Need To Identify A Suspect? There's An App For That!

Apparently these days there really is an app for everything.  And yes, there is an app to help you identify suspects that you either have in custody or are planning to take into custody...well, sort of.

MORIS (Mobile Offender Recognition and Identification System) originally released in the summer of 2010.  At that time it was being utilized on an iPhone-like device to a small handful of police departments, the first of which was Brockton Police Department in Massachusetts.  Since its original (and controversial) release, MORIS has become more popular and is slowly eliminating the 'old-fashioned' version of taking digital photos of a subject and then downloading them onto a computer used for facial recognition.  The MORIS device now attaches to the back of an iPhone, adding roughly 1.75 inches to the thickness of the smartphone.  The cost of each device is approximately $3,000.

How Does It Work: 
Iris Scanning:  To scan a person’s iris, police officers can hold the special iris-scanning camera on device, called MORIS, about 5 to 6 inches away from an individual’s irises. After snapping a high resolution photo, the MORIS system analyzes 235 unique features in each iris and uses an algorithm to match that person with their identity if they are in the database.

Facial Recognition:  For the facial recognition, an officer takes a photo of a person at a distance of about 2 feet to 5 feet. Based on technologies from Animetrics Inc., the system analyzes about 130 distinguishing points on the face, such as the distance between a person’s eye and nose. It then scans the database for likely matches.

Fingerprint Scanning:  The MORIS device also comes equipped with a finger print scanner that can scan a single finger print within seconds and then comb the database looking for suitable matches.

Although there has been some controversy in regards to MORIS, the facial recognition technology requires a frontal facial image taken from close proximity.  In other words, it requires consent. Iris scans are practically impossible without the subject’s cooperation, as are fingerprint scans. Besides, the alternative when a police officer can’t confirm a suspect’s identity is generally a trip downtown to sort it out. MORIS simplifies that process.

The systems do link to a national database that is maintained BI2 Technologies, the makers of MORIS.  However, many of the departments that are utilizing this system have also begun to develop smaller databases on department computer systems that directly affect their departments.  Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald, who has been building a database of inmates for several years, says he hopes to have fingerprint matching capabilities in the field over the next couple of months. He sees the system as a way of improving public safety while reducing costs.  He plans to use the one he has now in his gang unit to assist in the identification of known gang members. 

Does Your Department Need Facebook and Twitter?

Does your department need a Facebook and a Twitter account?  The answer is no; however, you might want one!

Excluding profile pages for babies, children, and pets, there are approximately 200 million Facebook accounts registered to persons within the United States.  Statistically, 50% of these users log in to Facebook at least daily.  Really, who do you know that doesn't have a Facebook account?  Although Twitter is not quite as popular, polls have shown that 18% of American's actively utilize a twitter account (both posting and following).

You are probably wondering how a department page would be beneficial to your organization.  Active Facebook users are a captive audience.  They routinely check their news feed to see what is going on with their friends, companies they like, and their local community.  Traditional news media (such as newspaper and television news casts) is no longer the primary means of obtaining information.  Many people are now obtaining their news (at least the initial reports) through Facebook and Twitter.  By having a department page, you can quickly and easily share information with a large portion of your community.

We can use the Virginia State Police as an example.  Recently a photograph of a southwest Virginia fugitive was posted on the department's Facebook page. A surprised Sergeant Geller said, "The phones lit up at the dispatch center."  All of this occurred within a few minutes of the post.  Leads were pouring in from the 27,000-plus people who follow the agency on Facebook.

It's not just beneficial to police departments either!  Prince George's County Fire & Emergency services in Maryland has been tweeting since 2006!  Their twitter page is PGFDPIO, and it reads mostly like an emergency scanner. They use Twitter and a blog to give updates quickly about incidents that would generate concern from the community, such as large fires or crashes on major roadways.

A growing number of departments are turning to social media to spread information and solicit tips.  Although the number of departments with a social media account of some kind has nearly doubled in the past couple of years, there are still a great deal of departments that do not have one.  Both Facebook and Twitter are easy to set up.  And both require a minimal amount of maintenance, primarily just posting information for your community as needed (which is determined by you).

To create a Facebook Account:

1. Determine who you would like to be your administrator (you can always change this or add additional administrators later).
2. Have your administrator sign in to their personal Facebook page.
3. Go to the Create A Page page of Facebook.
4. Select "Company, Organization or Institution".
5. Select "Government Organization" as your category type.
6. Insert your Police Department name as your company name.  If you live in a commonly named town, I recommend adding the state (ex: Middletown Police Department (NY) or Middeltown (NY) Police Department).
7. Agree to the Facebook pages terms and get started.
8. Add a profile picture and input the basic information about your department (location, non-emergency contact numbers, etc).

