Law Enforcement Technology

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, May 3, 2007

"Some Crimes Can Be Reported on the Web"
Biloxi Sun Herald (MS) (04/29/07) P. A3; Fitzgerald, Robin

The Gulfport police force is the first law enforcement agency in Mississippi to let citizens file online police reports for certain types of crimes. The Desk Officer Reporting System, or E-Police Department, is intended for no-suspect misdemeanor crimes involving losses below $500--not for emergencies. The tool makes it easy for individuals to file such complaints, and provides documentation as well. The system helps the police by automatically printing the reports, freeing officers to focus on emergencies; unlike other systems, the program requires no extra staff to retype the data. In addition to assisting the public, the online police reports will be used to identify trends in crime and to compile statistics. The software was donated to the police department by Cop Logic after Hurricane Katrina.
http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/42264.html

"General Dynamics to Build Integrated Radio System"
Washington Post (04/30/07) P. D04; Dizard III, Wilson P.

Falls Church, Va.-based General Dynamics has received a 15-year, multibillion-dollar deal to construct a national interoperable data and voice radio network for federal law enforcement groups. Operated by the Department of Justice, the Integrated Wireless Network program is meant to offer compatible radio systems to federal police institutions, so that they can work together well during terrorist attacks and weather disasters. The network, which is predicted to cost as much as $10 billion, will enable the federal police to connect to state and local networks. The primary radio systems that the program will offer to participating groups will depend on the Internet Protocol Version 6 standard, the same kind of next-generation online technology that will increasingly power the operations of the global Web. The network will use different kinds of gateway systems to combine the latest digital radio systems with the older analog ones that are still employed by a large number of police departments nationally. New technology employed in the network will permit numerous simultaneous conversations to happen across what used to be an open circuit meant for one transmission. The network can facilitate the transmission of streaming video to police officers on foot or in their cruisers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/2
9/AR2007042901077.html?hpid=sec-tech

"DeLuca Vows to Prevent Mistakes in Criminal Cases, Use Technology"
Wilkes Barre Times Leader (PA) (04/26/07); Weiss, David

Attorney Vito DeLuca has promised to make a number of changes if elected to the Luzerne County, Pa., District Attorney's Office, including ensuring that prosecutors have the proper technology to handle cases. According to DeLuca, there have been several cases that have been thrown out because prosecutors failed to meet certain deadlines. He noted that while it is expected that those mistakes will happen occasionally because a police officer held up a case too long, they should never happen because a prosecutor forgot to do something. DeLuca also promised to use more technology in courtrooms if he becomes the next district attorney. The use of technology in courtrooms is important, because jurors watch television court shows that impact their thoughts, DeLuca said. "They want to be entertained," he said.
http://www.timesleader.com
news/20070426_26deluca_dw_ART.html

"Judge: Cellular GPS Data Can Be Used as a Tracking Device"
Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) (04/27/07) P. 19; Satterfield, Jamie

On April 26, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton decreed that law enforcement can employ GPS information from cell phones as monitoring devices. The decision occurs in the case of a father and son charged of transporting almost 1,000 pounds of marijuana in an RV. Michael Davis and Drew Lewis, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents, had utilized real-time information from a GPS unit implemented in a cell phone to locate accused traffickers Melvin and Samuel Skinner at a truck stop in Texas on the night before a July raid of businessman Scott West's properties. Once arrested, the Skinners protested that federal prosecutors breached regulations in their effort to bust West and his brother. The attorneys had argued at earlier hearings in 2007 to persuade Guyton that law enforcement should not be permitted to employ GPS devices on cell phones as monitoring devices without obtaining legal permission. Guyton determined, though, that cell phone users relinquish privacy rights on a daily basis. He wrote that since a broad variety of individuals and companies already use cell phone GPS information, law enforcement officials should not be treated any differently. http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/
0,1406,KNS_347_5507506,00.html

"Campus Safety Gains Sharper Vision With New Breed of Surveillance Cameras"
Chronicle of Higher Education (04/27/07) Vol. 53, No. 34, P. 15; Fischman, Josh; Foster, Andrea L.

