April 30, 2010 - ST. LOUIS, MO—The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Joseph Ketsenburg pleaded guilty to federal charges of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, between May 2007 and August 2008, Ketsenburg possessed images containing child pornography on his computer.
JOSEPH KETSENBURG, Kirksville, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of possession of child pornography this morning before United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry. Sentencing has been set for July 21, 2010.
Each count carries a penalty range of up to 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
This case was investigated by the Kirksville Police Department and the Kirksville office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Livergood is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Showing posts with label police department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label police department. Show all posts
Friday, April 30, 2010
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Inter-Agency Response to Domestic Violence in a Medium Sized City
Inter-agency work is a key feature of many crime prevention and community safety efforts and part of the foundation of modern policing. No longer is crime control viewed as solely the purview of the police, but rather as an outcome for which many agencies share responsibility. As acceptance of this idea has increased, inter-agency collaborative efforts have multiplied. Nowhere have these coordinated community crime control efforts been more fully recognized and advanced than in efforts to address domestic violence.
The present study examines one city’s efforts to reduce domestic violence through the coordinated work of the city police department and a wide range of criminal justice, social services, and community agencies. The city (here, and throughout this report, anonymous) is in the mid-Atlantic region of the country, has approximately 200,000 residents, and a police department with approximately 700 police officers. This research entailed study of an interagency domestic violence coalition, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee (DVCC), as well as two separate exploratory analyses of the city police department’s domestic violence data.
After presenting the methodology and literature review, the findings of this study are presented in two parts. The first part pertains to the history and current state of the DVCC and includes Chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 is a description of the inception of DVCC and its evolution up until the year 2000 when the field research for this project began. Chapter 5 is a description of the DVCC at the time of the field research, a description of the domestic violence service community of which the DVCC is a part, a discussion of the perspectives about the police department expressed by members of the domestic violence service community, and a list of recommendations for improving police response to domestic violence developed by the Police Foundation.
The second part is comprised of Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 6 is an analysis of the practice known as dual arrest, where police officers arrest both parties in an intimate assault. This exploratory analysis includes comparisons among cases resulting in issuance of a warrant, single arrest, and dual arrest as well as logistic regression analysis testing the relationship between case characteristics and dual arrest. Chapter 7 explores the utility of spatially analyzing reported intimate assault data by using several different methods to map these crimes and compare geographic patterns to neighborhood demographic characteristics.
Because this report covers a wide range of topics within the broad area of domestic violence, it is written so that each chapter ties in with the others, but contains a distinct qualitative or quantitative analysis that can be read separately. For this reason, each chapter includes its own conclusions, references, and in some cases summaries of relevant literature. Therefore, except for a general summary of literature on inter-agency domestic violence work, there are no overall summaries of literature, references, or conclusions.
The concern of this project is violence committed against one member of a current or past intimate couple by the other, which we refer to as intimate violence. “Domestic violence” is a broader term used to describe intimate violence as well as violence between non-intimate familial or household members. In the chapters summarizing literature and describing the DVCC, we use the term “domestic violence,” because this is a term conventionally used by interagency approaches; but regardless of the term used, throughout this report, our subject is intimate violence.
READ ON
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/Inter-Agency_Response_DV.pdf
The present study examines one city’s efforts to reduce domestic violence through the coordinated work of the city police department and a wide range of criminal justice, social services, and community agencies. The city (here, and throughout this report, anonymous) is in the mid-Atlantic region of the country, has approximately 200,000 residents, and a police department with approximately 700 police officers. This research entailed study of an interagency domestic violence coalition, the Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee (DVCC), as well as two separate exploratory analyses of the city police department’s domestic violence data.
After presenting the methodology and literature review, the findings of this study are presented in two parts. The first part pertains to the history and current state of the DVCC and includes Chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 is a description of the inception of DVCC and its evolution up until the year 2000 when the field research for this project began. Chapter 5 is a description of the DVCC at the time of the field research, a description of the domestic violence service community of which the DVCC is a part, a discussion of the perspectives about the police department expressed by members of the domestic violence service community, and a list of recommendations for improving police response to domestic violence developed by the Police Foundation.
The second part is comprised of Chapters 6 and 7. Chapter 6 is an analysis of the practice known as dual arrest, where police officers arrest both parties in an intimate assault. This exploratory analysis includes comparisons among cases resulting in issuance of a warrant, single arrest, and dual arrest as well as logistic regression analysis testing the relationship between case characteristics and dual arrest. Chapter 7 explores the utility of spatially analyzing reported intimate assault data by using several different methods to map these crimes and compare geographic patterns to neighborhood demographic characteristics.
Because this report covers a wide range of topics within the broad area of domestic violence, it is written so that each chapter ties in with the others, but contains a distinct qualitative or quantitative analysis that can be read separately. For this reason, each chapter includes its own conclusions, references, and in some cases summaries of relevant literature. Therefore, except for a general summary of literature on inter-agency domestic violence work, there are no overall summaries of literature, references, or conclusions.
The concern of this project is violence committed against one member of a current or past intimate couple by the other, which we refer to as intimate violence. “Domestic violence” is a broader term used to describe intimate violence as well as violence between non-intimate familial or household members. In the chapters summarizing literature and describing the DVCC, we use the term “domestic violence,” because this is a term conventionally used by interagency approaches; but regardless of the term used, throughout this report, our subject is intimate violence.
READ ON
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/ric/Publications/Inter-Agency_Response_DV.pdf
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Public Safety Technology in the News
Study Shows Tasers to be Relatively Harmless
The Post (10/22/07), Alivia Nuzzo
A study examining instances of Taser® use by law enforcement at six agencies supports the use of the electro-muscular discharge units as a less-lethal alternative for law enforcement. Research data for the study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and conducted by Wake Forest University's School of Medicine, was gathered from criminal suspects' reports regarding use of Tasers®. Of the almost 1,000 subjects, 99.7% had little or no injuries. Death occurred in two instances, but it was later determined that the deaths were unrelated to the use of Tasers®.
www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2007/10/22/21838/
New 911 System Can Trace Cell Calls
Daily News Transcript (10/22/07), Keith Ferguson
The Walpole (Massachusetts) Police Department has taken advantage of Vestas Pallas, a new 911 system that reports cell phone numbers to dispatchers and provides dispatchers with the ability to trace cell phone calls to detailed locations on a computer-generated map. In the past, cell phone call location and phone number information were difficult to acquire. The system takes advantage of the GPS feature that's on most new phones to obtain location and phone number information. However, if the cell phone is older and doesn't have a GPS feature, the system initially will indicate the nearest cell tower and zero in on a more precise location as the call continues.
www.dailynewstranscript.com/homepage/x857473994
Townwide Alert Helps Police Find Missing
nashuatelegraph.com, an edition of "The Telegraph," (Nashua, NH). (10/22/07), Hattie Bernstein
Lt. James Sartell has 10 years on the Hollis, New Hampshire, police force, and has always been concerned about children and elderly citizens going missing, especially in the fall and winter months when temperatures dip down quickly. Recently an elderly man called the department after his wife did not return from an afternoon walk. The department took this opportunity to contact the toll-free national hotline for "A Child is Missing" alert system, which the town subscribes to free of charge, and within a minute the service telephoned 1,000 residents in the area near where the woman had last been seen. Roughly 490 of those calls were answered, and citizens received an automated message regarding the situation. Some of those citizens also volunteered to assist police with the search. These efforts resulted in the missing woman being found in about 2 hours.
www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/NEWS01/310220058/-1/news
SUU Issues First E-Mail Safety Notice
SUUjournal.com (11/12/07), Josh Smith
The Southern Utah University (SUU) Department of Public Safety recently issued its first-ever campuswide e-mail alert. The alert included a mug shot and information about a gentleman "considered by Public Safety to be a threat" and requested that people alert the department if they saw him on the campus. Previous efforts would have required public safety officials to post signs throughout campus. With this new system, notification is instant and provides the capability to send notifications to everyone on the SUU system. Other future technology projects include electronic locks on exterior doors, digital signage, comprehensive video surveillance, and an emergency siren system.
media.www.suujournal.com/media/storage/paper951/news/2007/11/12/News/Suu-Issues.First.EMail.Safety.Notice-3092965.shtml
Minneapolis Wins Award for New High-Tech Emergency Dispatch System
Government Technology (11/8/07), News Report
Minneapolis' new cutting-edge computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, which will improve how police and fire and rescue units respond to emergency situations, was awarded top technology honors at the 8th annual Tekne Awards. These awards acknowledge organizations and individuals that have a positive impact on the technology-based economy of Minnesota. The award-winning system went into service in March 2007. It provides first responders and 911 dispatchers with new ways to respond faster and smarter to emergency situations by making more detailed information available to them. This new system was paid for using U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funds, and was developed by TriTech, Inc. of San Diego.
