Blackinton(R) Unveils SmartShield(TM), the Technology Solution to Help Erase the Growing Illegal Production and Use of Counterfeit Law Enforcement Badges; Introduced to Rave Reviews at Police Chief's Convention Today in Miami.

MIAMI -- On May 9, 2005, Sergio Khorosh, a Russian and permanent U.S. resident, was arrested in New York by federal agents. The charge? Possession and sales of more than 1,300 high quality, counterfeit law enforcement badges that included shields from 35 different federal, state and local agencies.

In another incident just two years ago, federal undercover investigators used the Internet to purchase more than 900 black-market law enforcement badges, some real, some counterfeit, including FBI and Secret Service shields.

"For someone to have that in their possession and utilize it to identify themselves as law enforcement could be devastating to security, particularly homeland security," commented U.S. Immigrations and Customs Special Agent in Charge Martin Ficke.

Enter Blackinton(R), a Massachusetts company and the long-time leading national provider of badges for law enforcement agencies, with a revolutionary product, the SmartShield(TM) Badge Security System, introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention currently being held here.

Using leading edge wireless technology, the patented(a) SmartShield badge and system combines traditional Blackinton(R) quality with new advanced state-of-the-art Enforcement Identification Technology (Eid).

According to Blackinton(R) officials and law enforcement agencies currently beta testing the system, SmartShield looks like a traditional badge but also includes a wide range of security provisions.

HOW IT WORKS

The SmartShield encoded chip, when activated by an Eid software-enabled RFID (radio frequency identification) reader, transmits SmartShield "authorized" encoding to the reader and database. Easy-to-use Eid Software drives the SmartShield badge and system, enabling an expansive array of security applications--from very simple to highly sophisticated. It also allows quick, simple badge control programming. The user's database may contain information such as a badge ID or location (i.e. issued or in inventory), or specifics about the badge wearer such as name, photo, badge number and issuance history. The information is available to authorized users only within their database--not within the SmartShield badge encoding.

Eid Software also easily integrates with existing access-control security infrastructures already in place in hundreds of law enforcement departments nationwide.

SmartShield has received high praise throughout its initial testing by law enforcement agencies around the country.

"I know that this product will certainly increase security at our facilities as well as tracking our badges through inventory scanning once we have that in place," commented Captain James D. Connelly of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, an agency currently testing the SmartShield system. "We are proud to be part of this on the ground floor. The possibilities are endless with this type of technology."

The SmartShield Badge and Eid technology is expected to be available commercially to law enforcement authorities in early 2006. SmartShield badges will be sold through the Blackinton(R) traditional qualified dealer network. The enabling Eid technology will be available through newly authorized security-system integrators.

"Every SmartShield badge includes a rugged RFID transponder, similar to those used in many other industries," explained Chip Ziegler, Blackinton(R) director of marketing. "This transponder is a tamper-proof, embedded chip that stores individual encoding to validate the badge, and even the wearer. Its use requires little or no training and it's based on and supported by commonly available hardware and software. It is the solution for law enforcement agencies that need badge control and enhanced security."

DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

Ziegler went on to explain that SmartShield's Eid technology (software and peripherals) will be available, installed and serviced through Blackinton(R) authorized Eid security integrators.

"Some integrators may already be in place through their 'integrator of record' status for law enforcement departments with smartcard access control or other in-place systems," he said. "In a nutshell, the SmartShield Badge Security System easily integrates with and complements existing systems."

Initial distribution will include federal agencies, state, county and local law enforcement agencies and corrections departments.

ABOUT BLACKINTON(R)

Blackinton(R) is the largest provider and manufacturer of badges and uniform insignia for law enforcement and public safety professionals. Established in 1852, the company combines old world craftsmanship with cutting edge technologies to produce the industry's finest quality products.

(a)U.S. patent pending