LAW ENFORCEMENT
Delaware Intelligence Analysis Center Gets Federal Funding
On Nov. 15, U.S. Senators Joe Biden (D-DE), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) announced the approval of important projects for Delaware contained in the fiscal year 2006 Science, State and Justice (SSJ) Appropriations bill, including $800,000 for Delaware Intelligence Analysis Center technology upgrades. Updated computers, conferencing equipment, and software will help the Delaware Intelligence Analysis Center, operated by Delaware State Police, collect, analyze, and disseminate criminal intelligence, conduct crime analysis, provide officer and public safety alerts, and disseminate critical infrastructure information to persons in law enforcement, government, and the private sector.
Source: "Delaware Gets Important Funds for Law Enforcement, Education and Science," Congressional press release, 15 Nov. 2005, online at http://www.house.gov/castle/pr_05_cjs2005.html
U.S. House Looks at Intelligence Information Sharing to States
The Bush administration and Congress must provide more resources to a new office charged with making it easier for federal officials to share intelligence information with state and local officials, the House Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee was told by witnesses at a Nov. 8 hearing. The Subcommittee examined the role of the Information Sharing Program Manager, a position established by the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.
Source: Greta Wodele, "House panel hears call to support new intelligence office," Govexec.com, 9 Nov. 2005, online
DNA Cold Hit Solves Chicago Murders
A Chicago man has been charged in two grisly 2003 slayings and sexual assaults, including that of an 81-year-old woman, after his DNA led to a match in the state's database. The arrest by the Chicago Police Department's cold case unit came two days after DNA collected during an unrelated aggravated assault charge linked the suspect to the killings.
Source: Gerry Doyle, “DNA link leads police to suspect in 2 slayings,” Chicago (Ill.) Tribune, 16 Nov. 2005: C2
Tennessee Methamphetamine Database Gets Federal Funding
A regional task force that helps train and supply law enforcement's battle against methamphetamine in East Tennessee, based on the South/East Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force established in the late 1990s, will be expanded to cover the entire state, using $3 million in federal funding that is expected to be approved soon. An additional $1 million in federal funds will create a statewide computerized data system that law enforcement can use to track meth cookers who often move from county to county.
Source: Bill Theobald, “$4M would let state expand meth task force, create data system,” The Tennessean (Nashville, Tenn.), 12 Nov. 2005: 1B