Law & Order

The End of 10-Codes?

Careless discusses why the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pushing hard for first responders to replace 10-codes with "plain English" radio. Among other things, the DHS wants first responders to communicate in plain English during multi-agency situations, to ensure that everyone understands each other.

Disaster Management

Disaster Management's (DM) tools and resources are improving incident response and recovery for scenarios such as train wreck and others by creating the ability to securely share information across the Nation's Emergency Management community. Hines discusses the four major DM resources, which help emergency responders strengthen information and data sharing. The four are Disaster Management Interoperability Services Toolkit, DM Messaging Standards Initiative, Open Platform for Emergency Netwo...

Essential Elements in Taser(Tm) Policy and Procedure

Each year more and more police agencies have included the utilization of the TASER into their departmental armories of weapons. However, its policies and procedures may be deficient in terms directional design and appropriate tactical applications. Connor presents some suggestions to have successful implementation of the TASER device into law enforcement agencies.

Memex Handles Police Intel

Police intelligence or intel is of little use if it can't be shared and analyzed with other police officers and agencies capable of adding pieces to the puzzle. To remedy this problem, Memex has developed a series of intelligence gathering software tools that work together to create a seamless, easy- to-access, yet secure intelligence database. Careless discusses how Memex software tools work.

Colorado's Statewide Interoperable Radio System

The dream of interoperability, and something that the state of Colorado is well on its way to achieving, thanks to its statewide Digital Trunked Radio System (DTRS). The development of the statewide system began in 1991 with the formation of a users group tasked with the development of the system and operational requirement plan. Careless discusses the development of Colorado's statewide interoperability radio system through DTRS.

Nice and San Francisco's Ecd

Lutz discusses the San Francisco Emergency Communications Department (ECD) and its recording system called NICE--that's helping to make short order of all of "the big work" done in the ECD's Client Services Section. The recording system captures all of ECD's 911 and non-emergency calls, as well as communications from the Department's Motorola trunked radio system.

The Command Post

Gordon reviews Command Concepts' Command Post, a portable NIMS complaint ISC management tool.

On The Job

Homeland Security... Or Not?

The majority of law enforcement in the United States is done by small and mid-size departments. Here, Sanow discusses the obstacle for these departments in answering homeland security issues. The real problem might be the attitude toward the smaller departments have about the overall role that communications gear plays in homeland security.

News

South Dakota, Oregon Are Final States Linked to Registry

All 50 states are now participating in the National Sex Offender Public Registry Web Site, the U.S. Justice Department announced, South Dakota and Oregon have now been added to the Web Site, which provides real-time access to public sex-offender data nationwide with a single Internet search. In relation, the Department of Justice-sponsored site allows parents and concerned citizens to search existing public state and territory sex-offender registries beyond their own states.

Police, Ems Rescue Children From Hot Car

Many Use-of-Force Complaints Unfounded

The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics announced that large state and local law enforcement agencies with 59%of the nation's sworn officers received 26,556 citizen complaints about the police use of force during 2002. About 8% of the complaints were officially sustained, that is, there was sufficient evidence to justify disciplinary action against the officer or officers; 34% were not sustained; 25% were unfounded, meaning the complaint was not supported by facts or the alleged...

Armalite Awarded Illinois State Police Carbine Contract

ArmaLite has been selected for its third purchase order of M15A4 Carbines based on competitive bidding that ended in June fo the Illinois State Police. This award follows a 2004 award and a subsequent add-on order for similar carbines. ArmaLite President Mark Westrom noted that ArmaLite had enjoyed a great working relationship with the Illinois State Police and made strong efforts to support the "home team."

Technology

Low-Cost Records Access

Many police departments use in-car mobile computers to connect to departmental records management systems (RMS) or computer aided dispatch (CAD). But with a limited budget for purchasing ready-made vendor provided solutions, the Alton (IL) Police Department explored low-cost options to create connections to the RMS and CAD. As Gordon expounds, Alton used the connections already in place provided by Verizon for the Illinois Wireless Information Network system.

