Mobile I.D. Device on Patrol In 2010 the El Paso Police Department was one of the first departments in the U.S. to start using mobile I.D. devices. These devices allowed officers the capability to positively identify individuals while still in the field. These first generation devices did have some drawbacks; things such as bulkiness and transmission of data from the car to AFIS, but the biggest was the inability to check DPS and FBI wanted databases which was not available at the time. In June of 2015 the department traded up to the newer generation mobile device which was much smaller, lighter and most of all programmed to allow for the transmission of data back and forth between the device, our local wanted database, the DPS wanted database and the FBI Repository for Individuals of Special Concern (RISC) database. Since that time the devices have not only positively identified hundreds of individuals, many with outstanding local warrants, but have identified at least 30 individuals listed in the F.B.I. RISC. This database includes wanted individuals, suspected terrorists, sex offenders and other persons of special interest.
These mobile electronic fingerprint readers, about the size of a personal cell phone, have helped officers in the field positively identify numerous persons. The response is usually within 3 minutes and will advise as to persons wanted on local and federal charges.
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