By SCBIZ Staff

The South Carolina Research Authority has contracted with the state of Tennessee to deliver the Law Enforcement Automated Data Replicator records management system to the Tennessee Fusion Center.

A team led by SCRA developed the Web-based LEADR information-sharing tool, which has been used in South Carolina since 1999, with a grant from the National Institute of Justice. SCRA is teaming with Scientific Research Corp. in delivering the innovative technology.

LEADR facilitates information-sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The program originally was developed for the Lowcountry Information Technology Improvement Project and is currently integrated into the statewide S.C. Information Exchange, or SCIEx.

A central data warehouse at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will integrate information from the law enforcement agencies located in Tennessee Homeland Security Region One. The system will provide public safety agencies with a secure integrated network across jurisdictional boundaries. 

“The direction of SCRA, in response to its interoperability clients, is to deliver a network environment for interstate information sharing and for fused data from various sources to regional interstate agencies,” said Bill Mahoney, CEO of the SCRA.

Tennessee is the first state outside of South Carolina to implement the LEADR program, said Brad Truitt, director of information systems at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

“Quick access to records by public agencies improves crime prevention efforts any way you look at it,” he said.