www.govtech.com/gt/174473?topic=117699
Device Will Put Crooks at Cops' Fingertips
WTOP Radio (11/14/07), Hank Silverberg
Technology designed to correctly identify criminals who have given false information regarding their identity will be implemented by Fairfax County, Virginia. The county will be the first in the nation to use a handheld device that will allow police officers to instantaneously identify a person who has been arrested either by using fingerprints or a digital photo. The information captured will be cross-referenced against information contained in a database of criminal records, and in the future this system may connect to a national database of criminal records. Fairfax County is expected to have 50 of the units, which have been paid for using U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding. Several surrounding jurisdictions hope to obtain similar devices as well.
www.wtopnews.com/?nid=600&sid=1291897
Local FBI Rolls Out Online Sharing Network
The Gazette (11/6/07), Alicia Ebaugh
In terms of information sharing between local and State law enforcement Iowa is "far ahead," according to an FBI official, but taking advantage of an FBI site will only serve to make that communication better. On October 6, officers from across Iowa got their first look at the FBI's Law Enforcement Online information sharing network. This network assists all levels of agencies in sharing information nationwide. The FBI's system has been operational since 1995 and the agency is still working to get thousands of local, county, and State agencies involved by providing trainings to organizations nationwide. Law Enforcement Online gives officials a secure, encrypted location in which to put crime information so they can seek out information from other jurisdictions or make information available to other agencies. Access to Law Enforcement Online is granted using an FBI background check process.
www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/NEWS/711060036/1006/news
FBI Harnesses Power of "On Demand" From Comcast to Track Criminals, Find Missing Persons, Make Communities Safer
CNNMoney.com (11/1/07), PR Newswire
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has found a valuable tool in using the ON DEMAND technology that Comcast uses for cable service. "Police Blotter ON DEMAND" is a community-oriented video on-demand service that was launched in the Philadelphia area last December. Recently a Comcast customer, after seeing the profile of a wanted bank robber, contacted the FBI with a tip that led to an arrest. This service provides law enforcement with another tool to reach out to the public for assistance. The features the service provides, such as pause and rewind, can assist customers in seeing details and making connections that might otherwise be lost. Police Blotter ON DEMAND is regularly updated with video profiles for bank robbers, missing persons, and individuals from the Philadelphia Police Department's most wanted files. The offering is available free of charge to customers on the Comcast system.
money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NEM04312112007-1.htm
The Post (10/22/07), Alivia Nuzzo
A study examining instances of Taser® use by law enforcement at six agencies supports the use of the electro-muscular discharge units as a less-lethal alternative for law enforcement. Research data for the study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and conducted by Wake Forest University's School of Medicine, was gathered from criminal suspects' reports regarding use of Tasers®. Of the almost 1,000 subjects, 99.7% had little or no injuries. Death occurred in two instances, but it was later determined that the deaths were unrelated to the use of Tasers®.
www.thepost.ohiou.edu/Articles/News/2007/10/22/21838/
New 911 System Can Trace Cell Calls
Daily News Transcript (10/22/07), Keith Ferguson
The Walpole (Massachusetts) Police Department has taken advantage of Vestas Pallas, a new 911 system that reports cell phone numbers to dispatchers and provides dispatchers with the ability to trace cell phone calls to detailed locations on a computer-generated map. In the past, cell phone call location and phone number information were difficult to acquire. The system takes advantage of the GPS feature that's on most new phones to obtain location and phone number information. However, if the cell phone is older and doesn't have a GPS feature, the system initially will indicate the nearest cell tower and zero in on a more precise location as the call continues.
www.dailynewstranscript.com/homepage/x857473994
Townwide Alert Helps Police Find Missing
nashuatelegraph.com, an edition of "The Telegraph," (Nashua, NH). (10/22/07), Hattie Bernstein
Lt. James Sartell has 10 years on the Hollis, New Hampshire, police force, and has always been concerned about children and elderly citizens going missing, especially in the fall and winter months when temperatures dip down quickly. Recently an elderly man called the department after his wife did not return from an afternoon walk. The department took this opportunity to contact the toll-free national hotline for "A Child is Missing" alert system, which the town subscribes to free of charge, and within a minute the service telephoned 1,000 residents in the area near where the woman had last been seen. Roughly 490 of those calls were answered, and citizens received an automated message regarding the situation. Some of those citizens also volunteered to assist police with the search. These efforts resulted in the missing woman being found in about 2 hours.
www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071022/NEWS01/310220058/-1/news
SUU Issues First E-Mail Safety Notice
SUUjournal.com (11/12/07), Josh Smith
The Southern Utah University (SUU) Department of Public Safety recently issued its first-ever campuswide e-mail alert. The alert included a mug shot and information about a gentleman "considered by Public Safety to be a threat" and requested that people alert the department if they saw him on the campus. Previous efforts would have required public safety officials to post signs throughout campus. With this new system, notification is instant and provides the capability to send notifications to everyone on the SUU system. Other future technology projects include electronic locks on exterior doors, digital signage, comprehensive video surveillance, and an emergency siren system.
media.www.suujournal.com/media/storage/paper951/news/2007/11/12/News/Suu-Issues.First.EMail.Safety.Notice-3092965.shtml
Minneapolis Wins Award for New High-Tech Emergency Dispatch System
Government Technology (11/8/07), News Report
Minneapolis' new cutting-edge computer aided dispatch (CAD) system, which will improve how police and fire and rescue units respond to emergency situations, was awarded top technology honors at the 8th annual Tekne Awards. These awards acknowledge organizations and individuals that have a positive impact on the technology-based economy of Minnesota. The award-winning system went into service in March 2007. It provides first responders and 911 dispatchers with new ways to respond faster and smarter to emergency situations by making more detailed information available to them. This new system was paid for using U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funds, and was developed by TriTech, Inc. of San Diego.
www.govtech.com/gt/174473?topic=117699
Device Will Put Crooks at Cops' Fingertips
WTOP Radio (11/14/07), Hank Silverberg
Technology designed to correctly identify criminals who have given false information regarding their identity will be implemented by Fairfax County, Virginia. The county will be the first in the nation to use a handheld device that will allow police officers to instantaneously identify a person who has been arrested either by using fingerprints or a digital photo. The information captured will be cross-referenced against information contained in a database of criminal records, and in the future this system may connect to a national database of criminal records. Fairfax County is expected to have 50 of the units, which have been paid for using U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding. Several surrounding jurisdictions hope to obtain similar devices as well.
www.wtopnews.com/?nid=600&sid=1291897
Local FBI Rolls Out Online Sharing Network
The Gazette (11/6/07), Alicia Ebaugh
In terms of information sharing between local and State law enforcement Iowa is "far ahead," according to an FBI official, but taking advantage of an FBI site will only serve to make that communication better. On October 6, officers from across Iowa got their first look at the FBI's Law Enforcement Online information sharing network. This network assists all levels of agencies in sharing information nationwide. The FBI's system has been operational since 1995 and the agency is still working to get thousands of local, county, and State agencies involved by providing trainings to organizations nationwide. Law Enforcement Online gives officials a secure, encrypted location in which to put crime information so they can seek out information from other jurisdictions or make information available to other agencies. Access to Law Enforcement Online is granted using an FBI background check process.
www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/NEWS/711060036/1006/news
FBI Harnesses Power of "On Demand" From Comcast to Track Criminals, Find Missing Persons, Make Communities Safer
CNNMoney.com (11/1/07), PR Newswire
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has found a valuable tool in using the ON DEMAND technology that Comcast uses for cable service. "Police Blotter ON DEMAND" is a community-oriented video on-demand service that was launched in the Philadelphia area last December. Recently a Comcast customer, after seeing the profile of a wanted bank robber, contacted the FBI with a tip that led to an arrest. This service provides law enforcement with another tool to reach out to the public for assistance. The features the service provides, such as pause and rewind, can assist customers in seeing details and making connections that might otherwise be lost. Police Blotter ON DEMAND is regularly updated with video profiles for bank robbers, missing persons, and individuals from the Philadelphia Police Department's most wanted files. The offering is available free of charge to customers on the Comcast system.
money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NEM04312112007-1.htm
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, August 30, 2007
"Fingerprint Bank Gives Names to the Nameless"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (08/26/07) P. B1; Enkoji, M.S.
