NCJ Number
157586
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 37-46
Date Published
1995
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This article describes the technology and benefits of the Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system as used in various police departments.
Abstract
The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses a receiver to lock onto the U.S. Defense Department's NAV-STAR network of satellites and provides a reading of the user's exact position to within a few feet. Some agencies that operate large fleets of vehicles are using a GPS-based system called Automated Vehicle Location to keep centrally located dispatchers constantly informed on the locations of police vehicles, buses, fire engines, and ambulances. Users have seen a dramatic increase in efficiency and reduced costs. Police departments, however, have been among the slowest to respond to this technology. Under a traditional dispatch system, the units closest to the call are generally used. With larger cities, sprawling suburbs, and smaller budgets, however, a more efficient dispatch method is often needed. Further, in an age when fewer funds must be spread over larger geographical areas, higher populations, and greater crime densities, AVL is an excellent way to enhance a police force's crime-fighting tools. AVL benefits include reduced response time, because dispatchers can tell at a glance where every vehicle is located, and increased officer safety, because dispatchers know where the officers are and can monitor their status, particularly in dangerous situations. In addition to describing AVL technology, this article explains AVL use by the Schaumburg Police Department (Illinois), the Phoenix Fire Department (Arizona), and the Denver Regional Transportation District (Colorado).