NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, September 27, 2007
"7 Carrying GPS Units in Weeklong Tryout to See How Tracking Software Worked"
Modesto Bee (CA) (09/23/07); Raguso, Emilie
The Stanislaus County Probation Department recently held a trial for a new program that outfitted law enforcement and county officials with global positioning system (GPS) equipment. The trial put GPS units in the hands of a select group of town officials, including the Modesto district attorney, county supervisor, two Turlock police chiefs, sheriff, and the mayor. The GPS units were rented by the department and given to the group to determine how the equipment and tracking worked. Most trial participants took their GPS tracking devices along with them everywhere they traveled. The monitoring technology not only tracked the whereabouts of the participants, but also informed those monitoring the group how fast they were driving. The monitoring devices, which are designed for probationers, keeps a log of everywhere the person wearing the device goes to make sure people do not violate the terms of their release conditions.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/74844.html
"L.A. Turns Cameras on Gang Graffiti"
Christian Science Monitor (09/25/07) P. 3; Wood, Daniel B.; Tully, Alison
The City of Los Angeles has installed surveillance cameras in a crime-ridden section of the city's east San Fernando Valley area in an effort to deter gang-related graffiti and other gang-related activities. The cameras sit atop poles at locations such as back alleys and have a motion-detection system that flashes the lens when someone is loitering in front of them. After the camera takes a picture, the system plays a voice recording that warns suspects that their picture has just been taken and that they will be prosecuted if caught committing a crime. The cameras have other features that previous generations of surveillance cameras did not have. For instance, the cameras have a wireless feature that allows them to be moved easily and more often to new locations. Officials can also download the photos taken by the camera without having to go up to the camera in a bucket raised and lowered by a crane. Some residents in the east San Fernando Valley area say the cameras are helping to reduce graffiti and other gang-related crimes. Critics, however, say the amount of money the city is spending on the cameras--roughly $70,000 for the 10 that will eventually be installed--is small compared with the $8 million the city pays on average each year for graffiti removal. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0925/p03s03-usju.html
"High-Tech Law Enforcement"
Tucson Citizen (AZ) (09/21/07) P. 4A; Gargulinski, Ryn
The new $180,000, 400-lbs. robot used by the Tucson police bomb squad is just one of many high-tech devices debuting on the law enforcement front. The robot is a crime-fighting tool used to protect officers from potentially hazardous chemicals or explosives, entering about 30 percent of the Tucson Police Department's bomb squad crime scenes. Technology that allows license plate scanning will soon be launched in the form of a $24,000 scanning device enabling officers to track license plates of stolen vehicles in one swooping motion. James Wysocki, administrator of information services at the TPD, says the tool will save officers hours of time in addition to maximizing the amount of vehicle plates they can scan. COPLINK, used from coast to coast, is another device that departments largely depend on. The system is accessible from a police car's Mobile Tactical Computer (MTC), enabling officers to view mug shots and maps, among other information. The convenient E-Citation program also allows officers to automatically fill out citations with license information due to a separate high-tech scanning device. Though technology has made strides within the department, Wysocki said the TPD has not eliminated any employees, and has reassigned them instead. He adds, "There seems to be an elastic demand for law enforcement services. Our problem is one of growth, not of shrinking." http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/63619.php
"Big Bro's Coming to Transport Hubs"
Boston Herald (09/24/07); Underwood, Mike
In an effort to buffer against future possible threats, the Massachusetts state government revealed its plan to expand surveillance to all major transportation facilities, including metro stations, ports, and airports. Homeland Security Undersecretary Julliette Kayyem says the initiative is in response to the July 7, 2005, bombing attack in London, and believes video security will enable authorities to respond quickly if a similar attack occurs in Boston. Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole), the state Legislature's Homeland Security committee chairman, says the new strategy is an important step but there are still other vulnerable public areas. "My biggest fear is that our softest targets are places like schools. I'm very scared about what could happen so we ought to have cameras in certain places," Timilty says. Along with public surveillance, the state government will organize a statewide emergency response program as part of it's heightened focus on transportation, while plans to build an Internet-based alert system and to coordinate evacuation and relocation are also being discussed.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1033650
"Police Get a New Weapon in Arsenal to Detect Hazardous Radiation"
Buffalo News (09/19/07) P. B3; Michel, Lou
New York state troopers and members of the Erie County sheriff's bomb squad are regularly carrying radiological detection units on their patrols. The devices, which cost $1,500 and are the size of a paper bag, are so sensitive that they start emitting beeps if a patrol car traveling at 55 mph or higher comes close to another car transporting even a tiny amount of radioactive substances. After radioactivity is located, another unit is sent to the scene to determine what the material is. Police can then decide whether the radiation being given off from a person or a vehicle's cargo is of real concern. The hand-held "identiFINDER" machine obtains a reading and then deciphers the substance. It also informs police as to whether the radiation is at a satisfactory level. If the portable database in the device cannot provide an answer, the officer can instantly email the data to a government facility. The 450 detection units were purchased with money from the U.S. Homeland Security Department. http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/otherwny/story/165974.html
"St. Louis Police Will Get Help Locating Gunfire"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (09/20/07) P. B5; Bryan, Bill
St. Louis law enforcement have received a Department of Justice grant for installing an "urban gunshot detection monitoring system" that can identify the sound of gunfire and its location. The $500,000 grant will be split between financing the new system and the Police Executive Research Forum thinktank, committed to creating strategies to reduce gun-violence. "We believe this joint venture will help us understand and examine the root causes of violent crime, especially those involving firearms," Police Chief Joe Mokwa said. Officers also say the technology will assist in the process of making arrests and lead to confiscation of more weapons. The monitoring system contains microphones that have a range of roughly one mile used to pinpoint the location of a shot. Similar technology is employed by the military, and other police departments in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland, California.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/
