Searching for common threads

Law enforcement officers in Fresno, Calif., will use the search capabilities of a new software solution to help identify common threads between cases, as well as other functions. The 1,200-member Fresno Police Department is rolling out ISYS:web and ISYS:desktop from ISYS Search Software to give its investigators a more powerful crime analysis tool, ISYS reports in a recent press release.

The system can mine information contained across PCs, file servers and proprietary database systems. In its choice of solutions, the department also wanted to centrally manage the search function so that queries could be diverted from its primary database system, thus leaving it for critical 911 response needs.

"The solution provides our investigators and staff with the ability to find the needles in the 'virtual haystacks' of our ever-growing data repositories," says Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer. "By providing this level of functionality, the system enables us to realize common threads of case similarities scattered over time and physical geographic distances.

"For example, our crime analysts can search across multiple file formats and data sources to locate all instances of 'red cars containing a subject with a blue hat.' What might have taken days, months or years to achieve, will now take just seconds. This reduces the wait time to find similar cases and enables our personnel to focus on timely, vital case findings."

The search functionality will be available to the 1,200 employees via the department's intranet.