GSN 2014 October/November Digital Edition

Law Enforcement Communications • Geofeedia
problem in Los Angeles County and its
population of ten million people across
88 municipalities and 130 unincorporated
communities. Pre-planned teen drug
parties had become an escalating problem
in Los Angeles County, contributing to
a measurable increase in felony and
sexual assaults, related property damage,
vehicular burglary, and gang activity – all
events that were primarily organized and
advertised via social media networks.
To police the pre-planned parties,
the 24-hour LASD Electronic Communications Triage Unit
(eComm) which had been founded in 2012, used key word
search systems such as Hootsuite and the Geofeedia
patented, cloud-based program to search, monitor and
analyze real-time openly shared social media posts via
social media networks.
“What we like about Geo-searching is a look at a
particular location, draw a map and immediately start
gathering real-time intelligence” said Deputy Moore,
adding, “We’re not shy about recommending this ability to
other agencies as this simplifies a lot of things and will help
other agencies accomplish their public safety mission.”
The Geofeedia website has archived a number of
law enforcement Case Studies which can be accessed by
law enforcement officials. These include one study which
describes how situational awareness was established
by a group in West Virginia, using Geofeedia’s social
media monitoring software and drawing a perimeter
around locations such as specific colleges or universities,
neighborhoods, city blocks or specific buildings.
In another, a Patrol Sergeant used Geofeedia to
draw a perimeter around the scene of a brutal attack by
20 men that had taken place outside of a gay bar in a
the Nozz distribution network also eliminated a significant
revenue source for gangs. To fund other criminal activities,
gangs often taxed Nozz distribution at drug parties. The
operation also reduced an environmental threat. Federal
authorities have estimated that the damage to the ozone
from the illegal use of nitrous oxide in the greater LA area is
more than what a small oil refinery in the center of the city
would cause annually.
In addition, the search warrants also resulted in the arrest
of multiple suspects on weapons charges. Thirteen guns
were seized as evidence, including assault weapons, armor
piercing rounds, and high capacity magazines. Another
suspect was arrested for possession of narcotics with
the intention to sell them (a felony charge). Finally, with
Geofeedia’s location-based social media monitoring and
keyword analysis the eComm unit interdicted more than
1,000 parties and reduced felony assaults by 50%.
“Our successful joint operation with the FDA proves
again the relevance of social media in intelligenceled
policing. Our eComm unit delivers great value
by providing real-time, actionable intelligence to
our field officers. Geofeedia’s location-based social
media monitoring solution is a powerful tool to help us
deliver that value.”
- Commander Mike Parker
northeast Ohio town. In reviewing the social media within
the perimeter she had drawn, the Sergeant came across
sales@geofeedia.com
@geofeedia
individuals who had posted to Facebook about going to
a “93rd Street block party”, which was a common gang
reference often synonymous with being up to no good.
Geofeedia Through this Case connection, Study: Los she Angeles was taken County to Sheriff’s one of the Department
town’s known gang members who was also talking about
the block party, and shortly thereafter, the gang member
was identified as one of the attackers, which led to an
arrest by the town’s gang unit.
“Geofeedia can be used by the media or for corporate
security, branding or healthcare,” said Phil Harris, “but
it’s a game-changer for law enforcement, public safety,
emergency response and health crises.” Ω
organization plans to continue spreading their knowledge
about Geofeedia.
About Geofeedia
Geofeedia provides social media search and discovery
by location. Our patented technology searches Twitter,
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, and Viddy
data by location to provide users with real-time insights
from anywhere in the world.
Request a free demo at: geofeedia.com/demo
About the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is the largest sheriff’s
department in the world with a mission to “lead the fight
to prevent crime and injustice, enforce the law fairly and
defend the rights of all, including the incarcerated.” The
department is divided into eleven divisions and specialized
services including four patrol divisions, Custody Operations
Division, Correctional Services Division, Detective Division,
Court Services Division, Technical Services Division, Office
of Homeland Security, Administrative Services Division, and
Leadership and Training Division. Learn more at: lasdhq.com
geofeedia.com/demo
14 Government Security News October/November 2014 Digitlal Edition Digitlal Edition October/November 2014 Government Security News 15