Georgia Law Enforcement Amps up Wireless Connectivity

Today’s police cruisers are more like the Batmobile than a traditional car, with on-board high resolution cameras, radar detectors, radios, handheld scanner devices, and tiny printers all connected wirelessly back to the communications command center.

The vehicles have transformed into integrated mobile communications hubs with direct, reliable, real-time access to all the information a department needs.

The Powder Springs Police Department in Georgia is now doing things that couldn’t be done before. Chief of Police Charlie Sewell says that 4G LTE connectivity and technology gives the department valuable real-time data that helps keep officers safe and citizens in the know.

“We often get calls from citizens wanting to know why one of our cars was at a certain place and time. Now we can check the data and usually tell them why, whether it was picking up a prisoner or going to court. We have the information on hand to know exactly where one of our cars was, how fast it was going and how long it stayed in that location. As importantly, we can educate the citizen, increasing the partnership between law enforcement and the public. Facts and reality can no longer be disputed. Officers realize this technology may even help save their life,” said Chief Sewell.

The technology has also created process improvements for the department. One area that has experienced a change is with traffic violations. “Traffic citations are electronically filed and printed right in the cruiser, video is automatically uploaded and reports can be filed from the field. All of this allows our officers to spend more time focused on citizen safety versus paperwork,” he said.

Sewell feels strongly that the use of wireless technology has resulted in reduced risk for the officers, increased cost control and enhanced performance.