The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division is the site of the nationwide fingerprint database, with 53 million sets in its criminal files. It also has civilian prints on file. The Clarksburg, W.Va., division will conduct 24 million checks annually, which will take around 10 minutes each. While the inclusion of old prints provides hope for people who continue to wait for information on a missing individual, new technology will make identifying someone faster and more complete, claims the bureau's Stephen Fischer. The expansion of the system also means that long-deceased individuals who were found guilty of misdemeanor crimes now stand a better chance of being identified. Due to more efficient identification and filing, certain police agencies are transmitting every set of fingerprints they obtain to the FBI database, including those guilty of misdemeanor charges. Eventually, the FBI will employ biometric identification that will enable investigators to match voices, palm prints, and people's irises. http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/345178.html
"Dallas Inmates Expected to Be Arraigned Via Video"
Dallas Morning News (08/21/07); Krause, Kevin
The jails in Dallas County will soon be equipped with video cameras so prisoners do not have to be transported to courtrooms to be arraigned before a judge. Judges will instead talk with defendants and their attorneys via video monitors, and documents will be faxed. In late August, county consumers are set to sanction spending $47,583 in reserve funds on the video arraignment system, which AT&T will provide. A pilot initiative that started in July in the George Allen jail has operated well with no reported problems. The county's other prisons and Parkland Memorial Hospital will also eventually be equipped with video communications systems. Employing video communication will enable inmates to be arraigned right away, without having to wait until the following day. This will lessen crowding in holding areas, county authorities point out. Dallas County Sheriff's Department Assistant Chief Deputy Mona Birdwell reports that her department currently transfers around 50 prisoners per day to the main courtroom at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center for arraignment on new or revamped charges. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/
082207dnmetjail.58431853.html
"Sheriff's Patrol Cars to Get New Camera System"
Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI) (08/23/07) P. A5; Quisenberry, Danielle
The Jackson County, Mich., Sheriff's Office and the Blackman Township public safety departments are replacing their current analog in-car video camera systems with digital systems. The digital system's cameras--which will be mounted near the rear-view mirror in patrol cars--will send video from the car to a server via a wireless connection so that the video cannot be altered or manipulated, according to Blackman Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester. He noted that this will help prevent defense attorneys from arguing in court that the tapes have been tapered with. In addition, officers will no longer have to worry about switching tapes, Jester said. The digital system will also allow law enforcement officials to more easily access incidents, and will deliver a picture that is far clearer than the video from the old analog system, said Jackson County Sheriff Dan Heyns. http://www.mlive.com/jackson/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-22/118787827240300.xml&coll=3
"GPS Tracking Like a Stakeout"
Telegram & Gazette (08/24/07) P. A1; Nugent, Karen
GPS technology has assisted in the arrest of arson suspects Michael P. Dreslinksi and John D. Rousseau. Rousseau was formerly charged with alleged involvement in five Clinton County fires last year, but the charges were dropped. In July, suspicions that the men were involved with criminal activity, along with their 15-year history with police, led law enforcement to obtain a "Blood warrant" for placing a GPS tracking device on Dreslinski's truck; the truck was then tracked to an abandoned paper mill shortly before a fire at the mill was reported. In Sterling and Holden, the men were also the prime suspects. Former president Ronald Reagan first authorized the use of GPS for civilians following military investigations of the technology in 1983. A Superior Court judge must issue a mandate to law enforcement for placing GPS devices on vehicles due to the expanse of area involved in the monitoring; the device can be used as legal evidence until it enters a private home. In the 1980s, courts ruled that law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause in order to employ GPS technology in a case. Attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr. says obtaining a warrant circumvents the potential for the case being overturned by citing Article 14 of the Massachusetts Constitution, noting that citizens are immune to unreasonable searches and seizures. Dreslinksi and Rousseau have been arrested for burglary, impersonation, and breaking into police and railroad radio frequencies. http://www.telegram.com/article/20070824/NEWS/708240729/1116
"McLean Co. Uses Map Program to Test Sex Offenders' Compliance"
Pantagraph (08/25/07); Cima, Greg
In McLean County, Ill., geographic information system (GIS) technology has supplanted tape measures as law enforcement's method of tracking sex offenders' residency compliance. County attorney Bill Yoder says that while technology has assisted predators, "Technology has also given law enforcement a tool to fight back." A demonstration of the GIS exhibited a map of McLean with green dots designating the homes of sex offenders; the 500-foot distance offenders must keep between their homes and schools, parks, and other locations marked on the map is highlighted by semitransparent orange circles. Sheriff Mike Emery says the system's accuracy is "within an inch;" the map is available only to the sheriff's office and the McLean County Information Services. Violation of the residency compliance law for sex offenders is a felony with a five year sentence, and repeat offenders can receive up to seven years of jail time. http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/08/25/news/
doc46cf898d654dd371224839.txt
"Authorities Use GPS to Fight Graffiti"
Whittier Daily News (CA) (08/26/07); Scruby, Airan
Pico Rivera, Calif., police are employing the Graffiti Tracker to document and compare graffiti incidents that typically would be caught up in a sea of paperwork. The device uses cameras outfitted with GPS technology. Graffiti pictures are taken by cleanup crews and can be downloaded to a Web site, where they are studied and organized for reference. Pico Rivera public safety manager Steve Gutierrez stated that Graffiti Tracker has been beneficial since it was installed in September 2006. At that time, the city witnessed 828 vandalism incidents, while this past June, Pico Rivera had 324 "tags." Gutierrez pointed out that the city has had more than 60 arrests that have been directly linked to Graffiti Tracker. The system--which usually costs cities between $24,000 and $30,000 annually--categorizes graffiti by moniker, or the name a tagger utilizes, which enables individual taggers to be monitored via every vandalism act they perform. This permits police to concentrate efforts on the most active vandals, employing resources to catch the most harmful taggers first and rapidly lowering the amount of incidents in Pico Rivera. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_6722437?source=most_viewed
"Eagle Firm Says Tracking Devices Will Hold Their Signals, Regardless of Location"
Idaho Statesman (08/25/07); Dey, Ken
Sky Detective's tracking technology will prevent suspected stalkers from approaching victims without notifying Garden City law enforcement. The Offender Ankle Device, an ankle bracelet, and the SD20 Cargo/Package Tracker, monitoring movement by being placed in a car or other vehicle, use GPS and cellular signals to monitor suspects. The ankle bracelet enables the court to instate zones around the victim so that the suspect is detected upon entering those zones and Garden City police are notified either by pager or cell phone. Through Sky Detective software, which works with Google Earth to produce satellite pictures, police can track the exact location of the suspect. Additionally, the victim could wear a device that monitors stalkers that are nearby in the case of a stalker venturing out of their zone. "It has a great potential to protect victims of crime while saving a lot of manpower and a lot of money for the department," says Capt. Cory Stambaugh. He adds that without the technology, victims' only defense is a court appointed no-contact order that can only be enforced if someone observes the suspect in violation of the order. Sky Detective also notifies law enforcement when the suspect is a certain distance from an exclusion zone, so they receive enough warning to remove the victim and wait for the suspect's arrival. Sky Detective founder and president Jerry Thompson says the technology is a solution to mitigate overcrowding prisons and to reduce costs for incurring inmates; the device costs less than $15 daily to run and can be paid for by the offender. http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/142052.html
"Proposal: Track Sex Offenders With GPS"
Daily Journal (N.J.) (08/24/07) P. 1A; Jackson, Miles
New Jersey lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would require convicted sex offenders to wear GPS devices upon their release from prison. For predators that lure children via the Internet, Assemblymen Nelson Albano (D-1) and Jeff Van Drew (D-1) said the technology would help law enforcement monitor such offenders and that the offenders should pay for the technology. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office has successfully caught predators that attempt to meet with underage children by using law enforcement agents posing as minors online. Van Drew says although many of those arrested have never sexually assaulted the minor, their intentions are clear. Albano and Van Drew also sponsored legislation that would increase sentences for repeat sex offenders and people who protect them, in addition to a bill restricting convicted offenders from using the Internet. http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/NEWS01/708240311/1002
"Missouri May List Online IDs of Sex Offenders"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (08/22/07) P. D9; Bock, Jessica
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt announced Aug. 21 that he would support legislation that would add the email addresses and other electronic names used by sex offenders on the Internet to the state's registry of convicted sex offenders. The email addresses and screen names would also be made available to Internet service providers, instant messaging companies, and social networking sites. In addition, the legislation would restrict sex offenders' use of online identifiers to one screen name provided to law enforcement. Meanwhile, other states are also working to link email addresses to sex offender registries. In Illinois, for example, lawmakers passed legislation that forbids paroled sex offenders from communicating with children online. Another bill prohibits adults from engaging in sexual conversations online with minors with the intent of committing sexual abuse. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/
