The Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, seeks to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security and to increase the capacity of the United States higher education enterprise to continue to produce professionals in these fields to meet the needs of our increasingly technological society. The SFS program is composed of two tracks:
The Scholarship Track provides funding to colleges and universities to award scholarships to students in the information assurance and computer security fields. Scholarship recipients shall pursue academic programs in information assurance for the final two years of undergraduate study, or for two years of master's-level study, or for the final two years of Ph.D.-level study. These students will participate as a cohort during their two years of study and activities, including a summer internship in the Federal Government. A limited number of students may be placed in National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs).
The recipients of the scholarships will become part of the Federal Cyber Service of Information Technology Specialists whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the United States Government's information infrastructure. Upon graduation, after their two-year scholarships, recipients will be required to work for two years in the Federal Government. A limited number of students may be placed in National Laboratories and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). This number shall be set by the program office each year.
The Capacity Building Track provides funds to colleges and universities to improve the quality and increase the production of information assurance and computer security professionals. Professional development of information assurance faculty and development of academic programs can be funded under this track.
Proposal Deadline
January 29, 2007 (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time)
Full Solicitation
View the entire solicitation at www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07512
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
POLICE STEREOTYPES (Humor)
Narcotics units
-Immediately grow facial hair, tell everybody you were ordered to.
-Start watching every episode of Monster Garage.
-Buy a biker wallet with a big chain.
-Make every case involve overtime $$$.
-Buy bunches of boats, RV's, and motorcycles with that overtime.
-Learn to play golf drunk.
SWAT units
-Wear team T-shirts, Oakley sunglasses and boots everyday.
-Try to fit the word breach in to every conversation.
-Have a mirror handy to check hair, if you have hair.
-Never say hello to anyone who is not an operator, just practice your SWAT head nod.
-Subscribe to Soldier of Fortune and Muscle and Fitness.
-Learn to play golf wearing a gun.
Community Service units
-Hate SWAT.
-Work to make everybody love you.
-Paint your office in pastel colors.
-Think Feng Shui.
-Subscribe to Psychology Today.
-Learn to play miniature golf.
Traffic units
-Write tickets to EVERYBODY.
-Spend every weekend cleaning your bike and polishing boots.
-Annoy everyone on the radio calling out your stops.
-Talk about nothing but how many tickets you wrote in one day.
-Ride by a building with big windows to see your reflection.
-Golf is lame, motor rodeos are cool.
K-9 Units
-Become sadistic
-Show pictures of your latest dog bite
-Brag about your largest drug find
-Smell like a dog
-Workout 3 times a day
-Show off your bruises
Administrative Units
-Three-hour lunches everyday, tell everybody it's a "meeting".
-Upgrade police department cell phone every month.
-Tell everybody you are published in a national law enforcement magazine.
-Update your revenge list on a weekly basis.
-Golf Rules! Play lots of golf.
Patrol Units
-Has nerves of steel.
-In a terminal state of nausea from department politics.
-Inability to keep mouth shut.
-Has defining tastes in alcohol.
-Is respected by peers.
-Beats the crap out of his caddy on any bogeyed shot
Investigators
-Come in at 0800
-"Breakfast" from 0815 to 1030
-Work from 1030 to Noon
-Noon to 1400 Work out and Lunch
-1400-1700 Sit in CID and talk about how many girlfriends you have and how the wife doesn't know. Plan your next RV, fishing, motorcycle trip.
Patrol Sergeant
-Remembers very well "how we used to do do it."
-Always willing to tell his officers the above. -Tries to fit the word "liability" in to every sentence.
-Talks about "what he's hearing from upstairs."
Trainee
-Unable to grow facial hair.
-Watches every episode of Cops.
-Worships the ground the SWAT guys walk on.
-Arrives for work three hours early.
-Thinks the sergeant is thrilled to see him.
-Won't drink on the golf course because it violates the open container ordinance.
FEDS
- Shave head, and grow goatee (unless you want to be a management weenie, then make sure you are clean shaven, with short almost military style haircut).
- Wear 5.11 pants, and polo with agency logo (unless you want to be a management weenie, then make sure you always have a shirt and pants to which a jacket and tie can be quickly added for when the boss might be around).
- Arrive at work at 8AM, spend one hour answering useless emails, and 30 minutes checking your retirement investments. Then go with another agent to Starbucks "to discuss your a new case."
- After participating in your first warrant service (as outside cover) make plans to join the agency SRT,SWAT, etc, to "properly utilize your superior tactical skills."
- After doing your first buy bust, immediately begin asking the boss about "long term undercover" jobs.
- Refuse to play golf with "the locals."
New Corrections Officers
- Show up for work 15 minutes early
- Buy only the best ink pens (Pilot G-2)
- Wear T-Shirts of your "dream department" under your uniform
- Wear a full duty belt of gear even though you have to remove: gun, baton, spare magazines, knife, cell phone, and BUG when you arrive at the facility
- Become friends with every local police officer
- Continue eating too much and not exercising
Editors Note: This was sent to me. I tried to track down the source...well, a little bit:) If you know the author, I would love to cite them (especially since I hammer undergrad students for failing to cite/source)
-Immediately grow facial hair, tell everybody you were ordered to.
-Start watching every episode of Monster Garage.
-Buy a biker wallet with a big chain.
-Make every case involve overtime $$$.
-Buy bunches of boats, RV's, and motorcycles with that overtime.
-Learn to play golf drunk.
SWAT units
-Wear team T-shirts, Oakley sunglasses and boots everyday.
-Try to fit the word breach in to every conversation.
-Have a mirror handy to check hair, if you have hair.
-Never say hello to anyone who is not an operator, just practice your SWAT head nod.
-Subscribe to Soldier of Fortune and Muscle and Fitness.
-Learn to play golf wearing a gun.
Community Service units
-Hate SWAT.
-Work to make everybody love you.
-Paint your office in pastel colors.
-Think Feng Shui.
-Subscribe to Psychology Today.
-Learn to play miniature golf.
Traffic units
-Write tickets to EVERYBODY.
-Spend every weekend cleaning your bike and polishing boots.
-Annoy everyone on the radio calling out your stops.
-Talk about nothing but how many tickets you wrote in one day.
-Ride by a building with big windows to see your reflection.
-Golf is lame, motor rodeos are cool.
K-9 Units
-Become sadistic
-Show pictures of your latest dog bite
-Brag about your largest drug find
-Smell like a dog
-Workout 3 times a day
-Show off your bruises
Administrative Units
-Three-hour lunches everyday, tell everybody it's a "meeting".
-Upgrade police department cell phone every month.
-Tell everybody you are published in a national law enforcement magazine.
-Update your revenge list on a weekly basis.
-Golf Rules! Play lots of golf.
Patrol Units
-Has nerves of steel.
-In a terminal state of nausea from department politics.
-Inability to keep mouth shut.
-Has defining tastes in alcohol.
-Is respected by peers.
-Beats the crap out of his caddy on any bogeyed shot
Investigators
-Come in at 0800
-"Breakfast" from 0815 to 1030
-Work from 1030 to Noon
-Noon to 1400 Work out and Lunch
-1400-1700 Sit in CID and talk about how many girlfriends you have and how the wife doesn't know. Plan your next RV, fishing, motorcycle trip.
Patrol Sergeant
-Remembers very well "how we used to do do it."
-Always willing to tell his officers the above. -Tries to fit the word "liability" in to every sentence.
-Talks about "what he's hearing from upstairs."
Trainee
-Unable to grow facial hair.
-Watches every episode of Cops.
-Worships the ground the SWAT guys walk on.
-Arrives for work three hours early.
-Thinks the sergeant is thrilled to see him.
-Won't drink on the golf course because it violates the open container ordinance.
FEDS
- Shave head, and grow goatee (unless you want to be a management weenie, then make sure you are clean shaven, with short almost military style haircut).
- Wear 5.11 pants, and polo with agency logo (unless you want to be a management weenie, then make sure you always have a shirt and pants to which a jacket and tie can be quickly added for when the boss might be around).
- Arrive at work at 8AM, spend one hour answering useless emails, and 30 minutes checking your retirement investments. Then go with another agent to Starbucks "to discuss your a new case."
- After participating in your first warrant service (as outside cover) make plans to join the agency SRT,SWAT, etc, to "properly utilize your superior tactical skills."
- After doing your first buy bust, immediately begin asking the boss about "long term undercover" jobs.
- Refuse to play golf with "the locals."
New Corrections Officers
- Show up for work 15 minutes early
- Buy only the best ink pens (Pilot G-2)
- Wear T-Shirts of your "dream department" under your uniform
- Wear a full duty belt of gear even though you have to remove: gun, baton, spare magazines, knife, cell phone, and BUG when you arrive at the facility
- Become friends with every local police officer
- Continue eating too much and not exercising
Editors Note: This was sent to me. I tried to track down the source...well, a little bit:) If you know the author, I would love to cite them (especially since I hammer undergrad students for failing to cite/source)
Police Officers on the Web
Editors Note: We occasionally highlight a police officer website or listing found on Police-Writers.
Barry Brown, the principle of Cable Rock Investigations, retired from the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office in Eureka, California in 1998 as the Chief Investigator in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division. He was the primary liaison between the District Attorney's Office and other agencies within the criminal justice system and the D.A. representative for the Grand Jury.
Mr. Brown was instrumental in forming and writing the Critical Incident Protocol that is still used by Humboldt County (California) as general guidelines for all law enforcement agencies when dealing with police officer involved shootings and other "critical incidents". He was the State polygraph supervisor for all licensed polygraph examiners in Humboldt County and for a number of years, conducted many polygraph examinations for the D.A.'s office.
Mr Brown was the lead District Attorney investigator on one of California's most legally complex and longest running capital murder cases, involving the Aryan Brotherhood and their involvement in a number of robberies and murders. This case was almost two years in trial; one year in the courtroom for two preliminary hearings and a full year in the jury trial and subsequent penalty phase.
Mr. Brown investigated dozens of murder cases while with the D.A.'s office and hundreds of major felony cases, specializing in the investigation of violent crime. He was the initial contact for local law enforcement agencies seeking assistance and direction for the D.A.'s office at the front end of most major felony investigations.
Mr. Brown served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Humboldt County Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California, the Advisory Board for the Administration of Justice Division at College of the Redwoods (also located in Eureka, CA) and has taught criminal justice related courses at the high school and college levels. He is currently on the Citizen's Advisory Board for Pelican Bay State Prison in Del Norte County.
Prior to his twenty years as a criminal investigator in the District Attorney's office, Mr. Brown was employed with the Eureka Police Department as a uniformed police officer, investigator, firearms "range master" and a member of the SWAT and police pistol teams. He began his law enforcement career in 1970 as a patrol officer for the Fortuna Police Department where he was instrumental in establishing a new firearms policy and was the department's "range master" in charge of firearms training.
Subsequent to his retirement from the District Attorney's Office in 1998, Mr. Brown worked for a local law firm in northern California where he was the defense investigator on a number of major felony cases, including homicides. He was the lead investigator on a major civil tort case that was successfully concluded after over two years of investigation.
