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2008 City Innovations Showcase
Law Enforcement/Crime Prevention
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Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking
City of Clearwater
In October 2006, the City of Clearwater Police Department was awarded a federal grant to fund the creation of the Clearwater Area Task Force on Human Trafficking (CATFHT). CATFHT’s mission is to identify and rescue victims; create a coordinated law enforcement system to investigate and prosecute these crimes; and deliver social, legal and immigration services to human trafficking victims in Clearwater/Tampa Bay. CATFHT serves as a mechanism for communication and strategic collaboration between law enforcement and service providers, coordination of community resources, promotion of community awareness of human trafficking, and training of intermediary communities on human trafficking indicators and responses.
Contact: William B. Horne II, City Manager
City of Clearwater
P.O. Box 4748
Clearwater, FL 33758-4748
Phone: (727) 562-4046
E-mail: william.horne@myclearwater.com
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You’ve Reached the Wrong Number
City of DeLand
Enterprising DeLand police officers wanted to address thefts occurring in the city. Officers use a disposable cell phone equipped with a homing device and a monthly $2.99 subscription to a GPS system to track the disposable phone with another cell phone. They discovered this process works effectively. The “target” phone is hidden on the “bait.” If the property is stolen, its location is easily tracked within minutes. The suspected thief is identified and an arrest is possible. This innovative use of technology will help officers identify those who break the law, prevent future crimes and impede crime sprees.
Contact: Edward Overman, Chief of Police
DeLand Police Department
City of DeLand
219 W. Howry Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 740-6910
E-mail: chief@deland.org
Dispatch Services and Wireless Communications
City of DeLand
The City of DeLand has partnered with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to utilize both the dispatch services of the Sheriff’s Office and the remote wireless network of the DeLand Police Department. The City of DeLand was able to combine its police network and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office network/software to make the transition smooth and affordable. The police officers now have the ability to do driver’s license verification, background checks and vehicle registration checks from their patrol cars immediately upon a traffic stop. The DeLand police also are able to communicate with other officers and the Sheriff’s Office using the network silently. In addition, police officers do their incident reports on laptops in their patrol cars and file them electronically. The city’s plan for the next budget year is to implement a criminal records system sharing resources with the Sheriff’s Office.
Contact: David Watson, IT Director
Information Technology Department
City of DeLand
120 S. Florida Avenue
DeLand, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 626-7084
E-mail: watsond@deland.org
Calypso Cove Security Initiative
City of Margate
The Calypso Cove Aquatic Facility had experienced burglaries to patrons’ vehicles, so they looked to four city departments to help combat this crime. Staff from the Police, Human Resources, Information Technology and Parks/Recreation departments collaborated and implemented a successful initiative to address this problem. Signs were placed in the area explaining that all who enter the grounds will be under video surveillance. A security surveillance system was installed, police presence was increased and frequent road patrol visits were scheduled. The initiative reduced the crime rate and restored public confidence and morale.
Contact: Francis J. Porcella, City Manager
City of Margate
5790 Margate Boulevard
Margate, FL 33063
Phone: (954) 972-6454
E-mail: citymanager@margatefl.com
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Automated Fingerprint Identification System
City of Palm Bay
The City of Palm Bay purchased an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) that provides automated fingerprint search capabilities, latent searching capability, electronic image storage and electronic exchange of fingerprints and responses. Using the AFIS system, the Palm Bay Police Department already has solved cases that would not have otherwise been solved. The Police Department will soon enter previous years’ latent prints and will hopefully solve cases that would have gone unsolved. The department continues to dedicate its attention to solving crime and providing resources using these new innovations.
Contact: William Berger, Chief of Police
Palm Bay Police Department
City of Palm Bay
130 Malabar Road S.E.
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Phone: (321) 952-3458
E-mail: bergew@pbfl.org
Child Safe
City of Palm Bay
The Palm Bay Police Department provides a Child Safe program to the city’s 6th-grade classes. The emphasis of the program is to instruct students on the dangers of guns. Students who attend the session are given educational materials that include “Firearms Responsibility in the Home,” children’s pledges and bookmarks provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). As part of the session, the students are shown a film titled “You Make the Call.” Each child is given a certificate upon completion. Child Safe is provided through the NSSF and funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.
