NCJ Number
70573
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1980) Pages: 16-24
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Phoenix, Arizona's self-designed Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Police Record Index (CAPRI) subsystems with mobile data terminals (MDT) are described.
Abstract
Since commercially available systems and software did not meet the police department's requirements, a system was custom-designed. The system ties in with other city, county, State, and national computers in order to speed the exchange of suspect information. Digital communication techniques provide greater speed, security, and more efficient use of police radio and telephone channels. The CAD subsystem performs automated dispatch assistance, maintains the status of forces, and switches messages for improved radio channel utilization, it also assists with resource allocation, recommends the best units to respond, validates street addresses, and provides histories of prior incidents by specific addresses. It uses cathode ray tube keyboard input/output terminal devices in conjunction with two medium-sized dedicated computers and magnetic disk memory devices for mass information storage. The CAPRI subsystem has permitted conversion of about one million police master index cards to computer disk storage. Automation response time is reduced to seconds for inquiring patrol and investigative officers seeking wanted-person suspect information. The system has improved the cost-effectiveness of each law enforcement element in the department, and it is believed to have been a major contributor to the city's 3 percent drop in crime in 1978. The system's hardware is described in detail, and photos and a diagram illustrate its operation. Footnotes and references are not included.