CBP Launches Border Radio Pilot

AM Radio System Installed to Inform Land Border Crossers

Washington– U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced the installation of a pilot AM radio broadcast system, aimed to better inform the border crossing public. CBP has installed AM radio frequency transmitters at two ports of entry on the southwest border, Ysleta in El Paso, Texas and Lincoln-Juarez in Laredo, Texas in order to communicate important border crossing information to travelers.

CBP has transformed the way it does business at land ports of entry over the last few years and one of the key elements is the concept of active lane management. This concept allows infrastructure enhancements such as improved license plate readers and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology coupled with new Ready Lanes, light emitting diode (LED) signage and Trusted Traveler lanes (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) to facilitate the entry process for travelers.

Furthering this concept CBP believes an informed and educated traveler is an efficient traveler.

CBP is always looking for new and effective ways to communicate with the traveling public and the model of the AM transmitter, used by many highway and traffic authorities, hopes to prove an effective tool for CBP.

Information broadcast will include reminders of document requirements and how to use high-tech travel cards, information about CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs, basic border crossing rules and regulations, and will allow the ability for each port of entry to update with emergency travel information or updates.

While in a pilot phase, CBP will monitor the effectiveness of this new tool in a few locations on the northern and southern borders. Analysis of the pilot will inform further system installations and messaging.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

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.

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.

Law Enforcement Technology New Summary

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, April 19, 2007

"System Can Scan Plates, Talk to Officer"
Dallas Morning News (04/15/07) P. 10B; Abshire, Richard

The Mesquite Police Department is the first in Texas to receive the PlateScan system, which uses cameras and computers to "remember" each license plate it witnesses as an officer patrols the streets or the parking-lot at an area mall. In addition, the system records a color picture of the car, with the time, date, and location as configured by GPS satellites. It also checks every plate number against databases that contain stolen and wanted vehicles and registered sex offenders. When it receives a hit, a robotic voice informs the officer. The program was launched on Feb. 28, and to date has cleared a minimum of four stolen cars, notes Mesquite police representative Lt. Steve Callarman. In one situation, a man in a stolen car drove past a parked police car while the officer was making a call. When the officer came back to his car, he was informed by the system about the stolen vehicle, and it was found nearby. It cost approximately $40,000 to outfit two police cars.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/mesquite/
stories/DN-mesplates_15eas.ART.East.Edition1.430b966.html

"Sex-Offender List Goes Online in Kane County"
Chicago Tribune (04/16/07) P. C3; Presecky, William

The Kane County, Ill., sheriff's office now has a computer tracking system for sex offenders living in unincorporated parts of the county, currently totaling roughly 55 individuals. The system is available to the public through the Web site of the sheriff's office, and allows county residents to see the locations of all sex offenders living within a mile of their location. Residents can also opt to have email or postal mail sent to them when a sex offender moves into their area. The county hopes to expand the system soon to track the additional 280 or so sex offenders who live in incorporated municipalities within the county, and plans to update the registry daily so that members of the public have the most accurate information possible about where sex offenders live.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/
chi-0704150314apr16,1,2459254.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

"Standing Guard Over Criminal Evidence"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (04/12/07) P. G1; Richie, David

To ensure the high quality of evidence from crime scenes, the city of Citrus Heights, Calif., has spent $1 million to construct a 5,800-square-foot storage structure. Only two police officers have access to the entire evidence storage facility, which has been incorporated into the existing police station. One of the two officers is Michelle Combs, a crime scene investigator/property-evidence specialist with 21 years experience in law enforcement. Both officers are essentially on-call 24/7 and are dispatched to all major crime scenes. Combs helped design and equip the van they travel in as well as the crime lab and storage facility. She says day-to-day access to the facility needs to be extremely restricted because "almost always a theft is accomplished internally." Some of the features of the facility include lockers that lock automatically after evidence is handed in, an area for drying wet items prior to processing, and a secure, temperature-controlled room to hold perishable items. Vehicles can be towed to a secure area at the back of the site. The majority of operations are conducted internally, with the exception of certain blood and drug assessments that are performed by the Sacramento County district attorney's crime lab. http://www.sacbee.com/190/story/152654.html

