Forensics @ MindSay 
April 7, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. With the addition of three law enforcement officials, the website now listed 948 state and local law enforcement officials from 397 agencies.
Dr. Stephen Mackenzie has been training and working police service dogs for over 17 years. He is a part time Deputy with the Schoharie County Sheriff's Office (New York). During his law enforcement career he has served as a K-9 handler for 7 years and K-9 Trainer for 8 years. Stephen Mackenzie is a Trainer/Examiner of police dog teams for the state of New York; an Examiner of police work dog teams for the Connecticut Police Work Dog Association; and a Master Trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association.
According to the book description of Decoys and Aggression: A Police K-9 Training Manual “A good decoy needs to be an expert in canine communication, and needs to know how to use this language to stimulate aggression in the dog. This book explains, step by step, how to understand the canine paralanguage and how to use your own body to communicate with the dog.”
Steven Drielak is a retired Lieutenant from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. His last assignment was as the commanding officer of the Environmental Crimes Unit. After leaving the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Steven Drielak became the Director, Homeland Security Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Steven Drielak is the author of Hot Zone Forensics: Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Evidence Collection and Environmental Crime: Evidence Gathering and Investigative Techniques. He is also the co-author of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Response and Investigation with Thomas Brandon.
According to the book description of Environmental Crime: Evidence Gathering and Investigative Techniques, “The purpose of this book is to guide the new criminal investigator who is about to enter the highly-regulated and complex field of criminal environmental investigation. This type of criminal investigation has a "steep learning curve." Every hazardous waste evidence-gathering operation is strictly regulated by numerous laws and mandated procedures. This book has been written in a format that will take the new investigator successfully through this learning process.”
Tony Capria began his law enforcement career as a police officer in the Syracuse Police Department (New York). After working in 6 months in patrol, he was assigned as an investigator in the police department's organized crime unit. Tony Capria left law enforcement for a few years to pursue business interests but return in 1976 as a corrections officer at the Jamesville Penitentiary (New York).
Tony Capria moved to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office where he took a position as a deputy sheriff in the jail. He was promoted to sergeant and responsible to supervise a shift of a dozen deputies with custody responsibility for over 200 inmates. Tony Capria left the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department after an on-duty injury. Tony Capria is the author of Betrayal.
Police-Writers.com now hosts 948 police officers (representing 397 police departments) and their 2014 police books in 34 categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
February 2, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The February 6, 2008 program of Conversations with Cops at the Watering Hole focuses on Computer Crime with experts Thomas Eskridge and Jeff Fischbach.
Program Date: February 6, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Computer Crime
Guests: Thomas Eskridge and Jeff Fischbach
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guests
Thomas Eskridge
Thomas Eskridge began his law enforcement career as a reserve police officer for the Santa Ana Police Department (California). In January 1980, he joined the Compton Police Department (California), rising to the rank of sergeant. In 1990, he joined the joined the Redondo Beach Police Department (California), and retired at the rank of Lieutenant.
Thomas Eskridge as a Bachelor’s Degree, is a POST certified instructor in Computer Crime Awareness; a POST certified investigator of Computer Crimes and Sexual Assaults. Currently, Thomas Eskridge is the Chief Operations Officer of the High Tech Crime Institute in Tampa, Florida.
The High Tech Crime Institute is a leading provider of training for Local, State and Federal agencies worldwide. Recognized as the global leader in the field of High Tech Computer Crime Investigation and Computer Forensics and provides expert instruction and proactive security management to both the private and public sectors.
Jeff Fischbach
Jeff Fischbach is a Board Certified Forensic Examiner. In 1994, he founded the SecondWave Information Systems, a technology consulting firm.
Jeff Fischbach has served as a key technology advisor to more than a dozen professional organizations. As a litigation consultant and expert witness, Fischbach has shared his technological expertise with judges, attorneys and their clients. “Invaluable,” and able to “explain sophisticated computer concepts in a clear, understandable and concise way,” said one attorney.
Jeff Fischbach has worked closely with the Los Angeles Computer Crimes Division of the FBI, consulted with the Danish Consulate, and, frequently quoted, has become a recognized authority among members of the press. Jeff Fischbach has aided in the investigation and apprehension of computer criminals and has assisted in the successful defense and exoneration of those wrongly charged with computer crimes and misconduct. His strength lies in his ability to master new concepts, interpret and apply data, and, ultimately, train his audience.
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 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
909.599.7530
Champlain College has created a regional center for computer forensics with major funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). On December 28, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who helped secure the funding, joined Champlain College President David F. Finney on campus to discuss the important role of the new Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation (C3DI), which received a $650,000 grant from the DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance.
The new center has been developed to advance three major initiatives. First, two new Champlain faculty members work with federal, state and local law enforcement investigators, performing digital investigations and adding capacity to law enforcement agencies in Vermont. Based at the Burlington Police Department, these investigators sift through digital evidence found on computers, cell phones, iPods and other digital devices so that crucial pieces of evidence can be applied to criminal investigations.
Secondly, these two new faculty members also share their professional experience as they teach courses in Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program. And lastly, the College is creating new online training opportunities that will be available to members of law enforcement in Vermont and across the country.
”Local, state and federal law enforcement officials have seen an explosion of complex electronic crimes,” said Leahy, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Leahy also is the incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees federal anti-crime programs, and he has led on digital security and privacy issues. “In a time when computers hold the key to everything from terrorist plots to accounting scandals, understanding e-crime and digital forensics is crucial for today’s federal, state and local law enforcement officers and our civilian cyber security personnel. The digital forensics education curriculum that Champlain College has put together is right on point in helping law enforcement professionals succeed in countering cyber criminals. This grant will help the College expand its outreach to the public sector, building a rare and important partnership between academia and law enforcement to improve our effectiveness against these crimes.”
Champlain College President David F. Finney said, “We’re thrilled that the federal government is supporting Champlain’s efforts to both educate professionals in computer forensics and directly support law enforcement activities. Senator Leahy and his staff have been extremely helpful in furthering our outreach. It’s clear that our country needs innovative programs to fight crime today, and Champlain is well-positioned to deliver leading-edge programs both face-to-face and over the Internet.”
The director of the new center is Associate Professor Gary C. Kessler, who also directs Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics and Information Security degree programs. Robert Edwards, director of Champlain’s Criminal Justice program, was named associate director of C3DI.
“Computer forensics and digital investigations have become an integral part of police work in the new millennium,” Kessler said. “Computers are now as much a part of the modern law enforcement officer’s daily routine as the baton, sidearm, radio and handcuffs.”
The Center funds two part-time digital forensics examiner positions to assist Vermont law enforcement in criminal digital investigations. Reporting to the Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force and housed at the Burlington Police Department, these new positions increase the state’s digital evidence examination capacity by about 20 percent, Kessler estimated.
Today, many crimes have computer-based evidence and Vermont has just a handful of examiners. Burlington Police Chief Thomas Tremblay said, “This program and partnership are innovative and necessary given the limited resources and funding available to local law enforcement to take on new and highly technical responsibilities.”
The new, part-time examiners spend the other part of their week on the Champlain campus teaching students in the College’s three-year-old Computer & Digital Forensics program -- the first bachelor’s degree program of its kind in New England and the only such program in the nation offered online. These instructors teach on campus and online in positions that are funded for three years.
The grant also supports an online training initiative that allows Champlain College to share its expertise with law enforcement from Seattle to Boston. The College is creating online programs that train law enforcement in computer forensics through the Vermont Police Academy and Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force, as well as through two national law enforcement training organizations.
These organizations currently conduct face-to-face training -- which requires officers to travel to major cities for training. “We all agree that it’s possible to reach about 98 percent of American law enforcement if we create online training in appropriate topics, and it’s more cost effective when it is provided online,” Kessler said.
Currently, Champlain’s Computer & Digital Forensics program enrolls approximately 150 students -- nearly half are traditional, on-campus students and the rest are enrolled online from as far away as California and Texas. Some of the online students are already members of the law enforcement community and they work their online education around their careers.
This is Champlain’s second federal grant for computer forensics education. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice awarded Champlain College a $185,000 grant to further develop the college’s digital forensics program. Champlain’s program was hailed as the national educational model for undergraduate computer forensics education.
Article reprinted with permission (K. Surette) and sponsored by Criminal Justice leadership; and, police and military personnel who have written books.
NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, December 14, 2006
"Police Get Assist From Eyes in the Sky"
Quad-City Times (12/11/06); Brecht, Tory
The Davenport Police Department plans to install portable and mobile cameras that will provide police with live streaming video. Police Chief Mike Bladel indicated that the cameras will enable the identification of people from "a long distance," but did not provide more details. A few aldermen expressed concerns about the technology encroaching on privacy rights. Bladel indicated that the cameras will only require about $10,000 of the department's $100,000 budget for purchasing camera equipment for the monitoring of local communities.
http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2006/12/05/news/local/doc4575161ff3a91237138467.txt
"Device that Helps Dogs Sniff Out Suspects May Not be Up to Snuff"
Los Angeles Times (12/07/06) P. B1; Reza, H.G.
A $900 scent-collecting device that law enforcement uses as a tool to help detect the scent of humans at crime scenes is at the center of a controversy that has resulted in the dismissal of at least five cases. Proponents of the STU-100 device claim that it can collect human scents from objects as small as bullet fragments. Once collected, the scents are supposedly transferred to a small gauze pad that a bloodhound sniffs, with the idea that the dog then uses the scent to track the suspect, all without jeopardizing the integrity of physical evidence. But critics such as Auburn University's Larry Myers, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine, say the device is unreliable and amounts to "quackery." The device has been used to help convict at least five men who have since had their cases overturned and been released from jail. There is no hard data on how many convictions or arrests the device is responsible for, but one dog handler says he has used the technology in most of the 2,000 cases he has handled.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scent7dec07,1,29851.story
"Sheriff, Jail Seek Immigration Law Powers"
Beaufort Gazette (12/10/06); Hsieh, Jeremy
The Beaufort County, S.C., Sheriff's Office Deputies and Detention Center officers could begin fulfilling some of the prerequisites for obtaining some of the authority normally limited to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, according to Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner. Under current law, local law enforcement officers are not authorized to identify someone as an illegal immigrant and must refer immigration status inquiries to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. However, if local law enforcement officers pass a five-week training and certification process, they can then identify illegal immigrants with federal databases, enter information in those databases, and charge immigrants with violations of immigration law. Ten deputies and two supervising sergeants in the Mecklenburg County, S.C., Sheriff's office have passed this certification program since February. These officers ask every arrestee in the county jail what country they were born in and of what country they are a citizen. If the arrestee's answer to either question is not the United States, the officers use special technology and federal databases to help them ascertain the arrestee's immigration status. This technology, which will also be used in Beaufort County, is called the Department of Homeland Security's Automated Biometric Identification System, or IDENT. The technology, which costs $25,000, checks non-U.S. native arrestees' fingerprint scans and photos against the same federal database the U.S. Border patrol uses.
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/6275178p-5474844c.html
"Technology Brings Police Up to Speed"
Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise (MA) (12/06/06); Graham, Jonathan
In Massachusetts' north-central region, police departments will soon be able to instantly swap data about suspects as a result of technology secured via grants totaling $875,000, according to police and state leaders on Dec. 5. Analyst Carol Fitzgerald with the Fitchburg Police Department said the new systems will let law enforcement officers view suspects' complete data within seconds. The new technology now connects the computer systems of Fitchburg and Gardner, and Leominster's system is anticipated to be operational in about two months, said Leominster's police chief Peter Roddy. A grant of $375,000 obtained in 2005 by U.S. Rep. John Olver (D-Amherst) will be used to connect the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster, and Gardner, while the $500,000 grant obtained in 2006 will be used to broaden the program to include the cities of Ashburnham, Lunenburg, Shirley, Westminster, and Winchendon. Officials noted that suspects can cross multiple borders, so it will be crucial for officers to see the regional collection of information. This includes such things as vehicle stops, traffic tickets, parking tickets, arrests, victim information, and photos, said Fitzgerald and other law enforcement officials.
http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_4788555
"Law Enforcement Agencies Ganging Up on Gangs"
Asbury Park Press (NJ) (12/10/06); Bonafide, Margaret F.
The New Jersey State Police have implemented a strategy of Intelligence-Led Policing, which has allowed the state to better deal with criminals--particularly gang members--who are highly proficient in technology. Traditionally, information that law enforcement took in every day was kept in "silos" or databanks in each of the federal, state, and local agencies combating gang violence. But with Intelligence-Led Policing, those agencies are linked. This allows them to share information and add it to a central database currently under construction at the State Police Regional Operations Center. In addition, evidence from unrelated cases can be compared, allowing police to increase their rate of crime solving. This capability was particularly helpful in the State Police's efforts to dismantle a gang called "9 Trey," a subset of the Bloods gang that was terrorizing people near the Irvington, N.J.-Newark boundary. By looking at the intelligence collected during traffic stops, State Police were able to make connections between unsolved old crimes and new crimes, said Lt. Col. Frank E. Rodgers, deputy superintendent of the New Jersey State Police.
