On May 1, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Special James Botting, FBI (ret.) the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Program Date: May 1, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/02/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
About the Guest
Special Agent James Botting (ret.) served in the FBI for twenty-five years, sixteen as a crisis/hostage negotiator. He served as the team leader of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) from 1981 to 1995 and a supervisory member of its international Critical Incident Negotiation Team since its inception in 1985 until his retirement. He has personally negotiated numerous hostage/barricade incidents and responded to several high-profile events. He lives in California. James Botting is the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
According to the book description of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories, “A desperate gunman holds a planeload of innocent passengers hostage. A heavily armed cult leader refuses to leave his compound, threatening mass suicide by a hundred of his brainwashed followers. A neo-Nazi militant in a cabin hideout keeps federal agents at bay with gunfire. A baby disappears; his only trace is an ominous ransom call to his parents. Prisoners riot, threatening the lives of prison officers and hundreds of other inmates. How do you react? What do you do? What do you say? Your words, your actions can save lives--or lose them.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/05/02/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Showing posts with label los angeles police department. Show all posts
Showing posts with label los angeles police department. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Bombs, Bullets and Fast Talk
Editor's Note: The Special Agent was on the frontline with domestic terror.
On March 27, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a
discussion Special James Botting, FBI (ret.) the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast
Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Program Date: March 27, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
About the Guest
Special Agent James Botting (ret.) served in the FBI for twenty-five years, sixteen as a crisis/hostage negotiator. He served as the team leader of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) from 1981 to 1995 and a supervisory member of its international Critical Incident Negotiation Team since its inception in 1985 until his retirement. He has personally negotiated numerous hostage/barricade incidents and responded to several high-profile events. He lives in California. James Botting is the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
According to the book description of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories, “A desperate gunman holds a planeload of innocent passengers hostage. A heavily armed cult leader refuses to leave his compound, threatening mass suicide by a hundred of his brainwashed followers. A neo-Nazi militant in a cabin hideout keeps federal agents at bay with gunfire. A baby disappears; his only trace is an ominous ransom call to his parents. Prisoners riot, threatening the lives of prison officers and hundreds of other inmates. How do you react? What do you do? What do you say? Your words, your actions can save lives--or lose them.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
On March 27, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a
discussion Special James Botting, FBI (ret.) the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast
Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Program Date: March 27, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
About the Guest
Special Agent James Botting (ret.) served in the FBI for twenty-five years, sixteen as a crisis/hostage negotiator. He served as the team leader of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) from 1981 to 1995 and a supervisory member of its international Critical Incident Negotiation Team since its inception in 1985 until his retirement. He has personally negotiated numerous hostage/barricade incidents and responded to several high-profile events. He lives in California. James Botting is the author of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories.
According to the book description of Bullets, Bombs, and Fast Talk: Twenty-Five Years of FBI War Stories, “A desperate gunman holds a planeload of innocent passengers hostage. A heavily armed cult leader refuses to leave his compound, threatening mass suicide by a hundred of his brainwashed followers. A neo-Nazi militant in a cabin hideout keeps federal agents at bay with gunfire. A baby disappears; his only trace is an ominous ransom call to his parents. Prisoners riot, threatening the lives of prison officers and hundreds of other inmates. How do you react? What do you do? What do you say? Your words, your actions can save lives--or lose them.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/28/Bombs-Bullets-and-Fast-Talk
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Digital Images in Law Enforcement
Editor's Note: Much of the technology to be discussed is used by federal, state and local law enforcement in their homeland security and/or counterterrorism missions.
On March 6, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Stan Goldberg on Digital Images in Law Enforcement.
Program Date: March 13, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Digital Images in Law Enforcement
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/14/Digital-Images-in-Law-Enforcement
About the Guest
Stan Goldberg practically grew up in a black-and-white. As a young teenager in Brookline, Massachusetts, Stan would ride with the police and got interested in Law Enforcement. Stan then started to take pictures of accidents and fires and give them to police. Later, as his interest in police work and his talent for photography grew, Stan went to Photography School and into the photographic supply business specializing in Law Enforcement.
While attending professional photo school in Boston in 1963, Stan took his favorite photo of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy had been in office for just about three years, and the young President had returned to his home state of Massachusetts for a visit.
Stan caught Kennedy buttoning his overcoat as he left the presidential helicopter and strode across the lawn to examine a site for the John F. Kennedy Library that would be built after his term in office ended. It was a cold, rainy day but Kennedy was smiling broadly as he walked towards the waiting crowd. No one would have guessed that in a little more than a month, the President would be dead at the hand of an assassin.
Stan’s interest in photography grew into a career as he worked his way up in the camera business. But he never lost his love for police work. As the use of digital cameras grew, Stan began equipping police departments with new digital imaging solutions, inventing and fabricating fingerprint adapters now being manufactured by Latentlift.
Today, Stan is one of the leading experts in helping Law Enforcement agencies work faster, better and more effectively with digital imaging solutions, and he manages the first-ever division of Law Enforcement, medical and audio-visual integration for New England’s largest digital imaging equipment retailer, Hunt’s Photo and Video (online at www.wbhunt.com). An associate member of the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Chiefs of police, the New England Division of the International Association for Identification (NEDIAI), and the 100 Club in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, Stan has been instrumental in providing police throughout the Northeast with a wide range of digital imaging products.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/14/Digital-Images-in-Law-Enforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
On March 6, 2009, Conversations with Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion Stan Goldberg on Digital Images in Law Enforcement.
Program Date: March 13, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Digital Images in Law Enforcement
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/14/Digital-Images-in-Law-Enforcement
About the Guest
Stan Goldberg practically grew up in a black-and-white. As a young teenager in Brookline, Massachusetts, Stan would ride with the police and got interested in Law Enforcement. Stan then started to take pictures of accidents and fires and give them to police. Later, as his interest in police work and his talent for photography grew, Stan went to Photography School and into the photographic supply business specializing in Law Enforcement.
While attending professional photo school in Boston in 1963, Stan took his favorite photo of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy had been in office for just about three years, and the young President had returned to his home state of Massachusetts for a visit.
Stan caught Kennedy buttoning his overcoat as he left the presidential helicopter and strode across the lawn to examine a site for the John F. Kennedy Library that would be built after his term in office ended. It was a cold, rainy day but Kennedy was smiling broadly as he walked towards the waiting crowd. No one would have guessed that in a little more than a month, the President would be dead at the hand of an assassin.
Stan’s interest in photography grew into a career as he worked his way up in the camera business. But he never lost his love for police work. As the use of digital cameras grew, Stan began equipping police departments with new digital imaging solutions, inventing and fabricating fingerprint adapters now being manufactured by Latentlift.
Today, Stan is one of the leading experts in helping Law Enforcement agencies work faster, better and more effectively with digital imaging solutions, and he manages the first-ever division of Law Enforcement, medical and audio-visual integration for New England’s largest digital imaging equipment retailer, Hunt’s Photo and Video (online at www.wbhunt.com). An associate member of the Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Chiefs of police, the New England Division of the International Association for Identification (NEDIAI), and the 100 Club in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire, Stan has been instrumental in providing police throughout the Northeast with a wide range of digital imaging products.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Law Enforcement Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/03/14/Digital-Images-in-Law-Enforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Public Safety Technology in the News
Editor's Note: Many of the technologies listed in this entry are used by federal, state and local law enforcement in their homeland security and/or counter-terrorism mission.
Phila. Police to Be Permitted Larger Caliber Handguns
Philadelphia Inquirer, (12/06/2008), Andrew Maykuth
Police in Philadelphia will soon have more firepower. In 2009, officers will be allowed to carry .40- and .45-caliber semiautomatic handguns to replace their 9 mm pistols. The police weapons upgrade is seen as a means to provide officers with more tools to subdue criminals, who often carry powerful weapons. Offices will have to pay for the new guns, which cost $500 each. The larger caliber guns fire heavier and slower bullets, which are more likely to stop an adversary. Other Law Enforcement agencies that allow their officers to carry .45-caliber guns include the Los Angeles Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.
www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20081206_Phila__police_to_be_permitted_larger-caliber_handguns.html
L.A. Co. Gets Cutting-Edge Lie Detector
KABC-TV Los Angeles, (12/08/2008), Robert Holguin
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's crime lab is testing lie detector technology that monitors the human voice. Traditional polygraph tests measure stress levels via changes in heart rate and breathing, while layered voice analysis technology measures the frequencies in a person's voice, even those inaudible to the human ear. Developers say the technology's success rate in clinical trials is 95 percent. During interviews, it alerts Law Enforcement investigators to a possible lie via computer messages such as "false statement" and "S.O.S."
abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=6554064
Group Wants Obama to Name Officer to Fight Online Dangers
Washington Post, (12/11/2008), Kim Hart
The Family Online Safety Institute is urging President-elect Barak Obama to appoint a national safety officer to strengthen resources to protect children from cyber crime. The individual would serve under a chief technology officer. The institute also wants $100 million a year for education and research, an annual White House summit on safety issues and a national council to coordinate federal, advocacy and industry efforts. Young people are often unaware of the information security risks posed by the mobile devices and Web sites they use. Children are vulnerable to cyber bullying, identify theft, exposure to inappropriate material and abusive messages.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/10/AR2008121001860.html
Denver Airport Center Adopts National Incident Management System
PRWeb Press Release Newswire, (12/15/2008)
Hotels at Denver Airport Center will soon be using crisis response measures developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The center will train airport hotel staff on procedures using the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System. The training is aimed at helping staff deal with a broad range of potential emergencies hotels could face, such as fire, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, hazardous materials incidents, terrorist incidents and criminal acts. Special emphasis will be placed on interoperability with first responders.
www.prweb.com/releases/hotel/safety/prweb1752134.htm
UT Professor Refines Art of Looking Behind Walls
Austin American-Statesman, (12/14/2008), Dan Zehr
A University of Texas engineering professor is researching how to use weather radar technology to see through walls. The research, if successful, could result in technology to help soldiers, police and rescue workers locate people behind walls or inside crumbled buildings. Hao Ling and his research team are working with Doppler radar technology to transform radar waves into understandable images of a human behind a wall, crafting a program that would simulate a variety of wave patterns created by people in motion.
