GPS "Bullet" Tracks Fleeing Suspects

StarChase GPS Tag

High-speed police pursuits, as readers are well aware, are dangerous and unpredictable. When a suspect makes the decision to flee, he or she—realizing it or not—leverages that danger against the pursuing officer's duty to uphold the law. The vast majority of chases are the result of non-violent crimes, a large percentage of which are traffic violations, but that doesn't mean an officer can simply let every suspect go. When engaging in a high-speed pursuit, an officer follows his or her obligation to enforce the law, even as it poses a clear risk to public safety (42% of those killed or injured in police pursuits areinnocent bystanders. One in every hundred high-speed pursuits results in a fatality). Research has shown that most suspects drive more slowly and are less of a hazard on the road if they believe that they are not being chased. In a perfect world, officers would never have to engage in dangerous chases, but as suspects continue to flee, they continue to be a part of police work.

The StarChase System aims to reduce or eliminate the need for high-speed pursuits using a projectile GPS device that would be right at home in a spy movie. An air cannon mounted to the front of the patrol vehicle launches the projectile, or tag, which adheres to the suspect's vehicle. The tag, which is a bit smaller than a can of Coke, transmits a signal via satellite to a web server that can then be accessed remotely to monitor the suspect's location and movements. The officer is now able to drop back, allowing police to strategically intervene at lower speeds, reducing the risk to human life.

Extendobed - Get More Storage Out Of Your Vehicle!

Extendobed has be designing and distributing products to business and law enforcement professionals for over 25 years.  Their custom designs are suitable for all different types of professionals.  However, their primary market is fire departments and law enforcement agencies.

Extendobed is the original manufacturer of the expandable truck bed liner.  Extendo Bed is a truck bed extender that will carry a full cargo load over 1200 pounds & extend 100% beyond the length of the truck bed or SUV cargo area. These patented truck bed drawers are ideal for fire and police departments as a command center and emergency or first response, contractors, the military, farriers, or anyone else who needs easy access to their truck bed and tools.

Each bed extender is also extremely rugged and durable.  Not only are they built to withstand a great deal of weight and cargo, they are durable enough to withstand every use and abuse.  Extendobed actually boasts that many of their units, including the first one built in 1987, are still in service today.  Now, that says a lot about the durability and life expectancy of one of  these units!

Extendobeds come pre-designed for command centers, search and rescue, SWAT, equipment storage, crime scene, or they can even be custom designed.

Check out an Extendobed in action!

Extendo Bed Time Lape from Chris Ennis on Vimeo.

What's On Your Belt?

Law enforcement officers love their gadgets and tools. After all, that's part of the reason you follow this blog and why we see so many of you at the conventions we attend. That said, as a law enforcement officer, there is only so much room on your person to carry these gadgets and tools. Short of wearing a tactical vest when you are out on patrol, you are limited to what will fit on your police duty belt.

 So, what do you keep on your duty belt?  Like all officers, you carry your weapon, extra magazine, handcuffs, a handcuff key, pepper spray, flashlight, and your radio.


Those items take up a great deal of space, but what else should you keep on your duty belt?

• Window Punch - As a law enforcement officer there are definitely times that you will be first on scene to an automobile accident.  Sometimes, being able to quickly get to an injured person in a vehicle can be a matter of life and death.  But, what if the stores are stuck and the windows are still intact?  Your baton will generally just bounce back at you when you attempt to break a window.  Yet, for costs as low as $15, you can pick up a window punch.  Many of these are no bigger than a pen (meaning you don't even need to take up real estate on your belt), and they allow you a quick and easy way to efficiently shatter a window.
• Seat Belt Cutter - The seat belt cutter is another $10 tool that can easily save someone's life in an emergency.  Some companies even sell a combination window punch and seat belt cutter, since these tools are often used in conjunction with one another.
• Flex Cuffs - Your duty belt only has room for so many sets of hand cuffs.  But there are occasions where you will need to apprehend multiple suspects.  At these times flex cuffs can be quite useful.  Flex cuffs cost as little as a dollar, and can actually fit on the inside length of your belt (allowing them to not take up necessary belt space and to be concealed).
• Latex Gloves - As a first responder you never truly know what type of situation you are walking in to.  If it is necessary to provide medical assistance while you wait for paramedics to arrive, you want to protect yourself from the possibility of contracting a wide-array of blood-borne diseases.
• Video Recorder - Personal recording equipment is not issued by all departments, and it may actually be against department policy to wear a recording device.  However, if your department allows the use of a personal video recording device, it is a great technology investment.  If you wind up in a confrontation away from the dash camera in your vehicle, it can be your witness against officer complaints from a suspect.

