If this doesn't scare you, nothing will. :-( ---------- Forwarded message ---------- THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Vice President ____________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release April 20, 1994 GORE JOINS BENTSEN, RENO IN CRIME TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION Vice President Announces Inter-Agency Agreements WASHINGTON -- To illustrate how the use of technology can help fight rising crime, Vice President Al Gore today (4/20) joined Administration officials in a demonstration of wireless and dual-use technologies that can be used for law enforcement purposes. He also announced two inter-agency agreements that will increase cooperation between the Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Defense in using technology to help combat crime. "The technologies demonstrated today provide powerful new weapons in the war against crime," the Vice President said. "Technological advances make it possible to fight crime safer and smarter than ever before. They increase safety, enhance productivity for our law enforcement officials, and save taxpayer dollars." The Vice President joined Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bensten, Attorney General Janet Reno, Deputy Secretary of Defense John Deutch, and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Lee Brown in the demonstration, which included a wide variety of technologies that will help fight crime or support law enforcement. In addition, the Vice President announced two inter- agency Memorandums of Understandings. The first MOU, between the Departments of Justice and Treasury, establishes an agreement to develop a wireless telecommunications network for use by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. This agreement implements one of the recommendations of Vice President Gore's National Performance Review to make the federal government work better and cost less. The second MOU, between the Departments of Defense and Justice, is a five-year agreement to jointly develop and share technologies that are necessary for both law enforcement and military operations other than war. Secretary Bentsen said, "We want to invest in crime- fighting technology, we want to do it so local and state police benefit, and we want to do it so costs don't go through the roof. That's why I'm so eager to sign up Treasury in a partnership with Justice to develop cost- effective and efficient technology." "New technologies increase the effectiveness of law enforcement, offer police officers greater options for apprehension, and improve the safety of the public," said Attorney General Reno. "Today's agreements will unite the efforts of the Justice Department with those of Defense and Treasury to help make these technologies available to our nation's law enforcement community." Deputy Secretary Deutch said, "Today's Memorandum of Understanding formalizes our ongoing relationship with the Department of Justice. It comes at a time when budgets are decreasing and yet we need different capabilities and equipment to accomplish our peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. We are finding that these requirements are similar in many cases to the needs of law enforcement agencies, and we look forward to cooperating in this area." The demonstrations included an automated booking system to electronically record fingerprints and mug shots, laser- assisted computer imaging equipment for examining ballistics, and a portable/hand-held/single-step device to retrieve more readable fingerprints at crime scenes. They also viewed technology that provides police cars with mainframe database information such as criminal records and traffic violations, and allows them to file reports from their cars. Several non-lethal weapons for use in pursuit of a suspect or while a suspect is in custody also were displayed. ##