Law Enforcement Technology

Editor's Note: Many of the technologies in this new summary are being used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for their homeland security, counter-terrorism and homeland security functions.

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, September 27, 2007

"7 Carrying GPS Units in Weeklong Tryout to See How Tracking Software Worked"
Modesto Bee (CA) (09/23/07); Raguso, Emilie

The Stanislaus County Probation Department recently held a trial for a new program that outfitted law enforcement and county officials with global positioning system (GPS) equipment. The trial put GPS units in the hands of a select group of town officials, including the Modesto district attorney, county supervisor, two Turlock police chiefs, sheriff, and the mayor. The GPS units were rented by the department and given to the group to determine how the equipment and tracking worked. Most trial participants took their GPS tracking devices along with them everywhere they traveled. The monitoring technology not only tracked the whereabouts of the participants, but also informed those monitoring the group how fast they were driving. The monitoring devices, which are designed for probationers, keeps a log of everywhere the person wearing the device goes to make sure people do not violate the terms of their release conditions.
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/74844.html

"L.A. Turns Cameras on Gang Graffiti"
Christian Science Monitor (09/25/07) P. 3; Wood, Daniel B.; Tully, Alison

The City of Los Angeles has installed surveillance cameras in a crime-ridden section of the city's east San Fernando Valley area in an effort to deter gang-related graffiti and other gang-related activities. The cameras sit atop poles at locations such as back alleys and have a motion-detection system that flashes the lens when someone is loitering in front of them. After the camera takes a picture, the system plays a voice recording that warns suspects that their picture has just been taken and that they will be prosecuted if caught committing a crime. The cameras have other features that previous generations of surveillance cameras did not have. For instance, the cameras have a wireless feature that allows them to be moved easily and more often to new locations. Officials can also download the photos taken by the camera without having to go up to the camera in a bucket raised and lowered by a crane. Some residents in the east San Fernando Valley area say the cameras are helping to reduce graffiti and other gang-related crimes. Critics, however, say the amount of money the city is spending on the cameras--roughly $70,000 for the 10 that will eventually be installed--is small compared with the $8 million the city pays on average each year for graffiti removal. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0925/p03s03-usju.html

"High-Tech Law Enforcement"
Tucson Citizen (AZ) (09/21/07) P. 4A; Gargulinski, Ryn

The new $180,000, 400-lbs. robot used by the Tucson police bomb squad is just one of many high-tech devices debuting on the law enforcement front. The robot is a crime-fighting tool used to protect officers from potentially hazardous chemicals or explosives, entering about 30 percent of the Tucson Police Department's bomb squad crime scenes. Technology that allows license plate scanning will soon be launched in the form of a $24,000 scanning device enabling officers to track license plates of stolen vehicles in one swooping motion. James Wysocki, administrator of information services at the TPD, says the tool will save officers hours of time in addition to maximizing the amount of vehicle plates they can scan. COPLINK, used from coast to coast, is another device that departments largely depend on. The system is accessible from a police car's Mobile Tactical Computer (MTC), enabling officers to view mug shots and maps, among other information. The convenient E-Citation program also allows officers to automatically fill out citations with license information due to a separate high-tech scanning device. Though technology has made strides within the department, Wysocki said the TPD has not eliminated any employees, and has reassigned them instead. He adds, "There seems to be an elastic demand for law enforcement services. Our problem is one of growth, not of shrinking." http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/63619.php

"Big Bro's Coming to Transport Hubs"
Boston Herald (09/24/07); Underwood, Mike

In an effort to buffer against future possible threats, the Massachusetts state government revealed its plan to expand surveillance to all major transportation facilities, including metro stations, ports, and airports. Homeland Security Undersecretary Julliette Kayyem says the initiative is in response to the July 7, 2005, bombing attack in London, and believes video security will enable authorities to respond quickly if a similar attack occurs in Boston. Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole), the state Legislature's Homeland Security committee chairman, says the new strategy is an important step but there are still other vulnerable public areas. "My biggest fear is that our softest targets are places like schools. I'm very scared about what could happen so we ought to have cameras in certain places," Timilty says. Along with public surveillance, the state government will organize a statewide emergency response program as part of it's heightened focus on transportation, while plans to build an Internet-based alert system and to coordinate evacuation and relocation are also being discussed.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1033650

"Police Get a New Weapon in Arsenal to Detect Hazardous Radiation"
Buffalo News (09/19/07) P. B3; Michel, Lou

New York state troopers and members of the Erie County sheriff's bomb squad are regularly carrying radiological detection units on their patrols. The devices, which cost $1,500 and are the size of a paper bag, are so sensitive that they start emitting beeps if a patrol car traveling at 55 mph or higher comes close to another car transporting even a tiny amount of radioactive substances. After radioactivity is located, another unit is sent to the scene to determine what the material is. Police can then decide whether the radiation being given off from a person or a vehicle's cargo is of real concern. The hand-held "identiFINDER" machine obtains a reading and then deciphers the substance. It also informs police as to whether the radiation is at a satisfactory level. If the portable database in the device cannot provide an answer, the officer can instantly email the data to a government facility. The 450 detection units were purchased with money from the U.S. Homeland Security Department. http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/otherwny/story/165974.html

"St. Louis Police Will Get Help Locating Gunfire"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (09/20/07) P. B5; Bryan, Bill

