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Bristol sheriffs receives iris biometric recognition equipment

(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Child's eye imprint can be part of nationwide database


By Brian Boyd
Standard-Times staff writer
June 16, 2007 6:00 AM

DARTMOUTH — New technology allows local law enforcement to identify missing children and adults by recording an image of their irises and matching it with a national database.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office announced Friday it has purchased iris biometric recognition equipment and is encouraging parents to have their children enrolled.
The technology could help if children can't tell authorities their identity because they are traumatized or do not remember all of their contact information. It could also benefit missing seniors suffering from Alzheimer's disease who are unsure about their identity.

"There are two groups in this country who are the most vulnerable: seniors and our children," Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said at a news conference.

An iris recognition camera takes a digital photograph of an individual's iris, and the image is stored along with a regular head shot and emergency contact information in the database. By photographing the iris, at a later time officials can link a person enrolled in the database to their personal information.

By using a state grant, Sheriff Hodgson's office bought the unit for $25,000 from the Plymouth-based Biometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies, or BI2 Technologies.

While it will be used to voluntarily store information on children and adults, Sheriff Hodgson said he is considering buying another unit to record inmates' irises.

He said authorities could use it to make sure returning inmates are not lying about their identities to hide their past record.

Officials from the biometric company said the new technology is superior to fingerprinting because there are more unique characteristics in an iris than a fingerprint. A person's iris does not change after 18 months of age.
"The human iris is absolutely unique, even between twins," said Patricia Lawton, a development officer with BI2 Technologies.

Mrs. Lawton said the procedure is safe, since it only involves taking a picture.

The company has been rolling out the new system over the past year and a half, and it is already in place in 25 states, said Kevin O'Reilly, the company's vice president and director of communications.

Massachusetts is the first state where all sheriff departments will be using the system, including Plymouth County, Mr. O'Reilly said.

So far, approximately 100,000 people are in the database, which is maintained by the nonprofit Nation's Missing Children Organization and the Center for Missing Adults, he said.

The same technology is used at Orlando's airport to expedite security checks for willing frequent flyers. It cannot be used to identify dead people, however, Mr. O'Reilly said.

Sheriff Hodgson said in a couple of weeks parents could bring their children to the sheriff's office. He said he plans to bring the unit to community events and encourage enrollment.

The portable unit consists of a laptop, the iris recognition camera and a regular, digital camera used to capture head shots.

Six members of the sheriff's office received training Friday morning.

Matthew Foster, 8, of Fairhaven was enrolled in the system before the news conference.

During the conference, officials demonstrated how his information could be easily retrieved.

"It's pretty cool," he said. "It was fun. I didn't have any problems."

Contact Brian Boyd at bboyd@s-t.com


Posted by: Edmizer1

What a joke.


Posted by: phuzz01

$25,000 could have paid for another CO to put on the block, or raises for 10 COs.


Posted by: kwflatbed

It also may save the life of a child.


Posted by: Edmizer1

How could this possibly save the life of a child? This is just another case of Sheriff's Depts getting money intended for law enforcement that is being wasted on useless programs. I wonder if there has ever been a single case in North America where a live missing child or Alzheimer's patient that had been found couldn't be id'd. The article said the device can't be used to id dead people. Even if there is ever such a case, the whole country would have to have access to the system.


Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edmizer1
How could this possibly save the life of a child? This is just another case of Sheriff's Depts getting money intended for law enforcement that is being wasted on useless programs. I wonder if there has ever been a single case in North America where a live missing child or Alzheimer's patient that had been found couldn't be id'd. The article said the device can't be used to id dead people. Even if there is ever such a case, the whole country would have to have access to the system.
If it ever saves one life it was worth the effort to secure the GRANT MONEY not
budget funds for the equipment.

Iris ID is like fingerprints and a national database has been established,"So far, approximately
100,000 people are in the database, which is maintained by the nonprofit Nation's Missing Children Organization
and the Center for Missing Adults".

I think that Sheriff Hodgson's grant writer should teach classes to the PD's
in how to obtain grants for equipment, that might solve some of the problems.