www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/technology/12/14/1214innovator.html
KDHE, Local Law Enforcement Partner for New DUI Instruments
WIBW.com, (12/03/2008)
Kansas authorities are using enhanced technology to detect drunk drivers. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is making 200 of the Intoxilyzer 8000 devices available to Law Enforcement. The department's Breath Alcohol Program is responsible for the certification of agencies, instruments and officers who test drivers suspected of driving under the influence. The program has recertified or newly certified about 4,400 officers. The updated technology is more accurate, easier to use and more mobile, enabling officers to run more impaired driving checks.
www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/35473849.html
`Hands Free' Cell Phones No Safer
DailyBreeze.com, (12/14/2008), Sue Doyle
Drivers using cell phones, even if hands free, are four times more likely to have an accident, according to a new report. The American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety found that dialing and talking on cell phones detracts from drivers' attention to the road and delays drivers' reaction times by 0.23 seconds. California drivers and other jurisdictions around the United States have been banned from using hand-held cell phones behind the wheel, but there are no plans to institute a total driver cell phone ban.
www.dailybreeze.com/ci_11234757
AP IMPACT: More Are Getting Away With Murder
Associated Press, (11/20/2008), Karen Hawkins
A rise in drug- and gang-related killings is making it harder to solve homicides in the United States. According to FBI figures, the homicide clearance rate in the United States was 61 percent in 2007, compared with 91 percent in 1963. The clearance rate is the number of homicides solved in a year, compared with the number of killings that year. In more cases now, the killer and victim do not know each other, and witnesses are often intimated by gangs and frightened to come forward with information. Increased use of DNA technology and other forensic techniques has been helpful in solving cold cases, but technology can't do it all and funding for cold case police units has decreased. Finding witnesses and getting them to talk is still an integral part of investigations.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5joS5laq3heWsM_dttDXEsiH4ifoAD94UP1M00
Ripon Police to Hone Skills With Firearm Simulators
Modesto Bee, (12/12/2008), Leslie Albrecht
Police in Ripon, Calif., will be testing three firearms simulators for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over the next year. The simulators show a variety of scenarios that may require an officer to fire a weapon, and will allow officers to practice "shoot-or-don't-shoot" situations. Officers who "fire" a weapon will see the path of the bullet on the simulator, testing their skills in unpredictable environments instead of on a firing range. The police department will provide feedback on the simulators to DOJ's Rural Law Enforcement technology Center.
www.modbee.com/local/story/529446.html
Prison Officials Ask for $66 million to Help Stop Cell Phone Smuggling
Austin American-Statesman (12/04/2008), Mike Ward
Texas corrections officials have proposed spending nearly $66 million on high-technology screening equipment to thwart smuggling of contraband into the state's prisons. Under the proposal, screening equipment similar to that used in the nation's airports would be installed in the state's 20 largest maximum security prisons. An extensive surveillance camera network would also be added. The rest of the prison system's 92 facilities would receive walk-through metal detectors and parcel screening devices similar to those used in courthouses.
www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204cellphones.html
Phila. Police to Be Permitted Larger Caliber Handguns
Philadelphia Inquirer, (12/06/2008), Andrew Maykuth
Police in Philadelphia will soon have more firepower. In 2009, officers will be allowed to carry .40- and .45-caliber semiautomatic handguns to replace their 9 mm pistols. The police weapons upgrade is seen as a means to provide officers with more tools to subdue criminals, who often carry powerful weapons. Offices will have to pay for the new guns, which cost $500 each. The larger caliber guns fire heavier and slower bullets, which are more likely to stop an adversary. Other Law Enforcement agencies that allow their officers to carry .45-caliber guns include the Los Angeles Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.
www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20081206_Phila__police_to_be_permitted_larger-caliber_handguns.html
L.A. Co. Gets Cutting-Edge Lie Detector
KABC-TV Los Angeles, (12/08/2008), Robert Holguin
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's crime lab is testing lie detector technology that monitors the human voice. Traditional polygraph tests measure stress levels via changes in heart rate and breathing, while layered voice analysis technology measures the frequencies in a person's voice, even those inaudible to the human ear. Developers say the technology's success rate in clinical trials is 95 percent. During interviews, it alerts Law Enforcement investigators to a possible lie via computer messages such as "false statement" and "S.O.S."
abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=6554064
Group Wants Obama to Name Officer to Fight Online Dangers
Washington Post, (12/11/2008), Kim Hart
The Family Online Safety Institute is urging President-elect Barak Obama to appoint a national safety officer to strengthen resources to protect children from cyber crime. The individual would serve under a chief technology officer. The institute also wants $100 million a year for education and research, an annual White House summit on safety issues and a national council to coordinate federal, advocacy and industry efforts. Young people are often unaware of the information security risks posed by the mobile devices and Web sites they use. Children are vulnerable to cyber bullying, identify theft, exposure to inappropriate material and abusive messages.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/10/AR2008121001860.html
Denver Airport Center Adopts National Incident Management System
PRWeb Press Release Newswire, (12/15/2008)
Hotels at Denver Airport Center will soon be using crisis response measures developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The center will train airport hotel staff on procedures using the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System. The training is aimed at helping staff deal with a broad range of potential emergencies hotels could face, such as fire, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, hazardous materials incidents, terrorist incidents and criminal acts. Special emphasis will be placed on interoperability with first responders.
www.prweb.com/releases/hotel/safety/prweb1752134.htm
UT Professor Refines Art of Looking Behind Walls
Austin American-Statesman, (12/14/2008), Dan Zehr
A University of Texas engineering professor is researching how to use weather radar technology to see through walls. The research, if successful, could result in technology to help soldiers, police and rescue workers locate people behind walls or inside crumbled buildings. Hao Ling and his research team are working with Doppler radar technology to transform radar waves into understandable images of a human behind a wall, crafting a program that would simulate a variety of wave patterns created by people in motion.
www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/technology/12/14/1214innovator.html
KDHE, Local Law Enforcement Partner for New DUI Instruments
WIBW.com, (12/03/2008)
Kansas authorities are using enhanced technology to detect drunk drivers. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is making 200 of the Intoxilyzer 8000 devices available to Law Enforcement. The department's Breath Alcohol Program is responsible for the certification of agencies, instruments and officers who test drivers suspected of driving under the influence. The program has recertified or newly certified about 4,400 officers. The updated technology is more accurate, easier to use and more mobile, enabling officers to run more impaired driving checks.
www.wibw.com/localnews/headlines/35473849.html
`Hands Free' Cell Phones No Safer
DailyBreeze.com, (12/14/2008), Sue Doyle
Drivers using cell phones, even if hands free, are four times more likely to have an accident, according to a new report. The American Automobile Association's Foundation for Traffic Safety found that dialing and talking on cell phones detracts from drivers' attention to the road and delays drivers' reaction times by 0.23 seconds. California drivers and other jurisdictions around the United States have been banned from using hand-held cell phones behind the wheel, but there are no plans to institute a total driver cell phone ban.
www.dailybreeze.com/ci_11234757
AP IMPACT: More Are Getting Away With Murder
Associated Press, (11/20/2008), Karen Hawkins
A rise in drug- and gang-related killings is making it harder to solve homicides in the United States. According to FBI figures, the homicide clearance rate in the United States was 61 percent in 2007, compared with 91 percent in 1963. The clearance rate is the number of homicides solved in a year, compared with the number of killings that year. In more cases now, the killer and victim do not know each other, and witnesses are often intimated by gangs and frightened to come forward with information. Increased use of DNA technology and other forensic techniques has been helpful in solving cold cases, but technology can't do it all and funding for cold case police units has decreased. Finding witnesses and getting them to talk is still an integral part of investigations.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5joS5laq3heWsM_dttDXEsiH4ifoAD94UP1M00
Ripon Police to Hone Skills With Firearm Simulators
Modesto Bee, (12/12/2008), Leslie Albrecht
Police in Ripon, Calif., will be testing three firearms simulators for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over the next year. The simulators show a variety of scenarios that may require an officer to fire a weapon, and will allow officers to practice "shoot-or-don't-shoot" situations. Officers who "fire" a weapon will see the path of the bullet on the simulator, testing their skills in unpredictable environments instead of on a firing range. The police department will provide feedback on the simulators to DOJ's Rural Law Enforcement technology Center.
www.modbee.com/local/story/529446.html
Prison Officials Ask for $66 million to Help Stop Cell Phone Smuggling
Austin American-Statesman (12/04/2008), Mike Ward
Texas corrections officials have proposed spending nearly $66 million on high-technology screening equipment to thwart smuggling of contraband into the state's prisons. Under the proposal, screening equipment similar to that used in the nation's airports would be installed in the state's 20 largest maximum security prisons. An extensive surveillance camera network would also be added. The rest of the prison system's 92 facilities would receive walk-through metal detectors and parcel screening devices similar to those used in courthouses.
www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204cellphones.html
Friday, November 14, 2008
Maritime Security
The December 5, 2008, episode of Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion on Maritime Security with author Michael Walling.
Program Date: December 5, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Maritime Security
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/06/Maritime-Security
About the Guest
After graduating from Montclair State College with a BA in Biology, Michael Walling served in the U.S. Coast Guard for six years as a commissioned officer and a senior petty officer. His assignments included buoy tending, search and rescue missions, drug law enforcement, and oceanographic operations in the Arctic. As part of the Boarding Party and Prize Crew teams on two cutters, Michael Walling participated in the seizures of a Panamanian drug-runner and a Cuban fishing boat. His decorations include the U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal (O) for counter-drug operations, the Arctic Service Medal, the Sea Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the USCG Cutterman's insignia.
