Term Paper on "What Lessons Were Learned From the Tempe PD Network Implementation"

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In 1998, the Information Systems technology Enhancement Project (ISTEP), funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, conducted a survey on the use and appropriation of information networks in the Tempe Police service, in order to document the state and use of its services. Their case study was based on two site visits to the Tempe Police department, followed by telephone follow-up and meetings, in order to review technology history, use, and plans for future development, and to assess how information technology helped the Department in their aims of community and problem solving policing operations.

In conjunction to this essay, it must be noted that community policing necessitates different types of information networks and tools than does a more specialized model of policing. In essence, what community-oriented policing (COP) involves is a strong interface of police-force with community, an emphasis on problem solving, and the interconnection between community and police on solving crimes and crime-related issues.

Some of the lessons garnered from its documentation are listed hereon.

Lessons Learned From the Tempe PD Network Implementation

1. Centralization

At one time, technology was decentralized but ever since the cost and complexity of technology increased, the city centralized all it systems including that of the police department into one city Information Technology Division (it'd).

This turned out to be a positive step for the police department since it not only liberated them from having to constantly upgrade and maintain its systems coordination management, liability, and computers, but also transmitted the responsibility to individuals more knowledgeable than they in it -- namely the city it employees.

2. Information Technology that is most Helpful to Police Department.

The following it equipment has been found to be invaluable to the Department:

a. The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system -- more on that later.

b. Staff Wizard -- used heavily by the Department, it helps in various ways including with calls for service, allocating average response time for calls with varying priorities, and working out miles patrolled in order to implement advantageous schedules for officers. Used by the Crime Analysis Unit and by patrol management, commanders use Staff Wizard for officer deployment, staff control, and in order to review drafts of schedules.

c. MapInfo -- Used by the Crime Analysis Unit, MapInfo is utilized for maps and reports that are then distributed throughout the Police Department, primarily used by beat sergeants, line officers, and detectives. It provides crime and calls-for-services data, and also provides maps (including those that illustrate… READ MORE