story/31CB18B61973C7F18625735C00125671?OpenDocument
"Cameras Provide Extra Eyes for Police"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (09/21/07) P. B2; Harris, Ryan
The Fort Oglethorpe, Tenn., Police Department is testing a license-plate recognition system outfitted on patrol vehicles. The system is run by eight cameras erected on the light-bar of a police car, and a processor in back of the cruiser interprets the license-plate number and compares it to area and national databases. In addition, a GPS system lists the site of every vehicle, as well as stores a time and date stamp. During three hours of testing, Fort Oglethorpe police were able to take 1,467 license-plate photos with the system and were informed about 14 suspects. Numerous citations were given, and an arrest was made. Implementing the system would cost $30,000 to $35,000 for each patrol vehicle. Though there are not any immediate plans to buy the equipment, Police Chief Larry Black noted he will write a report based on the police department's tests to show to the Fort Oglethorpe City Council, which would have to sanction such a purchase. Black pointed out that money obtained from drug busts could help finance the equipment.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/
templates/local.aspx?articleid=21922&zoneid=77
"Machine Aims to ID Liquids at Airport"
USA Today (09/20/07); Hall, Mimi
Scientists working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are developing a machine that is able to identify liquid explosives, which could be used to screen baggage at airports. The project, named SENSIT, uses magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] to identify the molecular structure of chemicals in a liquid. If the technology is implemented in airports, it could result in the end of the restriction on the size of liquids in carry-on baggage that has been in place since last September. Currently only bottles up to three ounces in weight and smaller than a quart-sized plastic bag are allowed, because current X-ray scanners can't "differentiate between a sports drink and a material somebody could use for a bomb," according to scientist Bob Kraus. The SENSIT machine currently can identify a total of 50 safe and unsafe liquids, with safe liquids showing up as a green dot on a monitor and dangerous liquids being labeled with a red dot. SENSIT is scheduled to be tested next summer at Albuquerque International to determine if the scanner can be effective in a crowded airport environment.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-20-liquids_N.htm?csp=34
"San Jose Cops Unveil Interactive Crime Map"
San Jose Mercury News (CA) (09/18/07); Skipitares, Connie
San Jose, Calif.'s police department has launched new crime-tracking software on its Web site that lists the precise location of crime reports. Created by the Salt Lake City firm Public Engines, the software replaces a service that was much less exact. Residents can now look at a report's status, including where an arrest was conducted or if an investigation is still going on or was terminated. In addition, with much more in-depth mapping, they can focus on a region as small as a one-mile radius of their school or house. Map icons reveal where robberies, car thefts, sexual attacks, and additional crimes are being reported. San Jose is only one of a few cities in the country to provide this kind of in-depth and simple to access data. The software enables residents to obtain automatic notification through email when crimes are reported close to their houses or schools. The database is updated each morning at 1 a.m. with the approximately 1,500 crime reports produced daily across San Jose. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6925367
"$6 Million Grant to Improve Cape Police Response"
Fort Myers News-Press (09/18/07)
The Cape Coral, Fla., Police Department has received a $6 million grant from the federal Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Cape Coral will work in tandem with other public-safety groups in Lee County and the county government to utilize the grant to buy and install a highly-advanced digital radio communications system, which will enable each public-safety group in Lee County to communicate with one another. Presently, Southwest Florida public-safety agencies employ radio systems that are not compatible with one another and cannot swap information, which makes it hard for agencies to work jointly to improve crime-fighting and public safety. In remote sections of Lee County, the existing analog system also witnesses drop zones. Changing over to a digital system will result in faster response times for first responders, greater officer safety, and more access to emergency services for local residents, police claim. In addition, the new system will be more dependable and will have broadened channels to accommodate more users. The Lee County Board of Commissioners has earmarked $2 million for the project, meaning that $8 million overall will be utilized to improve the radio communications system.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070918/NEWS0101/309170022/1075
"Bay Area Leaders to Build Disaster Communications System"
Insurance Journal (09/14/07)
With grant funding, the Bay Area Public Safety Interoperable Communications Initiative will link communication channels for public agencies in a number of urban counties in California, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Cost, Alameda, and Santa Clara. The public agencies' interoperable communications system will enable greater disaster response efficiency and disaster relief coordination in the event of earthquake or other catastrophic events. The $200 million project also will connect these counties' communication systems to Sacramento. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2007/09/14/83487.htm
"SAPD Secures $6 Million From Justice Department"
San Antonio Business Journal (09/13/07)
The San Antonio Police Department will receive a $6 million federal grant through the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), part of a U.S. Department of Justice effort to improve communications technology and fight crime. "This funding will help San Antonio first responders fight crime and keep our communities safe," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said. "It's critical that we provide our law enforcement officials the resources necessary for emergency preparedness and other homeland security efforts to protect homes and families." The funding can be used to purchase technology that allows for increasing communications and data interoperability between law enforcement agencies and other first responders in the area. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2007/09/10/daily26.html
"Clear Connection"
