NCJ Number
212338
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 72 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2005 Pages: 46-50
Date Published
November 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes and assesses the Leawood Police Department's (Missouri) municipal wireless network.
Abstract
In 1997, Leawood was among the first police departments to leverage a municipal wireless network. The original network, however, required improvements before it could keep pace with officers' increasing data demands; and it also needed to integrate voice and data from surrounding jurisdictions to facilitate multijurisdictional responses. In 2002, Overland Park, in conjunction with Leawood and Olathe, KS, implemented I/CAD, the Intergraph Corporation's computer-aided dispatch system, which provides expanded data capabilities in the officers' line of sight. Two other law enforcement agencies have since joined the system. I/CAD has expanded the capabilities of the original wireless network to include global positioning system mobile unit tracking, area maps, enhanced communication, and more detailed case information on each mobile unit's onboard computer. Further, the dispatch system automatically stores records, case numbers, and other pertinent details on each call. After responding to a call, officers use Intergraph's I/Leads records management software to create reports in their cars and then transmit them to headquarters over the 802.11b or 800-megahertz network. Agencies considering a wireless network must address the following factors: budget requirements; applications; the features of WiMax, a high-throughput broadband connection over long distances; and a local area network (LAN), which uses either a full mesh or partial mesh connection.