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ST LOUIS (MO) FLAIR SYSTEM

NCJ Number
64294
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 48 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 2-6
Author(s)
E T BROADERS
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ST. LOUIS FLEET LOCATION AND INFORMATION REPORTING (FLAIR) SYSTEM, AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE MONITORING (AVM) SYSTEM INITIATED IN 1974.
Abstract
THE FLAIR AVM SYSTEM, IS A NEW CONCEPT IN MOBILE FLEET DEVELOPMENT AND IS FUNDED BY A HIGH-IMPACT CRIME PREVENTION GRANT FROM LEAA. IT CONTINOUSLY PROVIDES A COMMAND AND CONTROL CENTER AND/OR COMMUNICATION CENTER WITH GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYED VEHICLE LOCATION AND STATUS INFORMATION, AND COMBINES DEAD RECKONING AND MAP-MATCHING TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP ACCURATE VEHICLE LOCATION INFORMATION. THESE CONCEPTS ALONG WITH THE CAPABILITIES OF RADIOS, ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING, AND COLOR TELEVISION ARE COMBINED TO PROVIDE THE DISPATCHER WITH AN ACCURATE AND CURRENT VISUAL DISPLAY OF THE LOCATION OF EACH POLICE CAR IN RELATION TO A CITY MAP. THE STATUS OF EACH OFFICER IS ALSO REPORTED THROUGH FLAIR LEAVING THE VOICE RADIO FREE FOR OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS. AN IMPORTANT APPLICATION OF FLAIR INVOLVES LOCATING AN OFFICER WHO HAS SIGNALED AN EMERGENCY AND DISPATCHING THE NEAREST OFFICERS TO ASSIST HIM. THE SYSTEM'S OBJECTIVES ARE TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIME, IMPROVE OFFICER SAFETY, LOWER VOICE-BAND CONGESTION, ENHANCE COMMAND AND CONTROL CAPABILITIES, AND IMPROVE SUPERVISION OF THE FORCE. FLAIR'S MAIN THRUST THROUGH 1978 HAS BEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPERATIONAL AVM SYSTEM, ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, TESTING AND EVALUATING THE SYSTEM, AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL. ALTHOUGH FLAIR WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO VISUALLY MONITOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT'S PATROL FLEET, IT HAS PROVED SUCCESSFUL AND COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT SINCE IT DEMONSTRATES THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF AN AVM SYSTEM IN COMBATING CRIME. PHOTOGRAPHS AND A LINE DRAWING ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)