GPS Tracking

More than Just Coffee

Colombian coffee has been recognized worldwide for its high quality and distinctive taste. Since 1959, Juan Valdez, the famed Colombian coffee farmer, alongside Conchita, his trusted mule, have become the universal symbol representing the pride and joy of the Colombian coffee industry. This fictional character has become a national icon, to the point where the Juan Valdez character is used as an ingredient brand, to specifically denote coffee beans that are only grown and harvested in Colombia.

The coffee industry has served as a source of economic stability for the entire country by providing a source of steady income for hundreds of thousands of native Colombians. However, Colombia is also recognized as the world’s largest producer of cocaine and business. The effects of cocaine production range from environmental damage to effects on education, health and the country’s economy.

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LandAirSea System’s SilverCloud Receives High Marks

PoliceOne Senior Editor Doug Wyllie took some time during the Christmas holidays to test out LandAirSea’s SilverCloud real-time GPS tracking system.

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Tell Us What You Think 

In light of the Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision on the warrantless use of GPS tracking devices by law enforcement officials, we want to hear some of your thoughts on this issue.

Please take a moment to fill out our poll by clicking here.

For more information on the Supreme Court’s decision on GPS tracking and warrantless tracking, click here.

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Supreme Court Mandates Warranted GPS Tracking

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that law enforcement officials violated the Constitutional rights of suspected cocaine dealer, Antoine Jones, when they attached a GPS tracking device on his Jeep without a search warrant. The data obtained from the GPS tracker was used to convict Jones of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, which was later overturned in a federal appeals court.

District of Columbia police and FBI agents watched Jones, a nightclub owner, for months with an array of surveillance techniques, including tapping his cellphone under a warrant from a federal judge. Police had obtained a warrant for the District of Columbia, however, it expired before the GPS tracking device was installed in Maryland.

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The United States vs. Antoine Jones

On November 8, 2011, the Supreme Court listened and responded to oral arguments from both sides in a landmark case, which would have determined whether police and law enforcement agencies would be able to monitor suspected criminals with covert GPS tracking devices without having to obtain a warrant.

The case involved a suspected cocaine trafficker in the Washington, D.C. area, whose movements were monitored 24/7 over a 28 day period without a warrant by the FBI and local police investigators. Some of the information obtained from the GPS tracker was used to convict Antoine Jones of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which was later overturned by a lower circuit appeals court.

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New GPS System Tracks Whereabouts of Pedophiles

Queensland’s (Australia) most notorious pedophiles have been caught lying about their whereabouts and meeting other child-sex offenders after being fitted with new GPS trackers in December of 2011.

The new GPS system, costing $13.7 million, triggered 287 alarms last month, 53 of which were serious enough to follow-up on. This lead to several breaches, which authorities acknowledge wouldn’t have been detected so quickly, if at all without the help of the new GPS tracking system.

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Charges Dropped for Turtle Lake Driver

A 60-year-old driver for a handicapped transportation service in Turtle Lake, WI, was accused of sexually assaulting a child in his care. However, this past week he had the criminal charges against him dropped after the 11-year-old girl admitted she made up a story that he molested her sexually.

According to a phone interview from District Attorney Dan Steffen, Paul L. Burritt was not just “not guilty” of the accusations made against him, he was clearly “innocent” of all charges. He went on to state that this was “a prosecutor’s worst nightmare.” All charges against Burritt were dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion and Steffen is working to have them expunged from the criminal computer records.

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Tracking Burglars Through GPS

The City of Santa Fe, NM introduced a new system designed to track convicted burglars by utilizing GPS devices rather than putting them in jail. The Santa Fe Police began tracking the first offender last week. This new program will start with just five GPS tracking devices in order to gauge its effectiveness and ability to collect data.

According to a report from ABC News, Santa Fe Police Capt. Aric Wheeler, said the idea for the program originated as an alternative to repetitive incarceration, which can get pretty expensive for taxpayers. They also found that jail time did very little to deter these repeat offenders from committing more burglaries.

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The Trial and Conviction of George Ford Jr.

George Ford Jr., a former butcher and contractor from Piscataway, N.J., was found guilt of second degree murder back in 2009 for the death of 12-year old Shyanne Somers, which happened in 2007. Recently, the State Supreme Court Appellate Division in Chenango County, N.Y., upheld the conviction by denying an appeal by Ford Jr.

In his appeal, Ford argued there was insufficient evidence against him, and claimed alleged prosecutorial misconduct. However, the court upheld the initial guilty verdict, and Ford will continue serving his sentence of 25-years to life.

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GPS Helps Law Enforcement Recover Stolen Equipment

Charleston, West Virginia — A security officer was able to guide West Virginia State Troopers to some equipment stolen from a Campbells Creek gas well site with the help of an embedded GPS tracking device. John Casey, a security officer with Chesapeake Energy, contacted State Police Monday afternoon, December 19th, to report the equipment stolen from a gas well site in the Spring Fork area of Campbells Creek.

The security officer guided troopers by phone to a Little General store parking lot located in Malden. Casey was able to lead them to a vehicle holding the stolen equipment, which was outfitted with a GPS tracker.  (more…)