Governing (08/07) Vol. 20, No. 11, P. 56; Walters, Jonathan
Chicago's Citizen and Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting (CLEAR) database is changing the way members of its police force do business. CLEAR has a number of capabilities designed to better connect the area's law enforcement agencies to each other and to their communities. The system is accessible to squad-car laptops, mobile devices, and community members with an online subscription. All the typical data needed to catch a criminal is made available, including warrants, fingerprints, rap sheets, identifying marks, aliases, license plates, and firearms information. High-tech equipment also monitors video and sound in areas of potential criminal activity, or can be taken on the go to track stolen vehicles or suspects in transit. CLEAR can even screen crime-rates by district or neighborhood, allowing officers to alert communities to potential dangers, ratchet up the heat on suspects, and make sure police presence is felt where it is most needed. The system has proved extremely successful, improving community relations and bringing down crime-rates in and around Chicago. In fact, CLEAR has proven itself so many times, even the federal government has taken notice, ordering similar systems for military use in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.governing.com/manage/pm/perf0807.htm
"Medical Remedies Prevent Death by TASER"
Police and Security News (08/07) Vol. 23, No. 4, P. 27
For the past seven months, emergency medical technicians in Miami have been participating in a pilot program that aims to prevent TASER-related deaths. The program calls for EMTs to spray the sedative midazolam in the noses of subjects who have been TASERed if the first electroshock does not control them. EMTs then inject the subject with iced saline solution to cool their body and sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the toxic acids released by their tense muscles. The treatment, which is the first of its kind in the country, has been used at least 12 times by Miami EMTs to reduce TASERed subjects' body temperatures and calm them down. Government officials and TASER International are hoping the treatment will help to restore public confidence in TASERs. http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com
Showing posts with label police chiefs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police chiefs. Show all posts
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, June 08, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology News Summaries
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, June 7, 2007
"GPS Tracking of Offenders"
Deseret Morning News (06/03/07); Winslow, Ben
TrackerPAL is a recently released violator monitoring system that combines GPS, computer, and cell-phone technology into one miniscule unit fueled by a 20-hour battery. The waterproof gadget straps to a violator's ankle and monitors his movements utilizing GPS technology. At an around-the-clock monitoring center in Sandy, Utah, workers follow dozens of violators' locations. If the offenders go someplace they are not allowed, an alert appears on the screen. The TrackerPAL's cell unit permits operators and violators to speak with each other and can notify police or probation officers. In addition, it emits a 95-decibel siren if the violator wanders into a prohibited area or is hiding when authorities are looking for him. The software can be authorized to include off-limits locations, such as schools and parks. Although a violator can be followed to within 50 meters, TrackerPAL is restricted in that urban settings can cause signal problems. http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660226365,00.html
"County, Local Police Disagree on System to Link Databases"
Times Herald-Record (NY) (06/04/07); McKenna, Chris
Although it has been two years since officials in Orange County, N.Y., proposed creating a computer network for every police department in the county to share access to arrest reports, mugshots, and other records, only a partial network initiated by the police, not the county, exists today. Police chiefs are hoping that the county will adopt a program that is in use at 13 of the 31 departments. However, county officials are pursuing a method for linking records from different computer systems that would allow each department to keep its existing system. "Different agencies want to use different software to meet their needs," said Orange County Emergency Services Commissioner Walter Koury. "Let the software be the decision of each agency, but we will create a solution so that they will still be able to share data." The potential cost of such a system has not yet been determined, Koury said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070604/NEWS/706040329/-1/NEWS
"Airport Protection System on the Way"
New York Newsday (06/05/07); Eisenberg, Carol
A $138 million, 57-mile system of sensors that will incorporate radar, video motion detectors, thermal imagers, and closed-circuit television is being erected around the perimeters of John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and Teterboro Airport. Designed by Raytheon, the virtual fence is already in use at Ben-Gurion International in Tel Aviv and Baghdad's airport. The system was in the works before the alleged plot to attack JFK was uncovered and is designed to prevent such an attack. "If you can't breach the perimeter of the airport, you can't reach the fuel farms," said one unnamed official. The system would send data in realtime to a central Port Authority Police station and airport command posts and will be another layer in airport security. But former head of security at Ben-Gurion Rafi Ron notes that the system will be useless if not combined with an adequate response force. "The question is not only detecting an intrusion but being able to respond to it in due time," says Ron, who now heads a transportation security firm in McLean, Va. "I think that most U.S. airports are relatively quick to invest in the technology, but fail to provide the human resources to respond to the detection when it occurs." The system should be operational by early next year.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usair055243304jun05,
0,3104587,print.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-print
"Chicago Police Make Return to the Skies"
Chicago Sun-Times (06/01/07) P. 16; Spielman, Fran
Police in Chicago recently acquired a new, $2.1 million helicopter through Homeland Security funds that features night vision instrumentation that lets officers who wear special goggles see in the dark. The new helicopter also has a searchlight and a gamma radiation detector designed to help find such things as dirty bombs. In addition, it has a LoJack detection system for pinpointing stolen automobiles as well as a special map system. Its robust video cameras can downlink images to the city's 911 emergency center. Chicago's police department also has a helicopter previously used by the fire department that was retrofitted in 2006 for police use. http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/410147,CST-NWS-heli01.article
"Tavares Gets Own 911 System"
Orlando Sentinel (FL) (06/03/07) P. J1; Comas, Martin E.