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061210/NEWS/612100430/1001/OPINION
"Officers On Camera"
Register-Guard (12/09/06); Nolan, Rebecca
The Eugene Police Department in Oregon is installing in-car digital video systems in all patrol vehicles by the end of the year in order to reduce court time and citizen complaints, expedite internal affairs investigations, and provide training material. Although $620,000 in telecommunications tax revenue was earmarked by the city for such a recording system in March 2005, it took the department until last June to sign a contract with the Texas-based Coban Research and Technologies. So far, the approximately $6,500 units have been installed in 90 percent of the force's vehicles, and training has occurred for both supervisors and officers over the past several weeks. The user-friendly units consist of a mounted digital video camera, a hard drive capable of holding up to 40 hours of footage, a touch-screen monitor, and a mobile hard-drive unit and microphone that the officer carries. The system, which may be started from outside the car, can capture still images and records on a one-minute buffer until activated when the overhead lights come on, though the officer can also control the process using the touch-screen monitor. The footage is uploaded to a server at the end of each officer's shift and can be accessed by the officer who recorded it, supervisors, and the defendants.
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/12/09/a1.cameras.1209.p1.php?section=cityregion
"All County Schools Are Getting Radios"
Baltimore Sun (12/10/06); Williams IV, John-John
Howard County schools are receiving radios in January that can connect with police in emergency situations. The radios, which share some of the same functions as those employed by police agencies, will give school officials immediate access to a 911 dispatcher. Capt. Glenn Hansen of the Howard County Police Department said Howard County schools many be the only school system to have the high-tech radio system. Hansen, who is the department's information technology expert, emphasized that the distribution of the radio systems to the schools is not the result of any incident, but is intended to improve communication between the department and the schools. The federal Education and Homeland Security departments helped cover the $180,000 cost of the purchase. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.radio10dec10,0,480772.story?coll=bal-local-Howard
"Cops Warn of DWI Crisis Ahead"
Bergen Record (NJ) (12/06/06) P. A1; Salazar, Carolyn
Police departments in New Jersey warn that a lack of technology could hinder their ability to catch drunk drivers this holiday season. Specifically, the replacement components for Breathalyzer devices are not being manufactured anymore. In addition, the New Jersey Supreme Court has ordered counties to wait before buying new devices such as Alcotest, which prints out blood alcohol results on paper. The state high court wants to make sure the new machines are scientifically reliable, in response to lawyers' challenges. The high court's ruling has affected the counties of Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, and Essex. Officers in these counties will still be required to perform DWI checkpoints. But once the aging devices malfunction, new parts for them cannot be obtained, and the ampules necessary to conduct readings are also dwindling. Draeger Safety Diagnostic says only police departments in New Jersey are still using Breathalyzers. Some are suggesting the counties merge their ampule holdings or conduct regional breath tests. http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MDMyNDg0
"Communication Key In Tracking Offenders"
Vallejo Times Herald (CA) (12/06/06); Pursell, Erin
Various measures need to be taken to protect the residents of California's Solano County from registered sex offenders, according to statements made by Sheriff Gary Stanton on Dec. 5 to the Board of Supervisors. Provisions for a global positioning system to monitor the location of sex offenders were included in the recently-passed Proposition 83, which is also referred to as Jessica's Law, but the board rebuffed Stanton's proposal for the county to join a potential statewide pilot program because of feasibility and jurisdiction issues. Stanton also said that communication between state parole and local law enforcement is continuing to improve, as are parole list reviews and parole check compliance. Additionally, Stanton said that due to recent modifications to Megan's Law and state legislation that prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a public park or school, the offenders have begun migrating to Solano County and other more rural areas. Many residents are angry that the law does not require the state to personally notify them if a sex offender moves into their neighborhood, and though Stanton urged the public to check the national registry for such information, only 655 of the county's 948 registered sex offenders are listed in the database. There will be a statewide summit on the issue early next year. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/todaysnews/ci_4788422
"USM, Law Enforcement Develop Crime Scene Investigation Unit"
Associated Press (12/11/06); Leifer, Rachel
