Law Enforcement Technology News Summary

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, May 10, 2007

"A Target Audience"
Newsday (05/06/07) P. A7; Lam, Chau

The Suffolk County, N.Y., police department is considering the purchase of the StarChase Pursuit Management System to enable officers to shoot fleeing vehicles with a sticky substance that can track vehicles. The launcher is mounted on the hood of a patrol car, has laser-guided aim, and sends a projectile that latches onto cars and trucks and contains a GPS device for tracking the vehicle. Made by Virginia technology innovator StarChase, the device will be tested with the Los Angeles Police Department and Florida Highway Patrol in June 2007. It will likely sell for several thousand dollars per vehicle. The device would allow police officers on the scene to desist from chasing a fleeing vehicle, because the vehicle would be tracked through GPS satellite systems and could be intercepted elsewhere. High-speed police chases sometimes result in traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities involving officers and innocent bystanders. The device has a range of 20 feet, and its impact sounds like a large paintball shot by a paintball gun.
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lidart065201398may06,0,3761016.story?coll=ny-linews-print

"High-Tech Scanner Helps Find Stolen Cars"
Fresno Bee (05/04/07) P. B1; Griswold, Lewis

The Tulare County, Calif., Board of Supervisors has approved accepting a Department of Homeland Security grant to purchase 12 MPH900 Mobile License Plate Readers for the county's sheriff's department and several municipal police departments. The scanners were developed in Italy by scientist Giovanni Garibotto, who integrated the optical scanners used by the Italian post office to read postal addresses with character-recognition software that reads license plate numbers. The devices can be portable, or can be mounted on the top of a police cruiser. When activated, the scanners read license plates from a distance and compare the plate numbers with a database of reported stolen cars. If there is a match, the officer's laptop emits a loud beep. Police in Tulare County are hoping the devices will help to reduce auto theft. Tulare County is one of the top 10 metropolitan areas in the nation for car thefts per capita.
http://www.fresnobee.com/186/story/45700.html

"Novi Police Will Get Indoor Gun Range"
Detroit News (05/03/07) P. 1; Patterson, Delores

The Novi, Mich., City Council has voted to approve some $700,000 in funding for the Novi Police Department's own eight-lane indoor gun range. The money will come from the $1.2 million in federal funding the city received for helping with a $15 million drug bust three years ago. In addition to financing the construction of the gun range, the police department will use some of those funds to pay for building repairs at headquarters, police vehicles, and technology upgrades. The city council's decision to approve funding for the gun range was met with criticism from Councilman Andrew Mutch, who said the money for the project could have been better spent. "I look at some of our long-term needs in the police department and this kind of an investment into the range just doesn't make sense to me," he said. "There are about $5 million in improvements needed at headquarters to accommodate the growing department, including an improved dispatch center." However, Novi Police Chief David E. Molloy said building the police department its own gun range is a worthwhile investment, since the department will be able to regain many hours that officers are unavailable for emergency response in the community by traveling to other locations for training.
http://search.detnews.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=23861641&rNum=
2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.detnews.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%
3FAID%3D2007705020470&siteIdType=2

"Cameras Enlisted to Fight Crime"
Cincinnati Enquirer (05/02/07) P. 3B; Perry, Kimball

Walnut Hills and East Walnut Hills will install neighborhood cameras to track criminal activity in high-crime areas. The Internet-based program is the product of a city-wide Cincinnati crime-watch program that had initially failed. Other Ohio neighborhoods had used city funds to implement their own camera crime-watching systems in high-incidence areas, with residents hoping the threat of recorded images would cut the crime rate while providing videotaped evidence for authorities. In 2003, Walnut Hills installed a camera on a block that had a high concentration of crime. 911 calls went from six calls per day to six calls per month, following the camera's installation. "That was pretty convincing for us," Walnut Hills Area Council member Kathy Atkinson said. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
AB/20070502/NEWS01/705020416/

"Laptops Among New Law Gear"
Louisville Courier Journal (05/02/07) P. 13G; Gagliardi, Melissa

An approximately $140,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will enable law enforcement agencies in the Louisville, Ky., area to obtain more laptops for police cars and other computer equipment. The Oldham County Police Department, the Oldham County Sheriff's Department, and the La Grange Police Department plan to use the grant on 13 laptops, 27 scanners, printers, and software. Mobile laptops allow officers to stay on the road longer, says Lt. Col. Billy Way of the Oldham County Police Department. "It frees them up from coming into the office to file reports," says Way. "We can actually run a license faster than dispatch." Officers will be able to scan the licenses of motorists, take a picture to check if they are wanted by other law enforcement agencies, and print out citations and instructions, making for shorter waits for citizens. The program will notify officers if there is an error in their reports, and the laptops will provide a direct link to the Kentucky State Police Headquarters, the National Crime Information Center, and the Law Enforcement Network of Kentucky. The Oldham County Police Department already has eight laptops, while the sheriff's department has two, La Grange has three, and Pewee Valley has one.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=
/20070502/ZONE09/705021017