To boost security in its dormitories, Johns Hopkins University relies on "smart TV," according to Edmund G. Skrodzki, executive director of campus safety and security. Over the past two years, the university installed 101 surveillance cameras in dormitories along Charles Street in addition to some off-campus sites. The cameras are linked to computer software that can determine such things as when a person has his or her arms in the air or a vehicle is moving in a suspiciously slow manner; the software also issues alerts to campus security. Skrodzki says the new cameras at Johns Hopkins have made the campus "more proactive rather than reactive," and have already helped catch a person trying to steal a motorbike and identify an armed thief. Campus crime at Hopkins has declined by 43 percent since 2004, and some of that can be attributed to the cameras, he says. Before installation of the cameras began, Johns Hopkins officials asked the student chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to talk about the system in an effort to reduce concerns over privacy. The students learned, for example, that the cameras block out any footage of direct window views. The technology reflects the growing presence of camera-based surveillance at universities, which may increase even more in the wake of the April 16 Virginia Tech shooting. http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i34/34a01501.htm?pg=dji

"Beaverton Police Cut Cord to Office"
Oregonian (04/25/07) P. B01; Anderson, David R.

The Beaverton, Ore., Police Department has installed a wireless broadband network in the city's downtown, thanks to the help of almost $266,000 in grants from the federal Department of Homeland Security. The network, which consists of 21 wireless nodes placed along routes where officers patrol, gives officers at a crime scene access to key information--such as how many times police have been to a particular house and who lives there--on mobile data terminals in their patrol cars. Officers no longer have to call on the radio and have someone read the data back. In addition, officers conducting follow-up investigations do not have to return to headquarters or stop at a satellite office. By the end of this year, the system could be connected to an electronic citation system--which would allow officers to write tickets from handheld personal digital assistants--as well as an electronic fingerprint system. The Beaverton Police Department also hopes to expand the wireless network to neighborhoods in the city beyond downtown. http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/
base/news/117747691176480.xml&coll=7

"New Phone Technologies Can Help Colleges Communicate Campuswide in Emergencies"
Chronicle of Higher Education (04/27/07) Vol. 53, No. 34, P. A16; Fischman, Josh; Foster, Andrea L.

A company called Rave Wireless sells a new type of campus communications system designed to work with cell phones. The system has been installed at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, where over 90 percent of students carry cell phones, notes Ronald G. Forsythe, a vice president in charge of communications systems at the university. In comparison, fewer students check campus email or carry laptops, he says. The university's system relies on sending text messages to students' cell phones if an emergency arises. Monmouth University in New Jersey recently acquired a new cell phone system called Connect-ED that transmits voice as well as text messages to cell phones, says David J. Bopp, the university's associate vice president for telecommunications. One flaw in such systems, however, is that participation is voluntary. In addition, not all students keep their phones on, and text messages are often limited to 100 characters. As a result, such systems are often supplemented with dedicated emergency Web sites, phone message systems, and public address speakers. At Butler University in Indianapolis, a recently installed Internet-based phone system allows certain faculty and staff to issue audio and text messages through special phones in case of emergencies. http://www.chronicle.com

"Domestic Violence Victims are Given Electronic Advice"
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (04/26/07) P. 1; Finch, Susan

Domestic violence victims need to be tech-savvy if they hope to keep from falling prey to high-tech stalking at the hands of their former abusers, said Cindy Southworth, the technology chief of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, at a recent conference in New Orleans. Southworth noted that domestic violence victims need to take steps to both electronically and physically separate themselves from their abusers. For instance, domestic violence victims should use the Internet on a computer at a library or a friend's house, rather than a computer that is being shared with the abuser. Domestic violence victims should also create a new email account in a name that the abuser does not know, in order to keep the abuser from accessing the information. Once this new account is opened, domestic violence victims should avoid opening any attachments that could relay email information to the abuser. Finally, domestic violence victims should stop using cell phones that are part of a family plan shared with the abuser, since abusers can get records of the victim's calls and have a locator feature installed to monitor the victim's location. Southworth advised women to get a new phone with a global positioning chip, which would allow police to find her immediately if she dials 911.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/index.ssf?/base/
news-21/1177568775255780.xml&coll=1

"New Patrol Cars to Get Latest Equipment"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (04/26/07) P. H3; Campos, Art