Michael Walling is the author of Bloodstained Sea: The U.S. Coast Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic 1941-1944; an editor of the Sinbad of the Coast Guard; and, the author of Choke Points. According to the book description of Choke Points, “Stretching from the treacherous shores of Iraq to inner circles of power in Washington, DC, Choke Points leads the reader deep into the heart of the War on Terror and the real threats of attack on the U.S. This is the first book of the Fletcher Saga that stretches from the tumultuous Colonial times to the ever-dangerous present.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, criminal justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/06/Maritime-Security
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: December 5, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Maritime Security
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/06/Maritime-Security
About the Guest
After graduating from Montclair State College with a BA in Biology, Michael Walling served in the U.S. Coast Guard for six years as a commissioned officer and a senior petty officer. His assignments included buoy tending, search and rescue missions, drug law enforcement, and oceanographic operations in the Arctic. As part of the Boarding Party and Prize Crew teams on two cutters, Michael Walling participated in the seizures of a Panamanian drug-runner and a Cuban fishing boat. His decorations include the U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal (O) for counter-drug operations, the Arctic Service Medal, the Sea Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and the USCG Cutterman's insignia.
Michael Walling is the author of Bloodstained Sea: The U.S. Coast Guard in the Battle of the Atlantic 1941-1944; an editor of the Sinbad of the Coast Guard; and, the author of Choke Points. According to the book description of Choke Points, “Stretching from the treacherous shores of Iraq to inner circles of power in Washington, DC, Choke Points leads the reader deep into the heart of the War on Terror and the real threats of attack on the U.S. This is the first book of the Fletcher Saga that stretches from the tumultuous Colonial times to the ever-dangerous present.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, criminal justice technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/12/06/Maritime-Security
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations
November 2, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On November 7, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Captain Franks S. Root, Arizona Department of Public Safety (ret.) on law enforcement intelligence operations.
Program Date: November 7, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/08/Law-Enforcement-Intelligence-Operations
About the Guest
Frank S. Root has more than 35 years in law enforcement and intelligence operations with special emphasis on complex intelligence investigations organization and case management. During his law enforcement career he worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (20 years, retired as Captain); San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office (Automation and Crime Analysis Unit); and, State of California, Division of Investigation (conducting criminal investigations involving identity theft, insurance, and consumer fraud)
Frank S. Root is the author of Law Enforcement Intelligence Critical Elements which “is described as a publication designed to demonstrate how to identify, develop, and deliver the various intelligence-related products and services required to effectively support law enforcement intelligence and operational managers at each management level within an agency.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/08/Law-Enforcement-Intelligence-Operations
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: November 7, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Law Enforcement Intelligence Operations
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/08/Law-Enforcement-Intelligence-Operations
About the Guest
Frank S. Root has more than 35 years in law enforcement and intelligence operations with special emphasis on complex intelligence investigations organization and case management. During his law enforcement career he worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (20 years, retired as Captain); San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office (Automation and Crime Analysis Unit); and, State of California, Division of Investigation (conducting criminal investigations involving identity theft, insurance, and consumer fraud)
Frank S. Root is the author of Law Enforcement Intelligence Critical Elements which “is described as a publication designed to demonstrate how to identify, develop, and deliver the various intelligence-related products and services required to effectively support law enforcement intelligence and operational managers at each management level within an agency.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/08/Law-Enforcement-Intelligence-Operations
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Become a Police Officer
June 13, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On July 11, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with Lieutenant Barry Baker, Baltimore Police Department (ret.), on how to become a police officer.
Program Date: July 11, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Become a Police Officer
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/12/Become-a-Police-Officer
About the Guest
Detective Lieutenant Barry Baker retired from the Baltimore Police Department in 2004. During his thirty-two year career, Barry Baker served as a patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant, as well as a special operations lieutenant and detective lieutenant. Lieutenant Barry Baker is the author of Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement.
According to Barry Baker’s book, Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement “is a serious examination of police work that is directed toward young people who are contemplating a career as a police officer. Author Barry Baker draws on over thirty-two years of experience from some of the most violent streets of any city in the United States to show you the unembellished truths of law enforcement.
Barry Baker describes the self-satisfaction that can be found in police work while identifying its pitfalls and how to avoid them. Before ending his career as a detective lieutenant, Baker spent his first twenty years on the force as a patrol officer, making him uniquely qualified to speak from a breadth and depth of experience.
Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement covers topics a newly trained police officer must appreciate—and master—to ensure success and safety, including the following: Self-evaluation for a police career; Recognizing and ignoring bad advice; Rapid advancement toward self-sufficiency; The immeasurable importance of integrity; and, Matters of life and death.
Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is a valuable insight for those seeking a career in the honorable and important profession of law enforcement.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: July 11, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Become a Police Officer
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/07/12/Become-a-Police-Officer
About the Guest
Detective Lieutenant Barry Baker retired from the Baltimore Police Department in 2004. During his thirty-two year career, Barry Baker served as a patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant, as well as a special operations lieutenant and detective lieutenant. Lieutenant Barry Baker is the author of Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider's Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement.
According to Barry Baker’s book, Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement “is a serious examination of police work that is directed toward young people who are contemplating a career as a police officer. Author Barry Baker draws on over thirty-two years of experience from some of the most violent streets of any city in the United States to show you the unembellished truths of law enforcement.
Barry Baker describes the self-satisfaction that can be found in police work while identifying its pitfalls and how to avoid them. Before ending his career as a detective lieutenant, Baker spent his first twenty years on the force as a patrol officer, making him uniquely qualified to speak from a breadth and depth of experience.
Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement covers topics a newly trained police officer must appreciate—and master—to ensure success and safety, including the following: Self-evaluation for a police career; Recognizing and ignoring bad advice; Rapid advancement toward self-sufficiency; The immeasurable importance of integrity; and, Matters of life and death.
Becoming a Police Officer: An Insider’s Guide to a Career in Law Enforcement is a valuable insight for those seeking a career in the honorable and important profession of law enforcement.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Saturday, June 07, 2008
NYPD Emergency Services Unit
June 5, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) On June 11, 2008, Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole will feature an interview with Retired NYPD Detective and former member of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit, Alan Sheppard.
Program Date: June 11, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: NYPD Emergency Services Unit
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/06/12/The-Watering-Hole
About the Guest
In the late 1960s, Detective Alan Sheppard, NYPD (ret.), served two years with the United States Army. His service included deployment with the 101st Airborne Division to the Republic of South Vietnam. In 1969, Alan Sheppard joined the New York City Police Department. His first assignment was as a patrol officer in the 81st Precinct which is located in the north central area of the borough of Brooklyn. This neighborhood is known as "Bedford Stuyvesant." A small section along the southern border is referred to Stuyvesant Heights.
In 1974, Alan Sheppard was assigned the Emergency Service Unit. The Emergency Services Unit of the NYPD is nation’s largest permanent emergency response team with over 400 personnel. The “ESU” provides specialized equipment, expertise and support; “from auto accidents to building collapses to hostage situations, ESU officers are called on when the situation requires advanced equipment and expertise.” In 1985, Alan Sheppard was assigned to the NYPD Intelligence Division and given dual status with the United States Marshals. In 1988, he worked an undercover assignment and in 1989 he was assigned to the Major Case Squad. Detective Alan Sheppard, NYPD (ret.) is the author of E-Man: Life in the NYPD Emergency Services Unit.
According to Lieutenant Vernon Gebreth, NYPD (ret.), “Sheppard served in the NYPD during the urban warfare years and received his Baptism of Fire at the Williamsburg Siege. He was a decorated hero of the NYPD and member of the elite Emergency Services Unit (ESU). In his book, E-Man Al takes the reader on a non-stop roller coaster ride of emotions as he reveals life on the streets through the eyes of a combatant during the turbulent times and the work of the Emergency Services Unit—the same unit that the Police call when they need Help.”
According to one reader, Alan Sheppard’s book, “is a fast paced account of a true story about a cop who not only carried people from burning buildings and off of bridges high above the waters of NYC but also saved a fellow cop from sure death by shooting his killer dead. You will not be able to put this book down! I urge to read how some people don't imagine how to be a hero but actually become one.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: June 11, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: NYPD Emergency Services Unit
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/06/12/The-Watering-Hole
About the Guest
In the late 1960s, Detective Alan Sheppard, NYPD (ret.), served two years with the United States Army. His service included deployment with the 101st Airborne Division to the Republic of South Vietnam. In 1969, Alan Sheppard joined the New York City Police Department. His first assignment was as a patrol officer in the 81st Precinct which is located in the north central area of the borough of Brooklyn. This neighborhood is known as "Bedford Stuyvesant." A small section along the southern border is referred to Stuyvesant Heights.
In 1974, Alan Sheppard was assigned the Emergency Service Unit. The Emergency Services Unit of the NYPD is nation’s largest permanent emergency response team with over 400 personnel. The “ESU” provides specialized equipment, expertise and support; “from auto accidents to building collapses to hostage situations, ESU officers are called on when the situation requires advanced equipment and expertise.” In 1985, Alan Sheppard was assigned to the NYPD Intelligence Division and given dual status with the United States Marshals. In 1988, he worked an undercover assignment and in 1989 he was assigned to the Major Case Squad. Detective Alan Sheppard, NYPD (ret.) is the author of E-Man: Life in the NYPD Emergency Services Unit.
According to Lieutenant Vernon Gebreth, NYPD (ret.), “Sheppard served in the NYPD during the urban warfare years and received his Baptism of Fire at the Williamsburg Siege. He was a decorated hero of the NYPD and member of the elite Emergency Services Unit (ESU). In his book, E-Man Al takes the reader on a non-stop roller coaster ride of emotions as he reveals life on the streets through the eyes of a combatant during the turbulent times and the work of the Emergency Services Unit—the same unit that the Police call when they need Help.”
According to one reader, Alan Sheppard’s book, “is a fast paced account of a true story about a cop who not only carried people from burning buildings and off of bridges high above the waters of NYC but also saved a fellow cop from sure death by shooting his killer dead. You will not be able to put this book down! I urge to read how some people don't imagine how to be a hero but actually become one.”
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Monday, May 19, 2008
Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership
May 19, 2008, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole May 21, 2008 will be discussing the secrets of Marine Corps Leadership with Wally Adamchik.