Mr. Brown has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and specializes in criminal defense work and trial support. He also provides civil investigation and litigation support on a wide range of cases. As a third generation resident of the Pacific North Coast and an investigator with over thirty years of experience, Mr. Brown has a well established reputation within all levels of the legal community which greatly enhances his effectiveness as a private investigator.
He can be contacted through his website at Cable Rock Investigations.
Barry Brown, the principle of Cable Rock Investigations, retired from the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office in Eureka, California in 1998 as the Chief Investigator in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division. He was the primary liaison between the District Attorney's Office and other agencies within the criminal justice system and the D.A. representative for the Grand Jury.
Mr. Brown was instrumental in forming and writing the Critical Incident Protocol that is still used by Humboldt County (California) as general guidelines for all law enforcement agencies when dealing with police officer involved shootings and other "critical incidents". He was the State polygraph supervisor for all licensed polygraph examiners in Humboldt County and for a number of years, conducted many polygraph examinations for the D.A.'s office.
Mr Brown was the lead District Attorney investigator on one of California's most legally complex and longest running capital murder cases, involving the Aryan Brotherhood and their involvement in a number of robberies and murders. This case was almost two years in trial; one year in the courtroom for two preliminary hearings and a full year in the jury trial and subsequent penalty phase.
Mr. Brown investigated dozens of murder cases while with the D.A.'s office and hundreds of major felony cases, specializing in the investigation of violent crime. He was the initial contact for local law enforcement agencies seeking assistance and direction for the D.A.'s office at the front end of most major felony investigations.
Mr. Brown served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Humboldt County Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California, the Advisory Board for the Administration of Justice Division at College of the Redwoods (also located in Eureka, CA) and has taught criminal justice related courses at the high school and college levels. He is currently on the Citizen's Advisory Board for Pelican Bay State Prison in Del Norte County.
Prior to his twenty years as a criminal investigator in the District Attorney's office, Mr. Brown was employed with the Eureka Police Department as a uniformed police officer, investigator, firearms "range master" and a member of the SWAT and police pistol teams. He began his law enforcement career in 1970 as a patrol officer for the Fortuna Police Department where he was instrumental in establishing a new firearms policy and was the department's "range master" in charge of firearms training.
Subsequent to his retirement from the District Attorney's Office in 1998, Mr. Brown worked for a local law firm in northern California where he was the defense investigator on a number of major felony cases, including homicides. He was the lead investigator on a major civil tort case that was successfully concluded after over two years of investigation.
Mr. Brown has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and specializes in criminal defense work and trial support. He also provides civil investigation and litigation support on a wide range of cases. As a third generation resident of the Pacific North Coast and an investigator with over thirty years of experience, Mr. Brown has a well established reputation within all levels of the legal community which greatly enhances his effectiveness as a private investigator.
He can be contacted through his website at Cable Rock Investigations.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, October 26, 2006
"Gunshot Sensors Are Giving D.C. Police Jump on Suspects"
Washington Post (10/22/06) P. A1; Klein, Allison
The FBI has paid for the installation of the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System in Washington, D.C.'s 7th Police District in Southeast, where most of the city's homicides occurred in 2005. The coffee-can-sized sensors have been placed on top of several buildings in the area to pinpoint gunfire within two miles, accurately distinguishing it from firecrackers and car backfires. The sensors enable police to get to the scene of a shooting quickly, as they are typically notified prior to the first 911 call. The fact that the sensor can identify the spot where the gunfire originated within feet increases the chances that police will arrive at the scene before the suspect has a chance to flee. Of the three homicides brought to the attention of District police in the two months since the sensors' installation, one arrest was made. The pilot program could be expanded throughout the District and elsewhere, but the fact that ShotSpotter technicians were targeted by gang members in Los Angeles and Oakland means that installation plans will not be made public. The sensors are already in use in Chicago, Los Angeles, Charleston, S.C., and Rochester, N.Y., with installations planned for a dozen or so other cities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/
21/AR2006102100826_2.html
"Holding the Line"
Security Management (09/06) Vol. 50, No. 9, P. 64; Anderson, Teresa
On an average day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents along the U.S.-Mexico border confiscate 5,400 pounds of illegal drugs, seize more than 210 fake documents, and arrest 3,256 people who try to enter the United States illegally. The challenges of securing the border are perfectly illustrated in and around San Diego, where officials must deal with several nearby land ports of entry and a large seaport. The most popular port of entry in the world is San Ysidro, located between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, and more than 41 million people and 17 million vehicles were processed there by CBP officials in 2005. CBP agents have been trained to find illegal aliens who use fraudulent documents or who hide in secret compartments inside vehicles. These agents have discovered illegal aliens inside the dashboard of minivans, inside engine compartments--even inside the gas tank of a truck that had been equipped with an alternative gas storage system. The tools used to secure the U.S.-Mexico border include cutting-edge technology, risk management policies, and enforcement policies. The Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Harbor Police, and other law enforcement agencies must protect the Port of San Diego from threats like improvised explosive devices hidden on small ships. Shipping terminals and cruise ships at the port are protected from water-based attack by floating or submerged fences of steel cables that are capable of destroying the propellers of ships that draw too near.
http://www.securitymanagement.com
"In Fighting Crime, City Hopes Pictures Don't Lie"
Indianapolis Star (10/21/06) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic
Indianapolis will soon join the growing list of U.S. cities that have installed security cameras in high-crime areas. The city's police plan to purchase 22 pole-mounted, bulletproof permanent cameras and an undetermined number of mobile cameras in late November. The motion-sensing cameras can detect gunshots and recognize faces and will be installed near sports stadiums, water treatment facilities, and other areas, though police are unsure when the cameras will be up and running. Images captured by the cameras are transmitted to a central computer at police headquarters and can be accessed by police on in-car computers. A $1 million Homeland Security grant will pay for the permanent cameras along with the necessary hardware and software, and future funding will come from money seized from drug dealers and other criminals. "We are adding officers to the streets and performing saturation patrols in high-crime areas," Mayor Bart Peterson said. "These cameras will be a great tool to complement those additional resources and increase police presence in neighborhoods."
http://search.indystar.com/sp?
gId=100&gcId=1974489&rNum=1
&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://ww
w.indystar.com%2Fapps%2Fpbc
s.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2006610210516
"Louisville Home To Digital Forensic Investigation Center"
Associated Press (10/19/06); Barrouquere, Brett
Kentucky law enforcement officials are hoping the new Kentucky Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory will move them closer to catching the bad guys and prosecuting them. The digital forensic center, partly funded by a $2.96 million federal grant, will be located at the University of Louisville's Shelby Campus. It will consist of computers and other equipment that can download information and photos. "In general, most departments don't have enough funding to perform an adequate examination on the type of digital evidence we can do here," says center director James Harris. Investigators will have 10 workstations to choose from to review digital images and audio clips. Lexington Police Chief Anthany Beatty says the center will help local law enforcement offer training and equipment, and create relationships with officers. The center will be available to Kentucky law enforcement agencies on a priority basis. http://www.kentucky.com/mld
/kentucky/news/15799392.htm
"Private DNA Lab Gives Family Sad News Faster"
Riverside Press-Enterprise (CA) (10/18/06) P. B5; LaRocco, Paul
The Redland, Calif., Police Department recently hired a private lab called Human Identification Technologies (HIT) to provide the DNA identification of a homicide victim. The move allowed the department to proceed faster than if it had used the state's overburdened crime labs, according to Sgt. Chris Catren. He noted that state labs often take weeks or months to provide identity results, and at the time of the cadaver's discovery, there had been no motive or alternative way to identify the victim. Forensic scientists used samples from an arm bone to remove a small amount of DNA, which was used to compare the DNA of living relatives. A positive result was obtained, even though "bone is the toughest sample there is right now in DNA," says Blaine Kern, president of HIT and a former sheriff's criminologist in San Bernardino County, Calif. http://www.pe.com/localnews
/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bbody19.3df980b.html
"Redford Twp. Chief Takes Steps To Upgrade"
Detroit Free Press (10/19/06); Meyer, Zlati
As part of an effort to keep up with the newest crime-fighting technology, Redford Township Police Chief John Buck is changing the department's guidelines and procedures. Buck says he wants the new rules to include the use of technology. "There's electronic fingerprinting submission and the ability to submit latent prints, and I want to have the rules reflect that," says Buck. "With laptops in cars, we need regulations to provide guidelines for usage." Buck says he may use school resource officers as bike patrols for the summer months and plans to host an open house for the police department in May. Buck was sworn in as the new police chief on Sept. 29, following the resignation of David Parker. Redford Township Police Officers Association President Eric Norman says he is pleased the department has been proactive in hiring more officers and bringing back dispatchers.
http://www.freep.com/apps
/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2006
1019/NEWS02/610190411/1004/NEWS
"U.S. Unveils Plans for Border-Crossing Identification Cards"
Globe and Mail (CAN) (10/18/06) P. A18; Gorham, Beth
Americans will be able to use a small, relatively inexpensive identification card featuring radio-frequency identification technology when re-entering the United States from Canada, according to new plans from the Homeland Security Department. Americans will be able to use the new card, which costs $45 at most, in lieu of a passport, which costs $97. Machines installed at border crossings will read the cards and compare the cards to a government database containing information about travelers. The card will not display personal data. Canada has not yet decided whether it will introduce a similar card for its own citizens.
http://www.theglobeandmail.