40C02A59B100C4F48625733F0011B7E4?OpenDocument
"Hempfield Township's Dispatch Center Lacking Action"
Greensburg Tribune-Review (PA) (08/26/07); Peirce, Paul
A brand-new, 15,000-square-foot state police dispatch facility in Hempfield Township, Pa., has still not hired its staff, making it a $2.1 million burden for the Pennsylvania law-enforcement institution. Harrisburg state police spokeswoman Linette Quinn stresses that the facility has not opened due to a "lack of funding." While area legislators stated they were not aware of the situation, they vowed to look into why the center is still empty. The center was among five regional consolidated dispatch facilities that state police initially intended to open by last year. The Hempfield Township facility, known as the Greensburg Consolidated Dispatch Center, was to facilitate calls for troops A and B, which includes 10 state police stations and eight southwestern counties. It was scheduled to employ around 60 individuals, primarily dispatchers who were already serving at different barracks across southwestern Pennsylvania. The facility was to have multiple state-of-the-art console stations with improved computer technology that would allow dispatchers to track the position of state police vehicles while they drove across the area. Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Regola (R) thinks the financing problem is the result of a continual power dispute between the state Legislature and state police administration. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_524164.html
"Eye in the Sky: Police Use Drone to Spy on V Festival"
Guardian Weekly (UK) (08/21/07) P. 6; Randerson, James
Several emergency services agencies in Great Britain--including the Staffordshire Police Department, the Merseyside Police Department, and the West Midlands fire service--have begun using or are planning to use remote-controlled unmanned spy drones in their operations. The Staffordshire Police Department used its drone to keep tabs on people at the recent V Festival. The department's drone is 70 cm wide and is equipped with high-resolution still and color video cameras, as well as infrared night vision capability. The drone cannot be heard from the ground once the device is 50 meters in the air, thanks to its four ultra-quiet carbon-fiber rotors, and it cannot be seen with the naked eye once it is 100 meters in the air. The vehicle takes off vertically and can be flown when it is out of sight, since it transmits images back to video goggles worn by the operator. The Merseyside Police Department has also been using drones to monitor disorderly situations and prevent antisocial behavior. Meanwhile, the West Midlands fire service has drawn up plans to use drones to get a close-up view of burning buildings. The increased use of drones worries some in Great Britain, including Noel Sharkey, an expert in robotics at Sheffield University, who says the use of the devices represents an unwarranted intrusion of privacy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2153077,00.html
"Scientists Drug-Test Whole Cities"
Associated Press (08/21/07); Borenstein, Seth
Researchers at Oregon State University unveiled the results of drug testing on untreated wastewater samples from 10 unnamed American cities at the American Chemical Society in Boston in August. The tests, while unable to pinpoint individual users, can give a glimpse of drug trends in a particular location. In the study, traces of 15 different drugs were tested for in a source as little as one teaspoon of untreated sewage water. The science behind the study is that nearly every drug, legal and illegal, ends up passing from the human body to toilets to wastewater treatment plants. Among the findings of the study was that methamphetamine use in one urban area with a gambling industry was five times as rampant than in other cities and was nearly nonexistent in some smaller Midwestern locations. The drug found to be most excreted was caffeine. U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy chief scientist David Murray says the idea of drug testing wastewater samples interests his agency. The EPA is now testing federal wastewater samples to check to see if its a good way to monitor drug use. Another application would be to determine the potential harm caused to rivers and lakes from legal pharmaceuticals. http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=3507402
"Are Tasers Really Non-Lethal?"
Police (07/07) Vol. 31, No. 7, P. 32; Ho, Jeffrey D.
Ever since TASERs and other conducted electrical weapon (CEW) devices were introduced 30 years ago, there have been questions about whether the non-lethal weapons are safe to be used to control unruly suspects. However, several studies have found that CEWs are one of the safest weapons in a police officer's arsenal. For instance, a 2005 study entitled "Cardiac Safety of Neuromuscular Incapacitating Defensive Devices" found that the electrical output of a TASER would have to be increased to at least 42 times the standard level in order to induce cardiac arrest in a 258-pound animal. CEWs made by TASER International are not capable of producing this level of output. The study's findings mean that a TASER's safety threshold is higher than that of acetaminophen, which has a safety margin for lethality of approximately 10-to-one. Testing on humans also showed that CEWs are safe. In a study entitled "Cardiovascular and Physiologic Effects of Conducted Electrical Weapon Discharge in Resting Adults," 67 volunteers were subjected to a five-second, deployed probe application of a TASER X26. The study found that there were no changes in the subjects' electrocardiogram readings and markers for blood acid, kidney impairment, or cardiac muscle damage. Skeletal muscle break-down levels were elevated, though these markers were only elevated to the levels commonly seen after a workout. http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2007/07/Are-TASERs-Really-Non-Lethal.aspx
Thursday, August 30, 2007
"Fingerprint Bank Gives Names to the Nameless"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (08/26/07) P. B1; Enkoji, M.S.
The FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division is the site of the nationwide fingerprint database, with 53 million sets in its criminal files. It also has civilian prints on file. The Clarksburg, W.Va., division will conduct 24 million checks annually, which will take around 10 minutes each. While the inclusion of old prints provides hope for people who continue to wait for information on a missing individual, new technology will make identifying someone faster and more complete, claims the bureau's Stephen Fischer. The expansion of the system also means that long-deceased individuals who were found guilty of misdemeanor crimes now stand a better chance of being identified. Due to more efficient identification and filing, certain police agencies are transmitting every set of fingerprints they obtain to the FBI database, including those guilty of misdemeanor charges. Eventually, the FBI will employ biometric identification that will enable investigators to match voices, palm prints, and people's irises. http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/345178.html
"Dallas Inmates Expected to Be Arraigned Via Video"
Dallas Morning News (08/21/07); Krause, Kevin
The jails in Dallas County will soon be equipped with video cameras so prisoners do not have to be transported to courtrooms to be arraigned before a judge. Judges will instead talk with defendants and their attorneys via video monitors, and documents will be faxed. In late August, county consumers are set to sanction spending $47,583 in reserve funds on the video arraignment system, which AT&T will provide. A pilot initiative that started in July in the George Allen jail has operated well with no reported problems. The county's other prisons and Parkland Memorial Hospital will also eventually be equipped with video communications systems. Employing video communication will enable inmates to be arraigned right away, without having to wait until the following day. This will lessen crowding in holding areas, county authorities point out. Dallas County Sheriff's Department Assistant Chief Deputy Mona Birdwell reports that her department currently transfers around 50 prisoners per day to the main courtroom at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center for arraignment on new or revamped charges. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/
082207dnmetjail.58431853.html
"Sheriff's Patrol Cars to Get New Camera System"
Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI) (08/23/07) P. A5; Quisenberry, Danielle
The Jackson County, Mich., Sheriff's Office and the Blackman Township public safety departments are replacing their current analog in-car video camera systems with digital systems. The digital system's cameras--which will be mounted near the rear-view mirror in patrol cars--will send video from the car to a server via a wireless connection so that the video cannot be altered or manipulated, according to Blackman Township Public Safety Director Mike Jester. He noted that this will help prevent defense attorneys from arguing in court that the tapes have been tapered with. In addition, officers will no longer have to worry about switching tapes, Jester said. The digital system will also allow law enforcement officials to more easily access incidents, and will deliver a picture that is far clearer than the video from the old analog system, said Jackson County Sheriff Dan Heyns. http://www.mlive.com/jackson/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-22/118787827240300.xml&coll=3
"GPS Tracking Like a Stakeout"
Telegram & Gazette (08/24/07) P. A1; Nugent, Karen
GPS technology has assisted in the arrest of arson suspects Michael P. Dreslinksi and John D. Rousseau. Rousseau was formerly charged with alleged involvement in five Clinton County fires last year, but the charges were dropped. In July, suspicions that the men were involved with criminal activity, along with their 15-year history with police, led law enforcement to obtain a "Blood warrant" for placing a GPS tracking device on Dreslinski's truck; the truck was then tracked to an abandoned paper mill shortly before a fire at the mill was reported. In Sterling and Holden, the men were also the prime suspects. Former president Ronald Reagan first authorized the use of GPS for civilians following military investigations of the technology in 1983. A Superior Court judge must issue a mandate to law enforcement for placing GPS devices on vehicles due to the expanse of area involved in the monitoring; the device can be used as legal evidence until it enters a private home. In the 1980s, courts ruled that law enforcement must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause in order to employ GPS technology in a case. Attorney Edward P. Ryan Jr. says obtaining a warrant circumvents the potential for the case being overturned by citing Article 14 of the Massachusetts Constitution, noting that citizens are immune to unreasonable searches and seizures. Dreslinksi and Rousseau have been arrested for burglary, impersonation, and breaking into police and railroad radio frequencies. http://www.telegram.com/article/20070824/NEWS/708240729/1116