"Perry Touts Better Radio System"
Valley Morning Star (Texas) (04/12/07); Hernandez, Elizabeth

Texas has achieved Level 4 emergency radio communications status for interoperable communications as judged on a 1 to 6 scale, reports Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In addition, Austin, Houston, and a few other Texas areas have achieved the top ranking of Level 6. U.S. Homeland Security director for Texas Steve McCraw explains that Level 4 ranking signifies that police, firefighters, and other first-responders can communicate with each other from radios that are connected immediately through some core central command. He notes that Level 6 means first responders have radio systems that act like cell phones, which can roam onto different agency channels themselves. Perry says "radio interoperability" in Texas today enables firefighters, police, and other emergency responders to speak instantly when responding to an event. In fact, since 2003 Congress has invested $2 billion in nationwide radio interoperability. Perry adds that Level 4 communication will impact people in the field. For instance, police who stop illegal aliens will be able to radio the appropriate agency to help handle it. http://www.valleymorningstar.com/onset?id=1833&template=article.html

"Township Approves Police Radio Tower"
Ocean County Observer (04/13/07); Pais, Matt

The building of a new, 150-foot-high tower will provide police with improved radio reception when answering calls in the Whiting, N.J., region. The Manchester Township Council sanctioned a bid from TekTron for the tower during the second week of April, paving the way for the tower to be erected at the public works garage on Route 70 close to the Whiting-Lakehurst border. The tower will allow officers to stay in touch with the township's communications system no matter where they are situated. The present network is inundated with numerous "dead" spots, particularly inside the industrial structures, according to Sgt. Bob Dolan. "We expect [the new tower] will improve the in-building communications in places where officers have to either move to get a signal or often go back to their car," he said. The project is the second stage of a scheduled revamping of the police department's communications systems. Besides Manchester, numerous local police departments, including Lacey, Lakewood, Stafford, and Toms River, have already converted from typical analog radios to a digital network. The new system allows for greater communication with other county police departments and Sheriff's Department officials from Burlington and Ocean counties.
http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070413/NEWS01/704130327/-1/SPORTS06

"Cops Spike Spoke Thieves"
Yuba City Appeal-Democrat (04/12/07); Young, Rob

When bicycle thieves attempted to steal an expensive model bike in Yuba City, Calif., they were not aware they led the police department to their location. On loan from Pegasus Technologies, Yuba City police planted a motion-activated transmitter on the bike, hidden in the seat. Nationwide, about 150 U.S. police departments have employed this tracking system, with prospects for it becoming a solution to automobile theft. Universities also use the tracking system, where bicycle thefts on campus are more prevalent. Although car owners can use the transmitter, Jason Cecchettini of Pegasus says bike owners cannot because the radio frequency can only be accessed by police.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/onset?id=46900&template=article.html


"System Will Notify Crime Victims of Inmate Releases"
Harrisburg Patriot-News (PA) (04/11/07) P. A3; Lenton, Garry

Within six months, Pennsylvania plans to roll out in midstate a free service that will allow crime victims to track the whereabouts of their offenders when they are moved, released, or escape. Crime victims will be able to anonymously sign up for the Statewide Automated Victim Information Network (SAVIN) by telephone or online, and the notification system will provide alerts by telephone, email, or text message. "Any crime victim can use this software," says Jennifer Storm, executive director of the Dauphin County Victim Witness program. "It really broadens who is allowed to receive notification." Appriss, a software development company in Louisville, Ky., assisted the state in developing SAVIN, which will be limited to tracking offenders in county prisons initially. SAVIN cost $1.5 million to develop, and about $600,000 will be needed each year to maintain the system. Appriss says 1,500 communities in 43 states are using the system.
http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=
doc&p_docid=11874E566D19E218&p_docnum=1



"Fingerprints Give a Hand to Security"
Wall Street Journal (04/12/07) P. B4; Keeton, Ann

