail Brings Technology to Visitation"
Walton Sun (05/05/07); Magliano, David
Florida's Walton County jail will offer visitation via a video conferencing system. The jail has created a room filled with 28 stations, whereby guests and inmates can have contact via monitors and speak through a telephone connection. The new system fosters a more "controlled environment," said Walton County citizen services director Ken Little. Inmates are kept close to their cells during visitation hours, minimizing the possibility for outside materials reaching them, Little added. Isolating prisoners from guests also enhances a safer experience for visitors and for the staff needed during visitation. http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/05/05/2584479.htm
"Local Police Consider Starting DNA Labs"
State (SC) (05/13/07); Tate, Ishmael
Many South Carolina law enforcement agencies are considering the creation of their own agency DNA labs, because the state-wide DNA lab has a backlog of around 700 cases and may face an increased workload. Richland County has its own DNA lab and can process DNA profiles in 24 hours. Greenville County is planning to build one now, and other counties are considering it. The State Law Enforcement Division in Columbia (SLED) handles about 20,000 DNA cases per year. SLED in fact may see more cases soon because the South Carolina legislature is considering a bill to require all people arrested for felony crimes to submit evidence to SLED. This would add 75,000 DNA cases to their docket each year, and the bill adds only nine new laboratory positions. Currently only people who are convicted of felonies in South Carolina must submit DNA evidence to SLED for processing. South Carolina prosecutors also say television shows are raising expectations among juries that the state will present DNA evidence. Lacking it may hurt the state's case. Richland County's lab cost $350,000 to build and $100,000 to operate annually, not including staff costs. http://www.thestate.com/154/story/62607.html
"Police Use Cell-Tracking Technology to Find Transplant Patient in Time for Surgery"
San Diego Union-Tribune (05/10/07)
Pennsylvania State Police used global-positioning technology to track down a 10-year-old boy and get him to a hospital in time for a life-saving heart transplant. The police were called after hospital officials couldn't reach the family to be told a heart was available. The trooper working the desk sent out patrols to search for the family and eventually called communications company Sprint to track May's cell phone, then sent officers to a concert at Slippery Rock University, where they notified the parents.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/tech/20070510-0658-gps-transplant.html
"BombBots Save Lives"
Intelligencer & Wheeling News-Register (WVA)) (05/15/07); DeGenova, Annie
The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization annual Mock Prison Riot showcased the latest innovations in law enforcement technology. Among the products displayed was Innovative Response Technologies' BomBot 2. Already being used by U.S. troops in Iraq, the remotely operated vehicle is versatile and can be used for bomb detection, search and rescue, disposal, and even hostage negotiation. "It can also deploy gas and set up surveillance," says West Virginia High Technology Consortium mechanical engineer Matthew Uhle. The show is unique because it allows officers to handle the latest technology and offer input on how to improve it.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/community/articles.asp?articleID=19367
"Haverstraw Wants Police to Monitor Surveillance Cameras Via Web"
Westchester Journal-News (05/10/07) P. 1A; Matsuda, Akiko
The surveillance cameras situated in Haverstraw, N.Y., might be remotely watched in the near future from the town's police headquarters. Town Board member Jay Hood Jr. stated recently that he believes he has uncovered an affordable way to remotely watch the cameras. He explained that a high-speed online connection, such as FiOS from Verizon, would provide a fiber to the camera locations and send the cameras' feed to police headquarters. The cameras could be operated by a joystick via the Internet from the headquarters. Hood thinks the price of new equipment and a rapid online link would be around $30,000, while the monthly price to retain the online connection would be around $200. Haverstraw Mayor Francis Wassmer claimed the village would begin looking into Hood's idea. Town and village authorities note that the cameras record the day-to-day occurrences on the streets and that the recordings have been utilized for police investigations.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070510/NEWS03/705100420/1019
"In the Age of Technology, Police Get Valuable Leads Online"
Business Wire (05/11/07)
LeadsOnline (www.leadsonline.com), used by more than 670 law enforcement agencies, makes it possible for detectives to search for criminals who may have disposed of stolen goods in pawn and secondhand stores across the country. Detectives may find a Rolex from Portland in a store in Las Vegas, or a gun from Seattle in a store in Boise. Although most pawn customers are pledging their own property, real-time access to electronic records in a criminal investigation speeds up the process that used to be handled through a time-consuming collection of paper slips and store visits. Police say the instant access to information gives citizens a better chance of having their stolen property recovered. In Tacoma, Washington, Detective Chris Taylor says "It's accessible 24 hours a day, and the more agencies that are online, the better chance citizens have of getting their stolen property back. It helps every department clear cases faster, and the retailers find it helpful to them in complying with their own reporting requirement." U.S. Marshals deputies and Corpus Christi Police investigators used LeadsOnline to identify two men who brutally murdered a man in his doorway and stole several items from his home. By searching transaction records within a radius of the crime scene, a description of the victim's jewelry and the name of the person who sold the items were right there online, bringing the case to a speedy close. The system is accessible only by authorized law enforcement investigators. Agencies that are not yet users can access the system through the www.leadsonline.com website and receive a 30 day trial.
