SmartBadge Techs Up U.S. Police
iTnews, (05/13/2008), Liz Tay
A new type of police officers' badge will include a camera, Bluetooth technology, global positioning system technology, and radio, with possible future upgrades to include facial recognition for cross-checking motorists' licenses against police database records. Its developers have dubbed it the "SmartBadge" and hope that the tool will appeal to the law enforcement community because of the low cost, off-the-shelf technology. The tool was designed with foot patrol officers in mind to provide them access to the types of tools often available in cruisers that can make their jobs easier. The Albany, New York, police will be involved in testing this tool in late 2008.
www.itnews.com.au/News/75917,smartbadge-techs-up-us-police.aspx
Prisons Use RFID Systems To Track Inmates
Government Technology, (05/07/2008), Jim McKay
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which is used extensively by retail establishments and other commercial businesses, is now being used by developed for use in correctional facilities to track inmates and staff and to prevent problems before they occur. Facilities in states such as California, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Minnesota have implemented RFID inmate tracking systems. The use of RFID provides an added level of security to facilities, allowing staff to know where everyone inside the RF perimeter is at any time. Also, having this level of tracking and identification within a facility allows staff to keep known members of rival gangs away from each other. Furthermore, the system's capabilities can be used to expedite investigations involving inmates or staff by identifying individuals in the area at the time of an incident.
www.govtech.com/gt/312938
Online Maps Plot Crime in Dalton
Chattanooga Times/Free Press, (05/07/2008), Ryan Harris
Tyrone, Georgia, was a police department that used pushpins on a city map to plot criminal activity in its jurisdiction, but as of October 2007, the agency began using CrimeReports.org to plot that information. This change allows the agency to share the pushpin map with citizens of the community. The CrimeReports.org site allows users to register for e-mail alerts regarding crime activity in their area and to use the Google Maps feature to see visually where crimes are taking place. The city of Dalton, Georgia, joined the service last month at a cost of $100 per month; jurisdictions larger than 50,000 will be charged $200 per month. The service allows agencies to keep their citizenry involved and informed as to things happening in the city and it may allow citizens to help the police solve more crimes.
www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1375007/online_maps_plot_crime_in_dalton/
Sypherlink Introduces Out-of-the-Box Enhancement to Its NIE Gateway Solution for Law Enforcement; NIEM Harmonizer Enables Quick, Cost-Effective Data Sharing and NIEM Standards Conformance
FoxBusiness, (05/05/2008), Business Wire
Sypherlink, creator of the National Information Exchange (NIE) Gateway solution for law enforcement, has developed the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Harmonizer, an off-the-shelf enhancement to the original product. This add-on will expedite the sharing of vital information in accordance with the NIEM standard. The Harmonizer will work behind the scenes to automate the sharing and conversion of data, which will allow agency staff and vendors to focus on their day-to-day tasks.
www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/technology/sypherlink-introduces-box-enhancement-nie-gateway-solution-law-enforcement-niem/#
NYPD Plans Surveillance Data Network
Byte and Switch, (05/07/2008), James Rogers
In support of the New York Police Department's Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI), the agency is anticipating a massive storage upgrade to capture and carry streaming video from the area. The project will cover Manhattan's financial institutions such as Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, as well as Ground Zero and city hall. Cameras will be deployed on roughly 1,000 buildings in the area and an undisclosed number of police cruisers. The LMSI system will handle the feeds from these locations, as well as from NYPD's Real Time Crime Center and other cruisers from around the city. This project will also involve the creation of two data centers, facial recognition software, and the use of Microsoft's Virtual Earth. Another aspect of LMSI is the installation of satellite dishes on all police precincts to ensure communications and network capabilities in the event of a flood or other natural disaster.
www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=153218&WT.svl=news1_1
Norwalk Police To Examine Gunshot Detection Device
Greenwich Time, (05/11/2008), John Nickerson
To reduce and better investigate an increasing amount of reports regarding shots fired in the city, the Norwalk Police Department is considering the acquisition of gunshot location/detection technology. It is hoped that the technology, if proven to be applicable in Norwalk, will help the department respond more quickly to shots fired calls, which have recently increased to three to four calls a week. Presently, officers respond to these calls by starting at the origin of the complaint and working out from that point. With this technology, they hope to be able to focus their investigations more accurately on the location of the shots.
www.greenwichtime.com/ci_9221947
How Can CCTV Spot Suspects by Clothing Logos?
