System Monitors Police Cars
The Hudson, Mass., police department has installed an automatic vehicle locator in its dispatch center, using global positioning and satellite technology to track patrol cars and some supervisors’ cars.
Only a few Massachusetts police departments use the technology as yet, which was purchased from TransCOR Information Technologies.
“I know of no other practice, policy or piece of technology that can more quickly provide us with the information to know exactly where your cars are and the best way to dispatch emergency apparatus,” says Hudson Chief Richard Braga.
International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 363 President Sgt. James K. Murphy cautions that the union wants to know what else the technology will be used for, noting the union’s concerns about increased accountability. The town and the union are still trying to get together to discuss the vehicle locator, he adds.
The software used to activate the map is easy to use, and the position of each car is updated about every 300 feet or 10 seconds; the software can also track the past movement of a patrol car.
According to Braga, the system is very useful for areas in nearby communities, and it can bring up maps for neighboring states and includes street addresses.
Police can find the cruiser closest to a given call, and help can be sent if an officer leaves the car.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (08/09/03) P. A1; Croteau, Scott J.
