Hunter Systems Group Law Enforcement Blog

How to Capture Criminals Using Facial Recognition in Everyday Settings

2012-01-10T11:17:00.001-05:00

A recent story about how federal authorities are starting to use facial recognition in everyday settings, such as social media sites like Facebook and Twitter and dating sites like match.com and eharmony.com, to capture criminals brings up the age old question as this technology starts catching up to criminal activities.

How do you balance advanced biometric technology with an individual's right to privacy?

There is no easy solution to this question. Biometrics like fingerprint, iris and facial recognition have become more precise and accurate. Technology such as facial recognition now permits someone to use their iPhone or Android to snap a picture or video and compare it against a database of images to match subjects. As this process becomes more mainstream, privacy issues and concerns have been expressed by various groups, so much so that the FTC has conducted workshops and meetings to address concerns. Unfortunately, these same groups don't have a solution to the issue, and as a result fail to bring anything constructive to the table.

"Facial recognition leads to discovery of your social security number!" These folks scream.

To actively deal with privacy concerns the conversation needs to focus on how technology may be used to capture criminals and prevent criminal activiites while not impeding on any person's rights. But ultimately, it is not that simple.

Take, for instance, the statistics that Facebook and Twitter has on usage and accounts. Millions upon millions of people have signed up for these services and hundreds like them. Why is the inherent lack of privacy associated with social media acceptable with the same people who are having an issue with law enforcement technology? If you read anything on the Internet today, you will be bombarded with avatars of people - on Facebook, Twitter, Huffington Post, the list goes on and on.

We don't see an issue with biometric analysis used in everyday settings. We believe that an individual loses most of his or her rights to privacy (at least with respect to his/her name and likeness) once they create a Facebook, Google+ or Twitter account or any service that requires a photograph as part of the person's Profile. Apps like Foursquare, Pinterest and Gowalla track your every movement, we've never read any cautionary posts about this complete lack of privacy. It's more and more difficult to decry privacy concerns when someone can Google you and find you all over the "information superhighway" (bear with me, I like that archaic term).

The vast majority of law enforcement uses of this kind of technology is reactive. In other words, police don't use facial recognition until a mug shot has been taken or a person has been pulled over. Once this happens, wouldn't it be safe to say that all bets are off? We believe that capturing a criminal because a match was made to a criminal database after pulling someone over due to a busted taillight is ok. People who make an issue of these kinds of technique beg the question about what they have to hide.

Ultimately, we believe that we as a society are better off if criminals are apprehended and incarcerated at the expenses of losing a little bit of privacy.

Wisconsin OJA Offers Grant Program for Small Agencies

2011-07-28T15:22:00.003-04:00

Many departments across the country are faced with budget shortfalls and cuts in every facet of public safety. Need a facial recognition tool or a mugshot system? Unfortunately local, county and state budgets in many cases just don't allow the purchase of these types of necessities (and they are becoming necessities). This is true particularly for smaller departments that don't have the economies of scale or capital budgets to purchase new equipment.

The OJA in Wisconsin realizes this shortfall between funding sources depending on the size of the department, and created four years ago the Smaller Police Agency Crime Initiative grant funding program. The SPACI program as it is commonly known, provides smaller departments - typically with 20 or fewer sworn officers - with grant opportunities up to a maximum of $10,000 per year. THis past year, 106 agencies applied for over $850,000 in assistance and $300,000 was awarded to Wisconsin departments. This is an important equalizer for smaller departments as criminals, realizing that smaller departments don't have teh same resources as larger metropolitan areas, are beginning to set up shop in smaller, rural communities.

I hope more State and Federal programs come to same conclusion as well.

Fingerprinting Systems One Would Never Debate

2011-04-05T13:33:00.001-04:00

Fingerprinting Systems have been at the crux of debate issues over the past several months. Many feel the use of a finger or thumbprint in order to classify our children as 'present' or 'absent' in homeroom, or having returned their library book, or as payment for their school lunch is just that - debatable.

But would anyone ever say that assembling an ID packet of our children's information, fingerprints included, to have on hand in case, Lord help us, we ever needed to supply police and local authorities with them, is debatable?

Not us. That is why we believe whole-heartedly that this technology, that has become so mainstreamed, should be utilized to the best of its capacities. And when you get right down to it, keeping our children safe in today's world of unknowns and even worse is a top priority.

Hunter Systems Group recently began the SAFEChild Initiative, using its state-of-the-art biometric fingerprinting system to create portable ID cards for parents and caregivers to carry with them. The card has an up-to-date photo, fingerprints, and the child's physical attributes. In addition, Hunter Systems Group provides a USB drive with all of the same information, making quick dissemination of the data possible in the case of an Amber Alert situation. Police tell us that time is of the utmost importance in these scenarios.

It's a hard fact to wrap our heads around, but more than 800,000 children are reported missing each year. And we know that it is better to be prepared with information and especially an up-to-date photograph in order to expedite a public announcement for help. Working within the public safety and law enforcement industry for the past 15 years, we have been able to capitalize on our proven technologies and apply them to a very specific and crucial part of public safety by introducing this new initiative: the wellbeing of our children.

Our products and systems, such as facial recognition technologies and biometric ID platforms have been used to identify and apprehend wrongdoers for those years - with great success. Now we aim to apply these capabilities to an even more rewarding market segment- the young and the innocent.

Our system is available for lease or purchase. Not that you could ever put a figure on the peace of mind it offers. Contact us today or leave a comment below to find out more.

Amber Alert image courtesy of http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/AmberServlet

Old Fashioned Strength and Determination Rather Than Cutting-Edge Products Aided in the Search for Survivors in Japan

2011-03-22T13:20:00.007-04:00

They are foregoing their body worn video and facial recognition products for this deployment. Law enforcement professionals from all around the US and world have traveled to disaster-ravaged Japan offering their help. And while they will not be using any cutting-edge biometric products that they are used to using here; their hands, strength and determination will be put more to the test than with any law enforcement product they have previously used.

Immediately after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit on March 11 near the coast of Honshu, Japan, relief efforts began. More than 70 nations offered their help in rebuilding the devastated region. But first, there were survivors to be rescued and people to be accounted for.

Twelve days later relief and recovery efforts are still underway. Help from near and far
has enabled the search and rescue to fan out widely among the many towns that are utterly unrecognizable. In the midst of these teams are several task force teams from the United States and abroad. California and Virgina elite search and rescue groups, as well as teams from France, Britain and Germany are all apart of the efforts - searching through rubble hoping to find survivors.

We offer our support to these elite groups of rescue professionals, as well as our sincere empathy and condolences to those affected by this tragedy. We are proud to be a part of the public safety community of which the special task forces initiated.
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Photo CourtesyL.A.CountyFire/CaliforniaTaskForce

Fingerprint Systems in Schools at Debate Again

2011-03-08T10:44:00.001-05:00

We've posted before about the fingerprint scanning of children in order to pay for their school lunches in Ohio Schools. We've also posted about the prevalence of biometric tracking of children in UK schools for everything from attendance to paying for lunches. It seems this trend is gaining momentum rather than losing to its opposes, as we have seen a dramatic rise in the fingerprinting of children across the UK.

But one wonders if this rise is due in part to a new amendment to the Freedom Bill requiring parental consent to fingerprint their children, that has been proposed. As of now, school in the UK do not need the parent's consent in order to fingerprint school children for such activities as borrowing library books, attendance and cashless lunches.

Many are pleased about the proposal, which gives parents the right to choose whether or not they wish their children to be enrolled in biometric programs. And that is perhaps why it has been reported that "school are falling all over themselves" to get the prints taken in time, before the proposed bill is enacted.

What do you think? Should children be fingerprinted for the course of their daily school activities, or is this an example of advanced technology being used for the wrong purposes? Leave your comment below.

Facial Recognition Proposed for Australian Sports Venues

2011-02-22T15:10:00.001-05:00

Real-time biometric facial recognition is being proposed in the Australian state of Victoria. Senior police officers have labeled its soccer fans as the most violent in sports. The proposition of scanning all those who enter the stadiums at the turnstiles is a very welcome idea.