BBC News Magazine, (05/07/2008)
The vast and established network of video surveillance used in the United Kingdom means the odds of committing a crime and not being caught on tape either before, during, or after the fact are very low. However, capturing a clear image of a perpetrator's face is not always guaranteed in spite of the amount of surveillance being used. But, thanks to software used by the sponsors of sporting events to track the visibility of their brand during television coverage of an event, police may be able to increase the odds of conviction in instances where the perpetrator's identity is obscured. For example, a crime is committed by an individual wearing clothing that has the Adidas logo on it. A still image of that individual is provided to the software to begin the search. The software searches police data and images from other cameras located near the crime scene for a match to that logo image, which could in turn result in a better image of the individual's face. The advantage fo! r law enforcement is a reduction in time spent manually viewing footage hoping for a hit.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7386337.stm
Police, Fire Departments Making the Upgrade
Abilene Reporter-News, (04/28/2008), Celinda Emison
Governor Rick Perry recently handed down the Texas Radio Communications Interoperability Plan, which orders all counties and cities to have communications equipment capable of interoperability by 2015. Counties and cities that are part of the West Central Texas Council of Governments (WCTCOG) have for the past 5 years been making use of grant funds to improve out-of-date systems; improve interoperability between police, fire and emergency services; and purchase equipment capable of regional usage in the event of a disaster. A needs assessment study conducted in 2001 identified $93 million in equipment needs, and from 2002 to 2007, $10 million in grant funds have been expended to update and improve systems. However, the biggest hurdle remains outdated analog equipment, which agencies have been urged to update to digital. For the 19 counties that make up the WCTCOG, communications issues remain a top priority.
www.reporternews.com/news/2008/apr/28/police-fire-departments-are-making-the-upgrade/
City to Remove 'Blue Light' Crime Cameras
Baltimore Sun, (05/16/2008), John Fritze
The Baltimore City Police Department will soon begin replacing 102 of its 454 closed circuit street surveillance cameras. The 102 portable overt digital surveillance system "pods" were installed in 2005; the technology has become outdated, and the manpower needed to render them effective deemed too significant. The city uses other cameras tied to a system that can be monitored at central location; however, the pods must be monitored on location using a laptop-style controller. The pods, by design, were meant to be seen and that visibility meant to contribute to their deterrent value. The city of Chicago is also making plans to replace this type of unit as part of an effort to have all of its cameras networked to a central location.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.cameras16may16,0,2866474.story
Local Law Enforcement Tap into LInX
WHQR, (05/13/2008), Peter Biello
Twenty agencies in North Carolina, including the Wilmington Police Department and sheriff's offices in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Onslow, have joined the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) initiative. The project, initiated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), has been established in nine regions nationally and is allowing officers from 20 North Carolina agencies access to that information network. Program Manager Brian Stampe likened the network to "Google for police officers." Agencies can use the network to search for potential leads in other agencies' information databases.
www.publicbroadcasting.net/whqr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1277210§ionID=1
Showing posts with label fire departments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire departments. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Public Safety Technology in the News
Hampshire Boosts Emergency Communications
The Courier News (03/08/08), Jeanie Mayer
To improve radio communication between various police and fire departments during an emergency, the village of Hampshire, Illinois, and the Hampshire Fire Protection District recently acquired two radio units capable of interfacing with the frequencies used by different departments. This technology will allow for improved coordination of emergency responder efforts.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/villages/831317,3_6_EL08_RADIO_S1.article
In the Year 2028
The Corrections Connection (03/10/08), Ann Coppola
The Northeast Technology and Product Assessment Committee (NTPAC) recently held its spring meeting, the purpose of which was to investigate new technologies and scenarios that may impact the field of corrections. The meeting highlighted the importance and utility of strategic planning by using the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Forward Thinking Initiative to create and analyze the potential impact that future changes might have on the field. Four new technologies were highlighted at the event, including a pair of contraband detection devices. Attendees stressed the need to promote greater collaboration between the scientific and corrections communities as a means of improving facility safety.
