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After trial, JPD wants online database

Chief Moore hopes city can purchase program for $15,000

By Camille C. Spencer
caspencer@jackson.gannett.com

March 8, 2005
Jackson police recovered 18 stolen items and arrested four people with the help of an online database used during a 30-day trial period, said Lt. Al LeDoux of the pawn shop unit.

Chief Robert Moore said Monday he will recommend purchasing the $15,000 LEADS Online program, or Law Enforcement Automated Database Search. Moore will meet with City Council this month to push for contract negotiations.

 

 

 

What's next

Chief Robert Moore will meet with the Jackson City Council this month to discuss contract negotiations for the $15,000 LEADS Online database.
 

 


The trial of the Internet-based system, which ended Saturday, allows pawn shop owners to go online, record serial numbers, makes and models of items brought into the shop. After an item is recorded, law enforcement agencies sign onto LEADS Online and can access the item for up to 60 days to determine its origin and track whether it's stolen.

"I do think it's very effective," Moore said. "It's going to take time to process it and get approval."

Five people at JPD had access to the program, which reaches law enforcement agencies nationwide, LeDoux said.

"It's helping everybody in the metro area," LeDoux said. "It's quicker access to information."

Recording serial numbers of personal items helps victims increase the likelihood of retrieving stolen goods, LeDoux said. "We would have had greater success if we had serial numbers recorded," he said.

Under the old system JPD used, pawn shops printed hard copies of their transactions about three times a week, and data entry workers at JPD received and recorded the information, LeDoux said.

While using LEADS Online at his six pawn shop locations, Brian Smith, president of USA Pawn, said the program gets information to JPD faster. Smith's business is one of five pawn shops in the metro area using the program.

"It's nationwide, not just in the city limits," Smith said. "They have access to everywhere. I can't see any reason they wouldn't go forward with it."

LEADS Online is used by 315 law enforcement agencies nationwide in 18 states, including Mississippi.