PHOENIX — From high above the Earth, the U.S. intelligence community is using satellites to track the activities of drug cartels operating along the U.S.-Mexican border.

The preliminary 2007 FBI crime figures are out. East Valley cities are reporting an average reduction in serious crime of 5.5 percent. Tempe had the biggest decrease with a 9.82 percent drop.

A Valley-wide database sharing system for police agencies moved one step closer to becoming reality Tuesday after 70 law enforcement officers met with Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley to kick-start the process.

Bill Richardson: The FBI defines organized crime “as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Such groups maintain their position through the use of actual or threatened violence, corrupt public officials, graft, or extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people in their locales, region, or the country as a whole.”

The Internet is a valuable tool, but for many it does much harm. Child exploitation and Internet fraud cases in the Valley are something the Chandler Computer Crimes Unit battles daily.

The secretive ways some Arizona school and law enforcement officials conduct public business reflects the behavior of many of their counterparts nationwide.

Thirty two years ago, I was trying to track down a California drug dealer who was the source of PCP coming into Arizona. All I had was a physical description and a nickname — “Perry” — to go on.

Mesa needs to start planning now -- and finding ways to pay for -- new police officers, equipment and facilities if it hopes to keep up with rapid population growth and an influx of new businesses.

Deputies with the Maricopa and Pinal County sheriff’s offices fanned out in a wide swath of the south East Valley Thursday and will target illegal immigrants for the next three days.

Despite a decrease in the rate of auto thefts, the Valley ranks fourth in the nation for the third straight year, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

A former Scottsdale school superintendent says he is willing to go to federal prison to raise awareness about a Georgia military training center he says equips Latin American soldiers to torture and kill people in their home countries.

Addicted as we are to our online life and our mobile devices, it’s no surprise that a growing number of cybercriminals are lurking out there with us.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, ABC15 and the Arizona Crime Prevention Association, Inc., are sponsoring a free child identification card clinic for children 3 and older. Parents will receive a laminated photo ID card with their child’s information as well as a CD which stores digital fingerprints, photographs, video, voice recording and child safety tips.

Gilbert Police Department will host a free child ID clinic for children ages 3 and older from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., July 19 at the Super Target store, 3931 S. Gilbert Rd., northeast corner of Gilbert and Germann roads.

Our officers have been at the forefront of figuring out how to protect our city. When we have a safer community, we have a community that people want to invest in. This is real nuts-and-bolts police work that gets to the base cause of crime.” Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, Arizona Republic, “Mesa’s crime rate for major offenses is lower than in 1963, Mayor lauds preventive strategies by police,” Aug. 2, 2012

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center and the Arizona Crime Prevention Association, Inc. are sponsoring a free child identification card clinic for children ages 3 and older from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 23 at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, 3555 S. Val Vista Drive in Gilbert.

Get your child’s fingerprints, photograph and video all in one place during Chandler Regional Medical Center’s free child identification card event.

Addicted as we are to our online life and our mobile devices, it’s no surprise that a growing number of cybercriminals are lurking out there with us.

 In May 2008, Tucson police estimated 60 percent of the illegal drugs that enter the United States come through Arizona, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reminding consumers to be wary of online scams, especially around the holidays.

We’re fortunate that no one was killed,” said Tempe Police Lt. Mike Horn, describing the mass shooting of 15 people at a Tempe nightclub by three suspected members of two rival street gangs, the Crips and Bloods.

"Remember Mr. Gravely! These people are out there. They exist. They're evil."

Although privacy advocates, civil libertarians and foes of big government will undoubtedly have deep reservations, the creation of a unified national terrorist "watch list" is both inevitable and necessary.

There are things that I can’t say in this column due to the sensitive nature of the information. There are also things better not said because some of what goes on in parts of Arizona, and right here in the East Valley, would disturb almost everyone. Everyone except those who prey on children for sexual gratification.