"McLean Co. Uses Map Program to Test Sex Offenders' Compliance"
Pantagraph (08/25/07); Cima, Greg
In McLean County, Ill., geographic information system (GIS) technology has supplanted tape measures as law enforcement's method of tracking sex offenders' residency compliance. County attorney Bill Yoder says that while technology has assisted predators, "Technology has also given law enforcement a tool to fight back." A demonstration of the GIS exhibited a map of McLean with green dots designating the homes of sex offenders; the 500-foot distance offenders must keep between their homes and schools, parks, and other locations marked on the map is highlighted by semitransparent orange circles. Sheriff Mike Emery says the system's accuracy is "within an inch;" the map is available only to the sheriff's office and the McLean County Information Services. Violation of the residency compliance law for sex offenders is a felony with a five year sentence, and repeat offenders can receive up to seven years of jail time. http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/08/25/news/
doc46cf898d654dd371224839.txt
"Authorities Use GPS to Fight Graffiti"
Whittier Daily News (CA) (08/26/07); Scruby, Airan
Pico Rivera, Calif., police are employing the Graffiti Tracker to document and compare graffiti incidents that typically would be caught up in a sea of paperwork. The device uses cameras outfitted with GPS technology. Graffiti pictures are taken by cleanup crews and can be downloaded to a Web site, where they are studied and organized for reference. Pico Rivera public safety manager Steve Gutierrez stated that Graffiti Tracker has been beneficial since it was installed in September 2006. At that time, the city witnessed 828 vandalism incidents, while this past June, Pico Rivera had 324 "tags." Gutierrez pointed out that the city has had more than 60 arrests that have been directly linked to Graffiti Tracker. The system--which usually costs cities between $24,000 and $30,000 annually--categorizes graffiti by moniker, or the name a tagger utilizes, which enables individual taggers to be monitored via every vandalism act they perform. This permits police to concentrate efforts on the most active vandals, employing resources to catch the most harmful taggers first and rapidly lowering the amount of incidents in Pico Rivera. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_6722437?source=most_viewed
"Eagle Firm Says Tracking Devices Will Hold Their Signals, Regardless of Location"
Idaho Statesman (08/25/07); Dey, Ken
Sky Detective's tracking technology will prevent suspected stalkers from approaching victims without notifying Garden City law enforcement. The Offender Ankle Device, an ankle bracelet, and the SD20 Cargo/Package Tracker, monitoring movement by being placed in a car or other vehicle, use GPS and cellular signals to monitor suspects. The ankle bracelet enables the court to instate zones around the victim so that the suspect is detected upon entering those zones and Garden City police are notified either by pager or cell phone. Through Sky Detective software, which works with Google Earth to produce satellite pictures, police can track the exact location of the suspect. Additionally, the victim could wear a device that monitors stalkers that are nearby in the case of a stalker venturing out of their zone. "It has a great potential to protect victims of crime while saving a lot of manpower and a lot of money for the department," says Capt. Cory Stambaugh. He adds that without the technology, victims' only defense is a court appointed no-contact order that can only be enforced if someone observes the suspect in violation of the order. Sky Detective also notifies law enforcement when the suspect is a certain distance from an exclusion zone, so they receive enough warning to remove the victim and wait for the suspect's arrival. Sky Detective founder and president Jerry Thompson says the technology is a solution to mitigate overcrowding prisons and to reduce costs for incurring inmates; the device costs less than $15 daily to run and can be paid for by the offender. http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/142052.html
"Proposal: Track Sex Offenders With GPS"
Daily Journal (N.J.) (08/24/07) P. 1A; Jackson, Miles
New Jersey lawmakers are pushing for a bill that would require convicted sex offenders to wear GPS devices upon their release from prison. For predators that lure children via the Internet, Assemblymen Nelson Albano (D-1) and Jeff Van Drew (D-1) said the technology would help law enforcement monitor such offenders and that the offenders should pay for the technology. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office has successfully caught predators that attempt to meet with underage children by using law enforcement agents posing as minors online. Van Drew says although many of those arrested have never sexually assaulted the minor, their intentions are clear. Albano and Van Drew also sponsored legislation that would increase sentences for repeat sex offenders and people who protect them, in addition to a bill restricting convicted offenders from using the Internet. http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/NEWS01/708240311/1002
"Missouri May List Online IDs of Sex Offenders"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (08/22/07) P. D9; Bock, Jessica
Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt announced Aug. 21 that he would support legislation that would add the email addresses and other electronic names used by sex offenders on the Internet to the state's registry of convicted sex offenders. The email addresses and screen names would also be made available to Internet service providers, instant messaging companies, and social networking sites. In addition, the legislation would restrict sex offenders' use of online identifiers to one screen name provided to law enforcement. Meanwhile, other states are also working to link email addresses to sex offender registries. In Illinois, for example, lawmakers passed legislation that forbids paroled sex offenders from communicating with children online. Another bill prohibits adults from engaging in sexual conversations online with minors with the intent of committing sexual abuse. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stcharles/story/
40C02A59B100C4F48625733F0011B7E4?OpenDocument
"Hempfield Township's Dispatch Center Lacking Action"
Greensburg Tribune-Review (PA) (08/26/07); Peirce, Paul
A brand-new, 15,000-square-foot state police dispatch facility in Hempfield Township, Pa., has still not hired its staff, making it a $2.1 million burden for the Pennsylvania law-enforcement institution. Harrisburg state police spokeswoman Linette Quinn stresses that the facility has not opened due to a "lack of funding." While area legislators stated they were not aware of the situation, they vowed to look into why the center is still empty. The center was among five regional consolidated dispatch facilities that state police initially intended to open by last year. The Hempfield Township facility, known as the Greensburg Consolidated Dispatch Center, was to facilitate calls for troops A and B, which includes 10 state police stations and eight southwestern counties. It was scheduled to employ around 60 individuals, primarily dispatchers who were already serving at different barracks across southwestern Pennsylvania. The facility was to have multiple state-of-the-art console stations with improved computer technology that would allow dispatchers to track the position of state police vehicles while they drove across the area. Pennsylvania Sen. Robert Regola (R) thinks the financing problem is the result of a continual power dispute between the state Legislature and state police administration. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_524164.html
"Eye in the Sky: Police Use Drone to Spy on V Festival"
Guardian Weekly (UK) (08/21/07) P. 6; Randerson, James
Several emergency services agencies in Great Britain--including the Staffordshire Police Department, the Merseyside Police Department, and the West Midlands fire service--have begun using or are planning to use remote-controlled unmanned spy drones in their operations. The Staffordshire Police Department used its drone to keep tabs on people at the recent V Festival. The department's drone is 70 cm wide and is equipped with high-resolution still and color video cameras, as well as infrared night vision capability. The drone cannot be heard from the ground once the device is 50 meters in the air, thanks to its four ultra-quiet carbon-fiber rotors, and it cannot be seen with the naked eye once it is 100 meters in the air. The vehicle takes off vertically and can be flown when it is out of sight, since it transmits images back to video goggles worn by the operator. The Merseyside Police Department has also been using drones to monitor disorderly situations and prevent antisocial behavior. Meanwhile, the West Midlands fire service has drawn up plans to use drones to get a close-up view of burning buildings. The increased use of drones worries some in Great Britain, including Noel Sharkey, an expert in robotics at Sheffield University, who says the use of the devices represents an unwarranted intrusion of privacy. http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2153077,00.html
"Scientists Drug-Test Whole Cities"
Associated Press (08/21/07); Borenstein, Seth
Researchers at Oregon State University unveiled the results of drug testing on untreated wastewater samples from 10 unnamed American cities at the American Chemical Society in Boston in August. The tests, while unable to pinpoint individual users, can give a glimpse of drug trends in a particular location. In the study, traces of 15 different drugs were tested for in a source as little as one teaspoon of untreated sewage water. The science behind the study is that nearly every drug, legal and illegal, ends up passing from the human body to toilets to wastewater treatment plants. Among the findings of the study was that methamphetamine use in one urban area with a gambling industry was five times as rampant than in other cities and was nearly nonexistent in some smaller Midwestern locations. The drug found to be most excreted was caffeine. U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy chief scientist David Murray says the idea of drug testing wastewater samples interests his agency. The EPA is now testing federal wastewater samples to check to see if its a good way to monitor drug use. Another application would be to determine the potential harm caused to rivers and lakes from legal pharmaceuticals. http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=3507402
"Are Tasers Really Non-Lethal?"