Tavares, Fla., recently introduced its new 911 dispatching service. A minimum of two dispatchers will be available around-the-clock in City Hall, fielding calls for police service. Though the initial emergency calls began coming in on May 31 as Tavares began transferring sections of the city over to the new system, June 1 was the initial whole day the 911 system was totally operational. The system is necessary to handle the city's rapidly-expanding population and increasing amount of emergency calls. In 2006, Tavares police officers answered around 25,440 calls, a 47 percent gain over 2003. Employing highly innovative requirement, the Tavares dispatchers monitor four screens, and can determine the location of each 911 call that comes in, including those placed from the majority of cell phones. The system will eventually be improved so that it will inform dispatchers of every patrol vehicle's precise location. The new emergency communications system will cost Tavares around $500,000 initially; the expenses include buying equipment and paying for salaries and instruction for the new dispatchers. The yearly price for running the center will be between $350,000 and $400,000.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-ltavares0307jun03
,0,5144198.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-lake
"Gun-Trace Plan Faces Hurdles"
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) (06/03/07) P. A1; Valencia, Milton J.
Nationwide, a "track and map" effort dubbed Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been unfolding to monitor illegal gun ownership. The effort is being led by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. In Worcester, Mass., the initiative is being called "Where Did the Gun Come From?" and is part of a larger effort to encourage police, media outlets, and citizens to assess the source of a gun used in a criminal act instead of primarily focusing on the crime. A group called Main South Alliance for Public Safety is collaborating with a computer software maker to develop technology that can enhance weapons tracking. Community groups also say such technology could help neighborhoods better understand local crime. Officials say the program goes beyond the federal government's eTrace program. The software tracks a weapon based on such characteristics as its parts, make, model, caliber, or color. Users of the technology can also search for data based on ballistic testing. The Main South Alliance for Public Safety wants police chiefs statewide to take part in a pilot test the new software; the goal is to eventually expand it nationwide. But existing federal legislation known as the Tiahrt amendment bans the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives from releasing gun tracking data outside of law enforcement. Community groups say they do not want to infringe on the Second Amendment, but believe that a public tracking system would benefit communities. Leaders envision a Web site featuring a crime blog that residents could use to swap data about crimes, especially gun use.
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070603/NEWS/706030498/0/FRONTPAGE
"Sheriff Dawson Seeks More Than $150,000 for Communications Upgrades"
Herald & Review (IL) (06/01/07); Tallon, Mary
Macon County Sheriff Jerry Dawson in Illinois is requesting from the local government an appropriation of $156,503.75 to upgrade and make digital his department's back-up radio system. The upgrade also would benefit the emergency management agency of Macon County, Ill., for the agency uses the Macon County Sheriff radio. The 800 MHz system is too outdated to receive technical support from the manufacturer at this point, notes Dawson, and has not been updated since 1979. All this makes it even harder to use and maintain.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/06/01/news/local_news/1023857.txt
"Germany Taking Hard Line to Foil Disruption at G-8"
Washington Post (06/06/07) P. A13; Whitlock, Craig
Germany has spent more than $100 million to secure the Group of Eight (G-8) summit, which is being held this week at the coastal resort of Heiligendamm. A seven-mile-long security fence crowned with razor wire will keep anti-globalization protesters at bay. The German government is being aggressive about securing the meeting after some 500 German police officers were injured when protesters rioted in Rostock last weekend; thus, 16,000 police officers will be on hand to secure the G-8 summit, and they will be reinforced by armored personnel carriers and helicopters. The protesters--many of whom aim to disrupt the summit--have been sharpening their tactics and strategies for the past several months, but so have German authorities. For example, German police, borrowing a tactic formerly used by the East German secret police, have quietly obtained "scent samples" of some protest leaders so that canine units will be able to sniff them out of crowds if necessary. Public demonstrations will not be allowed within a four-mile radius of the meeting. Just five miles up the road from Heiligendamm, protesters have established a base camp replete with a three-story lookout tower to spot police. There the protesters are practicing techniques aimed at thwarting security forces, such as disrobing and locking arms.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2007/06/06/AR2007060600568.html?hpid=topnews
"An Easy Segway Into Patrols"
Star-Ledger (NJ) (06/01/07) P. 17; Dilworth, Kevin C.
Police departments across New Jersey are purchasing the two-wheel Segway device to increase the range and effectiveness of community patrols. These hand-operated devices transport police officers in a standing position while the officers control the device. East Orange, N.J., police director Jose Cordero says his department is using Segways to harness the available resources to "close the gap between what the public would like to see, and things that we can do, given our current resources." Neptune, N.J., Police Chief Howard O'Neil says Segways create more opportunity for community interaction, especially with curious young people who ask his officers often about the device. A typical Segway can cost $6,000. Officers report that Segways can be useful for parade functions, community-related patrolling, and moving quickly on and across sidewalks, streets, and curbs. Many New Jersey departments are still evaluating the vehicle for its crime-fighting impact.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/
base/news-7/118067486425610.xml&coll=1
"Eyes Opened to Find the Missing"
Telegram & Gazette (05/31/07) P. B4; Valencia, Milton J.
