Police Communications Interoperability News & Articles

Today’s police officers certainly have a wide array of assets and support in order to help them complete their job safely and effectively. The long list includes: detectives, SWAT, K-9, marine units, mounted and, of course, airborne law enforcement. These assets make for powerful tools in the law enforcement arsenal. ...

By Marsha Walton CNN.comBOULDER, Colo. — It is a problem that scientists and engineers have been grappling with since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: How can emergency ...

According to George Ake, a retired major with the North Carolina Highway Patrol who is presently with the Border Research and Technology Center (BRTC)–Austin (operated by the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas), overcoming jurisdictions’ desire to implement technical solutions before thoroughly understanding the business needs represents one of the key challenges an agency faces in providing interoperability-related technical assistance. Kelly Harris, deputy executive director of SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, agrees. ...

A standards document serves as a reference tool to describe how technology should function or how an interface should work. For example, it may explain how new technology should interface with older standardsbased technology (backwards compatibility), or it can provide a vendor with a way to determine if older standards-based technology must be changed to meet the latest standard. A standard can also assist potential manufacturers in identifying intellectual property associated with a given standard. Verifying compliance with a standard can be as simple as a vendor stating “yes our technology is compliant with standard X” during a procurement process or as complex as proving compliance as part of a comprehensive testing and acceptance regimen. A standard provides the end user, possibly a procurement officer, and the potential vendor community with a common target and a language to describe that target. If a standard is not thoroughly understood and interpreted in a consistent manner, problems will be created. ...

LAPD uses the commercial carrier Sprint for wireless data communications in its field units. LAPD has been using Sprint since 2007 to provide data access services to 1,600 patrol cars, and thus far is pleased with the results. ...

During 2007 and 2008, Nlets applied grant fundingreceived from the Office of Justice Programs’ NationalInstitute of Justice (NIJ) in an effort to take the lead on apilot project that permits the exchange of departments of motor vehicle (DMV) driver’s license images. The projectdeploys a limited operational capability to allow States toexchange electronic DMV images solely for the purpose of positive identification. ...

TIP, the Technology Improvement Project for the Middle Rio Grande Region of Texas, is a Project 25 (P25)- compliant, spectrum-efficient, VHF-trunked infrastructure system that is shared with local, State, Federal, and tribal users. The area served by the system covers roughly 15,000 square miles in 9 counties, with a population of 155,000. P25 is a suite of standards intended to help produce equipment that is interoperable and compatible regardless of manufacturer. ...

Dear Senior Law Enforcement Administrator,Even if you could see through an officer’s eyes and hear through their ears via wireless Internet hookup, you would still know too little and react too slowly ...

By John Dunbar The Associated PressWASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission approved a new framework for the creation of a nationwide emergency communications network Thursday amid concerns ...

Immediately following the September 11th attacks in 2001, a block of instruction called "Terrorism: Battling the War in America’s Heartland" was added to the Street Survival Seminar. Why talk to a group of state and local law enforcement officers about global terrorism? Isn’t battling Terrorists a Federal responsibility? ...

When the FCC’s wireless spectrum auction came to a close earlier this year, the plan to establish a public/private partnership – through which a robust, multi-purpose, national, interoperable, wireless broadband public safety network would be built – fell short of becoming a reality. In fact, in “falling short” of attracting an investment partner, the nescient public sector broadband network virtually made an audible “ka-thunk” when it hit the ground. ...

Of the many challenges major incidents pose for police officers, communications interoperability is certainly near the top of the list. Effectively communicating and working with other agencies and departments can be paramount to the ultimate success of an operation. ...

Motorola announced a new line of portable and in-car radio units that address individual usability and multi-agency interoperability. In effect, the design team at Motorola sought to improve the way in which an officer interacts with the radio itself, and how the radio interacts with the wireless networks... ...

PoliceOne is focusing on news and information about Communications throughout the month of August 2008. Check out some of the latest Communications products available today. Introducing ...

By Gregg Aamot The Associated PressMINNEAPOLIS — Borrowing from a European model, Minneapolis and St. Paul police hope to quell any disruptions at this summer's Republican National Convention by ...

Related artiles: Philly police radio system goes silent overnight, Philly's police radio system fails at crucial timesBy Barbara Boyer The Philadelphia InquirerPHILADELPHIA — City police officers ...

Ed. Note: PoliceOne will delve deeply into the issue of the "D-Block" segment of spectrum in the August Technology Newsletter, and will address several issues involving communications capabilities ...