St. Louis law enforcement have received a Department of Justice grant for installing an "urban gunshot detection monitoring system" that can identify the sound of gunfire and its location. The $500,000 grant will be split between financing the new system and the Police Executive Research Forum thinktank, committed to creating strategies to reduce gun-violence. "We believe this joint venture will help us understand and examine the root causes of violent crime, especially those involving firearms," Police Chief Joe Mokwa said. Officers also say the technology will assist in the process of making arrests and lead to confiscation of more weapons. The monitoring system contains microphones that have a range of roughly one mile used to pinpoint the location of a shot. Similar technology is employed by the military, and other police departments in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Oakland, California.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/
story/31CB18B61973C7F18625735C00125671?OpenDocument


"Cameras Provide Extra Eyes for Police"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (09/21/07) P. B2; Harris, Ryan

The Fort Oglethorpe, Tenn., Police Department is testing a license-plate recognition system outfitted on patrol vehicles. The system is run by eight cameras erected on the light-bar of a police car, and a processor in back of the cruiser interprets the license-plate number and compares it to area and national databases. In addition, a GPS system lists the site of every vehicle, as well as stores a time and date stamp. During three hours of testing, Fort Oglethorpe police were able to take 1,467 license-plate photos with the system and were informed about 14 suspects. Numerous citations were given, and an arrest was made. Implementing the system would cost $30,000 to $35,000 for each patrol vehicle. Though there are not any immediate plans to buy the equipment, Police Chief Larry Black noted he will write a report based on the police department's tests to show to the Fort Oglethorpe City Council, which would have to sanction such a purchase. Black pointed out that money obtained from drug busts could help finance the equipment.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/absolutenm/
templates/local.aspx?articleid=21922&zoneid=77

"Machine Aims to ID Liquids at Airport"
USA Today (09/20/07); Hall, Mimi

Scientists working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are developing a machine that is able to identify liquid explosives, which could be used to screen baggage at airports. The project, named SENSIT, uses magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] to identify the molecular structure of chemicals in a liquid. If the technology is implemented in airports, it could result in the end of the restriction on the size of liquids in carry-on baggage that has been in place since last September. Currently only bottles up to three ounces in weight and smaller than a quart-sized plastic bag are allowed, because current X-ray scanners can't "differentiate between a sports drink and a material somebody could use for a bomb," according to scientist Bob Kraus. The SENSIT machine currently can identify a total of 50 safe and unsafe liquids, with safe liquids showing up as a green dot on a monitor and dangerous liquids being labeled with a red dot. SENSIT is scheduled to be tested next summer at Albuquerque International to determine if the scanner can be effective in a crowded airport environment.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-09-20-liquids_N.htm?csp=34

"San Jose Cops Unveil Interactive Crime Map"
San Jose Mercury News (CA) (09/18/07); Skipitares, Connie

San Jose, Calif.'s police department has launched new crime-tracking software on its Web site that lists the precise location of crime reports. Created by the Salt Lake City firm Public Engines, the software replaces a service that was much less exact. Residents can now look at a report's status, including where an arrest was conducted or if an investigation is still going on or was terminated. In addition, with much more in-depth mapping, they can focus on a region as small as a one-mile radius of their school or house. Map icons reveal where robberies, car thefts, sexual attacks, and additional crimes are being reported. San Jose is only one of a few cities in the country to provide this kind of in-depth and simple to access data. The software enables residents to obtain automatic notification through email when crimes are reported close to their houses or schools. The database is updated each morning at 1 a.m. with the approximately 1,500 crime reports produced daily across San Jose. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_6925367

"$6 Million Grant to Improve Cape Police Response"
Fort Myers News-Press (09/18/07)

The Cape Coral, Fla., Police Department has received a $6 million grant from the federal Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Cape Coral will work in tandem with other public-safety groups in Lee County and the county government to utilize the grant to buy and install a highly-advanced digital radio communications system, which will enable each public-safety group in Lee County to communicate with one another. Presently, Southwest Florida public-safety agencies employ radio systems that are not compatible with one another and cannot swap information, which makes it hard for agencies to work jointly to improve crime-fighting and public safety. In remote sections of Lee County, the existing analog system also witnesses drop zones. Changing over to a digital system will result in faster response times for first responders, greater officer safety, and more access to emergency services for local residents, police claim. In addition, the new system will be more dependable and will have broadened channels to accommodate more users. The Lee County Board of Commissioners has earmarked $2 million for the project, meaning that $8 million overall will be utilized to improve the radio communications system.
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070918/NEWS0101/309170022/1075

"Bay Area Leaders to Build Disaster Communications System"
Insurance Journal (09/14/07)

With grant funding, the Bay Area Public Safety Interoperable Communications Initiative will link communication channels for public agencies in a number of urban counties in California, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Cost, Alameda, and Santa Clara. The public agencies' interoperable communications system will enable greater disaster response efficiency and disaster relief coordination in the event of earthquake or other catastrophic events. The $200 million project also will connect these counties' communication systems to Sacramento. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2007/09/14/83487.htm

"SAPD Secures $6 Million From Justice Department"
San Antonio Business Journal (09/13/07)

The San Antonio Police Department will receive a $6 million federal grant through the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), part of a U.S. Department of Justice effort to improve communications technology and fight crime. "This funding will help San Antonio first responders fight crime and keep our communities safe," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said. "It's critical that we provide our law enforcement officials the resources necessary for emergency preparedness and other homeland security efforts to protect homes and families." The funding can be used to purchase technology that allows for increasing communications and data interoperability between law enforcement agencies and other first responders in the area. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2007/09/10/daily26.html

