By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – Law enforcement from across the state and federal law enforcement agencies signed an agreement today to share information across state lines.
The Law Enforcement Information Exchange initiative, or LInX, will give local police access to information gathered in 9 regions across the United States.
So far 20 agencies in North Carolina have signed up, including the Wilmington Police Department and the Sheriff's Offices of New Hanover, Brunswick and Onslow Counties.
Brian Stamper is the LInX project manager. He says it's like Google for police officers.
"It connects the dots. And it's what we also called a lead generator, where you had nothing before, if you run it in LInX and find out that this guy was arrested in New Bern, but he's here in Wilmington, now we can connect that with what's happening there."
The program comes after the 9-11 Commission Report concluded a major failure leading up to the terrorist attacks was the lack of information sharing among law enforcement agencies.
Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous says LInX will help local police catch habitual troublemakers from out of town.
"t'll immediately give us that information back so it gives us a clue. It gives us something to go on, where before we had nothing."
The regional database is scheduled to be up and running this summer.
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