The Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) Unclassified

The Law Enforcement Information Exchange What LInX is History of the LInX projects How LInX works Current Status of the LInX projects Capabilities Lessons Learned—Success Factors Success Stories Screenshots

What LInX Is The Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) is an advanced information sharing system conceived, funded and built by the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service, but not owned or controlled by NCIS

What LInX Is Transports, normalizes, indexes then consolidates data from member law enforcement agencies’ RMS systems on a nightly basis into a data warehouse & allows users to search all contributed data with several search & analysis tools LInX is NOT an original system of records but a replication of many original systems of records LInX is populated with law enforcement data only and is NOT an intelligence system

What LInX Is Not just another database or computer system, but an advanced investigative tool for the law enforcement community It allows you to know things you couldn’t know before Another tool in an officer’s/investigator’s toolbox

History of LInX What is NCIS & why is DoD building an IS system for law enforcement? After the bombing of the USS Cole and the events of September 11, 2001 NCIS mission priorities changed Information sharing was critical to new agency priorities

LInX Status- June 2007 7 Regional LInX Systems Planned Operational in 6 Regions Developmental in 1 Regions in FY 07 Navy/NCIS Programmed in 2 Regions FY’08 ** Discussions re development of Los Angeles LInX Region for FY’07 IOC-Oct’04 100% New London,CT IOC-Feb’07 100% IOC-Apr’06 IOC-Jun’07 IOC-Jun‘05 100% Los Angeles San Diego IOC-Sep‘05 100% IOC-Jun‘05 100%

How LInX Works Existing Network Existing Network Individual Agency RMS Shared RMS FP FP Data Warehouse FP FP This diagram depicts the multiple types of systems that the front porch allows to access the data warehouse. The Washington LInX has all of the various system configurations in the region connected successfully to the data warehouse through the front porches. An example of an existing network with shared RMS systems accessing the data warehouse are the ILEADS and SNOPAC systems. An example of an existing network with individual agency RMS accessing the data warehouse would be the King County RAIN system, with the Washington State Patrol and the Federal agencies accessing the data warehouse through various individual front porches. This configuration will allow any level of agency records system to connect to the data warehouse regardless of configuration or brand thus allowing any agency to contribute at a minimal cost. Federal FP Other State

LE Users LInX Data Data is accessed by the users Warehouse FBI Field Office USER LInX Data Warehouse Data is accessed by the users from a web browser using SSL USER Login & password required USER 256 bit encryption Firewall LE DATA Arrest Records Investigations Traffic Reports CAD Data Booking Records Warrants Front Porch 1024 bit encryption 4- Dell 6650 Servers with Applications Firewall Agency RMS System Data is pushed to the Front Porch then into LInX LInX LE Agency

Types of Data in LInX Types of electronic data in the system: Law Enforcement RMS data: (Structured & Unstructured) incident fields, incident narratives, supplemental investigative narratives, field interviews, suspicious incidents, arrests, outstanding warrants and mugshots Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) data Pawn shop records

Types of Data in LInX Jail booking records Traffic Crash Reports Traffic Summons data Parking ticket data Sex Offender Registry Adult Criminal History Statewide mugshots

LInX Capabilities Tactical functions and operation Tactical Search Screens Search by name, partial name, nickname, address, vehicle, SSN, OL#, telephone #, FBI#, record # or type, date range, etc. Exact or Assisted Search and use of wildcard Local warrants & mugshots Analytical functions and operation Advanced search Tactical + incident narratives, date ranges, individual agency search, etc. Free text search (Google®-like; conceptual) Link analysis (visual representation of relationships) Pawned Property search by name, article, description, serial #, pawn shop, date range, etc.

Success Factors Strategy Governance Funding Source Data Capabilities Technology Long Term Support Evaluation Methodology Program Management

Success Factors Strategy (2) The project must have the ability to address specific critical issues as well as reconcile the various interests of the participating agencies. Common Vision must be established Develop a Comprehensive Strategic Plan

Success Factors Governance The project must establish a strong governance infrastructure to support policy and operational decisions for the long-term survival of the project.

Success Factors Data The goal is to share all legally sharable data More data, not less This would include structured and unstructured data in records systems and investigative files.

Success Factors Capabilities Easy to use query and analysis tools Robust security & audit standards A system by law enforcement personnel for law enforcement

Success Factors Technology Open standards, affordable and capable Easy to enhance and scale up The system must build upon existing capabilities and not force agencies to buy new systems or change business practices—i.e., seamless integration.

Success Factors Support CEO long term buy-in with associated policies on system use Becomes a part of training curriculum with necessary policies in place Comprehensive training and user manuals Long-term financial support Technical support from vendors and/or in-house experts for long-term maintenance

Success Factors Evaluation Component The project must have identified evaluation criteria to gauge the effectiveness of the system to its stated goals. Define success

Success Factors Program Management Strong program management is important in order to achieve success. “Champion” to push the process

Lessons Learned An Operational project not an IT project Built from the ground up, not top down—every level involved Structure governance to get agency CEOs to the table Keep agency CEOs directly & consistently involved Law enforcement information only Investigative system not intelligence Strong rules of use and administrative policies Not a cookie-cutter approach; each system is different according to the priorities, needs, issues and laws Start small, minimal agency impact, get it up and working then add more capabilities & additional agencies Feedback loop from users with continuous improvement

Success Stories Homicide of a police officer in VA Gang rape in VA Homicide Suspects in NW Identity Thefts in NE Florida Attempted Child Abduction in NW Theft Rings at Norfolk Intrn’l Airport Many many instances of recovered stolen property Serial Burglary, Robbery & Check cases International Money Laundering in NW

Questions or additional information: Dennis A. Mook, Chief of Police (Ret.) (757) 449-0674 damook@ncis.navy.mil damook@cox.net