Fighting crime in central PA in the Information Age

(Harrisburg) — Law enforcement personnel throughout the midstate are seeking to do a better job sharing information among police departments, and across county lines.

Police departments in the Lehigh Valley are already operating a regional intelligence sharing network. Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico says it’s being used as a model for similar efforts in the midstate.

He says the partnership could also compile data on cell phone records — noting they can be a treasure trove of information for law enforcement.

“They can tell us who criminals are talking to, where criminals were if we get into actual pinpointing of cell phone locations.” Marsico explained on witf‘s Radio Smart Talk program. “Any big case now we’re looking at cell phone records, and the criminals have been ahead of us in a lot of this.”

Marsico is downplaying privacy concerns, saying police would still need a court order to obtain records. He adds they would not be collecting new information — rather using existing data more effectively.

The York County Commissioners have already approved a feasibility study for a regional crime center. Marsico adds a project is underway to place all Dauphin County police departments on the same records management system.