The Police Chief keeps you on the cutting edge of law enforcement technology with monthly product announcements.
Items about new or improved products are based on news releases supplied by manufacturers and distributors; IACP endorsement is in no way implied.

Patrol Vehicle
Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) is designed to deliver the performance, comfort, and safety today’s police departments need. New features and enhancements for 2014 provide a more tailored tool for law enforcement. The changes are headlined by the relocation of the shifter from the center console to a column-shift design, opening up space for a new center console equipment mounting platform. The platform is standard and serves as a heavy-duty foundation for the variety of computer, console and other equipment typically used in police vehicles. It also comes installed, saving police departments the money of purchasing a separate platform and the time of installing it.

For more information, please visit http://www.gmfleet.com/Chevy_Police.

Precursor tracking system
Appriss offers NPLEx (National Precursor Log Exchange) to help combat the production of methamphetamine. NPLEx is a real-time electronic logging system used by pharmacies and law enforcement to track the sales of over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine is used to manufacture methamphetamine. Sales are blocked for anyone attempting to purchase more than the legal limit, reducing the number of meth labs. The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) provides NPLEx at no cost to states that have legislation requiring real-time electronic monitoring of precursor purchases and agree to use the system.

For more information, please visit http://www.appriss.com.

Tactical robot
The iRobot 110 FirstLook is a small, light, throwable robot that provides situational awareness, performs persistent observation, and investigates confined spaces—ideal for a range of missions and special operations, including building clearing and raids, and investigating tunnels, ditches, culverts, and other hard-to-access places. It is designed to be light and small weighing about 5 pounds and is 10 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 4 inches tall. It is maneuverable in a variety of environments and can climb steps up to 7 inches high, overcome curbs and other obstacles, turn in place, and right itself when flipped over. It is designed to survive 16-foot drops onto concrete and be waterproof up to 3 feet.

For more information, please visit www.irobot.com.

Crime scanner for Twitter tweets
BrightPlanet offers BlueJay, which is designed to monitor large public events, social unrest, gang communications, and criminally predicated individuals; identify potential witnesses and indicators for evidence; and track department mentions. It captures tweets from the entire Twitter firehose. It is designed to be undetectable and captures geographically tagged tweets. It has no IT requirements. All that is needed is Internet access and a browser.

For more information, please visit http://brightplanet.com/bluejay.

Ballistic vest cover system
Ripstop ArmorSkin by Blauer Manufacturing Co. is designed to look like a uniform shirt when worn over an ArmorSkin Base Shirt; ArmorSkin helps to maintain a professional appearance and a tactical advantage in the field. Universal armor fit and easy adjustment at shoulders and sides allows existing ballistic armor and carrier to be fitted and worn exactly as it would under a uniform shirt and according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mesh lining and side panels are lightweight and provide more breathability and quick-dry comfort. It is the new way to wear concealed body armor. ArmorSkin is a ballistic vest cover system for law enforcement that provides relief from the heat and discomfort of conventional carriers, maintains a uniform look, and helps to alleviate lower back and hip pain.

For more information, please visit http://www.blauer.com/law-enforcement.html.

Canopy shelter

Allegro’s tent products offer shelter and structural strength to stand up to the elements in the harshest conditions. The Hi-Viz Green Utility Canopy Shelter offers an additional safety feature in an outdoor environment. Designed with an open bottom for protection while working over excavation sites, these tents provide easy access for equipment as well as quick set-up and breakdown. It is designed to be affordable and features hi-viz green for visibility, this polyester canopy offers 100 percent UV protection, meets CPAI 84 fire code and is water and fire resistant. The canopy offers a full truss ceiling design, has a powder-coated steel frame that requires no tools for set up, and has rust-proof ABS foot pads to provide greater ground stability. The optional Side Wall Kit includes a continuous 3-wall panel.

For more information, please visit http://www.allegrosafety.com.

Electronic control weapon and flashlight
TASER International, Inc. reveales the newest addition to its suite of personal self-defense products. The heavy-duty StrikeLight stun flashlight incorporates the power of a stun gun for added protection. This practical tool can be used for more than self-defense. The StrikeLight stun flashlight is designed for convenience and protection in everyday situations. This high-intensity flashlight with integrated stun technology has a high-voltage stun arc and is easy to use.

For more information, please visit http://www.taser.com.

Mission Oriented Biometric Software Configuration
Cross Match Technologies, Inc., announces the release of an Interpol compliant configuration (INT-I) of its mission-oriented biometric software (MOBS), simplifying access to the growing Interpol biometric database and network. The new MOBS configuration eliminates a more manual process previously required for submission of non-Interpol formatted records to the world’s largest international police organization. MOBS is the resident identity management software on Cross Match’s multimodal, mobile biometric handhelds, such as the SEEK II and the SEEK Avenger, and can also be utilized with stationary systems. It allows users to streamline applicant enrollment and criminal booking procedures by predefining and setting up situational data and utilizing pre-set criteria to enroll subjects. It is offered in numerous languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Arabic, Dari, Pashto, and Urdu. MOBS has an intuitive and customizable user interface.

For more information, please visit http://www.crossmatch.com.

Headlamps
Streamlight, Inc., has updated the design of three of its signature headlamps, the Argo, Septor, and Trident. The enhanced lights feature brighter LEDs and greatly improved design features, addressing the hands-free lighting needs of first responders, such as a push-button switch that is easier to use when wearing gloves, and recessed to protect it from being turned on accidentally. The new Argo headlamp features a white C4 LED with three output modes: High (150 lumens); Medium (100 lumens) and Low (45 lumens). The updated Septor headlamp also offers three modes, including 7 LEDs for close-at-hand tasks (120 lumens); 3 LEDs for light without glare (45 lumens); and 1 LED for an extended 55-hour run time. The multi-purpose Trident headlamp offers the broadest range of lighting applications for use, featuring three lighting modes: one white C4 LED (80 lumens, 126 meters); three 5mm LEDs (35 lumens, 10 hours); and one 5mm LED for an extended, 53-hour run time. ♦

For more information, please visit http://www.streamlight.com.