To create a Twitter Account::

1. Go to the home page of Twitter.
2. Set up a new account with your real name and email address (be sure not to use an email that you might use for a personal Twitter account as you can only register it one time).
3. Determine a name for your Twitter account.  There is a 15 character limit on user names, so you might need to get creative (such as previously mentioned Prince George's County Fire).
4. Create your account.

That's it, you're all set up.  Then, just start posting about police, fire, and emergency information regarding your community.  To get some ideas, check out a few of our favorites:

Facebook

• Keyport Police Department  
• Washington Township Police Department
• Sayreville Auxiliary Police

Twitter

• Milwaukee Police Department
• Baltimore Police Department
• Boston Police Department

App Gives Real-Time Video to Dispatchers

This fall, students at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD will be able to download a smart phone application through the university's protected intranet.  Available September 13, 2012, the app called M-Urgency will allow students and faculty to use their smartphones to stream real-time video footage and audio from ongoing medical and emergency situations directly to the University of Maryland Police Department. The dispatcher will be able to converse with the person while dispatching additional support.  The app uses the GPS technology within the smartphone to pinpoint for police the exact location of the situation.  University police dispatchers and ground units will be able to access this real-time information while the incident is going on and have access to direct communication from the caller as well.


Maj. Jay Gruber, head of the Technology Services Unit for Public Safety, says, "If we get four or five M-Urgency calls that show a fire glowing out the window of one of the sorority houses in College Park," then responders could see which side of the house is on fire and what type of fire it is. "It's huge - you can prep your mind and your crew before you get to the scene."


This app is a first of its kind and was developed as a joint project between the University of Maryland Department of Computer Science, the University of Maryland Police Department, and the University of Maryland Office of Information Technology.  The app is the product of over ten years worth of research and development of in wireless communications.  When it debuts in September 2012, it will only be available for Android 2.2 or higher phones.  However, the departments that created the app are currently on the development of an app that works on other platforms as well.  As well as moving it to other platforms, they are hoping to add features such as pin-pointing the GPS to within 10 feet of the person's location.

Although the app was designed for the University of Maryland, the University of Maryland Police Department is currently trying to get the surrounding community of College Park to get on board with the project as well.  Currently, they are uncertain as to whether the cost of the set-up (a one time fee of approximately $100,000) is worth the additional assistance it will give to the dispatchers in the area.

Professor Ashok Agrawala, of the computer science department, was a major contributor to the research and development of this app and technology.  Agrawala says, "The technology, the way it was developed, can be deployed by anyone anywhere."  Agrawala and the University of Maryland have been contacted by several college campuses throughout the United States looking to assist in the development of a similar app for their college campuses as they feel that it will greatly assist in the public safety of their students and faculty.

Is it possible that soon all police departments throughout the United States will be deploying a similar app in the future?

How Police Technology Has Changed...

There have been monumental changes in policing in the last century.  The majority of these changes are due to significant advances in technology.  Below is just a highlight of some of the most monumental technological advances in policing, most of which are still in use today...

1901 - Scotland Yard adopts a fingerprint classification system devised by Sir Edward Richard Henry.  Subsequent fingerprint classification systems are generally extension of Henry's system.

1923 - The Los Angeles Police Department establishes the first police department crime laboratory in the United States.


1928 - Detroit police begin using the one-way radio.

1934 - Boston police begin using the two-way radio.

1948 - Radar is introduced to traffic law enforcement.

1955 - The New Orleans Police Department installs an electronic data processing machine, possibly the first department in the country to do so.  The machine is not a computer, but a punch card sorter and collator.  It summarizes arrests and warrants.

1960 - The first computer-assisted dispatching system is installed in the St. Louis police department.

1967 - The President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice concludes that the "police, with crime laboratories and radio networks, made early use of technology, but most police departments could have been equipped 30 or 40 years ago as well as they are today."

1968 - AT&T announces it will establish a special number -- 911 -- for emergency calls to the police, fire and other emergency services. Within several years, 911 systems are in widespread use in large urban areas.

1960's - Beginning in the late 1960s, there are many attempts to develop riot control technologies and use-of-force alternatives to the police service revolver and baton. Tried and abandoned or not widely adopted are wooden, rubber and plastic bullets; dart guns adapted from the veterinarian's tranquilizer gun that inject a drug when fired; an electrified water jet; a baton that carries a 6,000-volt shock; chemicals that make streets extremely slippery; strobe lights that cause giddiness, fainting and nausea; and the stun gun that, when pressed to the body, delivers a 50,000-volt shock that disables its victim for several minutes. One of the few technologies to successfully emerge is the TASER which shoots two wire-controlled, tiny darts into its victim or the victim's clothes and delivers a 50,000-volt shock. By 1985, police in every state have used the TASER, but its popularity is restricted owing to its limited range and limitations in affecting the drug- and alcohol-intoxicated. Some agencies adopt bean bag rounds for crowd control purposes.

