Success Stories

U.S. Border Patrol/El Paso Sector

The Border Research and Technology Center (BRTC) provided science and engineering support to the U.S. Border Patrol/El Paso Sector to address their concern regarding individuals entering the United States illegally through the city's storm drain system. Deterring this illegal form of entry is key to reducing the quantity of illegal contraband smuggled into the United States. BRTC conducted site surveys, presented methods for securing the drains, and demonstrated equipment (including a video motion detector and micro-power range grated radar). In addition, estimates for sensors, cameras, and radio frequency link equipment have been made.

Sullivan County (New York) District Attorney Child Torture/Murder Case

Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen requested that NLECTC-Northeast provide technology assistance in the case of a 3-year-old child who was tortured and murdered. By providing photo enhancements to the District Attorney (DA), the prosecution was able to prove that the child was intentionally tortured before being killed. Using advanced computer technology, NLECTC-Northeast staff scanned autopsy photographs of the victim's injuries; methodically removed the wounds and manipulated the photographs to look like natural, uninjured skin; and then placed the injuries back into the photographs to illustrate the process in which they had been inflicted. Using these photo enhancements, the DA was able to demonstrate systematic and intentional torture before the child was killed, an aggravating factor under New York State's first degree-murder statute. After the defense attorneys viewed the presentation, the defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in exchange for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Washington County (Washington) Corrections Department

NLECTC-Rocky Mountain received a request from a county corrections department in Washington that was concerned about the number of suicides committed in the county's facilities. During the past two years, four inmates committed suicide, three be hanging. NLECTC-Rocky Mountain staff located a comparable county facility in New Jersey that had a successful track record in suicide prevention. The New Jersey staff agreed to share their suicide prevention plans with the Washington agency. NLECTC-Rocky Mountain also provided contact information for two vendors who specialize in suicide prevention garments and blankets so the county could specifically address the problem of hanging.

School-Based Virtual Private Network for Bloomington-Normal, Illinois

NLECTC-Southeast continues to fine-tune a Virtual Private Network for School Safety to ensure timely, effective, and secure information sharing. The Southeast Center researched, designed, and installed an e-mail based, protected system for information sharing between police, schools, and courts in the Bloomington-Normal area. Technical issues have been resolved; the current challenge is legally overcoming the reluctance to share information about juveniles.

Los Angeles (California) Police Department, Bombing Investigation

In May 2000, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office began prosecution of a bomb defendant who had been arrested after an explosion occurred inside his residence. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) bomb squad had discovered substantial damage to the defendant's apartment and to the apartment below. Unexploded devices found inside a closet were destroyed as a result of safety concerns. NLECTC-West experts were able to identify chemical components in the bomb residue and initial chemical components used to create the destructive devices. They used computer printouts obtained by the LAPD bomb squad to correlate the explosive potential of the chemicals with the actual destruction caused by the explosion. In addition, the experts informed the prosecutor of the technical issues that would arise during the trial and prepared him to understand the ramifications of arguments that would be presented by the defense. The defendant had been previously tried on similar charges and had evaded conviction by claiming the devices were merely fireworks that had exploded. The Center's experts were able to point out the lack of traditional fireworks chemicals in the debris and explained to the jury that this particular chemistry produced explosives and not fireworks. The prosecutor had no other sources of expertise to assist in this case because the bomb squad unit did not possess the type of knowledge required. The defendant was convicted.

Corrections Technology Demonstration at Mock Prison Riot

The Mock Prison Riot hosted by the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization is held annually at the Moundsville Penitentiary in West Virginia. This event showcases emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies, and provides corrections officers and tactical team members with an opportunity to use and evaluate the equipment in a realistic setting. In 2000, more than 1,300 individuals representing 22 States and two foreign countries participated in this 4-day event. A total of 70 technologies were showcased as well; scenarios ranging from cell extraction to hostage negotiations were staged to demonstrate appropriate technologies. Courses offered at the Mock Prison Riot included "How to Handle a Riot" and "Vulnerability Assessments for Prisons."

Equipment Testing Program Statistics

The Equipment Testing Program is managed by NLECTC-National.

Equipment Tested	2004		2005		2006		2007 (Jan. 1 - July 31)
	Number Received	Number Passed	Number Received	Number Passed	Number Received	Number Passed	Number Received	Number Passed
Ballistic-resistant Body Armor (NIJ 2005 Interim; new models submitted on or after 09/26/05)			66	31	460	237	180	77
Ballistic-resistant Body Armor (NIJ 2005 Interim; transitional models submitted on or after 09/26/05)			339	325	332	294 [Full Compliance]	3	2 [Full Compliance]
Ballistic-resistant Body Armor (NIJ 0101.04; submitted prior to 09/26/05)	352	184	234	117
Stab-resistant Body Armor	66	37	17	3	63	26	68	29
Pistol Testing	2	2	4	3	13	11	4	2
Handcuffs	7	4	2	1	4	2	1	1
Patrol Vehicles	10	N/A	13	N/A	16	N/A	*
Patrol Vehicle Tires
Vehicle Brake Pads
Protective Gloves	0	N/A	17	N/A	13	N/A	4	N/A
Walk-Through Metal Detectors

• Shaded cells indicate testing of that category did not occur in that year.
• N/A = Comparative Evaluation Testing Program; no "Pass/Fail" criteria.
• * = Testing is scheduled for fall 2007.

Last updated: September 27, 2007