com/servlet/story/LAC.20061018.PASS
PORT18/TPStory/TPInternational/America/
"Denver, Others Taking Interest in Baltimore's Surveillance System"
Associated Press (10/22/06); Witte, Brian
Despite its flaws, Baltimore's camera surveillance system has caught the attention of other cities looking to crack down on crime. Since May 2005, Baltimore has had some 300 cameras gracing its streets, including around 80 portable cameras equipped with a hard drive capable of storing digital video for up to five days and about 220 fixed closed-circuit cameras that regularly sweep areas and are controlled manually; the city plans to soon install an additional 100 cameras at a cost of about $3 million. An approximately $2 million Homeland Security grant went towards the roughly $8 million price tag for the initial 300 cameras, and the rest of the costs were offset by assets seized from drug dealers. Though the cameras record all the time, just those near critical downtown infrastructure are constantly monitored, with the rest being watched only during peak times. City police have said that crime decreased by about 15 percent in neighborhoods with cameras, but Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy said that the cameras have not been helpful in violent crime cases, and that most of the arrests have been for minor crimes and small drug busts. Jessamy also said poor image quality and a lack of physical evidence in these cases has led to the dismissal of about 40 percent of the 600 charges between December and July that resulted from the cameras. Some believe the cameras are a good tool, but that the city needs to focus on job training and drug treatment as well if they want crime to go down. http://www.examiner.com
/a-356798~Denver__others_t
aking_interest_in_Baltimore_s
_surveillance_system.html
"Cameras Zoom In When Shots Fired"
Cincinnati Enquirer (10/17/06) P. 1A; Klepal, Dan
The Cincinnati City Council is pushing for the use of shot-sensor technology surveillance cameras to zoom in on individuals who fire gunshots. Council members want to spend about $6 million in the next two years on the digital cameras, which have already been tested in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and East Orange, N.J. "For too long, gunshots have been part of the background noise on the street, unnoticed and unreported," says Jose Cordero, director of police in East Orange. "Now we know when and where a gunshot occurs in seconds. We can look through our cameras toward the shooter's location while officers are en route." Cordero says gun crime in areas where the system is located went down by 85 percent since purchasing the system last year. The cameras are activated by sound sensors that send the location of the gunshots along with a video to the 911 dispatch center. Police want the Cincinnati shot-sensor program to start off with about 100 cameras, which would cover between 12 and 20 high-crime areas. The estimated cost would be between $5 million and $10 million. Council members are hoping to receive federal money for the project. Cincinnati Police Capt. Jeff Butler is currently working on analyzing neighborhood crime to determine where to place the cameras. http://www.enquirer.com/today
"Police Chiefs to Ask Bush for More Anticrime Funds"
Wall Street Journal (10/24/06) P. A4; Schoofs, Mark; Block, Robert
U.S. police chiefs say they need more traditional crime-fighting funding from the federal government and less terrorism-prevention funding. Although some homeland security funding helps police fight traditional forms of crime, most of the expenditures typically go toward specialized equipment like bomb-squad robots. Police say they have enough funding to prepare for terrorism but not enough to handle a sharp uptick in traditional violence and street crime. "We don't need any more trucks and helicopters," says Minneapolis Police Chief Timothy Dolan. Similar complaints have previously been made by state emergency managers and local police. "Crime is something people in my community feel every day--not terrorism," said W.H. "Rickey" Ricks, homeland-security chief for the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando, Fla. FBI statistics show that the crime rate is increasing, with violent crimes up 2.3 percent and homicides up 3.4 percent from 2004 to 2005. Police chiefs are meeting with Bush administration officials this week to discuss their funding concerns. http://online.wsj.com/article
/SB116165306787601574.ht
ml?mod=home_whats_news_us
"The Voice of Electronic Monitors: Echopass Tech Tracks Parolees"
East Bay Business Times (10/16/06); Sailors, John
SecureAlert has provided real-time monitoring of parolees to 125 towns, cities, counties, and agencies in 35 states. Parolees participating in the monitoring programs wear an ankle bracelet that connects to the global positioning system. SecureAlert's device is used to monitor the location of approximately 3,500 parolees, but the company expects its technology to monitor roughly 20,000 parolees before the end of this year. Echopass provides the voice system for parolee-monitoring programs using SecureAlert's technology. SecureAlert President Randy Olshen said the company decided to seek a partner to save costs compared to handling the voice system in-house. He added that Echopass was specifically selected because of its ability to meet the demands associated with increased adoption of the device. The demand for monitoring technologies is expected to grow because of tighter controls on paroled offenders and prison overcrowding.
http://www.eastbay.bcentral.com
"Practice Makes Perfect"
Washington Technology (10/16/06) Vol. 21, No. 20, P. 32; Beizer, Doug
The Indiana National Guard is using a multimedia learning tool to prepare itself for a range of natural and human disasters. Called "Red Cape: Crisis Action Planning and Execution" and made by Aptima, the multi-media training is a total learning environment that allows the guard to train on earthquakes, dirty-bomb attacks, prison riots, sports riots, fierce snowstorms, and other disaster possibilities. The technology uses Adobe flash, photos, video, and other integrated material. Scenarios cover not just a disaster site, but what happens in the surrounding area, in communities, and in hospitals and schools. "We understand, in physical skills, the idea of overlearning something so it becomes automatic behavior," says Aptima vice president Michael Paley. For instance says Paley, "You go to the rifle range over and over again to master that skill, and then you can apply it in times of stress."
http://www.washingtontechnology.com
/news/21_20/emerging-tech/29508-1.html
"Used Cellphones Hold Trove of Secrets That Can Be Hard to Erase"
Washington Post (10/21/06) P. A1; Nakashima, Ellen
Used cell phones contain a hoard of personal data for identity thieves and computer hackers to exploit, even when the devices have been supposedly cleansed of data by using the "reset" button. This data can be obtained by using off-the-shelf software. Law enforcement can also use the information on cell phones to help solve crimes. The Web site of smart phone manufacturer Palm has advice on how cellphone users can overwrite the data on their phones. Similar instructions can be found on the Web site WirelessRecyling.com.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10
/20/AR2006102001647.html
"Lidar: The Speed Enforcement Weapon of Choice"
Law Enforcement Technology (10/06) Vol. 33, No. 10, P. 70; Solomon, Lisa
Numerous police departments are using lidar (light detection and ranging) laser technology to catch speeders. Officers are finding that the ability for lidar to focus on a particular vehicle and determine its speed with great accuracy to be useful when patrolling congested roadways. Though lidar units cost about $4,000 each and require more extensive training than radar, police departments quickly recoup their investments, as officers spend less time in court and do not have to calibrate the device each time it is used. Lidar has also increased the number of guilty pleas and guilty verdicts, with some officers noting that judges do not ask as many questions about accuracy when they find out lidar was involved. The latest lidar units are as small as binoculars and provide photo evidence of speed violations. However, law enforcement experts stress that lidar should be used in conjunction with--not as a replacement for--radar, as radar covers greater distances and allows officers to monitor the speed of vehicles in numerous lanes on both sides of the road.
http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/
"Eyes In the Forest"
Government Technology (10/01/06) Vol. 19, No. 10, P. 48; Harris, Chandler
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) in the Amador-El Dorado region recently installed a camera-based fire detection system that can detect and locate fires up to at least 60 miles away, according to recent use. CDF regional chief Bill Holmes secured grant money to install the system near old lookout towers in 2003 after learning that such systems exist and were in use in South Africa, Greece, Chile, and Canada. He chose the Firehawk fire detection system, which includes a mounted rotating video camera, detection software, and two monitor screens at CDF regional headquarters. These tools, plus a keyboard, joystick, and necessary cable, cost the CDF $10,000. The rotating camera automatically analyzes 21 vectors per rotation, and the CDF also can control the camera itself through the joystick and options to zoom in-and-out. By detecting fires early as well as by confirming or dispelling reports of fires, the Firehawk system has saved more than it cost. Budget cuts in the 1990s eliminated many employed fire lookouts; now Holmes is looking for funds to install more Firehawk systems in his region. http://www.govtech.net
/magazine/story.php?id=101366
Thursday, October 26, 2006
"Gunshot Sensors Are Giving D.C. Police Jump on Suspects"
Washington Post (10/22/06) P. A1; Klein, Allison
The FBI has paid for the installation of the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System in Washington, D.C.'s 7th Police District in Southeast, where most of the city's homicides occurred in 2005. The coffee-can-sized sensors have been placed on top of several buildings in the area to pinpoint gunfire within two miles, accurately distinguishing it from firecrackers and car backfires. The sensors enable police to get to the scene of a shooting quickly, as they are typically notified prior to the first 911 call. The fact that the sensor can identify the spot where the gunfire originated within feet increases the chances that police will arrive at the scene before the suspect has a chance to flee. Of the three homicides brought to the attention of District police in the two months since the sensors' installation, one arrest was made. The pilot program could be expanded throughout the District and elsewhere, but the fact that ShotSpotter technicians were targeted by gang members in Los Angeles and Oakland means that installation plans will not be made public. The sensors are already in use in Chicago, Los Angeles, Charleston, S.C., and Rochester, N.Y., with installations planned for a dozen or so other cities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/
21/AR2006102100826_2.html
"Holding the Line"
Security Management (09/06) Vol. 50, No. 9, P. 64; Anderson, Teresa
On an average day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents along the U.S.-Mexico border confiscate 5,400 pounds of illegal drugs, seize more than 210 fake documents, and arrest 3,256 people who try to enter the United States illegally. The challenges of securing the border are perfectly illustrated in and around San Diego, where officials must deal with several nearby land ports of entry and a large seaport. The most popular port of entry in the world is San Ysidro, located between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, and more than 41 million people and 17 million vehicles were processed there by CBP officials in 2005. CBP agents have been trained to find illegal aliens who use fraudulent documents or who hide in secret compartments inside vehicles. These agents have discovered illegal aliens inside the dashboard of minivans, inside engine compartments--even inside the gas tank of a truck that had been equipped with an alternative gas storage system. The tools used to secure the U.S.-Mexico border include cutting-edge technology, risk management policies, and enforcement policies. The Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Harbor Police, and other law enforcement agencies must protect the Port of San Diego from threats like improvised explosive devices hidden on small ships. Shipping terminals and cruise ships at the port are protected from water-based attack by floating or submerged fences of steel cables that are capable of destroying the propellers of ships that draw too near.
http://www.securitymanagement.com
"In Fighting Crime, City Hopes Pictures Don't Lie"
Indianapolis Star (10/21/06) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic
Indianapolis will soon join the growing list of U.S. cities that have installed security cameras in high-crime areas. The city's police plan to purchase 22 pole-mounted, bulletproof permanent cameras and an undetermined number of mobile cameras in late November. The motion-sensing cameras can detect gunshots and recognize faces and will be installed near sports stadiums, water treatment facilities, and other areas, though police are unsure when the cameras will be up and running. Images captured by the cameras are transmitted to a central computer at police headquarters and can be accessed by police on in-car computers. A $1 million Homeland Security grant will pay for the permanent cameras along with the necessary hardware and software, and future funding will come from money seized from drug dealers and other criminals. "We are adding officers to the streets and performing saturation patrols in high-crime areas," Mayor Bart Peterson said. "These cameras will be a great tool to complement those additional resources and increase police presence in neighborhoods."
http://search.indystar.com/sp?
gId=100&gcId=1974489&rNum=1
&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhttp://ww
w.indystar.com%2Fapps%2Fpbc
s.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2006610210516
"Louisville Home To Digital Forensic Investigation Center"
Associated Press (10/19/06); Barrouquere, Brett
Kentucky law enforcement officials are hoping the new Kentucky Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory will move them closer to catching the bad guys and prosecuting them. The digital forensic center, partly funded by a $2.96 million federal grant, will be located at the University of Louisville's Shelby Campus. It will consist of computers and other equipment that can download information and photos. "In general, most departments don't have enough funding to perform an adequate examination on the type of digital evidence we can do here," says center director James Harris. Investigators will have 10 workstations to choose from to review digital images and audio clips. Lexington Police Chief Anthany Beatty says the center will help local law enforcement offer training and equipment, and create relationships with officers. The center will be available to Kentucky law enforcement agencies on a priority basis. http://www.kentucky.com/mld
/kentucky/news/15799392.htm
"Private DNA Lab Gives Family Sad News Faster"
Riverside Press-Enterprise (CA) (10/18/06) P. B5; LaRocco, Paul
The Redland, Calif., Police Department recently hired a private lab called Human Identification Technologies (HIT) to provide the DNA identification of a homicide victim. The move allowed the department to proceed faster than if it had used the state's overburdened crime labs, according to Sgt. Chris Catren. He noted that state labs often take weeks or months to provide identity results, and at the time of the cadaver's discovery, there had been no motive or alternative way to identify the victim. Forensic scientists used samples from an arm bone to remove a small amount of DNA, which was used to compare the DNA of living relatives. A positive result was obtained, even though "bone is the toughest sample there is right now in DNA," says Blaine Kern, president of HIT and a former sheriff's criminologist in San Bernardino County, Calif. http://www.pe.com/localnews
/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bbody19.3df980b.html
"Redford Twp. Chief Takes Steps To Upgrade"
Detroit Free Press (10/19/06); Meyer, Zlati
As part of an effort to keep up with the newest crime-fighting technology, Redford Township Police Chief John Buck is changing the department's guidelines and procedures. Buck says he wants the new rules to include the use of technology. "There's electronic fingerprinting submission and the ability to submit latent prints, and I want to have the rules reflect that," says Buck. "With laptops in cars, we need regulations to provide guidelines for usage." Buck says he may use school resource officers as bike patrols for the summer months and plans to host an open house for the police department in May. Buck was sworn in as the new police chief on Sept. 29, following the resignation of David Parker. Redford Township Police Officers Association President Eric Norman says he is pleased the department has been proactive in hiring more officers and bringing back dispatchers.