The Roseville, Calif., Police Department has bought 16 new patrol cars for $376,915 and is customizing them for almost another $400,000. The customizing involves implementing the newest anti-crime equipment, including cameras, police radios, and wireless computer gadgets. The new in-car cameras will cost $82,711, while upgrades to the wireless abilities of in-car computers will total $102,091. The customization and implementation of radios and additional equipment will cost $207,868. An additional request for $136,000 will be presented to the Roseville City Council at a later date for purchasing and implementing mobile computers and accessories in the vehicles. "Patrol cars have literally become mobile offices for the officers because of the tremendous amount of technology that is needed in the field," noted police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther. http://www.sacbee.com/230/story/160988.html

"Minneapolis Cops Reaching for Tasers More Often"
Star Tribune (Minn.) (04/25/07) P. 1A; Chanen, David

A report reveals that incidents of Taser usage by the Minneapolis police department are more frequent than ever before. In 2006, force incidents by Taser accounted for about one in every 60 arrests. Factors attributed to the increase in Taser use include hiring of new and consequently inexperienced officers, and as Deputy Chief Scott Gerlicher states, "Officers have become more comfortable using Tasers." The racial breakdown for the incidents of Taser usage sets blacks at over 64 percent of cases with whites at 19 percent. Chief Tim Dolan says the figures are proportional to the number of blacks and whites arrested in the city. Thirty-nine cases are up for investigation or disciplinary action from 2006, but Lt. Susan Piontek states officers usually file force allegation reports before the public does. University of Nebraska-Omaha professor Sam Walker says Minneapolis' report "is a good thing because it builds public trust." http://www.startribune.com/467/story/1142533.html

"Anoka County Wants to Build a Regional Crime Lab"
Finance and Commerce (04/24/07); Johnson, Brian

Anoka County, Minn., is expected to begin construction on a regional crime lab this year. Like many cities and counties across the country, Anoka has to send its forensic and ballistic evidence away to a lab to be processed. Backlogs in the system mean it can take as long three months for Anoka investigators to receive forensic results. To eliminate this problem, Anoka has asked the state to underwrite the approximately $6 million cost of a regional crime lab that would be part of a $25 million public safety campus that is slated to begin construction this fall. The 135,000-square-foot campus will house all of the departments of the sheriff's office, plus the regional crime lab. The lab will be divided into four sections, including DNA analysis, latent prints, drug chemistry, and toxicology. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says the new regional crime lab would permit the county to expand its use of DNA analysis to property crime.
http://www.finance-commerce.com

"Pennsylvania Firm Wins Preston, W.Va., Sheriff's Department Software Bid"
Dominion Post (Morgantown, WV) (04/24/07); Plum, Kathy

The Preston Sheriff's Department has accepted In-Synch Systems Solutions software bid. The Zelienople, Pa., firm's contract was selected from a pool of competing bids by county commissioners. Under terms of the contract, In-Synch will provide the Preston Sheriff's Department and 911 center with new records software. With the new system, officers will be able to download information daily into laptops in their cruisers. The base price of the contract is $44,837 and could reach as high as $50,000 after the purchase of recommended computer hardware. The cost of new equipment will be underwritten by a $74,000 federal grant. The sheriff's department hopes to have the new software installed by July 1. http://olive.dominionpost.com

"Biometrics Would Speed Passengers Through Airports"
Vancouver Province (04/23/07); Weeks, Carly

A coalition of Canadian airlines and airports is calling on Transport Canada to adopt a biometric fast-queue traveler screening program already in use at several major U.S. airports to reduce delays. "It's just another service to passengers," said Scott Armstrong, spokesman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which has signed an agreement with the company operating the biometric screening program in the United States, Clear, but must await federal approval before moving forward with implementation. "Obviously, people are always looking for ways to make the whole airport process quicker." The coalition says that the program will not cost the government anything because it would be paid by the private sector and participating passengers.
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id
=312f0f34-5f70-440a-bb38-9b842ee53104

"Each Police Chase Could Mean Change in Policy"
Bellevue Leader (04/18/07); Buzzell, Jason

