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[ The Technology Transfer Program ]
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—Applying for Advanced Counterdrug Technologies


In this Publication:

CTAC'S Mission

Article 1: Technology Transfer Program

Article 2: Counterdrug and Counterterror

Article 3: Winning with the Technology Transfer Program

Article 4: Wireless Interoperability to the Rescue

Article 5: Training; Law Enforcement R&D;

Article 6: DENS�Drug Evaluation Network System

Article 7: Medical Research

Article 8: Message from ONDCP Director John Walters

Why this Program Exists

Law enforcement finds it increasingly difficult to penetrate drug crime organizations. Drug distribution gangs are based more and more on familial and village associations, and drug dealers often employ sophisticated communications technologies and devices that detect some covert transmitters used by undercover officers. In response to this threat to our country, Congress funded the Technology Transfer Program to help state and local officers in their fight against drug traffickers. Through the Technology Transfer Program, CTAC provides a wide range of overt and covert technologies-most of which had their start at CTAC or in the inventories of the FBI, DEA, DoD, Customs, and other U.S. agencies. Since the program began in 1998, Congress has appropriated $79.5 million, empowering CTAC to provide advanced devices and systems to over 3800 of America's 18,500 state and local law enforcement agencies. These technologies locate hidden compartments, allow cops to see through darkness, detect money laundering, penetrate complex drug trafficking conspiracies with digital wiretaps, communicate across agency lines in real time despite incompatible radios, track drug dealers and convert shaky, apparently useless surveillance video into clear, court-presentable evidence. Many arrests, indictments, and convictions have been credited to the technologies. Officer safety has improved as a result of the deployment of Technology Transfer Program systems and devices.

Cop Friendly

State and local law enforcement agencies are often surprised at how easy it is for a qualified department to get high tech help from this program and how smoothly our turnkey method works: Apply, Train, Receive. Everything is included, even site-specific engineering and installation of Wireless Interoperability Systems. At our regional workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Deputy Chief Glen Mowrey looked out at representatives of more than 200 police agencies in the audience and said, "All of us in this room understand the politics of local law enforcement budgeting. For a chief or a sheriff to go before local elected leaders and ask for more money to buy technologies instead of to hire additional officers is quite difficult." CTAC's Technology Transfer Program is NOT a grant program. There is NO transfer of money. Instead, state and local law enforcement agencies decide what they need and apply for the available systems and devices that meet those requirements. Applications are reviewed thoroughly but quickly and, as long as funds are available, technologies are purchased and scheduled for delivery and training. The Program's goal is to get the technologies deployed rapidly to help state and local authorities do the most damage possible to drug criminals and their organizations and to increase officer safety.

How to Apply:

To be considered for the Technology Transfer Program, a law enforcement agency must submit two documents: (1) An official letter signed by top management (Chief, Sheriff, Task Force Commander, District Attorney) and (2) the completed Technology Transfer Program application. The letter must (1) request participation in the Technology Transfer Program, (2) choose up to three among the listed technologies, and (3) agree to provide evaluation reports assessing the impact of the received technology on the department's drug enforcement efforts. The signed letter of request must be mailed on your agency's letterhead to the program's administrators: Electronic Proving Ground, Counterdrug Office Fort Huachuca, Arizona 85613. In addition, you may complete the Technology Transfer Program application form on-line at www.epgctac.com. Alternatively, you may request a catalog of the technologies available, which includes a copy of the applicaton, by calling (877) 374-2822, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET.

Mandatory Training & Evaluation:

Mandatory, scheduled training, which includes paid travel and partial per diem, precedes the delivery of any of the systems and devices, and there are followup evaluations at 90, 180, and 270 days.

What's Available:

A full list of the systems and devices currently available from the Technology Transfer Program can be viewed on our web site www.epgctac.com, or a catalog detailing the available technologies will be mailed upon request by calling
(877)-374-2822.







Last Updated: August 29, 2002



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