Fingerprints are increasingly becoming the preferred way to use biometrics to verify an individual's identity. Roughly 10 percent of new laptops come with fingerprint sensors, which eliminate the need to remember passwords. Fingerprints are also being used by 20 million consumers in Japan for access to online bank accounts, ATMs, and point-of-sale credit card purchases. The use of fingerprints as a form of identification has taken off because many of the problems surrounding fingerprint identification--most notably hacking and spoofing, or fooling a system with a false print--have largely been addressed. AuthenTec, a maker of commercial fingerprint sensors, has patented technology that reads prints on living tissue in a layer of skin below the surface. This eliminates the possibility of the system being spoofed by someone lifting a print from a piece of tape or using a fake finger made from a mold of a real finger. In addition, stored fingerprint information is encrypted. However, spoofing and hacking remain potential problems that require continuous software updating, said AuthenTec President Larry Ciaccia.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117633761672067121.html

"Wood Co. Sheriff Plans to Monitor Prisoners"
Marshfield News Herald (WI) (04/11/07) P. 1A; Madden, Karen

The Wood County, Wis., Sheriff's Department is developing an electronic monitoring program that will allow the county to scale back the Wood County Jail work release program. The county will use technology, such as ankle bracelets, to closely monitor the location of inmates at all times. According to Sheriff Thomas Reichert, an ankle bracelet worn against the skin will even reveal blood alcohol concentration. The Sheriff's Department plans to reassign a correction officer to oversee the electronic monitoring of selected prisoners. Most residents are concerned about replacing the work release program with electronic monitoring. "It's unfortunate that we must deal with a decision on how to house our prisoners," says Reichert. "However, we are dealing with extremely limited budgets, and I am forced to decide whether to implement this type of program or lay off deputy sheriffs and correction officers."
http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070411/MNH0101/704110500/1980

"Backing Up Backup Calls"
Indianapolis Star (04/11/07) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic

To prevent the occurrence of radio dead zones, or isolated areas with little or no radio reception, officials in Marion County, Ind., agreed in 2006 to replace the county's existing 16-year-old system with a digital one. Officials say the new system will be financed through grants and a bond that will be repaid using local tax money, and workers have already launched construction on new communication towers. The Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency (MECA) will replace all its analog radio equipment with digital gear from Motorola and will also build six extra antenna towers to accompany the existing five. Such actions are expected to virtually eliminate all the areas with poor reception. Officials say the new system will also enhance communication in high-rise buildings. New communications sites are being built at Butler University, Lawrence, Geist, and Cumberland, while removing towers and backup power systems will be improved. More than 6,500 new radios and 80 dispatch consoles will be distributed among public safety and public service personnel, including the Department of Public Works and IndyGo. The new gear will allow emergency responders to be able to talk with one another during crises regardless of where in the county they are, according to Ray Raney, executive director of MEC. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704110508

"Tool Helps Police Track Sex Offenders"
Florida Times-Union (04/11/07) P. B5; Kerr, Jessie-Lynne

With help from LexisNexis, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has launched a new investigative tool to enable law enforcement to take faster action against child abductors and absconding sex offenders. According to Jim Peck, chief executive officer of LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group, there are 600,000 sex offenders nationwide, but 100,000 of them fail to register as legally required and move across state borders to remain anonymous. LexisNexis' system mines through public records to gather various types of data about sex offenders. These people "ultimately get into our system, and our system is able to distinguish between an innocent person and a sexual predator who happen to have the same names," says Peck. In the case of a child abduction, officials can key in the ZIP code of the incident to obtain a list of all the registered and unregistered sex offenders in the area. The system helps lead officers "to the right doors," says Peck. FDLE official Mary Coffee says any law enforcement agency in the state can use the technology through the state's secure and private network. She says the system has already helped the state locate more than 1,300 unregistered sex offenders.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/041107/met_9164427.shtml

"Training Planned to Improve Campus Security"
Boston Globe (04/18/07); Smalley, Suzanne