"Clear Connection"
Governing (08/07) Vol. 20, No. 11, P. 56; Walters, Jonathan

Chicago's Citizen and Law Enforcement Analysis and Reporting (CLEAR) database is changing the way members of its police force do business. CLEAR has a number of capabilities designed to better connect the area's law enforcement agencies to each other and to their communities. The system is accessible to squad-car laptops, mobile devices, and community members with an online subscription. All the typical data needed to catch a criminal is made available, including warrants, fingerprints, rap sheets, identifying marks, aliases, license plates, and firearms information. High-tech equipment also monitors video and sound in areas of potential criminal activity, or can be taken on the go to track stolen vehicles or suspects in transit. CLEAR can even screen crime-rates by district or neighborhood, allowing officers to alert communities to potential dangers, ratchet up the heat on suspects, and make sure police presence is felt where it is most needed. The system has proved extremely successful, improving community relations and bringing down crime-rates in and around Chicago. In fact, CLEAR has proven itself so many times, even the federal government has taken notice, ordering similar systems for military use in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://www.governing.com/manage/pm/perf0807.htm

"Medical Remedies Prevent Death by TASER"
Police and Security News (08/07) Vol. 23, No. 4, P. 27

For the past seven months, emergency medical technicians in Miami have been participating in a pilot program that aims to prevent TASER-related deaths. The program calls for EMTs to spray the sedative midazolam in the noses of subjects who have been TASERed if the first electroshock does not control them. EMTs then inject the subject with iced saline solution to cool their body and sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the toxic acids released by their tense muscles. The treatment, which is the first of its kind in the country, has been used at least 12 times by Miami EMTs to reduce TASERed subjects' body temperatures and calm them down. Government officials and TASER International are hoping the treatment will help to restore public confidence in TASERs. http://www.policeandsecuritynews.com

Diyala Meeting Outlines Strategies to Improve Iraqi Police Force

American Forces Press Service

Aug. 5, 2007 - Iraqi and U.S. military leaders in Iraq's Diyala province met yesterday with local and district police chiefs to discuss strategies to further professionalize the police force as it works to maintain security. Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Ghanem Abass Ibraham al Qureshy, Diyala's provincial director of police; Army Brig. Gen. Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding officer in charge of operations for Multinational Division North; and Army Col. David W. Sutherland, commander of coalition forces in Diyala province, led the meeting at the province's police headquarters in Baqouba.

"The future of Diyala is in your hands," Sutherland said as he addressed the Iraqi police leadership. "The people need to look at the army and police as the future of Diyala - multiple families, tribes and sects working together as one to represent their neighborhoods."

Ghanem's plan includes nine key elements to uphold his vision. That vision involves "a credible police force capable of performing all police operations independent of coalition forces in an ethical and patriotic manner," he said.

"We have not yet defeated our common enemy," Bednarek said. "But every one of you must believe that together, we will defeat our adversary. We must be committed in this fight together."

Some of Ghanem's nine priorities include a professional force able to uphold the rule of law, police officers trained by an Iraqi police academy and a force free from corruption that is willing to stand and fight.

Additionally, he wants a leadership that motivates police to take initiative and execute duties with respect, a force that conducts regular training and conducts readiness assessments of their skills, and police officers representative of their neighborhoods and the people of Diyala.

"The people who join the ranks of the police force must be the right people with the right reason," Bednarek said. "The right reason to become a professional force is for the people of Diyala."

"You are the fighters," Sutherland said. "The police are the melting pot of this society and must be representative of its people."

Following discussions of the priorities for Diyala's Iraqi police force, the police chiefs discussed issues within their districts and worked toward solutions to become a better-trained and -equipped force.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)

Law Enforcement Technology

Editor's Note: Many of the technologies outlined in this summary are being used for domestic counterterrorism as well as homeland security.

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, July 12, 2007

"New York Plans Surveillance Veil for Downtown"
New York Times (07/09/07) P. A1; Buckley, Cara

The New York City Police Department expects to have implemented the first phase of a massive surveillance camera system in Lower Manhattan before the year is out. The Lower Manhattan Security Initiative is modeled after the Ring of Steel anti-terrorism surveillance system in London, which has helped U.K. authorities in their investigations of the recent car bomb plots and the July 2005 transit bombings. Like the London system, the New York initiative will eventually feature mobile roadblocks and cameras capable of reading the license plates of vehicles. New York officials plan to deploy 116 license plate readers, some of which will be installed in helicopters and cars, and if the city's congestion pricing plan is approved, police are expected to use data from license plate readers that will be installed as part of the congestion pricing plan. Police officers and personnel from private security companies will staff an operations center where live data from the cameras will be monitored; by pushing a button, the operators will be able to deploy mobile traffic gates at crucial junctions, thereby halting suspicious vehicles and other traffic. The cameras will be used in tandem with software capable of detecting suspicious behavior such as a bag that has been abandoned or a car that repeatedly cruises the same city block. All told, some 3,000 cameras--including about 2,000 owned by companies in the city--will be in place by the end of 2008. The surveillance network will feature one of two technologies: face-recognition or biohazard sensors. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/09/nyregion/09ring.html

"Police Explore New Tipster Technology"
Sign-on San Diego (07/09/07); Hughes, Joe

Law-enforcement authorities in San Diego are thinking about using a text-messaging system for anonymous crime information that was introduced by police in Boston in June. If viable, the initiative could merge text messaging with traditional police tip lines to help solve serious crimes. At the heart of Boston's experiment is technology meant to make certain that the cell-phone number of the caller is not shown. Tip calls are lower nationwide because the systems have depended greatly on pay-phone calls to keep a person anonymous and such phones are becoming tougher to locate. Simultaneously, text messaging on cell phones has become a popular way to communicate, particularly among young people. Call numbers from the majority of phones, including cells, are traceable, which makes anonymity challenging. The new system appears to overcome that obstacle. Officer James Kenneally of Boston notes that the system logged 50 call tips from cell phones during its initial week.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070709/news_1m9texttips.html

