Improved Information Sharing in Alabama
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department has received $500,000 in federal funding to improve information sharing with 26 police departments within the county and five neighboring counties. Officers will be able to communicate with each other immediately via squad car laptop computers instead of by the former methods of fax and teletype.
Carol Robinson, "Sheriff's office gets $500,000 to beef up information sharing," Birmingham (Ala.) News, 14 Aug. 2007: B1
Federal Grant Funds AFIS in Nebraska
The Buffalo County Sheriff's Office and the Kearney Police Department have received a $15,827 federal grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to acquire an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS). Sharing the new AFIS equipment, the departments will no longer have to submit fingerprints to the Nebraska State Patrol for processing.
"Kearney, county get fingerprint funds," The Kearney (Neb.) Hub, 16 Aug. 2007: 2B
Copper Theft Database Planned for Tennessee
The Tennessee Scrap Recyclers Association - a new not-for-profit trade association - is forming a task force with law enforcement agencies across the state to cut down on copper thefts. A database will be created to improve information sharing on copper thefts from construction sites and other locations, to catch thieves and identify stolen material.
Kelli Gauthier, "Coalition to fight copper thefts," Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times and Free Press, 19 Aug. 2007
NTIA Releases New Grant Guidance
On Aug. 16, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published revised guidance for states and local agencies to apply for a share of $1 billion in public safety interoperability grant funds. Applications from states and territories are due on Aug. 22, 2007.
Alice Lipowicz, "Interoperability grant guidelines revised," Washington Technology, 17 Aug. 2007
Washington, D.C. Police Use Nickname Database to Solve Crimes
The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is using a database of nicknames to identify suspects and solve crimes. The database, with thousands of “street names” gathered by officers over the past few decades, is especially useful in solving gang-related crime.
Allison Klein, "Nickname Data Help D.C. Police Pursue Criminals," Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2007: A1
Mobile Computer Use Widespread in Southern California
Law enforcement agencies throughout Inland Southern California are adding mobile computers to improve officers’ ability to communicate with each other and access criminal records databases. For example, the city of Corona has expanded the use of in-car computers by purchasing more than 130 computers, at $4,000 apiece, for field staff in the city's animal control, fire, code enforcement, and utility departments.
Melanie C. Johnson, "Computers in cars; They Let Staff File Reports While in the Field," The Press Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.), 12 Aug. 2007: B1
