COMPUTERIZED POLICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS LINKS PEOPLE TO PEOPLE

• NCJ Number: 45798
• Journal: Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 16-18,20,21,24
• Author(s): W L JUMP
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Copp Organization, Inc
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A COMPUTERIZED EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. BENEFITS INCLUDE QUICK RESPONSE TIME, RECORDING OF TELEPHONE CALLS, TRACING OF CALLS, MONITORING POLICE ACTIVITY AFTER DISPATCH, AND INFORMATION STORAGE.

Abstract

ADVANCED COMPUTER, VIDEO DISPLAY TERMINAL, AND RADIO COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ARE BEING USED IN AN INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WAY BY THE INDIANAPOLIS, IND., POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEMENT A NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM FACILITATES SPEEDY AND APPROPRIATE ACTION ON CALLS RECEIVED THROUGH THE 911 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER. EVERY CALL RECEIVED IS AUTOMATICALLY TRACED BY KEEPING THE LINE OPEN EVEN AFTER THE CALLER HAS HUNG UP. INCOMING CALLS FOR POLICE ASSISTANCE ARE IMMEDIATELY DISPATCHED BY THE TELECOMMUNICATOR OFFICER TAKING THE COMPLAINT CALL, DEPENDING ON PRIORITY, WHILE OTHER CALLS CONCERNING FIRES, MEDICAL SERVICE, OR THOSE THAT COME UNDER AN OUTSIDE JURISDICTION, ARE QUICKLY REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY WITHIN THE COUNTY. ALL CALLS ARE RECORDED ON MAGNETIC TAPE FOR COMPUTERIZED REVIEW. PERSONAL PORTABLE TWO-WAY RADIOS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO EVERY OFFICER IN PATROL AND TRAFFIC, EVERY DETECTIVE, EACH COMMANDING OFFICER, AND EVERY TECHNICIAN WORKING ON THE STREETS OR IN AN OFFICE. COMMUNICATION IS THEREFORE QUICKER AND MORE EFFECTIVE THAN WHEN RADIOS WERE LIMITED TO PATROL CARS. AFTER EACH DISPATCH, THE INCIDENT IS RELEASED FROM THE TELECOMMUNICATOR POSITION TO THE ADJOINING ROOM WITH POLICE CONTROL POSITIONS, WHERE THE OPERATIONS OF THE DISPATCHED OFFICERS ARE MONITORED. ALL REQUESTS BY SUCH OFFICERS ARE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. IN THIS CONNECTION, EACH TERMINAL CAN BE USED BY THE OPERATOR TO COMMUNICATE WITH INDIANA'S STATE DATA AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM COMPUTER AND THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE SYSTEM IS ALSO HELPFUL IN PLANNING FOR INCREASED POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN PATROLING THE CITY, BECAUSE IT PROVIDES CONTINUING INFORMATION ABOUT THE KINDS AND FREQUENCY OF CALLS RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE CITY. THE SYSTEM BEGAN OPERATING IN 1976, AND THE OVERALL COST OF INSTALLATION WAS $5 MILLION. (RCB)