Overwatch Awards IM-PACT(TM) Excellence in Policing Grants to 16 Law Enforcement Agencies

Software and Training Grants Total More Than $500,000


AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overwatch, a strategic business of Textron Systems Advanced Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that 16 law enforcement and homeland security organizations are recipients of the company's IM-PACT™ investigative analysis software as part of its Excellence in Policing competitive grant program.

Each grant recipient will receive IM-PACT software product licenses and standard training free of charge; representing more than $500,000.00 USD of software and services donated to law enforcement as part of this program.

Developed in conjunction with law enforcement experts, including early adopter tests by law enforcement agencies in several states, Overwatch introduced IM-PACT investigative analysis software in 2011. IM-PACT is a comprehensive, easy-to-learn and user-friendly software solution that greatly simplifies investigations by enabling investigators to uncover, analyze and understand hidden connections, relationships, and patterns that underlie criminal and terrorist activity.

IM-PACT grant recipients represent university, state, county, municipal, and tribal agencies in 12 states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. The number of grant recipients, originally slated to be up to 10, was expanded due to an overwhelming response to the program.

"The strong response to our grant program is based, in large part, on the growing need for specialized investigation analysis tools throughout law enforcement and homeland security communities," explained Don Hairston, senior vice president and general manager of Textron Systems Advanced Systems. "We are excited that our grant program will provide numerous law enforcement and homeland security agencies with an advanced set of intelligence-led policing tools, which will enable each agency to improve their capabilities, even in light of shrinking budgets."

The IM-PACT Excellence in Policing grant program, announced in November, 2011, was available to all national, state, regional, local, tribal and territory law enforcement and homeland security related agencies of the United States of America who met program eligibility criteria. Overwatch personnel, together with former law enforcement agents and members of FBI-LEEDA law enforcement association leadership reviewed more than 100 grant program responses. Program qualification was based on both a financial and operational need basis.

IM-PACT software supports micro-level intelligence analysis of single or multiple criminal acts, as well as macro-level criminal investigations, such as tracking movements of drug trafficking organizations or the growth of gangs and other crime organizations. Its advanced automation and investigative analysis capabilities include: data collection and fusion; link analysis for tracking and investigation of associations among individuals, facilities, activities and events; data visualization and temporal analysis tools; geospatial analysis and mapping tools; monitoring and notification services; and integrated case management tools.

IM-PACT software is fully 28-CFR Part 23 compliant, helping safeguard constitutional and privacy rights of individuals. Additional information about IM-PACT capabilities and applications is available at overwatch.com/products/impact.php.

Media Contact:                                                      

Sharon Corona

Textron Systems Corporation

(410) 628-3184

scorona@systems.textron.com      

About Overwatch

Overwatch, a strategic business of Textron Systems Advanced Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, is the leading provider of integrated intelligence software solutions and services as well as robust satellite communications systems for today's U.S. and international defense and intelligence communities. For the past 20 years, Overwatch's intelligence solutions have supported decision makers, counter-terrorism analysts, warfighters and first responders by providing proven tools that simplify the integration, analysis and exploitation of intelligence in order to present a complete operational picture and accelerate the time-to-decision. More information is available at www.overwatch.com.

About Textron Systems Advanced Systems

Textron Systems Advanced Systems brings together cutting-edge technologies and far-reaching innovations to satisfy emerging customer demands for reliable, affordable solutions in the areas of security; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and medical research. Its strategic business Overwatch is a leading provider of intelligence software solutions and robust satellite communications systems for U.S. and international defense, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The Advanced Systems business also continues efforts on light arms technologies and unmanned systems such as the Common Unmanned Surface Vessel, or CUSV, conceived by AAI. Another strategic business, Medical Numerics, provides processing and analysis software for medical imaging research. Textron Systems Advanced Systems is an operating unit of Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Systems

Textron Systems has been providing innovative solutions to the defense, homeland security and aerospace communities for more than 50 years. Headquartered in Wilmington, Mass., the company is known for its unmanned aircraft systems, advanced marine craft, armored vehicles, intelligent battlefield and surveillance systems, intelligence software solutions, precision smart weapons, piston engines, test and training systems, and total life cycle sustainment and operational services. Textron Systems includes AAI Logistics & Technical Services, AAI Test & Training, AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Advanced Systems, Aerosonde, ESL Defence, Lycoming Engines, Medical Numerics, MillenWorks, Overwatch, Textron Defense Systems and Textron Marine & Land Systems. More information is available at www.textronsystems.com.

About Textron Inc.

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, and Textron Systems. More information is available at www.textron.com.

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[Image] IM-PACT logo
[Image] IM-PACT H banner
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