NCJ Number
127000
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 59 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1990) Pages: 8-12
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The police department of South Portland, Me. has automated its recordkeeping process through a step-by-step process involving the selection and installation of computer hardware and software, system administration customization of the system, documentation, and staff training.
Abstract
The chief of police stipulated that department records would be simplified without deleting any part, that only $25,000 could be used from the department's budget, and that a police officer would handle the transition. The author's assignment was to acquire and maintain the new computer system. He arranged for a joint purchase with a neighboring police department. They selected a mini-mainframe computer and obtained the software developed by another police agency in Maine. The agencies consulted with each other during the implementation stages and the South Portland agency produced its own training manual, because vendor support was not available for the agency-developed software. The experience demonstrated the feasibility of developing a computer system in a police agency. List of modules currently available in the system