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered the state's 29 public colleges to assess their emergency response plans and security practices in response to the Virginia Tech shooting rampage. Local and state government and law enforcement officials met privately Tuesday to discuss ways to improve security on Massachusetts campuses and prepare for emergencies. To that end, the Boston Police Department announced that it will train local college security teams on how to react to school shootings, though this training will take different forms, depending on whether campus security forces are armed or unarmed. Armed security forces will receive training on SWAT techniques, while unarmed security guards will mostly be trained on how to quickly call for police help and how to work with responding officers. Officials have also discussed the use of emergency communications technology to alert students about school shootings, including an initiative aimed at connecting campuses to a police radio network used by Boston law enforcement. A heavy emphasis is also being placed on preventing shootings by paying more attention to the red flags and danger signs that could indicate a student is about to become violent. A spokesman for the University of Massachusetts at Boston said that the Virginia Tech shooting underscores the unpredictable nature of events that university security efforts must be prepared for--and that there is always room for improvement, more cooperation, more thoroughness, and greater adaptability.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/
04/18/training_planned_to_improve_campus_security/

"New 911 System Gives Responders Huge Boost"
Minneapolis Star Tribune (04/11/07) P. 1A; Chanen, David

The Minneapolis Police Department has a new dispatching tool for its 911 center, allowing dispatchers to visually track the movements of every police car, fire truck, and ambulance on the streets via the global positioning system. In addition, police can access an aerial view of crime scenes to determine which cars are closest to the scene and then dispatch those cars as quickly as possible. The new system cost $4.3 million, and was funded through a federal Department of Homeland Security grant. When a 911 operator forwards a call to a police dispatcher, the computer system automatically locates the nearest vehicles to the address from which the call originated; information about vehicle location is never more than 10 seconds old. In addition, the system can inform officers via their laptop computers which other squad cars are responding to a particular crime scene. Fire trucks are also being equipped with laptops connected to the system, allowing them to receive turn-by-turn directions to a scene and look at the architectural plans and any particular hazards of the building to which they are heading. http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1112764.html

"With a Zap or Swipe of IDs, Device Helps Nab Scofflaws"
USA Today (04/10/07) P. 3A; Coolidge, Sharon

The Clermont County of Ohio Sheriff's Office is the first U.S. civilian law enforcement agency to test a new data device that enables officers to check a suspect's identity against 140 "wanted" or "watch" lists in the United States. Officers will use Mobilisa's m2500 Defense ID system, which can check a suspect's identity and provide answers using numerous fugitive watch lists, criminal background databases, and convicted sex offender lists in just one second. The device reads the barcode on a state ID or U.S. passport. Some privacy advocates such as Cato Institute information-policy expert Jim Harper says that if this device is used to scan crowds, for instance, it may go against the constitutional barring of unreasonable search and seizure. Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg calls the device "the future of crime fighting." http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-04-09-handheld_N.htm

"Security Cameras Work, Group Told"
Reading Eagle (PA) (04/12/07); Spatz, Don

Reading, Pa., is considering a $1.8 million security camera system. The City Council is being asked to finance the $390,000 initial stage of the 25-camera plan. "Where we've installed cameras, they've made a difference," noted Lancaster Community Safety Coalition executive director Dale B. Witmer. The coalition has implemented 35 security cameras throughout Lancaster. Nearly every crime-ridden neighborhood is his city has asked the coalition for the cameras, Witmer added. Reading Councilman Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr., who initially had been reluctant about the proposal, stated on April 11 that he is now in favor of the cameras. In addition, Councilman Stratton P. Marmarou, also a supporter, announced he would like to see Berks County assist with the financing, as Lancaster County did with the cameras in the city of Lancaster. Former city policeman Michael A. Garipoli is urging Reading to spend enough money to purchase cameras that offer crisp images, as one-day photo recognition software could be implemented that can automatically concentrate on passing faces and determine which of them possess outstanding warrants. http://www.readingeagle.com

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

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary

NLECTC
Thursday, March 15, 2007

"Device Tracks Infirm People"
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (FL) (03/11/07) P. 2B; Lesson, Nicole T.