Open Channels

Freelinc Wireless Microphones' Magnetic Transmission

Careless discusses the FreeLinc Wireless technology, which was used by the Michigan State Police Radio Unit during the Super Bowl XL in Detroit in January in 2006. FreeLinc's Near-Field Magnetic Communication technology uses magnetic fields rather than radio frequency waves to establish wireless communication between the portable radio and its accessories. These magnetic fields create a "personal communications bubble" around the user and are no larger than five feet in diameter.

Training

The 2006 Ileeta Conference: Part I

The 2006 International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (IEETA) is a training event where law enforcement trainers can get certified as instructors in more than 27 separate topics. Held at Arlington Heights IL last Apr 25 to 29, the conference blended classroom training and hands-on skill that was totally focused on those who instruct the law enforcement community. Nowicki further details the events at the 2006 IEETA.

Traffic

Children Fatalities in and Around Vehicles

Non-traffic, non-crash motor vehicle incidents resulted in an estimated 9,160 children treated in hospital emergency rooms each year. Current data shows that at least two children are backed over and killed, 48 injured, every week in the US. Here, Dewey-Kollen presents list of tragedies involving children fatalities in and around vehicles.

Product Spotlight

E-Z Up Shelters

Gordon reviews International E-Z UP Instant Shelter.

Bumperchute

Gordon reviews Bumperchute, a uniquely designed tailgate canopy.

Patrol

Vintage Police Car Show

The West Coast's largest emergency vehicle show takes place each year in Ripon CA. Co-sponsored by the Menlo Park CA Police and the Ripon CA Police, the event attracts about 500 spectators a year to view the 75 to 100 perfect-condition vehicles on display and to peruse the police memorabilia at the badge and patch show, which is also a part of the event.

Captain

Ten Communication Errors

The flow of information up and down police ranks determines how efficiently one's department functions. In the communication process of sending and receiving, facts are disseminated, feelings are aired, and concerns are addressed. However, 10 common errors hinder this process, as Johnson discusses.

Media Relations

Media Training for Patrol Officers

Law enforcement officers on the front line of responding to emergencies and major crime scenes, where unscheduled encounters with the media are most likely to occur, are perhaps the least likely to receive training on how to appropriately interact with the media. While many law enforcement agencies' media policies prohibit non-public information officer (PIO) employees from providing case-specific information to the media, this could damage standing relationships built between the agency and ...

Personnel

Gender and Excessive Force Complaints

Many studies on the enefit of diversity in the law enforcement profession have taken place. However, very little research has been published on the role gender plays in police misconduct. Here, Foster discusses whether or not gender plays a significant role in police misconduct.

Management

Manage Those Risks!

Citing the reduced liability exposure of a county sheriff's department, author and consultant Gordon Graham believed that risk management is the answer to everything. Risk management is more than safety, insurance, code enforcement, or prevention of criminal behavior. It is a discipline about what can go wrong and what can be done to prevent that something from going wrong. Slahor further discusses effective risk management with law enforcement agencies, as what Graham spoke at a conference.

Roll Call

Handcuffing

The moment a law officer applies the handcuffs is the moment of truth. Handcuffing is an emotionally charged, highly dangerous aspect of an officer's job. Petrocelli discusses how a law enforcement officer should perform handcuffing.

Terrorism

Terrorism Is a Contest

When the issue is counter-terrorism, police and security forces can be superbly well-prepared and trained, but without the vigilance and support of communities, they will not see success. It is not easy to convince them that counter-terrorism is a priority, but police officers have to keep trying. The British government has developed the strategy CONTEST, which is a state of mind that identifies four main areas, or pillars to detect, disrupt, or deter terrorists. Dowle discusses these four pi...

Special Report

40mm Impact Munitions

The 40mm eXact iMpact comes directly from the XM1006 developed by the US Army Research Laboratory. In 1999, Def-Tec licensed the munition from the Department of Defense to both produce the load and distribute it to law enforcement, and this began the major transition from 37mm smoothbore tear gas guns to 40mm rifled launchers. The development of the 40mm eXact iMpact is discussed.