"Durham, N.C. Police Will Get Tasers"
Durham Herald-Sun (NC) (07/11/07); Dopart, Brianne

Police officers in Durham, N.C., will start carrying Taser devices next year. It is not known what kind of Taser technology the department will be utilizing, the price of the technology and related instruction, and which staff members in the department will be given the devices. Chapel Hill and Raleigh police departments already use Taser technology. Although the Durham County Sheriff's Office used to carry Tasers during the 1980s, it does not anymore, stated Chief Deputy Wes Crabtree, who explained that he does not care for the technology because it is awkward and hard to operate. Crabtree added that his office has reexamined its Taser protocol annually since terminating its use. Although advantageous for some the technology was too expensive and required too much maintenance by Crabtree's office. Meanwhile, Chapel Hill Police department Capt. Jackie Carden reported her department uses Tasers and likes them. Newer Taser models, such as the ones employed by the force in Chapel Hill, are smaller and more accurate than those sold 20 years ago, she added.
http://www.policeone.com/less-lethal/articles/1288412/

"Tasers Join Arsenals"
Portland Press Herald (Maine) (07/10/07); Hench, David

Police agencies in Maine are becoming more interested in using stun guns as the technology advances and liability issues are straightened out. Officers in Lewiston, Newport, and Sanford have begun using Tasers during the last month, and a state oversight board and state police chiefs are creating model protocols for how departments should employ Tasers. Some Tasers now incorporate video cameras that document the situation where the gun is employed. The video lessens the chance of abuse and shields police from lawsuits when the Tasers are correctly used. Tasers have not caught on as quickly in New England as they have in other parts of the country; Taser International's Steve Tuttle thinks this is because people are confused as to how electricity functions in the human body. Tasers are also expensive: Each one goes for around $800, and the video camera costs at least another $400. South Portland has used Tasers the most, having possessed the guns for two years. In 2005, officers utilized them seven times in the 115 situations that required force, figures that were almost the same in 2006. http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=119711&ac=PHnws

"New Mug Shot System IDs Prisoners"
Cincinnati Enquirer (07/03/07) P. 2B; Truong, Quan

A $400,000 upgrade to the Hamilton County, Ohio, Justice Center's mug shot system is helping to identify inmates, even if they do not provide fingerprints, lie about their identity, or do not speak English. Records staff scan a prisoner picture into a computer and produce potential matches from the county's database. The Viisage facial recognition system employs biometric configurations to locate matches, with a grid on the face determining the space between eyes, nose width, and jawline length. Matches are only possible if the prisoner has previously been arrested, which is typically the case three-fourths of the time, according to Keith McGuire with the Hamilton County Sheriff Department. The system will eventually be utilized on the streets, where patrol officers can erect a digital camera and laptop computer in their vehicles to rapidly identify suspects. The third stage will combine adjacent county databases into one big pool, possibly even a nationwide one. Last year, the Hamilton County Corrections Division processed over 50,727 inmates, surpassing the largest daily number ever with 2,314 prisoners.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/AB/20070703/NEWS01/707030345/

"CHP Shows Off High-Tech Vehicle in Fresno"
Fresno Bee (CA) (07/04/07) P. B2; Galvan, Louis

A California Highway Patrol (CHP) truck outfitted with the newest communications technology and devised to be utilized in big emergencies has been presented to the CHP's Central Division in Fresno. The mobile command truck will assist the division's nine-county region approximately from Kern to Stanislaus counties. It is outfitted with a high-tech satellite communications system, Internet, phones, and radios. The 2007 Chevy Tahoe truck will allow the CHP to connect with almost every other law-enforcement group and additional emergency services. In addition, the truck is equipped to get video images shot overhead of disaster regions and send those images to command officers located on the ground. The truck is one of nine acquired by the CHP via a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. One of the other eight vehicles--which are spread across California--was used to helped respond to the Bay Bridge collapse earlier this year after a gas tanker derailed. http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/76985.html

"Sensor System Will Detect Gunfire, Aid Police"
Harrisburg Patriot-News (PA) (07/03/07) P. B1; Gleason, Jerry L.

On June 28, Harrisburg, Pa., police concluded calibration of the city's Secures Gunshot Detection System. The system will help city police officers in finding and handling gunfire in Harrisburg. The calibration consisted of firing gunshots at 48 sites, including between buildings, in alleys, and other sites. Each time, the system found the gunshot within three seconds and three feet of the specific location, noted Mayor Stephen Reed. Acoustical sensors across Harrisburg's south Allison Hill can detect gunshot sounds and send the data to a receiving antenna. Sixty sensors were erected on utility poles and buildings in the region, with data from the sensors sent to a computer processor that transforms the data into a visual display on a computer in the communications center of the police department. A red spot appears on the map within three seconds after the shot occurs, and the system is precise to within three feet of the particular location. The technology, which was implemented by Reston, Va.'s Planning Systems, was bought with a $40,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and an $80,000 grant from the federal Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods. http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/
base/news/118343042894920.xml&coll=1

"Candid Cameras to Help Police Record Evidence"
Asbury Park Press (NJ) (07/04/07); Larsen, Erik