Contact: William Berger, Chief of Police
Palm Bay Police Department
130 Malabar Road S.E.
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Phone: (321) 952-3458
E-mail: bergew@pbfl.org
DNA Project
City of Palm Bay
The Palm Bay Police Department and a company that uses DNA analysis for human identification joined in partnership to create a first-ever DNA database to combat crime. DNA primarily has been used to confirm the identification of suspects developed through other investigative methods, limiting the role of DNA to confirmatory evidence at trial. The Local DNA Indexing System (LODIS) was designed to prove that mass collection of evidence from virtually all crimes, combined with aggressive collection of suspect samples, can result in identifying offenders. In less than eight months, the Palm Bay LODIS project has proven this hypothesis and solved crimes that would otherwise have gone unsolved.
Contact: William Berger, Chief of Police
Palm Bay Police Department
City of Palm Bay
130 Malabar Road S.E.
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Phone: (321) 952-3458
E-mail: bergew@pbfl.org
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Neighborhood Watch Phenomenon
City of Rockledge
The Rockledge Neighborhood Watch Phenomenon is the cornerstone of the city’s community oriented policing concept. The 92 active groups located throughout the city partner with the Rockledge Police Department to reduce crime, participate in community enhancement projects and network with each other to increase a sense of community in Rockledge. The Rockledge Community Relations Unit, in addition to nurturing and perpetuating neighborhood watch programs, also has developed an active business watch program and has begun the process of forming a citizen volunteer unit.
Contact: James P. McKnight, City Manager
City of Rockledge
1600 Huntington Lane
Rockledge, FL 32955
Phone: (321) 690-3978
E-mail: jmcknight@cityofrockledge.org
The Impacts of DUI
City of Tallahassee
The City of Tallahassee wanted to teach young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, and to promote the work of its Police Department. A campaign unfolded based on a video about two local young men, one who almost lost his life as a result of DUI, and the other highlighting an Eagle Scout, who took the lives of two young women and is serving 22 years in prison. The video is being shown in schools, on government-access TV stations across the county and is included in state mandatory classes for DUI offenders. A shorter version has been posted on a popular video-sharing Web site, and has reached more than 12,000 people.
Contact: M. Michelle Bono
Assistant to the City Manager
City Manager’s Office
City of Tallahassee
300 S. Adams Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: (850) 891-8200
E-mail: michelle.bono@talgov.com
SmartWater Pilot Project
City of Tallahassee
The Tallahassee Police Department implemented a pilot project using crime-prevention technology. Forensically encoded liquids called SmartWater were given to residents to mark property that may be stolen during a burglary. Every bottle of liquid contains a unique “forensic fingerprint” that is entered into a database and allows investigators to determine ownership when stolen property is recovered. SmartWater is practically invisible but glows bright yellow when exposed to a black light. If sprayed as part of a police operation, the liquid will be detectable on the offender’s skin and clothing over a period of months.
Contact: Greg Frost, Executive Services Director
Tallahassee Police Department
234 E. Seventh Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32303
Phone: (850) 891-4411
E-mail: gregory.frost@talgov.com
Automatic License Plate Reader
City of West Palm Beach
In the past, police officers had to read license plates and call them in to a communications center to verify if the car is stolen or if there were outstanding warrants on the owner. Because it is a cumbersome process, officers often only check vehicles of which they are already suspicious. Using an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system, the City of West Palm Beach Police Department has a new tool in the deterrence, management and prevention of crime. Cameras, a processing unit and proprietary software allow police officers in moving vehicles to capture images of license plates and instantaneously compare them with a “hot list” to identify vehicles and persons involved in criminal activity. Automatic searches are done by a portable computer. These searches include the identification of stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, suspended licenses, outstanding warrants, and people on gang or terrorist watch lists.
Contact: Edward R. Mitchell, City Administrator
City of West Palm Beach
200 2nd Street
P.O. Box 3366
West Palm Beach, FL 33402
Phone: (561) 822-1400
E-mail: emitchell@wpb.org
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