Cops and COFEE

Nope, you’re not going to find one joke about coffee and donuts here. COFEE stands for Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor. It’s a USB thumb drive that Microsoft has been distributing to law-enforcement agencies since last year.

COFEE’s purpose is to quickly and easily extract forensic information from computers that the police suspect have been used in crimes. The USB drive can be plugged straight into the computer saving the time of trouble of seizing the computer which includes shutting it down, a move that could lose valuable information.

Microsoft is providing COFEE to law enforcement for free and so far it is being used by 2000 investigators from the US to Poland to New Zealand.

"These are things that we invest substantial resources in, but not from the perspective of selling to make money," said Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith. "We're doing this to help ensure that the Internet stays safe."

I don’t often say this to either Microsoft or lawyers but kudos guys!

Rolling In Style

The article Aspen police test hybrid patrol SUV over at AspenTimes.com is actually about the police force getting a new fleet. With rising gas prices and climate concerns this isn't much of a surprise. But a few paragraphs into the article we learn that the force currently drives Volvos and, before that, "sporty Saabs."

The hybrid pairs a V6 with an electric engine and gets around 26 mph. The article says that a main concern with the vehicle is whether the electrical compenents - computer, communications, radar gun, etc. - needed by cops will cause too much of a drain on the system.

Also, considering their previous vehicles, is it sexy enough? This is a force that likes to roll in style!

Chinese Paramilitary on US Soil

No, we weren’t invaded. We allowed them in.

Perhaps you’ve seen them – men in white and blue track suits running alongside the Olympic torch bearers as they make their way through the crowds of protesters and supporters that are ever-present in this year’s torch run. They aren’t just security; they are a handpicked group of paramilitary police chosen for their experience and fitness to bring Chinese values to every country hosting the torch relay.

For their job description seems to extend beyond providing security for the torch and its bearer. There have been complaints from torch bearers about their rough treatment calling them thugs and accusing them of being more interested in crushing dissent – you know, free speech? – than actually providing security.

In one of the more benign examples of their actions Majora Carter, one of the torch bearers, was roughly pulled out of the procession after she produced a small Tibetan flag. "The Chinese security and cops were on me like white on rice, it was no joke," said Carter. "They pulled me out of the race, and then San Francisco police officers pushed me back into the crowd on the side of the street."

Fine, China doesn’t want any public discussion of Tibet. The sovereign nation of China can do what it wants within its borders and it’s up to the rest of us to decide how we want to react to that. But do we really want to invite a thuggish band of cops who are universally described as paramilitary inside OUR sovereign borders? I say no and I’m glad they’re gone.

Australia is displaying the common sense to tell them that they’ll have to stay on the bus.

First Responder Roundup

Next time you’re on the highway count how many horse trailers you see. Chances are you won’t find yourself surrounded by trailers but you might be surprised by how many are actually out there once you start looking for them.

Now think about accidents. Statistically it’s impossible that one of those trailers won’t find themselves in an accident at some point. The obvious conclusion here is that first responders should have some ability to deal with horses. Many don’t.

Realizing this Virginia Tech's Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center and the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center recently got together and organized a four hour horse handling and rescue clinic specifically for first responders. After some talks and demonstrations, participants were taken out to the stables and paddocks weree they got some first hand experience.