A camera would record every face, compare it to a database of known troublemakers, and immediately alert the gatekeeper, enabling him to deny entrance to the person in question. This assumes that the person has been photographed previously, perhaps while being escorted out of a stadium, after initiating a fight or some sort of disorderly conduct.

Because of advancements in biometric capabilities, private facial recognition systems are becoming more mainstream and accessible than ever before. Many companies have introduced their own products, some with more records and better accuracy than others. It is important to enlist a credible provider, one with experience in security, law enforcement and public safety expertise in order to ensure the most applicable solution.

Not only would sports arenas benefit from this technology, but so would airports, concert venues, nightclubs and other places where large amounts of people congregate. The potential is great to ensure safety and swift remediation of potential security issues, with such facial recognition systems. We believe that more and more venues will begin to employ this state of the art tool, as its popularity has expoded recently.

While Body Worn Video Expands to More Police Departments, Some Concerns Still Arise

2011-02-08T10:53:00.001-05:00

Body worn video for police is garnering more and more press lately. Departments in Texas, California, and Louisiana and many others, are either in the process of testing body worn cameras, or have implemented several of them in the past few months alone. These cameras are either attached to officers' ears, worn around the head, or clipped to their uniforms, and are supposed to be a better, more reliable way of gathering evidence than dashboard cameras.
Some of the same debate issues keep coming up in most instances, when it comes to these devices:

Extra equipment may be uncomfortable for the officer. Extremely light-weight and durable cameras make the burden of wearing the equipment as small as possible. The hope is that the officers will see the absolute benefit of using these devices, and that will counter the "nuisance" of the added bulk. That is also why departments should look to cameras designed by a company with actual police officer experience. Companies like these know the rigors and challenges that police officers go through. Ergonomically-designed, head-molding cameras offer the lightest weight and most comfortable options when it comes to body-worn cameras. (In comparison, some companies' cameras are clipped to the uniform or attached to the ear). And once the officer starts using these types of cameras, most agree that the ease of use and reliability of evidence wins over the "extra" gear. Officers work in extreme situations every day -- they are used to making the most out of any condition, for the good of their job.

Privacy concerns. These concerns have been raised over and over again. Yet when complaints surface about overuse of force or misconduct, it comes down to one person's word against another. The public seems to be overcoming this concern and realizing that the cameras keep the police, as well as the public, accountable for their actions. Cameras that record into a DVR for playback, rather than submit a live feed, combat these concerns we feel. It's not like Big Brother is watching our every move. Situations that need to be, are recorded and reviewed for helping in actual crime-related cases. Plus, officers cannot access the recordings of these most useful body worn video systems. Instead, the footage is automatically uploaded onto the main system, password-protected, and are unable to be edited after the fact. GPS tracking appears on all video as well, to show exact location and time of each incident.

Image Quality. Some departments that have tested certain brands of body worn video have discovered fuzzy low-light recording, unsteady footage when an officer is running, and even loss of an earpiece or uniform-clipped piece. For these reasons, and because exacting recordings are necessary in every environment, it is crucial that departments find the most reliable option. That is why the camera should be high-definition, equally good in day/night conditions and be securely fitted to the officer. This is when the headset type shows its value (as it is not as likely to become dislodged, like an ear- or a lapel-clipped camera). The best solutions also have a back-up camera in the unlikely event that the primary camera does become compromised. Again, expert developers with real police experience have produced the most effective, useful and reliable camera in the body-worn video market.

So while these concerns are valid - especially if police departments are using an inferior solution, most feel that the age of body worn video is among us, and is a necessary component of public - and police - safety. And departments are finding that the mere awareness of a body worn camera influences those around it, calming them down. And isn't that what we hope for in police work? But, when a calm day - or night - on the job, isn't on the docket, it's nice to know a reliable evidence gathering system exists, whatever the scene.

Smart ID Badges To Be Rolled Out to Massachusetts Police Departments

2011-01-26T13:52:00.001-05:00

Police officers across the state of Massachusetts will likely be getting standardized police badges this year. A bill has been proposed to supply police departments with high-tech badging identification to reduce the occurrence of police officer impersonations. At the end of 2010, the bill was passed by the Senate, and would make Massachusetts the first state nationwide to adopt such a practice.

It’s unusual that there hasn’t been movement toward this initiative prior to now. It seems like a no-brainer to want to easily identify police officers from those posing as one. If this standardization was around when I was a teenage driver, I doubt my parents would have felt the need to tell me over and over again to “never open the window” to a police officer in an unmarked car, if by chance they would pull me over. Instead, I was instructed to say through the glass, “I’ll follow you to the nearest police station.”

Luckily I never had to resort to that unorthodox approach, as I was a stellar teenage driver. Yet the upcoming generations could surely get some mileage out of this new system. And that’s just one example in a myriad of uses of how standardized ID badges would improve civilian relations and strengthen cooperation.

Much like the Massachusetts-issued driver license, all police ID badges will be uniform, stating who may carry them, how long they are valid, when the must be renewed, and what to do with them when they are no longer required (i.e. retirement, expiration).

The new statewide badges (that will be used at the state and local levels, as well as for the Transportation Police) will certainly make it easier for us to know who we are dealing with. However, there needs to be sufficient communication to the public about this new program, so that we know what to be looking for. It’s all well and good for the new cards to be issued, but how is the public to know what the card should in fact look like?

We can only assume that because the state has been so forward-thinking and first-to-market in this program in the first place, Massachusetts will continue along these lines and make sure everyone is in the know about this extremely valuable initiative.

Hunter Systems Group provides public safety and security tools for police departments, governmental agencies, educational institutions and companies worldwide. Our products include smart ID badging cameras, mug shot capture systems, fingerprint and facial recognition, and other biometric applications.

Fingerprinting Systems for School Lunches Makes Some Queasy

2011-01-11T15:16:00.001-05:00

The Ohio County Board of Education just approved a pilot fingerprinting system for use in an elementary school for cafeteria efficiency. They say the fingerprinting system will allow for a faster, more accurate way of tracking school lunch accounts. With a quick scan of a student's finger, the system accesses that student's account and deducts the lunch fee all in less than a second.

One has to wonder, is this a necessary way to combat the sharing/borrowing/stealing of students' lunch money? The Board of Education says the fingerprint records will be stored with the same level of security of all other school records, and that they will be destroyed after graduation. But, again, is this the best use for what seems to be a surplus of available finances? And what happened to getting to know each student and being able to personally identify them, rather than relying on a fingerprint scanner to distinguish identification.

Read the entire article here and let us know what you think about this issue below, by leaving a comment. Do the privacy concerns have you objecting to this proposal, too? Or the dehumanizing of our students? Or maybe the cost concerns of this undertaking, which are slated to spread to other school functions and throughout high schools in the area as well? Or do you feel it is just a natural application of a growing-in-popularity technology? We'd love to hear from you.

Fingerprint Systems Meet Scrutiny in UK Schools

2011-01-04T17:46:00.001-05:00

Fingerprint systems for school children? Have we gone a little too Big-Brother? That's what people are asking in the UK, where biometric identification of school children is on the rise. Already more than a quarter of Scotland students are being identified this way - having to use thumbprints to access restrooms, acquire library books, obtain lunch and even check in their attendance throughout the day. And even more schools have the capability and are yet to start using it.

The use of tracking mechanisms is poised to become mainstream within the British education system -- that is, as long as the critics don't get their way. And there are plenty. Parents and legislators alike are arguing that this unnecessary breach of minors' privacies is not only dehumanizing, but is also in violation of EU laws.

Salford University Researcher Dr Emmeline Taylor found that in 2010, 3,500 schools in the UK — one in seven — are using fingerprint technology. It is evidently gaining acceptance even though the dissenters are expressly against the practice.

