Device puts data in Logan troopers' reach

By Globe Staff, 1/15/2002

State Police at Logan International Airport are going wireless.

Ten troopers stationed at Logan are among the first in the nation to test wireless hand-held devices to access federal and state criminal databases.

The devices, worn at the waist like a gun, were put into use two months ago at Logan after the manufacturer agreed to lease the hand-held BlackBerry devices on an experimental basis. Requests for information are returned in minutes and are protected by encrypted software. The Logan program was made public yesterday.

The devices, which can retrieve e-mail anywhere, are used by business people to communicate without being dependent on telephone hookups.

In the case of the State Police, the devices allow them to remain mobile and informed. No more calls to radio dispatchers or clerks for criminal record checks or asking them to run the license plate of a suspicious vehicle, according to Massport officials.

The airport is using the system to help further strengthen its security after the attacks of Sept. 11.

MAC DANIEL

This story ran on page B3 of the Boston Globe on 1/15/2002.
© Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.