"Tampa Firm Taps Rising Demand for Tracking Bracelets"
Miami Herald (05/01/07) P. C4; Mullins, Richard

Overcrowded jails are causing courts to employ ankle brackets to keep track of criminals' behavior. Numerous U.S. law enforcement groups have begin placing these bracelets on parolees, which can detect violations and notify police instantly. The bracelets are mostly meant for individuals convicted of drunk driving or people who have vowed not to drink as part of their release deal. The bracelets continuously measure the vapors coming off an individual's skin for ethanol traces, which the body generates when digesting alcohol. Parole officers can establish a triggering range to discover whatever amount of alcohol consumption they select. ActSoft, a Tampa, Fla., manufacturer of ankle bracelets, has invented a bracelet that continuously transmits wire signals to a cell phone that a parolee must have with him or her around the clock. Though the phone cannot place calls, it does have a GPS chip, which transmits signals to a main monitoring system that discovers a violator's location and alcohol use. The ankle-bracelet sector is estimated to eventually be valued at $1.3 billion annually.
http://www.miamiherald.com/103/story/92039.html

"Video Technology to Enhance Police Surveillance"
Fort Myers News-Press (05/01/07); Myers, Rachel

The Cape Coral, Fla., Police Department is receiving new technology that will make surveillance camera photos clear and allow detectives to perform sting operations from longer distances. Video Detective is a self-contained, mobile video-processing lab that can record video, stills, and audio, and spruce up images and sound recordings handed over to investigators as proof. Police representative Dyan Lee notes that it means more cases will be solved quicker. The $50,000 system is being financed by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant. So far, around 250 law enforcement groups are employing Video Detective nationally. Instead of just enhancing a still image of a video, Video Detective can enhance the whole portion and replay it in a courtroom. Recently, a bank surveillance tape captured a photo of an illegible license-plate number of a car that had been involved in a robbery. By using Video Detective, investigators were able to obtain an illegible license plate number, send it to the media, and receive a tip that resulted in the suspect's arrest.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070501/NEWS0101/70430054/1003/ACC

"Police Cars Get Video Cameras"
Merced Sun-Star (CA) (05/01/07) P. A1; Jason, Scott

Video cameras in police vehicles have been taking photos of officers' traffic pullovers and arrests for the last few weeks, making Atwater the first police department in Merced County, Calif., to utilize the digital technology. Last August, the City Council paid $54,000 for the system because it would help police and citizens by providing a non-biased record of behavior and conversations. Though Atwater's police department was the initial one to invest in the new technology, Merced's police department is investing in a camera initiative in the near future, and Livingston's police department intends to implement a system later this year. Every one of Atwater's nine police cars is outfitted with a pair of cameras and a microphone, which start recording when the officer flips on the cruiser's sirens and lights. One moveable camera points past the vehicle's hood and can focus on the license plates, while the other camera concentrates on the rear seat where handcuffed individuals are located. Atwater Police Chief Richard Hawthorne stated that the microphones in the vehicle can record discussions between suspects, which can be employed as proof.. The cruisers have a screen that is three inches by four inches on which they can view the footage, and every officer will wear a mobile microphone. At every shift's end, the police connect a cable into the cruiser's trunk to download the video to a server at the police station, which takes around 60 seconds.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/13538326p-14142267c.html

"Prison Inmate Charged in Bonnie Craig Killing"
Anchorage Daily News (05/01/07) P. A1; Holland, Megan

Kenneth Dion has been charged for the Anchorage murder of 18-year-old Bonnie Craig in 1994. Dion, whose jail time had fluctuated between robbery and assault charges for years, raped and then killed the teen on her way to class; for thirteen years, Dion eluded authorities. In 2000, DNA from Bonnie was put into a national database to facilitate criminal investigations via DNA-matching. Six years later, Dion's DNA was entered into the same database and investigators made the connection. In April 2007, Dion was finally indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and sexual assault by the Anchorage grand jury. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/crime/craig/story/8844183p-8744876c.html

"T.F. County, Feds Set Up New Emergency Center"
Twin Falls Times-News (Idaho) (05/05/07); Hopkins, Jared S.