The Worcester County, Mass., sheriff's office has launched Iris Recognition Biometric Technology, which allows individuals to be identified by a unique eye scan. Sheriff Guy W. Glodis says the technology will be especially helpful in identifying missing children and seniors with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The iris scans could be loaded into a database much the same way fingerprint information is now, but Glodis says the iris scans are more effective for identification because they are less susceptible to manipulation and can even distinguish between identical twins. Because many kidnapped children are susceptible to entering altered mental states, they may not know they have been kidnapped or their original identity when they are recovered; therefore, such a database would be important in making a positive identification. In addition, dementia-affected seniors who wander away from their homes and then become lost could also be identified with the technology.
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070531/NEWS/705310733/1008/NEWS02
"New Tools to Help Law Enforcement Find Missing Seniors"
9News (CO) (05/31/07); McGuire, Heidi
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) recently signed into law a bill intended to allow law enforcement to rapidly monitor individuals with Alzheimer's and other disabilities. Under Project Lifesaver, participants obtain a device with radio frequency technology such as a bracelet. The devices can aid in tracking a person who gets lost or needs help. Most of the counties in the Denver area now have the radio frequency devices, and other counties in the state will eventually have them. An estimated 64,000 people in Colorado suffer from Alzheimer's, and most require at-home care.
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=71061
"Neighborhoods Lining Up for City's Cameras"
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (05/31/07) P. 1A; Ferenchik, Mark
Community leaders in several Columbus, Ohio, neighborhoods have expressed enthusiasm about extending the city's anti-crime surveillance camera initiative to their neighborhoods. For the past several years, the city's overburdened police department has been lobbying city leaders for additional police officers, cruisers, and gear. And several city neighborhoods have been requesting that the city deploy surveillance cameras. Mayor Michael B. Coleman has moved forward with a plan to test video surveillance technology as an anti-crime measure, and he is especially keen on using the cameras at city festivals and in certain neighborhoods. The cameras also could be deployed at parks and recreation centers. South Linden Area Commission President George Walker Jr., Northland Community Council President Dave Paul, and other community leaders say they would welcome the surveillance cameras with open arms. Greater Hilltop Area Commission Chairman Gary L. Baker II notes that community members seem to either love the idea or hate it. Columbus City Councilman Andrew Ginther was adamant that the cameras would supplement, not replace, police officers.
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/
2007/05/31/CAMREDUX.ART_ART_05-31-07_A1_BT6SHQK.html
"Officers Push to Get Digital Video in Cars"
Augusta Chronicle (GA) (05/30/07) P. B1; Guffey, Michelle
The Aiken County, S.C., Sheriff's Office intends to replaces its patrol cars' VHS cameras with digital ones. The move is needed because VCR technology is becoming obsolete. The new cameras will be compact; they will be built into the vehicle's rearview mirrors, according to officials. The mirror can be activated to view the monitor, or deactivated to appear like an ordinary mirror. The digital cameras also feature no moving parts, and there is no need to handle any tape. Pictures and sounds are recorded onto a 16-hour flash disc that can be placed in any PC for viewing. The data can also be downloaded for delivery via email. The new process eliminates the need to remove the VHS tape, burn it on a disc, and hand-deliver it, officials say. The new cameras can also pinpoint the site of physical evidence by using a grid, and wireless microphones in the camera, the back seat, and on officers creates an audio log, officials say. Each digital camera costs about $4,000 and features one camera that points to the front and another positioned towards the back. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/053007/met_130311.shtml
"Police Can Keep Eye on Schools"
Kansas City Star (05/30/07) P. LB1; Noble, Jason
The Liberty, Mo., Police Department and Liberty public school district have collaborated to upgrade the school district's security camera system so that police can significantly improve their response to school shootings and other emergencies. Security cameras have been a feature at Liberty schools for many years, and the upgrade is built upon an existing $2 million-plus security camera system that has historically been monitored by the district's technology employees. The upgrade links the cameras to the police department, enabling police dispatchers and police officers to directly monitor the live video feeds either in the dispatch office or via laptop computers in the field. The cameras provide views of nearly all common areas of the schools, meaning that if a school shooting occurs, police dispatchers will be able to track the shooter through the school and provide real-time information to responding police officers. In May, police and school officials conducted a test of the new technology, finding that they were able to quickly track down school resource officers as they moved through school buildings. The district's security company intends to provide police with blueprints of each school building to enhance the monitoring and response efforts. http://www.kansascity.com/317/story/127379.html
"City Police Could Get Major Upgrade for Over $18,000"
Springfield State Journal-Register (IL) (05/29/07) P. 17; Bolinski, Jayette
As of late May, the Springfield, Ill., Police Department was considering whether or not to approve spending over $18,000 on technology that will make mapping of crime and deadly accident scenes less difficult for officers. Department authorities want to buy a "total station," a device that allows police, engineers, and additional users to take correct measurements, obtain and plot information, and establish three-dimensional models of scenes. Acquiring the system would significantly reduce the amount of time police investigators spend at crime and accident scenes figuring and recording measurements. The Sokkia total station's price of $18,563 includes software and instruction. Software includes "Crash Math," which has different equations that crash scene reconstructionists need to determine what occurred during traffic accidents; "Professional Statement" to make reports faster and simpler to complete; "Virtual Earth," which permits users to access satellite images; and "Smart Corners," which helps with studying vehicle damage. One of the most attractive elements of the software is the ability to make 3-D images for investigators and juries. The Springfield City Council's finance committee was set to talk about the potential purchase at its May 29 meeting.
