Fort Worth Police Department Strategic Plan
Investigative – Recent Accomplishments Crime Scene Panoramic Scan Station : The Crime Scene Panoramic Scan Station transformed the ability of the police department to create accurate depictions of scenes of major incidents (i.e., accidents, crimes, etc.). This technological advancement measures EVERYTHING within its line of sight, instead of the limited area that Crime Scene Investigators may categorize as is important in an expeditious manner. CODIS: The FWPD Crime Lab recently implemented the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) CODIS software, which accesses national, state, and local DNA profile databases of convicted offenders and casework samples. Once an investigator uploads a DNA profile from submitted evidence into the database, the database compares DNA profiles from all convicted offenders to the sample and may provide an investigative lead to determine who should be included or excluded from investigations, especially persons who may not have committed a crime. The submission makes additional comparisons with other casework samples to determine if any two unsolved cases may be related. Crime Lab personnel and investigators laud CODIS as an excellent means to generate investigative leads in active and cold cases. AFIX Tracker Upgrade: The Crime Lab upgraded the Automated Fingerprint and Palmprint Identification (AFIX Tracker) software to the latest version, which provides additional functionality and greater performance, increasing efficiency and reducing search times. Additionally, they activated an interface with the Jail LiveScan fingerprint machine, making all arrests searchable through the AFIX Tracker system for investigations in future and cold cases. Investigative – Future Projects Expansion of License Plate Reader (LPR) Network: Expanding FWPD’s LPR equipment facilitates heightened surveillance and serves as a force multiplier. This technology provides an invaluable tool as the department attempts to maintain staffing at a pace that exceeds retirements and attrition by hiring officers who are anxious to use the tools FWPD provides to address crimes individually. The Department currently has four LPRs, and expansion of the program begins with the purchase of five more units (one for use in each division) in FY17. The department plans to expand the program each successive year with the purchase of additional units (both fixed and mobile) with the goal of installing equipment that provides coverage for major highways, thoroughfares, and intersections. Gun Shot Detection System: An emerging technology that assists law enforcement agencies by pinpointing gunfire locations with extraordinary accuracy; within mere feet of the discharge area. This information can be used in real time by RTCC to dispatch officers to the area for investigation to reduce gun related violent crime, and assists in locating the likely area of shell casings. The technology enables police to determine whether a gun discharged, or if the noise emanated from something else, such as fireworks or a vehicle engine backfire.
How Growth Affects the Fort Worth Police Department
Page 74
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs