Prince William Co. (VA) Police get MCU
Prince William County (Virginia) Police have purchased a $580,000 mobile command unit (MCU) for use in natural disasters, major crimes and terrorist events. The 40-foot long vehicle, purchased with a federal grant, is equipped with a fixed-mast camera, a small conference room, and a variety of computer, radio and telecommunications gear. The MCU also has video downlink equipment to receive and analyze images from police helicopter cameras.
Source: "Police Roll Out Command Unit for Emergencies in Prince William" by Paul Bradley; Richmond (VA) Times Dispatch, 2 July 2003: B2
Maryland Creates Homeland Security Office
Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. has signed an executive order creating a state Office of Homeland Security to work in conjunction with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for terrorist attacks. The office will serve as a "central command" to allocate federal grant money, set policies and procedures, and support joint anti-terrorism efforts across all levels of government. Dennis Schrader, a University of Maryland Medical System vice president and former Howard County councilman, has been appointed director of the office by the governor.
Source: "Ehrlich forms office to fight terrorist plots; Md. homeland security agency is launched to coordinate efforts" by David Nitkin; The Baltimore (MD) Sun, 2 July 2003: 1B
Task Force Report on First Responders
The Independent Task Force on Emergency Responders, a panel sponsored by the Council of Foreign Relations and led by former Senator Warren B. Rudman, has released a report on the needs of first responders across the nation. See the press release to download the report, "Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared."
Source: "Nearly Two Years After 9/11, the United States is Still Dangerously Unprepared and Underfunded for a Catastrophic Terrorist Attack, Warns New Council Task Force;" Council of Foreign Relations press release, 29 June 2003
Henderson (KY) Police Get Grant for Cruiser Laptops
Police cruisers in Henderson, Kentucky will soon be equipped with laptop computers, thanks to a federal grant of $810,000. The department will purchase 40 laptops and a wireless network, allowing officers to connect to state criminal records as well as to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The new system will also enable officers to file reports from their cruisers and have their locations tracked by an automatic vehicle locator.
Source: "Henderson to buy laptops for police cruisers;" The Associated Press State & Local Wire, 25 June 2003
Laguna Niguel (CA) Police Get Grant for Cruiser Laptops
The Laguna Niguel (California) Police Department will receive 14 mobile data computers as part of an Orange County plan to equip 310 law enforcement vehicles across the county. Almost all of the $246,481 cost will be paid for through grants. The new computers will allow deputies to look up any address in the state, display a map of the location and check criminal records on their way to 911 calls.
Source: "Deputies get mobile data computers" by Marie Ekberg Padilla; Orange County (CA) Register, 19 June 2003
R.I. State Police Web Site for Stolen Goods
The Rhode Island State Police Detective Division has recovered nearly 80 stolen jewelry items from an eight month string of robberies in the three southern New England states. A web site with photographs of the loot was created to enable theft victims to identify their stolen property. Victims must contact the local police department that handled their case to make a claim.
Source: "To find owners, police post stolen loot on Web" by Paul Davis; Providence (RI) Journal-Bulletin, 29 June 2003
