Public Safety

NIBRS Survival Kit: Understanding How NIBRS Will Benefit Agencies at the Local Level

Debra Nussman,
Many resources are available regarding how the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) will have widespread benefits at the national level. However, it can cause law enforcement personnel to wonder how they will keep up with all the…

NIBRS Survival Kit: An In-Depth Look at How NIBRS Differs from UCR

Debra Nussman,
Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) is officially retiring on January 1, 2021. By that date, every law enforcement agency in the country will be required to use its replacement, National Incident Based Reporting Systems (NIBRS). A majority of agencies…

The Most Forgotten Tool in Law Enforcement

Rohit Chhabra
Daily routines among law enforcement are filled with challenges, risks and threats that range from walking into the unknown, undergoing highly stressful situations and the potential of physical harm. Imagine a world where technology has the…

Using Analytics and Data Visualization in the Fight Against a Pandemic

Kristin Meitzler,
Washington State had the first diagnosed case of COVID-19 in the country, and it hit us pretty hard right from the get-go, particularly in the Puget Sound area. Valley Communications 911 provides dispatching services for twenty-four police,…

The Key to Building Strong Community Relations in a Crisis

Sergeant Matthew Botkin,
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unique circumstances most generations have never experienced before. Previously, when law enforcement used the term “shelter in place,” it typically involved an active shooter or ongoing violent situation.…

What Happens If You Call 911 and No One Picks Up…

GovThink,
The hiring and retention of qualified dispatchers across the country has become a serious problem. Many centers are staffed at half the target number of employees, prompting an unfathomable question – what happens if you call 911 and no one…

What Will 2025 Look Like for Public Safety?

Rohit Chhabra,
The need for public safety agencies to quickly become mobile is more pronounced now than it ever has been. Rapid changes in protocols for interacting with the general public as well as an increased emphasis on the health of law enforcement…

How CAD Helps Law Enforcement Optimize Operations in a Crisis

Steve Seoane,
Many public safety agencies frequently experience strains on staffing and operational resources. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, public safety agencies are finding they must tailor their response to fit an entirely…

Who Wins with Better Evidence Management?

Jonathan Mitchell
Evidence management is experiencing a digital revolution that will fundamentally improve the way evidence is captured, stored and shared. The days of law enforcement officers copying digital evidence files onto DVDs, thumb drives or disks and…