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=
news_view&newsId=20070511005593&newsLang=en
"Local Police to Get Upgrades"
Danville Register Bee (VA) (05/08/07); Taylor, Kyle
The police department of Danville, Va., is using Homeland Security, earmark, and other grants to obtain new technologies, such as an imaging system. Officers say the system will feature pictures of crimes scenes, suspects, and written reports that officers can access as needed. Danville currently has 11 wireless hotspots, but that number is anticipated to rise to 47, according to Lt. J.T. Henderson; those hotspots offer wireless connectivity to officers in squad cars within about a quarter of a mile of a tower. The city's squad cars also feature digital video cameras and Panasonic CF29 notebook PCs. The quality of the video footage is better compared to VHS tapes, says Henderson. The digital footage can also be used as evidence, and can be transferred to computer or DVDs at headquarters. Training for the imaging system will be provided.
http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/
DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173351110749&path=
"Greene to Test Reverse 911 System"
Kinston Free Press (05/09/07); Marshall, Katie
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management will be testing telephone emergency notification systems in nine counties statewide. One of them is Greene County, where three state prisons are located, and residents have voiced concern over knowing the whereabouts of escaped convicts. The county's existing phone tree system is ineffective when residents are not at home, according to county officials. The new system will be a reverse 911 automated phone system that will cost the county just 18 cents per phone call and $125 per month to Emarq for updated land line numbers. The system alerts residents via pagers, PDAs, text messaging, email, telephone, cell phone, and through posted messages on a Web site; the county is not charged for email, text messages or PDA notifications. MyStateUSA would house the phone database on Greene County's secure servers and offer connection information that could be placed on any county or public Web site. Officials say the system can be used for inmate escapes as well as emergency evacuations and other emergencies. Calls can also be limited according to region, officials say. Individuals who lack land line service will be allowed to sign up for emergency and weather alerts via a public subscription service. Another feature of the system is that local personnel can pre-load information as a template, including geographic data. http://www.kinston.com/articles/_38214___article.html/_.html
"Birmingham Police Get $1 Million Gunfire Detector"
Birmingham Business Journal (05/01/07); DeButts, Jimmy
Birmingham, Ala., Police Chief Annetta W. Nunn believes a new gunfire detector will help improve the quality of life in the city for residents. The city has acquired a ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System using a $1 million grant that it has received from the U.S. Department of Justice. A telephone-based sensory system, ShotSpotter will be able to detect when a gun has been fired over an area covering more than six miles, and pick up information for forensic and intelligence analysis that will allow local police to determine the type of weapon used, the direction of the shots, and the location of drive-by shooters on the move. The information will be provided in real time, and will include an audio file. "We must work to ensure that law enforcement has the most technologically advanced tools available to combat violent crime," says Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who secured the funds for the city. Law enforcement agencies using ShotSpotter report a 50 percent increase in arrests involving gunfire, and a 30 percent decline in the rate of violent crime.
http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/
2007/04/30/daily7.html?surround=lfn
"Can Text Messaging Improve School Safety?"
