Information Sharing Portal for Texas Police
Police departments from Arlington, Dallas, Denton, Grapevine, Lewisville and North Richland Hills have signed memorandums of understanding saying they want to share their information using an inter-jurisdictional program designed to improve crime and link analysis. The Law Enforcement Analysis Portal program, or LEAP, is a project of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG).
Cynthia Neff, "New system will be a big LEAP for police agencies," Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram, 1 March 2007
West Haven, Conn. Police Go High-Tech
The West Haven Police Department has, with the help of commercial vendors, developed a computer system that enables officers in their cruisers to instantly access files of mug shots, fingerprints and gun permits. The department is also working on a mug shot sharing program called SCORPION (Southern Connecticut Organization of Police Information On-Line), which will be made available to area departments for deployment in the field.
Marissa Yaremich, "W. Haven cops on the high-tech ball," New Haven (Conn.) Register, 21 Feb. 2007
Improved Information Sharing in Massachusetts
The Holden, Mass. Police Department is now connected to 19 other area police departments, allowing officers to access criminal records over a user-friendly Windows-based system. Departments participating in the new information sharing system include Athol, Auburn, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, Grafton, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Millbury, Northbridge, Oxford, Princeton, Rutland, Southbridge, Sterling, Sturbridge, Uxbridge, Webster and Westboro.
Jean Laquidara Hill, "Holden police show off new database access," Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette, 22 Feb. 2007: B8
DNA Cold Hit Solves 1996 Kansas City Rape Case
A DNA cold hit has enabled Kansas City police to make an arrest in an unsolved case involving a 9-year-old girl snatched off the street in 1996. The man, who has no record of violent crimes, provided his DNA sample to his probation officer two months ago because a 2005 Missouri law requires even nonviolent felons do so.
Christine Vendel, "DNA database links suspect to 1996 rape of 9-year-old," The Kansas City (Mo.) Star, 22 Feb. 2007
Using DNA to Solve Burglaries in Denver
The Denver DNA Burglary Case Project is one of five sites selected in late 2005 to participate in President Bush's DNA Initiative, "Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology." Supported by a grant from the National Institute of Justice, the program allows police and the Denver District Attorney’s Office to solve property crime using DNA analysis and CODIS uploads.
Lou Kilzer, "Genetic fingerprints proving downfall for Denver burglars; DNA tests on evidence successfully tying suspects to dozens of crimes," Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.), 24 Feb. 2007: 4
