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| Good News for NY’s Finest |
| 2003-11-20 |
| November 20, 2003 -- NYPD cops will get direct access to the vast Interpol databank to determine instantly whether a suspect is a terrorist or a fugitive wanted for a crime anywhere in the world. As part of the first pilot program in the United States, the city’s 36,000 cops will no longer have to worry that a person they "just released was a suspected terrorist," Ronald Noble, Interpol’s general secretary, said yesterday at an anti-terrorism conference at Police Headquarters. With the click of a mouse, the NYPD Intelligence Division will be able to retrieve complete dossiers, fingerprints, mug shots, passports and other relevant data over super-secure, encrypted phone lines linked to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France. Presently, cops questioning suspicious individuals must reach out to Interpol representatives in Washington - and even then, receive notification only that the suspects are wanted, but with few details. In a related development, Noble said his databank now includes the names of people identified as members of terrorist organizations, even if they have not committed a crime. |
| Posted by:growler |
| #6 Is INTERPOLS database bette than U.N.C.L.E.s? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-11-20 4:45:59 PM |
| #5 The way I read that article makes it seem to me that no police force at all in the U.S. has this ability. |
| Posted by: growler 2003-11-20 4:25:13 PM |
| #4 You mean, they DIDN'T have this before? If what you read was true, Tibor, then the NYPD in Pakland rocks! |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-11-20 4:05:26 PM |
| #3 "I think the ordinary cop is far too busy." True, yes. Cops aren't going to carry around Blackberries and do INTERPOL searches while walking a beat. BUT. This means that anyone they bring in, for any reason, can be checked out immediately. Which is nice considering you can't hold someone for more than a day without charging them. |
| Posted by: growler 2003-11-20 3:40:04 PM |
| #2 As a NYer, this is good to see. In the WoT, NYPD is a junior partner to the Federal law enforcement agencies, which is quite remarkable for a "local" police department. I even recall reading that NYPD officers on the FBI anti-terrorist task force were involved in some of the raids in Pakistan going after al Qaeda suspects. Too bad we can't send Andy Sipowicz over there to kick some ass. |
| Posted by: Tibor 2003-11-20 3:13:06 PM |
| #1 He, he, he, he... Since Interpol is NOT based in the USA, they can list possibles. A nice toy, but I think the ordinary cop is far too busy. And a good terrorist doesn't get picked up for jay walking. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2003-11-20 3:10:39 PM |