Guilford Police Dept. Increases Efficiency and Safety Using Wireless CDPD Solution from Telepartner International & SNET Mobility

February 12, 1997...Guilford, CT. The Guilford Police Department announced today the successful completion of their wireless data communications pilot using Telepartner International's mobile computing software and SNET Mobility's Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network services. This allows officers to gain vital suspect information and complete paperwork while remaining in the field.

"Today there is a big thrust at the Federal and State levels to increase community policing and to get the officers more involved in hands-on work with the public," said Lt. Jeff Hocking of the Guilford Police Department. "Juggling the necessary administrative workload involved in following up on cases, and writing reports with information retrieved from the host computer, can now be accomplished by officers in the field, close to the community," added Lt. Hocking. "Officers can now be 12 miles from the station getting the same infomation they could previously get only at the station," he continued.

The officers are equipped with laptop computers with Telepartner's software solution and wireless modems. The laptops enable them to access their AS/400 applications and data (Computer Aided Dispatch and Records' Management) in Guilford, the state's mainframe "COLLECT" system (motor vehicle and warrant information), in Hartford, CT, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), in Washington, DC, and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (NLETS), in Phoenix, AZ. Guilford is among the first Police Departments to use CDPD, an innovative new technology that sends data over cellular networks, to wirelessly access such a variety of police applications and remote databases.

In addition to Telepartner's connectivity solution, software developer Diversified Computer Systems (DCS) designed a reporting system that allows the officers to access and file reports from their laptops over the CDPD network. "Because the reports are now being typed directly into a computer and sent wirelessly to the office, they no longer need to be transcribed. This greatly reduces clerical costs and results in fewer errors due to miscommunications or number transpositions that can occur over voice communications between the officer and the dispatcher at the station," stated Lt. Hocking.

"Officers have immediate access to information, such as vehicle infraction history and wanted persons, on their computer screen without having to request it over the air, enhancing security and unclogging the voice dispatch system. It allows the most important calls to get through by eliminating calls for routine background checks. This takes workload off of the officers, the dispatcher, and the clerical staff and has increased our productivity at all points," stated Lt. Hocking.

"This deployment of wireless technology for the Guilford Police Department brings vital, up-to-the-second information directly into the patrol vehicle, enhancing the officer's safety and knowledge of the situation at hand," said Dan Kokoruda, president and CEO of Telepartner International. "As a Connecticut-based company with a worldwide customer base, Telepartner is extremely pleased to be working close to home with both SNET Mobility and the Town of Guilford on this public safety mobile computing application," he added.

Although the Police Department initially signed on for a 60 day trial, they had proof of concept within a week and are now equipping all of their marked cars with the wireless solution. The Police Department funded the purchase of the computers and the software through a Federal Grant Program called "CopsMore", which was set up by the Clinton Administration to increase community policing. In order to qualify for the grant, the Police Department had to show a concrete plan for keeping the officers on the streets and increase their contact with the people through the use of mobile computing. The Federal Grant funded 75% of the project and Guilford funded 25% of the project.

Prior to choosing the solution provided by Telepartner, DCS and SNET Mobility, the Guilford Police Department had considered several other vendors over a three year period. "We found that other vendors could not offer the coverage SNET Mobility could provide," Lt. Hocking commented. "There were hardware and software compatibility problems and some vendors suggested changing our application to a more proprietary solution. We were very pleased that the Telepartner middleware eliminated the need to change our existing police reporting application. We use exactly the same AS/400 screens as before, and therefore little additional training was required," he concluded.

"This is a win/win for the Guilford community and its Police Department," said John Lankes, vice president of SNET's wireless product group. "The community wins because this new technology allows the Guilford Police to deliver better service and protection for its citizens without a major investment in a new network. Police officers win because with instant access to local, state and federal criminal justice records, they are armed with the information to perform their job more effectively and safely," he said.

"The ever growing concerns of our communities make it necessary for more exposure of the police officer," said Mary Rooney, president, Diversified Computer Systems, Inc. "But to do this, data collection and retrieval must take place from the patrol car. Along with the combined product offerings of Telepartner, SNET, and DCS, the Guilford Police Department has made mobile computing part of their daily operation. For this progressive Connecticut town, mobile communications is no longer a thing of the future," stated Rooney.

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