It is not so offensive as the RFID chips that are being used in school children’s ID cards in Texas and California (people have likened this to the tracking of cattle or warehouse inventory). Yet still, there seems to be no logical reason why children as young as 4 need to be exposed to thinking that the government will be tracking their every move throughout their lives.

Many feel that just because the technology and efficiencies exist, there is no reason to replace human involvement and physical monitoring (not to mention ‘teaching’) of our children with them. Are the schools so surplused with budget money that this was the expenditure of choice? I am sure we could all think of a few other, more education-centric ways to spend this.

What do you think? Leave us a comment below telling us how you feel about the biometric tracking of school children.

Biometric Fingerprint Systems Not Just For Use in Law Enforcement

2010-12-16T15:29:00.001-05:00

Of all the biometric techniques available now – from vein recognition to iris recognition to facial recognition – fingerprinting is the oldest and most well-known. Not just for use in crime scene investigation or heavily secured laboratories anymore, biometric devices are being widely employed throughout various industries now.

While fingerprinting may have started as simply a component of suspect processing and identification within law enforcement scenarios, its use has been used for far more mainstream activities over the past decades. Personal laptops now even come with fingerprint scanners built right into the keyboard. Cars are now being introduced with fingerprint access, to further reduce the “burden” of getting into your car, say, without your keys or remembering a numeric code.

Fingerprint recognition is also being used in health club settings for access controol; in places where multiple users log onto shared computers or networks; and as part of a unique identifier for financial transactions. More and more everyday activities involve types of biometric security. Now that the application of these methods continues to expand, we wonder how accurate is it?

Each person has unique, immutable fingerprints. The patterns of our ridges and furrows, as well as our minutiae points, make our fingerprints different from everyone else’s. These make us uniquely quantifiable and verify our identity for security purposes.

Some fingerprint systems stop at these measurements, as that is what makes a system AFIS compliant. But the true leaders in this market take it even further. The most successful technology companies incorporate palm prints, vein recognition, and flexible recording options into a comprehensive fingerprint system, where breaching is practically unheard of. Add a more than 100,000 record database, varied search capabilities and 100% non-manual interaction, and the risk of unreliability is extremely diminished.

While no system is ever 100% infallible, the right combination of screening methods can provide utmost security and authenticity. And nothing happens in a vacuum. Human interaction, in addition to state of the art gadgets is the best way to protect against vulnerability. After all, that’s what happens when I lose my car keys – I call someone on my very high-tech phone.

Body Worn Video Heralded a "Game Changer"

2010-12-09T14:11:00.001-05:00

Body Worn Video is taking hold in police departments nationwide. More forces are starting to employ this state of the art aid in their daily beats -- about a handful in each state. And the more these devices become operational, the more we are hearing about the necessity of using them.

Most officers don't know what they're missing until they start using the comfortable, reliable and easy-to-use systems, which are worn on their headgear. In Burnsville, Minnesota, for example - dashboard video cameras are being removed in favor of the body worn devices on each and every officer. The benefits far outweigh the critiques, as far as Hunter Systems Group is concerned.

The portable video recorders are constantly in "active" status, and with the touch of the record button, the previous 30 seconds of "live action" becomes part of the intentional recording. Recordings then become a digital part of the police department's RMS, allowing for easy archival, retrieval and management of files. The files are password protected, and are not able to edited. This is especially helpful is credibility issues, since the recording cannot be altered. With such indisputable evidence, cases develop -- or are dismissed for lack of supporting evidence -- more quickly than ever before.

In these cases, the body worn video systems, while an expense to the city or state operating budgets, are predicted to more than pay for themselves in fewer fruitless cases being pursued, and processing efficiencies that are made possible with these "gold-standard" accessories. These are not just niceties to a police department -- they are absolute requirements. No longer viewed as a product of the future, body worn video has entered the scene and shown its utmost worth.

Hopefully more police departments, government agencies, border patrols and law enforcement everywhere will soon follow suit, This trend has exploded, and we don't see it dissipating anytime soon.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Zooming in on Facial Recognition -- Not Giving In

2010-11-30T11:48:00.001-05:00

Methods and products are constantly improving. We are never satisfied with the “good enough”, and consistently aim for the next version, the faster operating system, the smaller smartphone. Why should biometrics such as facial recognition be any different? No, they are not 100% infallible perfection now – but isn’t that what makes us work harder to improve them?

A study was published stating that Biometric Security Products are inherently fallible and therefore should not be relied upon for crime prevention and processing scenarios. So that’s it? End the billions of dollars of research; eliminate the funding and release all of the programmers? That’s what the National Research Council would have us all believe.

If we take a step back and look objectively over our technological discoveries and creations over the past decades, haven’t they all improved periodically? Apple didn’t stop after version 1 of the iPod. Intel still continues to introduce faster processors. So why do the critics of biometrics feel this genre won’t improve as well? And, as any security professional knows – security is about redundancy and layering of techniques; not simply relying on one security aspect to answer all concerns. If we use them for that they are – one more piece of validation in a process that helps identify, track and manage issues – then they are one of the greatest innovations of the security landscape.

Each month the technology improves. Now we can track biometrics of faces, veins, irises and even ears. It would be a lot easier to walk through an entrance gate and be scanned while inputting a unique code (a layered approach) than it would to have manual intervention at every access point. The potential is endless for what biometrics could do for police and security scenarios.

Shopkeepers in London, for example, have integrated facial recognition into their CCTV cameras, so that they are instantly alerted if a repeat offender enters their establishment. This has cut down on the occurrence of theft that had been on the rise before the installation of the biometric capabilities.

Some people worry about breach of privacy issues with this technology. The purpose is not assert a” Big Brother” watchful eye over us. The purpose is to use innovation to keep us safer and to rectify issues faster and with more confidence when situations to arise. Why wouldn’t we all want what’s better?

This Kind of Body Worn Video is Always Handy -- And Controversial

2010-11-19T15:49:00.001-05:00

It's body worn video in a sense, and once again it's a hot topic: videotaping by cellphones. With recent arrests caught on tape, videos posted to YouTube and court battles regarding felony wiretapping, we wonder -- what is the law on this prevalent feature, the pocket video camera. A few months back we posted a blog on this same topic, which I will reprint below:

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There have been several newsworthy occurrences of alleged illegal wiretapping of police officers lately. This recent trend can be directly correlated to the smartphone craze. Always handy, the cell phone has recorded police arrests, altercations, and police interrogations that otherwise would have gone undocumented. And when the police officers realize the recording is taking place, some situations become even more argumentative.

Take Tasha Ford, for instance, a South Florida woman who was jailed for "eavesdropping" when she, along with her video camera-phone, approached police that had handcuffed her son in a parking lot for allegedly trying to sneak into a movie without a ticket. The police told her it was illegal to record someone without them being aware. She quickly responded ,"My name is Tasha Ford and I am recording you." The police abandoned the trite charge against her son, and changed their focus to Ms. Ford, arresting her under Florida's electronic surveillance law.

"What's the big deal?" one might ask. If a police officer is doing his or her duty, that officer should have no beef with the fact that a recording is being made of the actions, right? After all, police and government work for US, the people. Not the other way around. It could be argued that the more transparent and out in the open the law enforcement exchanges are, the better.

But is that what is really happening? Or are these recordings problematic under the Wiretap Act, which prohibits all wiretapping of citizens without a warrant from a three-judge court? Mostly, this Act pertains to the videotaping of private matters, and without the other person's consent. It could be argued that police matters are always public matters serving the public interest. But what about receiving their consent? It is a murky area, that has been argued under many different circumstances in many state and federal courts.

No consent was given to Anthony Graber, a Maryland National Guard officer, before he videotaped his traffic stop from his motorcycle helmet and released it onto YouTube. He is now facing up to 16 years in jail for violating the state's wiretap laws, for recording the state trooper that pulled him over, without his consent. The fact that the recording shows the trooper cutting Graber off and pulling his revolver on him during the traffic stop could have added fuel to the fire. We also don't have the context of these actions to get the whole unadulterated story of the incident -- just Graber's video portrayal.

One of the arguments against videotaping of police activities by civilians is that no one can be sure that the original recording has not been altered after the fact. Editing software is just as easy and commonplace as the video recording devices themselves. It wouldn't take much for a grudge-wielding accessory to a crime, or any editing novice to completely change the sentiment or "evidence" within the recording, and then release it to news organizations to influence an ongoing investigation.

The major point seems to be the potential inconsistencies and varying points of subjective views that one civilian's video may have toward a police officer or ongoing case. And it seems the only satisfactory way to deal with these issues is to continue barring civilians from filming and capturing police scenes themselves. A government-sanctioned, police-endorsed product that records, that cannot be overridden or edited, and that expertly captures the entire encounter, both video- and audio-wise, needs to be the only acceptable media for such endeavors.

Hunter Systems Group's body worn video recorder, Hunter iCapture(TM) does just that. Its high quality picture, audio and remote operating capabilities make it a best-in-class alternative to grainy, inaudible and indecipherable recordings by civilians or lesser products. It's worn comfortably by officers in any situation, whether a routine traffic stop or a more active S.W.A.T-scenario, and is not susceptible to any after-the-fact rogue editing.

Because it is password-protected and technologically superior to any other handheld or personal video recording mechanism in existence, there is no reason to use anything but Hunter iCapture. Additionally, the camera device may be mounted in the police cruiser as an in car video or may easily be detached to act as a body worn video recorder. The more universal the operating system for police departments, security organizations, border patrols, and any other crime-prevention entities, the better and more useful the evidence.

If police wear these types of cameras, citizens like Ms. Ford and Mr. Graber wouldn't feel the need to pirate their own recordings, getting themselves into even more trouble than the initial instigation. In the meantime, let's save the iPhone and handheld cameras for what they were intended --the birthday parties and pop-a-wheelies. And the occasional drive-through debacle.

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To read the latest news on this topic, please visit this link.

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/special_reports/cell-phone-video-know-your-rights-20101117

Tips on Staying Safe During this Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-11-17T10:31:00.002-05:00

We wouldn't be a true public safety company if this time of year didn't conjure up a little alarmist in us all. Halloween with its kids' safety issues. Thanksgiving with its kitchen, deep fryer and drinking issues. And Christmas with the fire hazards and burglary potential. We would like to remind you all that once you strip away the technologies (the body worn video, the smart cameras, the biometric applications) -- the one fundamental goal for all in law enforcement is to keep you safe. Read on for holiday-specific tips and reminders.

Yes, Halloween has passed. We reminded you through our Facebook page to keep the kids safe, and to stay on well-lit and well-traveled streets. Well that holds true for this time of year in general. With the clocks set back and the darkness setting in sooner, it's getting easier to lose track of those neighborhood playdates.

Please remind your children to be home earlier. A cul-de-sac football game that starts right after school could easily go until 5 or 6 o'clock at night without the energetic players taking a breather. But now it's dark even before 5 o'clock. Make sure there is enough light where the kids are playing so that cars will notice them easily. Better yet, make an afternoon curfew to get the kids home before dusk. If this means swapping their homework time to after dinner, instead of right after school, that may be your best bet to escape any resistance on this new plan. Just take extra precautions with the early darkness and the potential desolation of darkened neighborhood streets.

As for Thanksgiving, lots of unwatched pots are boiling. An extremely hot deep fryer may even be sizzling away. And houseguests are coming, going, "helping", distracting and interrupting. We have a lot on our minds -- just make sure that safety in cooking is one of them. Set and adhere to timers. Assign jobs out to other guests, and make sure they follow up on them.

And watch the amount of alcohol. A glass or two of wine with dinner is one thing. But there are people that start drinking first thing in the morning (kegs and eggs, anyone?), and don't stop until right before they leave their host's house for the night. As the host, you have an obligation not to over serve. So take guests up on their offers to help in the kitchen and with the grill outside. You have more to focus on than just the presentation of a perfectly cooked turkey.

Then there's Christmas. Obviously we know by now that dry Christmas trees and exorbitant amounts of lights left unattended do not mix. Be careful with your decorations. Do not overload any outlets. Don’t leave lights on over night or when you are away from home. And do not place your tree too close to heating ducts that will expedite the drying process or even pieces of furniture that will burn if in fact a small fire does occur. Also make sure smoke detectors have fresh batteries and sprinklers (if your house is equipped with them) are in working order.

Also be extra cautious with your belongings, your car and your house. This time of year people are desperate for extra money and it is prime break-in season. Keep doors locked and alarms on at all times. Use a hidden safe to store expensive items and extra cash. The news is already reporting a rash of burglaries in South Shore towns of Massachusetts. Now is the time to prepare and be vigilant.

Be aware of your surroundings, when walking through darkened parking lots, and keep your cell phone handy in case you need to call 911 immediately. Always lock doors as soon as you enter your car -- try to only unlock the driver's door if you are alone. Diligence and observation are your best defenses, so don't text while you are walking to your car, or even while you are idling in the parking lot. Get in and start moving. Don't make yourself an easy target.

This time is year is filled with joy, excitement, happiness and expectations. And the more we arm ourselves with proper preparedness, common sense and proactive organization, the more we can actually enjoy it. So remember these pointers, and prepare to have a safe and secure winter season.

Business Social Media Sites for Public Safety and Law Enforcement Personnel

2010-11-16T21:28:00.002-05:00

This series of blog entries discusses the different types of social media, and how those can be employed in the public safety and law enforcement arenas. Today we're on to the Business Category. BThese sites are all communities that are used for networking, address book management, business communications, and knowledge sharing. LinkedIn also has a question and answer section where “connections” (rather than “friends”) share information on particular topics.

Many police departments use LinkedIn for its business networking capabilities. For example, the Las Vegas Police Department’s LinkedIn page has 209 followers, and lists officer profiles, job opportunities, and crime statistics on the site. LinkedIn can also be linked with Twitter, so that a user can cross-post to both services in order to reach a wider audience and keep its updates synced.

Ning is another site, in which communities are created around specific interests, job, etc. Loopthing is similar to LinkedIn, and lists company profiles and contact information. Xing is a networking site, most popular in Europe, where it has over 7 million users.

Any of these sites may be further categorized. For instance an online group for officers to ask questions about body worn video or mug shot capture systems would be a helpful and supportive community. Here they could stay informed, or share ideas with other dealing with the same types of issues and situations. The social media reach is endless – with more and more sites being created, one could easily spend his or her entire workweek updating sites.

This is where a site like Posterous saves a huge amount of time. Posterous manages all of a department’s social media sites from a central hub. Officers can link all of their sites together, and one post simultaneously updates all of their accounts. This would be extremely helpful when time is of the essence, and you were, for instance, sending out information on a crime that just took place. Immediately, all of your sites would communicate the information to all users at once.

Sites like Posterous are helping non-social media experts become more familiar and comfortable with this “new” communication tool. And making them more useful is helpful, especially for such industries like law enforcement and crime prevention, where communicating with the public is so crucial.

Fingerprint System In Use at Nationwide Health Club

2010-11-15T12:13:00.001-05:00

Fingerprint Systems aren't just for use in the law enforcement industry. One national fitness club, 24 Hour Fitness, has employed fingerprint systems for access in its more than 400 nationwide clubs. Now, with the scan of a finger (along with a 10-digit code, to ensure enhanced security), members can enter the facility without having to show their ID cards.

Of course, with any security advancement, there are two sides to this debate. Proponents claim that convenience, environmental benefits (the club will no longer have to supply almost a million plastic membership cards) and cost savings are significant enough to justify this new technique. But, those against this "Big Brother-type" program fear that their privacy is at stake.

Some feel that biometric devices that employ fingerprint, iris, voice or facial recognition are subject to hacking and therefore are not protected. But 24 Hour Fitness counters this argument with the implementation of the unique code, along with the fingerprint scan. And it even goes further as to encrypt a snapshot of the fingerprint ridgese into a binary code that is more secure and protected than the whole fingerprint may be.

