Technology
Staying on the cutting edge is an important part of protecting the citizens of Tallahassee, and the Tallahassee Police Department uses some of the latest tools to aid in crime prevention and investigation thanks to the Police Information Management Systems Unit. This unit is responsible for managing the Tallahassee Police Department's information technology infrastructure, servers, computers, software applications and technology projects. Listed below are just a few of the high-tech tools used in our fight against crime in the 21st century:
Public Safety System Integration Project: This project, which began in 2000, essential coordinates and integrates all facets of technology utilized by the Tallahassee Police Department.
Premier Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD): This CAD system keeps track of all police and fire department activity. It is considered a "life critical" application. All calls for service are entered, dispatched, and tracked in the CAD system. A separate application, CADView, allows users to view all current and pending calls for service at any given time by each District.
Premier Mobile Data Computer (PMDC): Through the use of this application, the information that is entered in to CAD is automatically sent to the computers in the officer's vehicle. ). Information that the officer needs (i.e. address, case number, dates and times, etc.) is automatically provided. Additionally, officers use the PMDC application can message each other (vehicle email) and can query the CAD database, Records Management System database, and other various databases (i.e., wanted persons, vehicle tags, drivers licenses).
Field Based Report (FBR) Writing: Officers in the field use the FBR writing software to complete both Incident and Traffic Crash reports. By completing reports electronically, the police department has improved the quality of police reports, and improved efficiencies. The information is sent via the computer so that the information can be retrieved at any time without the need of paper reports.
Infotrak Records Management System (RMS): The purpose of this system is to collect data from both the CAD and FBR programs. The RMS is basically a repository of information. It contains master name, address, business, vehicle, and property information. Users can query against this information. For example, if an investigator is looking for a suspect by the name of "John Doe", the investigator can query against the master name file to see if TPD has had any prior contact with a "John Doe". If the system finds a "John Doe", it will show the investigator all of the information related to that person (i.e., current and former addresses, cases he was involved in, any arrests, etc.).
Mobile Map Viewer (MMV): This is a joint project between Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. The purpose of the program is to allow officers access a map of Leon County. This map can be searched for a specific address, phone number, name, etc. This program is installed on the officer's mobile data computer laptops.
WinACE: The WinAce application keeps track of all property and evidence information. This electronic system utilizes bar codes to track all property and/or evidence that is brought to TPD.
Electronic Document Management System (EDMS): This is an imagining system, meaning that documents that are hand-written (i.e. victim and witnesses statements) can be scanned in to the Records Management System. Once the image has been scanned in to the computer, it becomes a permanent part of the electronic report.
Wireless Network (WLAN): A project that is currently being piloted by patrol officers in the field is the Wireless LAN project. This project allows officers high speed network connectivity to access various databases, law enforcement Internet web sites (i.e., Department of Corrections, FDLE, federal agencies, etc.) and various other sites via the laptops in their vehicles. The purpose behind moving to a WLAN is for officers to be able to access as much information as possible.
Another plus to the WLAN is that information can be sent directly to the officer's laptops without the need for the officer to bring the computer to the police station.
Mobile Data Computers (MDC): Currently there are 270 ruggedized laptops in use by Patrol and Special Operation.
Electronic Arrest Affidavit: Utilizing the Electronic Field Based Report application, officers making arrests do not have to complete duplicate reports for the court system and TPD. A single electronic report saves time on all arrests and improves the quality of the arrest affidavits.
Ticket Printers: Currently there are 20 ticket printers in use by Patrol. These printers allow officers to print the Universal Traffic Citation (UTC) electronically. TPD has received authority to purchase 25 more of these printers. The goal is to reach a total of 70 printers in use by officers.
As part of this, a project is currently in development for the UTC information to be sent electronically to the Clerk of Court's office.