http://www.freep.com/apps
/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/2006
1019/NEWS02/610190411/1004/NEWS
"U.S. Unveils Plans for Border-Crossing Identification Cards"
Globe and Mail (CAN) (10/18/06) P. A18; Gorham, Beth
Americans will be able to use a small, relatively inexpensive identification card featuring radio-frequency identification technology when re-entering the United States from Canada, according to new plans from the Homeland Security Department. Americans will be able to use the new card, which costs $45 at most, in lieu of a passport, which costs $97. Machines installed at border crossings will read the cards and compare the cards to a government database containing information about travelers. The card will not display personal data. Canada has not yet decided whether it will introduce a similar card for its own citizens.
http://www.theglobeandmail.
com/servlet/story/LAC.20061018.PASS
PORT18/TPStory/TPInternational/America/
"Denver, Others Taking Interest in Baltimore's Surveillance System"
Associated Press (10/22/06); Witte, Brian
Despite its flaws, Baltimore's camera surveillance system has caught the attention of other cities looking to crack down on crime. Since May 2005, Baltimore has had some 300 cameras gracing its streets, including around 80 portable cameras equipped with a hard drive capable of storing digital video for up to five days and about 220 fixed closed-circuit cameras that regularly sweep areas and are controlled manually; the city plans to soon install an additional 100 cameras at a cost of about $3 million. An approximately $2 million Homeland Security grant went towards the roughly $8 million price tag for the initial 300 cameras, and the rest of the costs were offset by assets seized from drug dealers. Though the cameras record all the time, just those near critical downtown infrastructure are constantly monitored, with the rest being watched only during peak times. City police have said that crime decreased by about 15 percent in neighborhoods with cameras, but Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy said that the cameras have not been helpful in violent crime cases, and that most of the arrests have been for minor crimes and small drug busts. Jessamy also said poor image quality and a lack of physical evidence in these cases has led to the dismissal of about 40 percent of the 600 charges between December and July that resulted from the cameras. Some believe the cameras are a good tool, but that the city needs to focus on job training and drug treatment as well if they want crime to go down. http://www.examiner.com
/a-356798~Denver__others_t
aking_interest_in_Baltimore_s
_surveillance_system.html
"Cameras Zoom In When Shots Fired"
Cincinnati Enquirer (10/17/06) P. 1A; Klepal, Dan
The Cincinnati City Council is pushing for the use of shot-sensor technology surveillance cameras to zoom in on individuals who fire gunshots. Council members want to spend about $6 million in the next two years on the digital cameras, which have already been tested in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and East Orange, N.J. "For too long, gunshots have been part of the background noise on the street, unnoticed and unreported," says Jose Cordero, director of police in East Orange. "Now we know when and where a gunshot occurs in seconds. We can look through our cameras toward the shooter's location while officers are en route." Cordero says gun crime in areas where the system is located went down by 85 percent since purchasing the system last year. The cameras are activated by sound sensors that send the location of the gunshots along with a video to the 911 dispatch center. Police want the Cincinnati shot-sensor program to start off with about 100 cameras, which would cover between 12 and 20 high-crime areas. The estimated cost would be between $5 million and $10 million. Council members are hoping to receive federal money for the project. Cincinnati Police Capt. Jeff Butler is currently working on analyzing neighborhood crime to determine where to place the cameras. http://www.enquirer.com/today
"Police Chiefs to Ask Bush for More Anticrime Funds"
Wall Street Journal (10/24/06) P. A4; Schoofs, Mark; Block, Robert
U.S. police chiefs say they need more traditional crime-fighting funding from the federal government and less terrorism-prevention funding. Although some homeland security funding helps police fight traditional forms of crime, most of the expenditures typically go toward specialized equipment like bomb-squad robots. Police say they have enough funding to prepare for terrorism but not enough to handle a sharp uptick in traditional violence and street crime. "We don't need any more trucks and helicopters," says Minneapolis Police Chief Timothy Dolan. Similar complaints have previously been made by state emergency managers and local police. "Crime is something people in my community feel every day--not terrorism," said W.H. "Rickey" Ricks, homeland-security chief for the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando, Fla. FBI statistics show that the crime rate is increasing, with violent crimes up 2.3 percent and homicides up 3.4 percent from 2004 to 2005. Police chiefs are meeting with Bush administration officials this week to discuss their funding concerns. http://online.wsj.com/article
/SB116165306787601574.ht
ml?mod=home_whats_news_us
"The Voice of Electronic Monitors: Echopass Tech Tracks Parolees"
East Bay Business Times (10/16/06); Sailors, John
SecureAlert has provided real-time monitoring of parolees to 125 towns, cities, counties, and agencies in 35 states. Parolees participating in the monitoring programs wear an ankle bracelet that connects to the global positioning system. SecureAlert's device is used to monitor the location of approximately 3,500 parolees, but the company expects its technology to monitor roughly 20,000 parolees before the end of this year. Echopass provides the voice system for parolee-monitoring programs using SecureAlert's technology. SecureAlert President Randy Olshen said the company decided to seek a partner to save costs compared to handling the voice system in-house. He added that Echopass was specifically selected because of its ability to meet the demands associated with increased adoption of the device. The demand for monitoring technologies is expected to grow because of tighter controls on paroled offenders and prison overcrowding.
http://www.eastbay.bcentral.com
"Practice Makes Perfect"
Washington Technology (10/16/06) Vol. 21, No. 20, P. 32; Beizer, Doug
The Indiana National Guard is using a multimedia learning tool to prepare itself for a range of natural and human disasters. Called "Red Cape: Crisis Action Planning and Execution" and made by Aptima, the multi-media training is a total learning environment that allows the guard to train on earthquakes, dirty-bomb attacks, prison riots, sports riots, fierce snowstorms, and other disaster possibilities. The technology uses Adobe flash, photos, video, and other integrated material. Scenarios cover not just a disaster site, but what happens in the surrounding area, in communities, and in hospitals and schools. "We understand, in physical skills, the idea of overlearning something so it becomes automatic behavior," says Aptima vice president Michael Paley. For instance says Paley, "You go to the rifle range over and over again to master that skill, and then you can apply it in times of stress."
http://www.washingtontechnology.com
/news/21_20/emerging-tech/29508-1.html
"Used Cellphones Hold Trove of Secrets That Can Be Hard to Erase"
Washington Post (10/21/06) P. A1; Nakashima, Ellen
Used cell phones contain a hoard of personal data for identity thieves and computer hackers to exploit, even when the devices have been supposedly cleansed of data by using the "reset" button. This data can be obtained by using off-the-shelf software. Law enforcement can also use the information on cell phones to help solve crimes. The Web site of smart phone manufacturer Palm has advice on how cellphone users can overwrite the data on their phones. Similar instructions can be found on the Web site WirelessRecyling.com.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10
/20/AR2006102001647.html
"Lidar: The Speed Enforcement Weapon of Choice"
Law Enforcement Technology (10/06) Vol. 33, No. 10, P. 70; Solomon, Lisa
Numerous police departments are using lidar (light detection and ranging) laser technology to catch speeders. Officers are finding that the ability for lidar to focus on a particular vehicle and determine its speed with great accuracy to be useful when patrolling congested roadways. Though lidar units cost about $4,000 each and require more extensive training than radar, police departments quickly recoup their investments, as officers spend less time in court and do not have to calibrate the device each time it is used. Lidar has also increased the number of guilty pleas and guilty verdicts, with some officers noting that judges do not ask as many questions about accuracy when they find out lidar was involved. The latest lidar units are as small as binoculars and provide photo evidence of speed violations. However, law enforcement experts stress that lidar should be used in conjunction with--not as a replacement for--radar, as radar covers greater distances and allows officers to monitor the speed of vehicles in numerous lanes on both sides of the road.
http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/
"Eyes In the Forest"
Government Technology (10/01/06) Vol. 19, No. 10, P. 48; Harris, Chandler
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) in the Amador-El Dorado region recently installed a camera-based fire detection system that can detect and locate fires up to at least 60 miles away, according to recent use. CDF regional chief Bill Holmes secured grant money to install the system near old lookout towers in 2003 after learning that such systems exist and were in use in South Africa, Greece, Chile, and Canada. He chose the Firehawk fire detection system, which includes a mounted rotating video camera, detection software, and two monitor screens at CDF regional headquarters. These tools, plus a keyboard, joystick, and necessary cable, cost the CDF $10,000. The rotating camera automatically analyzes 21 vectors per rotation, and the CDF also can control the camera itself through the joystick and options to zoom in-and-out. By detecting fires early as well as by confirming or dispelling reports of fires, the Firehawk system has saved more than it cost. Budget cuts in the 1990s eliminated many employed fire lookouts; now Holmes is looking for funds to install more Firehawk systems in his region. http://www.govtech.net
/magazine/story.php?id=101366
Sunday, October 22, 2006
200 State and Local Police Officers
October 22, 2006 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to police officers turned authors, exceeded 200 state and local police officers who have become authors. Added to the website are: Jack Maple, William McCarthy, Thomas McKenna, Robert McLaughlin, Phil Foran and Vincent Murano.
Jack Maple worked his way up the ranks from a transit police officer in the New York City Transit Police to an undercover detective patrolling Times Square and the 42nd Street train station at 8th Avenue, and finally becoming a deputy police commissioner of the New York Police Department in Mayor Guiliani's administration. His book, “The Crime Fighter : Putting the Bad Guys Out of Business,” chronicles his rise from cop on the beat to Deputy Police Commissioner. It is said that this book inspired the television series “The District.”
William McCarthy's spent 20 years in the New York Police Department. He rose through the ranks to ultimately become the Commanding Officer of the Public Morals (Vice) Division and; and, later the commanding officer of the Bomb Squad. His autobiography “Vice Cop: My Twenty Year Battle with New York's Dark Side,” centers on his years as an uncover vice sergeant. His book provides interesting and detailed descriptions of police work, under cover operations and crime.
