NCJ Number
221173
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 55 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 46,48,50,51,53,54
Date Published
November 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the benefits of automatic vehicle location (AVL) and global positioning system (GPS) software for front-line policing and provides guidance on technical issues involved in planning and implementing an AVL/GPS system for a police agency.
Abstract
Overall, current AVL/GPS applications for law enforcement have made significant progress in enhancing officer safety and making the job of front-line policing more efficient. An agency's ability to quickly trace an officer's vehicle location facilitates a rapid response when an officer is incapacitated and cannot verbally communicate his/her location. AVL/GPS systems also enable dispatchers to quickly determine which front-line officers are nearest to a reported emergency incident, so the closest vehicles can be dispatched to the scene. Currently, almost every software vendor offers some type of AVL and GPS software with either computer aided dispatch (CAD) software or mobile data terminal (MDT) software. The deployment of this software involves hardware considerations pertinent to installation in vehicles and mobile computing configurations in and outside the police vehicle. The software must also conform to various GPS standards. The cost-effectiveness of various AVL/GPS systems is discussed. The article notes the availability of cost-effective software systems that will enhance a radio system's ability to provide location information. Although there are various ways to configure GPS hardware, the typical setup for most agencies is a rooftop-mounted antenna with a GPS transceiver mounted in the vehicle. On average, a GPS transceiver may cost $500 and the matching antenna another $100, compared to the combination antenna that sells for approximately $310, a substantial savings.