Program Date: May 21, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
As an Officer of Marines, Adamchik Wally deployed throughout the world as an armor officer and as a pilot of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters. Always seeking a new challenge, Wally Adamchik entered the hyper-competitive private sector. He was recognized for superior performance and award-winning leadership at two national restaurant companies. At the same time he earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Today, Wally Adamchik serves as a consultant, speaker, and author. He works with firms to improve their leadership capability and organizational effectiveness. He understands the Fortune 500 firm as well as he does the family business and is able to tailor his approach to make an impact in both. He is a regular contributor to national business and trade publications and is a sought after leadership speaker.
His book, NO YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You MUST Know To WIN In Business, was selected by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the best reads for summer 2007. Wally Adamchik also serves as a Non-Resident Fellow with Marine Corps University working with the Marines to improve leadership.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: May 21, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
As an Officer of Marines, Adamchik Wally deployed throughout the world as an armor officer and as a pilot of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters. Always seeking a new challenge, Wally Adamchik entered the hyper-competitive private sector. He was recognized for superior performance and award-winning leadership at two national restaurant companies. At the same time he earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Today, Wally Adamchik serves as a consultant, speaker, and author. He works with firms to improve their leadership capability and organizational effectiveness. He understands the Fortune 500 firm as well as he does the family business and is able to tailor his approach to make an impact in both. He is a regular contributor to national business and trade publications and is a sought after leadership speaker.
His book, NO YELLING: The Nine Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You MUST Know To WIN In Business, was selected by Entrepreneur magazine as one of the best reads for summer 2007. Wally Adamchik also serves as a Non-Resident Fellow with Marine Corps University working with the Marines to improve leadership.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Monday, April 07, 2008
SWAT Operations
April 7, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The April 9, 2008, program of Conversations with Cops at The Watering Hole focuses on SWAT operations with guest Kevin Barrett.
Program Date: April 9, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: SWAT Operations
Guests: Kevin Barrett
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
Kevin Barrett is the Chairman/CEO of the International Tactical Officers Training Association and SWAT Digest. Kevin is currently active duty [15 years] for a municipal police department where he is assigned to a special response team (SWAT) as a primary entry team member. Kevin’s past assignments include criminal investigations, drug task force and patrol. He has participated in hundreds of tactical operations and has specialized training and experiences in close quarter battle (CQB), counter terrorism, dignitary protection, SCBA and linear assault operations. He is a court certified expert in clandestine laboratory investigation and operations (DEA/ CLET certifications.) Kevin attended Indiana State University and is a certified instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: April 9, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: SWAT Operations
Guests: Kevin Barrett
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
Kevin Barrett is the Chairman/CEO of the International Tactical Officers Training Association and SWAT Digest. Kevin is currently active duty [15 years] for a municipal police department where he is assigned to a special response team (SWAT) as a primary entry team member. Kevin’s past assignments include criminal investigations, drug task force and patrol. He has participated in hundreds of tactical operations and has specialized training and experiences in close quarter battle (CQB), counter terrorism, dignitary protection, SCBA and linear assault operations. He is a court certified expert in clandestine laboratory investigation and operations (DEA/ CLET certifications.) Kevin attended Indiana State University and is a certified instructor through the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Public Safety Technology in the News
Editor's Note: Many of these technologies are being used by domestic law enforcement for homeland security and counterterrorism.
This recap of Public Safety Technology in the News is a service of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC), a program of the Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.
Denver Deploys New Graffiti Surveillance System
Government Technology (11/15/07), News Report
The city and county of Denver, Colorado, in an effort to reduce the city's graffiti issue, have announced they will take part in a 30-day beta test of a newly released graffiti surveillance system. Law Enforcement Associates will provide eight Graffiti Cam units, along with training on installation and set-up and free 24-hour technical support to the Denver Police Department. Based on graffiti-related motions, the Graffiti Cam system is designed to inform law enforcement of graffiti crimes in progress. The system will provide law enforcement the chance to catch suspects in the act, as well provide video evidence for suspect identification.
www.govtech.com/gt/articles/186222
Future Cops: Police Use Tactical Technologies to Catch Criminals
FOXNews.com (11/27/07), Gene J. Koprowski
A suspect flees from the Los Angeles Police, but rather than getting involved in a dangerous, high-speed pursuit the police only follow for a few blocks. During that time, the police tag the car using a laser-guided GPS tracking system that launches a transmitter which attaches to the fleeing car. Once the car is tagged, police can then slow down and fall back, which encourages the suspect to slow down as well. The transmitter attached to the vehicle allows police to track the suspect in real-time using a wireless network. Once the vehicle stops, police can move in and arrest the suspect as he is exiting the car. This technology is being tested by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Suffolk County Police Department in New York. Now StarChase, LLC, the developer of the system, plans to move to the next phase and commercialize the product and hopes to have it on the market early next year.
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312953,00.html
System Lets Agencies in Area Share Data
washingtonpost.com (11/29/07), Mary Beth Sheridan
More than 60 Washington, D.C. area law enforcement agencies now have access to the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) system. LInX will allow these agencies to easily share crime reports and mug shots. Prior to the system's implementation, agencies had to make calls to other departments or actually visit the department to exchange information relating to suspects. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) launched LInX because of possible threats to naval installations, and hoped that the system would perpetuate communication between the various levels of law enforcement in an effort to protect and serve. Funding to establish the service came from NCIS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Law enforcement will access LInX at no charge. At present, roughly 2,000 officers in the D.C. area have access, with that number expected to double before the end of the year. These officers can access 6 million mug shots and 14 million crime reports. NCIS has cre! ated similar systems in six other areas of the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802401.html
Bowie Police Go High Tech
gazette.net (11/22/07), Megan King
In the past month, the Bowie (Maryland) Police Department has been able to scan more than 20,000 license plates using a new license plate recognition technology system. Since its installation on October 30, the system has alerted officers more than 300 times to violations such as stolen vehicle and suspended tags. The plates that the system scans are cross-checked against a database of statewide motor vehicle violations, as well as national criminal data. If a violation is found, the system notifies the patrol officer. The license plate scanning system allows officers to scan 5,000 plates during a 10-hour shift. The department purchased the system using donations from various businesses within Bowie, which amount to about 40 percent of the total cost of the system.
www.gazette.net/stories/112207/largnew172423_32363.shtml
Contagious Communications
Law Enforcement Technology (11/2007), p. 22, Jonathan Kozlowski
YouTube (www.youtube.com), the popular website that allows any user the ability to upload videos to the Web free of charge, can be a useful tool for law enforcement agencies seeking to improve communication with the general public and to share information with other agencies. The Broward County (Florida) Sheriff's Office is using YouTube to post public service announcements in conjunction with distributing printed materials to the community. The Office's most popular video, "Gone in 4 seconds," has been viewed almost 7 million times. The Franklin (Massachusetts) Police Department posted video of two suspects from store footage to YouTube and soon received a tip from another agency identifying the suspects. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) is also using the YouTube site to post videos of missing children and educational materials.
www.officer.com/magazines/let/
Schools' Computer Flags Sex Offenders
Washington Post (12/4/2007), Ian Shapira
The Prince William County (Virginia) school system has implemented the V-soft security system to track school visitors and screen for sex offenders. The V-soft system, also known as Raptor, scans identification cards such as driver's licenses and compares the information against listings of sex offenders from across the country. The Raptor system is also in use in the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) school system and is credited with identifying three sex offenders and leading to one arrest.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/03/AR2007120302027.html
Video-Conferencing Increases Security, Saves County Time, Money
The Daily Siftings Herald (11/27/2007), Donna Hilton
Clark County, Arkansas, is saving money by using video-conferencing to allow inmates to make their first court appearances without leaving the county jail. The system uses two television sets and two cameras, which allow the inmate and judge to communicate. With the new system in place, security is improved because prisoners do not have to be transported from the jail to the courtroom. The video-conferencing equipment was purchased by the Clark County Sheriff's Department and cost less than $1,000.
www.siftingsherald.com/articles/2007/11/27/news/news1.txt
FCC Awards Spectrum to Public Safety Group
ComputerWorld (11/27/2007), Donna Hilton
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corp. (PSST), a nonprofit group with members from various public safety organizations, the license for 10 MHz in the wireless spectrum considered to be valuable. The portion of the wireless spectrum awarded to PSST was abandoned by television in light of the congressional requirement to move broadcasts to digital by 2009. The PSST spectrum will be combined with an adjacent 10 MHz that will be auctioned off in early 2008. The winner will be required to establish a nationwide wireless network that will meet both public safety and commercial needs. Then, according to the FCC, PSST will establish a network-sharing agreement with the winning bidder, with PSST becoming the administrator for this network.
www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9048180
This recap of Public Safety Technology in the News is a service of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC), a program of the Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.
Denver Deploys New Graffiti Surveillance System
Government Technology (11/15/07), News Report
The city and county of Denver, Colorado, in an effort to reduce the city's graffiti issue, have announced they will take part in a 30-day beta test of a newly released graffiti surveillance system. Law Enforcement Associates will provide eight Graffiti Cam units, along with training on installation and set-up and free 24-hour technical support to the Denver Police Department. Based on graffiti-related motions, the Graffiti Cam system is designed to inform law enforcement of graffiti crimes in progress. The system will provide law enforcement the chance to catch suspects in the act, as well provide video evidence for suspect identification.
www.govtech.com/gt/articles/186222
Future Cops: Police Use Tactical Technologies to Catch Criminals
FOXNews.com (11/27/07), Gene J. Koprowski
A suspect flees from the Los Angeles Police, but rather than getting involved in a dangerous, high-speed pursuit the police only follow for a few blocks. During that time, the police tag the car using a laser-guided GPS tracking system that launches a transmitter which attaches to the fleeing car. Once the car is tagged, police can then slow down and fall back, which encourages the suspect to slow down as well. The transmitter attached to the vehicle allows police to track the suspect in real-time using a wireless network. Once the vehicle stops, police can move in and arrest the suspect as he is exiting the car. This technology is being tested by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Suffolk County Police Department in New York. Now StarChase, LLC, the developer of the system, plans to move to the next phase and commercialize the product and hopes to have it on the market early next year.
