Presentation:  2010 Florida Data Sharing


Introduction

The Florida Law Enforcement eXchange system connects all participating Florida law enforcement agencies to one central information repository, or “data warehouse.” The purpose is to coordinate with the Regional Domestic Security Task Force (RDSTF) and promote the exchange of current law enforcement data collected via computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) and records management systems (RMS) around the state. Key data exchanged may include:

• Incidents
• Dispatch records
• Warrants
• Traffic citations
• Booking data
• Pawn data

However, before data can be shared, two basic components need to be created: first, an actual location for the data to be stored has to be created, and second, a common interface by which to get the data to the storage unit from the varied data sources. The FLEX project initiates the set up and development of the hub as well as the common method of data transfer, or application programming interface (API). The API serves as the central interface that allows all agencies with specific data management systems to extract, transfer, and load (ETL) their data into the FLEX data hub.
In developing the hub, a model by which all data can be stored and retrieved appropriately had to be created. This is called the FLEX data model. The FLEX data model adheres to a set of standards established collaboratively between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, referred to as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). NIEM is a set of data exchange standards that establish a common framework by which data can be shared and exchanged across all jurisdictions at the national, state, and local levels. For more information about NIEM, visit their web site at http://www.niem.gov/.


R-LEX

R-LEX is the Regional Law Enforcement eXchange—a subset of the FLEX project, and refers to those regions without a central or automated system to manage data from regional data sources. While FLEX refers to connectivity among all regions in the state, four regions have already initiated or completed implementation on systems to manage local data: Pensacola, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. Regions participating in the R-LEX project include:

1. Fort Myers
    
2. Miami
    
3. Tallahassee

In addition to the regions noted above, a fourth “region” was established—the State Node. The State Node incorporates all data sources from a statewide agency level, such as applications in use at the FDLE, the Florida Wildlife Commission, the Florida Department of Corrections, and other state agencies.


FLEX Project Updates
(July 2010)

• The FLEX project is currently on hold, but expected to resume in 2010

Contacts

Project and Regional contact information for FLEX and R-LEX can be found on the Contacts Page.