BRADENTON, FLA. – GE Security Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), today announced that Polk County, Fla. has become the first in the country to deploy GE Security explosives trace detection portals at its main courthouse in Bartow to help county law enforcement protect the thousand-plus daily visitors to the facility. The county is using five GE Security EntryScan “puffer” portals to help screen entrants to the courthouse for traces of explosive compounds.GE Security EntryScan portals, using advanced trace, or ITMS, detection technology, are being used to quickly and unobtrusively screen people entering the courthouse for the possible presence of traces of explosives. Part of a security upgrade, the use of the GE portals is expected to help the county enhance security while reducing need for more intrusive pat downs and other more time-consuming and intrusive individual screening procedures.“Our aim is to use advanced technology to make the Polk County Courthouse as safe as possible for
employees, jurors and other visitors without interfering with their access to this public building,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “In today’s reality, safety includes guarding against explosive threats and the GE EntryScan, using automated advanced technology deployed in high-volume airport settings, is the right solution for our multi-layered security approach.”“We’re especially pleased that Polk County has chosen the world’s most popular trace portal, the GE EntryScan, to help better protect its courthouse and the people who visit and work in it,” said Dennis Cooke, president, GE Security’s Homeland Protection business. “EntryScan has proven effective and popular in a wide variety of aviation and non-aviation security settings and we are confident it will help provide enhanced security in this first-of-its-kind courthouse deployment.” Through its quick and easy sampling method, the EntryScan offers the potential for increased security, reduced costs and a faster and more pleasant user experience than is afforded by non-technology enabled security solutions. EntryScan can be well suited to helping address security challenges at a wide variety of facilities including government buildings, airports, nuclear power plants, correctional institutions, customs and border inspection stations, military checkpoints, public transportation stations, high-threat commercial facilities, as well as sporting and other large public event settings. Courthouse workers and visitors simply step into the open EntryScan portal for touch-free analysis for the possible presence of explosives traces. An automated voice instructs the individual to step into the portal and wait as gentle puffs of air dislodge and transport any potential particles to an overhead sensor for analysis. The process takes about 15 seconds.Trace detectors play a vital role in helping GE customers prevent, deter and investigate possible threats. They use GE’s patented Ion Trap Mobility Spectrometer (ITMS®) technology that features a proprietary ion "trap" that increases ionization efficiency, the main factor determining detection sensitivity. GE’s EntryScan, popularly known as the “puffer,” takes advantage of a natural upward airflow around the body called the "human convection plume" to collect and analyze microscopic particles for the presence of explosives and/or narcotics. About GE’s Security BusinessGE Security, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a leading supplier of security and life safety technologies, with operations in more than 35 countries and $2 billion in annual sales. GE Security offers one of the industry's broadest product portfolios, covering explosives and narcotics detection, intrusion and access control, video surveillance, key management, and fire detection. GE Security's products are used to protect people and property across a wide range of industries, including aviation, law enforcement, banking, education, healthcare, mass transit, and retail. GE Security was recently named Frost & Sullivan’s 2006 Company of the Year for Homeland Security. For more information about GE Security and our products, please visit www.gesecurity.com.For additional information, please visit www.gesecurity.com. GE Security, making the world safer.For more information, contact:Steve HillGE SecurityPhone: 510-857-1132Email: steve.hill1@ge.com Tom Brigham BRIGHAM SCULLYPhone: 818-716-9021Email: tbrigham@brighamscully.com
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