It seems that when it comes to duty belts, low-tech (or no-tech) options tend to be the most popular must-have items.

MCI Triage App

These days it seems like there is an app for everything.....probably because there is an app for just about everything.

Island Software has recently released the app MCI Triage for iPhone.  At only $5.99, this app is a must have for EMS paramedics, ambulance officers, figherfighters, law enforcement officers, and any other emergency services personnel that may need to respond to a mass-casualty incident.

In 1983 the staff at Hoag Hospital and Newport Beach Fire Department in California developed a system in which first responders could assess multiple patients in the field at a mass casualty incident (MCI) and easily pass that information on to the doctors who would need to treat these multiple patients as they arrive at the hospital.  They developed START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment).  START revolutionized the speed with which hospital staff could begin treatment of MCI patients, because it eliminated the need to re-triage patients when they arrived at the emergency room.

The MCI Triage app was built upon these same principles.  Utilizing simple prompts (such as breathing, normal respiration, ambulatory), the app will assist you in determining the patient's triage category (alpha, bravo, charlie or delta) and allows you to add identifying information about them including their age, gender and location.  This information can easily be updated, allowing first responders to make changes to a patient's status.

All of the information collected in MCI Triage can easily be shared with incident command, dispatch center for the EMS/Fire/Police, and the receiving medical facility via email.  The incident summary can also be sent via text message to one or multiple contacts.

FI Card Apps

Every officer knows what an FI Card is.  For those readers that are unaware, it's a Field Interview Card.  They are utilized when an officer stops and talks with someone on the street, they may not be under arrest though. It is a generally a notebook sized questionnaire that asks name, DOB, address, school, scars, nicknames, tattoos, gang affiliation, and other questions that enable full description of the person. The information is then usually entered into a data bank.  Information can then be retrieved if there is a crime where a victim alerts offers to a nickname or a tattoo.

With the advances in technology there is no longer a need to carry around the little notebook to do FI's.  There are various smartphone apps that allow you to complete the forms on your phone and even upload them directly to the the database that they are stored in.  Doing this interview on a smart phone also allows the opportunity to include pictures of both the person as well as any distinguishing marks (such as scars or tattoos).

Field Contact is one of the top selling FI Card apps for iPhone.  Field Contact is the most technologically advanced and convenient way to document, photograph, search and email all aspects of your law enforcement contacts directly to your iPhone.  The app can be downloaded from the app store (currently it is $4.99).

There are also similar apps for Android phones, such as Police Field Interview FI Card.  Police Field Interview FI Card is currently selling for $5.99 in the Android app store.  It has the same capabilities of Field Contact.

These apps are great for departments looking to save on the cost of paper goods, as well as those looking to upgrade to electronic 'paperwork'.

IMPACT: Making the world safer through technology

Peace of mind comes with confidence in knowing you can rely on your software provider and that your needs are met.  Mission critical software for police, fire, EMS, public safety and justice personnel is IMPACT's only business.  They concentrate specifically on satisfying the information-sharing demands of first responders.  Their system was built utilizing intimate knowledge of police, fire and EMS procedures...as the creates have nearly three decades of experience in the field.