The Margate, Fla., Police Department has teamed up with the Alzheimer's Family Center for Project Lifesaver, which gives people with Alzheimer's disease, autism, or other disorders a battery-operated bracelet equipped with a transmitter to wear on their wrist or ankle. Law enforcement officials in Margate are hoping the bracelets, which emit an automatic tracking signal every second, will make it easier for them to find and identify a person who was wandered away from a home or care center. According to Project Lifesaver, the average amount of time it takes to recover someone wearing one of the bracelets is 30 minutes. In addition to Margate, the Alzheimer's Family Center works with the Broward County Sheriff's Office to offer Project Lifesaver in Tamarac, Lauderdale Lakes, and Pompano Beach.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news
/local/broward/sfl-cflmarlifesaver11
mar11,0,1255933.story

"Police Have New Weapon In Fight on Narcotics"
High Point Enterprise (03/10/07); Kimbrough, Pat

The police department in High Point, N.C., recently became the first law enforcement agency in the nation to buy a device known as the NTX 2000, which can test substances for the presence of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine in only a few minutes using 3D florescent technology. The NTX 2000 is made by Nar Test Technologies and costs about $30,000. High Point police evidence technician Jane Aswell said the device has received nothing but positive feedback from officers and the district attorney, and has definitely improved the time it takes to get drug test results back, which previously took an average of 14 months at the state lab. Currently the NTX 2000 is not recognized by the courts as an acceptable method to test for drugs, and High Point police submit samples tested on the machine to Nar Test's forensics lab to verify results in case the evidence is challenged by defendants in the future. Aswell said officials are waiting for a case involving the NTX 2000 to be challenged in court so a ruling can determine if it is admissible. So far all cases involving the device have ended in a plea or a dismissal, but all results indicate that the machine is accurate, according to Aswell.
http://www.hpe.com/eebrowser/f
rame/2_5t.dev/psfsrv/search_swi
she.php?pSetup=highpoint&date=&
search=High%20Point%20Police%
20drugs&mode=new&hres=572&o
perator=AND&categoria=&todate=
20070310&fromdate=20070310&e
dition=The%20High%20Point%20Enterprise#

"U.S. Halts Imaginary Cubans in Security Drill"
Reuters (03/08/07); Sutton, Jane

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday kicked off "Operation Vigilant Sentry," a huge two-day mock exercise aimed at protecting the Southeast United States from a massive influx of illegal immigrants from the Caribbean, some of whom are carrying a mysterious virus. In particular, the exercise is aimed at preparing authorities for a likely mass migration of Cubans once Fidel Castro dies and his government collapses. "We do recognize that Cuba is certainly an area where we must be prepared," said Coast Guard Rear Adm. David Kunkel, director of the Homeland Security southeastern task force. "Since 9/11, it is essential that we work diligently to protect our borders." Some 325 agents from 85 law enforcement agencies participated in Wednesday's simulated exercise, which centered on intercepting 2,000 imaginary Cuban migrants who attempt to reach the shores of Florida. The simulation involved some 26 Coast Guard Cutters, but in reality only four helicopters and six boats participated, in order to reduce the costs of fuel and manpower. Information sharing was a key component to the exercise, involving coordination among the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Broward Sheriff's Office, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
http://www.reuters.com/article/dom
esticNews/idUSN3725175120070308

"Keeping Tabs: Tarrant County Uses Several Devices to Track Probationers"
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (03/08/07); Mcdonald, Melody

The Fort-Worth Star Telegram recently uncovered several of the more creative probation conditions mandated by Tarrant County, Texas, Community Supervision and Corrections Department judges. Judge Sharen Wilson, for instance, has required defendants to erect a sign in their house that states "a person on probation for a child sex offense lives here" and once forced a man to place a bumper sticker on his vehicle that states "a person on probation for a sex offense drives this vehicle." Meanwhile, state District Judge Wayne Salvant once instructed a man found guilty of drunk driving and killing a woman to carry a photo of her and her two children in his wallet and to repay her family for her funeral costs, and counseling for her two sons. Separately, the Secured Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) device is utilized on individuals who have been accused or found guilty of an alcohol-associated offense, such as drunk driving or intoxication manslaughter, and ordered to not drink. Attached to an ankle, the bracelet monitors for alcohol each hour, regardless of the location of the defendant. If there is proof of an alcohol violation or that the bracelet has been tampered with, case managers at the Alcohol Monitoring Systems inform the probation department.
http://www.star-telegram.com

