New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and Civilian Complaint Review Board Chairman Hector Gonzalez today announced that Orion Systems Incorporated has been contracted to develop a centralized Search Warrant Database.

In early January 2003, the NYPD and CCRB began discussions regarding the development of a centralized database to track information on search warrants from the time of obtaining the warrant through the warrant's
execution. The database will be housed in the NYPD's Intelligence Division and is scheduled to be online by the end of June 2003. The database will cost approximately $24,000 and is being paid for by the Police Department.

Once in operation the database will track key aspects of the search warrant process, including the name of the supervising officer, the Judge who issued the warrant, the Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case, the location, building plans, identified hazards, and the results of the executed search warrant.

Commissioner Kelly said: "This database will allow the Department to have one centralized location to collect, store, and share information regarding all search warrants executed by members of the New York City Police Department. It will also increase safety to both the public and the police by providing the
most accurate data on every location subject to a search warrant."

Chairman Gonzalez said: "Part of the CCRB's mission is to report to the Police Commissioner relevant issues and policy matters coming to the board's attention. Based upon cases that we reviewed, the board approached the Department earlier this year to recommend that it develop a central, comprehensive database to track search warrant executions. We are excited that the Department agreed with our recommendations and is implementing it so quickly. Such a database is important to the CCRB because it will reduce the time it takes to identify officers and access records, thereby shortening the time required for an investigation."

CCRB press contacts:
Florence L. Finkle, Executive Director: 212-442-8731
Raymond Patterson, Director of Communications: 212-442-8740