In general, police departments rarely change their pursuit policies unless death or severe damage occurs; but at the Bellevue Police Department in Nebraska, that is not the case. The eight-page policy is gone over at the police academy and rigorously reviewed periodically to ensure that public safety is a number-one priority when pursuits occur. Officers are trained as recruits for eight-hour stretches when they first sign on with the department and for two-hour stretches periodically as veteran officers. However, officials note that not all chases are perfect; and when officers disobey protocols, they are disciplined accordingly per the instructions of a commander committee that reviews the actions of the officer in conjunction with the current policy rules. The department's pursuit policy was changed in February; and officers now are required to cease pursuit if apprehension is a viable option later on, suspects have crossed state lines, or commanders order the pursuit to stop. The debate over pursuit policy restrictions is heated; but with recent rulings from the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that cities could be held liable for third-party injuries even after the pursuit ended, pursuit policies are carefully monitored for weaknesses.
http://www.bellevueleader.com/site/tab3.cfm?newsid=18221522&BRD=
2712&PAG=461&dept_id=559850&rfi=6

"How to Get the Most Out of Online Education"
Police (04/07) Vol. 31, No. 4, P. 22; Griffith, David

Online learning can be extremely beneficial for police officers, who typically have challenging work responsibilities as well as family obligations. Officers can turn to online degree programs to take classes at times that are convenient for them, even if the institution is far away. The online criminal justice program at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn., for example, which is headed by retired Minnesota police chief Scott Harr, has an online student body that spans multiple countries. Because online programs call for unique approaches for instructing students, dedication from faculty and the institution is crucial. Harr, for example, involves doctoral level law enforcement officers in Concordia's program. At Excelsior College based in Albany, N.Y., credits are accepted "from a variety of sources, including previous college-level study and military or law enforcement training that has been certified by ACE [American Council on Education]," says Excelsior's Bill Stewart. He adds that the college has used grants from the Department of Justice to assess police academy and correction academy programs for credits. Online course typically involve such things as supervised readings of specific texts, audio lectures, discussions via online bulletin boards, term papers, and instant messaging sessions, so it is imperative that each student participate fully in the course; however, Harr emphasizes that officers still need to maintain balance in other aspects of their lives. http://www.policemag.com
"Flower Power"
Law Enforcement Technology (04/07) Vol. 34, No. 4, P. 112; Bertomen, Lindsey

Lasers are an efficient tool in law enforcement patrol, granting officers a greater sense of depth perception in critical situations and in improving overall shooting problems, writes Hartnell College Prof. and retired police officer Lindsey Bertomen. Lasers provide departments an inexpensive means for firearms while enabling crucial advances in law enforcement technology. Since over 80 percent of shootings occur during the dark, an officer can use the glowing light to more accurately pin their target. Additionally, suspects are intimidated when they become aware there is a firearm aimed at them. Officers should take recoil into consideration when trying different lasers, noting barricades keep the laser in place while maximizing their effect. Since lasers automatically enhance peripheral vision, officers should adjust accordingly to the landscape. Most importantly, more than one officer will have a laser, so it is important to assign individual boundaries that team members will be limited to in order to avoid many officers aiming at the same target. http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/

"No Public Safety Agency Is an Island"
Firehouse Magazine (03/07) Vol. 32, No. 3, P. 88; Kuhlmann, Thomas J.; Morkel, Tarquin

Utah County, Utah, serves as an example of how smaller public safety agencies can go about achieving greater interagency cooperation. The second-largest county in the state has created an information-sharing network that enables 22 fire departments and 18 EMS organizations to communicate with each other and at all levels. In striving for interoperability, Utah County focused on facilitating interagency cooperation and support, implementing suitable technology, and developing an effective training plan. By focusing on getting agencies to work together, Utah County was able to make the various departments feel more involved in the initiative, take their specific requirements into account, address funding issues more effectively, and enhance their buying power. Utah County approached technology by focusing on cost-effective, practical features, and choosing flexible solutions that gave it a certain level of control with regard to future decisions. Specific capabilities that end users have gained include mapping, dispatch, lookups, communication, training, reporting, inventory, and administration. County officials also focused on developing an effective training program that would make it easy for paid and volunteer personnel to use the technology.
http://www.firehouse.com

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.