Logan Troopers To Get Roving Database Access
Technology will help state troopers at Logan International Airport gain instant access to people’s phone numbers, leasing information, and other personal information. Under a deal between the Massachusetts State Police and public records collection company LocatePlus Holdings, members of Troop F, the State Police unit at Logan, will be issued BlackBerry devices that are connected to LocatePlus’ database of 7 billion records.
Although police already have access to law enforcement records on the population, the arrangement with LocatePlus will give troopers at the airport instant access to a slew of personal information on 98 percent of the adult U.S. population, a move which law enforcement officials say will improve officers’ ability to keep the airport safe.
State Police officials say the new technology will help the 147 troopers assigned to Troop F identify alleged terrorists, but privacy advocates say officers’ open access to the public’s private information is an invasion of privacy.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Boston Globe (06/22/04); Reed, Keith .