Public Safety Technology in the News

Area Law Enforcement Ramps Up for Wireless Communication System
The Joplin Globe, (02/01/2009), Derek Spellman

The Jasper County (Mo.) Sheriff's Department is using a portion of a 2007 federal grant for approximately $846,000 to implement the Cornerstone Regional Justice Information System, which will link departments in Jasper and Newton counties. The system will enable participating agencies to compile an areawide database of information that officers can access via computers in their vehicles. The system will provide access to outstanding arrest warrants and/or traffic ticket information on individuals pulled over by officers. The sheriff's departments in Jasper and Newton counties and police departments in Joplin, Carthage, Webb City, Carl Junction, Carterville and the Jasper County Metropolitan area will begin interfacing with each other wirelessly in March 2009.
www.joplinglobe.com/cnhi/joplinglobe/homepage/local_story_032205003.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

Santa Barbara's Parking Enforcement Team Now Using Hi-Tech Tracking System
Santa Barbara Independent, (2/10/2009), Victoria Solorzano

The Santa Barbara Police Department has implemented the use of AutoChalk, a new technology tool that uses photography, lasers and GPS to track parking violations. Installed in one of the city's 10 parking enforcement vehicles, AutoChalk identifies vehicles that have been parked in the same spot for too long. The technology also reads license plates, allowing it to identify repeat offenders and stolen vehicles through the California Law Enforcement Terminal System (CLETS). AutoChalk performs even in foul weather, compared to actual chalk, which often washes off tires. Writing the citations remains up to officers, however.
www.independent.com/news/2009/feb/04/police-get-autochalk/

MethCheck May Be Coming to Floyd
NewsAndTribune, (02/07/09), Chris Morris

Vendor Appriss Inc. has offered a pilot test of its new technology tool, MethCheck, free of charge to the Floyd County (Ind.) Commissioners. MethCheck supposedly makes it easier for pharmacists to keep track of the sale of certain drugs, such as ephedrine or pseudoephedrine,which are used as ingredients in making meth. Indiana law prohibits a person from purchasing more than 3.2 grams of either drug in a seven-day period; federal law states a person cannot purchase more than 9 grams of the two drugs within a seven-day period. Pharmacists must maintain a log book with the customer's name, drug purchased and date it was purchased in order to keep track of the buying activity. With MethCheck, the information is entered into a computer database.
www.newsandtribune.com/local/local_story_038015223.html

Fort Wayne Police Department Gets Donation of Night-Vision Goggles
News Sentinel, (02/10/2009), Nate Hodges and Aaron Organ

ITT Corporation recently donated 20 night-vision goggles to the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department and the Allen County Sheriff's Department, with each department receiving 10 units for training and nighttime operations. Ft. Wayne Police Chief Rusty York said that given the tough economy and the lack of funds for new equipment, he approached ITT about the possibility of a donation, and was pleased with the vendor's response. ITT derives no benefit other than playing a role in making the streets of Ft. Wayne safer.
www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/NEWS02/901060338/1001

Northwest Regional Computer Forensics Lab Receives Accreditation
Oregon Public Broadcasting (02/11/2009), Pete Springer

The crime lab that serves the Pacific Northwest has earned accreditation for handling computer and electronic evidence. The Northwest Regional Computer Forensics Lab, which received accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, processes evidence from computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Police say the lab will accelerate processing of cell phone evidence. The lab, which is in Portland, Ore., is available for agencies in Washington and Oregon.
news.opb.org/article/4253-northwest-regional-computer-forensics-lab-receives-accreditation/

Security Expert: Fight Cyber-Crime Through Procurement
Government Technology, (01/30/2009), Steve Towns

Changes to the public purchasing system may be the government's best weapon against cyber attacks, according to a security specialist. Alan Paller, director of research for the SANS Institute, said state and local governments should include requirements in procurement contracts that make vendors responsible for vulnerable software. He noted that a list released in January of the 25 most dangerous programming errors identifies programming problems that produce security flaws that enable cyber crime. The list was developed by more than 30 national and international security organizations. Governments should demand stronger products and make vendors responsible for product security.
www.govtech.com/gt/614532

Port of Long Beach Fusion Center Opens
Security Management, (01/09/2009, Matthew Harwood

The Port of Long Beach has a new $21 million command and control center for port security that includes a high technology network of sensors and cameras. The center controls cameras, motion sensors and security teams that monitor the port. Some of the port's cameras are powerful enough to allow operators to read the badge numbers of someone standing two miles away. Other cameras have facial recognition technology. The port also has access to private surveillance networks from other organizations. If a sensor is tripped underwater, divers will inspect ship hulls, wharves or pilings.
www.securitymanagement.com/news/port-long-beach-fusion-center-opens-005197

Golden Gate Bridge to Get P25, Wireless Communication Systems
Urgent Communications, (02/1209), Mary Rose Roberts

The Golden Gate Bridge will be getting a new system to improve bridge and public safety communications. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District awarded a$15.5 million contract to GE Transportation to develop a communications system to integrate transportation and security data used by the bridge and law enforcement agencies. The new system will include a public safety radio communications component and will deploy a P25 digital trunked radio system to enhance communications interoperability between the transit agency and the U.S. Coast Guard, the California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Park Police.
urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/news/golden-gate-p25-wireless-system-0212/

NYPD Okays Velcro Handcuffs for Use on Unruly Children
New York Daily News, (02/14/09), Alison Gendar

The New York Police Department will be testing the use of Velcro handcuffs in the city's schools. Beginning in March, officers will use Velcro handcuffs instead of steel models to subdue disturbed or unruly children under age 16. The program will be tested in 22 schools in northern Queens. Police do not expect to use the handcuffs more than once or twice a year.
www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/02/13/2009-02-13_nypd_okays_velcro_handcuffs_for_use_on_u.html

Airport to Get Five Teams of Bomb-Sniffing Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, (02/05/2009), Jim Tharpe

The world's busiest airport is about to get a security boost. The Transportation Security Administration is dispatching five canine teams to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The dogs will be trained to detect explosives and will inspect airport cargo facilities. Each team has one dog and one handler. TSA will train and certify more than 300 explosives detection canine teams through this year.
www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2009/02/05/tsa0205.html