http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/115544.asp
"Law Enforcement Gets New Tool to Fight Crime in Dark"
9News (CO) (05/28/07); Bolton, Anastasiya
Homeland Security in the North Central Region of Colorado has purchased four night vision goggles for shared use by police departments from 10 counties within the jurisdiction. The regional purchase will enable police to access and use night-specialized devices that cost $3,500 each, and which individual departments could not have afforded. Night-vision goggles can be used for surveillance, to find someone who is lost, or for handling a known shooter, for instance. These goggles have been used by the U.S. military for years, but are new in police circles. http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=70903
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
"GPS Tracking of Offenders"
Deseret Morning News (06/03/07); Winslow, Ben
TrackerPAL is a recently released violator monitoring system that combines GPS, computer, and cell-phone technology into one miniscule unit fueled by a 20-hour battery. The waterproof gadget straps to a violator's ankle and monitors his movements utilizing GPS technology. At an around-the-clock monitoring center in Sandy, Utah, workers follow dozens of violators' locations. If the offenders go someplace they are not allowed, an alert appears on the screen. The TrackerPAL's cell unit permits operators and violators to speak with each other and can notify police or probation officers. In addition, it emits a 95-decibel siren if the violator wanders into a prohibited area or is hiding when authorities are looking for him. The software can be authorized to include off-limits locations, such as schools and parks. Although a violator can be followed to within 50 meters, TrackerPAL is restricted in that urban settings can cause signal problems. http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660226365,00.html
"County, Local Police Disagree on System to Link Databases"
Times Herald-Record (NY) (06/04/07); McKenna, Chris
Although it has been two years since officials in Orange County, N.Y., proposed creating a computer network for every police department in the county to share access to arrest reports, mugshots, and other records, only a partial network initiated by the police, not the county, exists today. Police chiefs are hoping that the county will adopt a program that is in use at 13 of the 31 departments. However, county officials are pursuing a method for linking records from different computer systems that would allow each department to keep its existing system. "Different agencies want to use different software to meet their needs," said Orange County Emergency Services Commissioner Walter Koury. "Let the software be the decision of each agency, but we will create a solution so that they will still be able to share data." The potential cost of such a system has not yet been determined, Koury said.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070604/NEWS/706040329/-1/NEWS
"Airport Protection System on the Way"
New York Newsday (06/05/07); Eisenberg, Carol
A $138 million, 57-mile system of sensors that will incorporate radar, video motion detectors, thermal imagers, and closed-circuit television is being erected around the perimeters of John F. Kennedy International (JFK), LaGuardia, Newark Liberty International, and Teterboro Airport. Designed by Raytheon, the virtual fence is already in use at Ben-Gurion International in Tel Aviv and Baghdad's airport. The system was in the works before the alleged plot to attack JFK was uncovered and is designed to prevent such an attack. "If you can't breach the perimeter of the airport, you can't reach the fuel farms," said one unnamed official. The system would send data in realtime to a central Port Authority Police station and airport command posts and will be another layer in airport security. But former head of security at Ben-Gurion Rafi Ron notes that the system will be useless if not combined with an adequate response force. "The question is not only detecting an intrusion but being able to respond to it in due time," says Ron, who now heads a transportation security firm in McLean, Va. "I think that most U.S. airports are relatively quick to invest in the technology, but fail to provide the human resources to respond to the detection when it occurs." The system should be operational by early next year.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usair055243304jun05,
0,3104587,print.story?coll=ny-nationalnews-print
"Chicago Police Make Return to the Skies"
Chicago Sun-Times (06/01/07) P. 16; Spielman, Fran
Police in Chicago recently acquired a new, $2.1 million helicopter through Homeland Security funds that features night vision instrumentation that lets officers who wear special goggles see in the dark. The new helicopter also has a searchlight and a gamma radiation detector designed to help find such things as dirty bombs. In addition, it has a LoJack detection system for pinpointing stolen automobiles as well as a special map system. Its robust video cameras can downlink images to the city's 911 emergency center. Chicago's police department also has a helicopter previously used by the fire department that was retrofitted in 2006 for police use. http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/410147,CST-NWS-heli01.article
"Tavares Gets Own 911 System"
Orlando Sentinel (FL) (06/03/07) P. J1; Comas, Martin E.
Tavares, Fla., recently introduced its new 911 dispatching service. A minimum of two dispatchers will be available around-the-clock in City Hall, fielding calls for police service. Though the initial emergency calls began coming in on May 31 as Tavares began transferring sections of the city over to the new system, June 1 was the initial whole day the 911 system was totally operational. The system is necessary to handle the city's rapidly-expanding population and increasing amount of emergency calls. In 2006, Tavares police officers answered around 25,440 calls, a 47 percent gain over 2003. Employing highly innovative requirement, the Tavares dispatchers monitor four screens, and can determine the location of each 911 call that comes in, including those placed from the majority of cell phones. The system will eventually be improved so that it will inform dispatchers of every patrol vehicle's precise location. The new emergency communications system will cost Tavares around $500,000 initially; the expenses include buying equipment and paying for salaries and instruction for the new dispatchers. The yearly price for running the center will be between $350,000 and $400,000.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/lake/orl-ltavares0307jun03
,0,5144198.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-lake
"Gun-Trace Plan Faces Hurdles"
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA) (06/03/07) P. A1; Valencia, Milton J.
