U.S. House of Representatives Law Enforcement Caucus
Meetings - 106th Congress
6/14/00 : "Technology Day"
Summary
This meeting highlighted technology initiatives that are aiding police departments across the country. However, many of these technologies are not well known. This meeting gave attendees you a unique opportunity to learn about these technologies, so that they could inform local police departments about opportunities they may be missing.
Speakers
- Dr. Albert E. Brandenstein - Chief Scientist of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Director of the Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center - discussed a technology transfer program that provides 17 different free technologies, such as contraband detectors and thermal imagers, to name a few;
- Dr. David G. Boyd - Deputy Director of the National Institute of Justice and Director of the Office of Science and Technology, DOJ - discussed new surveillance technologies and services such as toll free information numbers and surplus property programs that law enforcement can utilize;
- James Summerford - Unit Chief, Program Manager Law Enforcement Online, FBI - demonstrated
- LEO (Law Enforcement Online), online interactive software that enables law enforcement to communicate, engage in distance learning, and stay up to date on issues and news; and
- Dr. Don Faggiani - Senior Research Associate, Police Executive Research Forum and
- Dr. Jan M. Chaiken - Director of Bureau of Justice Statistics, DOJ - presented a unique crime information database to improve information recording and analysis.
In addition, there were other valuable materials available on other technology initiatives, and Members and staff were able to see a high technology police vehicle, "the ALERT vehicle", which is in development.
Contacts
Technology Transfer Program through the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center publishes and distributes a large collection of publications available at no cost. For more information, access the website at http://www.nlectc.org/. To obtain a Publications Catalog, contact NLECTC at (800) 248-2742; The publication "Big Ideas for small police departments", published by the International Association of Police Organizations, is available on their website at: http://www.theiacp.org/pubinfo/pubs/; For information on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's LEO software, contact Craig Sorum, LEO Program Manager, at 202-324-8833; The Bureau of Justice Statistics can be accessed at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/.
3/22/00 : "Members' Day"
Summary
This meeting allowed Members of the Law Enforcement Caucus to outline their law enforcement proposals in the 106th Congress, and to field questions from other Members, staff, press, and representatives of major law enforcement organizations. The meeting presented a unique opportunity for Members to discuss their initiatives on behalf of law enforcement and inform an audience of other Members of the Law Enforcement Caucus and law enforcement organizations.
Following the meeting, the Caucus held a reception in honor of Capitol Police Chief Gary L. Abrecht, who retired this year after eight years of distinguished service.
Speakers
- Rep. Stupak (D-MI) - H.R. 3375 - Convicted Offender DNA Index System Support Act
- Rep. Hutchinson (R-AR) - (1) H.R. 2567 - National Rural Law Enforcement Center; (2) H.R. 2964 - Bounty Hunter Responsibility Act; (3) H.R. 1800 - Reporting on Deaths in Police Custody
- Rep. Holt - (D-NJ) - H.R. 3473 - Surplus Firearms Safety Act
- Rep. LoBiondo (R-NJ) -(1) Outlawing the use of laser pointers to mark an officer; (2) Reauthorization of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program
- Rep. Visclosky (D-IN) - Reauthorization of Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program
- Rep. Calvert (R-CA) - Working And Reacting Against Meth Act of 2000
- Rep. Boehlert - (R-NY) - Law Enforcement Science and Technology Act of 2000
- Rep. Barrett (D-WI)- H.R. 3235- National Police Athletic League Youth Enrichment Act
- Rep. Cunningham (R-CA) - H.R. 218 - Community Protection Act
- Rep. Nethercutt (R-WA)- H.R. 484 - Save Our Children Act
Other Attendees
Representatives from Fraternal Order of Police, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, National Association of Police Organizations, International Brotherhood of Police Officers, International Union of Police Associations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Contacts
For further information on the legislation discussed at the meeting, please contact the individual Members that introduced the legislation. Members' contact information can be obtained from their webpages, which can be accessed from http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html.
For photos of this meeting, click here.
2/16/00 : "Smart" Guns
Summary
This meeting focused on the new "smart" gun technologies, guns designed to be fired only by their owners. This issue is of interest to law enforcement because of the "smart" guns' potential to reduce significantly the number of law enforcement officer deaths due to the officer being disarmed and shot with his or her own weapon. In fact, several states and the federal government have considered legislation on promoting the research and development of "smart" guns, so this issue is highly topical to current law enforcement concerns.
The agenda was designed to inform the Members of the Caucus on the status and potential of this technology. Speakers from the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) Office of Science and Technology, a division of the Department of Justice demonstrated a model "smart" gun and discussed the current research and development programs that NIJ is funding and the future feasibility of this technology. Since the date of this meeting, NIJ has awarded a grant to Smith and Wesson to continue developing the technology.
Speakers
Dr. David G. Boyd, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Director of the Office of Science and Technology at the Department of Justice discussed the research the NIJ has been funding on the potential law enforcement uses of smart guns. The Office of Science and Technology is the single largest law enforcement and corrections technology development program in the U.S. The "smart gun" was then demonstrated by Wendy Howe, the Program Manager for Standards & Testing at the Office of Science and Technology. Jim Chambers, the Executive Director of the Sporting Arms & Ammunition Manufacturing Institute (SAAMI) and Vice President of Government Relations of the National Shooting Sprots Foundation (NSSF) and Beth Lavach, Vice President of Washington Operations for Colt's Manufacturing, were also available to answer questions on the topic.