Law enforcement agencies in the Hattiesburg, Miss., area have partnered with the University of Southern Mississippi to establish the Metro Area Crime Scene and Identification Unit, which will build on the work of Hattiesburg's two crime scene investigators in order to improve evidence collection from crime scenes and identify and prosecute suspects more quickly. As part of the coordinated effort, which will likely get started in February or March pending approval from the state College Board, new crime scene technicians would be hired and at least one fully-furnished crime scene van and other equipment would be purchased. In addition, the project would give USM students hands-on training investigating crime scenes, taking and storing physical evidence, and using relevant technologies. One of those technologies is a machine called an Affix Tracker, which will be used to collect and store the fingerprints of each person arrested in Mississippi's Lamar and Forrest Counties. According to Jon Mark Weathers, the district attorney for Forrest and Perry Counties, the technology could dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to match prints from a crime scene to a suspect. http://www.ap.org
"Sheriff's Got a Top 10 List"
Chicago Sun-Times (12/07/06) P. 10; Hussain, Rummana
Tom Dart, the new sheriff of Cook County, has composed a list of what he wants to accomplish during his term. One of the goals is to decrease both drug and gang activity in the community. Other goals include establishing an internal hotline for employees to report any violations of the code of conduct.. Dart also wants to equip the Cook County Jail with a video surveillance system and set up a "video visitation" system at the facility. He also wants to equip court rooms with closed-circuit television for use during preliminary court hearings.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/163494,CST-NWS-dart07.article
"State Police Alter Tactics, Targets"
Philadelphia Inquirer (12/07/06) P. A1; Moroz, Jennifer
Last year, New Jersey State Police were the first in the country to launch a comprehensive intelligence-led policing initiative using information gathering, analysis, and sharing to identify the most important threats to public safety. The strategy, which has been used primarily for counterterrorism in the past, addresses all types of crimes and represents a shift from previous policy wherein officers went after whatever criminals they could, regardless of the severity of the crime. The program's focal point is the Regional Operations and Intelligence Center that opened last month in West Trenton, which houses such databases as New Jersey's Statewide Intelligence Management System and will soon be home to representatives from various state and federal agencies that include the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the New York and Philadelphia police departments. Since the center was already being constructed as an emergency operations facility, costs to the police were minimal, and the initiative has thus far helped to improve investigation quality and prevent crime through the use of risk-management techniques. "It's about surveying the organization to get as much information as you can to weigh the risks and decide where to put your resources," said Jerry Ratcliffe, an associate criminal justice professor at Temple. "In the end, you're still going to run informants and do surveillance, but hopefully on your most direct threats."
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16182747.htm
"Public Safety Experts Call 2007 "Most Important Year""
News Blaze (12/06/06)
Several top public safety experts recently participated in a panel discussion about communications interoperability for first responders at the National Press Club. "The Post Election Landscape for Public Safety Communications: 2007 Predictions and Recommendations" panel, which was sponsored by the First Response Coalition (FRC), concluded that 2007 would be a key year for communications interoperability for first responders. The panelists included representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation, and influential Senate committees. The panelists agreed that reaching a consensus definition for interoperability is key and that efforts to win funding and spectrum for first responders must be better organized. Another key to interoperability is the 24 MHz that was allocated to first responders from the digital television transition. The panelists also noted that public safety has bipartisan support, meaning there is a good chance that Congress will pass "comprehensive national interoperability legislation" in 2007. Steven Jones, executive director of the FRC, summarized the panel's conclusions thusly: "Public safety experts agree that adequate funding, sufficient spectrum, and a coordinated effort are needed to achieve interoperable emergency communications." http://newsblaze.com/story/20061206172607tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html
"Video Cameras Urged to Monitor the Police"
Los Angeles Times (12/09/06) P. B1; McGreevy, Patrick; Winton, Richard
Civil rights groups are requesting that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) place surveillance cameras in all police stations in order to protect suspects in custody from potential police abuse and to protect police from false allegations of abuse. Groups supporting the idea include the ACLU of Southern California, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and local community groups. The groups also urged police to speed up the process of installing surveillance cameras in police cruisers. The LAPD already has a four-year, phased plan for implementing surveillance cameras in all of the department's 1,200 patrol cars, at a cost of $25 million. The Police Protective League, which represents police officers, has not said what its position is on placing cameras inside stations, but the group does favor cameras in patrol cars to protect officers from false allegations. http://www.latimes.com
"Mission Possible: Forensics for Small to Mid-Size Departments"
Law Enforcement Technology (11/06) Vol. 33, No. 11, P. 96; Moore, Carole