Posted by: Otto

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edmizer1
...This is just another case of Sheriff's Depts getting money intended for law enforcement that is being wasted on useless programs... Even if there is ever such a case, the whole country would have to have access to the system.
The money was appropriated by the legislature for the sheriffs. It went exactly where it was intended.

It is a nationwide system.

If it were given to your PD, how many other cities and towns would your PD service?


Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edmizer1
I wonder if there has ever been a single case in North America where a live missing child or Alzheimer's patient that had been found couldn't be id'd.
Are you serious??


Posted by: 94c

maybe he should try calling the medical examiner's office and see how many bodies lay there for ages before being buried in a paupers grave.


Posted by: Edmizer1

You need to read what this system can do. It will only read LIVE people's eyes. Maybe I'm wrong in that there are common case's of LIVE missing children and Alzheimer's patients that are found LIVE and can't be id'd. I have just never heard of such a case.

There are PD's all over the state that could use fingerprint scanners but the money is used for nonsense like this. Another poster said that even if it saves one life it will be worth it. Even if the system works as some say it might, it will never be involved in any sort of situation where a life is saved.

The money would have been much better spent on a fingerprint scanner for an agency that needs it.


Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edmizer1
You need to read what this system can do. It will only read LIVE people's eyes. Maybe I'm wrong in that there are common case's of LIVE missing children and Alzheimer's patients that are found LIVE and can't be id'd. I have just never heard of such a case.

There are PD's all over the state that could use fingerprint scanners but the money is used for nonsense like this. Another poster said that even if it saves one life it will be worth it. Even if the system works as some say it might, it will never be involved in any sort of situation where a life is saved.

The money would have been much better spent on a fingerprint scanner for an agency that needs it.

Like I have said before the towns and other PDs need a good grant writer.
I live in Westport and the PD has obtained the money for different items
with the use of a good grant writer.
The same for the FD they just got a $600,000.00 for a new engine.
BCSD has one of the best grant writers,they helped with Westport learnig
how to present and find the grant money.
Sitting back and waiting for the state or feds to give you money does not
work you have to go after it.
If it works in a small town like Westport it can work in other towns they
just need to get off their asses and do something.
To quote you "You need to read what this system can do"obtaining grant
money.


Posted by: locknload1121

The fact remains that Sheriff's Offices, whether we like it or not, are regional entities.....if these expensive devices were given to local PD's, it would be a colossal waste of money, as it would be limited to a single community. And it wasn't grant money....it was put there by the state Legislature, recognizing they could only pay for 14 of them. For those that questioned it's usage, have you ever met a lost senior citizen, suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, or a lost child with autism, that can recite their home address and emergency contact info? I don't care who owns it, just so long as my department can count on it when needed.


Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:
Originally Posted by locknload1121
The fact remains that Sheriff's Offices, whether we like it or not, are regional entities.....if these expensive devices were given to local PD's, it would be a colossal waste of money, as it would be limited to a single community. And it wasn't grant money....it was put there by the state Legislature, recognizing they could only pay for 14 of them. For those that questioned it's usage, have you ever met a lost senior citizen, suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, or a lost child with autism, that can recite their home address and emergency contact info? I don't care who owns it, just so long as my department can count on it when needed.
It was state grant money
By using a state grant, Sheriff Hodgson's office bought the unit for $25,000 from the Plymouth-based Biometric Intelligence & Identification Technologies, or BI2 Technologies.


Posted by: locknload1121

Once again, it was NOT grant money....I think you're misinterpreting all state funding as "grants". It was a line item in the state budget. Not a competitive process.


Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:
Originally Posted by locknload1121
Once again, it was NOT grant money....I think you're misinterpreting all state funding as "grants". It was a line item in the state budget. Not a competitive process.

Your understanding of the english language and comprehension of the facts
leave a lot to be desired.


Posted by: SOT

It's for the CHILDREN!


Posted by: Delta784

Quote:
Originally Posted by SOT
It's for the CHILDREN!
The last refuge of scoundrels.


Posted by: BB-59

Where the hell is Bellicheck when you need him!




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