LAW ENFORCEMENT
LAPD to Upgrade 911 System
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) plans to incrementally upgrade the city's 911 system to handle text messages and photos from emergency callers’ cellphones. Because the city handles over 2 million calls a year, LAPD officials plan to make changes slowly to avoid data overload for the emergency response process.
Richard Winton, "LAPD plans to accept 911 text messages; In a few years, callers will be able to send photos, video and text via cellphone during emergencies, police say," Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2007: B1
New Jersey County Creates Regional Database
A regional information sharing system allows police agencies in Middlesex County, N.J. to access each other’s law enforcement records. County officials created the system two years ago to connect county law enforcement agencies, adding police departments in New Brunswick, Highland Park, Woodbridge, and Plainsboro as phase two of the project.
Diane C. Walsh, "Computers in cruisers give more data faster," The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.), 22 June 2007: 25
Florida City Gets Squad Car Laptops
New squad car computers have improved operations for the Largo, Fla. Police Department, allowing officers to run license plate checks without waiting for help from dispatchers. This not only improves officer safety, but also speeds up the issuing of traffic tickets.
"In-Car Computers Click with Police Mission," St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, 20 June 2007: 2
Chicago Police to View Live Feed from Buses
To improve the safety of passengers, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is outfitting buses with equipment that will enable Chicago police officers in patrol cars to receive real-time video feeds from the buses during emergency situations. Live feeds will also be available to the city's public safety dispatchers in the near future.
"High-tech patrol; New technology will give police bird's-eye view into CTA buses," Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2007: 8
Immigration Arrests Up After Deportation Orders Added to NCIC
A growing number of illegal immigrants are being arrested because hundreds of thousands of outstanding deportation orders - entered into the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database since 2002 - are discovered by police officers nationwide during routine traffic stops and other records checks. According to statistics from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, more than 25,000 fugitives have identified since the addition of deportation orders to NCIC, though local enforcement of the orders varies by city and state.
Ernesto Londono, "Database Is Tool in Deporting Fugitives; Police Officers Find Illegal Immigrants in Warrant Searches," The Washington Post, 13 June 2007: A1