Tallahassee, Fla., Honored for Public Safety Systems Integration

The City of Tallahassee, Fla., has been recognized by the Public Technology Institute (PTI) as an innovation lab for its Public Safety Systems Integration Project.

The project involved replacing the police and fire computer aided dispatch system (CAD) and records management system, and integrating both new applications with enhanced 9-1-1, automatic vehicle location technologies (AVL), advanced technical mapping, querying tools, imaging technologies, electronic field reporting, crime and fire analysis tools, and the City's 800 MHz data system.

Additional phases have been included since the project's inception in 2001 to keep
current with technology trends, such as wireless data transmission via cellular technologies.

This project was a collaborative effort between the city's Information Systems Services Division, Police Department and Fire Department.

"Secure communications and data-sharing among government officials are vital weapons in the public safety arsenal" commented Alan Shark, executive director of PTI when naming Tallahassee an innovation lab. "I applaud Mayor John Marks, members of the City Commission, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson, CIO Don DeLoach, Police Chief Dennis Jones, Fire Chief Cindy Dick for having the foresight to bring these different technology components together to better serve the citizens of Tallahassee."

As a result of this project:

• Dispatchers can now transmit call information data along with voice communications to police officers and firefighters, meaning public safety personnel have access to accurate and timely intelligence and analysis through the real-time sharing of information.
• Police officers and firefighters can monitor the status of all CAD call activity on their mobile computers in their vehicles.
• Geographic mapping functionality, working with AVL, is used to dispatch the closest vehicle (when appropriate), assist in determining most efficient travel routes, and visually show crime analysis trends for resource management and strategic planning.
• The City of Tallahassee has saved thousands of dollars costs by eliminating duplicate entries of police reports, and reduced personnel costs by allowing officers to review and submit reports from the field rather than having to take the time to travel to the police station to submit their reports.
  

By being named an innovation lab, the city of Tallahassee received a special logo to place on its Web site, and will share information on the project and serve as a resource for government officials interested in improving public safety operations. Information on the project is available from the PTI Web site.

Public Technology Institute is a national, member-supported organization based in Washington, D.C. As the only technology organization created by and for cities and counties, PTI works with a core network of leading local government officials -- the PTI membership -- to identify opportunities for technology research, share best practices, offer consultancies and pilot demonstrations, promote technology development initiatives and develop enhanced educational programming.