HOMELAND SECURITY INNOVATION AWARD SEEKS APPLICANTS
Mitretek Systems, a nonprofit organization specializing in the use of technology in the public interest, and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, are accepting nominations for the first annual Mitretek Innovations Award in Homeland Security. This is the first major national award program of its kind created since 9/11. The Award will identify, explore and highlight creative and effective government solutions, and the leaders behind them, to the nation’s homeland security concerns. All innovative government programs and public-private ventures in the field of homeland security are encouraged to apply for this Award. For more information, a complete set of rules, and an on-line nomination form, please visit http://www.homelandsecurityinnovations.org/.
Source: "Top Homeland Security Programs to be Cited in the First National Award Program of its Kind Created Since 9/11;" Mitretek Systems news release, 26 April 2004
FINGERPRINT CHECK NABS HOMICIDE SUSPECT IN AUBURN, NY
A homicide suspect from Allentown, Pa., was recently arrested by an alert Auburn (NY) Police officer. The man was stopped on a tinted window violation, and when his Ohio driver's license did not match his description a subsequent fingerprint check discovered the outstanding warrant.
Source: “Traffic Stop Catches Homicide Suspect” by John Stith; The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.), 15 April 2004: B5
COUNCIL BLUFFS (IA) POLICE OFFER ONLINE ACCIDENT REPORTING
Starting May 1, the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Police Department will allow online submission of traffic accident reports. The user-friendly service is available through a commercial company that receives 25 percent of the $10 fee charged by the police department.
Source: “Bluffs to offer accident reports online” by Julie Anderson; Omaha (Neb.) World Herald, 19 April 2004: B1
DNA COLD HIT ON 2003 PORTLAND (OR) RAPE
A DNA cold hit has led the Portland Police Bureau to arrest a 35-year-old local man on suspicion of raping and robbing a woman at knife point on Nov. 22, 2003. The Oregon State Police Crime Lab entered DNA evidence into CODIS, which matched the suspects’ DNA on file in Florida.
Source: “DNA Match Leads Police to Suspect in Southeast Portland Rape Last Fall” by Joseph Rose; The Oregonian, 20 April 2004: B7
BRATTLEBORO (VT) POLICE WIN IACP AWARD
From an applicant pool of hundreds of departments worldwide, the Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department was recently announced as the winner of the leadership in technology award for small departments from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Brattleboro has used federal funding to purchase and implement digital surveillance cameras and a bar code tracking system for evidence and equipment.
Source: “Brattleboro police win technology award” by Justin Mason; Brattleboro (VT) Reformer, 15 April 2004
OKLAHOMA TO FUND FIRST RESPONDER INTEROPERABILITY
According to Maj. Kerry Pettingill, director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, roughly half of the $32 million in grants recently received from the Department of Homeland Security will be used to improve first responder communications. The funds will be used for hardware, software, radio towers and other equipment that would synchronize public safety radio frequencies during statewide emergencies.
Source: “State receives $32 million for security; About half of the federal allocation will be used for communication improvements, officials say” by Michael Baker; The Daily Oklahoman, 21 April 2004: 4A