Police (07/07) Vol. 31, No. 7, P. 32; Ho, Jeffrey D.
Ever since TASERs and other conducted electrical weapon (CEW) devices were introduced 30 years ago, there have been questions about whether the non-lethal weapons are safe to be used to control unruly suspects. However, several studies have found that CEWs are one of the safest weapons in a police officer's arsenal. For instance, a 2005 study entitled "Cardiac Safety of Neuromuscular Incapacitating Defensive Devices" found that the electrical output of a TASER would have to be increased to at least 42 times the standard level in order to induce cardiac arrest in a 258-pound animal. CEWs made by TASER International are not capable of producing this level of output. The study's findings mean that a TASER's safety threshold is higher than that of acetaminophen, which has a safety margin for lethality of approximately 10-to-one. Testing on humans also showed that CEWs are safe. In a study entitled "Cardiovascular and Physiologic Effects of Conducted Electrical Weapon Discharge in Resting Adults," 67 volunteers were subjected to a five-second, deployed probe application of a TASER X26. The study found that there were no changes in the subjects' electrocardiogram readings and markers for blood acid, kidney impairment, or cardiac muscle damage. Skeletal muscle break-down levels were elevated, though these markers were only elevated to the levels commonly seen after a workout. http://www.policemag.com/Articles/2007/07/Are-TASERs-Really-Non-Lethal.aspx
Friday, August 10, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, August 9, 2007
"Crime-Fighting Revolution"
Daily Times (08/06/07); Butler, Iva
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is creating a fusion center which will permit law enforcement agencies throughout the state to network when solving crimes. The center is situated in Nashville at the TBI headquarters and is 4,000 square feet. The center has 26 analysts, and data from throughout Tennessee is being entered into the center's computer. Within the coming few months, all the data from law enforcement agencies in Tennessee is scheduled to be online. The data is comprised of open records that anybody is allowed to acquire from any law enforcement agency in Tennessee. The plan is to move all the information into one location where analysts can conduct a more in-depth service and study crime trends. Some of the crimes that the TBI investigates are illegal drug production, sales and use, juvenile crime, and weapons.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070806/NEWS/70806001
"Coming Next in the Police Arsenal: Light Sabers?"
Indianapolis Star (08/08/07)
The Department of Homeland Security is trying to equip federal agents with a light-saber device giving off a bright strobe that would temporarily blind criminals, terrorists, and disruptive airplane passengers. It is the newest government plan to create a nonlethal weapon. To date, the Homeland Security Department has spent $1 million on testing the light-emitting diode (LED) incapacitator. If it yields good results, the department claims the device could be in the possession of thousands of police, border agents, and National Guardsmen within three years. The light-saber functions by temporarily blinding and confusing an individual. Once focused at somebody's eyes, several light pulses can be initiated, and the suspect's eyes cannot compensate fast enough to see.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070808/NATIONWORLD/708080428/-1/LOCAL17
"High-Tech Cameras Give Cars the Boot"
Chicago Tribune (08/06/07)
On Aug. 3, the Chicago Department of Revenue stated it would erect cameras in 26 of its boot vans, which search city streets for vehicles that should be booted due to traffic breaches. A vehicle becomes eligible for a boot--which makes the car unmovable--when a driver acquires three tickets or more on any vehicle registered in his name and ignores multiple requests for payment. The new cameras have license-plate recognition technology that does away with the need to enter a vehicle's plate number into a handheld gadget to decide if it can be booted. In addition, the cameras read license plates on either side of a street at the same time, which will enable crews to drive down a street one time instead of twice. Three newly-outfitted vans are currently monitoring the streets. The Department of Revenue believes that all of its boot crews will employ the new technology by the end of this month.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/
chicago/chi-bootvanaug06,0,6926399.story
"Fingerprints May Soon Yield Gender Clues"
ScienceDaily (08/03/07)
British researchers have developed a novel fingerprinting technique that generates chemical clues regarding the suspected criminals gender and diet, according to research published in Analytical Chemistry. Gel tapes lift the prints, which are then examined in a spectroscopic microscope. Infrared rays irradiate the sample to produce a comprehensive chemical composition. An infrared array detector then processes the chemical structure. The chemical clues could suggest whether the suspect was a meat-eater or a vegetarian, and may distinguish traces of handled items, such as narcotics, gunpowder, and chemical or biological weapons.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=
UPI-1-20070803-23040200-bc-us-fingerprinting.xml
"MySpace Helps NLR Police Link to Students"
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (08/06/07); Carrick, Kayla
Police officers at Arkansas middle schools have erected MySpace pages, in order to be in touch with students who spend a lot of time on the Internet. In the last year, around 24 pages sponsored by police departments throughout the United States have come up on MySpace, which has around 160 million profile pages overall. School resource officers Jon Schwulst and Fran Hichens note that once in a while, students will utilize MySpace to inform officers about trouble at school. Hichens, who works at Poplar Street Middle School, explained that one of his students was putting "alarming" items on a MySpace page, and that another student informed Hichens about the problem through a MySpace page, thereby enabling Hichens to help the student get personal assistance. Miami-Dade, Fla., Police Department Sgt. Erick Palmer, who erected and manages his department's MySpace page, notes his department's presence dissuades online predators. Palmer was one of the initial police officers to create a viable MySpace page sponsored by a law enforcement agency. Miami-Dade's site, which gets over 5,000 hits every month, has been helpful in recruiting officers and promoting the department's youth-volunteer campaign. In addition, the department has gotten anonymous tips on MySpace that have resulted in drug busts. http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/197811/
"Understanding the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) System"
PoliceOne.com (08/07/07); Marshall, Mark A.
International Association of Chiefs of Police Mark A. Marshall says data-sharing has become the new "buzzword" among law enforcement groups. He states a superior system would obtain crime-related information from all involved law-enforcement interests and change it into relevant data, an idea that has became the basis for the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) project. N-DEx's goal is to share detailed, correct, up-to-date, and helpful data from all jurisdiction regions and offer new investigative tools that improve the country's ability to combat crime and terrorism. Marshall says at the heart of N-DEx is enabling law-enforcement groups to provide their incident information to a main repository where it is compared with events which are already on record to find connections between individuals, locations, things, or related activities. The events can then stay on file to be compared with all pending incoming incidents. Marshall notes that local, state, and tribal law enforcement investigators will be the leading beneficiaries of the program. He states that N-DEx will also offer contact data and collaboration tools for institutions working on cases of interest to all parties. http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/MarkMarshall/articles/1295732/
"Police Plan to Use New Tech to Find Missing Persons"
San Bernardino County Sun (08/02/07); Lopez, C.L.
Redlands, Calif.'s Police Department will soon implement new technology to be employed as a part of the department's Never Alone Safely Back Home program that was begun last year. The database-enrollment program is offered at no cost to city residents. Thumb prints, photographs, data, and sometimes samples of DNA are stored on file. The data is utilized to locate and identify people with memory loss who become lost. While in 2006 and 2007, the program has employed gadgets that were sported on the ankle and equipped with GPS technology to locate people with memory loss who wander away from their residences and get lost, Police Chief Jim Bueermann said recently that a new technology known as Project Lifesaver--which transmits a radio signal from a bracelet that is similar to a wristwatch--will be used. He noted that the Project Lifesaver gadget has the benefit of being more comfortable to wear than the GPS devices. While it is not known how much Project Lifesaver will cost, Bueermann stated he is thinking about utilizing grant funds so inhabitants can use the devices.