Small- to mid-sized police departments can improve their rate of case resolution by spending the resources to create forensic units and train crime scene processors. One of the simplest and cheapest ways of accomplishing this is by training officers to perform very basic forensics tasks, such as fingerprint and simple evidence collection. Constructing a crime scene collection kit can also be accomplished simply and inexpensively by purchasing basic equipment such as rulers, bags, tape, and digital cameras at local or discount stores. The number of officers to be trained in this manner depends upon the jurisdiction, the number of officers, and the crime rate. Candidates for training should be chosen according to their career interests and ability to meet the challenges of the job. Local departments can collaborate with larger nearby departments and agencies to create regional response teams that reduce the amount of expense and manpower required. http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/
"Body Armor"
Police (11/06) Vol. 30, No. 11, P. 34; Griffith, David
Body armor is calibrated to meet specific threats, a feature that has been true since medieval days. Concealable ballistic vests are used to protect police from handgun fire and can be worn underneath clothing. Tactical body armor can protect someone from more sustained fire such as rifle fire, and can include inserted ceramic plates. Yet if "tac" armor is worn every day, it will impede an officer's ability to move, be energetic, and do his job. Some new tactical armor designs are attempting to make donning and wearing this heavier armor easier, such as Wolverine DM from Armor Express. Gator Hawk's Tac 30 can be customized for specific purchaser needs. Other new tactical body armor models include Predator OTV by Diamondback Tactical, S Street Vest by Bodyguard, and Grizzly by Armorshield. http://www.policemag.com
NLECTC
Thursday, December 7, 2006
"Cops Add Web Tools as a Way to Connect"
Sacramento Bee (CA) (12/03/06) P. B1; Lillis, Ryan
The Sacramento Police Department has developed a blog that is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation. The blog expands how the department uses the Internet, for example by responding to queries from citizens, launching podcasts to attract new hires, and making online crime reports more accessible. The blog was initially released in August, and now boasts almost 100 user accounts. Users can post questions through a feature called "Ask Officer Michelle," which is handled by Officer Michelle Lazark. One person, for example, recently posted a question about how to handle a witnessed crime. SPD Police Chief Albert Najera is now mulling the creation of an internal blog to help him communicate with the police force's 1,200 employees. "Anything you can do to make a police officer seem less threatening and more like a real person is very positive," Wayne Barte with the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization. "And it gives people a vehicle for finding out information that they flat out don't know." http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/86718.html
"Eye on Crime"
Indianapolis Star (12/01/06) P. 1; Ryckaert, Vic
The city of Indianapolis will use 27 monitoring cameras at high crime areas to discourage drug dealing and other criminal activities. The first camera was scheduled to begin operating late last week, while the rest of the cameras will go into service during the next three months. Fourteen or more cameras will be placed in the city's metropolitan areas and close to important infrastructure. Placement of the cameras, which is largely being paid for through a $1 million federal grant, was determined by crime figures. Installation of individual cameras will require an investment of roughly $14,000. Police agencies in a number of cities, such as Boston and Dallas, have used cameras to monitor areas and deter crime. Cameras installed in some areas of Chicago have contributed to a 30 percent drop in criminal activity. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006612010455
"New Radio System Links Macomb Law Enforcers"
Detroit News (12/01/06) P. 4B; Ramirez, Charles E.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office recently launched a public safety radio network that connects local police and fire departments to other law enforcement and emergency agencies in the state. The new system replaces communication technology that the Sheriff's Office relied on for roughly three decades. Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel projects that the system will be used by nearly all police, fire, and emergency agencies in the country within the next 24 months. The new system allows dispatchers to respond more quickly to more than one call. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061201/METRO03/612010346&SearchID=73265040456428
"Cops' Use of Cell Phones Scrutinized"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (12/01/06) P. A1; Ratcliffe, Heather
The St. Louis police department in June 2006 issued a rule preventing police officers from using earpiece cell phones on patrol. Some special units and police commanders still will have official cell phones, but officers are expected to communicate via police radio, says St. Louis Sgt. Sam Dotson. Alton Police Chief Chris Sullivan does not believe cell phones are a problem for his police force, and likens cell phone abuse to any other device overuse to be handled through normal channels. The St. Louis County Police currently are re-examining their cell phone policy in light of the city's move. Some police instructors argue that cell phones distract officers from their surroundings. Others contend cell phones can help an officer communicate during an emergency, or when police lines are busy, broken, or jammed.
