Arizona Border Security Drill
The Arizona Office of Homeland Security held a terrorism response drill involving public health and law enforcement officials from 40 U.S. agencies and 20 Mexican agencies along the U.S.-Mexico border. About 1,000 people took part in the exercise, which simulated the use of explosives and toxic gas by terrorists. Inter-agency communications will be among the topics covered in a lessons learned report about the drill.
Source: "Terrorism drill along the U.S-Mexico border tests law enforcement readiness" by Arthur H. Rotstein. The Associated Press, 17 Nov. 2003
Norfolk, VA Gets New Dispatch System
Norfolk, Virginia has brought its new 911 computer dispatch system online, after months of planning and training. The system offers computerized maps for police and fire vehicles en route to emergency calls, with directions read aloud. The city purchased the new dispatch system as part of its $6.5 million plan to improve public safety communications and records management.
Source: "Norfolk Launches Its New 911 System" by Matthew Roy. The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) 17 Nov. 2003: B1
SFPD Use of Crime Mapping System
The San Francisco Police Department has unveiled a sophisticated crime mapping system that will improve the ability of officers to access current crime data. The robust system, currently running on about 10 computer servers in the city's data center, was paid for with a $1.5 million community policing grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The department plans to offer the crime mapping function on its Web site for public use in the next few months.
Source: "S.F. police to put crime mapping system on Web; Public will get access to arrest data by neighborhood" by Carrie Kirby. The San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Nov. 2003: E1
Miss. Tri-County Automated Systems Project
Jackson County, Mississippi is teaming with Hancock County and Harrison County on the Tri-County Automated System Project, a federally funded effort to improve information sharing and communications among police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. The federal government has committed $10 million, with an additional $10 million in the works, to the system. One of the early technology upgrades from the project has been a new digital booking system in the Jackson County Jail.
Source: "Jackson Co. welcomes technology" by Karen Nelson. Biloxi (MS) Sun Herald, 19 Nov. 2003: A6
E. Providence (RI) Police Get Federal Funding
The East Providence (Rhode Island) Police Department, which has 97 officers and an annual budget of $8.6 million, has received a $750,000 Congressional earmark for cruiser laptops and other high-tech equipment. The federal funding will outfit 21 cruisers with laptops, upgrade video surveillance at police headquarters, provide an electronic records management system, and supply additional communications and law enforcement equipment.
Source: “Police Department to upgrade technology with federal funds” by Amanda Milkovits. Providence (RI) Journal-Bulletin, 7 Nov. 2003: C1
NYPD to Access Interpol Database
The NYPD will soon become the first U.S. police department connected to Interpol's I-24/7 database that offers online access to fingerprints, passports and pictures, including those of wanted terrorists. The Interpol pilot program will add seven other major American cities by June.
Source: "NYPD to Have Access to Interpol Data" by Daryl Khan. Newsday, 19 Nov. 2003