http://www.sbsun.com//ci_6525518?IADID=Search-
www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com
"Satellite Aids in Tracking Bank Robbers: Bad Guys Now Have to Worry About GPS Technology"
New Haven Register (08/05/07); Kaempffer, William
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is being utilized in New Haven, Conn., to follow bank thieves, most likely the first time it has been used for that reason. "The banks will tend to use it in higher-risk locations because it's not the cheapest," explains Connecticut Bankers Association senior vice president Lindsey R. Pinkham. "That, to some degree, has limited its deployment." Industry sources claim one product being worked on is a computerized fiscal recognition system in a current database. While GPS technology functions in a similar fashion to traditional dye packs, which are placed alongside money and go off after the thief exits the bank, the GPS tracker silently transmits signals that permit police to precisely uncover the suspect's whereabouts on a computer screen. Throughout the country, GPS technology has been more and more used by police to solve a broad variety of crimes. A female bank robber was recently apprehended in New Haven after exiting the branch with money and a concealed transmitter. Police were able to find and arrest her in minutes by using GPS to locate her. http://www.nhregister.com
"Plate Scanners Give Police Rapid Tool"
Arizona Republic (08/01/07) P. 4; Sowers, Carol
Law enforcement groups in Arizona's Valley region are employing high-speed technologies to capture license-plate images and monitor stolen vehicles utilized in crimes. Police hope the scanners will get violent individuals off the streets sooner. The Scottsdale Police Department intends to use funds captured from illegal activities to purchase four high-speed license-plate scanners. Three of the gadgets will be erected on police cruisers, while the remaining device is a handheld one that can be transferred from one police cruiser to another. The license-plate scanners can read a plate in around one second. They then look through a "hot sheet" of wanted cars downloaded to officers' cruiser computers. If a match is found, certain readers utilize voice technology to notify the officer. The scanners have helped find numerous stolen vehicles and helped result in multiple arrests in Phoenix. http://www.arizonarepublic.com
"Radiation-Monitor Study Sought"
Washington Post (08/01/07) P. D2; O'Harrow, Robert Jr.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Michael Chertoff has requested that the Defense Department's Defense Threat Reduction Agency create a team of independent experts to review the effectiveness of DHS radiation-detection machines used to scan trucks and cargo containers. A Government Accountability Office report found that the machines were not nearly effective as the DHS had advertised to Congress. In reaction to the report, Congress has mandated that Chertoff ensure that the machines are effective before implementing the machines as part of a $1.2 billion project. Chertoff has sent a letter to several lawmakers, promising that a "highly experienced team of technical and programmatic" experts will review the machines.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101901.html
"10 Fingerprints Needed to Enter US Soon"
Manila Bulletin (07/31/07)
A pilot program will be launched in late 2007 at 10 major U.S. airports to test the feasibility of digitally scanning all 10 fingerprints of incoming passengers rather than the two currently scanned under the U.S.-VISIT Program. The airports chosen for the pilot are Logan International, Chicago OHare International, George Bush Intercontinental, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Miami International, John F. Kennedy International, Orlando International, San Francisco International, and Dulles International. The new requirement will apply to passengers from countries participating in the U.S. Visa-Waiver program as well as those who require a visa to enter the Untied States. U.S. Department of Homeland Security operations director P.T. Wright says that the scanning of additional fingerprints would not take more time than the current procedure but would ensure near 100 percent accuracy. http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR2007073199113.html#
"Sky Spies Target Crime"
Mirror (UK) (08/03/07) P. 6; Cunningham, Jimmy
The Republic of Ireland has acquired two Israeli-made Orbiter UAVs that will be used for military activities and for monitoring drug smuggling along the Irish border and coastline. The unmanned planes, which were purchased at a price of 780,000 euros, have a range of 15 kilometers, can be used to spy from an altitude of 15,000 feet, and contain two cameras that can be used day or night. They can be carried in a soldier's backpack, assembled in 10 minutes, and launched from a catapult. Israel has used the unmanned vehicles to pinpoint targets before fighter aircraft are called in. Switzerland will use the versatile craft to monitor soccer fans during Euro 2008. http://www.mirror.co.uk
"Mauritians Pioneer Emergency Preparedness Training in Second Life"
L'Express (07/23/07); Beedasy-Ramloll, Jaishree
Idaho State University researchers have established a virtual town where first responders can receive disaster training in the popular Web-based 3D virtual world Second Life. The town, which includes a police station, hospital, and residences, is located in Second Life's Play2Train section, which is a federally-funded collaborative effort involving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several universities. Real-life first responders can use their computers to visit the Play2Train area, where they can participate in several types of virtual training events, including Alternative Care Facility Mobile Quarantine and Healthcare Facility "Sidewalk Triage" for an Avian Flu Pandemic. The Second Life virtual world is populated by real-life people who control their "avatars" in the fictional world; these avatars are capable of interacting with and communicating with other avatars within the virtual world. Thus, the avatars can participate in the disaster-training exercises--including instructional courses and table-top exercises--which have some advantages over real-world training in that simulated weather conditions such as rain, snow, and lightning can be added to provide realism to the training. The researchers behind the Play2Train effort believe that the training exercises in the virtual world could eventually supplant real-world exercises. http://www.lexpress.mu/display_article.php?news_id=90612
"New Less-Lethal Series of Projectile Launchers for Law Enforcement and Military Now Available"
Market Wire (07/30/07)
Security With Advanced Technology, Inc., a leading provider of security products and services, reports that its new MK Series of less-lethal projectile launchers designed primarily for use by military and law enforcement are now available for sale and delivery. Developed by Veritas Tactical, a division of Security With Advanced Technology, the MK Series of less-lethal launchers are propelled by high pressured air and shoot PAVA-filled projectiles, which break open on impact releasing a cloud of potent PAVA powder that causes subjects to cough, choke and become temporarily debilitated. The powder is significantly stronger than the effect of pepper spray. The launchers give military and law enforcement officers the ability to deliver less-lethal rounds accurately at a point target at 50 meters, providing them with a tactical advantage in many control situations. The MK Series also delivers rounds up to 100 meters for riot and crowd control situations. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0284005.htm
Thursday, August 9, 2007
"Crime-Fighting Revolution"
Daily Times (08/06/07); Butler, Iva
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is creating a fusion center which will permit law enforcement agencies throughout the state to network when solving crimes. The center is situated in Nashville at the TBI headquarters and is 4,000 square feet. The center has 26 analysts, and data from throughout Tennessee is being entered into the center's computer. Within the coming few months, all the data from law enforcement agencies in Tennessee is scheduled to be online. The data is comprised of open records that anybody is allowed to acquire from any law enforcement agency in Tennessee. The plan is to move all the information into one location where analysts can conduct a more in-depth service and study crime trends. Some of the crimes that the TBI investigates are illegal drug production, sales and use, juvenile crime, and weapons.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070806/NEWS/70806001
"Coming Next in the Police Arsenal: Light Sabers?"
Indianapolis Star (08/08/07)
The Department of Homeland Security is trying to equip federal agents with a light-saber device giving off a bright strobe that would temporarily blind criminals, terrorists, and disruptive airplane passengers. It is the newest government plan to create a nonlethal weapon. To date, the Homeland Security Department has spent $1 million on testing the light-emitting diode (LED) incapacitator. If it yields good results, the department claims the device could be in the possession of thousands of police, border agents, and National Guardsmen within three years. The light-saber functions by temporarily blinding and confusing an individual. Once focused at somebody's eyes, several light pulses can be initiated, and the suspect's eyes cannot compensate fast enough to see.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070808/NATIONWORLD/708080428/-1/LOCAL17
"High-Tech Cameras Give Cars the Boot"
Chicago Tribune (08/06/07)
On Aug. 3, the Chicago Department of Revenue stated it would erect cameras in 26 of its boot vans, which search city streets for vehicles that should be booted due to traffic breaches. A vehicle becomes eligible for a boot--which makes the car unmovable--when a driver acquires three tickets or more on any vehicle registered in his name and ignores multiple requests for payment. The new cameras have license-plate recognition technology that does away with the need to enter a vehicle's plate number into a handheld gadget to decide if it can be booted. In addition, the cameras read license plates on either side of a street at the same time, which will enable crews to drive down a street one time instead of twice. Three newly-outfitted vans are currently monitoring the streets. The Department of Revenue believes that all of its boot crews will employ the new technology by the end of this month.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/
chicago/chi-bootvanaug06,0,6926399.story
"Fingerprints May Soon Yield Gender Clues"
ScienceDaily (08/03/07)
British researchers have developed a novel fingerprinting technique that generates chemical clues regarding the suspected criminals gender and diet, according to research published in Analytical Chemistry. Gel tapes lift the prints, which are then examined in a spectroscopic microscope. Infrared rays irradiate the sample to produce a comprehensive chemical composition. An infrared array detector then processes the chemical structure. The chemical clues could suggest whether the suspect was a meat-eater or a vegetarian, and may distinguish traces of handled items, such as narcotics, gunpowder, and chemical or biological weapons.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=
UPI-1-20070803-23040200-bc-us-fingerprinting.xml
"MySpace Helps NLR Police Link to Students"
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (08/06/07); Carrick, Kayla
Police officers at Arkansas middle schools have erected MySpace pages, in order to be in touch with students who spend a lot of time on the Internet. In the last year, around 24 pages sponsored by police departments throughout the United States have come up on MySpace, which has around 160 million profile pages overall. School resource officers Jon Schwulst and Fran Hichens note that once in a while, students will utilize MySpace to inform officers about trouble at school. Hichens, who works at Poplar Street Middle School, explained that one of his students was putting "alarming" items on a MySpace page, and that another student informed Hichens about the problem through a MySpace page, thereby enabling Hichens to help the student get personal assistance. Miami-Dade, Fla., Police Department Sgt. Erick Palmer, who erected and manages his department's MySpace page, notes his department's presence dissuades online predators. Palmer was one of the initial police officers to create a viable MySpace page sponsored by a law enforcement agency. Miami-Dade's site, which gets over 5,000 hits every month, has been helpful in recruiting officers and promoting the department's youth-volunteer campaign. In addition, the department has gotten anonymous tips on MySpace that have resulted in drug busts. http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/197811/
"Understanding the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) System"
PoliceOne.com (08/07/07); Marshall, Mark A.