I don't know about you, but heading to the gym without my ID card sounds pretty appealing, and I'm not too worried about what trainers are going to with my BMI and rep counts. Read the full article and tell us what you think.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

High-Tech Safety Products for the Police... To Drive In.

2010-11-02T11:26:00.001-04:00

Body-worn video. Biometric solutions. Voice recognition and smart cameras. All belong on a police officer's list of best crime prevention tools. But let's not forget...the cars themselves.

Last week we learned that the UK rolled out BMW Police Cars for all 52 of its forces. Intrigued by the idea for this side of the pond, I asked a few police officers stateside what they would think of such an occurrence here. Officers Jason McNamara of The Roanoke County Police Department and Tim Cohoon, a Massachusetts police officer, were helpful enough to shed some light on this topic for us.

Both told me that the police cars here, especially those involved in patrolling, need to have enough cargo room to accommodate equipment, gear and potential transport of suspects. While driving an unmarked BMW may sound appealing – maybe even glamorous – after speaking to these officers and reading up more on the topic, the concerns with practicality do seem to outweigh the mere enjoyment of such a scenario.

Another major concern expressed by both McNamara and Cohoon was the cost of outfitting and maintaining police cars. Officer Cohoon tells HSG that it is not uncommon for police cruisers to log nearly 100,000 miles each year. This fact, combined with the rigors of frequent and dramatic accelerations and stoppings, mean that whatever car the police drive, it would have to be powerful enough, reliable enough, and cost-effective.

Not to say that BMW’s are not reliable and powerful, but when something does need to be maintenanced or even replaced (as happens normally within any given car’s driving life), it is no secret that BMW’s parts and certified mechanics are a bit pricier than say, Ford or Chevy. The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, on the other hand (the standard police vehicle of choice for most departments, including Cohoon’s and McNamara’s) can be easily serviced, and is specifically built with police modifications.

But it’s not just maintenance costs that would probably deter U.S. police departments from acquiring BMW’s. The initial cost of the car, plus the modifications necessary to equip it to be a police vehicle would most likely be prohibitive – especially in today’s economic environment. Now, I do not know the actual BMW prices for the UK cars – I am sure there was a very exhaustive RFP and bid process that took place and took into account all competitors and details. But still, knowing the economic climate that pervades the U.S. at this time, how do you think people would react, seeing the entire state of Massachusetts, for example, getting fleets of super-charged, and probably super-costly, Beamers to drive around in? Public perception must always be factored in, as police and community interaction and cooperation is paramount to performing their job successfully.

Also, in many cases, departmental patrol cars are normally serviced at the actual car dealership (with only minor repairs done in the actual town or city) by certified Ford mechanics. Again, this reflects back to the issue of costs. And convenience, really. These kinds of cars cannot be out of commission for long, so time is definitely of the essence. Just looking in the local online phonebook I found five times as many Ford dealers than BMW.

All interviewed do admit that the speed of the BMW 3 Series could definitely come in handy. Officer McNamara points out that for pursuit vehicles or even traffic units, a speedy and not-so-large car could be effective. In these situations, officers don’t typically need as much cargo space, as they don’t arrest as many or as often as patrol officers. Yes, there are bigger BMW models (530d), but once again, we are back to costs, since the higher the model number, the higher the base cost.

But it seems that some sort of a change is inevitable for departments nationwide, as HSG has been told that the Crown Victoria will be discontinued next year. And we’ve heard from not just one source that Dodge Chargers (a sometimes alternate choice) have proven unreliable. Chevy Malibu has been used, with mixed results – not exactly acceptable in this extreme line of work. Maybe there really will be a push toward BMW – this could in fact be a new trend.

While both officers admitted it would be appealing to drive a sports car like a BMW all day for work, they also agree that the cons outweigh the pros at this time. Adds McNamara, “However, if BMW wants to send me a car to test drive for research purposes, I’d be more than happy to provide my address!” You hear, that, BMW?

How British Columbia Handles Duplicate Records Generated by Province-Wide System

2010-10-27T19:40:00.001-04:00

With the help of IBM's entity analytics application, Britich Columbia is cleaning up its records management to remove duplicate records and to identify and remove instances of criminals lying about their names or addresses. The issue is whether the PRIME application will be able to be effective considering Canad's strict privacy laws. PRIME maintains that the sharing of information under the entity analytics platform will be able to be followed.

http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/bc-police-fight-crime-with-ibm-entity-analytics/141812

When Body Worn Video & Facial Recognition Are Merely Terrestrial

2010-10-27T11:57:00.001-04:00

We are all intrigued by the technological advances that are portrayed on T.V. and in film that appear to be larger than life, and more supernatural and science-fiction in nature than real. We suspend our disbeliefs in shows like NBC's The Event, where The President is covering up a 60-year-old conspiracy, and is full aware that there are E.B.E's (Extraterrestrial Biological Entities) both held captive by-- and living unbeknownst in-- the United States.

The E.B.V.'s technological prowess far outweighs the United States' own capabilities, and we see things like instantaneous time travel and localized harnessing of something more powerful and targeted than our nuclear fission. And among these unbelievable concepts, we also watch and hear about the use of facial recognition software, real-time digital video, body-worn video and other more terrestrial abilities. Our most advanced tools against theirs, one might say. And more advanced each day, we are.

Facial recognition technology is now employed in a number of law-enforcement and crime prevention applications -- from stadium entrances to police booking systems to CCTV on city streets. These systems can pick up an individual with near-100% accuracy and immediately produce a real-time report, whether it is to bar the person's entrance to a particular event or tie them to a crime. Facial recognition has even gone mobile recently -- Smart Phones are now capable of using face tracking software, which will allow users to log onto social networking sites, conduct online banking, and access email all by looking at their phones. Not that this is comparable to a "poof, the 200-passenger-full plane has been transported from Miami to Arizona in a single flash" a la Thomas from The Event. But these very technologies that not long ago seemed like future science fiction movie props, are now real, useable, and helpful in our everyday lives.

The same holds true for real-time digital and body worn video. These features aid greatly in law enforcement and crime prevention, and are growing more robust and applicable each year. Years before when any sort of video recording device was large at best, and poor quality at worst, the technology simply was not utilized and investigations and surveillance operations suffered. Today, pieces are so small and comfortable, and the image and sound captured is of the utmost quality, that police forces, university police, and government teams alike are using them in their everyday actions. That's not to say that if they found themselves up against the likes of 50-plus E.B.V.'s that our gadgets would help apprehend and quell the angry "others". But, these products are useful on just about everyone else. We'll be watching The Event closely for our next generation ideas though.

Safety Products for Drug-War Fighting Police Forces

2010-10-22T15:33:00.001-04:00

Marisol Valles Garcia, a 20-year old female police officer took over as Chief of Police in Chihuahua, Mexico – a town that has been torn apart by drug trafficking violence for the past several years. Besides her fearlessness and bravery, a few necessary law enforcement and crime prevention products are definitely in order to help her in her endeavors:

- Surveillance –Because Garcia prescribes to the “Community Policing” method - a strategy in which community involvement and support aims to control crime and reduce fear – she and her staff definitely need accurate, easy-to-use, and reliable body worn video recording. A body-worn video device will capture tips that she receives when going door to door and talking to the townspeople.

- Processing System – Garcia’s team of 13 will undoubtedly be processing many suspects in Chihuahua. Since crime and violence is so prevalent and frequent, the barracks will need to be equipped with state-of-the-art mug-shot, fingerprinting and reporting capabilities. A system that can connect directly with other agency databases and immediately circulate records of gang members would be a good choice.

- Value-Added Tools – Chihuahua Police would be well-suited to have facial recognition and license plate recognition software products. Again, when dealing with gang suspects, immediate identification is crucial to any proceeding. The ability to act quickly and confidently will make their job easier and more effective – and with the degree of crime and violence that they will be dealing with, the extra advantage of leading products is crucial.

