http://www.insidebayarea.com/searchresults/ci_2923166 Police try out high-tech ID tool San Leandro force impressed with new thumb-print device By Ricci Graham, STAFF WRITER Inside Bay Area SAN LEANDRO - Using technology that could have been borrowed from a science fiction movie, the San Leandro Police Department took part in a field test of what could become the latest high-tech tool to aid law enforcement.
The device - called a biometric identification system (IBIS) - captures a thumb-print image and, using a computer linked to a database, provides a person's identity with the click of a button. While the field test for the mobile electronic device was considered a success, it could be some time before the 80-officer department adopts it and deploys it for departmentwide use. Lt. Pete Ballew said officers in the department who field-tested five of the systems were impressed with the device, which integrates cell phone, computer and image-capturing technology. "Right now, it's kind of in its infancy," Ballew said of the system. "Someone just came up with the idea of integrating (the various forms of technology). All three of the technologies have been around for a while, but putting them together, that's never been done." The IBIS device, which is no larger than a Palm Pilot, is made by Minnesota-based Identix Inc. It gives patrol units a computerized tool they can use to identify people who don't have identification on them when they are stopped by patrol officers. It works this way: The officer scans a person's thumbprint. An image of the print is transmitted electronically to a fingerprint database, and after the print is analyzed by the server, the unit relays critical information back to the patrol officer, such as the person's name, date of birth and any outstanding warrants. If there is no information on the person in the database, the message "No Ident" is relayed to the officer. The wireless device also provides criminal history information and any mug shots stored in the database - all within a matter of minutes. Officers also can take photos of people in the field and store them in a database for future reference. For law enforcement agencies, the device - when made available - can save valuable time when trying to identify potentially dangerous criminals. Currently, suspects who don't have identification are taken to department headquarters, where a fingerprint and background check is conducted. "They're like anything else," Ballew said. "They're a good tool. It's a good tool when communication is not flowing right or if someone is unconscious and is in custody. But like I said, nothing replaces old-fashioned police work. It's a good device in terms of doing its job. But it's just a tool." While the system received favorable reviews, Ballew said there are currently no plans to purchase the device. It is, however, just another indication of how advanced technology is making police work more efficient, said Ballew, a 21-year veteran. "When I started, a laptop was a clipboard and pen. They're great tools and they've come a long way," he said. "We're always looking at ways to enhance our ability to deliver to the citizens through technology. But it's always a balance between the human component and technological component." [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12hinnkrp/M=362329.6886306.7839369.3040540/D=groups/S=1705323667:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123769960/A=2894321/R=0/SIG=11dvsfulr/*http://youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=1992 ">Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
