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Much like the hardware the applications run on, the software is frill-free, dependable, and features built-ins such as telephone/cellular location mapping, case entry fields, and built-in situation-specific question keys for dispatch operators to ask callers. Utilizing Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software, PSAPs can funnel preparatory information pertaining to an emergency call to responding officers in the field. While no two CAD systems are likely to be the same, this wiki article offers a very respectable overview of how a typical CAD system operates.
The information sent out to officers can include call history for the address being responded to, past charges for known persons involved, whether or not the call involves weapons or violence of any sort - even biohazards or the presence of a dangerous animal. Having this intelligence on hand ensures that when the police arrive on scene, they’ll have all the information they need in order to deal with whatever they’re walking into as safely as possible.
Speaking of dispatching information to officers in the field, let’s talk about how the information gets from the PSAP and into the hands of the police on the street. If you said via radio, you get a cookie.
Despite the communications options available to emergency service workers today, radio transmission is still the primary method for shifting information from the PSAP to officers in the field, with cellular data communication to in-cruiser computer equipment coming in as a close second. Green explains that like many smaller municipalities, Guelph’s emergency services all share the same radio system, albeit on different channels. In much the same way that the PSAP is backed up, a number of redundant communications systems, including a secondary radio system and cellular radio technology are installed in the back of each emergency vehicle in case they’re needed.
“We try to stay away from using the cellular hardware in an emergency though”. Says Green. “As soon as something big happens, the networks get completely clogged up. Everyone calls home at the same time to make sure their loved ones are all OK.” When asked to provide some deeper specifics concerning what equipment was used on the dispatch side of things to make the communicative magic happen, Green became mum once again, citing security. He was however more than ready to speak to what other hardware could be found in a typical police vehicle.
“We really like the Panasonic Toughbook”, Green admitted. “The officers are hard on the hardware sometimes. Coffee spills, rain water; just general wear and tear can see equipment taking a lot of downtime. The water resistance and and general ruggedness keeps the hardware in the field where it belongs. Green explained that all of the in-car computers in use by the Guelph Police Service operate using mission-specific touch screen-enabled software, allowing access to dispatch and call information, criminal records, location data, and vehicle information—all the data that patrol officers need to do their job safely and effectively.
Outside of their vehicles, Guelph officers could rely on the same data relayed from dispatch to a handheld radio system or a Blackberry handset, bought off the shelf from local providers and stripped of its OS before being loaded up with—you guessed it—software that Green was unable to comment on. “Research in Motion wanted to provide us with handset hardware they’d specialized for law enforcement”, said Green. “We turned it down and went with stock Blackberry phones instead. If the bad guys got to know the difference between the police and regular handsets, it really wouldn’t work out well for our undercover guys.”
We’ll admit it, the frustrating amount of security surrounding police communications technology is well… frustrating. We'd loved to have been able to show you more of what goes on behind the scenes with police communications and dispatch systems. That said, it’s comforting to know that North America’s emergency communication systems is so closely guarded. After all, if it ever turns out that we need the police on what Green would describe as our “worst day”, we’ll want to see our local 911 system running like clock work—mysterious systems and all.
Comments are closed on this article
livebriand
June 03, 2011 at 4:49pm
I wonder how thinkpads compare - they use them in space you know.
Irunongames
June 01, 2011 at 4:02pm
First off, I want to say this provides a great deal of information about PSAP's but I feel like this is a bit one sided to the dispathers point of view. I wish this article had talked more about the technology that the Police officers/EMT's/Firefighters use when reciving a call from dispatch. If you want to learn more about what happens on the responder side I would recomend getting a EMT textbook which will run you around 80$'s or join your local emergency services station as a voulenter.
kevbayer
June 01, 2011 at 3:57pm
Interesting layman's run-down of PSAP technology.
Thanks for posting it!
(I'm a supervisor at an American PSAP.)