"Camera to Record Domestic Violence"
The State (SC) (03/08/07) P. A1; Jackson, Shalama C.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety's Violence Against Women Project has given the West Columbia Police Department a grant to purchase a camera that an officer will wear to record evidence when investigating domestic violence cases. The camera, which has a lens the size of a button, records everything the officer hears and sees, including approaching the scene, talking to victims, suspects, and witnesses, and transporting a suspect to jail. Police officials hope the camera will reduce the number of repeat incidences of domestic violence. However, civil rights advocates such as the ACLU are concerned about the use of the camera. "It will be a documented resource of what has occurred, but what happens to the video after each incident, who has access to it and its storage are concerns," said ACLU's Joyce Cheeks. The West Columbia Police Department currently has no policies for how the cameras and video will be used, though officials are currently in the process of considering rules for use and storage. http://www.thestate.com/mld
/thestate/news/16859699.htm

"High-Tech Touches Help to Transform Slidell Jail"
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (03/07/07) P. 1; Rioux, Paul

On March 6, Slidell, La., Police Chief Freddy Drennan introduced a revamped, high-tech police station that now offers an electronic fingerprinting machine that inventories mouth swabs employed for DNA testing. Digital surveillance cameras watch every section of the redesigned Slidell City Jail, providing live footage to 12 flat-panel monitors erected in a row over the holding cells. In addition, video cameras have been installed to take care of misdemeanor arraignments without having to move prisoners down the street to Slidell City Court. The police station's secure areas have electronic door locks that document the movements of workers, who have to swipe their identification badges to access doors. The restructuring expanded the floor plan to provide staff with additional workspace and to make the station easier to access by the public. A glass wall has been erected at the records department entrance, where individuals file police reports. The renovation was funded by a $1.37 million grant from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance that will also finance a two-story facility for offices and an evidence room to be constructed next to the station later this year.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p
/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-
20/1173250008246120.xml&coll=1

"Commissioners Consider Electronic Monitoring"
High Point Enterprise (03/10/07); Nivens, David

Guilford County, N.C., Commissioners may implement an electronic house arrest program for nonviolent offenders. Democratic Commissioner Skip Alston noted that the program could cost as low as $13 per day for those awaiting trial. Alston is serving on a committee that is considering approaches for reducing the inmate population at the Greensboro Jail. Participants in the program would wear an electronic device that allows police officers to monitor their whereabouts. Alston said the program could provide the county in excess of $40 per day in savings for each inmate.
http://www.hpe.com

"Sheriff's Office Introduces Home Monitoring"
Roanoke Times (VA) (03/06/07); Raboteau, Albert

Instead of serving time at the Montgomery County Jail in Christiansburg, Va., certain nonviolent offenders will now have the choice of being tracked through ankle bracelets that are GPS-equipped. An objective of the program is to assist with overcrowding at the facility, which is constructed for 118 inmates but had around 180 in 2006. Prison authorities are currently examining their inmate rolls to determine who might be eligible for the program. In addition, the bracelets provide county judges a new alternative in sentencing individuals. To date, the sheriff's office is tracking three individuals with the bracelets, two of whom had been imprisoned for not make child-support payments. With this program, "we require them to work as a condition of [staying out of prison] and make sure that they are paying their child support. That way it's a win-win for everyone," notes Capt. Robert Hall, who oversees the prison. Deputy Derrick Stamper is the sole deputy assigned to the program on a full-time basis, which restricts the number of individuals that can be monitored to around 25.
http://www.roanoke.com
/news/nrv/wb/107422

"Sentry in the Sky"
Times-Picayune (New Orleans) (03/06/07) P. M1; Harvey, Christine

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway near New Orleans, La., has just completed installation of 29 cameras along its 24-mile toll bridge and toll plaza. Some cameras have even been installed under the bridge spans as part of a $1.3 million technology overhaul project. The camera system will help bridge operators respond better to traffic incidents, stranded cars, and loose debris, and to look for suspects driving cars on the run, says Lake Pontchartrain Causeway general manager Robert Lambert. The Causeway designates two employees to monitor camera feeds during morning and evening rush hours using two flat screen televisions, while also monitoring the police radio. Causeway operations director Debbie Lopreore has two screens in her office for 24-hour access to 360-degree video monitoring. Each camera has 1.5 miles of range and can zoom to see an object as small as a call-box number.
http://www.nola.com
/news/t-p/metro/inde
x.ssf?/base/news-20/117
3163751150860.xml&coll=1