"Little Proof That Cameras Are Effective"
Chicago Tribune (12/03/06) P. C2; Schachter, Jonathan M.
Chicago has been placing more surveillance cameras in high-crime and "sensitive" locations, typically with significant support from the public and amid much publicity. But Jonathan Schachter, a lecturer in public policy and administration at Northwestern University, says municipal data indicates that the city's overall crime rate has remained even. This implies that crime may have moved to areas without cameras. But city officials such as Monique Bond with the police department say cameras have helped slash crime at the sites where cameras have been installed. In Baltimore, however, video cameras have not helped solve any violent crimes there, says the state's attorney's office. Moreover, 40 percent of the more than 500 camera-based cases involving non-violent crimes submitted to prosecutors have been shelved. Schachter asserts that more investments should be made in appointing more police officers rather than in camera systems. He also believes it is important to invest in specialized crime-fighting units and make citizens more involved in crime prevention.
"Computertask Force Is a High Priority"
Evansville Courier & Press (IN) (12/04/06); Nesbitt, Jimmy
Vanderburgh County is all set to have a new task force that will investigate computer crimes such as child pornography, credit card fraud, and identity theft. Investigators will focus on crimes committed against children. The task force will consist of the Sheriff's Department, the prosecutor's office, and the Evansville Police Department. The joint effort will be established as soon as Eric Williams takes over as sheriff of Vanderburgh County. The proposal is not official yet, but Williams says he would like to start by the middle of next year. The number of computer crimes have gone up in the last five years, according to the Sheriff's Department. Detective Matt Hill at the Sheriff's Department says it can take up to six months to investigate a crime. The Evansville Police Department has three computer crimes investigators, but Hill says the task force needs at least five. Williams says state and federal authorities may possibly take part in the task force. "When you start talking about Internet-related crimes and computer-related crimes, jurisdictional boundaries become very, very faint at best," says Williams.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/dec/04/computertask-force-high-priority
"Police Get Communications Vehicle"
Lebanon Daily News (PA) (11/29/06); Sholly, Chris
The Hershey Police Department has acquired a mobile-communications vehicle that can be used for conducting security operations. The vehicle, which will also be available for use by other local law enforcement agencies, is equipped with cell phones, Direct TV, a mapping system, and Internet-enabled SmartBoard Screen. The department used multiple grants to pay the $400,000 cost of purchasing the vehicle. The unit's technology enables it to serve during emergency operations, such as when major storms strike the area.
http://www.ldnews.com/fastsearchresults/ci_4740054
"Police Cars Getting Digital Cameras"
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (11/30/06); Bleed, Jake
The Little Rock Police Department is getting a new fleet of police cruisers featuring new technologies. The vehicles will be equipped with digital cameras as well as computer equipment that stores digital files rather than VHS footage. The equipment will replace the department's existing system that comprises up to 1,000 videocassettes at any given time. The new digital cameras will have superior recording and sound capabilities and will also be easier to manage. Furthermore, they will eliminate the need to purchase, handle, and store videocassettes. Footage from the new cameras will be instantly transmitted via a wireless link from cruisers' computers to a server in the police garage. Officers will also be able to transfer footage via email. The upgrades are part of a two-year improvement effort of the department that is being funded by $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice.
"Palm Reading Joins Ranks of the Crime-Fighting Tools"
Chicago Tribune (11/30/06) P. 6; Yang, Tony C.
The Chicago Police Department has deployed electronic palm readers to process arrests by recording the entire palm. The Live Scan fingerprint scanners are high-tech gadgets that work like copy machines and allow state and federal authorities to share information, says Marikay Hegarty at the Chicago Police Department. The Illinois Criminal Justice Authority provided an $829,000 grant for the department to purchase 37 Motorola palm reading units. The new tools are faster than the old method of ink fingerprinting. Law enforcement officials can quickly find out if someone has a criminal record. The palm readers will replace the department's old fingerprinting system within the next two weeks.
