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Funding Tomorrow's High-Tech Tools Today: Creative Ways to Finance the Modern Communications Center

NCJ Number
171221
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 45,49-52
Author(s)
T Callahan; S Gutkin; M Rudolph
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Police departments face an increasing need to incorporate high-technology crime-fighting tools in their established communication systems.
Abstract
One high-technology solution is the wireless mobile information system, software that allows police officers to access local, State, and national law enforcement and motor vehicle data bases in seconds from laptop computers in patrol cars. Direct access to critical data bases such as the National Criminal Information Center reduces risk to police officers in potentially dangerous situations. In particular, such access improves police officer and public safety by enabling real-time silent and secure communication between police headquarters and mobile units for quick backup. The Dubuque, Iowa, Police Department has adopted a mobile information system, based on a survey of police officers to identify the kind of functionality they wanted. The Fairfield, New Jersey, Police Department has also implemented a mobile information system to streamline police investigating and reporting procedures, and the department is looking into the use of cellular digital packet data (CDPD) technology. CDPD technology uses existing cellular networks to cost-effectively transmit information to police officers in the field. Another CDPD user, the Medford, Massachusetts, Police Department, has designed its system around a COPS MORE (Making Officers Redeployment Effective) grant. The Lakewood, Colorado, Police Department used more than $1 million from a drug seizure to purchase equipment, including a mobile information system. Experiences of these police departments confirm that creativity is the key to successful funding of technology. 1 photograph