Wednesday, November 11, 2009.
By Geri Wiegele, Staff Writer
One by one Todd County squad cars are being equipped with sophisticated computer systems which make deputies safer and more efficient and response times shorter. And sheriff Pete Mikkelson says the system is “working really well.”
It begins with a computer-aided dispatch center (CAD). Two, 13-inch, side by side screens show the incoming 911 emergency calls, which deputy is available to respond and what incidents are pending.
Out on the road, the deputy sees the same incoming emergency call in real time on a 13-inch wireless laptop. He can begin to respond even before being assigned and be updated on specifics of the incident while enroute to the scene.
CAD eliminates the need for constant, detailed, verbal communication between the dispatcher and the road deputy. By simply touching a key on his screen, the deputy acknowledges the assignment and reports that he has arrived on the scene.
A unique feature of CAD, which addresses officer safety, is an alarm system. If after five minutes at the site of an incident the dispatch center has had no verbal or non-verbal communication with the deputy an alarm automatically goes off. If the deputy does not respond, dispatch will send backup to the scene.
In a worst-case scenario, deputies are equipped with portable radios and can call for assistance when they are not in their squad cars.
By touching another key on his screen the deputy notifies dispatch when he clears the scene.
If a deputy is assigned to multiple calls, they can be “stacked” on his computer. The dispatcher knows which incident he is actively working and which ones are pending.
If the situation involves first responders, the deputy can look at his screen and see if an ambulance is enroute.
The system was designed to be user friendly. The icons on the screen are large and spaced far enough apart that even someone with large fingers is unlikely to hit the wrong key.
Deputy John Decock says "I love it already.” His favorite feature is the ability to run a driver’s license check from the squad car. He said information at his fingertips includes a driving record, outstanding warrants and whether or not the vehicle is stolen. "With no voice communication the dispatch center knows I’m on a traffic stop. I can do everything on site.”
In the future, deputies will have the ability to email reports to other agencies, such as the county attorney’s office, and update records from their vehicles. All the forms they are required to fill out, such as time sheets, tow logs and radio logs, will be digitalized. The squad car will become a virtual office.
The sheriff’s office has one laptop for each of the nine full- time deputies and one that the five part-time deputies share.
Selling the system to the Todd County Sheriff’s Office was vendor Zuercher Technologies of South Dakota’s first foray into the Minnesota market. Mikkelson said they were very receptive to working out glitches and getting the system up and running. He said if any other state law enforcement agencies choose Zuercher many operating issues will have been resolved.
###
About Zuercher Technologies, LLC
Zuercher Technologies, LLC provides best of breed public safety software solutions to agencies across the U.S. under its flagship product, ledsSuite©, encompassing Computer-Aided Dispatch, Mapping, Criminal Investigations, Crime Analysis, Jail, Civil, Financial, Records, Public Administration, and Mobile CAD and Records. Founded in 2003, Zuercher Technologies is based in Sioux Falls, SD. Information about Zuercher Technologies' products and services can be found at www.zuerchertech.com.