Thomas McKenna, a 30 veteran of NYPD, in his book “Manhattan North Homicide: Detective First Grade Thomas McKenna NYPD,” tells about the crimes he helped solve while a homicide detective. Several of the cases are familiar, high-profile cases such as “the Central Park jogger,” the preppie murder,” and “Baby Maldonado.”
In the early 1960s Robert McLaughlin and Phil Foran, both NYPD police officers, wrote at least one book together: “Nothing to Report.” According to one book seller in possession of a copy, they are billed as “police captains.” Robert McLaughlin wrote at least on second book: “Pending Investigation.” There is some information to suggest that Phil Foran worked the 114th Precinct in Queens during the 1950s.
Vincent Murano’s first book describes his tour in the New York Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division. He tells the story of not only finding corrupt police officers taking bribes, but of police officers committing other crimes like robbery, drug dealing and even murder. According to Vincent Murano’s book, the NYPD was more interested in protecting its image than convicting the police officers of crimes. He followed up this semi-autobiographical work with two fictional novels – “The Dead File” and “The Thursday Club.”
Police-Writers.com hosts 204 state and local police officers and their 556 books in six categories. Also, Police-Writers.com features listings of federal and international law enforcement writers.
Scotland Yard, Christian Cops and Army Counterspies
October 22, 2006 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to police officers turned authors, added Duncan MacLaughlin, Frank Lione, Gerald Petievich, John Plimmer, Richard Lewis and John Mackie.
Former Scotland Yard detective Duncan MacLaughlin turned to writing after an eventful police career. He was involved in a number of complex and high-profile cases; including, the investigation of master criminal Kenneth Noye, the pursuit of kidnap victim Stephanie Slater, the murder of Police Constable Keith Blakelock and Operation Emerge. Operation Emerge was the United Kingdom’s largest cocaine seizure in which one ton of contraband was tracked from South America and seized in London. In addition to writing, Duncan MacLaughlin is also the owner of the world-wide detective agency – Sáraigh. One of his most popular works is “The Filth: The Explosive Inside Story of Scotland Yard's Top Undercover Cop.”
F. P. Lione is the pen name of husband-and-wife writing team Frank Lione and Pam Lione. Frank Lione is a veteran of the New York Police Department. His wife, Pam, recently left her job as a medical sonographer in vascular ultrasound to stay home with their two sons. The husband and wife team comprising the pen name F.P. Lione has authored three books in the “Midtown Blues” series: “The Deuce,” “The Crossroads” and “Skells.” The fictional novels tell the story of Tony Cavalucci. The character, Cavalucci, is an 11 year veteran of the NYPD and recent convert to Christianity.
Gerald Petievich has been an Army counterspy and a U.S. Secret Service agent. He uses his real life experiences to achieve realism in his fiction. His novels are known to come as close as any in the mystery and thriller genres to a genuine realism. Two of his novels have been produced as major motion pictures and his latest book "The Sentinel" has been optioned for film by Michael Douglas, who will both produce and star in the movie.
John Plimmer put in thirty-one years service with the West Midlands police force. Involved throughout his career in many high-profile inquiries, he was the senior investigating police officer on more than thirty murder cases, all successful solved.
“Black Cop: The Real Deal” is the story of how Richard Lewis, a young man from the housing projects of New York City, went on to become Detective Richard Lewis, the most highly decorated police officer in the history of New York Police Department. In this book, he shares many hair-raising experiences from his life on the streets that rival and even surpass television and movie versions of cop stories. But this book shares even more. In his book, Richard Lewis breaks the unwritten code of silence and speaks out against the racism that exists in America within police departments. He relates how he and other black police officers were repeatedly denied promotions and even treated like criminals themselves by some white cops.
John Mackie was born in Brooklyn and attended New York City public schools. At twenty-three he joined the New York Police Department. He spent many years in the elite Street Crime Unit, retiring as a sergeant. John Mackie’s novels (Manhattan North, Manhattan South, West Side and East Side) feature the fictional detective Thornton Savage and his homicide task force.
Police-Writers.com hosts 195 state and local police officers and their 545 books in six categories. Also, Police-Writers.com features listings of federal and international law enforcement writers.
Former Scotland Yard detective Duncan MacLaughlin turned to writing after an eventful police career. He was involved in a number of complex and high-profile cases; including, the investigation of master criminal Kenneth Noye, the pursuit of kidnap victim Stephanie Slater, the murder of Police Constable Keith Blakelock and Operation Emerge. Operation Emerge was the United Kingdom’s largest cocaine seizure in which one ton of contraband was tracked from South America and seized in London. In addition to writing, Duncan MacLaughlin is also the owner of the world-wide detective agency – Sáraigh. One of his most popular works is “The Filth: The Explosive Inside Story of Scotland Yard's Top Undercover Cop.”
F. P. Lione is the pen name of husband-and-wife writing team Frank Lione and Pam Lione. Frank Lione is a veteran of the New York Police Department. His wife, Pam, recently left her job as a medical sonographer in vascular ultrasound to stay home with their two sons. The husband and wife team comprising the pen name F.P. Lione has authored three books in the “Midtown Blues” series: “The Deuce,” “The Crossroads” and “Skells.” The fictional novels tell the story of Tony Cavalucci. The character, Cavalucci, is an 11 year veteran of the NYPD and recent convert to Christianity.
Gerald Petievich has been an Army counterspy and a U.S. Secret Service agent. He uses his real life experiences to achieve realism in his fiction. His novels are known to come as close as any in the mystery and thriller genres to a genuine realism. Two of his novels have been produced as major motion pictures and his latest book "The Sentinel" has been optioned for film by Michael Douglas, who will both produce and star in the movie.
John Plimmer put in thirty-one years service with the West Midlands police force. Involved throughout his career in many high-profile inquiries, he was the senior investigating police officer on more than thirty murder cases, all successful solved.
“Black Cop: The Real Deal” is the story of how Richard Lewis, a young man from the housing projects of New York City, went on to become Detective Richard Lewis, the most highly decorated police officer in the history of New York Police Department. In this book, he shares many hair-raising experiences from his life on the streets that rival and even surpass television and movie versions of cop stories. But this book shares even more. In his book, Richard Lewis breaks the unwritten code of silence and speaks out against the racism that exists in America within police departments. He relates how he and other black police officers were repeatedly denied promotions and even treated like criminals themselves by some white cops.
John Mackie was born in Brooklyn and attended New York City public schools. At twenty-three he joined the New York Police Department. He spent many years in the elite Street Crime Unit, retiring as a sergeant. John Mackie’s novels (Manhattan North, Manhattan South, West Side and East Side) feature the fictional detective Thornton Savage and his homicide task force.
Police-Writers.com hosts 195 state and local police officers and their 545 books in six categories. Also, Police-Writers.com features listings of federal and international law enforcement writers.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Call for Presenters
8th Annual Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference
Date: June 4-6, 2007
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Is your agency involved in a technology project that is worthy of attention? Would you like to be a part of the 2007 Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference agenda? NLECTC is pleased to issue a call for presenters for the 2007 conference.
Presentations should relate to the implementation of technology to solve an operational problem and/or management issues related to technology. Conference workshops are 90 minutes in length and are generally organized in four tracks:
Electronic Monitoring
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Information Technology
Management Issues
(e.g. Training, Officer Safety, Communications, etc.)
Submission Guidelines
Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2006
Persons interested in submitting a proposal for consideration should forward the following:
Workshop title
A clear, concise, accurate, description of the workshop
Complete contact information for each speaker
Brief biography of each of the speakers
Audio/Visual requirements for the presentation
Primary contact person for the workshop
Presentation summaries may be e-mailed to:
Joe Russo, Program Manager – Corrections
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
E-mail: jrusso@du.edu
The NLECTC will provide for the expenses for all speakers (up to two per workshop) selected to present a workshop at the 2007 conference to include airfare, one nights lodging, ground transportation and per diem. In addition, conference registration fees will be waived. NLECTC will not cover expenses for presenters representing vendors.
Date: June 4-6, 2007
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Is your agency involved in a technology project that is worthy of attention? Would you like to be a part of the 2007 Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference agenda? NLECTC is pleased to issue a call for presenters for the 2007 conference.
Presentations should relate to the implementation of technology to solve an operational problem and/or management issues related to technology. Conference workshops are 90 minutes in length and are generally organized in four tracks:
Electronic Monitoring
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Information Technology
Management Issues
(e.g. Training, Officer Safety, Communications, etc.)
Submission Guidelines
Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2006
Persons interested in submitting a proposal for consideration should forward the following:
Workshop title
A clear, concise, accurate, description of the workshop
Complete contact information for each speaker
Brief biography of each of the speakers
Audio/Visual requirements for the presentation
Primary contact person for the workshop
Presentation summaries may be e-mailed to:
Joe Russo, Program Manager – Corrections
National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
E-mail: jrusso@du.edu
The NLECTC will provide for the expenses for all speakers (up to two per workshop) selected to present a workshop at the 2007 conference to include airfare, one nights lodging, ground transportation and per diem. In addition, conference registration fees will be waived. NLECTC will not cover expenses for presenters representing vendors.
Murder, Fly Fishing and Combat Correspondent
Police-Writers.com, a website dedicated to police officers turned authors, added five police authors, Steve Copling, Larry McMicking, Ronald M. Schunk, Patrick Babby and Charles W. Sasser.
In July 1980, Steve Copling joined the Plano Police Department (Texas). During his career, he has worked a variety of assignments including Field Training, Crime Prevention, SWAT, School Liaison, CID, Narcotics, and Professional Standards. He was promoted to sergeant in March of 2002 and has supervised patrol, CID, and SWAT. He was promoted to lieutenant in February of 2005 and currently works in the patrol division.
Steve Copling’s two “police procedural” novels feature homicide Detectives Greg Rush and Rick Chinbroski investigating murder in the city of Plano, Texas. According to Harriet Klausner, an Amazon reviewer, “This is an exciting police procedural serial killer cat and mouse tale. The story line is fast-paced with the readers feeling the tension as Greg assumes he is the final target of this quartet of homicides. Fans of edgy thrillers will want to read this tense tale.”
Larry McMicking is a retired New York State Police Officer and retired from the U.S. Marshals Service. His book, “A Guide To Protecting Your Home, Business and Your Person from Assault, Burglary, Fire and Fraud,” was written to assist and educate the general public of the dangers of fire, burglary, assault and fraud in everyday life. Emphasizing actual events, Larry McMicking covers a multitude of areas such as security at the ATM, preventing rape, fire hazards such as combustion, extension cords, and space heaters. He also emphasizes the dangers connected to smoke detectors and electronic burglar alarms and demonstrates how a home or business burglar alarm system may fail.
A special deputy and school resource officer for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Ronald M. Schunk, is the author of mystery novel “Retreat.” A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Ronald M. Schunk has been a volunteer, reserve or part-time police officer for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Sunman Police Department, Milan Indiana Police Department, Addyston Police Department, Colerain Township Police Department and Hamilton County Ohio Sheriff’s Department. In addition to his reserve, volunteer and part-time police work, Schunk has owned his own business and retired from ATT&T after 32 years.