"Rights Group Worried Over Taser Use"
Monterey County Herald (CA) (03/06/07); Briscoe, Andre

The Civil Rights Coalition of Monterey County, Calif., wants the Monterey County grand jury to issue stronger regulations on the use of Taser stun guns by law enforcement officials, including better officer training and requiring a social worker to be present during situations involving mentally ill suspects. Coalition representatives said they are concerned about the city's "blanket" endorsement of the grand jury's support of the use of stun guns, particularly the panel's finding that it is appropriate to use a stun gun to subdue suspects who are on illicit drugs, alcohol, or are mentally ill. The civil rights group did support the recommendation that all law enforcement agencies use a new video device, called Taser Cam, to record audio and video before, during, and after the use of a stun gun. Few of the 12 law enforcement agencies in the county have Taser Cams, but more are considering acquiring them. The Marina City Council was asked to purchase 33 new Tasers and Taser Cams for its police officers.
http://www.montereyhe
rald.com/mld/montereyh
erald/news/16842903.htm

"Police Endorse Microscopic Anti-Theft System"
Pasadena Star-News (CA) (03/06/07); Gurton, Mary Frances

The Sierra Madre, Calif., police department has endorsed the use of high-tech, nearly invisible tracking dots that can be placed on objects to reveal an ownership code when magnified. Police Chief Marilyn Diaz says she is promoting of use of adhesive tracking dots at local Neighborhood Watch meetings and local Chambers of Commerce. The DataDot authentication system offers a worldwide database of dot codes and their rightful owners, and a package of 500 dots costs only $24.95. Though data dots are too small to be noticed, they are clearly visible under blacklight, and could help officers identity stolen property, for instance, during a routine traffic stop. DataDot Technologies USA development director Scott McKeever says the use of data dots in Australia in BMW and Audi vehicles steered criminals away from these cars to easier targets. Diaz first read about data dots in a February 2007 issue of Popular Science and has since embraced them.
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com
/news/ci_5370033

"Police Departments Turning to YouTube to Catch Suspects"
Associated Press (03/05/07); Tucker, Eric

The Franklin Police Department in Massachusetts used YouTube.com to identify two men involved in credit card fraud. Police had surveillance video showing the young men making purchases with the stolen credit cards, which prompted officer Brian Johnson to email the image to YouTube.com. A number of police departments have also displayed videos on YouTube.com to help identify suspects. The video provided to YouTube.com by the Franklin Police Department was accessed thousands of times, though Johnson notes the case was solved using traditional investigative methods. However, other police departments have successfully used the Web site to generate leads. Police observers say the display of surveillance footage on the Internet in hopes of solving criminal cases is a natural progression of investigative techniques.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
/html/businesstechnology/2003
601118_btcrimeyoutube05.html?
syndication=rss

"Police Could Wear CCTV Cameras in Their Hats"
Norwich Evening News (03/05/07); Walsh, Peter

Miniature CCTV cameras could be planted on the headgear of police walking the streets of Norwich, England, under terms of a proposal to cut down on vandalism and other anti-social behaviors. Areas like Sunderland, Cleveland, Plymouth, and Nottingham have already tested the idea, resulting in lower incidents of violence and minor crimes. "It means people can walk around recording what's going on and gathering evidence," says Steve Morphew, head of the Norwich City Council. "It's being used in Nottingham and is an incredibly powerful tool because youngsters don't misbehave when they are being recorded." The camera tests have helped convict at least a dozen offenders in various parts of the country for crimes, including assaults and break-ins.
http://www.eveningnews24
.co.uk/content/News/story.a
spx?brand=ENOnline&category=N
ews&tBrand=enonline&tCate
gory=news&itemid=NOED05%
20Mar%202007%2009%3A48%3A41%3A110