Having some key crime management products in the war against drug crime may give Garcia and her force the edge they need to make the difference. Hopefully the Community Policing strategy will unite a people that have all but stopped noticing that these violent crimes are taking place all around them. While many are skeptical, or even apathetic, that Garcia will effect change, we as law enforcement solutions providers, know that any change is a start.

Welcome

2010-10-19T11:15:00.001-04:00

Hunter Systems Group would like to welcome its newest Hunter Smartshot customers, Parker, CO Police Department, Woburn, MA Police Department and Brunswick, GA Police Department!

Body Worn Video Provides Better Police Evidence

2010-10-07T12:24:00.006-04:00

Body worn video, and digital video in general, obviously has a lot of clear advantages over the old ways of taping evidence, logging, and storing tapes. But is it worth the effort to convert old body worn videos to a more modern and useful digital system? Police departments need to keep some video for up to 25 years due to the statute of limitations on particular crimes. That’s a lot of video. Many struggle with not only the spacing concerns of housing all the video tapes or even DVD cases, but also with the possibility of evidence tampering.

Advanced digital video solutions, such the Hunter iCapture(TM) body worn video system, eliminate both the tampering and storage concerns – not to mention deliver much better quality and reliability. These digital body worn video recordings cannot be edited or recorded over, and are password-protected so only the assigned office can view them. Therefor there is no worry that evidence has been tampered with or accessed by anyone else.

HD digital video is now becoming the norm for capturing all facets of crime prevention and police activities. From witness interviews to suspect interrogation to body worn video to in-car recording to prison cell surveillance, digital video makes all of these applications more effective. Managing all of these different videos would be an IT department’s biggest nightmare if they were not integrated within a department’s RMS. But when body worn video – and all types of police video – is digitzed, it is easily managed on the main network that interfaces with all other facets of department work, such as booking, reporting , etc .

But moving from physical storage to digital is quite an undertaking. And the success of such a project depends upon the relationship between the IT and business sides. Partnering with a software provider who is an expert in body worn video and digital video implementation makes all the difference. Departments that have made the conversion, tell us they are thrilled that they did it. Dealing with videos, both body worn video and all others, is much easier than ever before, which allows them to focus more of their time on the most important part of police work – keeping the community safe.

To read more about Hunter Systems Group's body worn video solution, feel free to contact us.

Massachusetts Adopts No-Texting-While-Driving Law

2010-09-30T14:10:00.002-04:00

As a public safety and law enforcement solutions company, Hunter Systems Group, aims to not only develop innovative products that allow police departments and patrol forces everywhere to exceed at targeting and processing criminals, but we also strive to keep the public informed of pertinent safety and law-related information:

Remember today, September 30, 2010 is the first day that The Massachusetts No-Texting-While-Driving Law goes into effect. Now we know that all of our readers, friends, and subscribers are smart enough already, and didn’t need a LAW to tell us not to do this not-so-smart action. But in case some of you didn’t know what exactly is forbidden under this new law, here it is:

It is now against Massachusetts law to:
-type a text message while driving.
-read a text message while driving.
-send a text message while driving.
-access the Internet in your car from any mobile device

And, finally, sixteen and seventeen year olds cannot talk on cell phones at all when they drive – only in the event of an emergency.

But, we’re sure your common sense already prevented you from doing any of the above-mentioned offenses. Stay Safe!
-The Staff at Hunter Systems Group, Inc.

Would Legislation Be Un-Social?

2010-09-28T09:50:00.006-04:00

I read today that technologies are making our younger generations less equipped to do things on their own, i.e. use a paperback thesaurus, tie their own shoes, remove ice cubes from a tray. Is this because online wordfinders, velcro shoes and automatic icemakers have made these needs obsolete -- or is it that they spend so much time Googling, Facebooking, Tweeting, etc. that little time is left for real interaction and physical "doing"?

I would argue it's combination of both, born from a constant attachment to IPhone, Androids, Blackberries and some, still their laptops.

I am not here to judge whether time spent online is hindering or helping their socialization, common sense or educational progress. I am sure there is data to argue both sides of that debate. But when online time overtakes offline time -- we now text more than we call; we teleconference and online chat a whole lot more than we business travel-- we need to examine the law enforcement ramifications.

When an investigation is underway, law enforcement personnel utilize monitoring techniques and surveillance systems to record conversations and phonecalls. But when criminals elect to text rather than talk, or kidnappers Skype their demands, we are unequivocally behind the technology times. Presently, there is no way to access these types of communications in real time, severely hindering criminal investigations -- especially those involving suspected terrorism.

The Obama administration is seeking to remedy this disadvantage with its initiative to require social media and voice-over-technology companies to build in a way for law enforcement personnel to monitor these types of communication, when the need calls for it. As of now, applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Sykpe and others do not have this capability.

Always sensitive to the personal privacy versus public safety argument, the FBI, Justice Department and National Security Council, remind us that this is not a new, more expansive stance -- yet an extension of the already existing CALEA Act of 1987 which grants court-ordered access to telecommunications methods during criminal investigations.

I am not sure why this proposal has been bandied about for the past two years without any real movement taken. As the discussions have occurred, the prevalence of social media and encryption technologies has skyrocketed over the same time period. Law enforcement's reach into these media has been well outpaced by the actual media themselves.

So while some public safety software and equipment companies are utilizing these innovative and cutting edge technologies to prevent and report on crimes, shouldn't we also be able to monitor those applications that may be used to counter our very advancements? The technology should even playing fields -- and when there's an advantage to be given, shouldn't it be on the side of law enforcement, and not just on the side of the Velcro-wearing, ice-cube ignorant uber-online addicts?

Will Massachusetts Emergency Dispatch Services Ever Be Regionalized?

2010-09-02T20:41:00.003-04:00

Massachusetts is one of the only states that has not, for the most part, regionalized its dispatch services. Granted, it takes years, serious investment and extreme dedication to accomplish such an undertaking. Case in point: the State of Oregon worked for 16 years to regionalize the dispatch of its state police services, but it was worth it. Now, there are two command centers that act as primary points of contact for all state police needs across the state - instead of 26. Tax payers' money is saved, scales of economies are realized, and updated technologies are enjoyed throughout the state.

It's not that the ideas and the benefits haven't been presented. In the last three years, Essex, Plymouth and Worcester counties have all brought up proposals for regionalizing emergency dispatch services. And with any Massachusetts proposal, there have been dissenters. Those opposed to the combining of services, site possible layoffs, lack of presence in overnight facilities to greet visitors, and varying degrees of dispatcher familiarity with towns involved, as main reasons to veto.

Even though finances shouldn't be the main reason to act on this trend, it is hard to overlook the hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money that could be saved. And now, when agencies are expected to do less with more, and budget cuts are forcing every department to look more thoroughly than ever at its expenditures, those savings could really be leveraged. If nothing else, then there are plenty of case studies to show us the way to regionalize emergency dispatch for our own success, and that may just be enough to lead us firmly in that direction.

Hunter Systems Group's Mugshot Capture System FAQ

2010-08-19T18:34:00.006-04:00

Although our NIST-Compliant mugshot capture system, Hunter Smartshot, is easy-to-use and virtually maintenance and support-free we are still asked questions about our mug shot capture system. Three of the most frequently asked questions we will address below.

Question:
Our department has several officers taking mugshots with a digital camera and the photographs are all cropped differently. This has left us with a large database of mug shots that are inconsistently cropped and framed. Can we share these mug shots with other local or national departments?

Answer:
Whenever you have officers taking mug shots that are not aware of the NIST Best Practices, there will always be slight framing issues that go against NIST guidelines. If your department takes mugshots this way, just go back and compare your mugshots for the last 1 to 3 months, or more, to see how much they differ from officer to officer. These may be shared with other departments and larger databases, but using these mug shots for identification purposes may lead to their ultimate inadmissibility in courts of law due to bias, inconsistency or other factors.