 

IMPACT provides the world's most advanced information-sharing innovations.  Their technologies are engineered to perform under the most demanding circumstances, enabling quick responses.  This keeps officers safe and provides necessary information at critical moments when every second counts.  IMPACT's products include computer aided dispatching, complete records management, mobile tactical field reporting, ticket processing, GPS automatic vehicle location, precision mapping, alarm billing, special interfaces for E-911, NCIC, live-scan fingerprinting technology, jail management systems, and fire/EMS records management systems.  There is essentially a product for every first responder out there!

IMPACT understands that no two fire, police, EMS, or private safety departments are exactly alike.  Because of this, the programs offered by IMPACT are extremely versatile.  The programs offered can be purchased as a whole or just specific programs can be utilized.  All IMPACT programs are completely compatible with one another, allowing a seamless flow of information between multiple agencies within the same area.

A few of the optional software programs include:

• Alarm Billing: allows law enforcement personnel to track and charge false alarm violators
• Photo Imaging: Supports mug shots, crime scene photos, evidence photos, digital imagery, sound files, and video clips
• E911: Enables rapid data entry for immediate dispatch of response units
• Field Reporting: enables real-time creation and submission of incident reports from the field

To learn more about IMPACT's technology solutions, visit them at www.impact-sys.com or give them a call at (800)871-1244.

Rugged Keyboards from Man & Machine

Many departments prefer to mount Panasonic Toughbook CF-19's in their vehicles.  The reasoning behind it is relatively simple.  They are small, lightweight, fast, rugged, portable, and don't require a great deal of space.  However, a common complaint with many officers is the keyboard size on the CF-19.  Because it is a tablet unit, the keyboard on it is significantly smaller than standard-sized laptop keyboard.  Many departments mount the CF-19 as a tablet and then utilize a separate keyboard.


The issue that then arises is finding a keyboard that is going to stand up to the abuse that it will most likely receive in the vehicle.  There are the temperature fluctuations, the possible food/drink spills, and most importantly finding something that will easily work with the existing equipment in the vehicle.


That is where the So Cool keyboard by Man & Machine comes in!  Rugged, tough and built to take whatever the road dishes out.  So Cool is rattle-free, easy-to-clean and dependable as the day is long. 

You get advanced technology with multi-level backlight and great tactile feedback for a die-hard trooper you'll be proud to ride with.  The So Cool is a solid piece of silicone, meaning it is food/drink proof and has no parts to break.  It easily attaches to all major mounting systems, meaning it is an easy addition to the equipment you presently have in your vehicle.  This keyboard is a perfect in-vehicle solution for police, fire, and EMS vehicles.

This product is brand new and is releasing soon to the public safety sector.  You can follow Man & Machine on Facebook to stay up to date on when this product releases.

Product Review: Wired Blue's MyPD App

Wired Blue is dedicated to providing new and innovative solutions innovative solutions to police departments. They also aim to provide new and fiscally responsible pricing models for cities and towns.


Their first product, the MyPD app does just that. Police Departments are using this phone app to provide you with better service and improve communication.

With MyPD you can:

• Follow the latest tweets from your department
• Send Crime tips
• Commend an Officer
• Submit Feedback
• Ask Questions
• Get Directions to the Department
• Easily find the Police Officers Names and Numbers that you need
• These are just some of the tools that your Police Department is making available to you here. New features are always being added!

A growing number of Police Departments are utilizing this app for the citizens they serve!  Citizens of your community can use this app to connect with your department, by giving one-stop information from your websites, Facebook, and Twitter right on your smartphone. This puts information on services, contact information, and feedback all into one iPhone and Android app.


This app is completely free to the citizens of your community, and is available to departments at a low price.  to learn more, contact Wired Blue.

