Tampa cops drop face-scanning cameras

TAMPA, Fla.--In the end, everyone the secret cameras scannedturned out to be just another face in the crowd.

Two years after Tampa became the nation's first city to use facial-recognition software to search for wanted criminals, officials aredropping the program.

It led to zero arrests.

"I wouldn't consider it a failure," said police spokesman JoeDurkin. "You are always looking for new and efficient ways to providethe best service to the community."

The city first toyed with the system at the 2001 Super Bowl, whencameras monitored people entering Raymond James Stadium.

Although cameras picked up 19 possible matches with wantedcriminals, none were arrested.

The software attracted outrage from critics. Dick Armey of Texas,the House GOP leader at the time, called for congressional hearingson the technology. Leaders from the American Civil Liberties Uniondenounced the practice, likening it to something out of GeorgeOrwell's novel 1984.

The software also created false alarms.

Scripps Howard News Service