Saturday, July 03, 1999
Warren Co. police linked through computer network
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — Sharing crime information will become easier by month's end when a dozen Warren County police agencies are linked through a computerized law enforcement network.
Using $100,000 in state funds, the sheriff's office is coordinating the first-time venture that will put computer terminals in each department, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Officers can type in their offense and arrest reports to be shared in a central database that can be used by county law enforcement agencies.
The advantage of such a system: It helps officers link crime trends in their communities and share information on suspects.
Until now, officers have shared information by word of mouth because there was no countywide system, said Lt. Johnny Miller, who heads the project for the sheriff's office.
“As a law enforcement agency, we have to share information. Criminals are very mobile now,” he said.
“One little shred of information is enough to put an
officer out on a path and solve a crime. That's what we're all about — solving crimes.”
Terminals are installed in Maineville, Hamilton Township, Morrow and South Lebanon.
The new system will operate similarly to the Regional Computer Information Center in Hamilton County, which is available only to law enforcement officials, Lt. Miller said.
Warren County agencies now have access to the National Computer Information Center (NCIC) to identify license plate numbers and check on outstanding warrants. The information in the new network will be more localized.
“When it's fully operational, it's going to enable us to check potential suspects with other agencies in the county to see if they've had those people,” Hamilton Township Chief Gene Duvelius said.
“And it's on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, instead of having to wait to call them at the office on Monday. It's going to enhance the NCIC system and be more local and centralized for us. There will be a better exchange of information between agencies.”
Lt. Miller eventually plans to issue CDs for the network that will allow out-of-county law enforcement agencies to use the Warren County site.
In the future, he wants to expand the site even further to include photographs of suspects, e-mail so officers can issue bulletins on crimes and suspects, and a calendar for police to post training programs that could be shared.
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