(L.E.A.D.S.ONLINE CLIENT - JACKSONVILLE, AL POLICE DEPT.)

Contract approved for crime database

By Ben Cunningham

11-23-2004

(excerpt)

JACKSONVILLE — If you’ve had something stolen from you, police here now may be able to find it with an Internet search. The Jacksonville City Council on Monday night approved a contract that gives the Police Department access to the inventories of thousands of pawnshops across the country through an Internet-based service.

The service, l.e.a.d.s.online, connects police departments and pawnbrokers nationwide through an Internet database.

Mike Denton, a Jacksonville police investigator, said the service would make it easier to know when thieves sold stolen property at pawnshops. "Criminals know no city limits when they get rid of stolen property," Denton said. "Frequently they take it to other jurisdictions to get rid of it."

Laws in many cities and states require pawnbrokers to report to local police departments each item pawned at their shops. In Jacksonville, shop owners have until now done this manually, delivering a separate slip of paper for each item to police. The new system will allow pawnbrokers to enter the information into computers at their shops. The information is then entered into l.e.a.d.s.online’s database, and is available to subscribers across the country. Police departments can search for items pawned by serial number, and see when and where it was pawned, and who pawned it.

Police Chief Tommy Thompson told the council Monday that a 30-day trial of the system had already turned up some stolen property. "It’s already paid for itself in people’s recovered property," Thompson said. Denton said the program also would allow departments to search for suspects in non-property crimes who may have pawned something in another community. It also would allow pawnbrokers to fulfill requirements of the Patriot Act that requires financial lenders to check borrower’s names against a federal list of terrorist suspects, Denton said.

More than 250 law enforcement agencies, including many in Alabama and surrounding states, have signed up for l.e.a.d.s.online, according to the Dallas-based company’s Web site.

The software for the system is free for pawnbrokers. Terri Bowen, owner of Gamecock Jewelry & Pawn in Jacksonville, said he would need to spend money to upgrade his computer, but he was looking forward to signing on.

"I think it’s a pretty neat system," Bowen said.

Mayor Johnny Smith said the new program would benefit the Police Department and city residents.  "I’m really happy we’re doing it," Smith said.