"Mayor Backs Prompt Study of Taser Use"
Houston Chronicle (11/30/06) P. B1; Stiles, Matt; Glenn, Mike
Houston, Texas, Mayor Bill White has told the Houston City Council he wants an immediate, independent statistical study on how Tasers are being used on suspects of various ethnicities, and on whether Tasers are reducing injuries to police officers and reducing fatalities to suspects. Houston's police have been using Tasers for two years now, and the mayor's request comes after an incident in which police officers used Tasers to subdue Houston Texan football player Fred Weary. According to Houston Police Department statistics for 2005, Tasers were used 64 percent of the time on African-Americans and 23 percent of the time on Hispanics, though African-Americans represent 23 percent of Houston's population, and Hispanics 43 percent. The Houston police department says Tasers have been well studied in the department, have reduced injuries, and have saved lives. In terms of Fred Weary, Weary denies he was combative, and a judge already has dismissed resisting arrest charges against him. Houston City Controller Annise Parker is beginning a separate review on Taser use in Houston.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4368491.html
"Fingerprint Machine Only New for U. Kentucky-Area Police"
University Wire (11/30/06)
The Lexington, Ky., police department received its first electronic fingerprinting device called Livescan in October 2006 and expects a second one for its forensics department before the year is over. Lexington police Sgt. James Decker expects training will be completed and the machines ready for use by January 2007. Livescan costs $24,000 for one machine and all accessories. The Lexington county jail has used a Livescan machine for the last 10 years. Electronic fingerprinting means not only faster processing of suspects and inmates, but the machine also automatically sends fingerprints to the FBI and other government agencies.
"Safety Vision, L.P. Expands PatrolRecorder Line of In-car Video"
Business Wire (11/22/06)
Safety Vision, a global provider of mobile digital video solutions, is expanding the PatrolRecorder line by introducing the PatrolRecorder CF and the PatrolRecorder RHD. Both mobile recorders provide law enforcement personnel with high quality mobile video recording in a digital format. The PatrolRecoder CF is a solid state mobile digital recorder with no moving parts and can store up to 13 hours of data. The PatrolRecorder RHD is able to store several shifts' worth of data with its removable 2.5" mobile-rated hard drive. Both units power up in less than four seconds and provide pre-event recording time of up to 60 seconds. A standard feature includes integrated GPS positioning, which tracks vital information such as location and speed for each recorded event. Data is retrievable by removing the compact flash card or hard drive, or using wireless technology. To assist police departments in managing and archiving collected data, a software application that integrates with database technology was developed for these units. Video files and corresponding metadata are stored in a database allowing efficient information retrieval as needed. http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20061122005555&newsLang=en
"Bridging the Gap Between First Responder and Citizen Caller"
Law Enforcement Technology (11/06) Vol. 33, No. 11, P. 76; Lorello, Tim
On a daily basis, first responders such as police officers and emergency medical personnel respond to incidents where they need to receive information as quickly as possible in order to make a difference. Over the past several decades, the flow of crucial data to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) has been streamlined to the point of near-perfection. However, the process of transmitting this data from the PSAP to first responders in the field has not gone as smoothly. New types of communications methods are evolving that could eventually make the exchange of this data automatic. One potential solution is the Next Generation 9-1-1 public safety infrastructure, which uses Internet Protocol interfaces that can support both data and voice. The FCC is examining the possibility of using text messaging and other types of data to accomplish the same goal, and the public safety industry has defined interfaces that support a range of data and voice services. http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/
"Cities Find New Uses For Crime Fighting Tool"
American City & County (11/06) Vol. 121, No. 12, P. 20; Brock, Ed
Cities of all sizes have begun correlating daily crime report data using Computerized Statistics (CompStat) programs in order to ensure criminal hotspots receive adequate attention from law enforcement officers. According to detective Jeff Godown, CompStat director for the Los Angeles Police Department, about 60 percent of U.S. cities utilize some variation of the program, which gives precinct commanders the power to direct law enforcement strategy and make the best of their often limited resources. "It allows you to put the cops where the crimes are occurring," said Godown. "There's a litany of different entities that we're starting to CompStat." The programs are also being implemented by local governments for other public services and can be used to file reports, track worker performance, gather 311 data, and generally improve efficiency and service. California's Long Beach Police Department has seen crime continually decrease in the three years it has used CompStat, and local officials are now considering using such a system in a citywide performance management initiative currently in the works. The programs can save money by reducing overtime and absenteeism in major cities such as Baltimore, which expects to save $350 million in the first five years of its Citistat public works program after an initial investment of just $20,000. http://americancityandcounty.com/publicsafety/government_cities_find_new/
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