1970's - The large-scale computerization of U.S. police departments begins. Major computer-based applications in the 1970s include computer-assisted dispatch (CAD), management information systems, centralized call collection using three-digit phone numbers (911), and centralized integrated dispatching of police, fire, and medical services for large metropolitan areas.

1982 - Pepper spray, widely used by the police as a force alternative, is first developed. Pepper spray is Oleoresin Capsicum (OC), which is synthesized from capsaicin, a colorless, crystalline, bitter compound present in hot peppers.

1993 - More than 90 percent of U.S. police departments serving a population of 50,000 or more are using computers. Many are using them for such relatively sophisticated applications as criminal investigations, budgeting, dispatch, and manpower allocation.

2002 - European country design and implement a software that allows a camera to scan and interpret license plate numbers from vehicle plates. From here, automated license plate recognition software begins to spread throughout the world, significantly increasing officer safety and enforcement.

Technology is also continuing to flourish in regards to police technology.  More recently, departments have begun to use smart boards in their department.  These boards can show a map with the location of every patrol car (including their last few stops), as well as all dispatch locations.  One can only wonder what future advances will be to the safety and effectiveness of police.

Congrats To Our Winner!!!!

Bob Johnson's Computer Stuff wants to wish a big CONGRATULATIONS to Chief Shawn Tray of West Mahanoy Township Police Department in Shenandoah, PA!  Chief Tray's short essay won the West Mahanoy Township Police Department a FREE Panasonic Toughbook CF-30!

We received multiple submissions from various police departments throughout the country.  However, West Mahanoy Township stood out.  Unlike other departments that are currently making do with older equipment, West Mahanoy Township currently has no equipment.  They are a very small community, which leaves them with a minimal budget to fund their small police force.  We felt that providing them with a Panasonic Toughbook would significantly increase their productivity in the field which would in turn increase the safety of the local community for their residents.  Upon learning that their department was the winner of our contest Chief Tray was highly appreciative and said, "it will be a great help to the department."

His Essay:
 With the budget crunch our township is facing this item would be a great benefit to the department and the effort we make to keep the community safe.  As of now our department has not been able to utilize the advanced technology that’s available.  Our patrol vehicles are not equipped with computers or an in car camera system.  The lack of a laptop severely limits the number of registration and licenses we are able to check, and the number of criminal history's we are able to get via roadside.  With not having this capability we are missing out on information that would lead to more arrest.  It also takes time away from officers being out on the road, as we must come back to the station and use our 11-year-old computer to access J-Net, and complete incidents.  Our police department covers over 16 square miles and serves over 3,000 residents.  Unfortunately each year there just has not been money left over in the budget to invest into new items.  Our crime has continued to rise over the last two years, with criminal arrest increasing nearly 15%.  This includes arrest for marijuana grow operation, a methamphetamine lab in a motel room and execution of numerous search warrants, where illegal narcotics were seized.  Officers have seized over the past two years, nearly six pounds of marijuana, 150 packets of heroin, over three grams of cocaine.  Along with ecstasy pills, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs.  I know to some departments this may not seem like a lot, but from having zero seizures prior to two years ago, to being a proactive police department, is a step in the right direction.  I assure you this item would be used to the fullest and greatly appreciated by our department.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Bob presenting the CF-30 to Chief Tray

Enter To Win:

If you missed this contest, you can enter our next contest which will be running through March 31, 2012.  Visit our Facebook page to enter to win a Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 for your department!  The contest is open to fire, police, and EMS departments!

Panasonic Toughbooks: Are They Worth The Money

Panasonic Toughbooks tend to be one the most sought after computers for use in the field, particularly for those in first responder fields.  However, many departments are put off by the sheer cost of a Toughbook, as they wonder "is it really worth the extra money?" or "can't a regular laptop do the job?".  To answer those questions:

• Yes, a Panasonic Toughbook is worth the extra money.  For those departments that don't have the excess funds to purchase them, there are always refurbished Toughbooks and grant funding options available.
• No, a regular laptop cannot do the job.  While it will be able to run the software and will work when it is initially installed in your vehicles, it will fail...a lot.  The most common issues with standard retail/business line laptops being utilized in a moving vehicle include hard drive failures (due to shock vibrations), hinge failure (again due to shock, vibration, and excess stress on the hinges), and screen failures (due to cables vibrating loose or to significant weather fluctuations).

So, just why is the Panasonic Toughbook worth the extra money?  Simply put, it will last longer as it has a lower failure rate and is engineered specifically for the harsh environments that you will be utilizing it in on a daily basis.