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312953,00.html
System Lets Agencies in Area Share Data
washingtonpost.com (11/29/07), Mary Beth Sheridan
More than 60 Washington, D.C. area law enforcement agencies now have access to the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) system. LInX will allow these agencies to easily share crime reports and mug shots. Prior to the system's implementation, agencies had to make calls to other departments or actually visit the department to exchange information relating to suspects. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) launched LInX because of possible threats to naval installations, and hoped that the system would perpetuate communication between the various levels of law enforcement in an effort to protect and serve. Funding to establish the service came from NCIS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Law enforcement will access LInX at no charge. At present, roughly 2,000 officers in the D.C. area have access, with that number expected to double before the end of the year. These officers can access 6 million mug shots and 14 million crime reports. NCIS has cre! ated similar systems in six other areas of the United States.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802401.html
Bowie Police Go High Tech
gazette.net (11/22/07), Megan King
In the past month, the Bowie (Maryland) Police Department has been able to scan more than 20,000 license plates using a new license plate recognition technology system. Since its installation on October 30, the system has alerted officers more than 300 times to violations such as stolen vehicle and suspended tags. The plates that the system scans are cross-checked against a database of statewide motor vehicle violations, as well as national criminal data. If a violation is found, the system notifies the patrol officer. The license plate scanning system allows officers to scan 5,000 plates during a 10-hour shift. The department purchased the system using donations from various businesses within Bowie, which amount to about 40 percent of the total cost of the system.
www.gazette.net/stories/112207/largnew172423_32363.shtml
Contagious Communications
Law Enforcement Technology (11/2007), p. 22, Jonathan Kozlowski
YouTube (www.youtube.com), the popular website that allows any user the ability to upload videos to the Web free of charge, can be a useful tool for law enforcement agencies seeking to improve communication with the general public and to share information with other agencies. The Broward County (Florida) Sheriff's Office is using YouTube to post public service announcements in conjunction with distributing printed materials to the community. The Office's most popular video, "Gone in 4 seconds," has been viewed almost 7 million times. The Franklin (Massachusetts) Police Department posted video of two suspects from store footage to YouTube and soon received a tip from another agency identifying the suspects. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) is also using the YouTube site to post videos of missing children and educational materials.
www.officer.com/magazines/let/
Schools' Computer Flags Sex Offenders
Washington Post (12/4/2007), Ian Shapira
The Prince William County (Virginia) school system has implemented the V-soft security system to track school visitors and screen for sex offenders. The V-soft system, also known as Raptor, scans identification cards such as driver's licenses and compares the information against listings of sex offenders from across the country. The Raptor system is also in use in the Anne Arundel County (Maryland) school system and is credited with identifying three sex offenders and leading to one arrest.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/03/AR2007120302027.html
Video-Conferencing Increases Security, Saves County Time, Money
The Daily Siftings Herald (11/27/2007), Donna Hilton
Clark County, Arkansas, is saving money by using video-conferencing to allow inmates to make their first court appearances without leaving the county jail. The system uses two television sets and two cameras, which allow the inmate and judge to communicate. With the new system in place, security is improved because prisoners do not have to be transported from the jail to the courtroom. The video-conferencing equipment was purchased by the Clark County Sheriff's Department and cost less than $1,000.
www.siftingsherald.com/articles/2007/11/27/news/news1.txt
FCC Awards Spectrum to Public Safety Group
ComputerWorld (11/27/2007), Donna Hilton
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corp. (PSST), a nonprofit group with members from various public safety organizations, the license for 10 MHz in the wireless spectrum considered to be valuable. The portion of the wireless spectrum awarded to PSST was abandoned by television in light of the congressional requirement to move broadcasts to digital by 2009. The PSST spectrum will be combined with an adjacent 10 MHz that will be auctioned off in early 2008. The winner will be required to establish a nationwide wireless network that will meet both public safety and commercial needs. Then, according to the FCC, PSST will establish a network-sharing agreement with the winning bidder, with PSST becoming the administrator for this network.
www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9048180
Monday, October 15, 2007
Los Angeles County deploys COPLINK® to Support Crime Solving and Anti-Terrorism Initiatives Across the Region
October 15, 2007 --- Knowledge Computing Corp. today announced that its award-winning COPLINK® solution suite will be deployed to support Los Angeles County law enforcement through the Regional Terrorism Information and Integration System (RTIIS) consortium. This follows on the heels of successful deployments with the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and other major regional deployments in California. The announcement was made today in conjunction with the 114th Annual International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP) conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
"COPLINK’s proven performance solving crimes and thwarting terrorism in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County to date, combined with its national footprint serving over 600 jurisdictions across the country offers the most compelling value proposition to law enforcement agencies with information sharing and intelligence led policing initiatives,” said Robert Griffin, CEO of Knowledge Computing Corp. “We are pleased to expand our support across Los Angeles and increase the county’s success in thwarting crime and terrorism with COPLINK’s tactical lead generation and actionable intelligence capabilities.”
"This initiative will speed the discovery process in criminal and terrorism investigations by discovering relationships and associations between criminal activity and suspects that would otherwise be difficult to detect,” said Commander John Radeleff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “This will help law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County get violent and repeat offenders off the street faster.” Radeleff continued, “In addition, the RTISS initiative will increase our ability to share information with other neighboring agencies to catch criminals who operate across multiple jurisdictions.”
COPLINK provides unparalleled analysis and decision support for rapidly identifying criminal suspects, relationships and patterns that help solve crime and thwart terrorism. Using a GJXDM compliant interface, it works by allowing vast quantities of structured and seemingly unrelated data - including data currently housed in various incompatible databases and records management systems - to be securely organized, consolidated and rapidly analyzed over a highly secure intranet-based platform.
One search using known or partial facts from an ongoing investigation can produce qualified leads that would otherwise be unapparent in seconds - a process that prior to COPLINK was not possible or often takes days or weeks to accomplish. Through sophisticated analytics, including powerful visualization tools, COPLINK builds "institutional memory," reduces knowledge gaps and prevents criminals from falling through the cracks.
COPLINK will be used for law enforcement purposes only, utilizing 45 public data sources from an assortment of disparate records management systems used by law enforcement agencies across the county. Los Angeles County is the most populous in the United States. Police departments contributing data include: Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Claremont, Culver City, Downey, Glendora, Long Beach, Monrovia, Palos Verdes, Pomona, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and West Covina.
Access to LA County’s RTIIS will be restricted based on individual user security clearance levels, and the sensitivity of the data itself based on strict policy protocols spelled out in a memorandum of understanding between participating agencies. COPLINK also creates a detailed audit trail for every search conducted. This serves two purposes. Officers seeking to question or obtain a warrant on suspects identified through COPLINK are able to clearly demonstrate with hard facts how that person fits the criminal profile and how others were excluded. The Systems Administrator is also able to monitor use for audit purposes to identify any abuse that would result in suspension of a user's access privileges under the privacy and use protocols established by RTIIS participants in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
COPLINK is currently deployed in major strategic deployments across California including: the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department: across Orange County through the Orange County Integrated Law and Justice (OCILJ) consortium of county police agencies, and across San Diego through the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) Network which supports federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across San Diego. Each COPLINK “node” within California is or will be linked to provide for cross jurisdictional information sharing and collaboration to solve crimes.
When COPLINK is used to create regional or statewide networks, each participating agency has real-time control over what data is shared, with whom and when. In addition, data continues to reside and be updated at its existing source, with automatic refresh mechanisms triggering updates within COPLINK. These safeguards help protect the integrity of the data and sensitive information while allowing for the creation of ad hoc regional task forces to address specific criminal activity.
COPLINK first catapulted into the national spotlight for its proof of concept role following the Montgomery County, Maryland sniper investigation. Today, the solution is in use in over 600 jurisdictions nationwide spanning across 20 states, including four of the nation’s five largest cities, helping police officers fight crime, thwart terrorism and improve community safety. A powerful force multiplier, COPLINK is documented as conservatively providing a 14:1 investigative time advantage, reducing the time it takes to identify qualified suspects, thereby enabling law enforcement to keep more feet on the streets.
Winner of numerous awards, COPLINK was recognized twice by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for deployments in Tucson, Arizona and across the State of Alaska. The Center for Digital Government also recognized COPLINK as one of the best-of-breed and most innovative IT projects undertaken by cities in the nation.
About Knowledge Computing Corporation
Knowledge Computing Corp. provides technology-based crime-fighting solutions to leading edge law enforcement agencies nationwide. Its critically-acclaimed COPLINK®, solution, in use since 1998, is based on knowledge management technology first prototyped by top-ranked researchers in the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson through a grant by the National Institute of Justice. The technologies developed at Knowledge Computing Corporation have been tested and proven by law enforcement agencies around the country. For more information: www.knowledgecc.com or www.coplink.com.
"COPLINK’s proven performance solving crimes and thwarting terrorism in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange County to date, combined with its national footprint serving over 600 jurisdictions across the country offers the most compelling value proposition to law enforcement agencies with information sharing and intelligence led policing initiatives,” said Robert Griffin, CEO of Knowledge Computing Corp. “We are pleased to expand our support across Los Angeles and increase the county’s success in thwarting crime and terrorism with COPLINK’s tactical lead generation and actionable intelligence capabilities.”
"This initiative will speed the discovery process in criminal and terrorism investigations by discovering relationships and associations between criminal activity and suspects that would otherwise be difficult to detect,” said Commander John Radeleff of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “This will help law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County get violent and repeat offenders off the street faster.” Radeleff continued, “In addition, the RTISS initiative will increase our ability to share information with other neighboring agencies to catch criminals who operate across multiple jurisdictions.”
COPLINK provides unparalleled analysis and decision support for rapidly identifying criminal suspects, relationships and patterns that help solve crime and thwart terrorism. Using a GJXDM compliant interface, it works by allowing vast quantities of structured and seemingly unrelated data - including data currently housed in various incompatible databases and records management systems - to be securely organized, consolidated and rapidly analyzed over a highly secure intranet-based platform.
One search using known or partial facts from an ongoing investigation can produce qualified leads that would otherwise be unapparent in seconds - a process that prior to COPLINK was not possible or often takes days or weeks to accomplish. Through sophisticated analytics, including powerful visualization tools, COPLINK builds "institutional memory," reduces knowledge gaps and prevents criminals from falling through the cracks.