Police Security Expo 2012

June 26th & 27th, 2012 will be the 26th Annual Police Security Expo.  The expo is going to be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center.  The Police Security Expo is one of the nation’s largest, oldest, and best attended trade shows for Law Enforcement, Security, Government, Safety, First-Responder and Homeland Security Professionals.  The expo brings over 750 of the nation’s finest companies together to showcase thousands of products and services.  There are also multiple seminars and equipment demonstrations available throughout the two days of the show.

This expo has free admittance to anyone with law enforcement credentials, to include military and correction members.  With the multitude of vendors available, there are ample opportunities for those in law enforcement to learn about new services and products.

This expo gives departments the opportunity to:

• Visit hundreds of exhibits with thousands of products and services
• Meet representatives from some of the nation's finest companies, particularly those that focus primarily on emergency services personnel
• See the latest technological advances for law enforcement agencies.
• Save money with show only discounts and specials

Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff will be showcasing our discounted refurbished Panasonic Toughbooks in booth 1833.  We look forward to meeting you!

Tri-State Law Expo - June 6-7, 2012

Kelly Simon Trade Shows is hosting the Tri-State Law Enforcement Expo on June 6-7, 2012.  The expo is being held at the Monroeville Convention Center (just outside of Pittsburgh, PA).  Doors are open from 9am-4pm both days of the show.  The location of this expo is relatively easily accessible for those in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and even Western New York.


Entrance to this expo, the seminars, and the training sessions is free to law enforcement, security, corrections officers, federal agencies, state agencies, and military members with proper identification.  Persons looking to attend can register either at the door or online.


There are multiple training opportunities occurring throughout both days of the expo.  With the free admittance, this is a great opportunity to get some hands-on knowledge.  Training seminars are being held by MayoTec, GovDeals.com, PDA Safe, and Gang Unit Task Force members.  This is a great opportunity to get information ranging from weapons defensive tactics, to how to keep mobile data safe, and even how to identify street gang members.  A full list of training opportunities can be viewed online.



Along with the many training opportunities, there is a great opportunity to meet with various vendors and to view their products.  Where else can you gather information on everything from refurbished Panasonic Toughbooks to handcuffs to crime scene clean-up?  A full list of vendors can also be viewed online.


If you have time, this is definitely an expo that should take some time to check out!

Company Spotlight: PepperBall Technologies

PepperBall Technologies was originally formed in 1996 as an engineering group of Jaycor (a defense contractor).  From the beginning they specialized in the development of guidelines for the employment of non-lethal technology in operations other than war.  In their efforts to develop a non-lethal weapon alternative for governmental agencies, they developed PepperBall.

Pepperball is manufactured and distributed as a less-than-lethal weapon for military, government, law enforcement, corrections, private security and consumer markets.  Major users include such agencies as the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the US Border Patrol, and thousands of police and sheriff departments in major US cities.  They are the most widely recognized name brand and largest supplier of non-lethal PAVA-based launchers and projectiles.


PepperBall products include a full line of system launchers and projectiles for a variety of less-lethal applications. These systems allow military, law enforcement officers, correctional officers, security guards and other agencies to use a less-lethal approach to incapacitate individuals, disperse crowds or just simply gain compliance. For consumers, PepperBall offers several personal defense systems for your personal protection and to protect your family when safety is threatened. With over 15 million PepperBalls sold, PepperBall personal defense systems have been proven to be highly effective and safe with no reported serious injuries.

How To Buy The Right Mobile Computer For Your Department

Finally acquiring funding approval and/or grant approval is a major step in purchasing mobile data terminals, such as Panasonic Toughbooks.  For many departments, it's probably the part of the purchasing process that takes the longest amount of time.  Once you get the okay to start browsing vendors and acquiring quotations, how do you determine what to buy?  To point you in the right direction, here are a few tips:

