Indianapolis (IN) Police use AFIS to solve 1999 rape case
The Indianapolis Police Department recently used its automated fingerprint identification system to make an arrest in the 1999 rape of a 15-year-old girl. Routine booking fingerprints taken from a man arrested for driving without a valid driver’s license were matched by the database to crime scene evidence from the rape. Indianapolis Police solve 65 to 70% of rape cases, which fell from 279 reported cases in 2000 to 262 cases in 2001.
Source: “Man arrested in 1999 rape; Fingerprints taken at scene match those of man arrested this fall, authorities say” by Tom Spalding; The Indianapolis (IN) Star, November 6, 2002, Pg. 5B
Alabama upgrades AFIS link to FBI
The Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) has upgraded its automated fingerprint database after three years of work and about $184,000 in software spending. The ABI can now run online fingerprint background checks of teachers, childcare providers and others against the FBI database. The state is still developing the capability of running crime scene prints on AFIS, making it one of of 15 states that does not yet participate in the national system.
Source: “Alabama upgrades print checking system in wake of sniper match” by Jay Reeves; The Associated Press State & Local Wire, October 31, 2002
Biometric I.D. cards for NYPD
The New York Police Department will soon provide new high-tech I.D. cards to its 50,000 officers and civilian employees, the first step in providing cards to all of the city's 200,000 employees. The cards will include microchips containing biometric identifiers of the cardholder, as well as personal information such as blood type and emergency contact information. The cards will eventually offer biometric access to security areas and reduce paperwork used to track work hours. An NYPD pilot program on Staten Island next summer will test the use of the cards for time-reporting.
Source: “City Adds High-Tech I.D. Cards” by Murray Weiss; The New York Post, November 1, 2002
L.A. County (CA) Sheriff's Dept. forms homeland security unit
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is creating an Office of Homeland Security to improve anti-terrorism preparedness and response. The office will be composed of deputies already working on homeland security in special units such as the Office of Security Management and the Community Law Enforcement Partnership Unit. Having all the officers in one unit will offer improved command and control.
Source: “Sheriff's Department to Form Homeland Arm” by Michelle Rester; The Daily News of Los Angeles, October 23, 2002, Pg. N5
Pennington County (SD) sex offender Web site
The Pennington County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Office has added information about registered sexual offenders on its Web site as a service to the public. Offenders can be searched by neighborhood or by name, with photos and addresses provided by the state. The county is the first in the state to be linked to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation sex offender database.
Source: “Pennington County post sex offenders list on the Web;” The Associated Press State & Local Wire, October 19, 2002
Florida's anti-terrorism progress report
The Florida Domestic Security Oversight Board, created to administer and coordinate the operation of Florida’s seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces, has reported progress in strengthening the state’s security. Areas of improvement include the training of public safety personnel, development of a Counterterrorism Intelligence Center, cyber-security audits, revised licensing procedures, and increased security at ports. The November progress report is titled "Strengthening Domestic Security in Florida: Making Florida Safer" . Additional reports on Florida domestic security are available at: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/osi/domesticsecurity/reports.htm
Source: “Task Force Cites Progress in Securing State Against Terrorists,” by Randolph Pendleton; The Associated Press State & Local Wire, November 1, 2002
