SAN DIEGO, CA, March 6, 2002 - ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW) has signed a five-year contract with Sheriff Jerry Keller of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to provide a comprehensive package of advanced law enforcement and ID card technology. ImageWare's Web-based systems will automate police processes for better crime-fighting in Las Vegas and Clark County; automate background checks for 250,000 casino employees; and step up security for the production of 500,000 active city and county work cards.

The value of the contract is $659,000 for the first year, with the total more than $1 million based on the renewal of services each year, said Jim Miller, ImageWare chief executive officer.

ImageWare will supply a mugshot/booking system and Web-based investigative tool to automate criminal investigation and booking for the LVMPD. The company's Crime Capture System® and CrimeWeb software modules will create a database of digitized mugshots that will link all police precincts and detention facilities in the city of Las Vegas and Clark County.

Instead of spending hours manually checking mugbooks and files, the LVMPD now will have a database of digital images that can be searched online in minutes for possible suspects. Police will be able to search the database and request all mugshots that fit a particular suspect description, for example. Police and officials throughout the LVMPD will be able to share and access the mugshots on a desktop or laptop computer.

In addition, the LVMPD will use the CrimeWeb mugshot database to complete background checks and issue the work cards required for Las Vegas casino employees. The 200 people who apply to the LVMPD each day for a casino work card will be checked against the database for past criminal records. According to Richard McKee, Deputy Chief of the LVMPD Technical Services Division, the technology will increase security for the casino industry and cut the time needed for background checks.

In addition, ImageWare will provide secure digital photo ID work cards for the casino industry, as well as digital photo IDs for LVMPD employees. The LVMPD also will use the system to issue "locator" or master identification cards for arrestees and inmates of the local detention facilities.

"By creating a central mugshot database and bringing our processes online, ImageWare's technology will allow the LVMPD to work more quickly and effectively. Detectives will spend less time on paperwork and more on crime-solving, for better law enforcement and security," said Deputy Chief McKee. "The imaging and ID card technology also will make it more efficient for us to accomplish the required checks and credentials and increase safety for the casino industry."

"We are very gratified to be working with Sheriff Keller and the LVMPD, especially as this is the first time our ID and Law Enforcement Groups have come together to provide a comprehensive solution," said Miller. "The creation of a Web-enabled criminal database, combined with secure IDs which can be verified against that database, is the core of our technology that we can and will provide to future clients."

About ImageWare Systems, Inc.
ImageWare Systems, Inc. (AMEX:IW), is a leading developer and provider of identity management solutions, providing biometric, secure credential, law enforcement and digital imaging technologies. Scalable for worldwide deployment, the Company's biometric product line includes a multi-biometric engine that is hardware and algorithm independent, enabling the enrollment and management of unlimited population sizes. ImageWare's identification products are used to manage and issue secure credentials including national IDs, passports, driver licenses, smart cards and access control credentials. ImageWare's digital booking products provide law enforcement with integrated mug shot, fingerprint Livescan and investigative capabilities. The Company also provides comprehensive digital workflow solutions for the professional photography industry. ImageWare is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in Washington DC and Canada. For more information visit www.iwsinc.com.

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This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are meant to convey to the public the company's progress, business opportunities and growth prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements represent management's opinion. While management believes such representation to be true and accurate based on the information available to the company, actual results may differ materially from those described. The company's operations and business prospects are always subject to risks and uncertainties. Important facts that may cause actual results to differ are set forth in the company’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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