eTrace Collective Data Sharing

Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association

3905 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 •Tel: (717)236-1059 • Fax: (717) 236-0226 • Web Site: http://www.pachiefs.org

Albert Walker President Chief of Police Hanover Township

William Richendrfer Secretary - 2020 Chief of Police South Centre Township John English 1st Vice President Chief of Police Edgeworth Borough

Scott L. Bohn Executive Director David Steffen 2 nd

Vice President Chief of Police Northern Lancaster County Regional Fred Harran 3 rd

Vice President Director of Public Safety Bensalem Township Royce Engler 4 th

Vice President Chief of Police Wright Township

Ken Truver Treasurer - 2020 Chief of Police Castle Shannon Borough

Gun violence, illegal gun possession and firearms trafficking affect all communities in Pennsylvania. Gun violence is responsible for killing, on average, 1,500 Pennsylvanians per year. Straw purchases and crime guns are fueling this epidemic. As every gun starts out as legal, it is incumbent upon law enforcement to trace how a crime gun was illegally transferred to a prohibited person. By tracing firearms used in crimes, we can identify the heart of the problem.

Law enforcement’s mission does not end with investigating and prosecuting the prohibited possessor. State law requires local law enforcement to trace every crime gun through the ATF, report recoveries to the Pennsylvania State Police and conduct an investigation into how the gun was obtainedby the illegal possessor:

18 Pa.C.S. § 6127

(a) Illegal possession. Upon confiscating or recovering a firearm from the possession of anyone who is not permitted by Federal or State law to possess a firearm, a local law enforcement agency shall use the best available information, including a firearms trace where necessary, to determine how and from where the person gained possession of the firearm. (b) Tracing. Local law enforcement shall use the National Tracing Center of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in complying with subsection (a). (c) Notification. Local law enforcement agencies shall advise the Pennsylvania State Police of all firearms that are recovered in accordance with this section.

In 2007, thePennsylvania Uniform Firearm Act was amended to include the above “Firearms Tracing” provision. 18 Pa.C.S. § 6127 states local law enforcement, upon recovering a firearm from someone not permitted to possess by State or Federal law shall trace the subject firearm. Bycomplying with this law and comprehensively tracing firearms through ATF and notifying PSP, it allows federal, state and local law enforcement to identify gun traffickers, build intelligence, strategically stop trafficking pipelines, and ensure straw purchasers are not legally permitted to buy guns again.

The easiest and most efficient way to comprehensively trace crime guns is by using the ATF’s National Tracing Center’s eTrace system (https://etrace.atf.gov/etrace/). ATF’s Electronic Tracing System (eTrace) is an internet-based system that allows participating law enforcement agencies to submit required firearm traces to the ATF. Authorized users can receive firearm trace results via this same internet web site, search a database of all firearm tracessubmitted by their individual agency, and perform analytical functions. Opting in to collective data sharing allows more effective use of the database and allows for participating agencies to link purchasers and recoveries that cross county lines. To request an eTrace account please contact the ATF’s National Tracing Center Customer Service Group at 244 Needy Road, Martinsburg, WV 25405, 1-800-788-7133 or fax 1-800-578-7223 or email at traceadmin@atf.govetraceadmin@atf.gov.

Al Coghill –2022 Chief of Police Cannonsburg Borough

James Adams –2021 Chief of Police Upper Allen Township James Sabath –2022 Chief of Police Newtown Borough

Michael Vogel –2021 Chief of Police Allegheny County Housing Authority Thomas Gross –2022 Chief of Police (Ret.) York Area Regional Police

Jason Loper - 2022 Chief of Police Fairview Township Larry Palmer –2022 Chief of Police Palmer Township

Tim Trently - 2022 Chief of Police Archbald Borough Mark Toomey –2021 Chief of Police Upper Providence Township

David Splain - 2022 Chiefof Police Nether Providence Township

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

National Tracing Center Division

ATF National Tracing Center October 2014

Collective Data Sharing

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is pleased to announce the availability of a new feature within the eTrace application known as Collective Data Sharing (CDS). The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is pleased to announce the availability of a new feature within the eTrace application known as Collective Data Sharing (CDS). eTrace: Collective Data Sharing (CDS) ATF National Tracing Center October 2014

