Prompted by Sept. 11, Ohio on Wednesday became one of the first states to launch a computer system that allows law enforcement agencies to easily share intelligence information.

        Agencies who use the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) can enter criminal and suspicious incidents — even if no arrest has been made — into a new database that can be used by all members.

        The information will be categorized by the suspected offense and may aid homeland security efforts, authorities said.

        Col. Kenneth L. Morckel of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said law enforcement was criticized after Sept. 11 about its inability to quickly share timely information.

        Launching this new database is Ohio's response, said top regional law-enforcement authorities at a Wednesday press conference in Cincinnati.

        “I think it empowers police officers even more to do their jobs,” said Steve Barnett, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman.

        An example of how it works:

        If a police agency is investigating an arson, the new database can yield information about other arson investigations statewide.

        The system is Internet-based and can be updated quickly. Agencies can include contact information, summaries of intelligence data, and photos and other images.

        “The system will provide for the sharing of intelligence information that is crucial to the FBI's mission of investigating and preventing terrorism,” said Robert S. Mueller, of Cincinnati's FBI office.

        The cost to create the new system was minimal because it was developed in-house bystate patrol computer programmers, officials said. It was in the works for about three months.

        Since the late 1960s, police agencies have used LEADS for criminal justice purposes to obtain driver records, criminal histories and vehicle information. But there has been no tool to allow agencies to share intelligence data.

        The new Internet-based system can be accessed via computers already in police stations. Only LEADS users can access it, officials said.

        As they come online, similar systems in other states can be linked together, officials said.

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