[Scan-DC] D.C. Mobile Data

[Alan Henney]

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From: Sleiman, Feras (EOM)
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 12:04 PM
Subject: NEWS: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARMS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS WITH
NEW TECHNOLOGY

Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ayanna Smith

October 21, 2008

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARMS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY

Investments in Mobile Technology Enable a 21st Century Public Safety
Arena

Today District of Columbia Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, District Chief
Technology Officer (CTO) Vivek Kundra, Metropolitan Police Department
(MPD) Chief Cathy L. Lanier and Fire Department Chief Dennis Rubin
announced the deployment of 1006 mobile data computers to fire,
emergency medical, and police officers in the field.

“Our public safety officers work hard to keep District residents
 safe,” said Mayor Fenty.  “We’re always pursuing new methods to make
their work more efficient and keep them in the field helping people,
not in the office shuffling paper."

MPD

The deployment represents the latest step in MPD’s ongoing campaign to
incorporate technology into its operation and to improve public
safety.  Law enforcement personnel are now equipped for the first time
with mobile technology that will allow them to automatically generate
electronic reports. This electronic reporting function will greatly
improve the timeliness and accuracy of data.

Recently, MPD deployed 812 units mounted in police cruisers and
assigned to specialized units. With the new laptops, police officers
can perform real-time inquiries on wanted persons, drivers, stolen
property, weapons and vehicles.

In the future, MPD and the District will issue hand-held personal
digital assistants (PDAs) providing the same functions as the mobile
laptops to officers on foot patrol, Segways, bicycles and motorcycles.

“This technology makes us more efficient.  Our officers are able to
spend more time patrolling our neighborhoods and communities,” said
Chief Lanier.

OUC

OUC, which is responsible for 911 and 311 operations, is also
responsible for the District’s radio division. The radio division
provides system maintenance and support for the 9,000 radios across 18
agencies with primary users being MPD and the Fire Department. OUC
will also provide system maintenance and support for the mobile data
computers initiative. “Our goal is to ensure that the first responders
for Fire, EMS and MPD have the latest and most reliable communication
technology so they can respond quickly and safely to those in an
emergency”, said OUC Director, Janice Quintana.

“Our new technology investments give us a common operating view of
public safety in the District,” said CTO Kundra.  “By arming our front
line officers with technology, we’re ensuring that they have the
information they need to protect residents anytime, anywhere.”

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The District has deployed the remaining 194 mobile data computers to
the Fire Department’s trucks and ambulances.  With their new
vehicle-mounted laptops, firefighters and ambulance will receive not
only dispatch orders, but also maps from the District’s GIS system to
direct them to the exact locations identified in 911 calls.  In
addition, the computers in command vehicles utilize GIS technology to
map the location of fire hydrants, along with the most current data
from the Water and Sewer Administration (WASA) about which hydrants
are working.  PDAs, complete with maps, help firefighters and WASA
crews manage the hydrant inspections.

In the future, the Fire Department computers will be equipped with
additional software, including patient care data and floor maps of the
locations of fire emergencies.

“When fire strikes or someone has a heart attack, there’s not a minute
to spare,” said Fire Chief Rubin.  “This technology brings even more
resources to bear for our first responders, who help people every day
in our city.”

To learn more about DC Government technology initiatives, visit
www.octo.dc.gov.

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