COPLINK will be used for law enforcement purposes only, utilizing 45 public data sources from an assortment of disparate records management systems used by law enforcement agencies across the county. Los Angeles County is the most populous in the United States. Police departments contributing data include: Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Claremont, Culver City, Downey, Glendora, Long Beach, Monrovia, Palos Verdes, Pomona, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, and West Covina.
Access to LA County’s RTIIS will be restricted based on individual user security clearance levels, and the sensitivity of the data itself based on strict policy protocols spelled out in a memorandum of understanding between participating agencies. COPLINK also creates a detailed audit trail for every search conducted. This serves two purposes. Officers seeking to question or obtain a warrant on suspects identified through COPLINK are able to clearly demonstrate with hard facts how that person fits the criminal profile and how others were excluded. The Systems Administrator is also able to monitor use for audit purposes to identify any abuse that would result in suspension of a user's access privileges under the privacy and use protocols established by RTIIS participants in accordance with local, state and federal laws.
COPLINK is currently deployed in major strategic deployments across California including: the Los Angeles Police Department; Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department: across Orange County through the Orange County Integrated Law and Justice (OCILJ) consortium of county police agencies, and across San Diego through the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) Network which supports federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across San Diego. Each COPLINK “node” within California is or will be linked to provide for cross jurisdictional information sharing and collaboration to solve crimes.
When COPLINK is used to create regional or statewide networks, each participating agency has real-time control over what data is shared, with whom and when. In addition, data continues to reside and be updated at its existing source, with automatic refresh mechanisms triggering updates within COPLINK. These safeguards help protect the integrity of the data and sensitive information while allowing for the creation of ad hoc regional task forces to address specific criminal activity.
COPLINK first catapulted into the national spotlight for its proof of concept role following the Montgomery County, Maryland sniper investigation. Today, the solution is in use in over 600 jurisdictions nationwide spanning across 20 states, including four of the nation’s five largest cities, helping police officers fight crime, thwart terrorism and improve community safety. A powerful force multiplier, COPLINK is documented as conservatively providing a 14:1 investigative time advantage, reducing the time it takes to identify qualified suspects, thereby enabling law enforcement to keep more feet on the streets.
Winner of numerous awards, COPLINK was recognized twice by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for deployments in Tucson, Arizona and across the State of Alaska. The Center for Digital Government also recognized COPLINK as one of the best-of-breed and most innovative IT projects undertaken by cities in the nation.
About Knowledge Computing Corporation
Knowledge Computing Corp. provides technology-based crime-fighting solutions to leading edge law enforcement agencies nationwide. Its critically-acclaimed COPLINK®, solution, in use since 1998, is based on knowledge management technology first prototyped by top-ranked researchers in the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Arizona in Tucson through a grant by the National Institute of Justice. The technologies developed at Knowledge Computing Corporation have been tested and proven by law enforcement agencies around the country. For more information: www.knowledgecc.com or www.coplink.com.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Law Enforcement Technology
Editor's Note: Many of the technologies in this review are being used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for their counterterrorism, homeland secuirty and all hazards missions.
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Sketch Artists Use Software Program to Nab Bad Guys"
KVOA 4 (Tucson, AZ) (09/10/07)
Tucson police Detectives Mike Walker and Chris Brown use the software program Faces to produce computer-assisted sketches of the "bad guys" that have led to arrests in some recent high-profile crimes. The program, which hit the market in 1998, has been used by Tucson police for the past two years. "The computer does all the work," Walker said, thumbing through a Faces catalog of characteristics featuring 21 categories that include everything from eyebrows to glasses, jaw structure to noses, hair to tattoos. "There are 4,400 different features that can create 1 million different composites," Walker said. Once the features are selected by the person being interviewed, Walker or Brown inputs the data. They can fine tune the final composite, moving hairlines up or eyebrows down on the computer screen. While police don't keep statistics on the composite's success rate, Walker said it's "pretty good." In addition to composites of wanted criminals, the Faces program is also useful for age progression of missing persons or enhancing a blurry video image of someone.
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7048962
"LAPD Buys 'Dirty Bomb' Detectors"
Daily Breeze (09/10/07)
Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton has bought seven devices that can detect the radioactive signature of "dirty" bombs. One of the devices has apparently been implemented in a helicopter and is able to locate an unexploded dirty bomb from 800 feet above the ground. Dirty bombs use traditional explosives to disperse radioactive substances into the adjacent atmosphere. Bratton says that Los Angeles is the U.S. city with the third largest risk of being impacted by a dirty bomb, due to the special attributes the city possesses--the airport, port, and "just the symbolism of so much of what [terrorists] hate." Bratton states the Los Angeles Police Department has been given $3 million in Homeland Security money and has utilized those funds to also purchase a bomb-response truck for $900,000 that has a robot that can be worked from one mile away. In addition, the department has bought a mobile response truck for police public information officers, to function as a portable center for communicating data through news media.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/9675947.html
"Police Take Up Tasers"
The Spectator (09/10/07); Halter, Nick
In light of the Virginia Tech tragedy, University of Wisconsin law enforcement will be equipped with Tasers this fall. As a measure to strengthen campus safety, officers also received training addressing how to prevent and respond during a university emergency. Vice chancellor of business and student services Andy Soll and University Police Chief David Sprick says implementing the Tasers has been under consideration for years, but the Virginia Tech incident was the impetus that finally led to their deployment. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Law Enforcement Standards board, Tasers are ranked as an equivalent to pepper spray in terms of a force gradient. The Tasers, $800 apiece, have a 25-foot range. Additionally, they can target individuals as opposed to accidentally injuring a group of people in the case of using pepper spray. Sprick says the Tasers will be used by one in four UW campuses and that the department would like to expand their equipment eventually for the inclusion of ballistic shields and Kevlar helmets.
http://media.www.spectatornews.com/media/storage/paper218/
news/2007/09/10/CampusNews/Police.Take.Up.Tasers-2957382.shtml
"Look Up: Seattle Cops May Soon Be Watching"
Seattle Times (09/07/07) P. A1; Sullivan, Jennifer
Police in Seattle may soon employ private security cameras in the downtown business area to help look out for assaults, drug deals, and additional crimes. Police and the Downtown Seattle Association are studying the establishment of a surveillance system that would permit officers to follow real-time video footage from security cameras on and near downtown buildings. The formation of such a plan, however, would likely draw criticism from the ACLU and other entities that worry such surveillance could result in a loss of privacy. In 2006, the Downtown Seattle Association acquired bids for a closed-circuit camera system on Pike and Pine streets between First and Fourth avenues. It has earmarked $50,000 and is still considering technology, the precise site of the cameras, and who will be selected to oversee the cameras. Even if law enforcement does not get involved, the association will track crimes via video surveillance. If Seattle does permit officers to watch live video surveillance, it will join Baltimore, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and numerous other U.S. cities that employ video footage to fortify their patrolling efforts. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003873006_cameras07m.html
"Suffolk Cops Test Out Radiation-Detection Services"
Newsday (09/07/07); Armario, Christine
Over 100 new detectors that can locate radioactive material have been dispensed to law-enforcement officials in Suffolk County, N.Y. Law enforcement claims the detectors are important because terrorists might store or move radioactive substances to the region due to its closeness to New York City. The detectors are small enough to attach to an officer's belt and strong enough to locate active material traveling by inside a car on the expressway. Police in Suffolk have already used 400 less innovative units during the last two years. The new detectors were recently bought by the New York Police Department. Uncovering radiation is simpler than detecting biological or chemical weapons, partly because of the technology and partly because a biological agent might not give anything off, notes Special Patrol Bureau commander and Deputy Inspector Stuart Cameron. The detectors bought by the New York Police Department were financed by the Securing the Cities grant, a measure by the U.S. Homeland Security Department.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/
ny-lihome075362116sep07,0,4841718.story
"California Police Department Replaces PCs in Cruisers With Neoware Mobile Thin Client Laptop"
CNNMoney (09/05/07)
Neoware, Inc., a leading provider of thin client computing solutions, today announced that Marysville Police Department (MPD) has joined its growing customer base. Seeking a more cost-effective and efficient computing solution, MPD is using the mobility of the Neoware m100 by outfitting all officers with Neoware m100's to be used in patrol cars and other environments such as the station. "Standard laptops were no longer feasible due to the high price point and the liability of data being compromised from a lost or stolen laptop," said Lieutenant Mike Kostas of MPD. "We could not have implemented a more perfect solution with Neoware m100's. MPD has been able to reduce costs, lessen the need of tech support and reach our ultimate goal of issuing a laptop as standard equipment." In working with Neoware MPD sought to deploy a more robust mobile computing solution that could easily expand to accommodate the growing force and unique needs of a police department. Compared to standard laptops, the Neoware m100 uses a centralized server for hosting applications and processing data, storing no data on the local device -- an important benefit for government, healthcare and financial industries. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/primenewswire/126110.htm
"Stone Jail to Be Upgraded"
Biloxi Sun Herald (MS) (09/05/07) P. A6; Bosarge, Nancy
The Stone County, Miss., Board of Supervisors voted at its Sept. 4 meeting to solicit bids on a digital surveillance system for its prison and for materials to construct a security tower at the Stone County Correctional Facility. The prison now has a VHS system. The board sanctioned a quote for $5,477.95 from Laurel Machine & Foundry for material to construct a security tower in the inmate section of the prison. Prison warden Dwaine Brewer stated he was creating four additional exercise yards for the prisoners. The tower will be capable of overseeing five yards, he noted. http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/134767.html
"Officials: We'll Pay for Inmate Tethers"
Detroit News (09/04/07) P. 1B; Feighan, Maureen
Faced with its eighth instance of overcrowded prisons in two years, Oakland County is considering paying for inmate tethers to avoid placing them in jail. Officials are evaluating plans for a $200,000 initiative that would fund ankle devices for inmates with bonds of $1,000 or less and for other inmates sentenced for nonviolent crimes. Compared with the cost of spending $96 for keeping inmates in jail, tethers only cost $8 to $16 a day. Features of the tether include a GPS device to track the offender and the ability to monitor blood alcohol content. In addition to tethering inmates, county community corrections department director Barb Hankey says the program sentences offenders to tethers upon fulfilling specific criteria, such as first-time DUI-offenders; crimes involving sexual misconduct or domestic violence would not be up for tether consideration. So far, the district courts of Novi and Waterford have also agreed to pilot the program with the circuit court.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070904/METRO/709040357
"Sniper-Sniffing Robot Created"
BBC News (09/05/07)
Portsmouth University teamed with Ant Scientific to develop the "locust," a flying robot that can be used to identify snipers and bombs in crowded areas. Next year, the prototype will compete in a British Ministry of Defence challenge against 16 other sniper-sniffing robots. The challenge will be held at Copehill Down, the British army's urban warfare training field, where the entries will be judged on their ability to find targets. The winning developer will be given military funding and have a good chance of putting their design into commercial production. Portsmouth's head of defense and homeland security research Charlie Baker-Wyatt said, "The challenge was to create devices that could be used in the fight against people who don't fight under established rules." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6980271.stm
"Atlantic City Airport to Start Car-Bomb Screening"
Newsday (09/10/07)
Vehicles entering Atlantic City International Airport will be screened for explosives hidden on their underside. Airport officials say that the new system, the first of its kind to be used at a U.S. airport, is able to capture a video image as vehicles pass over a four-inch-high ramp. The images taken from the cameras on the ramp are monitored by security personal in a nearby vehicle. State officials spent $22,500 allotted to them by the Department of Homeland Security after authorities urged the state that they needed a more advanced inspection system. New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said, "This equipment gives law enforcement officers another tool to use in the fight against terrorism and helps us to ensure a safe flying environment for the traveling public."
