NCJ Number
171222
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 64 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 53,55,57
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In 1996, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) awarded a $7 million contract to procure 1,200 portable data terminals (PDTs) and to test and evaluate a PDT model.
Abstract
The process began with Chicago's new Emergency Communications Center that opened in 1995. Designed for police and fire dispatch, the center is capable of processing 3,000 calls per hour in almost 30 different languages. The center's dispatch system allows for operators to be connected to callers in less than one ring and provides a wealth of detail about the caller's location. The search for a PDT that was technically compatible with the CPD's 911 system was based on the following requirements: receive and acknowledge job assignments, display vehicle status, send e-mail from car to car, process name and vehicle inquiries, and allow the switch to an electronic case reporting system. Five PDT units were selected for consideration, and a sector in Chicago's 14th Police District was chosen for field testing. The 45 police officers assigned to the testing program were given 4 hours of training on how to use the different PDT units. During the 5-week test period, PDTs were used to dispatch police officers in response to 1,903 calls for service. Data provided by police officers indicated the ideal PDT had a lit and sealed keyboard, weather-sealed ports, a battery strength light, a lockable docking station, and an adjustable contrast backlit screen. The PDT unit selected was the Badger, manufactured by Texlogix Industries at a cost of approximately $5,800.