News and Views

INLAND EMPIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT, RESEARCH PROJECT FUNDS APPROVED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON – A successful two-county fingerprint identification program has been approved for $1.8 million in continued funding by the House Appropriations Committee, along with grants for six other Inland Empire law enforcement and research projects, Congressman Jerry Lewis said Friday. Funds for the programs were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 spending bill for the Departments of Justice and Commerce and federal science programs.

The Regional Fingerprint Program is a joint project of the San Bernardino and Riverside county sheriff’s departments, which provides mobile fingerprint, photo and DNA services to all public safety agencies including local police departments, district attorneys, school districts, coroners and the sheriff’s departments in the two counties. In its third year of funding, the system has already helped law enforcement catch several fugitives, including a man sought for nearly three years with $2.6 million of warrants out for his arrest on charges of child molestation.

“This innovative program has the potential to allow for instant identification of possible fugitives and dangerous criminals from anywhere in the nation during traffic stops or other routine law enforcement activities,” said Lewis, the senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. “This is an exceptionally important investment of our federal dollars, especially since it will certainly aid in tracking down potential terrorists when necessary.”

The program received $2 million requested by Lewis in past years, and local governments have contributed $2.4 million. The total cost of the project is estimated at $8.6 million.

The committee on Thursday approved a number of other important Inland Empire projects requested by Lewis, including $2 million for the research into the effects of space radiation at Loma Linda Medical Center’s Proton Lab. Using the center’s innovative proton-beam accelerator, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been able to test space suits and other equipment at radiation levels found in space. The agency has credited the tests with helping increase safety that has protected astronauts working on the International Space Station and Space Shuttle experiments.

Other projects requested by Lewis that were approved by the committee include:

• $500,000 for the City of Redlands for infrastructure and equipment for the East Valley Justice Communications and Video Monitoring Center .  The Center collects information from citizens and video sources and passes it on to responding public safety personnel.  The project received $500,000 two years ago and the city is contributing $200,000 to the project this year.  The total cost of the project is $1.2 million.

• $500,000 for the City of San Bernardino Police Department to complete an upgrade of mobile data computers to ensure that police officers can stay in the field where they are needed most. The city has experienced a horrifying rise in crime in the past decade, and has been ranked as the 18^th most dangerous city in the nation for violent crime.  The police department has received $1.25 million in past funding for mobile data computer upgrades, and this funding will help complete the purchase of computers for the remaining police motorcycles.

• $500,000 to continue the upgrade of an education technology infrastructure at the University of Redlands to enhance teaching of mathematics and science. The university has received a number of grants through a NASA education program designed to foster increased interest and expertise in scientific fields among U.S. college students.

• $250,000 for the Riverside County Office of Education, in partnership with the non-profit organization Web Wise Kids to train teachers and implement the “Missing” program to help protect children from online predators and show them how to make wise choices on the internet.  Web Wise Kids will be donating $400,000 to the program. “Missing” is a proven, effective program currently in 49 states and reaching 1.2 million children.  The program will reach nearly 87,000 students in Riverside County .

• $200,000 to establish a KidsPeace Therapeutic Foster Care program in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties .  KidsPeace is a 125-year old children’s charity that specializes in treating the most difficult foster abuse cases. KidsPeace foster families are specially trained, certified, and supported to care for children with severe emotional and behavioral challenges.  The program will serve 50 children annually. KidsPeace will provide an additional $80,000 to help with the administrative expense incurred to develop the program in the Inland Empire .  The program will be self-sustainable within the first year of operation.

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