"How to Lift Fingerprints"
Police (02/07) Vol. 31, No. 2, P. 24; Spraggs, David

Boulder Police Department Investigator David Spraggs is an expert in crime scene investigation, and he lists his recommendations for identifying, collecting, and processing fingerprints. Ambient temperature, surface conditions, and humidity can impact the ability to lift prints. Officers should be equipped with a fingerprint kit that contains a fingerprint brush, lifting tape, fingerprint cards, and black and bi-chromatic powder. Spraggs uses a fiberglass brush because its characteristics are good for even powder distribution and using the spinning technique. He also prefers basic black fingerprint powder for obtaining prints from most surfaces, such as glass and the majority of metal. Polyethylene tape is better for circular surfaces. Investigators can often obtain excellent results by using less powder rather than more. Spraggs says his best advice when applying tape to circular surfaces is to press down on the tape using a credit card controlled in a smooth constant motion. He uses the same technique when applying the tape onto the glossy side of the fingerprint backing card.
http://www.policemag.com

"Law Enforcement Online Announces Creation of National Dental Image Repository"
Sheriff (02/07) Vol. 59, No. 1, P. 12; Koestner, Lesley G.

Law Enforcement Online has announced the creation of the National Dental Image Repository (NDIR) site. The site will be an image repository for dental images related to Missing, Unidentified, and Wanted persons' records housed in the National Crime Information Center. Law enforcement agencies can submit encoded information from the dental records of Missing, Unidentified, and Wanted persons to NDIR, which will compare the submitted information to the current records and generate a list of potential matches. The new site is a much faster way of comparing dental records, which was quite time-consuming because the inquiring agency had to contact the agency with the potential matching record to obtain information, and retrieve and review physical copies of dental records. NDIR provides direct access to digital images of dental records and allows law enforcement agencies to upload supplemental dental images, eliminating the need to contact the original agency and retrieve physical records.
http://www.sheriffs.org

"LISA Augments Amber Alerts in Ohio"
Police and Security News (02/07) Vol. 23, No. 1, P. 9

Police in Lorain County, Ohio, have begun using a new public safety tool called LISA, or Lorain Information Sharing Agreement, to supplement the Amber Alert system. LISA, which is the first system of its kind in Ohio, distributes electronic pictures, video surveillance images, audio, and other information to police within a matter of minutes. With the Amber Alert system, it often takes time for alerts and news bulletins to be issued for missing children and wanted subjects in other crimes. LISA also sends the same information it sends to law enforcement to the public via computer, cell phone, or PDA. Citizens can also use LISA to anonymously post crime information. Since its launch, roughly 2,000 people per day connect to the LISA site, and 50 have registered for alerts. In LISA's first week, it sent 130 alerts to police in the county. Thirty-five of those alerts were also sent out to the public. http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com

"Officer Gadget"
Popular Science (02/07) Vol. 270, No. 2, P. 38; Kargl, Reinhard

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD), the largest sheriff's department in the country, is considered trailblazing in its work with sophisticated, futuristic law enforcement weapons. The research done LASD's technology unit has become especially important as terrorism and changing times introduce new threats and challenges that are altering the role played by the law enforcement officers. The LASD's Technology Exploration Unit was established in 1996 by Commander Sid Heal, who previously worked as gear procurer in Somalia as a reservist in the U.S. Marine Corps, but the unit is often plagued by staffing and funding shortages. Instead of purchasing futuristic weapons, Heal serves as a consultant to contractors, government officials, and private inventors by testing out the weapons while they are still in development. The LASD ends up adopting less than 2 percent of the weapons it investigates because the weapons must be safe, reliable, practical, easy to use, and reasonably priced. Some weapons being investigated by the LASD include bulletproof S.W.A.T. trucks; strobe lamps that cause temporary blindness; GPS tags that affix to vehicles after being launched; flashlights capable of ejecting pepper spray; nonlethal machine guns; extra-loud bullhorns; radar systems that can see through walls; spy balls equipped with cameras that transmit video images to officers; sensors able to detect the origin of a gun blast; and lightweight airborne surveillance craft.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci
/technology/d215da2834b2011
0vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

This article was sponsored by criminal justice online; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.