CIO Today (04/20/07); Lane, Frederick
Virginia Tech's recent tragedy provoked questions regarding the competency of emergency notification measures on university campuses nationwide. Universities are seeking more efficient means of notifying students in times of a crisis, because methods such as email can be delayed reaching students and can even be rejected by a full inbox. Virginia Tech not only used email messages to alert students, but also announcements on its Web site and alerts through the dormitory phone system--all of which were ineffective in warning students. E2campus Director of Communications Bryan Crum says text message alerts can reach users within 4 seconds to 8 seconds, can be grouped by particular categories (i.e. faculty, students, administration staff), and up to 18,000 messages can be sent from authorized personnel's handheld devices per minute. "It's great for brief, non-emergency messages, too, like 'the shuttle is out of service' or 'Seinfeld on campus tonight,'" Crum added.
http://www.cio-today.com/story.xhtml?
story_id=110008AFXMEI&nl=5
"Solving True Crimes"
American City & County (04/07) Vol. 122, No. 4, P. 26; Mamroth, Doug
To upgrade the way police, prosecutors, courts, and additional criminal justice groups communicate with one another, the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative has created an Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema and datamodel that enables agencies to swap electronic data kept in various formats. To send and get data coded with XML, though, the groups must make complex interfaces function with their current systems. Some are instead deciding to employ "adapter" software that can quickly code information with XML tags and translate various formats for essentially any system. Adapters lessen custom programming and change information so it can be studied and taken apart in computer-assisted dispatch, records and court case management, and violator monitoring systems. Numerous law enforcement and judicial agencies, such as the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Colorado Department of Corrections, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, are employing adapter software to share data rapidly about criminal events, repeat violators, and criminal backgrounds. New York City's public safety portal connects 17 agencies throughout a half-dozen counties, all of which can share data about arrests, convictions, and releases. Though prior to the portal being established, the agencies utilized several programs to swap information with one another, there was a discrepancy between the time the events took place and the time the data was exchanged. http://americancityandcounty.com/technology/government_solving_true_crimes/
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Headgear Survey for Public Safety Practitioners
The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC) is a leader in Human-Centered Research, Development and Engineering of personal protective equipment and integrated systems, addressing the needs across all DoD services.
Through its National Protection Center (NPC), NSRDEC serves a broader customer base assessing technologies, concepts and standards with dual-use applications to meet military needs as well as those of Federal, State, Local and Tribal emergency response practitioners. Members of the public safety community are invited to participate in the NPC's latest personal protective equipment survey focusing on protective headgear. Your input is valuable to on-going research, standards and technology transfer efforts; so please answer each question carefully and completely.
Please visit www.helmetsurvey.com to take the survey online. The survey consists of approximately 50 questions and should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Through its National Protection Center (NPC), NSRDEC serves a broader customer base assessing technologies, concepts and standards with dual-use applications to meet military needs as well as those of Federal, State, Local and Tribal emergency response practitioners. Members of the public safety community are invited to participate in the NPC's latest personal protective equipment survey focusing on protective headgear. Your input is valuable to on-going research, standards and technology transfer efforts; so please answer each question carefully and completely.
Please visit www.helmetsurvey.com to take the survey online. The survey consists of approximately 50 questions and should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Active Shooter Workshop
Active Shooter Workshop for
Law Enforcement and School Administrators
Date: June 5, 2007
Location: The campus of Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind.
The International Tactical Officers Training Association and Indiana State University will co-host a workshop to help prepare police and school administrators to deal with shooting incidents like the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech. The one-day workshop on June 5, "Active Shooters on Campus: Critical Strategies for Law Enforcement Officers & School Administrators," will feature experts in active-shooter encounters, high-stress scenarios, school security and violence, emergency management and close-quarters.
The workshop is geared toward law enforcement; school security officers, state, city and campus law enforcement, as well as administrators and counselors at junior and high schools, colleges and universities; from throughout the region.
"No one ever expects a situation like what happened at Virginia Tech, but what we can do is be prepared to the best of our ability, and that is what this workshop is about," said workshop coordinator Jason Winkle, president of the International Tactical Officers Training Association.
