|
CAD/RMS, TACNet, 800MHz Radio System & Wireless Data Communication
The Chesterfield Township Police Department is currently in the process of implementing a New World Systems CAD/RMS (Computer Aided Dispatch / Records Management System) to be utilized in conjunction with the recent 800MHz radios and Visteon TACNet vehicles being incorprated into the fleet. Plans are also being discussed to potentially implement a wireless WAN (Wide Area Network) between the Chesterfield Township Police Department and multiple Chesterfield Township Fire Stations.
The installation and implementation of these combined technologies is the culmination of the efforts of Sgt. Brad Kersten along with IT Consultants Jeremy Giannosa and Dan Wimpari of XFX Studio, LLC who have researched these individual systems for nearly 3 years prior to seeking board approval. In mid-2005, a CAD/RMS Committee was established including the previously named parties along with Trustee Cheryl Printz, Treasurer Pam Harris, Trustee Brian DeMuynck, PFAB Member Hank Anderson and Fire Chief Scott Messer. The committee came to the conclusion that a CAD/RMS solution provided by New World Systems would be the best choice for Chesterfield Township in terms of capabilities, support and being a locally headquartered company.
When implementation is complete in Fall 2006, the Chesterfield Township Police Department will be the only agency in Michigan to have combined an 800MHz Radio System with intelligent TACNet vehicles running a comprehensive CAD/RMS system, also making it one of the most technologically advanced departments in the midwest. Having these tools at their disposal, plus the potential benefits of a wireless network interconnecting the Police and Fire departments, the Chesterfield Township Police Department will be able to assist the citizens of Chesterfield Township in a highly efficient and detailed manner.
Phase I of CAD/RMS integration was relocation of existing Police Department servers, the installation of new CAD/RMS servers and Mobile Messaging software to be utilized in the vehicles. This phase of the project was completed at the end of 2005, due to the termination of communication protocols that were being used. At this time, the department has 16 vehicles utilizing the New World Systems Mobile Application (in limited use) on Panasonic Toughbook Mobile Data Terminals or Viseton TACNet computer systems.
All new vehicles being added to the fleet are being outfitted with the Visteon TACNet system. All existing cars are being upgraded with new Mobile Data Terminals and wireless modems.
Numerous components comprise the Chesterfield Township Police technology upgrades, and managing all of these resources effectively can a immense undertaking. Sgt. Brad Kersten is responsible for overseeing the CAD/RMS implementation, while XFX Studio, LLC is in charge of installing system software, testing, troubleshooting, launching all new systems, and coordinating resources from all vendors involved in the project to ensure the interoperability of all installed systems' hardware and software.
The following are descriptions of some of the features and benefits of the individual systems: |
Visteon TACNet
We are very pleased to be working with Visteon TACNet on the implementation of their systems into our fleet and excited to be one of the few departments in our area that have recognized the capabilities that such an advanced system will provide our officers.
Though the system and the cars it has been demonstrated with have been called “space-age” or “Robocop” cars, what’s new is how they’ve taken the core tools that our officers already use (computer, radar, camera, radio) and simply made them more ergonomic and logically oriented.
Rather than having to take their eyes off of the road to view a laptop screen, a radar display, to use the radio or run a plate, our officers will be able to speak simple voice commands to the car to obtain critical information or to operate many of the car’s functions such as the lights and siren. There is also a heads-up display that is mounted from the ceiling that will display information in the driver’s line of sight without the need to divert their focus from driving.
Another advantage of the TACNet system is that it provides each officer with multiple ways to interface with it. There is a dash-mounted touch panel LCD display that can also control all of the cars many functions, obtain information and control the 800MHz radio. The system utilizes a hand-held ‘pod’ device that officers can use to perform many of the same functions as the touchscreen, and there is also a standard PC keyboard. With this type of flexibility nobody is forced to do things a single way, but have the means to use the system the best way they see fit.
Safety is also another factor that weighed in heavily in our decision to proceed with the TACNet system. Our existing cars pose a safety risk to the officer by having a laptop computer positioned directly in the airbag deployment zone.
With the new system, the computer is housed in the trunk of the car, along with many of the system’s other components. The TACNet system’s LCD touchscreen and all other in-car components are completely clear of all airbag deployment zones.
Finally, the Visteon TACNet system is fully compatible to integrate with CAD/RMS systems that we are currently pursuing to provide Officers, Dispatch and Records personnel with a centralized data store, where all information is tied together from the moment that a call is received in Dispatch, to when a car is sent the data and responds on the scene, and then finally in the Records Department when all other information pertaining to the incident is entered and filed.
|
 |
New World Systems CAD/RMS System
Regional Data Sharing
RDS Regional Data Sharing (the ability to share information with other municipal agencies) is an issue of importance. The CAD/RMS solution offered by New World Systems includes the ability to share critical information with other agencies.
Work Study/Cost Savings Analysis
A work study was recently conducted to analyze the amount of time spent by Records Technicians on a single incident using the system currently in place at the Police Department, and how the processing of the same incident would be affected by utilizing New World Systems software.
It was found that currently, multiple Records Technicians input redundant data for a single incident, and are required to spend valuable time first checking for erroneous data or repeat records.
Using the New World Systems software, Records Technicians would take less than half of the time currently being spent to input data, as well as not being required to first validate existing data.
In regards to Officer safety, the new CAD/RMS system will provide Officers and Fire Fighters (on the road) with prior incident history and potential hazards that may present themselves in various situations. The new system will also improve accountability and productivity by allowing Officers to complete reports in the field, thus keeping more Officers on the road and reducing downtime.
Overall capabilities of the department will be improved by the enhanced functionalities provided by the CAD/RMS system such as statistical data, mapping capabilities, crime reporting, historical data tracking and evidence tracking and security.
|
 |
|
|
