On the Job 

Technology will always be one of crime-fighters’ best weapons. It helps us outsmart the most devious criminals, join forces with others in law enforcement, speed assistance to victims, and prevent future crime.

I have long believed we must be innovative in fulfilling our responsibility to Ohio families. That’s why, throughout my career in public service, I have fought for programs and funding that provide the criminal justice system with the latest technology has to offer.
 
The benefits these advancements bring to law enforcement cannot be overstated. Analyses involving DNA, fingerprints, and ballistics have given us incalculable opportunities to catch criminals. Databases that process vast amounts of information do the work of many minds, just as robots in laboratory settings carry out the tasks of many hands — all in timeframes that exceed human capabilities.
 
In cruisers and law enforcement departments across Ohio, technology allows officers to confirm suspects’ identities, call up criminal histories, and access a comprehensive records management system to generate electronic reports.
 
The facial recognition software now available through my office’s Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OHLEG) is among the latest technology Ohio officers can use on the job.
 
Search results can provide law enforcement with valuable investigative leads. And just like many other technologies, the tool can accomplish the same task with the same resources as any good investigator. It simply accelerates the process.
 
Uses for this technology include narrowing potential suspects caught on surveillance cameras, solving unidentified remains cases, rescuing child sex trafficking victims, and identifying lost individuals who are experiencing dementia.
 
The FBI and law enforcement in more than half the states use facial recognition technology. To ensure its best possible application in Ohio, I have established an advisory group to make recommendations on its use and conduct a thorough review of OHLEG overall.
 
That work, due to conclude soon, will guide our future protocols for these valuable law enforcement resources.