Police in Asbury Park, N.J., claim they are the first ones in the state to obtain Vidmics. The devices appear and work just like typical two-way shoulder radios that police wear on top of their uniforms. These radios, however, have a small, almost unnoticeable lens looking out at everything from the center. The officer can switch the camera on and off, and Vidmics record video and sound and shoot still images. The images saved have a date and time stamp, so the information recorded can be utilized in court. If the Vidmic is used during automobile stops in which a motorist is suspected of being inebriated, for instance, the police officer will be able to record his dealings with the motorist, as well as the motorist's appearance and attitude. Asbury Park has a pair of Vidmics and intends to buy another two, which police will employ during foot patrols. The cameras cost $595 each, which includes the camera and software that downloads the information via a cable and USB port like a digital camera.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070704/NEWS/707040433/1004/NEWS01

"Electronic Evidence Guidance Released to Police"
ComputerWeekly.com (07/06/07); Thomson, Rebecca

A revised version of the Good Practice Guide for Computer-Based Electronic Evidence that accounts for recent changes in computer forensic investigation methods has been issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The guide was produced with 7Safe, an information security services company, and launched at APCO's e-crime conference. The new edition features instructions for working with inconsistent electronic data and the extraction of data from live systems and networks. "The Guide is recognized as the definitive rule book for digital forensic investigations," stated 7Safe managing director Alan Phillips. "In addition to criminal cases, any type of contentious incident in the workplace is almost certain to involve large amounts of electronic evidence, and dealing with this data in the appropriate way can prevent far-reaching problems."
http://www.computerweekly.com/Home/..%5CArticles/2007/07/06/225389/
electronic-evidence-guidance-released-to-police.htm

"More Than 4,300 Sign Up for Virginia Tech Emergency Alerts"
Hampton Roads News (07/09/07)

Virginia Tech has a new emergency alert system that will send alerts to students and university employees when an emergency occurs on campus. Participants must subscribe with the system, which is capable of sending alerts via telephone, instant-messaging, or email. Students and university employees began subscribing to the system on July 2; at present, there are more than 4,300 subscribers. A university official predicted that more students would sign up as the year goes on. Hundreds of universities and colleges now offer emergency alert systems.
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=128108&ran=182681

"Coming Soon, A Linguist's Guide to Obscenities"
Boston Globe (07/09/07); Berger, J.M.

The National Science Foundation is paying more than $200,000 for a study whose results may be unprintable. Christopher Potts, a linguist at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, will catalog and analyze the use of obscenities, vulgarities, and racial epithets as well as titles and honorifics. All are words or phrases that express emotion, or whose absence can convey an emotion, such as disrespect. Potts will chart when and how these words are used in books, television, movies, records of ordinary conversation, and other discourse. He aims to discover the laws of emotionally expressive language, in the same way a physicist might chart the movement of planets in order to discover the laws of gravity. The results of the study could also be applied to law enforcement computers designed to evaluate surveillance tapes or automated systems to summarize the content of books or television shows, he said. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/
07/09/coming_soon_a_linguists_guide_to_obscenities/

"City of Gary, Indiana Completes Next Expansion of ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System"
Business Wire (07/10/07)

ShotSpotter, Inc., a leader in gunshot detection and location systems and technology for public safety and the military, reports that the City of Gary, Indiana has completed their second expansion and is in the final stages of their third expansion of the system. Hailed as a key crime-fighting tool in the City, the ShotSpotter system has now been extended to more than four square miles based on its track record of reducing gunfire in the City and assisting the Police Department in removing weapons and increasing arrests. ShotSpotter is a collection of sensors that detect and locate gunshots in seconds, sending an immediate signal along with the precise location of the shots to police dispatchers. This enables the City's police forces to arrive on the scene of a gunshot event in a matter of moments. Thomas Branson, Deputy Chief of Police, in noting that the system has been delivering outstanding results, stated, "ShotSpotter alerted us to a gunshot incident where police found a subject lying in a pool of blood next to the railroad tracks. It turned out that he was on the FBI's most wanted list, having killed a 13-year old girl in Ohio as well as two women." ShotSpotter, Inc. provides wireless and wired gunshot detection and location systems to public safety organizations and the military. All ShotSpotter solutions use the same core ShotSpotter GLS technologies which filter out the echoes which cripple competitive systems when they are deployed in urban environments. Utilizing ShotSpotter's patented technologies, the system can be set to filter in or out "non-threat" events (such as fire crackers, car backfires, etc.).
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?
ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070710005505&newsLang=en

"Interoperability Radio System Permits Responders to Communicate in Emergencies"
Sheriff (06/07) Vol. 59, No. 3, P. 25; Oxley, Joseph W.; Freeman, Ted

In Monmouth County, N.J., officials have greatly improved communications capabilities for the Sheriff's Office's two Field Communications Mobile Command Centers by using an ACU-1000 modular radio interoperability system. The technology lets agencies communicate irrespective of their current radio frequencies. The system can integrate high frequencies, land mobile radio, and satellite communications systems. The technology can also engage the walkie-talkie feature of a Nextel phone to enable communication with emergency responder communication systems. The ACU-1000 system features a modular interface with six networks, where each network can handle seven channels and a laptop computer. The overall system costs roughly $15,000. The new interoperability system enables all responding agencies to take a single portable radio with their frequency to the Mobile Command Unit and plug it into to the system to allow all units on that frequency to communicate with other responders. The Sheriff's Office Communication Division has also obtained a portable Interoperability Communication Radio Unit (ICRU), a cross band repeater designed for state radio frequencies of UHF-800 mg in addition to 168 portable radios on state interoperability channels. Furthermore, a new "quick response communication van" is being developed for the service that will offer a completely outfitted radio console and will respond with an 8x10 trailer with a 7.5 kilowatt generator to create a temporary command post. http://www.sheriffs.org

"White House Council Puts Cybersecurity in Focus"
Federal Computer Week (07/02/07); Miller, Jason