Nationwide, a "track and map" effort dubbed Mayors Against Illegal Guns has been unfolding to monitor illegal gun ownership. The effort is being led by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. In Worcester, Mass., the initiative is being called "Where Did the Gun Come From?" and is part of a larger effort to encourage police, media outlets, and citizens to assess the source of a gun used in a criminal act instead of primarily focusing on the crime. A group called Main South Alliance for Public Safety is collaborating with a computer software maker to develop technology that can enhance weapons tracking. Community groups also say such technology could help neighborhoods better understand local crime. Officials say the program goes beyond the federal government's eTrace program. The software tracks a weapon based on such characteristics as its parts, make, model, caliber, or color. Users of the technology can also search for data based on ballistic testing. The Main South Alliance for Public Safety wants police chiefs statewide to take part in a pilot test the new software; the goal is to eventually expand it nationwide. But existing federal legislation known as the Tiahrt amendment bans the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives from releasing gun tracking data outside of law enforcement. Community groups say they do not want to infringe on the Second Amendment, but believe that a public tracking system would benefit communities. Leaders envision a Web site featuring a crime blog that residents could use to swap data about crimes, especially gun use.
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070603/NEWS/706030498/0/FRONTPAGE
"Sheriff Dawson Seeks More Than $150,000 for Communications Upgrades"
Herald & Review (IL) (06/01/07); Tallon, Mary
Macon County Sheriff Jerry Dawson in Illinois is requesting from the local government an appropriation of $156,503.75 to upgrade and make digital his department's back-up radio system. The upgrade also would benefit the emergency management agency of Macon County, Ill., for the agency uses the Macon County Sheriff radio. The 800 MHz system is too outdated to receive technical support from the manufacturer at this point, notes Dawson, and has not been updated since 1979. All this makes it even harder to use and maintain.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/06/01/news/local_news/1023857.txt
"Germany Taking Hard Line to Foil Disruption at G-8"
Washington Post (06/06/07) P. A13; Whitlock, Craig
Germany has spent more than $100 million to secure the Group of Eight (G-8) summit, which is being held this week at the coastal resort of Heiligendamm. A seven-mile-long security fence crowned with razor wire will keep anti-globalization protesters at bay. The German government is being aggressive about securing the meeting after some 500 German police officers were injured when protesters rioted in Rostock last weekend; thus, 16,000 police officers will be on hand to secure the G-8 summit, and they will be reinforced by armored personnel carriers and helicopters. The protesters--many of whom aim to disrupt the summit--have been sharpening their tactics and strategies for the past several months, but so have German authorities. For example, German police, borrowing a tactic formerly used by the East German secret police, have quietly obtained "scent samples" of some protest leaders so that canine units will be able to sniff them out of crowds if necessary. Public demonstrations will not be allowed within a four-mile radius of the meeting. Just five miles up the road from Heiligendamm, protesters have established a base camp replete with a three-story lookout tower to spot police. There the protesters are practicing techniques aimed at thwarting security forces, such as disrobing and locking arms.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/
2007/06/06/AR2007060600568.html?hpid=topnews
"An Easy Segway Into Patrols"
Star-Ledger (NJ) (06/01/07) P. 17; Dilworth, Kevin C.
Police departments across New Jersey are purchasing the two-wheel Segway device to increase the range and effectiveness of community patrols. These hand-operated devices transport police officers in a standing position while the officers control the device. East Orange, N.J., police director Jose Cordero says his department is using Segways to harness the available resources to "close the gap between what the public would like to see, and things that we can do, given our current resources." Neptune, N.J., Police Chief Howard O'Neil says Segways create more opportunity for community interaction, especially with curious young people who ask his officers often about the device. A typical Segway can cost $6,000. Officers report that Segways can be useful for parade functions, community-related patrolling, and moving quickly on and across sidewalks, streets, and curbs. Many New Jersey departments are still evaluating the vehicle for its crime-fighting impact.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/
base/news-7/118067486425610.xml&coll=1
"Eyes Opened to Find the Missing"
Telegram & Gazette (05/31/07) P. B4; Valencia, Milton J.
The Worcester County, Mass., sheriff's office has launched Iris Recognition Biometric Technology, which allows individuals to be identified by a unique eye scan. Sheriff Guy W. Glodis says the technology will be especially helpful in identifying missing children and seniors with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The iris scans could be loaded into a database much the same way fingerprint information is now, but Glodis says the iris scans are more effective for identification because they are less susceptible to manipulation and can even distinguish between identical twins. Because many kidnapped children are susceptible to entering altered mental states, they may not know they have been kidnapped or their original identity when they are recovered; therefore, such a database would be important in making a positive identification. In addition, dementia-affected seniors who wander away from their homes and then become lost could also be identified with the technology.
