This study evaluated the application and utility of the New York City Police Department's (NYPD's) use of the Area Security Operations Command and Control (ASOCC) system, which was initially developed for the command and control of U.S. military forces.
ASOCC is an interactive computer-based system designed to provide real-time situational awareness capabilities. It provides graphic and imagery-based photographs and maps with supporting data, collaboration capability, a log and alert function, the display of time-phased force deployment data, and access to updated information from Web-based status boards and databases. The NYPD participated in a pilot application of the ASOCC system in an effort to enhance communications and information sharing between NYPD's Command and Control Center and borough offices as well as providing a solution for information-sharing with other agencies and organizations locally, regionally, and nationally. The evaluation focused on collecting and analyzing relevant performance data of the ASOCC system to determine its suitability for operational deployment in State and local agencies. The evaluation was conducted from September 2003 through March 2005. The findings indicate that ASOCC (v.2.0.1), as currently configured, would not be appropriate for routine and daily use in the areas in which it was deployed (patrol borough operations). A combination of process re-engineering and software modification could make ASOCC useful in supporting daily patrol operations. It could be more effective if deployed for counter-terrorism and intelligence groups as well as in emergency operations centers. Its collaboration capabilities make it particularly suitable for large-scale incidents that involve multiple jurisdictions and agencies. ASOCC's use in the law enforcement environment would be enhanced if it could be configured as an integration tool or as a portal to other law enforcement databases. 6 tables and appended survey instrument and an updated ASOCC user base