The White House's Homeland Security Council has heightened its understanding of cybersecurity's importance, and is in the early stages of debate regarding the best description of the government's role. Thomas Bossert, a senior director on the council, noted that more coordination from the federal level is needed. Bossert explained that, later in 2007, guidance might materialize from the presidential level to clarify "who does what and when." The council will also work to enhance the synchronization of Fusion Centers across the country; currently, 42 states possess or intend to found Fusion Centers with over $380 million in DHS grants. In addition, the White House is partnering with the Homeland Security Department and the FBI to design a regional architecture to facilitate information sharing. In May 2007, the Intelligence Threat Assessment Coordination Group approved a formal standard for conveying threat assessment information. According to Bossert, the government's aim is for state and local first responders to be aware, in real time, of what the federal first responders know, enabling all to better handle possible threats. http://www.fcw.com/article103121-07-02-07-Web

"Sound and Vision"
Police Magazine (06/07) Vol. 31, No. 6, P. 36; Griffith, David

The latest state-of-the-art law enforcement simulators use high-tech audio and video to deliver more authentic training experiences. Unlike older simulators, which had different processing capabilities, the latest use-of-force simulators operate at about the same speed. Features and options are the biggest difference between current simulator models. Many use-of-force simulators are designed with the same high-definition (HD) technology found in televisions, a feature some law enforcement experts believe enhances the training experience. "The clarity of the picture is a lot better," says Meggitt Defense Systems' Vince Greiner. "That means that it's easier for a student to determine if a perpetrator has a cell phone or a knife in his hands." In addition to video clarity, new training simulators offer better sound quality. Enhanced multispeaker sound systems are featured in most of the latest use-of-force simulator models. The flagship systems in both TI Training and IES feature 5.1 surround standard, which allows students to hear realistic noises from every direction. http://www.policemag.com

Law Enforcement Technology

Editor's Note: A number of these domestic law enforcement technologies are being used for homeland security and counterterrorism purposes.

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, June 14, 2007

"LAPD Plans to Accept 911 Text Messages"
Los Angeles Times (06/13/07); Winton, Richard

The Los Angeles Police Department announced June 12 that it plans to upgrade the city's 911 system to allow callers to use text messages to ask for help. Officials said the system is necessary because there are circumstances where it is easier for someone to text for help rather than call, such as a kidnapping or a robbery. The new system will also allow callers to send photos and videos from their cell phones to the city's 911 call center. Although officials said callers' ability to send photos and videos could help police by giving them faster access to evidence such as an image of a getaway car involved in a robbery, others said that the feature could overload LAPD workers with data. According to Tim Riley, the potential for data overload is precisely why the department is proceeding slowly. The LAPD will initially start a stopgap system that allows the departments to get photos and video from cell phone calls only from callers it solicits. The system could be up and running later this year. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-text13jun13,1,296583.story

"From Database to Crime Scene: Network Is Potent Police Weapon"
New York Times (06/07/07) P. B1; Lueck, Thomas J.

A New York Police Department anti-crime computer network located at One Police Plaza in New York City can rapidly send information to officers on the beat. Groups of detectives in the room, which the police department refers to as the Real Time Crime Center, look at computer screens and study cases on a 15-foot-high video screen that can show maps, diagrams, satellite pictures, and surveillance camera images. Some of the information the center makes available is typical police investigative material, such as criminal complaints, the criminal background of a suspect, and previous home addresses. In addition, the center provides the names of individuals who have visited a criminal in city prisons and state facilities, aliases, recordings of every 911 calls placed from any address in New York City over the past decade, and the nicknames of known criminals. Law-enforcement experts state the two-year-old crime center is the police department's most crucial technological measure in 15 years. In April 2007, a suspect who tortured a female student at Columbia University for nearly a day was arrested five days later when the network linked his nickname to him. Police authorities claim the center's databases possess law-enforcement records going back 15 years, which will be expanded to 25 years by autumn. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/07/
nyregion/07real.html?ref=technology

"Satellite Eye on Offenders Scaled Back"
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (06/07/07) P. A1; Marley, Patrick

Wisconsin's Joint Finance Committee has almost halved the number of child sex offenders that will have to be monitored via lifetime satellite tracking. In 2006, Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill that would enact lifetime monitoring of serious child sex offenders, while the Department of Corrections would use its discretion in determining other child sex offenders that would be monitored. In other issues, Republicans and Democrats were split on the budget inclusion for the earned release program, granting inmates early release upon successful completion of alcohol and drug treatment. The committee also decided to furnish an additional $2.3 million for inmates' health care over a two-year span. Additionally, substance abuse programs will be expanded, instating reporting centers for offenders, as opposed to returning to incarceration. Doyle is slated to review the budget.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=616503

"Police Are Divided on Stun Guns"
Boston Globe (06/07/07) P. Reg1; Paige, Connie

Although the Massachusetts police departments of Norton, Raynham, and Rockland have gotten approval from the state to use Taser stun guns, some area police chiefs are not enamored of the devices. Supporters feel that Tasers can bring dangerous individuals under control more safely than other weapons, while detractors worry about their price and the fact that some people have died after receiving Taser charges. In the last nine years, Taser International Inc. has sold 225,000 to 11,000 law-enforcement groups, vice president of communications Steve Tuttle states. Tasers currently cost between $399 and $899. Numerous police departments in Massachusetts have been studying the purchase of Tasers for three years, when a new state law allowed their use. Raynham Police Chief Louis Pachero stresses that Tasers are part of the vital equipment given to police. He points out that police have utilized Tasers a minimum of three times, including bringing under control a dangerous motorcycle gang. Braintree Police Chief Paul Frazier, however, says he is worried about possible lawsuits if a Taser causes injuries or fatalities; as such, even though drug-associated crime, robberies, gang activity, and home burglaries are increasing in his community, he states he is not in a hurry to obtain Tasers.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/
2007/06/07/police_are_divided_on_stun_guns/

"'Pings' Assist in Missing-Persons Cases"
Kansas City Star (06/07/07) P. A5; Hayes, David

Cell phone technology has been used once again by law enforcement to find a missing person and advance a criminal case. Information on the location of Kelsey Smith's mobile phone helped law enforcement find her body. Mobile phones act like two-way radios, and they must communicate frequently with the nearest cell tower to make and receive calls. The handsets send out a signal, called a "ping," to the closest cell tower every two to three minutes, and the towers forward the location of the mobile phone back to the network. A ping can show that the phone is in the coverage area of the tower, which can range from a few square blocks to a few square miles, and mobile phone carriers use that information to forward calls, text messages, or email messages to a phone. Calls made by family and friends on Saturday generated routine pings, enabling police to track the location of Smith's phone. Big mobile phone companies will assist police who have a subpoena for phone records from a judge, which they can obtain by telephone. The process of keying in a mobile phone's number and having the last known location pop up on a screen can take less than a minute.
http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/139639.html

"New York City Police Eye Trucks as Potential Vehicles for Terrorists"
Seattle Times (06/12/07); Hays, Tom

The New York City Police Department (NYPD), concerned that the commercial trucks that go in and out of the city each day could be used as terrorist weapons, has established checkpoints where the trucks are screened and subjected to several tests. "We've always been concerned about the potential for trucks and other vehicles to be used to convey explosives or other weapons," New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said. "We also want to screen against the possibility of sensitive cargos being diverted for use in an attack." Police who man the checkpoints are inspecting the trucks for radiation, fertilizer, explosives, and chlorine. Trucks or drivers who lack ID or paperwork are removed from the road, police said. Dump trucks and cement trucks receive extra attention because they are capable of smashing through security checkpoints, says NYPD counterterrorism official Jonathan Duecker. The NYPD is currently developing a variety of mobile radiation detectors, including devices for police cars and bicycles and a backpack-like detector that can be worn by police officers in stadiums. Some 1,000 officers already wear pager-sized radiation detectors on their belts, and another 1,000 such devices are on their way. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003744093_nytrucks12.html

"Cops' Radiation Detection? It's in the Bag, Kelly Boasts"
New York Daily News (06/07/07) P. 14; Gendar, Alison

Over the past year, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has been testing five portable radiation detectors that resemble backpacks. Officials say the backpack can be used by officers while riding a bike, helping them appear as tourists. The backpack features an earpiece that provides data to the officer about any radiation in the area. Officials say the testing has helped manufacturers better understand the city's requirements. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/06/07/2007-06-07_cops_
radiation_detection_its_in_the_bag_.html

"Long-Awaited Center Opens"
Indianapolis Star (06/06/07) P. 3; Smith, Bruce C.

Hendricks County, Ind., has opened a $7.6 million communications center that will equally serve police, fire, and ambulance services. Housed in the Plainfield's police and public safety building, the center will provide the ability for all respondents to communicate with each other, through an 800 MHz frequency. Staff will be on hand around the clock and each of 13 workstations comes equipped with flat video screens. "They can see where the doors and windows and other features are located, which can be important information in an emergency," said Hendricks Communications Center executive director Larry Brinker. All emergency vehicles in Hendricks County are GPS-equipped, and dispatchers can pull up three-dimensional aerial images of an incident's location. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070606/LOCAL0505/706060357/1020/LOCAL05

"California Firm Sees Business Grow With Law Enforcement Interest in 'SandCars'"
Bakersfield Californian (06/06/07); Philp, Drew

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Extreme Motorsports manufactures "SandCars," and on June 7 signed an agreement worth $39 million with Made in USA Industries to produce 400 SandCars geared for law enforcement. Extreme Motorsports owner Alan McCaa explains that anti-terrorist and border patrol groups are interested in his cars to take some of the burden off their on-road police cruisers. The vehicles can be outfitted with such features as Pelican Mobile laptops, infrared cameras, and armor plating. SandCars resemble the dune buggies of the 1970s. The vehicles can host Corvette engines with as many as eight cylinders, and at 450 horsepower can travel at 110 miles-per-hour or faster. The cars are expensive, costing between $15,000 and $100,000-plus. Although McCaa sells SandCars to private customers, he stresses that "government and law enforcement will end up being the bread and butter of our company." He thinks the two entities are becoming more aware of SandCars as a fast way to enter and exit remote locations. http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/06/06/2693387.htm

"Rockland Judges Push for More Courtroom Security"
Journal News (NY) (06/06/07) P. 3A; Lieberman, Steve

A shooting at a Rockland County, N.Y., court last month has prompted the state to make money available for municipalities to improve courtroom security. Grants from the New York state Office of Court Administration are being offered to pay for metal detectors to check people for weapons. Clarkstown and West Haverstraw are among the local governments that already have the approximately $4,000 magnetometers, and Ramapo has ordered a metal detector and Sloatsburg, where the shooting occurred, plans to order one. Although the state is willing to pay for the metal detectors, municipalities would have to cover the cost of personnel to operate the machine and the electronic metal detector wands. Clarkstown Police Chief Peter Noonan expressed confidence in current courtroom security, and Councilman Ralph Mandia said he welcomed the effort to improve security in courts as long as the police oversee personnel hired to handle the equipment. A police station is downstairs from Clarkstown Justice Court, an officer is on patrol upstairs and there are security cameras. Before the shooting, some local governments questioned whether there was a need for tighter security in courtrooms. "They are taking a different view now," says Rockland County Court Judge Charles Apotheker. http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/
article?AID=/20070606/NEWS03/706060377