Water Resistant

One of the most common types of spillage on a computer tend to be from the user.  Generally the spillage comes in the form of water, soda, or coffee.  While most computers would suffer a severe electrical shortage in the system board, that is not an issue with the Panasonic Toughbook.  All of the units come standard with a metal plate underneath the keyboard, which keeps any liquid from reaching the system board.  The fully-rugged models of Toughbooks will withstand way more spillage than your average cup of coffee.  Water resistance testing on a Toughbook includes a full thirty minutes of blowing rain 70 mph wind gusts with an average rainfall of 5.8" per hour.  What could simulate a heavy rainfall more than a high-pressure car wash?

Drop Resistant:
Although most people don't set out to purposely drop their laptop, it does happen.  Usually a dropped laptop results in a broken LCD screen or complete hard drive failure.  Panasonic Toughbooks, however, are tested to ensure that they can survive falls up to six feet onto a concrete surface.  Considering the fact that most drops occur from a vehicle, falling from a table, or from while being carried, it is highly unlikely that you will drop it from higher than six feet.  Although it is tested and approved for drops, please don't abuse your Toughbook like this on purpose...



Vibration & Shock Resistant:
Most Toughbooks are used in the field.  A great deal of them are mounted inside of a vehicle.  The Toughbook is designed and tested to withstand the regular vibrations of a vehicle as well as sudden high-force impacts to the protective casing.  Just how shock and vibration resistant are they?  If they can handle this abuse, they can definitely handle being mounted in your vehicle...

Temperature Resistant:
We've previously mentioned how a well a Toughbook can stand up to rain.  What about other significant weather?  A Toughbook that is permanently mounted in a vehicle can see significant temperature variations throughout the year (and depending on the season, even the day).  Lets use a drastic example...Minneapolis, Minnesota's average yearly temperatures range from the low teens in the winter to the upper nineties in the summer.  A standard laptop would never be able to function in the drastic cold of a Minnesota winter.  However, a Panasonic Toughbook is tested to fully function in a temperature range from as low as -20°F to as high as 140°F.  As if that weren't enough, a non-operations Toughbook (such as being powered down or in storage) will still fully function after being exposed to temperatures as low as -60°F or as high as 160°F.

As if that weren't enough, Panasonic Toughbooks are also:

• Particle Resistant - to items such as dirt, dust, and sand
• Air-Pressure Resistant - the unit will fully function at 15,000 feet
• Humidity Resistant - fully functional at up to a constant 95% humidity
• EMI Resistant - tolerates electromagnetic interference
• UL 1604 Compliant - safely able to use around flammable and explosive materials

There are multiple stories and testimonials available showing how Toughbooks were the only computers that held up to harsh environments for various fields of use.

How To Get Grant Money

Most police and fire departments want to add various technologies to their departments.  These technologies range anywhere from automatic license plate scanners to Panasonic Toughbook computers to specialized computer software or even to new vehicles.  However, these much sought after items can come with a pretty expensive price tag...particularly for departments that are looking to outfit an entire fleet with the same equipment.  This is where grant money is very beneficial, however, some people find the task of writing a grant very daunting.

Unfortunately, the people who make decisions regarding technology purchases (such as town councils) might not be involved in their use, and therefore, they may not understand how important it is.  They might not understand how much the technology may simplify your job or increase your productivity.  When your department is consistently turned down for high-cost technology purchases, you need to have the option to look elsewhere for funding...this is where grant money would allow you to make those purchases.

The hardest part is of applying for grant money is knowing where to look.  It is actually significantly easier then you might think.  Just “Google” the term “Law Enforcement grants” and you’ll come up with a handful of sites that will help you. Of course, there is the Department of Justice (DOJ) Website and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Website. Both websites announce different types of grants and offer a search to find a particular grant or grants. One website you might not think of right away is PoliceOne.

Surf around on PoliceGrantsHelp at the PoliceOne website for a while and you’ll see that there are a great number of grants that agencies can apply for.  When looking for an applying for grants you should be sure to carefully read the criteria of the grant.  For example, some grants may require a matching of funds or that your city/town/municipality has a specific crime rate, demographic, or population in order to qualify for the grant funding.  Adequate explanation of your needs and wording of the grant can significantly affect whether or not you are successfully awarded funding.  Because of this it is highly recommended to have senior leadership assist in the grant writing process (as they most likely have experience in doing so).  For those departments that have never written a grant before, you can look for online training or seminars throughout the country sponsored by the DOJ or DHS.

Most importantly, when you are writing your grant, be sure to have an adequate count of the inventory that you will be needing.  For example, if you are looking to outfit a police fleet with new mobile computers, be sure to take into account any software licensing, additional cabling, if new mounting systems will be required, and if the units you are purchasing will meet the requirements of the software programs that you will be looking to run on them or if you will require upgrades.  Take into account any additional items or upgrades you may need; if you are awarded grant money for computers but then don't have the capability of installing them, you will need to find alternate funding to cover those expenses as well.