Thinkstream, Inc., Normatt, Inc. stand ready to meet law enforcment challenges of Hurricane Rita

Backup System Will Keep Louisiana Criminal Network Operational

BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 23 – Thinkstream, Inc., a leading software development company specializing in criminal justice applications, and Normat Network Solutions, Inc. a Louisiana-based IT firm, have completed preparations that will keep several Louisiana state law enforcement agencies online and operational during and after Hurricane Rita.

The two companies, along with the Louisiana Civil and Criminal Information Network, or LACCIE, began Wednesday making backups of significant law enforcement databases in the southern and western parts of Louisiana, areas expected to be affected by Hurricane Rita.

The LACCIE Network developed and implemented in partnership with Thinkstream, Inc., supports over 350 criminal justice databases at the state, local and federal levels. The system allows over 150 Louisiana law enforcement agencies and officers in the field who participate in the network to access criminal information instantly and simultaneously from their desks, vehicles or handheld devices.

The system is successfully backed up and will not only protect sensitive data but will allow parishes that lose electricity during and after the hurricane alternate access to critical local, state, and federal systems. Critical criminal justice information was backed up for Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion Parishes and several others that are under a mandatory evacuation. The Lake Charles Police Department also was included in the backup system.

Now agencies in these areas will be able to operate during the threat and aftermath of the storm by accessing backup files stored in the hub outside of the hurricane zone, Thinkstream, Inc. CEO Barry Bellue said. As a result, there will be no significant disruption to the distribution of critical information involving a criminal, he said.

"Lost information, or not being able to access information, can mean the difference between life or death for a police officer or a citizen of the community," Bellue said.

"This technology saves time, allows for more productivity in the field and ultimately, more arrests and a safer community. We don't want that to stop because of a hurricane," he said.

About Thinkstream
Thinkstream, Inc., a leading software development company based in Baton Rouge, specializes in criminal justice applications that tie agencies together securely giving them the ability to rapidly share critical information across organizational, agency and geographic boundaries. The company has linked over 150 agencies in eight regions of the state, making LACCIE the largest civil and criminal information network in the nation. The company also operates systems in Texas, Florida and California.

CEO Barry Bellue, who also founded Fifth Generation Systems, a national top 20 software company acquired by Symantec, established Thinkstream over nine years ago. Mr. Bellue heads a team of engineers with over 60 years combined experience in designing Web-based integrated information networks for businesses and criminal justice agencies across the nation.

Thinkstream, Inc. is an active member of the Internet Working Group for Justice Integration Committee. Established by the U.S. Department of Justice, committee members contribute their knowledge and experience to promote and implement integrated information systems (IJIS) throughout the country.

About Normat Network Solutions, Inc.
Normat Network Solutions, Inc. is a Louisiana-based company founded by a retired Sheriff Deputy with over 20 years of law enforcement experience specializing in IT solutions for law enforcement.

About LACCIE
With over 350 databases at the local, state and federal levels, Louisiana Civil and Criminal Information Network, LACCIE is considered the largest integrated justice network in the nation. Working with over 150 statewide agencies, including Police Departments, Sheriff's Offices, District Attorney's, Clerks of Courts, Judicial Courts, Corrections and many others, LACCIE, with the help of Thinkstream, Inc. has established and maintained 13 regional Hubs. The Hub supports a network that allows over 5,500 users the ability to make daily queries using a suite of critical applications developed by the Thinkstream team.