NCJ Number
51076
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
TWO ATTEMPTS TO SET UP A COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH (CAD) SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. LESSONS FROM THE ERRORS OF THE FIRST ATTEMPT RESULTED IN A WORKABLE SYSTEM WITHIN A BUDGET THAT EFFECTIVELY REDUCED RESPONSE TIME.
Abstract
THIS CASE STUDY EMPHASIZES LESSONS LEARNED BY THE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THEIR FIRST CAD ATTEMPT AND DISCUSSES PRECAUTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN IN THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO ENSURE A SYSTEM THAT MET DEPARTMENT NEEDS. IN 1967 FEDERAL FUNDING WAS USED TO DESIGN THE SYSTEM. A DATA PROCESSING EXPERT WITH NO REAL KNOWLEDGE OF POLICE WORK WAS HIRED. THE POOR COORDINATION, BAD HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS, AND OTHER PROBLEMS ARE REVIEWED. IN 1972 A CAPTAIN FROM THE PATROL DIVISION WAS ASKED TO REVIEW THE DISPATCH SYSTEM. HE FOUND MANY OF THE PROBLEMS TO BE TOO LITTLE SPACE, INSUFFICIENT TELEPHONE LINES, AND NOT ENOUGH FREQUENCIES TO CONTACT PATROL CARS. COMPUTERIZATION WAS ONLY A THIRD OF A TOTAL OVERHAUL OF THE SYSTEM. INPUT FROM DISPATCH PERSONNEL WAS SOUGHT AT EVERY STEP, AND DETAILED EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS WERE DRAWN UP WITH THE HELP OF A SPECIALIST FROM ANOTHER CITY DEPARTMENT. A FIXED-PRICE TURNKEY CONTRACT WAS AWARDED AND FINAL PAYMENT WAS NOT MADE UNTIL THE SYSTEM HAD OPERATED WELL FOR 90 DAYS. TRAINING REQUIRED FOR THE SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. DIAGRAMS, NOTES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)