The use of Laptops and in-car communication systems by Police Departments
For many police patrolmen having up-to-date information at their fingertips
can mean the difference between surviving pulling over the next driver
acting suspiciously or not. The use of laptop computers integrated via
wireless networks with literally hundreds of databases including the FBI's
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database and public criminal
records from every state, county, and municipality in the country according
to Careless (2006) gives the police officer thorough knowledge of who they
are pulling over and if they are dangerous or not. Being able to quickly
gain information on the person pulled over, if they are on a terrorist or
sexual predator watch list, listed as a missing person, or even have an
outstanding warrant for arrest in another state is invaluable for the
patrolman pulling over this person.
This is revolutionizing the role of the patrolman as these systems first
protect them from inadvertently confronting a criminal who may be armed and
dangerous by first running the license plate through the many databases
available through wireless connections from their onboard laptops. There
have also been instances of finding missing persons who were trafficking
illegal drugs, leading to the break-up of drug dealing rings in
municipalities in Louisiana for example (Careless 2006). Warrant
violations are commonplace and the incidence of random stops by police
patrolman leading to arrests has also gone up significantly according to
Careless, 2006. The bottom line of the use of laptops integrated via
wireless networks to multiple national and regional databases is the fact
that police patrolman have an upper hand in dealing with potentially
violent situations, quickly gaining the upper hand on criminals who are
intent on pursuing illegal activity and harming citizens in the process.
Reference:
Careless (2006) - Thinkstream and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office.
Law and Order Magazine. James Careless, author. Published July, 2006.
Accessed from the Internet on January 26, 2007 from location:
http://www.hendonpub.com/secure/articlearchive/details.asp?ID=717