Question:
We use software with pan-tilt-zoom features and our mug shots still come out inconsistently from officer to officer. How do we correct this to follow NIST guidelines?

Answer:
With this type of system, you will almost always experience inconsistencies because of different framing interpretations from one photographer to the next. To correct these inconsistencies, officers taking mug shots should be trained in NIST best practices found on our website.

Question:
Why are NIST standards not mandated by the Federal Government, or by our state?

Answer:
The Federal Government and several states are discovering the importance of consistent and standardized mug shots as an investigative and identification tool. We believe that these governmental bodies will soon start developing standardization that will be mandated across all jurisdictions. We advise you to constantly monitor your State's progress on standardization of mug shot capturing or to contact us for periodic updates.

For more information on our mug shot capture system, always feel free to visit our website at http://huntersystemsgroup.com/

New Type of Shooters Go to Jail...Videotaping police leads to time behind bars

2010-08-10T20:17:00.002-04:00

iPhones, Smartphones, Dime-sized video cameras. Even kid-focused Nintendo DS's and candy-colored Nickelodeon-character video recorders. Personal videotaping devices are more portable and easy-to-use than ever. The primary purpose of these devices -- pure entertainment (though the woman caught on tape, who attacked a McDonald's worker over morning Chicken McNuggets may think otherwise). Videotaping amongst children doing pop-a-wheelies on their bikes is one thing. But what about videotaping that is far from child's' play -- like police officer encounters?

There have been several newsworthy occurrences of alleged illegal wiretapping of police officers lately. This recent trend can be directly correlated to the smartphone craze. Always handy, the cell phone has recorded police arrests, altercations, and police interrogations that otherwise would have gone undocumented. And when the police officers realize the recording is taking place, some situations become even more argumentative.

Take Tasha Ford, for instance, a South Florida woman who was jailed for "eavesdropping" when she, along with her video camera-phone, approached police that had handcuffed her son in a parking lot for allegedly trying to sneak into a movie without a ticket. The police told her it was illegal to record someone without them being aware. She quickly responded ,"My name is Tasha Ford and I am recording you." The police abandoned the trite charge against her son, and changed their focus to Ms. Ford, arresting her under Florida's electronic surveillance law.

"What's the big deal?" one might ask. If a police officer is doing his or her duty, that officer should have no beef with the fact that a recording is being made of the actions, right? After all, police and government work for US, the people. Not the other way around. It could be argued that the more transparent and out in the open the law enforcement exchanges are, the better.

But is that what is really happening? Or are these recordings problematic under the Wiretap Act, which prohibits all wiretapping of citizens without a warrant from a three-judge court? Mostly, this Act pertains to the videotaping of private matters, and without the other person's consent. It could be argued that police matters are always public matters serving the public interest. But what about receiving their consent? It is a murky area, that has been argued under many different circumstances in many state and federal courts.

No consent was given to Anthony Graber, a Maryland National Guard officer, before he videotaped his traffic stop from his motorcycle helmet and released it onto YouTube. He is now facing up to 16 years in jail for violating the state's wiretap laws, for recording the state trooper that pulled him over, without his consent. The fact that the recording shows the trooper cutting Graber off and pulling his revolver on him during the traffic stop could have added fuel to the fire. We also don't have the context of these actions to get the whole unadulterated story of the incident -- just Graber's video portrayal.

One of the arguments against videotaping of police activities by civilians is that no one can be sure that the original recording has not been altered after the fact. Editing software is just as easy and commonplace as the video recording devices themselves. It wouldn't take much for a grudge-wielding accessory to a crime, or any editing novice to completely change the sentiment or "evidence" within the recording, and then release it to news organizations to influence an ongoing investigation.

The major point seems to be the potential inconsistencies and varying points of subjective views that one civilian's video may have toward a police officer or ongoing case. And it seems the only satisfactory way to deal with these issues is to continue barring civilians from filming and capturing police scenes themselves. A government-sanctioned, police-endorsed product that records, that cannot be overridden or edited, and that expertly captures the entire encounter, both video- and audio-wise, needs to be the only acceptable media for such endeavors.

Hunter Systems Group's body worn video recorder, Hunter iCapture(TM) does just that. Its high quality picture, audio and remote operating capabilities make it a best-in-class alternative to grainy, inaudible and indecipherable recordings by civilians or lesser products. It's worn comfortably by officers in any situation, whether a routine traffic stop or a more active S.W.A.T-scenario, and is not susceptible to any after-the-fact rogue editing.

Because it is password-protected and technologically superior to any other handheld or personal video recording mechanism in existence, there is no reason to use anything but Hunter iCapture. Additionally, the camera device may be mounted in the police cruiser as an in car video or may easily be detached to act as a body worn video recorder. The more universal the operating system for police departments, security organizations, border patrols, and any other crime-prevention entities, the better and more useful the evidence.

If police wear these types of cameras, citizens like Ms. Ford and Mr. Graber wouldn't feel the need to pirate their own recordings, getting themselves into even more trouble than the initial instigation. In the meantime, let's save the iPhone and handheld cameras for what they were intended --the birthday parties and pop-a-wheelies. And the occasional drive-through debacle.

Mugshot Capturing - NIST Best Practices

2010-07-13T10:01:00.007-04:00

Mugshots are one of law enforcement's most important tools in cataloguing convict information as well as obtaining convictions for crimes. Whether they be jail mugshots, funny mugshots or just the creation mugshot database, this photographic evidence, once obtained, may be shared by departments across the country to identify a repeat offender in the same or another jurisdiction. Another important feature of mugshots, an increasing focus in today fiscal landscape, is their ability to be used for photographic arrays and lineups for victim and witness identification. Not only do lineup arrays employing mugshots save time and resources, they present these tools without individuals even knowing that they are suspects

The problem with mugshots' usage as a lineup tool lies with the uniformity of mugshots taken from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Whereas similar looking suspects presented in an unbiased photographic manner leads to identifications that can influence judges and juries, carelessly taken mugshots, mugshots with different lighting, different colored-backgrounds, disparate poses or aspect ratios may lead to bias in identifying perpetrators of crime - oftentimes leading to prosecutors determining that this type of evidence would be impermissible or worse the successful suppression of this type of evidence in courts of law. Thus, to create photographic arrays that consist of similar photographs fall into the hands of individuals making subjective decisions.

The NIST has developed the Best Practice Recommendation for the Capture of Mugshots. These practices, developed over the course of several years, were introduced in 1997 to mandate uniformity and consistency in mugshot taking. To create and maintain uniformity, NIST suggests standardization of the following photograph specifications:

Types of Poses
Depth of Field
Centering
Lighting
Background
Exposure
Aspect Ratio
Minimum Number of Pixels
Color Space
Pixel Aspect Ratio
Compression Algorithm
File Format

Recently, to combat the disparate nature of mugshot-taking, many states have begun to employ the NIST standards of mugshot capturing. For instance, States such as Michigan, Indiana, New York and Virginia have implemented similar procedures on mugshot capture consistency. After all, if mugshots are different from user to user or department to department, their use as identification tool is practically worthless.

It is incumbent on other states and municipalities to begin following these standards. Even if you believe that complying with standardized guidelines for mugshot capturing is unnecessary, your mugshots may need to be utilized by another locality for identification purposes. As a law enforcement agency, do you want to jeopardize the conviction process in this way?

Campus Security - Updates to the Clery Act

2010-07-05T21:23:00.003-04:00

On July 1, 2010, new regulations affecting campus security at institutions of higher learning took effect. These regulations address many areas, including changes to certain financial aid rules and regulations, changes to fire reporting requirements and file sharing. However, the most important changes that were implemented include updates to the reporting requirements and notifications under the Clery Act.

The Clery Act, formally known as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, was named after Jeanne Clery, a 19 year old college student who was murdered in her dorm room in 1986. In the investigation, it was discovered that her school had either misreported or failed to report numerous instances of crime on her campus. The 1990 Act helped increase of awareness of crime on campus and as a result helped increase information-sharing and notification of issues.