Patrick Babby is an 18 year veteran and active police officer for the Wilmington Police Department. He has written two books: “Fly Fishing for Trout on a Budget” and “True Stories from my Life as an Angler.”
Charles W. Sasser has been a full-time freelance writer/journalist/photographer since 1979. He is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy (journalist) and U.S. Army (Special Forces, the Green Berets), a veteran and former combat correspondent wounded in action. He also served fourteen years as a police officer (in Miami and Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was a homicide detective). He has taught at universities, lectured nationwide, and traveled extensively throughout the world. He has published over 2,500 articles and short stories in magazines ranging from Guideposts, Parents and Christian Life to Soldier of Fortune, True West, and Writer's Digest. He is author, co-author or contributing author of more than 30 books and novels, three of which were co-authored with Craig Roberts, Tulsa Police Department (ret).
Charles W. Sasser’s books include true crime novels like “At Large: The Life and Crimes of Randolph Franklin Dial;” and military historical and informational like “Patton's Panthers: The African-American 761st Tank Battalion In World War II,” “The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam,” and “Encyclopedia of Navy Seals.”
Police-Writers.com hosts 191 police officers and their 536 books in six categories.
In July 1980, Steve Copling joined the Plano Police Department (Texas). During his career, he has worked a variety of assignments including Field Training, Crime Prevention, SWAT, School Liaison, CID, Narcotics, and Professional Standards. He was promoted to sergeant in March of 2002 and has supervised patrol, CID, and SWAT. He was promoted to lieutenant in February of 2005 and currently works in the patrol division.
Steve Copling’s two “police procedural” novels feature homicide Detectives Greg Rush and Rick Chinbroski investigating murder in the city of Plano, Texas. According to Harriet Klausner, an Amazon reviewer, “This is an exciting police procedural serial killer cat and mouse tale. The story line is fast-paced with the readers feeling the tension as Greg assumes he is the final target of this quartet of homicides. Fans of edgy thrillers will want to read this tense tale.”
Larry McMicking is a retired New York State Police Officer and retired from the U.S. Marshals Service. His book, “A Guide To Protecting Your Home, Business and Your Person from Assault, Burglary, Fire and Fraud,” was written to assist and educate the general public of the dangers of fire, burglary, assault and fraud in everyday life. Emphasizing actual events, Larry McMicking covers a multitude of areas such as security at the ATM, preventing rape, fire hazards such as combustion, extension cords, and space heaters. He also emphasizes the dangers connected to smoke detectors and electronic burglar alarms and demonstrates how a home or business burglar alarm system may fail.
A special deputy and school resource officer for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Ronald M. Schunk, is the author of mystery novel “Retreat.” A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Ronald M. Schunk has been a volunteer, reserve or part-time police officer for the Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department, Sunman Police Department, Milan Indiana Police Department, Addyston Police Department, Colerain Township Police Department and Hamilton County Ohio Sheriff’s Department. In addition to his reserve, volunteer and part-time police work, Schunk has owned his own business and retired from ATT&T after 32 years.
Patrick Babby is an 18 year veteran and active police officer for the Wilmington Police Department. He has written two books: “Fly Fishing for Trout on a Budget” and “True Stories from my Life as an Angler.”
Charles W. Sasser has been a full-time freelance writer/journalist/photographer since 1979. He is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy (journalist) and U.S. Army (Special Forces, the Green Berets), a veteran and former combat correspondent wounded in action. He also served fourteen years as a police officer (in Miami and Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was a homicide detective). He has taught at universities, lectured nationwide, and traveled extensively throughout the world. He has published over 2,500 articles and short stories in magazines ranging from Guideposts, Parents and Christian Life to Soldier of Fortune, True West, and Writer's Digest. He is author, co-author or contributing author of more than 30 books and novels, three of which were co-authored with Craig Roberts, Tulsa Police Department (ret).
Charles W. Sasser’s books include true crime novels like “At Large: The Life and Crimes of Randolph Franklin Dial;” and military historical and informational like “Patton's Panthers: The African-American 761st Tank Battalion In World War II,” “The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam,” and “Encyclopedia of Navy Seals.”
Police-Writers.com hosts 191 police officers and their 536 books in six categories.
Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, October 19, 2006
"BlackBerries May Join Cops on Patrol"
Chicago Sun-Times (10/16/06); Spielman, Fran
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is currently pilot-testing 17 BlackBerry wireless hand-held devices. The units have been distributed among bike and Segway patrols, narcotics, and Area One gun teams. At least 100 more are anticipated to be ordered by the end of October to be given to additional teams like those targeting organized crime. The aim is to save time for police officers on the street. "Officers on foot or conducting missions have access to a huge, rich database of information on wanted people, wanted vehicles, gang offenders, crime patterns, and previous police stops," says Jonathon Lewin, CPD's commander of the information technology section. "It'll result in more crimes being solved and smarter policing." With each unit costing about $200, the cost for getting a BlackBerry to all 13,500 CPD officers would be about $2.7 million. Officers who use bikes or walk on patrol are now able to access the same services that a squad car would provide, such as checking license plates and the names of potential suspects, says Police Supt. Phil Cline. A vendor called Info-Cop developed the software and information for CPD, with officers getting about two hours of training.
http://www.suntimes.com
/news/metro/98162,CST-
NWS-blackberry16.article
"Fighting Terrorism by Sharing Data"
Wall Street Journal (10/16/06) P. A6; Block, Robert
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced changes to the way it works with local law enforcement authorities to fight terrorism. The changes, prompted by widespread complaints from local officials, will include improved threat intelligence; improved coordination between police and federal officials who collect and analyze terror information; and increasing the pace of security clearances for local police. The moves are based on months of conversations between Homeland Security officials and local police chiefs. The DHS plans to hire a firm from the private sector to speed up the security-clearance process for police officers who work with the DHS. In addition, police liaison officers will be added to a new federal operation center, while the DHS will send intelligence officials to state and local operation centers.
http://online.wsj.com
/article/SB11609725
0013993687.html
"Scanners for Liquid Bombs in Works"
USA Today (10/18/06) P. A1; Frank, Thomas
A new breed of three-dimensional X-ray machines capable of detecting liquid explosives represents the future of screening carry-on baggage at U.S. airports. The only question for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is whether it should begin purchasing the machines now at a cost of up to $200,000 apiece or wait a couple of years and purchase a significantly enhanced version of the machines at $400,000 apiece. The TSA originally intended to wait and purchase the enhanced version but TSA chief Kip Hawley says it may make sense from a security standpoint to begin purchasing the currently available 3-D machines. The devices, known as multi-view X-ray machines, scan bags from multiple angles, creating 3-D images of the bag's contents. The X-ray machines currently used at airports create images that make it more difficult to differentiate weapons from common items. The 3-D machines have "an extraordinary ability to find" liquids, says Hawley, and a government report indicates that the machines could "significantly increase" security screeners' ability to detect weapons. Furthermore, industry experts say that the 3-D machines should reduce the need for manual baggage searches, thereby speeding up airport security lines.
http://http://www.usatoday.com
/news/washington/2006-10-17-
tsa-xray_x.htm
"Cops Scoot Into Future with New Technology"
Boston Herald (10/15/06) P. 3; Tolson, Shaun
A 240-pound electric vehicle called a mix between a tricycle and a Segway was unveiled at the 113th International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Boston over the weekend. The T3 from T3 Motion features an elevated platform, zero-degree turning radius, and a maximum speed of 25 mph, all for a daily operating cost of just 10 cents. "We don't see it replacing anything," said T3 Motion President Neil Brooker. "We see it somewhere between a department's mountain bike/foot patrol and motorcycle/car patrol."
http://news.bostonherald.com
/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=162360
"Tablet PCs Promise to Heighten CPS Efficiency"
Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) (10/14/06); Culp, Cindy V.
Joyce James, assistant commissioner of Texas' Child Protective Services (CPS), says the child welfare agency is using tablet PCs to improve services. The computers allow personnel to access reports, download photos from digital cameras, and slash documentation time, according to CPS investigator Chris Clements. Roughly as large as a legal pad, the units feature a touch screen, a stylus, and wireless Internet connectivity. Users can use the stylus to make handwritten entries or they can dictate information via voice recognition software. Both methods allow notes to be translated into type that can be subsequently placed inside CPS' database. The typed information can also be emailed or saved independently. CPS has spent about $16 million for some 3,000 tablets across Texas, said CPS' Marissa Gonzales. That amount includes a two-year lease for each PC, accessories, wireless services, training, and warranty support.
http://www.wacotrib.com
/news/content/news/stori
es/2006/10/14/10142006waccpstablets.html
"Facial Recognition Latest Tool for State Law Enforcement"
Arizona Republic (10/12/06); Hermann, William
Law enforcement can now use the facial recognition component of the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) to complete an entire search of the database in just 15 seconds. The upgraded capabilities of the facial recognition technology enables law enforcement officers to compare photographs of suspects to mug shots of people taken into police custody. In addition, searches compare submitted images to photos taken for all driver's licenses issued in the state and for Arizona identification cards. Gov. Janet Napolitano wants to install cameras at the state's ports of entry that could send images of people to ACTIC. She noted that talks with federal officials about the aforementioned application of the technology are ongoing. http://www.azcentral.com
/news/articles/1012brk-faces1012ON.html
"County Gets $56,000 Homeland Security Grant"
Bay City Tribune (10/15/06); Wells, Sarah
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded more than $56,000 in grants to law enforcement agencies in Matagorda County, Texas. The money will help pay for special radio equipment aimed at preventing terrorist attacks. Local governments in Texas are working on two projects to help prevent terrorist attacks: electronic fingerprint system LiveScan, and information-sharing project the Texas Data Exchange.
http://www.baycitytribune.com
/story.lasso?ewcd=a181a22dabbd8c07
"PSU Training Soldiers Online"
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (10/15/06); Junker, Leann
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, offers an online Less-Lethal Weapons Certificate program for law enforcement, according to Ted A. Mellors, director of the campus' Center for Community and Public Safety (CCPS). Courses are offered on such weapons as batons, Tasers, stun guns, and pepper spray, and focuses on their appropriate use according to situation. A certificate is also offered for military personnel, says Mellors, and "the courses match up probably about 98 percent," adding that differences exist in such minor areas as terminology and tactical data. The certificate involves additional modules in such areas as theory, kinetics, riot control, and decision making. Mellors says the civilian law enforcement program has been less popular than the one for armed forces due to a lack of promotion. "The reason is, it's our mission to really be proactive and aggressive and try to get third-party funding for civilian law enforcement," he explains. Enrollment to the certificate program is ongoing, and one continuing education unit is granted for every 10 hours of class time.
http://pittsburghlive.com
/x/tribunereview/news%20fayette/print_474762.html
"Morris Unveils Mobile Command Center"
Daily Record (N.J.) (10/12/06)
Morris County, N.J., has unveiled a new $654,000 mobile command center referred to as "the most sophisticated vehicle in the state" by county Department of Law and Public Safety director Thomas Zellman. The vehicle lets users access state and federal radio frequencies in addition to all county police, fire, and emergency radio frequencies and the county computer system. It comes equipped with a conference room, a rooftop camera, and its own generators, though it can also be plugged into other available power sources, several of which are being built just for the vehicle. The mobile unit can be hooked up a local police station to enable it to communicate should it lose its radio system.
