THE BACKGROUND TO SAN JOSE'S GBF SYSTEM IS TRACED FROM ITS INCEPTION IN A FEDERALLY FUNDED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PILOT PROGRAM TO THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CHOICE OF IBM'S GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS AND DISPLAY SYSTEM (GADS). THEN THE SYSTEM WAS USED TO REDESIGN THE GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION OF POLICE RESOURCES TO EQUALIZE WORKLOADS AND MEET DEMANDS FOR POLICE SERVICE. EARLY AND CONTINUING PRIORITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE ACQUISITION OF A COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM. THE THREE SUBSYSTEMS OF THIS COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED AS THEY WERE DESIGNED AND AS THEY OPERATE WITHIN THE DISPATCHING SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF SAN JOSE: THE POLICE DISPATCHING SYSTEM, THE FIRE DISPATCHING SYSTEM, AND THE GEO-REFERENCE SYSTEM. FURTHER ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO GEO-REFERENCE FILE SYSTEM LIMITATIONS, AS WELL AS TO THE ENTIRE COMPUTER-ASSISTED DISPATCHING SYSTEM PHILOSOPHY AND ITS USE OF GEO-SUPPORT. FINALLY, THE PROCEDURES LEADING TO THE ACTUAL CREATION OF THE GEOGRAPHIC BASE FILE, THE FUNDING, AND FILE MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS ARE DETAILED. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN THROUGHOUT TO THE VERY RECENT AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF SAN JOSE'S USE OF COMPUTER-RELATED TECHNOLOGY. (MHP)