Schools that receive or participate in federal funding programs must submit to its students and faculty Campus Safety and Security Reports detailing crimes, such as homicides, burglaries, aggravated assault, arson, etc. in and around campus. The Clery Act also requires campus security officials to maintain crime logs for several years, including a two month log immedately available to anyone who requests a copy, as well as timely reports if there is imminent threat. Failure to do so could result in thousands of dollars of fines per violation.

The 2010 regulations, originally issued by the Department of Education in October 2009, require additional reporting in these Campus Safety and Security Reports. These additions include the following:

Campus policies regarding law enforcement authority of campus security officials.
Details of relationships with local law enforcement.
Methods of incident reporting.
Description of processes that lead to notification of emergency situations.
Additional reporting of crimes if determined to be hate crimes.

If you suspect that your school/employer is not complying with these new requirements under the Clery Act, contact the regional office of the Department of Education that handles the state in which your school/employer is located. The regional office will then assist you and, more importantly, determine the next steps to take to ensure compliance.

Trusting Video Evidence in Courtroom Proceedings

2010-06-29T18:37:00.004-04:00

I was remembering an old saying from Benjamin Franklin recently that I had first heard several years ago - believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see. Franklin was merely trying to have us think for ourselves, trust our own judgments and not the judgments of others in forming opinions and taking actions.

Interestingly enough, this very quote came to mind after reading the cover story in the May-June 2010 issue of Evidence Technology about the use of video technology and the field of forensic video analysis. Putting aside the author's obvious aim to put his business in a better light, the question he poses is still a valid one - can video evidence be trusted?

First, video evidence may be used as primary evidence, but secondary evidence must also be gathered to strengthen a case against a perpetrator. Witness statements and scientific forensic evidence are just as important as video evidence in the accuracy of convictions. Reliance solely on video evidence is bad practice. Ultimately, it is merely one tool in law enforcement's arsenal and should be treated as such.

The author's anecdotes that seem to increase the need for specialized video analysts are inconsistent with current technology available to first responders. CCTV and time lapse photography are no longer the only tools that are available to law enforcement personnel investigating crimes, or perhaps even while those crimes are occurring. Technology has progressed to the point that police officers may obtain video and audio evidence that may not be tampered with or destroyed, includes GPS information stamp and a time and date stamp while the evidence is being collected. Analyzing video evidence is made much easier if judges and juries may review this type of evidence knowing that the evidence can't be lost or altered. Truly seeing is believing. There would be no need for experts in forensic video analysis with widespread use of this new technology. And the answer to the question posed above, while it remains just a piece of the puzzle, would be yes, video evidence may be trusted.

Hunter Systems Group is currently distributing its Hunter iCapture(TM) body worn video devices. Hunter iCapture(TM) combines state of the art video/audio capture with instant video display and playback that immediately becomes saved onto an accompanying hard drive. Employing both security software and camera technology that makes both day and night evidence gathering simple, the Hunter iCapture(TM) device is currently being used in 60 agencies worldwide. Visit our Body Worn Video homepage to find out more or email us at sales@huntersystemsgroup.com.

Solving the Dangers of the Gadget Police Car

2010-03-24T19:40:00.003-04:00

In a recent New York Times Piece by Matt Richtel, the dangers of the "gadget" police car were analyzed. The police vehicles described in Richtel's series were equipped with sophisticated computers, GPS systems and radio systems, all requiring attention that took attention away rom driving. Not surprisingly, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made the professional distracted driving issue a current day cause celebre; although he stopped short of accusing law enforcement professionals from engaging in acts of distracted driving.

But to combat the ever increasing sophisticated criminal element, these tools are necessary to fight this increasingly alarming type of criminal. Countless lives have been saved by police officers able to run license plate numbers, radio in suspicious activities, exchange messages with dispatchers or fellow officers and locate their own and their targets' whereabouts. Many agencies and departments will justify the added technologies by confirming rules related to said technology's usage. Unfortunately, for police officers in hot pursuit or even just responding to an innocuous call, these guidelines are just that - guidelines.

Reconciling the risks of distracted driving with the need for our police forces to employ all tools in their arsenal is our goal. Because, no matter what side of the issue you are on, use of one's cellphone, computer and radio are necessary components of a law enforcement personnel's job description in modern day crime fighting.

One solution is to automate the flow of information that the police officer requires in order to properly conduct his activities. If a police officer can call up information on a vehicle, review the driver's license of a suspect, or report suspicious activity without having to look down to type a license plate number or reach for his radio, the issue of police officer distracted driving will be diminished. Eyes are kept where they should be - on the road, and the risks of unintended accidents or damage are practically eliminated.

Hunter Systems Group is developing the proprietary technology to make this a reality. Contact your local Hunter Systems Group representative to find out more of this innovative technology, or visit us at http://www.huntersystemsgroup.com/.

NIST Grants as a Tool to Afford IT Equipment and Software

2010-02-23T19:41:00.007-05:00

Many police departments and other law enforcement agencies have been feeling the pinch of the economic crisis of the last two years. Federal, State and local budgets are shrinking, and law enforcement agencies have had to make due with less. As budgets shrink, these agencies start having to make hard decisions about what are necessary expenditures to ensure public safety and what are expenditures that must wait for better times. Unfortunately, the purchase of new and updated IT equipment, hardware and software falls under the "wait for better times" expenditures. As criminals and their activity become more and more sophisticated and high tech, however, this belief systems begins to threaten public safety in and of itself.

There are Federal and State programs out there, however, that provide much needed funds to police departments and governmental agencies to purchase this type of much needed equipment and to assist in other research that a law enforcement agency might consider undertaking. One such program is the Grant Program through the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology.

This program, administered through the grants.gov program, is seeking applications for grants for FY2010, which ends on June 30, 2010 (except for Fire Research Grant, which expired earlier this year). The categories of grants that government agencies are eligible for include the following:

(1) Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL);

(2) the Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL);

(3) the Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL);

(4) the Physics Laboratory;

(5) the Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL);

(6) the Building Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program;

(7) the Fire Research Program;

(8) the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Program;

(9) the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR);

(10) Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST); and

(11) Technology Services (TS).

It appears that governmental agencies seeking to employ the latest software and hardware to augment its capabilities should review the Technology Services portion of the program which provides grants for "software/hardware needed to collect data of inspection records/results." Applications should be received by NIST prior to June 1, 2010 to ensure that the application is considered for the FY2010 program.

For assistance or further information on applying for the NIST grants pursuant to the grants.gov program, contact us at http://huntersystemsgroup.com/.

Mug shot / Photo Identification Application

2009-12-10T14:12:00.000-05:00

Greetings and welcome to our first blog post.

Traditionally, mugshots of arrested individuals taken via the criminal booking process have inconsistencies which differ from booking officer to booking officer, and suspect to suspect. These inconsistencies can cause significant issues which can limit an agencies ability to provide valid photo arrays for witness identification. These issues can ultimately lead to the inadmissibility of evidence at trial and subsequently, guilty offenders could be set free. Hunter Systems Mugshot Capture Application seeks to eliminate these inconsistencies by standardizing the mugshot capture process.

Through a series of complex computations and algorithms, developed through a partnership with Quantum Signal, LLC of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Mugshot Capture Application locates a subject's head and shoulders through a standard video feed, and correctly aligns the image to create the "perfect mugshot". In addition, the mugshot image is validated to ensure compliance with National Institue of Standards and Technology (NIST) best practices, including lighting, background, exposure, aspect ratio and compression algorithm.

Once the image has been captured, validated and stored in JPEG format, it is available to be imported into the users' Records Management System.

By ensuring that the NIST standards are adhered to, agencies utilizing the Hunter Mugshot ID application will also be in compliance with Federal Bureau of Investigation and Automated Fingerprint Information System guidelines. Thus increasing the overall effectiveness of a Nationwide database of criminal offenders.

Mark

http://www.huntersystemsgroup.com/