[Scan-DC] NCR LInX-the Law Enforcement Information Exchange

[Alan Henney]

________________________________
From: Jeanne Saddler
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 12:10 PM
Subject: Press conf on police info sharing
Importance: High

NEWS CONFERENCE ADVISORY

Area law enforcers will attend a news conference at 10:00 a.m. on
Wednesday November 28, 2007 at the Washington Navy Yard Conference
Center.  This event concerns a significant public safety initiative
that will positively impact residents of the National Capital Region
(NCR). The news conference is being hosted by the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Metropolitan Washington Council
of Governments (COG).

Police chiefs from approximately 60 law enforcement agencies in the DC
area are expected to attend.  Also on hand will be the Director of
NCIS and senior military and public safety officials.

The event is the official unveiling for NCR LInX-the Law Enforcement
Information Exchange in the National Capital Region.  LInX will
combine records from numerous police departments around the area,
making them available for data base searches by all participating
agencies.  LInX is managed by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service
and now, with the addition of the NCR, is at work in the District of
Columbia and eight states: Texas, Washington, Virginia, Maryland, New
Mexico, Hawaii, Florida and Georgia.  Additional LInX sites are being
developed in California and North Carolina.

The 9-11 Commission Report noted that poor information sharing among
law enforcement agencies was one of the largest failures of government
leading up to the   9-11 terrorist attacks.  LInX addresses that
problem and dramatically improves the sharing of information by area
law enforcement, resulting in improved public safety and an increased
quality of life for the entire region.

Chief Doug Scott of the Arlington Virginia Police Department chairs
the COG's NCR LInX Governance Board and sees LInX "as the single most
significant crime-fighting advancement that police officers can use
everyday, since the advancement of DNA and fingerprint databases."

Chief Tom Manger of the Montgomery County MD Police Department is
Chairman of the COG Police Chiefs Committee. He says "While offenders
cross jurisdictional lines regularly, local law enforcement has
historically struggled to use each other's information to reduce
crime. Thanks to NCR LInX, police now have a 21st century information
sharing tool to identify suspects, improve public safety and support
homeland security."

NCIS Director, Special Agent Thomas Betro, notes:  "While we always
want to seek new sources of information, it is critical that law
enforcement agencies make the most of what information we already
have; put the facts into context and 'connect the dots.' LInX allows
federal, state and local authorities to do that...efficiently,
quickly, and in a cost-effective way, to help us better protect those
we serve."

The news conference will include recaps of how LInX played a critical
part in several major cases around the country and success stories
from the National Capital Region.

Please contact NCIS PAO Ed Buice regarding any questions you have, and
for details regarding credentials, base access and directions.  Hope
to see you on the 28th.

Ed Buice
Jeanne Saddler
Public Affairs Officer, NCIS
Public Information Officer, COG
202-433-9624
202-962-3250

Jeanne Saddler
Director, Office of Public Affairs
Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments
777 N. Capitol St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 962-3250