Officials in Twin Falls County, Idaho, are working with the federal government to create an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to handle emergency situations such as earthquakes, floods, fires, and potential terrorist incidents. This EOC will have high-technology communications and command gear to enable county officials to communicate across Idaho with other counties and agencies. Canyon and Ada counties in Idaho are installing similar command centers. Twin Falls County Commission Chairman Tom Mikesell says the EOC was created with minimal cost because the expense was included as part of a larger office move and renovation scheduled to occur at the same time. http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/05/05/news/local_state/111559.txt

"Wireless Internet Network Ready in Downtown Macon"
Macon Telegraph (GA) (05/01/07); Barnwell, Matt

Macon, Ga., plans to provide the public with access to the new computer system the city has purchased for its police department. However, local residents will only be able to connect to the wireless network from about 300 to 500 feet away from wireless "hot spots," while police officers will be able to log on from a mile away. The city bought the Wi-Fi network for the police department because it wanted to give its officers the opportunity to send and retrieve live images, reports, and pictures and descriptions of suspects and stolen property from laptops in their patrol cars. "We're going to have that right at our fingertips," says Mike Carswell, Macon's deputy police chief. "Information is what it's all about in this business." A $1.5 million grant that the city received from the U.S. Department of Justice a few years ago was used to buy the wireless Internet network. Macon officials have taken about a year to choose the equipment and install the technology. http://www.macon.com/149/story/30765.html

"Stealth Fighter"
Police (04/07) Vol. 31, No. 4, P. 32; Stradley, Mike

In addition to being a long-lasting and rugged flashlight, the TigerLight contains oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray in the back-end of the tube. This feature lets officers react to dangers in a less-lethal fashion immediately, and the latest version lets users adjust the spray nozzle to fight better in their hand. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department recently tested the device, distributing TigerLights to selected patrol deputies. After the tool was used in 52 incidents for 146 subjects, the TigerLight was shown to result in a 25 percent decline in significant force and a 43 percent drop in excessive force complaints. The TigerLight can be secured to an officer's duty belt as well as on top of firearms by using a special clip system available from TigerLight. When confronting violent suspects, the TigerLight can be a powerful deterrent because of its intense light--375 lumens--and extremely effective OC spray. An officer simply shifts the TigerLight down and turns his wrist to release the spray; just one hand is needed. Instructors with TigerLight are available to provide an eight-hour course based on different scenarios; it is also essential to teach officers about using a spray to alleviate suspects' discomfort after they are subdued. http://www.policemag.com

"Toward a Safer Campus"
U.S. News & World Report (04/30/07); Kingsbury, Alex

The Clery Act requires all U.S. colleges to report all violent crimes to the Department of Education and to provide the public with an annual report on such crimes, but research continues to show that colleges are underreporting these crimes. The top two leading causes of death among U.S. college students are accidents and suicides, and sexual assault has become the most troubling crime on U.S. campuses. "Active shooter scenarios" such as those that occurred at Virginia Tech and Columbine are something that campus police now train for, and campus police are better equipped for these incidents because they are now considered the first line of response. Controlling access to dorms and other buildings has become a priority on U.S. campuses, with most schools now requiring students to use their identity cards to enter buildings. An increasing number of schools are using email-based emergency alert systems, siren warning systems, and closed circuit television cameras used in tandem with software that can identify suspicious behavior. There is a need for mass-notification systems based on text messaging and cell phones because students have become more dependent on these forms of communication, says Steven Healy, director of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. Some schools are also running background checks on prospective students or asking probing questions on school applications. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070422/30security.htm

"U.S. Officials Recommend Better RFID Security"
Network World (04/30/07); Brodkin, Jon

Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems pose unique security challenges, which is why all organizations employing RFID devices should conduct comprehensive evaluations of the technology's potential security risks, suggests a new report from the federal government. Security and privacy risks stem from the fact that multiple organizations--including manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers--may handle RFID tags. Experts note that in hospitals, unauthorized RFID use or eavesdropping could lead to security breaches involving test results or dangerous materials. The report, which was mandated by Congress and released by the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, includes hypothetical case studies. The report also delineates best practices for RFID use by federal agencies, hospitals, manufacturers, and retailers, such as using firewalls, encrypting radio signals, and authenticating approved RFID users. http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/043007-better-rifd-security.html

"Walking the Talk"
Government Executive (04/07) Vol. 39, No. 5, P. 55; Perera, David; Marino, Jonathan

Interoperability between various first responder disciplines depends on strong leadership and effective policies, as much as it does on the need for new equipment. According to a December 2006 survey by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a majority of first responder agencies can communicate with their counterparts before a planned event, but integrating that ability into everyday operations remains a challenge. In addition, approximately 40 percent of the first responder agencies said they have compatible cross-discipline technology, and 38 percent consider the equipment to be their solution for interoperability. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff sees this perspective as misguided, and explains that many agencies forget about aspects like training, standard operating procedures, and other complex organizational issues. Over the next five years, about 50 percent of public safety agencies will upgrade their technology, but experts warn that agencies must incorporate the equipment into sound plans and policies. http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0407/041107mm.htm

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