What is Collective Data Sharing (CDS)? Collective Data Sharing (CDS) is a function within ATF’s eTrace application which allows for Statelevel sharingof firearms trace related data. CDS enables all eTrace participating agencies to view and share trace data with other law enforcement partners within their state. This feature significantly enhances the ability of State, county, and local level Law Enforcement Agencies to fight violent firearms crimes by broadening the knowledge base and access to potentially important leads in criminal investigations. When an agency chooses to participate in CDS all of their trace data is made available inthe State-level data pool. Data sharing via eTrace is reciprocal in that an agency does not have access to search the State-level data pool unless they have optedin to share their trace data. Therefore, the available data pool consists only of trace data forthose agencies that have opted in within a given State. How can my Agency Benefit from Participating in CDS? The benefit to participating in CDS is that youragency’s eTrace users will have a much larger pool of shared trace data to examine and from which to develop investigative leads. Participating in CDS will allow your agency’s eTrace users direct electronic access to crime gun information for those firearms recovered and traced by other participating agencies in your state. Expanded analytical review of such data can provide leads in identifying persons engaged in the diversion of firearms into illegal commerce, link suspects to firearms in criminal investigations, identify potential firearms traffickers, and expose intrastate, interstate and international patterns of sources and routes. How Can My Agency Participate in CDS? To participate in CDS, the individual designated as the “Primary POC”within youragency must manually “Opt-in”to CDS via administrative controls within the eTrace application. The “Primary POC”is the person designated by name within the eTrace Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to act as the agency’s primary point of contact betweenATF and the agency (See Fig. 1). What is Collective Data Sharing (CDS)? Collective Data Sharing (CDS) is a function within ATF’s eTrace application which allows for Statelevel sharing of firearms trace related data. CDS enables all eTrace participating agencies to view and share trace data with other law enforcement partners within their state. This feature significantly enhances the ability of State, county, and local level Law Enforcement Agencies to fight violent firearms crimes by broadening the knowledge base and access to potentially important leads in criminal investigations. When an agency chooses to participate in CDS all of their trace data is made available in the Statelevel data pool. Data sharing via eTrace is reciprocal in that an agency does not have access to search the State-level data pool unless they have opted in to share their trace data. Therefore, the available data pool consists only of trace data for those agencies that have opted in within a given State. How can my Agency Benefit from Participating in CDS? The benefit to participating in CDS is that your agency’s eTrace users will have a much larger pool of shared trace data to examine and from which to develop investigative leads. Participating in CDS will allow your agency’s eTrace users direct electronic access to crime gun information for those firearms recovered and traced by other participating agencies in your state. Expanded analytical review of such data can provide leads in identifying persons engaged in the diversion of firearms into illegal commerce, link suspects to firearms in criminal investigations, identify potential firearms traffickers, and expose intrastate, interstate and international patterns of sources and routes. How Can My Agency Participate in CDS? To participate in CDS, the individual designated as the “Primary POC” within your agency must manually “Opt-in” to CDS via administrative controls within the eTrace application. The “Primary POC” is the person designated by name within the eTrace Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to act as the agency’s primary point of contact between ATF and the agency (See Fig. 1). Additional Considerations: • ATF strongly recommends that the designated Primary POC for your agency obtain the concurrence of your Chief/Sheriff prior to electing to share your agency’s trace data. • Once your agency opts to share its data, your Primary POC can always opt-out and not share the data if your agency’s policy to share data changes. • Be aware, when your agency OptsIn to CDS, ALL of your agency’s trace data is shared in the State “Data Pool.” eTrace users from other Law Enforcement Agencies that are also sharing data in your State’s Data Pool will have the ability to view, download, and/or print any of the trace data that is being shared in the State level Data Pool. Questions: ATF’s National Tracing Center Division (NTC) operates and administers the eTrace program. For any questions or additional information related to CDS, please contact the eTrace Admin team at 1 (800)788-7133 x 1540 or email etraceadmin@atf.gov. 2 Figure 1 - eTrace screenshot Note* Only the Primary POC is provided with the option to opt-in/opt-out of the collective data sharing pool. By default, the agency preferences for all participating eTrace agencies are set to “opt-out” of collective data sharing. Additional Considerations: • ATF strongly recommends that the designated Primary POC for your agency obtain the concurrence of your Chief/Sheriff prior to electing to share your agency’s trace data. • Once your agency opts to share its data, your Primary POC can always opt-out and not share the data if your agency’s policy to share data changes. • Be aware, when your agency Opts-In to CDS, ALLof your agency’s trace data is shared in the State “Data Pool.” eTrace users from other Law Enforcement Agencies that are also sharing data in your State’s Data Pool will have the ability to view, download, and/or print any of the trace data that is being shared in the State level Data Pool. Questions: ATF’s National TracingCenter Division (NTC) operates and administers the eTrace program. For any questions or additional information related to CDS, please contact the eTrace Admin team at 1(800)788-7133 x 1540 or email etraceadmin@atf.gov. Figure 1 - eTrace screenshot Note* Only the Primary POC is provided with the option to opt-in/opt-out of the collective data sharing pool. By default, the agency preferences for all participating eTrace agencies are set to “opt-out” of collective data sharing.