http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070531/NEWS/705310733/1008/NEWS02
"New Tools to Help Law Enforcement Find Missing Seniors"
9News (CO) (05/31/07); McGuire, Heidi
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) recently signed into law a bill intended to allow law enforcement to rapidly monitor individuals with Alzheimer's and other disabilities. Under Project Lifesaver, participants obtain a device with radio frequency technology such as a bracelet. The devices can aid in tracking a person who gets lost or needs help. Most of the counties in the Denver area now have the radio frequency devices, and other counties in the state will eventually have them. An estimated 64,000 people in Colorado suffer from Alzheimer's, and most require at-home care.
http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=71061
"Neighborhoods Lining Up for City's Cameras"
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (05/31/07) P. 1A; Ferenchik, Mark
Community leaders in several Columbus, Ohio, neighborhoods have expressed enthusiasm about extending the city's anti-crime surveillance camera initiative to their neighborhoods. For the past several years, the city's overburdened police department has been lobbying city leaders for additional police officers, cruisers, and gear. And several city neighborhoods have been requesting that the city deploy surveillance cameras. Mayor Michael B. Coleman has moved forward with a plan to test video surveillance technology as an anti-crime measure, and he is especially keen on using the cameras at city festivals and in certain neighborhoods. The cameras also could be deployed at parks and recreation centers. South Linden Area Commission President George Walker Jr., Northland Community Council President Dave Paul, and other community leaders say they would welcome the surveillance cameras with open arms. Greater Hilltop Area Commission Chairman Gary L. Baker II notes that community members seem to either love the idea or hate it. Columbus City Councilman Andrew Ginther was adamant that the cameras would supplement, not replace, police officers.
http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/
2007/05/31/CAMREDUX.ART_ART_05-31-07_A1_BT6SHQK.html
"Officers Push to Get Digital Video in Cars"
Augusta Chronicle (GA) (05/30/07) P. B1; Guffey, Michelle
The Aiken County, S.C., Sheriff's Office intends to replaces its patrol cars' VHS cameras with digital ones. The move is needed because VCR technology is becoming obsolete. The new cameras will be compact; they will be built into the vehicle's rearview mirrors, according to officials. The mirror can be activated to view the monitor, or deactivated to appear like an ordinary mirror. The digital cameras also feature no moving parts, and there is no need to handle any tape. Pictures and sounds are recorded onto a 16-hour flash disc that can be placed in any PC for viewing. The data can also be downloaded for delivery via email. The new process eliminates the need to remove the VHS tape, burn it on a disc, and hand-deliver it, officials say. The new cameras can also pinpoint the site of physical evidence by using a grid, and wireless microphones in the camera, the back seat, and on officers creates an audio log, officials say. Each digital camera costs about $4,000 and features one camera that points to the front and another positioned towards the back. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/053007/met_130311.shtml
"Police Can Keep Eye on Schools"
Kansas City Star (05/30/07) P. LB1; Noble, Jason
The Liberty, Mo., Police Department and Liberty public school district have collaborated to upgrade the school district's security camera system so that police can significantly improve their response to school shootings and other emergencies. Security cameras have been a feature at Liberty schools for many years, and the upgrade is built upon an existing $2 million-plus security camera system that has historically been monitored by the district's technology employees. The upgrade links the cameras to the police department, enabling police dispatchers and police officers to directly monitor the live video feeds either in the dispatch office or via laptop computers in the field. The cameras provide views of nearly all common areas of the schools, meaning that if a school shooting occurs, police dispatchers will be able to track the shooter through the school and provide real-time information to responding police officers. In May, police and school officials conducted a test of the new technology, finding that they were able to quickly track down school resource officers as they moved through school buildings. The district's security company intends to provide police with blueprints of each school building to enhance the monitoring and response efforts. http://www.kansascity.com/317/story/127379.html
"City Police Could Get Major Upgrade for Over $18,000"
Springfield State Journal-Register (IL) (05/29/07) P. 17; Bolinski, Jayette
As of late May, the Springfield, Ill., Police Department was considering whether or not to approve spending over $18,000 on technology that will make mapping of crime and deadly accident scenes less difficult for officers. Department authorities want to buy a "total station," a device that allows police, engineers, and additional users to take correct measurements, obtain and plot information, and establish three-dimensional models of scenes. Acquiring the system would significantly reduce the amount of time police investigators spend at crime and accident scenes figuring and recording measurements. The Sokkia total station's price of $18,563 includes software and instruction. Software includes "Crash Math," which has different equations that crash scene reconstructionists need to determine what occurred during traffic accidents; "Professional Statement" to make reports faster and simpler to complete; "Virtual Earth," which permits users to access satellite images; and "Smart Corners," which helps with studying vehicle damage. One of the most attractive elements of the software is the ability to make 3-D images for investigators and juries. The Springfield City Council's finance committee was set to talk about the potential purchase at its May 29 meeting.
http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/115544.asp
"Law Enforcement Gets New Tool to Fight Crime in Dark"
9News (CO) (05/28/07); Bolton, Anastasiya
Homeland Security in the North Central Region of Colorado has purchased four night vision goggles for shared use by police departments from 10 counties within the jurisdiction. The regional purchase will enable police to access and use night-specialized devices that cost $3,500 each, and which individual departments could not have afforded. Night-vision goggles can be used for surveillance, to find someone who is lost, or for handling a known shooter, for instance. These goggles have been used by the U.S. military for years, but are new in police circles. http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=70903
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