http://www.dailyrecord.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20061012/COMMUNITIES/
610120337/1203/NEWS01
"Sheriff Calls Rhea Lockup Outdated"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (10/12/06); Hightower, Cliff
Rhea County, Tenn., Sheriff Mike Neal wants to update the county's 87-bed county jail, which is now 50 years old since construction, and outdated. Today the jail "uses a key system of locks with technology based in the 1800s," Neal says. Neal recently told the Rhea County Commission that the jail regularly holds 145 prisoners, including 13 state prisoners; that it is overcrowded; and that it could lose its Tennessee Corrections Institute certification if inspected. Neal asked the County Commission to put together a working group to explore how to improve the jail.
http://www.timesfreepress.com
"New National Center Focuses On Cracking Cold Cases"
Associated Press (10/11/06); Collins, Dave
A newly-developed National Cold Case Center at the University of New Haven may help crime investigators solve cold cases. "There's so many cold cases," says forensic scientist Henry Lee. "One major mission of this center is to train more investigators to solve cold cases. We need those investigators to take the initiative." An estimated one out of every three homicides in America remains unsolved, along with 50 percent of sexual assaults and 19 percent of burglaries. In addition to working on unsolved cases, the center will offer free training to law enforcement officials on investigative methods and how to use new technology. Lee, a member of the University of New Haven faculty, will teach several of the classes at the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science starting this January. The center will focus on homicides, rapes, robberies, and burglaries. The number of cold cases is frustrating for law enforcement officials, but even worse for families of the victims, according to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who was in attendance for the announcement of the center. DeLauro helped secure the $500,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice to create the center.
http://www.courant.com
/news/local/nh/hc-12012931
.apds.m0507.bc-ct--coldo
ct12,0,6865118.story
"Stewart Prison Open For Business"
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (GA) (10/12/06); Franklin, Harry
The Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin,Ga., boasts some of the highest quality computer and camera systems in any state prison. It has more than 300 employees who have been undergoing specialized training since the center opened last week. The detention center was built and is run by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), which also builds private prisons and jails in the United States. CCA now operates 65 U.S. detention centers after turning the company around from a downturn that occurred three years ago. A private company is able to detain inmates cheaper than the government can because they can negotiate construction costs, build on cheap land with cheap labor, and purchase supplies with national contracts, according to CCA President and CEO John Ferguson. CCA runs nearly half of the U.S. private prison detention centers.
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com
/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15736457.htm
"Top Team, Lasers to Aid Traffic Cops"
Chicago Tribune (10/11/06) P. C1; Noel, Josh
To catch speeding motorists, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has introduced hand-held LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) laser guns. Chicago police say the laser guns are more accurate compared to radar, and that each of the city's 25 police districts will have one. Cmdr. Neal Sullivan of CPD's Traffic Division says the department intends to buy 50 more of the guns in addition to the 15 it presently has. Training is being provided to officers from shift in each district so that at any point in time, at least one LIDAR gun could be in use in each district. A test program in the Northwest Side that began in early September has resulted in the issuing of nearly 500 speeding tickets, said police. Members of CPD's newly created Targeted Traffic Team (T3) will also get the LIDAR guns; the unit will be dispatched to different locations in reaction to citizen complaints, accident statistics, and observations from police officials. T3, which comprises 25 officers and three sergeants, has written upwards of 1,300 tickets since its inception on September 22.
http://www.chicagotribune.com
/news/local/chicago/chi-061011
0045oct11,1,6068326.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
"Alabama Switching to Flat, Digital License Plates"
Associated Press (10/10/06); Rawls, Phillip
Alabama is issuing flat aluminum tags made by prisoners at Holman prison that use reflective material. County tag offices will begin using the new tags to replace their inventories of old tags as they are depleted. The state has used the same methods to manufacture tags for over five decades, but the new process provides more flexibility. The old method required a complete production run of one type of tag before a change could be made. However, the new manufacturing process enables design of a number of different plate types at the same time and provides costs savings because tags will be made from aluminum. 3M is providing the reflective materials for the tags, and the cost of manufacturing the new tags should be roughly equal with the old method. The new tags will also be more visible to police officers patrolling the state's roadways.
http://www.al.com/
newsflash/regional
"Electronic Ticketing Speeds Up Process"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (10/10/06); Hargett, Carrie
The police department of Dalton, Georgia, is slashing the time needed by officers to issue traffic tickets by incorporating electronic ticketing into patrol cars. My mid-October, 60 patrol cars will have been outfitted with special printers, said Officer Chris McDonald, the department's public information officer. He says the technology will help officers spend less time at traffic stops. Under the new system, officers will input a car tag number and a driver's license number into a printer, which instantly provides information to the appropriate place on the ticket. A ticket is subsequently printed for the violator. In addition, the police department's computer serve sends violation updates every 15 minutes to the court's server, allowing court employees to download data within minutes, according to City Court Administrator David Hamil. In the past, officers would submit tickets at the close of their shift and tickers would be delivered to the courts the following day, says McDonald. The new printers each cost $649 and were paid for through a drug confiscation fund. Information technology officers had tested the equipment for roughly a month, says McDonald.
http://www.tfponline.com
/absolutenm/templates/bre
aking.aspx?articleid=5713&zoneid=41
"Indian River County Sheriff Brings Back Online Inmate Search"
Vero Beach Press Journal (FL) (10/10/06) P. B1; Neal, Adam L.
Indian River County Sheriff Roy Raymond has brought an inmate search program previously available at the Sheriff's Office Web site back online. The program was the most used program at the site, and Raymond said probation officers and others accessed the program every day. Local defense attorney Andrew Metcalf scolded Raymond for shutting down the program, which he believes provides a needed public service. Raymond decided to end the program on Friday because several citizens lobbied for its removal after police dropped their charges or they were found not guilty in court. The citizens had their arrest information listed on the site. Raymond thought that the program was mostly used for the purpose of spreading gossip about arrested people before a number of attorneys and other users complained about its shutdown. The resumed version of the program will offer more disclaimers and first-time offenders can have their arrest information removed from the site.
http://www.tcpalm.com
/tcp/press_journal/
"Integrated GIS--Another Level of Benefits for Local Government"
GeoWorld (09/06) Vol. 19, No. 9, P. 22; Elliott, Bart
Integrated, enterprise-level GIS solutions offer a number of potential ways to create value for local governments, including improving addressing, assessment, asset management, and public safety. Integrated GIS offers the potential to improve citizen-relation management with offerings such as Web mapping and other applications. In the past, local governments have not moved quickly to adopt integrated GIS, in part because GIS software was not originally developed to be part of a shared or enterprise system, and enterprise architectures for application-sharing had their own drawbacks because enterprise application-integration tools had not yet become as widely available as they are now. Some of the local governments that have revamped their early GIS implementations are Portland, Ore.; Mecklenburg County, N.C.; Philadelphia; and Honolulu. Portland has become internationally recognized for its GIS Hub enterprise GIS capabilities, which offer much more to users throughout the city government than the older departmental GIS system. Mecklenberg County's policy department, meanwhile, has created an ArcISM intranet and Internet site that includes a Crime Information System making location-based information available for users. Key elements necessary to get integrated GIS underway include: Enterprise GIS data sharing, enterprise computing architectures and tools, integration capabilities, business-case analyses, user and management support, and strong leadership.
http://www.geoplace.com
/Uploads/FeatureArticle/0609
_INTEGRATEDGIS.asp
Thursday, October 19, 2006
"BlackBerries May Join Cops on Patrol"
Chicago Sun-Times (10/16/06); Spielman, Fran
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is currently pilot-testing 17 BlackBerry wireless hand-held devices. The units have been distributed among bike and Segway patrols, narcotics, and Area One gun teams. At least 100 more are anticipated to be ordered by the end of October to be given to additional teams like those targeting organized crime. The aim is to save time for police officers on the street. "Officers on foot or conducting missions have access to a huge, rich database of information on wanted people, wanted vehicles, gang offenders, crime patterns, and previous police stops," says Jonathon Lewin, CPD's commander of the information technology section. "It'll result in more crimes being solved and smarter policing." With each unit costing about $200, the cost for getting a BlackBerry to all 13,500 CPD officers would be about $2.7 million. Officers who use bikes or walk on patrol are now able to access the same services that a squad car would provide, such as checking license plates and the names of potential suspects, says Police Supt. Phil Cline. A vendor called Info-Cop developed the software and information for CPD, with officers getting about two hours of training.
http://www.suntimes.com
/news/metro/98162,CST-
NWS-blackberry16.article
"Fighting Terrorism by Sharing Data"
Wall Street Journal (10/16/06) P. A6; Block, Robert
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced changes to the way it works with local law enforcement authorities to fight terrorism. The changes, prompted by widespread complaints from local officials, will include improved threat intelligence; improved coordination between police and federal officials who collect and analyze terror information; and increasing the pace of security clearances for local police. The moves are based on months of conversations between Homeland Security officials and local police chiefs. The DHS plans to hire a firm from the private sector to speed up the security-clearance process for police officers who work with the DHS. In addition, police liaison officers will be added to a new federal operation center, while the DHS will send intelligence officials to state and local operation centers.
http://online.wsj.com
/article/SB11609725
0013993687.html
"Scanners for Liquid Bombs in Works"
USA Today (10/18/06) P. A1; Frank, Thomas
A new breed of three-dimensional X-ray machines capable of detecting liquid explosives represents the future of screening carry-on baggage at U.S. airports. The only question for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is whether it should begin purchasing the machines now at a cost of up to $200,000 apiece or wait a couple of years and purchase a significantly enhanced version of the machines at $400,000 apiece. The TSA originally intended to wait and purchase the enhanced version but TSA chief Kip Hawley says it may make sense from a security standpoint to begin purchasing the currently available 3-D machines. The devices, known as multi-view X-ray machines, scan bags from multiple angles, creating 3-D images of the bag's contents. The X-ray machines currently used at airports create images that make it more difficult to differentiate weapons from common items. The 3-D machines have "an extraordinary ability to find" liquids, says Hawley, and a government report indicates that the machines could "significantly increase" security screeners' ability to detect weapons. Furthermore, industry experts say that the 3-D machines should reduce the need for manual baggage searches, thereby speeding up airport security lines.
http://http://www.usatoday.com
/news/washington/2006-10-17-
tsa-xray_x.htm
"Cops Scoot Into Future with New Technology"
Boston Herald (10/15/06) P. 3; Tolson, Shaun
A 240-pound electric vehicle called a mix between a tricycle and a Segway was unveiled at the 113th International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Boston over the weekend. The T3 from T3 Motion features an elevated platform, zero-degree turning radius, and a maximum speed of 25 mph, all for a daily operating cost of just 10 cents. "We don't see it replacing anything," said T3 Motion President Neil Brooker. "We see it somewhere between a department's mountain bike/foot patrol and motorcycle/car patrol."
http://news.bostonherald.com
/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=162360
"Tablet PCs Promise to Heighten CPS Efficiency"
Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) (10/14/06); Culp, Cindy V.