"Committee Postpones Radio Upgrade Vote"
Herald & Review (IL) (06/05/07); Tallon, Mary

Macon County, Ill., Sheriff Jerry Dawson said the failure to upgrade the department's backup radio system soon could jeopardize public safety. The comment from Dawson came after Macon's Board Finance Committee postponed a vote on spending more than $150,000 on equipment and technology improvements on Monday. The equipment and technology upgrades would make the "Old Sheriff's Main" frequency a digitally compatible system. The sheriff's department uses the radio system, which has not been upgraded since 1979, when its primary frequency encounters "dead spots," and Macon's emergency management agency uses it for its main radio channel. The committee considered using money from a $500,000 disaster contingency fund until board Chairman Bob Sampson questioned whether disaster contingency money could be legally used for the radio improvement. The board placed greater restrictions on the use of the fund in January. Dawson suggested using the disaster contingency fund, but added that money could also come from another source.
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/
06/05/news/local_news/1023943.txt

"'CSI'-Style Technology Going to Dogs--and Cats"
Associated Press (06/03/07); Gelineau, Kristen

Many law-enforcement agencies are increasingly looking at animal DNA to obtain evidence for crimes in which animals were involved or witnesses. Saliva and hair found at the site of an animal attack can help identify the animal responsible, and if animals are present at the scene of a crime, their DNA can often be used to match up with any evidence found on the person or property of suspects. DNA evidence is not the only tool used in investigating animal-related cases; however, investigations into animal cruelty also make use of more traditional forensic methods such as ballistics and toxicology to determine how much an animal may have suffered in a particular instance. Forensic entomology can help settle issues related to poaching deaths, such as the amount of time since a particular animal has been shot. http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20070602-110040-9695r.htm

"Radios Will Link Lawmen"
Searcy Daily Citizen (AR) (06/01/07); Watkins, Warren

White County, Ark., has used money left over from grants for the new Mobile Command Unit to purchase 64 hand-held radios that will allow law enforcement officers in different jurisdictions throughout the county to communicate with one another. According to Bill Haynie, chairman of the White County 911 board, the FCC regulates the frequencies on the radios--which cost more than $600 each--so that they may only be used by law enforcement officers. http://www.thedailycitizen.com/articles/
2007/06/02/news/local_news/news02.txt

"Calling System Aids Oakwood Police"
Dayton Daily News (OH) (06/07/07) P. Z1-3; Bebbington, Helen

Police in Oakwood, Ohio, used the city's CodeRED automated phone alert system for the first time on May 30 to help locate a missing man. The service, which police officials say has been in place for about six months, sends out automated calls to citizens within a particular radius of an emergency. Police issued the CodeRED call at 10:15 a.m., alerting citizens of a man with dementia who left an assisted living facility; in about 15 minutes, a resident of Kettering, Ohio, informed Oakwood police about the man, whom she saw at a CVS store. The service is provided by the Miami Valley Communications Council and features GIS and other technologies that let cities notify residents. Roughly 15 communities in the Dayton metropolitan area currently rely on the service. http://www.daytondailynews.com

"DHS Vows to Fix Information Network"
Federal Computer Week (05/28/07); Mosquera, Mary

Homeland Security Department officials recently promised Congress that they will boost the functionality of the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). HSIN was created in 2003 to help local and state law enforcement share data, but has been implemented without proper coordination among various law enforcement officials. HSIN is not used by many people today. The Homeland Security Department plans to revamp and improve HSIN cooperation with federal databases such as the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) program, as well as better involve local and state agencies and authorities. HSIN also is transitioning into becoming part of an Information Sharing Environment (ISE) to help reduce isolated data in various databases by creating automatic duplication as well as links. The ISE component remains under development, and also will include input from federal intelligence agencies. http://www.fcw.com/article102798-05-28-07-Print

"District, Police Looking at Camera Technology"
YourHub.com (05/23/07); Kirchmer, Joseph

The Douglas County School District is considering implementing SWAT (Security With Advanced Technology) that would enable law enforcement to observe video footage from inside a school that could be transmitted to command centers and to patrol cars. Cameras would be installed and images would be transmitted through an antenna from the school's roof; there are about 750 cameras already installed in the district. "It gives law enforcement a clearer picture in the event of a shooter situation," said executive director of safety and transportation Larry Borland. The receivers are slated to cost about $5,100 per unit, minus the cost of installation. Receivers would be installed in police cars, command centers, and school vehicles. "We may not necessarily be able to locate where a suspect is, but you would definitely be able to tell where suspect is not," noted Borland. http://denver.yourhub.com/CastleRock/Stories/News/Law/Story~311308.aspx

"Voice Biometrics: Coming to a Security System Near You"
Ars Technica (05/13/07); Anderson, Nate

Because every voice is unique, sophisticated voice analysis software can match people to voices, which will be a boon to security investigators, though not to criminals. Voice biometrics technology can catch criminals by studying voice characteristics, and can do so in 30 minutes on a modern dual-core machine. Moreover, the voice provides two-factor identification, as it combines what individuals say with how they say it, and can combine the factors remotely. Voice systems are at least twice as accurate as fingerprint scanning, and are cheaper to implement, says Dr. Clive Summerfield of the University of Canberra. Banks are eager customers of the technology, which is now all set for commercial deployment. This year, the major Dutch bank ABN AMRO will unveil the technology to its 4 million Netherlands customers. http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/voice-biometrics-come-of-age.ars