Suwanee Police Using New Fingerprint Scanning Devices

Suwanee Police are giving rave reviews to new technology being used in the field, noting that it provides officers instant feedback when they run a criminal background check.

Police Chief Mike Jones calls it "using technology to expedite the process."

In one case, the new device actually cleared someone of suspicion. Capt. Cass Mooney, who gave City Council members a briefing on the new devices recently, noted that he approached a suspect recently in the city's Gateway area.

The suspect told Mooney that "I swear it was not me ... it was my twin brother," a story that naturally makes officers suspicious. When the suspect submitted to the voluntary fingerprint scan, the background check indeed turned up no criminal history for the suspect -- his story was valid.

Mooney noted that it saved him from having to take the suspect to the Gwinnett Detention Center while the check was conducted.

The 11 handheld devices used by Suwanee officers were made possible by a law-enforcement grant, and required no tax money. They use Bluetooth technology, because officers already have that in their vehicles.

Use is voluntary, as suspects have the right to refuse the scan. The devices can, however, reveal driving records, criminal records and whether someone is on a "watch list." The information comes from the Georgia Crime Information Center.

The devices may get increased use soon. Jones noted that Part I crimes so far in 2011 are down about 5 percent from last year (to 425 from 447).  However, he said that activity in some motels in the Gateway area could boost that total.

Instances of forgery, assault and battery, and theft are on the rise. Jones said it is a periodic occurrence in the area when suspects feel police monitoring has decreased.