Former director of combatives for the United States Military Academy at West Point and current president of the ITOTA, Jason Winkle is an international presenter in the areas of tactical operations, leadership in high-stress/high-fear environments, counter-terrorism tactics and ethical decision-making.
"School administrators can be a hindrance when they don't know the protocol for dealing with an active shooter. If they understand what's happening and what their role is, it lessens the fear and increases their ability to respond," Winkle said. "Our goal is to get everyone on the same page and train them so they are as prepared as possible for these worst-case scenarios."
Presenting with Winkle will be Louis Rapoli, a police sergeant in the School Safety Division of a major metropolitan police department on the East Coast, and a school security consultant; Dr. Dorene Hojnicki, director of the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, and public health coordinator of the Vigo County Health Department; and Jeffrey Edwards, exercise physiologist, and chairperson and professor of Indiana State University's physical education department.
Workshop agenda for June 5, 2007:
8:00-8:30
Registration, ISU's Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I
8:30-9:50
Debrief of Virginia Tech Shooting & Update on School Violence in U.S. (Louis Rapoli)
10:00-10:50
The Mindset for Combating Active Shooters (Jason Winkle)
11:00-11:55
Understanding the Physiology of High-Fear & High-Stress Scenarios (Jeffrey Edwards)
12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-1:55
Emergency Management Agency's Role in Active-Shooter Encounters (Dorene Hojnicki)
2:00-4:00
Active-Shooter Doctrine: Why We Must All Understand This Process (Jason Winkle)
Speakers:
- Louis Rapoli is a police sergeant in the School Safety Division of a major metropolitan police department on the East Coast, and a school security consultant. His primary assignment is to conduct preliminary investigations on all threats that come in to the metropolitan area's public school system, assess them and handle them accordingly. Sgt. Rapoli has been to Virginia to be debriefed on the Virginia Tech shooting, and will share what happened and how we can learn from this tragedy.
- Jason Winkle, recognized as a top international consultant and presenter in both military and law enforcement communities, is an assistant professor of physical education at Indiana State University, and president of the International Tactical Officers Training Association. Former director of combatives for the United States Military Academy at West Point, Winkle has more than 12 years of experience training members of the U.S. elite special operations community. His combat-readiness regimens have revolutionized the training approach utilized by numerous tactical teams and military special operators. He has a Ph.D. in education, leadership, administration & foundations from Indiana State University; a master's in kinesiology and a bachelor's in philosophy, both from Indiana University.
- Dr. Dorene Hojnicki is the director of the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, and public health coordinator of the Vigo County Health Department. Dr. Hojnicki has more than 30 years of experience in emergency medicine, working with first responders, law enforcement and EMS personnel. She is a board-certified emergency physician and serves as medical director for numerous volunteer fire departments in the Wabash Valley. As an emergency room registered nurse, she did her trauma training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She is the former medical director of student health services and team physician for Indiana State University.
- Jeffrey Edwards is an exercise physiologist, and chairperson and professor of Indiana State University's physical education department, and interim chairperson of athletic training. He received his Ph.D. in human performance with an emphasis in physiology from Indiana University. Edwards was a member of the Big Red Scientific expedition high-altitude research team that climbed Mt. McKinley in Alaska; he served as research director for the National Institute for Fitness and Sport in Indianapolis, and was instrumental in starting its research laboratories; and is the inventor of the GPAC
(Global Positioning Activity Counter), a small, computerized device for measuring both physical activity and geographic location.
FOR more information on attending contact the itota at info@itota.net or call (812) 878-7928.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
Law Enforcement and School Administrators
Date: June 5, 2007
Location: The campus of Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Ind.
The International Tactical Officers Training Association and Indiana State University will co-host a workshop to help prepare police and school administrators to deal with shooting incidents like the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech. The one-day workshop on June 5, "Active Shooters on Campus: Critical Strategies for Law Enforcement Officers & School Administrators," will feature experts in active-shooter encounters, high-stress scenarios, school security and violence, emergency management and close-quarters.
The workshop is geared toward law enforcement; school security officers, state, city and campus law enforcement, as well as administrators and counselors at junior and high schools, colleges and universities; from throughout the region.
"No one ever expects a situation like what happened at Virginia Tech, but what we can do is be prepared to the best of our ability, and that is what this workshop is about," said workshop coordinator Jason Winkle, president of the International Tactical Officers Training Association.
Former director of combatives for the United States Military Academy at West Point and current president of the ITOTA, Jason Winkle is an international presenter in the areas of tactical operations, leadership in high-stress/high-fear environments, counter-terrorism tactics and ethical decision-making.
"School administrators can be a hindrance when they don't know the protocol for dealing with an active shooter. If they understand what's happening and what their role is, it lessens the fear and increases their ability to respond," Winkle said. "Our goal is to get everyone on the same page and train them so they are as prepared as possible for these worst-case scenarios."
Presenting with Winkle will be Louis Rapoli, a police sergeant in the School Safety Division of a major metropolitan police department on the East Coast, and a school security consultant; Dr. Dorene Hojnicki, director of the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, and public health coordinator of the Vigo County Health Department; and Jeffrey Edwards, exercise physiologist, and chairperson and professor of Indiana State University's physical education department.
Workshop agenda for June 5, 2007:
8:00-8:30
Registration, ISU's Hulman Memorial Student Union, Dede I
8:30-9:50
Debrief of Virginia Tech Shooting & Update on School Violence in U.S. (Louis Rapoli)
10:00-10:50
The Mindset for Combating Active Shooters (Jason Winkle)
11:00-11:55
Understanding the Physiology of High-Fear & High-Stress Scenarios (Jeffrey Edwards)
12:00-1:00
Lunch
1:00-1:55
Emergency Management Agency's Role in Active-Shooter Encounters (Dorene Hojnicki)
2:00-4:00
Active-Shooter Doctrine: Why We Must All Understand This Process (Jason Winkle)
Speakers:
- Louis Rapoli is a police sergeant in the School Safety Division of a major metropolitan police department on the East Coast, and a school security consultant. His primary assignment is to conduct preliminary investigations on all threats that come in to the metropolitan area's public school system, assess them and handle them accordingly. Sgt. Rapoli has been to Virginia to be debriefed on the Virginia Tech shooting, and will share what happened and how we can learn from this tragedy.
- Jason Winkle, recognized as a top international consultant and presenter in both military and law enforcement communities, is an assistant professor of physical education at Indiana State University, and president of the International Tactical Officers Training Association. Former director of combatives for the United States Military Academy at West Point, Winkle has more than 12 years of experience training members of the U.S. elite special operations community. His combat-readiness regimens have revolutionized the training approach utilized by numerous tactical teams and military special operators. He has a Ph.D. in education, leadership, administration & foundations from Indiana State University; a master's in kinesiology and a bachelor's in philosophy, both from Indiana University.
- Dr. Dorene Hojnicki is the director of the Vigo County Emergency Management Agency, and public health coordinator of the Vigo County Health Department. Dr. Hojnicki has more than 30 years of experience in emergency medicine, working with first responders, law enforcement and EMS personnel. She is a board-certified emergency physician and serves as medical director for numerous volunteer fire departments in the Wabash Valley. As an emergency room registered nurse, she did her trauma training at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She is the former medical director of student health services and team physician for Indiana State University.
- Jeffrey Edwards is an exercise physiologist, and chairperson and professor of Indiana State University's physical education department, and interim chairperson of athletic training. He received his Ph.D. in human performance with an emphasis in physiology from Indiana University. Edwards was a member of the Big Red Scientific expedition high-altitude research team that climbed Mt. McKinley in Alaska; he served as research director for the National Institute for Fitness and Sport in Indianapolis, and was instrumental in starting its research laboratories; and is the inventor of the GPAC
(Global Positioning Activity Counter), a small, computerized device for measuring both physical activity and geographic location.
FOR more information on attending contact the itota at info@itota.net or call (812) 878-7928.
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership; and, law enforcement personnel who have written books.
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