www.corrections.com/news/article/17986
Law Expands Texas Inmates' Access to Phones
The Dallas Morning News, (03/10/2008), Diane Jennings
Moving away from the conventional view that all contact for prisoners should be cut off during incarceration, Texas is going to begin allowing inmates the opportunity for greater access to telephones. This policy shift comes because the new belief is that an inmate's connection to family can impact recidivism. To ensure that inmates do not misuse the privilege, phones calls will be monitored and be either prepaid or collect calls only to preapproved landline phone numbers associated with particular inmates. To help regulate phone use and ensure that inmates contact only numbers associated and approved for them, the system will use "biometric identifiers" such as fingerprints or voice recognition to identify inmates and access their lists of numbers.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-phones_10tex.ART.State.Ed! ition1.4660486.html
State and Local Police Unite To Share Information
The Frederick News-Post, (03/11/2008), Sarah Fortney
To better serve and protect the public, agencies are partnering up to boost information sharing and communication across all levels. Law enforcement leaders in the Western Maryland region announced their plans for the recently developed Western Maryland Information Center. The center, located in Frederick, Maryland, is a consortium of local, county, State, and Federal personnel that will capture criminal information for the region and use the information for analysis to identify trends and help reduce crime. This project will not result in additional costs to Frederick city or county residents, because staff will be paid by their respective agencies and equipment to this point has been donated.
www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=72291
LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group Launches Solution for Law Enforcement to Proactively Monitor Sex Offenders Across Jurisdictions
LexisNexis, (03/11/2008), Business Wire
Law enforcement has a new tool that provides automated location information on sex offenders. In support of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and law enforcement's efforts to enforce the law, the LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics group developed and released Sex Offender Alert. The system provides law enforcement with location information on sex offenders, including transitions between jurisdictions. With the vast amount of known sex offenders in the United States, the daunting task of monitoring their location falls to law enforcement. Alerts will notify police when a sex offender enters into the jurisdiction, and find and locate both registered and nonregistered sex offenders. This technology will be of particular use to police departments during instances of large, rapid population shifts associated with natural disasters. This massive shift provides an advantaged to offenders because of the chaos associated with the upheaval.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080311005382&newsLang=en
Spy-in-the-Sky Drone Sets Sights on Miami
Reuters, (03/26/2008), Tom Brown
A small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Honeywell International may soon be in use by the Miami Police Department to help the department fight crime. The drones, capable of hovering and vertical take off and landing, will be used initially in the Everglades. If use of the drone is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after testing, it would then be deployed in the urban areas of the city. With interest by the law enforcement community growing, the FAA has been developing procedures for the use of UAVs by police departments. It is hoped that the procedures would help guard against, or reduce the likelihood of, accidents involving civilians.
uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKN1929797920080326
Port Neches Joins Other Area Towns in Upgrading Law Enforcement Technology
The Enterprise, (03/22/2008), Dennis Kutac
Using 2006 Port Security Grant funding, Port Neches Police will be adding laptops, night vision, mobile video, and other high-tech equipment to its list of tools to help fight crime. The laptops will help reduce the time officers spend filling out reports or performing warrant checks. For officers on the street it will provide fast access to files on record from other agencies. This wireless accessibility can also help officers receive actual images of suspects versus relying on descriptions provided over the radio. The night vision equipment can be used by the various tactical teams in resolving hostage or barricade situations that may occur at night or during instances of limited visibility.
www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19414525&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6
Traffic Tickets To Go High-Tech
FBaltimore Sun, (03/21/2008), Tyeesha Dixon
Taking on average eight to 12 minutes to hand write a ticket will no longer be an issue for the Howard County Police Department. A $48,000 grant from the State has allowed the county to start purchasing the necessary equipment so that officers can issue electronic tickets. Prior to implementation, officers had to write out tickets for each offense relating to a traffic stop. The new system will capture drivers' information once from their licenses and generate citations accordingly. Additionally, the system can assist those receiving citations by reducing time spent on the roadside, and provide the individual with a citation that is easy to read.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.citations21mar21,0,2450463.story
The Courier News (03/08/08), Jeanie Mayer
To improve radio communication between various police and fire departments during an emergency, the village of Hampshire, Illinois, and the Hampshire Fire Protection District recently acquired two radio units capable of interfacing with the frequencies used by different departments. This technology will allow for improved coordination of emergency responder efforts.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/villages/831317,3_6_EL08_RADIO_S1.article
In the Year 2028
The Corrections Connection (03/10/08), Ann Coppola
The Northeast Technology and Product Assessment Committee (NTPAC) recently held its spring meeting, the purpose of which was to investigate new technologies and scenarios that may impact the field of corrections. The meeting highlighted the importance and utility of strategic planning by using the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Forward Thinking Initiative to create and analyze the potential impact that future changes might have on the field. Four new technologies were highlighted at the event, including a pair of contraband detection devices. Attendees stressed the need to promote greater collaboration between the scientific and corrections communities as a means of improving facility safety.
www.corrections.com/news/article/17986
Law Expands Texas Inmates' Access to Phones
The Dallas Morning News, (03/10/2008), Diane Jennings
Moving away from the conventional view that all contact for prisoners should be cut off during incarceration, Texas is going to begin allowing inmates the opportunity for greater access to telephones. This policy shift comes because the new belief is that an inmate's connection to family can impact recidivism. To ensure that inmates do not misuse the privilege, phones calls will be monitored and be either prepaid or collect calls only to preapproved landline phone numbers associated with particular inmates. To help regulate phone use and ensure that inmates contact only numbers associated and approved for them, the system will use "biometric identifiers" such as fingerprints or voice recognition to identify inmates and access their lists of numbers.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-phones_10tex.ART.State.Ed! ition1.4660486.html
State and Local Police Unite To Share Information
The Frederick News-Post, (03/11/2008), Sarah Fortney
To better serve and protect the public, agencies are partnering up to boost information sharing and communication across all levels. Law enforcement leaders in the Western Maryland region announced their plans for the recently developed Western Maryland Information Center. The center, located in Frederick, Maryland, is a consortium of local, county, State, and Federal personnel that will capture criminal information for the region and use the information for analysis to identify trends and help reduce crime. This project will not result in additional costs to Frederick city or county residents, because staff will be paid by their respective agencies and equipment to this point has been donated.
www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=72291
LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group Launches Solution for Law Enforcement to Proactively Monitor Sex Offenders Across Jurisdictions
LexisNexis, (03/11/2008), Business Wire
Law enforcement has a new tool that provides automated location information on sex offenders. In support of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and law enforcement's efforts to enforce the law, the LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics group developed and released Sex Offender Alert. The system provides law enforcement with location information on sex offenders, including transitions between jurisdictions. With the vast amount of known sex offenders in the United States, the daunting task of monitoring their location falls to law enforcement. Alerts will notify police when a sex offender enters into the jurisdiction, and find and locate both registered and nonregistered sex offenders. This technology will be of particular use to police departments during instances of large, rapid population shifts associated with natural disasters. This massive shift provides an advantaged to offenders because of the chaos associated with the upheaval.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080311005382&newsLang=en
Spy-in-the-Sky Drone Sets Sights on Miami
Reuters, (03/26/2008), Tom Brown
A small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Honeywell International may soon be in use by the Miami Police Department to help the department fight crime. The drones, capable of hovering and vertical take off and landing, will be used initially in the Everglades. If use of the drone is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after testing, it would then be deployed in the urban areas of the city. With interest by the law enforcement community growing, the FAA has been developing procedures for the use of UAVs by police departments. It is hoped that the procedures would help guard against, or reduce the likelihood of, accidents involving civilians.
uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKN1929797920080326
Port Neches Joins Other Area Towns in Upgrading Law Enforcement Technology
The Enterprise, (03/22/2008), Dennis Kutac
Using 2006 Port Security Grant funding, Port Neches Police will be adding laptops, night vision, mobile video, and other high-tech equipment to its list of tools to help fight crime. The laptops will help reduce the time officers spend filling out reports or performing warrant checks. For officers on the street it will provide fast access to files on record from other agencies. This wireless accessibility can also help officers receive actual images of suspects versus relying on descriptions provided over the radio. The night vision equipment can be used by the various tactical teams in resolving hostage or barricade situations that may occur at night or during instances of limited visibility.
www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19414525&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6
Traffic Tickets To Go High-Tech
FBaltimore Sun, (03/21/2008), Tyeesha Dixon
Taking on average eight to 12 minutes to hand write a ticket will no longer be an issue for the Howard County Police Department. A $48,000 grant from the State has allowed the county to start purchasing the necessary equipment so that officers can issue electronic tickets. Prior to implementation, officers had to write out tickets for each offense relating to a traffic stop. The new system will capture drivers' information once from their licenses and generate citations accordingly. Additionally, the system can assist those receiving citations by reducing time spent on the roadside, and provide the individual with a citation that is easy to read.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.citations21mar21,0,2450463.story
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