Database to track Baltimore (MD) Police conduct
The Baltimore (Maryland) Police Department is developing a database to monitor the performance of its 3,200 officers, integrating statistics such as missed court dates, sick leave, arrests, car stops and citizens' complaints. The department hopes to bring the system online within the next year, but has not yet identified any sources for funding. The system will not be used to punish officers, only to alert commanders to possible problems. Similar systems developed in other cities have had various levels of success.
Source: "System to track police conduct; Computer base to identify officers for counseling" by Del Quentin Wilber; The Baltimore (MD) Sun, September 25, 2002, Pg. 1B
Colorado Developing gang database.
Colorado's Attorney General and various law enforcement agencies in the state have spent four years developing a gang-tracking database, using $250,000 in federal funding. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation will maintain the GangNet database, which will allow police and prosecutors from 40 different agencies to search for information on gang suspects, graffiti, tattoos and other topics. Once the state develops criteria for what data is entered into the database CBI auditors will make sure regulations are followed.
Source: "Police to share GangNet database" by Carol Kreck; Denver (CO) Post, September 24, 2002, Pg. B3
Indianapolis (IN) Police receive DNA cold hit
Indianapolis (Indiana) Police recently received word of a CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) cold hit for an October 2001 rape and burglary case. The repeat offender charged in the case is now a suspect in four similar sexual attacks in the area in 2000 and 2001. The man's DNA sample was in CODIS because of earlier convictions, including rape in 1986, cocaine possession in 1997 and resisting law enforcement in 2001.
Source: "DNA leads to arrest in '01 rape" by Kevin O’Neal; The Indianapolis (IN) Star, September 20, 2002, Pg. 1A
N.H. State Police Web site to post sex offender data
In a few weeks the New Hampshire State Police Web site will start including information about certain categories of registered sex offenders. The State Legislature passed a bill earlier this year allowing information to be posted on offenders who committed crimes against children under 13 years old or were convicted of crimes related to child pornography. The site will list the names, ages, addresses and crimes of these offenders, with current photos only available at local police departments.
Source: "N.H. to Post 700 Sex Offenders on Web" by James Vaznis; The Boston (MA) Globe, September 22, 2002, Northwest edition pg. 7
Mesa (AZ) Police featured in DOJ training video
The Mesa (Arizona) Police Department's 911 operators and dispatchers are one of five law enforcement units from across the nation featured in a new training video from the U.S. Department of Justice on best practices for implementation of COPS MORE grants. Not all of the $1 billion awarded to agencies nationwide in such grants has been well spent. Mesa Police used their funding to equip squad cars with transponders that enable dispatchers to monitor their locations every 30 seconds, and both dispatchers and vehicles are equipped with color coded maps that have improved response times to calls.
Source: "Mesa 911 Computer Stars in New Video; Mapping, Windows Aid Officers, Firefighters" by Patricia Biggs; The Arizona Republic, September 6, 2002, Pg. 1B
Squad car laptops for Vero Beach (FL) Police
The Vero Beach (Florida) Police Department plans to have a network of ten squad car laptops online by the end of November. The department will use federal and city funds to purchase the laptops as well as a radio-tower antenna and server to support the computers. Officers will be able to use the laptops to run license plate checks without using dispatchers and communicate with each other by silent dispatch.
Source: "Vero Beach Police Getting Computers in Cars" by Marc Dadigan; Press Journal (Vero Beach, FL) September 25, 2002, Pg. A1
