Technology
| More

Data Delivery: Rap Sheets in Real Time

BY: | September 2005



Crime fighters in New York City have a new high-tech tool for catching perps. It's a massive data warehouse, run by a team of analysts and investigators who can put valuable information in detectives' hands before they even arrive at a crime scene.

Around NYPD's headquarters, the room full of computers and wall-sized screens is called the "Real Time Crime Center." Jim Onalfo, NYPD's chief information officer, prefers to call it a "super help desk" for detectives. What Onalfo has done is integrate dozens of databases, including criminal records, parole and probation files, summonses and calls from 911 and 311. He has also layered in the capability to do advanced searching, mapping and pattern analysis.

Detectives working a field investigation can call in to the crime center to have database searches done. Results are sent back by fax or phone. Eventually, the information will be sent wirelessly to detectives' laptops. "Before this, when detectives went to a crime scene, they had very little information to take with them," Onalfo says. "Now they call the center, and we're preparing information as they're going to a location."

The $11 million crime center may become a model for other law enforcement agencies, much the way NYPD's Compstat system did in the 1990s. The crime center, however, is not simply a souped-up version of the famous crime-mapping tool, according to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Compstat measures and holds managers accountable for past crimes, Kelly said in July. "In contrast, this crime-fighting center is harnessing the power of information technology and putting it into the hands of our investigators to fight and solve crimes."


If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.

Christopher Swope
Christopher Swope

Christopher Swope was GOVERNING's executive editor.

E-mail: mailbox@governing.com
Twitter: @governing

Comments



Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. GOVERNING reserves the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

Comments must be fewer than 2000 characters.

Latest from Technology

  • States in a Race to Secure Drone Testing
  • Groups in 37 states are vying to become one of six federally designated sites for testing the remotely piloted crafts for use in the nation's airspace. They see a chance to generate jobs.
  • Job Skills Gap a Growing Concern in Cities
  • Cities coming out of the recession are facing new challenges with matching their workforce to available jobs, a problem that could be an early indicator of a growing national problem.
  • Sequestration Cuts into Scientific Research
  • Federal agencies pour billions each year into university research. With less federal money to spend, some Ph.D. programs are delaying admissions decisions, while others have already cut positions amid the uncertainty.

More From Technology

Featured on Governing.com





Events & Webinars

  • It’s A Paperless, Paperless World..... Thinking Outside the Box to Gain Efficiencies through Prepaid Cards
  • April 23, 2013
  • Public sector organizations are under intense scrutiny to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible and with maximum transparency. An important consideration is the way in which payments are made and managed. Prepaid cards can offer flexibility, security and accountability to governments as a method of dispersing benefits, healthcare and social care payments, child benefits and housing benefits to their constituents.


More Events & Webinars


© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved.    |   Privacy Policy   |   Site Map