NCJ Number
51074
Date Published
1978
Length
27 pages
Annotation
THE BOSTON EXPERIENCE WITH COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH (CAD) IS TRACED FROM ITS BEGINNING AND RECORDS OF THE REFORM MOVEMENT IN 1962 THROUGH THE TIME WHEN A MORATORIUM WAS PLACED ON THE ENTIRE PROJECT IN 1976 ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED CAD SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP THE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, POLICE DEPARTMENT TRACK POLICE CARS, RECORD TIME ELAPSED BETWEEN CALL AND RESPONSE, PROVIDE A PERMANENT RECORD OF POLICE RESPONSE, AND GENERATE PATROL STATISTICS. MANUAL ATTEMPTS AT PATROL REFORM BEGAN WITH A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION IN 1962. IN 1968 LEAA GRANT MONEY BECAME AVAILABLE TO DEVELOP THE CAD PROJECT. THE PROBLEMS WHICH PLAGUED THIS SYSTEM AT EVERY STEP ARE DETAILED IN THIS CHRONOLOGICAL REPORT. THE DEPARTMENT HAD LITTLE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND WAS FORCED TO RELY ON OUTSIDERS FOR EVALUATIONS OF THE VENDOR'S WORK. THE RECORDS WERE IN SUCH POOR SHAPE THAT THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE PROJECT COST TWICE THE ANTICIPATED AMOUNT. PATROL PERSONNEL RESENTED MANY PHASES OF THE PROJECT AND SUPPORT AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS WAS LUKEWARM. NO ONE KNEW HOW TO MAKE THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED. LESSONS WHICH CAN BE LEARNED BY OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE SUMMARIZED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY WERE OVERSOLD. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)