Date: November 01, 2005

(Rolling Meadows, Illinois) – Armed with new cutting-edge technology called SCAN, the Rolling Meadows Police Department announced today that it will soon begin sending public safety warnings and emergency alerts directly to the computers, mobile phones, PDA’s, pagers and fax machines of the residents it serves. Important alerts about sexual predators, neighborhood crime, local terrorist acts and Amber alerts will now reach community members in a matter of moments – no matter where they are. RMPD is encouraging its residents to register free of charge to receive the alerts at www.scanusa.com. 

"Until now, the people we protect and serve have only had one-way communication with law enforcement – by dialing 911," said Chief Williams of Rolling Meadows Police Department. "Thanks to SCAN, now we can contact people directly and give them the information they need to protect their families from dangerous activities or emergencies in our community."

SCAN is the first national alert system that allows local public safety and law enforcement departments to broadcast localized emergency information directly to the computers, mobile phones and PDAs of its citizens. With SCAN, law enforcement and public safety agencies can communicate almost instantaneously with neighborhood residents to provide them with information that can help protect their family, friends and neighbors.

"SCAN is like a new and improved neighborhood watch for the information age," said Lou Schwartz, President of SCAN USA. "Information is power and early warnings give you the ability to make careful, self-educated choices for you and your family."

Registered users can choose to receive any or all types of alerts to one or more of their digital information devices. Types of alerts include sexual predator alerts, neighborhood crime alerts, public safety alerts, fire alerts, traffic alerts, public health alerts, environmental alerts, severe weather alerts, cyber alerts, Amber alerts, Homeland Security alerts and other miscellaneous warnings or emergencies.

SCAN is provided at no cost to public safety agencies or taxpayers.

All citizens are invited to visit www.scanusa.com to register to receive alerts and receive more information.