International Association of Chiefs of Police Mark A. Marshall says data-sharing has become the new "buzzword" among law enforcement groups. He states a superior system would obtain crime-related information from all involved law-enforcement interests and change it into relevant data, an idea that has became the basis for the National Data Exchange (N-DEx) project. N-DEx's goal is to share detailed, correct, up-to-date, and helpful data from all jurisdiction regions and offer new investigative tools that improve the country's ability to combat crime and terrorism. Marshall says at the heart of N-DEx is enabling law-enforcement groups to provide their incident information to a main repository where it is compared with events which are already on record to find connections between individuals, locations, things, or related activities. The events can then stay on file to be compared with all pending incoming incidents. Marshall notes that local, state, and tribal law enforcement investigators will be the leading beneficiaries of the program. He states that N-DEx will also offer contact data and collaboration tools for institutions working on cases of interest to all parties. http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/MarkMarshall/articles/1295732/
"Police Plan to Use New Tech to Find Missing Persons"
San Bernardino County Sun (08/02/07); Lopez, C.L.
Redlands, Calif.'s Police Department will soon implement new technology to be employed as a part of the department's Never Alone Safely Back Home program that was begun last year. The database-enrollment program is offered at no cost to city residents. Thumb prints, photographs, data, and sometimes samples of DNA are stored on file. The data is utilized to locate and identify people with memory loss who become lost. While in 2006 and 2007, the program has employed gadgets that were sported on the ankle and equipped with GPS technology to locate people with memory loss who wander away from their residences and get lost, Police Chief Jim Bueermann said recently that a new technology known as Project Lifesaver--which transmits a radio signal from a bracelet that is similar to a wristwatch--will be used. He noted that the Project Lifesaver gadget has the benefit of being more comfortable to wear than the GPS devices. While it is not known how much Project Lifesaver will cost, Bueermann stated he is thinking about utilizing grant funds so inhabitants can use the devices.
http://www.sbsun.com//ci_6525518?IADID=Search-
www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com
"Satellite Aids in Tracking Bank Robbers: Bad Guys Now Have to Worry About GPS Technology"
New Haven Register (08/05/07); Kaempffer, William
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is being utilized in New Haven, Conn., to follow bank thieves, most likely the first time it has been used for that reason. "The banks will tend to use it in higher-risk locations because it's not the cheapest," explains Connecticut Bankers Association senior vice president Lindsey R. Pinkham. "That, to some degree, has limited its deployment." Industry sources claim one product being worked on is a computerized fiscal recognition system in a current database. While GPS technology functions in a similar fashion to traditional dye packs, which are placed alongside money and go off after the thief exits the bank, the GPS tracker silently transmits signals that permit police to precisely uncover the suspect's whereabouts on a computer screen. Throughout the country, GPS technology has been more and more used by police to solve a broad variety of crimes. A female bank robber was recently apprehended in New Haven after exiting the branch with money and a concealed transmitter. Police were able to find and arrest her in minutes by using GPS to locate her. http://www.nhregister.com
"Plate Scanners Give Police Rapid Tool"
Arizona Republic (08/01/07) P. 4; Sowers, Carol
Law enforcement groups in Arizona's Valley region are employing high-speed technologies to capture license-plate images and monitor stolen vehicles utilized in crimes. Police hope the scanners will get violent individuals off the streets sooner. The Scottsdale Police Department intends to use funds captured from illegal activities to purchase four high-speed license-plate scanners. Three of the gadgets will be erected on police cruisers, while the remaining device is a handheld one that can be transferred from one police cruiser to another. The license-plate scanners can read a plate in around one second. They then look through a "hot sheet" of wanted cars downloaded to officers' cruiser computers. If a match is found, certain readers utilize voice technology to notify the officer. The scanners have helped find numerous stolen vehicles and helped result in multiple arrests in Phoenix. http://www.arizonarepublic.com
"Radiation-Monitor Study Sought"
Washington Post (08/01/07) P. D2; O'Harrow, Robert Jr.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Michael Chertoff has requested that the Defense Department's Defense Threat Reduction Agency create a team of independent experts to review the effectiveness of DHS radiation-detection machines used to scan trucks and cargo containers. A Government Accountability Office report found that the machines were not nearly effective as the DHS had advertised to Congress. In reaction to the report, Congress has mandated that Chertoff ensure that the machines are effective before implementing the machines as part of a $1.2 billion project. Chertoff has sent a letter to several lawmakers, promising that a "highly experienced team of technical and programmatic" experts will review the machines.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2007/07/31/AR2007073101901.html
"10 Fingerprints Needed to Enter US Soon"
Manila Bulletin (07/31/07)
A pilot program will be launched in late 2007 at 10 major U.S. airports to test the feasibility of digitally scanning all 10 fingerprints of incoming passengers rather than the two currently scanned under the U.S.-VISIT Program. The airports chosen for the pilot are Logan International, Chicago OHare International, George Bush Intercontinental, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Miami International, John F. Kennedy International, Orlando International, San Francisco International, and Dulles International. The new requirement will apply to passengers from countries participating in the U.S. Visa-Waiver program as well as those who require a visa to enter the Untied States. U.S. Department of Homeland Security operations director P.T. Wright says that the scanning of additional fingerprints would not take more time than the current procedure but would ensure near 100 percent accuracy. http://www.mb.com.ph/TOUR2007073199113.html#
"Sky Spies Target Crime"
Mirror (UK) (08/03/07) P. 6; Cunningham, Jimmy
The Republic of Ireland has acquired two Israeli-made Orbiter UAVs that will be used for military activities and for monitoring drug smuggling along the Irish border and coastline. The unmanned planes, which were purchased at a price of 780,000 euros, have a range of 15 kilometers, can be used to spy from an altitude of 15,000 feet, and contain two cameras that can be used day or night. They can be carried in a soldier's backpack, assembled in 10 minutes, and launched from a catapult. Israel has used the unmanned vehicles to pinpoint targets before fighter aircraft are called in. Switzerland will use the versatile craft to monitor soccer fans during Euro 2008. http://www.mirror.co.uk
"Mauritians Pioneer Emergency Preparedness Training in Second Life"
L'Express (07/23/07); Beedasy-Ramloll, Jaishree
Idaho State University researchers have established a virtual town where first responders can receive disaster training in the popular Web-based 3D virtual world Second Life. The town, which includes a police station, hospital, and residences, is located in Second Life's Play2Train section, which is a federally-funded collaborative effort involving the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several universities. Real-life first responders can use their computers to visit the Play2Train area, where they can participate in several types of virtual training events, including Alternative Care Facility Mobile Quarantine and Healthcare Facility "Sidewalk Triage" for an Avian Flu Pandemic. The Second Life virtual world is populated by real-life people who control their "avatars" in the fictional world; these avatars are capable of interacting with and communicating with other avatars within the virtual world. Thus, the avatars can participate in the disaster-training exercises--including instructional courses and table-top exercises--which have some advantages over real-world training in that simulated weather conditions such as rain, snow, and lightning can be added to provide realism to the training. The researchers behind the Play2Train effort believe that the training exercises in the virtual world could eventually supplant real-world exercises. http://www.lexpress.mu/display_article.php?news_id=90612
"New Less-Lethal Series of Projectile Launchers for Law Enforcement and Military Now Available"
Market Wire (07/30/07)
Security With Advanced Technology, Inc., a leading provider of security products and services, reports that its new MK Series of less-lethal projectile launchers designed primarily for use by military and law enforcement are now available for sale and delivery. Developed by Veritas Tactical, a division of Security With Advanced Technology, the MK Series of less-lethal launchers are propelled by high pressured air and shoot PAVA-filled projectiles, which break open on impact releasing a cloud of potent PAVA powder that causes subjects to cough, choke and become temporarily debilitated. The powder is significantly stronger than the effect of pepper spray. The launchers give military and law enforcement officers the ability to deliver less-lethal rounds accurately at a point target at 50 meters, providing them with a tactical advantage in many control situations. The MK Series also delivers rounds up to 100 meters for riot and crowd control situations. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0284005.htm
Thursday, May 10, 2007
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
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
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
Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.
Friday, May 04, 2007
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.
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.
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