HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7688 INFORMAL REPt?RT TO CITY Ct}UNGIL MEMBERS No. �6a8
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� r To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 23, 1993
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x Subject: AUTOMATED MUG SHOT PHOTO SYSTEM (AMSPS)
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On August 11, 1992, the City Council approved M&C P-5882 which completed the approval
process for the Police Department's Automated Mug Shot Photo System (AMSPS). At that time,
staff was asked to report back after system implementation on the efficiencies actually being
realized.
Summary
The new Automated Mug Shot Photo System utilized by the Fort Worth Police Department was
developed by Wayne Gary, the Technical Support Manager for Tarrant County. The Tarrant
County Sheriffs Department contributed approximately$50,000 towards the development of the
system, and they have allowed any agency in Tarrant County to "tie" into the system without
cost. The only cost to the agencies are the computer workstations and phone lines required to
view and print the mug photographs. Each workstation costs approximately $10,000, plus
associated costs for installation and phone/modem access.
The City of Fort Worth used approximately$63,000 in seized funds to purchase five workstations
to be used to view and print color mug photos of arrested persons and suspects. Additionally,
a capture/view/print workstation was purchased for the FWPD Identification Section so that
older mug photos on file could be added to the system. The five regular workstations were
4 placed in each of the geographic police divisions, with one going to the downtown Criminal
Investigation Division.
The AMSPS has allowed FWPD detectives to construct photo line-ups of suspects by means of
an automated line-up program. Detectives enter general suspect descriptions into the program,
and the system provides mug photos of several similar persons that match the detective's
suspect. Detectives are then able to use these photo line-ups to give the victims of crimes the
opportunity to positively identify their assailants in a way that helps ensure successful
prosecutions. Nearly all warrants for arrest issued by the FWPD are the result of suspect
identifications made from photo line-ups. Detectives are now able to do this right at their
division headquarters, rather than travel downtown to the I.D. Section.
Cost/Benefit Analysis
In addition to the initial cost of$63,000, the annual cost will be approximately between $10,000
and $15,000 to support the AMSPS. That cost is for the color thermal printer paper required to
produce the mug photos. Any other costs will be for equipment maintenance as required due
to breakdowns.
Currently, officers and detectives are able to view and print mug photos at their division
headquarters for approximately 58 cents a copy. This cost is lower than it appears when you
consider that for an automated photo line-up, six photos can be put on one page. In effect, the
whole line-up can be reproduced on one page rather than the detective having to obtain six
AL21. individual print photos as in the past. This procedure adds an extra benefit in that photo line-
ups have to be presented as evidence in court, and it is easier to maintain BRO W04, with --- -
photos than six separate print photos OFFICW RECORD
CITY SECRETARY
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER •��� WS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7688
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 23, 1993 AN
Page 2 of 2
C X )_ Subject:
1873 AUTOMATED MUG PHOTO SYSTEM (AMSPS)
In the past, FWPD has stored and partially utilized approximately 120,000 print photos a year
at a cost of approximately $32,000. Most of that cost was for labor to maintain a meticulous
filing system for the print photos, and to reproduce those prints upon demand by detectives.
Assuming those prints were used for six-print photo line-ups, we can estimate that
approximately 20,000 photo line-ups are conducted by the FWPD yearly. If all those line-ups
are now produced by the AMSPS at six photos per page, it will cost approximately $11,600 for
the lineups (20,000 X 58 cents). The estimated $20,000 savings in labor cost will ease the
personnel crunch in the FWPD's Records Section, which has maintained the same number of
personnel since its inception in the early 1950's,even though their workload has risen hundreds,
perhaps thousands, of percent. The net effect is like adding at least one additional person to the
Records Section.
The biggest cost savings of the system are a little more difficult to determine. In the past,
division detectives would have to drive to the downtown station to obtain print photos. On
average, the Records Section is receiving 30 less detective request per day. These requests are
now being handled by the automated system at their division headquarters. Assuming the old
procedure took each detective three-quarters of an hour to complete, the estimated reduction in
downtime is 8,212 staff hours yearly, or approximately$132,000 in base salary savings. The net
effect is like hiring an additional four (4) detectives.
Conclusions
The AMSPS appears to be working as planned and appears to have resulted in significant
savings in staff hours. These saved staff hours have the net effect of adding one additional
person to the Records Section, and adding four (4) additional detectives to the force. The
increased productivity enhancements should pay for the initial cost of the system many times
over.
If any additional information is desired, please contact Assistant City Manager Libby Watson at
871-6140.
City M
r
ISSUED BY TIME CifY'MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS