Government Technology - November 2007 - (Page 16)

big picture olorado has a new tool for report- been roundly criticized. This application was state patrol function. It truly is a state funcing suspicious activity online — a built with such criticism in mind, designed tion because we realize threats to our security tool that’s raising awareness and to get the right information to authorities are not necessarily law enforcement threats.” that can act on it, if need be. eyebrows. Regardless, the Web site and application However, some say the prospect of the are simple. Save for a few news items, a brief Ever since 9/11, the government has been asking citizens to watch for and report online reporting tool is disturbing, espe- frequently asked questions section and a proviso suspicious activities. For the last five years, cially considering the site allows for entirely to contact 911 for emergencies; the heart of reporting something suspicious required, at anonymous reporting. the site is reached by clicking the “Report the very least, picking up the telephone and Suspicious Activity” link. dialing 911, or in some cases, 311. But on This takes users to an online form, which first Sept. 11, 2006, a new and little-known agency prompts them to note the date, time, location, called the Colorado Information Analysis The CIAC is an intriguing organization. description and type of incident. Following is a Center (CIAC) launched an online appli- Trying to figure out who runs it can be a field to attach media files. Suspect and vehicle cation that makes it much easier to report challenge. details are next. Lastly users have the option to suspicious activity. On its Web site, the CIAC declares itself fill out a personal information field, or to leave By visiting , residents of as part of Colorado’s Homeland Security it blank if they wish to remain anonymous. Lance Clem, public information officer of Colorado — or anywhere else — can file reports Department, which is actually operated by on anything that might go bump in the night. the Colorado State Patrol, which itself is a the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Also available on the representativesoption more than 40 states gatheredDepartment Ariz., said the system is a response to citizens who In October, Web site is an from division of the Colorado in Tucson, of had been getting mixed signals about where to to uploadthe National Association of State Chief Information Ofﬁcers (NASCIO) 2007 for audio, video and photographic Public Safety. State Patrol Sgt. Jack Cowart explained “evidence,” along with a written report.for the meeting was “Building on the Past, Managing report suspicious activity. Annual Meeting. The theme “Ever since 9/11 — and even before that Thethe Present and Stepping into the Future.” application is getting attention because the CIAC in a bit more detail … sort of. Among filings directly to federal “The way the technology demands of the it delivers online other things, attendees discussed howthe Colorado Information Analy- — we have had calls from citizens who wanted Millennial Generation will impact state IT operations. it is actually a state to report something suspicious. In the past, we and state analysts regardless of sis Center is organized, “New technology is changing the way citizens under the OffiNASCIO agency or jurisdictional turf. function. It comes interact,” said ce of Pre- took [tips] down almost wherever they came in. President John Gillispie. “This isparednessgeneration that hasstate of Colo- Sometimes, they came in on what’s called the The inability or unwillingness the ﬁrst and Security for the grown up with this technology, and they expect it to work for“Currently it is beingthem.” among law enforcement agen- rado,” he said. them, not against managed Governor’s Advocate line to the Department of cies to share information has by the Colorado State Patrol, but it’s not a Public Safety. Sometimes, they’d go directly C Answering the Call Generations and Technology j NOV_07 16 PHOTO BY ROB HINES http://www.ciac.co.gov http://www.govtech.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - November 2007

Government Technology - November 2007 Contents Point of View Way Back Machine The Last Mile GT Spectrum Big Picture Building Better Government Up Close Inspector Gadget By the Numbers Money Talking No Greenwashing Pinching Pennies Bay Bridge Bustle Two Cents Products Signal: Noise

Government Technology - November 2007

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