Everett Rice on the Patch Podium: Use of Technology

Each week, we're asking each of the Pinellas County sheriff candidates a question that's important to you, the voter, so you can be informed come ballot time.

This week, we asked:

How do you see technology playing a role in day-to-day operations and the longterm success of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office?

answers:

Technology plays a very important role in the day to day and longtime success of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Having served as a deputy, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and chief of detectives, I know  the importance of advances in technology. When  I was elected sheriff I immediately began to implement and pioneer the use of technology at the sheriff’s office. Below is a list of some of the advances we made in this regard. Because of our aggressive use of and willingness to pioneer new technologies the sheriff’s office gained a reputation as a leader in the field of technology. 

• Created Automated Fingerprint Identification System for Pinellas (AFIS), and led the state in AFIS Technology
• Expanded computerized report writing and mobile digital terminals
• Implemented Drug Use Forecasting (D.U.F.) site for the National Institute of Justice
• Facial recognition program, pilot law enforcement site for facial recognition technology
• Implemented GPS "Crime Tracking" of offenders
• Created inmate video visitation
• Major pilot program for Florida Crime-Trax
• Enforcer Geo-Mapping and Countrywide Data Integration program

Accordingly, I have a proven record of pursuing advances in technology and I know that any technology plays a vital role in the current and future operations at the sheriff’s office.

Read more responses from Rice: