Maryland's Local Homeland Security Efforts
Due to their proximity to Washington, D.C., many Maryland counties -- including Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, St. Mary’s, Howard, Calvert, Fredrick and Montgomery -- have improved their anti-terrorism capabilities. Efforts include opening county offices and creating committees to combat terrorism, encouraging anti-terrorism technology entrepreneurs, buying counter-terrorism supplies, and strategizing ways to prepare a quick and efficient response should a bioterrorism attack occur. A tri-county homeland security plan has been developed by Charles, St. Mary's and Calvert counties, as a way of best utilizing federal homeland security funding.
Source: "Security Becomes Local Priority; Counties Commit Funds, Planning to Anti-Terrorism Efforts" by Paul Schwartzman; The Washington Post, 12 June 2003: T05
Virginia's Terrorist Intelligence Network
The Virginia Sheriffs' Association has set up a Terrorist Intelligence Network, using $219,000 earmarked by the U.S. Congress back in February. The network, approved by the FBI, is designed to improve information sharing between Virginia's 123 elected sheriffs and federal law enforcement. Virginia sheriffs are on the front lines of homeland security, and 86 of the the states sheriffs have law enforcement responsibilities in addition to running jails.
Source: "Sheriffs Fight Terror; Intelligence Network Links Officers to FBI" by Peter Hardin; Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch, 16 June 2003: B1
Martha's Vineyard (MA) Gets 311 System
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, became the first location in New England - and the first rural site in the country - to adopt a 311 system for non emergency police calls. The system is intended to help sheriff's department 911 operators who last year received 60% of their calls for non-emergency situations. The 311 system will direct calls to offices in the six island towns: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury. The system's $30,000 startup costs were funded through a U.S. Department of Justice grant.
Source: "Martha's Vineyard adopts 311 information system" by Theo Emery; The Associated Press State & Local Wire, 16 June 2003
Medford (OR) Police Set Up "Mesh" Network
The Medford (Oregon) Police Department is replacing its wireless communications network with a new "mesh" network based on technology developed for the U.S. military. The $500,000 system links the department’s computers, PDAs, cell phones and other devices like an Internet router, extending the range and offering interoperability. It will be set up with 120 nodes in Medford and then extended to the rest of Jackson County.
Source: "Police force making network mesh" by Brian Robinson; Government e-business, 19 June 2003
Vermont Police Get Grant for Cruiser Laptops
The South Burlington (Vermont) Police Department and nearby Colchester Police Department have each equipped six police cruisers with laptop computers connected to Vermont State Police and FBI criminal records databases. Officers are now able to run their own license plate checks without using dispatchers and prepare reports in their vehicles, keeping them on the street longer. The system, funded through a $350,000 Department of Justice grant, can handle up to 100 computers, allowing other departments to join in the future.
Source: "Wired cars keep cops cruising; S. Burlington, Colchester connect police vehicles to vital databases" by Emily Stone; The Burlington (VT) Free Press, 16 June 2003: 1B
Hawaii Cybercrime Task Force
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Hawaii is forming a cybercrimes task force to deal with an "increasing number of problems" with identity theft and computer fraud on Oahu. Hawaii had the second highest per capita rate in the United States for Internet fraud complaints in 2002, according to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, with about 400 computer fraud complaints reported. The task force – to be composed of local, state and federal law enforcement officers – will take complaints from the public and gather intelligence on cases.
Source: "Task force to target computer crimes in Hawai'i" by Allison Schaefers; The Honolulu (HI) Advertiser, 18 June 2003: 6B
