Public Safety Technology in the News

Police Use “Ghost Car” to Scare Distracted Drivers
AOLnews.com, (04/06/2010)
Police in a New York suburb are using a low-profile “ghost car” to catch motorists who speed, drive aggressively, talk on the phone or text while driving. The car used by the Westchester County Police Department since December 2009 has no lights on its roof and no colored decals identifying it as a police vehicle. The car’s lights and sirens are hidden behind its grille and windshield. The all-white Ford Crown Victoria has white police stickers on its doors that are visible close up during the day. However, at night the decal is reflective. Police department spokesman Kevin O’Leary said drivers don’t realize the vehicle is a police car and often continue to speed, drive erratically or talk on the phone even when the ghost car is behind them on the road. The downside of the vehicle is that officials are worried it may not be visible during a snowstorm, so keep it off the road during storms. Also, the car may become ineffective as drivers get wise to its use.
www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/westchester-police-use-ghost-car-to-thwart-speeders/19428609

Pittsburgh Seeks to Deter, Record Crime With More Cameras
Government Technology, (04/07/2010), Karen Wilkinson
Pittsburgh is seeking to blanket the city with cameras to help deter and solve crimes. City officials have asked for between $12 million and $14 million in Broadband Technology Opportunities Program funds, which are disbursed by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The city made the request in conjunction with the Community College of Allegheny County and Carnegie Mellon University. The grant would be used to buy 220 security cameras, install a wireless network and create software to filter the content. The city currently has 20 cameras in neighborhoods, and plans to install 50 more along the city’s waterways this summer. The camera system recognizes loud noises such as gunshots or car backfires, and alerts police.
www.govtech.com/gt/articles/751833

Monterey County Joins Data-Sharing Program to Help Identify Criminal Undocumented Immigrants
The Monterey County Herald, (04/07/2010)
Monterey County is the latest California jurisdiction to participate in a U.S. Department of Homeland Security information-sharing program to identify undocumented criminal immigrants. Under the Secure Communications program, fingerprints of people arrested in the county will now be sent to DHS and the FBI, which checks for criminal histories. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would detain and deport undocumented criminals, usually once a prison sentence is served. Fourteen other California counties participate in the fingerprint program. Across the U.S., 150 jurisdictions in 18 states participate. The system is expected to be available nationwide in 2013.
www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_14835390

New 911 Chief Wants Private-Sector Cameras to Link In
Chicago Sun-Times, (04/06/2020), Fran Spielman
Chicago’s emergency management chief wants private sector business and other nongovernment organizations to connect their security cameras to the city’s 911 emergency center. Some colleges, businesses and high-rise owners have linked their exterior surveillance cameras to 911, but thousands of private-sector cameras remain unlinked. Jose Santiago, the city’s emergency management chief, notes the cameras cost the government nothing and can help first responders because they show what is happening before responders arrive at the scene.
www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/2143358,chicago-camera-emergency-040610.article

Law Enforcement Keeping an Eye Out for Distracted Drivers
Los Angeles Times, (04/09/10), Clement Tan
Drivers in Syracuse, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn., will be the focus of a federal pilot program to determine if stepped-up police patrols reduce illegal cell phone use behind the wheel. The $600,000 U.S. Department of Transportation program is modeled on previous safe-driving programs to stem drunk driving and increase seatbelt use. The program also involves a paid advertising campaign. Increased patrols will be used sporadically at various times throughout the year. The department said results from the pilot study will serve as a national model for employing high-visibility enforcement, education and outreach to reduce distracted driving. Connecticut and New York are among eight states that ban the use of all handheld devices while driving.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-distracted-driving9-2010apr09,0,4710675.story

Speedier Ticket Now Writing in Use
TulsaBusiness.com, (04/08/2020), Larry Levy
Tulsa, Okla., is the latest city to make it easier to issue traffic tickets. The Tulsa Police Department’s 14 motorcycle officers now use a handheld device to scan the driver’s license and the vehicle identification number and enter the offense code. The driver and the officer then sign the screen, and the officer pushes a button to print out a ticket on a portable printer. The officer can electronically transmit tickets to the department’s computer server, where they can be reviewed by the city prosecutor before being sent to municipal court for disposition. The department plans to have 50 of the $2,000 devices in place by June 1.
www.tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=50865

Maryland Seeking Major Reform of Sex Offender Laws
24-7PressRelease.com, (04/08/2010)
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley wants to toughen state sex offender laws. Proposals include lifetime supervision for some sex offenders, including those convicted of first- and second-degree rape and multiple offenders. The governor’s office is also seeking to classify people convicted of child pornography and indecent exposure to minors as sex offenders, and require criminal background checks for more employees at facilities that care for children. Under proposed legislation, “lifetime sexual offender supervision” replaces “extended parole supervision offender,” which eliminates the court’s discretion in assigning a term or three or more years of supervision. Also, the court could impose special conditions, such as global positioning satellite monitoring and polygraph examinations.
www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/maryland-seeking-major-reform-of-sex-offender-laws-145144.php

Farmington Police Use Nixle as New Form of Communication With Community
fosters.com, (04/05/2020), John Quinn
Farmington has joined other New Hampshire police departments in using Nixle to alert the community of crimes and emergencies and gather information from residents. Nixle is a secure online messaging site. The New Hampshire police departments have been using it to distribute information about road closures and community meetings and to alert residents to suspicious activities, power outages and crimes such as stolen vehicles, bank robberies and burglaries. Nixle has an extensive verification process for site applicants and allows targeting of information to specific geographic areas.
www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100405/GJNEWS_01/704059961/-1/FOSNEWS

Ordinary T-Shirts Could Become Body Armor
Newswise.com, (04/05/2010)
Scientists are researching converting a simple cotton T-shirt into a garment strong enough to serve as body armor for police or the military. Researchers at the University of South Carolina, China and Switzerland have increased the toughness of a T-shirt by combining the carbon in the shirt’s cotton with boron. The result is a tough, lightweight fabric of boron carbide, the same material used to protect tanks. The fabric is tougher and stiffer than the original T-shirt, but is flexible enough to bend. The fabric can also block ultraviolet light from the sun. Research continues. Body armor is just one possible application for the fabric. It could possibly be used to cover cars or aircraft, resulting in lighter weight and more fuel efficient vehicles.
www.newswise.com/articles/ordinary-t-shirts-could-become-body-armor

High Schools Ask Students to Text a Tip
9news.com, (04/0
Three Colorado public school jurisdictions are joining forces to create a “Text a Tip” program for students. The system allows students, teachers, staff and parents in Cherry Creek, Aurora and Denver to send anonymous tips to law enforcement from their cell phones. The program is set up through a partnership with local law enforcement and metro-Denver Crime Stoppers. Once a call is made, the caller is assigned a number. If the information results in an arrest, the person is issued a reward.
www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=136425&catid=346