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Police still use sketch artists despite surveillance tech advances Despite the growing use of surveillance technology to monitor public and private spaces, some law enforcement departments still rely on composite sketches to help solve crimes. Some police departments are continuing the use of hand-drawn sketches because they are the only available method to identify suspects, but some departments are continuing to use the tool for nostalgia. The Washington Post reports that surveillance videos become more powerful when combined with composite sketches. The Post recently reported about a case in which offcers obtained a video of a suspect attacking a 71-year-old man who ended up in a coma. The man later identifed his attacker through a sketch. Some police departments have adopted composite-generating software which allows offcers and witnesses to select features from a database and then compile a single face. Critics of compos- ites claim that law enforcement agencies do not have a confrmed arrest and conviction rate that can be attributed to sketches. Many composite artists are also unable to confrm how many of their sketches have helped close a case. When misused, composites may contribute to racial profling, false arrests, and wrongful convictions. For more details, go to www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com Idaho group to license more ham operators When normal communication channels are down or overwhelmed, volunteers with ham radios can provide links to the outside world and coordinate rescue efforts. Classes being held by the Portneuf Valley Amateur Radio Emergency Service are designed to bolster the ranks of people in Southeast Idaho who have Federal Communication Commission licenses to operate ham radios. Ham radio operators were put to work when the Charlotte Fire happened in 2012. A major advantage of radio communication is that a large number of listeners can hear information frst-hand and respond to it instantly. There are approximately 2,200 licensed ham radio operators in the Bannock County area, but less than 50 are active as volunteers; classes bolster those numbers. For more details go to www.apcointl.org 39 www.officer.com February 2014 Law Enforcement Technology COMPANY SPOTLIGHT Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP) Inc.... will outft all 350 offcers with the Basel-Landschaft Police Department in Switzerland with the ASP Talon Baton and Envoy Scabbard. Basel-Landschaft Police Sergeant MBA Markus Beer, Chief of Tactical Training, transitioned offcers to the 50 cm Talons following an extensive testing and evaluation process that began in January 2013. EagleView Technologies Inc…. provider of aerial imagery, data analytics and GIS solu- tions, announced a formal partnership with Intrado, provider of 911 technology solutions. The partnership allows for the integration of Pictometry Intelligent Imagery through Intrado MapFlex 911 offering 911 centers across the country one of the strongest visual aerial intelligence available. Liberty Ammunition... global provider of high-performance, lead-free ammu- nition for military and law enforcement markets, announced their Civil Defense 9mm personal defense round received the highest score of fve from the National Tactical Offcers Association Members Tested and Recommended Program. Revision Military... donated $50,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation through the Revision & Dan Packard Spec Ops Family Fund. The fund operates under the SOWF, bringing the families of severely wounded special operators to the bedsides of their loved ones. Smith & Wesson... donated $50,000 to Honored American Veterans Afeld (HAVA) at the 2014 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday, January 15th. Sorenson Forensics'... advanced forensic services were featured on TNT's real- life crime show "Cold Justice," which recently began its second season. The show reexamines cases from across the country. WatchGuard Video... won a $20 million Canadian Award from the Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to supply the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with 4RE HD in-car video systems for three years, plus two option years. This standing offer is expected to update the in-car video capabilities of the RCMP fleet and is the largest ever awarded to WatchGuard for digital in-car video. I N D U S T R Y N E W S LET_39_IndustryNews0214.indd 39 1/24/14 12:28 PM