1. Learn the specifications of your software.  Whether you are buying new software or continuing to use the same programs, you need to know what type of hardware requirements it has.  Pay particular attention to processor speeds, minimum memory/RAM, and required hard drive space.  There is nothing worse then buying computers only to find out that they can't do what you needed them to.
2. Don't forget about peripherals and software that you want to get later.  Are you thinking about adding an automated license plate recognition system in a year or two?  Get some general specification information from various vendors, and then make sure that what you are purchasing will be able to handle the add on.
3. Determine exactly what you plan to use them for.  Are you looking to mount them in a vehicle?  Do you plan to use them to capture signatures?  Will you be doing a lot of typing?  Are you going to integrate your lights and sirens into the computer system?  Knowing the answers to questions such as these can sway you in the direction of just what Toughbook you should purchase.  For example:
   --If you are looking to mount the Toughbooks in a vehicle, you are going to want to stick with a fully-rugged model, such as a CF-30, as it will outperform a semi-rugged model.
   --If you plan to capture signatures on it, you might want to lean towards a tablet unit, such as the CF-19, as it will lay flay making signing easier.
   --If you plan to do a lot of typing, you might want to stay away from a tablet unit since they do not have a standard sized keyboard.
   --If you plan to integrate lights, you definitely want to go with a touchscreen unit, as it is easier and safer for officers to operate those systems on the go.
4. Think about how long you need it to last.  Are you in the process of upgrading from a system that was installed back in 1992?  Is it likely that the units you are purchasing are going to need to last you another ten years?  You might want to look into purchasing a newer model of computer.  A newer (not necessarily new) model will have lower usage hours and will be compatible with newer hardware and software for a longer period of time.
5. Get your money's worth.  In a previous blog article we talked about overall cost of ownership.  Be sure to take into account the failure rate and time that the unit you are purchasing will be out of service.  In that blog, it is explained that Toughbooks are actually more cost efficient that other brands of laptops for emergency services usage (including the supposedly "rugged" versions of Dell) as they are a higher quality unit with a significantly lower failure rate.
6. Maximize your funding.  Many departments overlook refurbished Toughbooks, as they look at them at being used and therefore of a lesser quality.  When in actuality, refurbished Toughbooks are often in like-new condition.  Throw in a great warranty, and it's like buying a new unit without the hefty price tag.  Prices of refurbished units are generally 50-75% less than the cost of new units.  If your funding is sparse or you need a lot of units, you should look into purchasing a refurbished unit.  Why purchase one new Toughbook for $3,500+ when you can get three or more for the same price?

Product Spotlight: Cuff Man

No, Cuff Man is not a new superhero.  Cuff Man is a training dummy created by Dummies Unlimited Inc.  Cuff Man was created to eliminate the accidental injuries that can occur during handcuff training, such as hyper-extending of a joint or placing cuffs to tightly.  

Cuff Man is a uniquely designed training dummy that is ideal for teaching proper arrest and control techniques.  Cuff Man is a human featured training dummy with flexible joint action in his wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees and hips. Locking elbows allow you to perform a variety of arm-bar techniques as well.  His hands and fingers are made from a flexible yet durable poly-urethane compound for a realistic feel while cuffing and can tolerate thousands of cuffing scenarios.  He possesses an extended chin for realistic grappling techniques while ground fighting.  The locking joints and life-like feeling hands allow trainees to learn how to properly maneuver a person while handcuffing them, so that handcuffing can be done safely without causing any physical harm.

With these features in mind - consider the concept! Velcro loop is sewn into his heavy duty Cordura suit, both front and back, and a slender back board is wrapped with Velcro hook. With the back board installed in a provided free standing mount, Cuff Man is able to stand on his own at any height desired. Once standing, arrest and control techniques can be performed on Cuff Man from both front or rear. Just like any resisting suspect, added force is required to pull Cuff Man to the ground without any hindrances or obstacles. 

Check out some of the training options Cuff Man can be used for:

Dummies Unlimited Inc. has been creating various training dummies for over 52 years!  They have many training options available for law enforcement, fire & rescue, and medical training.  Their uses range are versatile, including teaching submission tactics, teaching CPR or patient care, extrication training, and much more.