[Scan-DC] Loudoun deputies access crime info on the go

[Alan Henney]

>From a sheriff news release:

Loudoun Sheriff’s Office First in State to
Have Handheld Access to Crime Information

Loudoun County, Virginia- The so-called “cell phone bandit” gained
national attention after she allegedly used her cell phone to commit a
crime. Today one of the agencies who assisted in her apprehension
announced they will be using their cell phones to help fight crime.

Deputies from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will be the first
law enforcement agency in the state to be able to access information
such as drivers license information, vehicle information and wanted
status by either name or Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) right from
the palm of their hands.  Blackberry cellular phones issued to sworn
personnel can access Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD), the Virginia
Crime Information Network (VCIN) and the National Crime Information
Center (NCIC).

Sheriff’s Deputies in the agency who are more often away from their
patrol vehicles such as Community Policing, Criminal Investigations
and Traffic Safety will be the first in the agency to have access on
the phones so they can receive queries through VCIN and NCIC. “A
deputy on foot or bike patrol could access information about a subject
without having to go back to their patrol car or tie up their radio
and a dispatcher to access crime information,” said Sheriff Steve
Simpson. The phones can also be used to look up current police calls
including information on which units are on the scene, location and
notes on the incident. The access will increase both officer and
public safety added Simpson

The Community Policing Unit is one of the first units in the agency to
use the new tool. Members of the unit frequently get out their patrol
vehicles and conduct foot and bike patrols to help better connect with
the community they serve. Investigators can also use the cellular
phones to access information while conducting surveillance and at
crime scenes.