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj-
-airportbombscreen0910sep10,0,6942398.story
"CSI Could Benefit From Computer Sidekick"
New Scientist (08/31/07); Simonite, Tom
A team from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom has developed a new computerized sidekick that will enable crime scene investigators to produce faster and more detailed reports. The prototype system makes use of a thin computer about the size of a small book, GPS, a digital camera, and a RFID tag reader. The CSI wears the computer and uses a headset to provide voice commands to the system, such as to snap a picture or record a verbal description of evidence. The GPS is used to mark location, a RFID tag is used to label (time, location, and type) evidence, and images can also be annotated to focus on a particular feature. In tests, the system cut the amount of time in half that it takes to put together a standard CSI report. "Writing is both time-consuming and interruptive," says Chris Baber, a computer scientist at Birmingham. "We've attempted to remove the need to explicitly report what you are doing." The team is now working on a version that would make it easier for different teams of investigators at the scene of a crime to share data.
http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn12575-
csi-could-benefit-from-computer-sidekick.html
"Wi-fi Unites Wisconsin Cities"
PCWorld.com (09/02/07); Messmer, Ellen
Three small Wisconsin cities--Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairie--have joined together to implement an interlinked encryption-protected microwave system that offers a wireless connection to law-enforcement and safety systems. The cities chose to employ the same police-management application as a collective purchase a few years ago for police-dispatch facilities to replace legacy systems. In addition, the cities wanted direct network links to share law enforcement data that includes records and dispatch access. While the application began as a T-1 private line, the cities changed over in June to faster-speed point-to-point microwave links with a flexible encryption ability founded on the CipherOpticsEngine. The cities chose to utilize microwave radios and antennas from CommConnect, which at 100 Mbps were quicker and cheaper than the terrestrial T-1, states Fitchburg's information-technology manager for police systems, Matt Plough. He explains that the encryption choices included purchasing microwave radios with incorporated encryptors or installing individual gateway encryptions. The three cities decided to use a separate decryption/encryption gateway and acquired the CipherOptics Ethernet Security Gateway ESG100 and the CipherEngine Policy & Key Manager, which permits for Layer-2 encryption of law enforcement movement on a virtual LAN basis. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136684-pg,1/article.html
"Q&A: Hurry Up and Wait"
Washington Technology (08/20/07) Vol. 22, No. 15, P. 32; Lipowicz, Alice
The Real ID Act of 2005 requires states to phase out all existing driver's licenses and to replace them with new documentation that adheres to national standards and connects to a national system. Governors are seeking funding from Congress for the $11 billion mandate, but critics have voiced fears regarding identity theft and privacy issues. Richard Barth, assistant secretary of the Office of Policy Development, is the DHS' top official for generating the Real ID requirements. When asked about the Real ID card's machine-readable zone (MRZ), Barth explains that public safety officials endorse maintaining the current procedure of encoding the printed data on the license's front side in the MRZ. Privacy advocates, however, fear that data will be skimmed off the MRZ for commercial and other reasons. DHS is exploring solutions that would not hinder law enforcement functions but would supply improved security for personal data. Enhanced driver's licenses will implement technologies already employed at the land border for aiding travelers, such as vicinity radio frequency identification and a MRZ based on the International Civil Aviation Organization standard, says Barth. In terms of sharing Real ID information between states, DHS may use the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrator's system for commercial driver's licenses, as that system has functioned for years without any reports of misuse or abuse. If DHS does build on the model, DHS will be sure to heighten the model's security and privacy protections for the national ID program. When asked why the Real ID card is not also a smart card, Barth explains that such a renovation is not warranted for the goal of establishing minimum standards for state driver's licenses, though states can opt to shift to more sophisticated technological solutions. http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_15/31243-1.html
"Out-of-Range Communications Solutions"
Advanced Rescue Technology (07/07) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 28; Careless, James
The New Mexico State Police have implemented mobile satellite information terminals manufactured by Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV). Patrol vehicles have been equipped with PDT-100 Satellite Packet Data Terminals that are mounted on the roof. An end of each terminal is connected to a Panasonic Toughbook laptop inside the vehicle, while the other wirelessly links to MSV's MSAT geostationary satellite. As a result, cars that are equipped with the satellite always have information connections to their headquarters. An MSAT G2 can run between $3,200 and $4,000 per unit, and costs between $69 and $129 per month for unrestricted PTT based on how big a region the user wishes to cover, and phone airtime is around $1.19 per minute. Satellite phones made by Globalstar or Iridium are a cheaper option, and both firms provide portable satellite phones which can facilitate voice and different speeds of information transmission. A basic Globalstar GSP-1600 portable satellite/cellular phone goes for about $645, while an Iridium 9505A handset is priced at $1,495, and yearly service fees cost between $450 and $6,600. Even cheaper alternatives include vehicular radio repeaters, for which Iridium plans begin at $129.99 for 75 minutes, and Walkie-Talkie handsets, which operate on the Nextel National Network and are offered as the Motorola Blend ic402 starting at $39.99. http://www.advancedrt.com
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Sketch Artists Use Software Program to Nab Bad Guys"
KVOA 4 (Tucson, AZ) (09/10/07)
Tucson police Detectives Mike Walker and Chris Brown use the software program Faces to produce computer-assisted sketches of the "bad guys" that have led to arrests in some recent high-profile crimes. The program, which hit the market in 1998, has been used by Tucson police for the past two years. "The computer does all the work," Walker said, thumbing through a Faces catalog of characteristics featuring 21 categories that include everything from eyebrows to glasses, jaw structure to noses, hair to tattoos. "There are 4,400 different features that can create 1 million different composites," Walker said. Once the features are selected by the person being interviewed, Walker or Brown inputs the data. They can fine tune the final composite, moving hairlines up or eyebrows down on the computer screen. While police don't keep statistics on the composite's success rate, Walker said it's "pretty good." In addition to composites of wanted criminals, the Faces program is also useful for age progression of missing persons or enhancing a blurry video image of someone.
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=7048962
"LAPD Buys 'Dirty Bomb' Detectors"
Daily Breeze (09/10/07)
Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton has bought seven devices that can detect the radioactive signature of "dirty" bombs. One of the devices has apparently been implemented in a helicopter and is able to locate an unexploded dirty bomb from 800 feet above the ground. Dirty bombs use traditional explosives to disperse radioactive substances into the adjacent atmosphere. Bratton says that Los Angeles is the U.S. city with the third largest risk of being impacted by a dirty bomb, due to the special attributes the city possesses--the airport, port, and "just the symbolism of so much of what [terrorists] hate." Bratton states the Los Angeles Police Department has been given $3 million in Homeland Security money and has utilized those funds to also purchase a bomb-response truck for $900,000 that has a robot that can be worked from one mile away. In addition, the department has bought a mobile response truck for police public information officers, to function as a portable center for communicating data through news media.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/9675947.html
"Police Take Up Tasers"
The Spectator (09/10/07); Halter, Nick
In light of the Virginia Tech tragedy, University of Wisconsin law enforcement will be equipped with Tasers this fall. As a measure to strengthen campus safety, officers also received training addressing how to prevent and respond during a university emergency. Vice chancellor of business and student services Andy Soll and University Police Chief David Sprick says implementing the Tasers has been under consideration for years, but the Virginia Tech incident was the impetus that finally led to their deployment. According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Law Enforcement Standards board, Tasers are ranked as an equivalent to pepper spray in terms of a force gradient. The Tasers, $800 apiece, have a 25-foot range. Additionally, they can target individuals as opposed to accidentally injuring a group of people in the case of using pepper spray. Sprick says the Tasers will be used by one in four UW campuses and that the department would like to expand their equipment eventually for the inclusion of ballistic shields and Kevlar helmets.
http://media.www.spectatornews.com/media/storage/paper218/
news/2007/09/10/CampusNews/Police.Take.Up.Tasers-2957382.shtml
"Look Up: Seattle Cops May Soon Be Watching"
Seattle Times (09/07/07) P. A1; Sullivan, Jennifer
Police in Seattle may soon employ private security cameras in the downtown business area to help look out for assaults, drug deals, and additional crimes. Police and the Downtown Seattle Association are studying the establishment of a surveillance system that would permit officers to follow real-time video footage from security cameras on and near downtown buildings. The formation of such a plan, however, would likely draw criticism from the ACLU and other entities that worry such surveillance could result in a loss of privacy. In 2006, the Downtown Seattle Association acquired bids for a closed-circuit camera system on Pike and Pine streets between First and Fourth avenues. It has earmarked $50,000 and is still considering technology, the precise site of the cameras, and who will be selected to oversee the cameras. Even if law enforcement does not get involved, the association will track crimes via video surveillance. If Seattle does permit officers to watch live video surveillance, it will join Baltimore, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and numerous other U.S. cities that employ video footage to fortify their patrolling efforts. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003873006_cameras07m.html
"Suffolk Cops Test Out Radiation-Detection Services"
Newsday (09/07/07); Armario, Christine
Over 100 new detectors that can locate radioactive material have been dispensed to law-enforcement officials in Suffolk County, N.Y. Law enforcement claims the detectors are important because terrorists might store or move radioactive substances to the region due to its closeness to New York City. The detectors are small enough to attach to an officer's belt and strong enough to locate active material traveling by inside a car on the expressway. Police in Suffolk have already used 400 less innovative units during the last two years. The new detectors were recently bought by the New York Police Department. Uncovering radiation is simpler than detecting biological or chemical weapons, partly because of the technology and partly because a biological agent might not give anything off, notes Special Patrol Bureau commander and Deputy Inspector Stuart Cameron. The detectors bought by the New York Police Department were financed by the Securing the Cities grant, a measure by the U.S. Homeland Security Department.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/
ny-lihome075362116sep07,0,4841718.story
"California Police Department Replaces PCs in Cruisers With Neoware Mobile Thin Client Laptop"
CNNMoney (09/05/07)
Neoware, Inc., a leading provider of thin client computing solutions, today announced that Marysville Police Department (MPD) has joined its growing customer base. Seeking a more cost-effective and efficient computing solution, MPD is using the mobility of the Neoware m100 by outfitting all officers with Neoware m100's to be used in patrol cars and other environments such as the station. "Standard laptops were no longer feasible due to the high price point and the liability of data being compromised from a lost or stolen laptop," said Lieutenant Mike Kostas of MPD. "We could not have implemented a more perfect solution with Neoware m100's. MPD has been able to reduce costs, lessen the need of tech support and reach our ultimate goal of issuing a laptop as standard equipment." In working with Neoware MPD sought to deploy a more robust mobile computing solution that could easily expand to accommodate the growing force and unique needs of a police department. Compared to standard laptops, the Neoware m100 uses a centralized server for hosting applications and processing data, storing no data on the local device -- an important benefit for government, healthcare and financial industries. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/primenewswire/126110.htm
"Stone Jail to Be Upgraded"
Biloxi Sun Herald (MS) (09/05/07) P. A6; Bosarge, Nancy
The Stone County, Miss., Board of Supervisors voted at its Sept. 4 meeting to solicit bids on a digital surveillance system for its prison and for materials to construct a security tower at the Stone County Correctional Facility. The prison now has a VHS system. The board sanctioned a quote for $5,477.95 from Laurel Machine & Foundry for material to construct a security tower in the inmate section of the prison. Prison warden Dwaine Brewer stated he was creating four additional exercise yards for the prisoners. The tower will be capable of overseeing five yards, he noted. http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/134767.html
"Officials: We'll Pay for Inmate Tethers"
Detroit News (09/04/07) P. 1B; Feighan, Maureen
Faced with its eighth instance of overcrowded prisons in two years, Oakland County is considering paying for inmate tethers to avoid placing them in jail. Officials are evaluating plans for a $200,000 initiative that would fund ankle devices for inmates with bonds of $1,000 or less and for other inmates sentenced for nonviolent crimes. Compared with the cost of spending $96 for keeping inmates in jail, tethers only cost $8 to $16 a day. Features of the tether include a GPS device to track the offender and the ability to monitor blood alcohol content. In addition to tethering inmates, county community corrections department director Barb Hankey says the program sentences offenders to tethers upon fulfilling specific criteria, such as first-time DUI-offenders; crimes involving sexual misconduct or domestic violence would not be up for tether consideration. So far, the district courts of Novi and Waterford have also agreed to pilot the program with the circuit court.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070904/METRO/709040357
"Sniper-Sniffing Robot Created"
BBC News (09/05/07)
Portsmouth University teamed with Ant Scientific to develop the "locust," a flying robot that can be used to identify snipers and bombs in crowded areas. Next year, the prototype will compete in a British Ministry of Defence challenge against 16 other sniper-sniffing robots. The challenge will be held at Copehill Down, the British army's urban warfare training field, where the entries will be judged on their ability to find targets. The winning developer will be given military funding and have a good chance of putting their design into commercial production. Portsmouth's head of defense and homeland security research Charlie Baker-Wyatt said, "The challenge was to create devices that could be used in the fight against people who don't fight under established rules." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/6980271.stm
"Atlantic City Airport to Start Car-Bomb Screening"
Newsday (09/10/07)
Vehicles entering Atlantic City International Airport will be screened for explosives hidden on their underside. Airport officials say that the new system, the first of its kind to be used at a U.S. airport, is able to capture a video image as vehicles pass over a four-inch-high ramp. The images taken from the cameras on the ramp are monitored by security personal in a nearby vehicle. State officials spent $22,500 allotted to them by the Department of Homeland Security after authorities urged the state that they needed a more advanced inspection system. New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said, "This equipment gives law enforcement officers another tool to use in the fight against terrorism and helps us to ensure a safe flying environment for the traveling public."
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj-
-airportbombscreen0910sep10,0,6942398.story
"CSI Could Benefit From Computer Sidekick"
New Scientist (08/31/07); Simonite, Tom
A team from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom has developed a new computerized sidekick that will enable crime scene investigators to produce faster and more detailed reports. The prototype system makes use of a thin computer about the size of a small book, GPS, a digital camera, and a RFID tag reader. The CSI wears the computer and uses a headset to provide voice commands to the system, such as to snap a picture or record a verbal description of evidence. The GPS is used to mark location, a RFID tag is used to label (time, location, and type) evidence, and images can also be annotated to focus on a particular feature. In tests, the system cut the amount of time in half that it takes to put together a standard CSI report. "Writing is both time-consuming and interruptive," says Chris Baber, a computer scientist at Birmingham. "We've attempted to remove the need to explicitly report what you are doing." The team is now working on a version that would make it easier for different teams of investigators at the scene of a crime to share data.
http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn12575-
csi-could-benefit-from-computer-sidekick.html
"Wi-fi Unites Wisconsin Cities"
PCWorld.com (09/02/07); Messmer, Ellen
Three small Wisconsin cities--Fitchburg, Middleton, and Sun Prairie--have joined together to implement an interlinked encryption-protected microwave system that offers a wireless connection to law-enforcement and safety systems. The cities chose to employ the same police-management application as a collective purchase a few years ago for police-dispatch facilities to replace legacy systems. In addition, the cities wanted direct network links to share law enforcement data that includes records and dispatch access. While the application began as a T-1 private line, the cities changed over in June to faster-speed point-to-point microwave links with a flexible encryption ability founded on the CipherOpticsEngine. The cities chose to utilize microwave radios and antennas from CommConnect, which at 100 Mbps were quicker and cheaper than the terrestrial T-1, states Fitchburg's information-technology manager for police systems, Matt Plough. He explains that the encryption choices included purchasing microwave radios with incorporated encryptors or installing individual gateway encryptions. The three cities decided to use a separate decryption/encryption gateway and acquired the CipherOptics Ethernet Security Gateway ESG100 and the CipherEngine Policy & Key Manager, which permits for Layer-2 encryption of law enforcement movement on a virtual LAN basis. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136684-pg,1/article.html
"Q&A: Hurry Up and Wait"
Washington Technology (08/20/07) Vol. 22, No. 15, P. 32; Lipowicz, Alice
The Real ID Act of 2005 requires states to phase out all existing driver's licenses and to replace them with new documentation that adheres to national standards and connects to a national system. Governors are seeking funding from Congress for the $11 billion mandate, but critics have voiced fears regarding identity theft and privacy issues. Richard Barth, assistant secretary of the Office of Policy Development, is the DHS' top official for generating the Real ID requirements. When asked about the Real ID card's machine-readable zone (MRZ), Barth explains that public safety officials endorse maintaining the current procedure of encoding the printed data on the license's front side in the MRZ. Privacy advocates, however, fear that data will be skimmed off the MRZ for commercial and other reasons. DHS is exploring solutions that would not hinder law enforcement functions but would supply improved security for personal data. Enhanced driver's licenses will implement technologies already employed at the land border for aiding travelers, such as vicinity radio frequency identification and a MRZ based on the International Civil Aviation Organization standard, says Barth. In terms of sharing Real ID information between states, DHS may use the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrator's system for commercial driver's licenses, as that system has functioned for years without any reports of misuse or abuse. If DHS does build on the model, DHS will be sure to heighten the model's security and privacy protections for the national ID program. When asked why the Real ID card is not also a smart card, Barth explains that such a renovation is not warranted for the goal of establishing minimum standards for state driver's licenses, though states can opt to shift to more sophisticated technological solutions. http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_15/31243-1.html
"Out-of-Range Communications Solutions"
Advanced Rescue Technology (07/07) Vol. 10, No. 3, P. 28; Careless, James
The New Mexico State Police have implemented mobile satellite information terminals manufactured by Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV). Patrol vehicles have been equipped with PDT-100 Satellite Packet Data Terminals that are mounted on the roof. An end of each terminal is connected to a Panasonic Toughbook laptop inside the vehicle, while the other wirelessly links to MSV's MSAT geostationary satellite. As a result, cars that are equipped with the satellite always have information connections to their headquarters. An MSAT G2 can run between $3,200 and $4,000 per unit, and costs between $69 and $129 per month for unrestricted PTT based on how big a region the user wishes to cover, and phone airtime is around $1.19 per minute. Satellite phones made by Globalstar or Iridium are a cheaper option, and both firms provide portable satellite phones which can facilitate voice and different speeds of information transmission. A basic Globalstar GSP-1600 portable satellite/cellular phone goes for about $645, while an Iridium 9505A handset is priced at $1,495, and yearly service fees cost between $450 and $6,600. Even cheaper alternatives include vehicular radio repeaters, for which Iridium plans begin at $129.99 for 75 minutes, and Walkie-Talkie handsets, which operate on the Nextel National Network and are offered as the Motorola Blend ic402 starting at $39.99. http://www.advancedrt.com
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