Joyce James, assistant commissioner of Texas' Child Protective Services (CPS), says the child welfare agency is using tablet PCs to improve services. The computers allow personnel to access reports, download photos from digital cameras, and slash documentation time, according to CPS investigator Chris Clements. Roughly as large as a legal pad, the units feature a touch screen, a stylus, and wireless Internet connectivity. Users can use the stylus to make handwritten entries or they can dictate information via voice recognition software. Both methods allow notes to be translated into type that can be subsequently placed inside CPS' database. The typed information can also be emailed or saved independently. CPS has spent about $16 million for some 3,000 tablets across Texas, said CPS' Marissa Gonzales. That amount includes a two-year lease for each PC, accessories, wireless services, training, and warranty support.
http://www.wacotrib.com
/news/content/news/stori
es/2006/10/14/10142006waccpstablets.html
"Facial Recognition Latest Tool for State Law Enforcement"
Arizona Republic (10/12/06); Hermann, William
Law enforcement can now use the facial recognition component of the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) to complete an entire search of the database in just 15 seconds. The upgraded capabilities of the facial recognition technology enables law enforcement officers to compare photographs of suspects to mug shots of people taken into police custody. In addition, searches compare submitted images to photos taken for all driver's licenses issued in the state and for Arizona identification cards. Gov. Janet Napolitano wants to install cameras at the state's ports of entry that could send images of people to ACTIC. She noted that talks with federal officials about the aforementioned application of the technology are ongoing. http://www.azcentral.com
/news/articles/1012brk-faces1012ON.html
"County Gets $56,000 Homeland Security Grant"
Bay City Tribune (10/15/06); Wells, Sarah
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded more than $56,000 in grants to law enforcement agencies in Matagorda County, Texas. The money will help pay for special radio equipment aimed at preventing terrorist attacks. Local governments in Texas are working on two projects to help prevent terrorist attacks: electronic fingerprint system LiveScan, and information-sharing project the Texas Data Exchange.
http://www.baycitytribune.com
/story.lasso?ewcd=a181a22dabbd8c07
"PSU Training Soldiers Online"
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (10/15/06); Junker, Leann
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, offers an online Less-Lethal Weapons Certificate program for law enforcement, according to Ted A. Mellors, director of the campus' Center for Community and Public Safety (CCPS). Courses are offered on such weapons as batons, Tasers, stun guns, and pepper spray, and focuses on their appropriate use according to situation. A certificate is also offered for military personnel, says Mellors, and "the courses match up probably about 98 percent," adding that differences exist in such minor areas as terminology and tactical data. The certificate involves additional modules in such areas as theory, kinetics, riot control, and decision making. Mellors says the civilian law enforcement program has been less popular than the one for armed forces due to a lack of promotion. "The reason is, it's our mission to really be proactive and aggressive and try to get third-party funding for civilian law enforcement," he explains. Enrollment to the certificate program is ongoing, and one continuing education unit is granted for every 10 hours of class time.
http://pittsburghlive.com
/x/tribunereview/news%20fayette/print_474762.html
"Morris Unveils Mobile Command Center"
Daily Record (N.J.) (10/12/06)
Morris County, N.J., has unveiled a new $654,000 mobile command center referred to as "the most sophisticated vehicle in the state" by county Department of Law and Public Safety director Thomas Zellman. The vehicle lets users access state and federal radio frequencies in addition to all county police, fire, and emergency radio frequencies and the county computer system. It comes equipped with a conference room, a rooftop camera, and its own generators, though it can also be plugged into other available power sources, several of which are being built just for the vehicle. The mobile unit can be hooked up a local police station to enable it to communicate should it lose its radio system.
http://www.dailyrecord.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20061012/COMMUNITIES/
610120337/1203/NEWS01
"Sheriff Calls Rhea Lockup Outdated"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (10/12/06); Hightower, Cliff
Rhea County, Tenn., Sheriff Mike Neal wants to update the county's 87-bed county jail, which is now 50 years old since construction, and outdated. Today the jail "uses a key system of locks with technology based in the 1800s," Neal says. Neal recently told the Rhea County Commission that the jail regularly holds 145 prisoners, including 13 state prisoners; that it is overcrowded; and that it could lose its Tennessee Corrections Institute certification if inspected. Neal asked the County Commission to put together a working group to explore how to improve the jail.
http://www.timesfreepress.com
"New National Center Focuses On Cracking Cold Cases"
Associated Press (10/11/06); Collins, Dave
A newly-developed National Cold Case Center at the University of New Haven may help crime investigators solve cold cases. "There's so many cold cases," says forensic scientist Henry Lee. "One major mission of this center is to train more investigators to solve cold cases. We need those investigators to take the initiative." An estimated one out of every three homicides in America remains unsolved, along with 50 percent of sexual assaults and 19 percent of burglaries. In addition to working on unsolved cases, the center will offer free training to law enforcement officials on investigative methods and how to use new technology. Lee, a member of the University of New Haven faculty, will teach several of the classes at the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science starting this January. The center will focus on homicides, rapes, robberies, and burglaries. The number of cold cases is frustrating for law enforcement officials, but even worse for families of the victims, according to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who was in attendance for the announcement of the center. DeLauro helped secure the $500,000 grant from the National Institute of Justice to create the center.
http://www.courant.com
/news/local/nh/hc-12012931
.apds.m0507.bc-ct--coldo
ct12,0,6865118.story
"Stewart Prison Open For Business"
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (GA) (10/12/06); Franklin, Harry
The Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin,Ga., boasts some of the highest quality computer and camera systems in any state prison. It has more than 300 employees who have been undergoing specialized training since the center opened last week. The detention center was built and is run by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), which also builds private prisons and jails in the United States. CCA now operates 65 U.S. detention centers after turning the company around from a downturn that occurred three years ago. A private company is able to detain inmates cheaper than the government can because they can negotiate construction costs, build on cheap land with cheap labor, and purchase supplies with national contracts, according to CCA President and CEO John Ferguson. CCA runs nearly half of the U.S. private prison detention centers.
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com
/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/local/15736457.htm
"Top Team, Lasers to Aid Traffic Cops"
Chicago Tribune (10/11/06) P. C1; Noel, Josh
To catch speeding motorists, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) has introduced hand-held LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) laser guns. Chicago police say the laser guns are more accurate compared to radar, and that each of the city's 25 police districts will have one. Cmdr. Neal Sullivan of CPD's Traffic Division says the department intends to buy 50 more of the guns in addition to the 15 it presently has. Training is being provided to officers from shift in each district so that at any point in time, at least one LIDAR gun could be in use in each district. A test program in the Northwest Side that began in early September has resulted in the issuing of nearly 500 speeding tickets, said police. Members of CPD's newly created Targeted Traffic Team (T3) will also get the LIDAR guns; the unit will be dispatched to different locations in reaction to citizen complaints, accident statistics, and observations from police officials. T3, which comprises 25 officers and three sergeants, has written upwards of 1,300 tickets since its inception on September 22.
http://www.chicagotribune.com
/news/local/chicago/chi-061011
0045oct11,1,6068326.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed
"Alabama Switching to Flat, Digital License Plates"
Associated Press (10/10/06); Rawls, Phillip
Alabama is issuing flat aluminum tags made by prisoners at Holman prison that use reflective material. County tag offices will begin using the new tags to replace their inventories of old tags as they are depleted. The state has used the same methods to manufacture tags for over five decades, but the new process provides more flexibility. The old method required a complete production run of one type of tag before a change could be made. However, the new manufacturing process enables design of a number of different plate types at the same time and provides costs savings because tags will be made from aluminum. 3M is providing the reflective materials for the tags, and the cost of manufacturing the new tags should be roughly equal with the old method. The new tags will also be more visible to police officers patrolling the state's roadways.
http://www.al.com/
newsflash/regional
"Electronic Ticketing Speeds Up Process"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (10/10/06); Hargett, Carrie
The police department of Dalton, Georgia, is slashing the time needed by officers to issue traffic tickets by incorporating electronic ticketing into patrol cars. My mid-October, 60 patrol cars will have been outfitted with special printers, said Officer Chris McDonald, the department's public information officer. He says the technology will help officers spend less time at traffic stops. Under the new system, officers will input a car tag number and a driver's license number into a printer, which instantly provides information to the appropriate place on the ticket. A ticket is subsequently printed for the violator. In addition, the police department's computer serve sends violation updates every 15 minutes to the court's server, allowing court employees to download data within minutes, according to City Court Administrator David Hamil. In the past, officers would submit tickets at the close of their shift and tickers would be delivered to the courts the following day, says McDonald. The new printers each cost $649 and were paid for through a drug confiscation fund. Information technology officers had tested the equipment for roughly a month, says McDonald.
http://www.tfponline.com
/absolutenm/templates/bre
aking.aspx?articleid=5713&zoneid=41
"Indian River County Sheriff Brings Back Online Inmate Search"
Vero Beach Press Journal (FL) (10/10/06) P. B1; Neal, Adam L.
Indian River County Sheriff Roy Raymond has brought an inmate search program previously available at the Sheriff's Office Web site back online. The program was the most used program at the site, and Raymond said probation officers and others accessed the program every day. Local defense attorney Andrew Metcalf scolded Raymond for shutting down the program, which he believes provides a needed public service. Raymond decided to end the program on Friday because several citizens lobbied for its removal after police dropped their charges or they were found not guilty in court. The citizens had their arrest information listed on the site. Raymond thought that the program was mostly used for the purpose of spreading gossip about arrested people before a number of attorneys and other users complained about its shutdown. The resumed version of the program will offer more disclaimers and first-time offenders can have their arrest information removed from the site.
http://www.tcpalm.com
/tcp/press_journal/
"Integrated GIS--Another Level of Benefits for Local Government"
GeoWorld (09/06) Vol. 19, No. 9, P. 22; Elliott, Bart
Integrated, enterprise-level GIS solutions offer a number of potential ways to create value for local governments, including improving addressing, assessment, asset management, and public safety. Integrated GIS offers the potential to improve citizen-relation management with offerings such as Web mapping and other applications. In the past, local governments have not moved quickly to adopt integrated GIS, in part because GIS software was not originally developed to be part of a shared or enterprise system, and enterprise architectures for application-sharing had their own drawbacks because enterprise application-integration tools had not yet become as widely available as they are now. Some of the local governments that have revamped their early GIS implementations are Portland, Ore.; Mecklenburg County, N.C.; Philadelphia; and Honolulu. Portland has become internationally recognized for its GIS Hub enterprise GIS capabilities, which offer much more to users throughout the city government than the older departmental GIS system. Mecklenberg County's policy department, meanwhile, has created an ArcISM intranet and Internet site that includes a Crime Information System making location-based information available for users. Key elements necessary to get integrated GIS underway include: Enterprise GIS data sharing, enterprise computing architectures and tools, integration capabilities, business-case analyses, user and management support, and strong leadership.
http://www.geoplace.com
/Uploads/FeatureArticle/0609
_INTEGRATEDGIS.asp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
