New computer speeds emergency response

Eric Leake

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003 | 8:17 a.m.

In an emergency, seconds may be the difference between life and death. Those are seconds Henderson Police hope to spare with a new computer-aided dispatch system.

The system allows dispatchers to locate units nearest a call and send those units, minimizing response time.

"The way we used to dispatch, everybody had a part of town they drove around in," communications supervisor Tammy Jones said. "Now we're able to dispatch by who's closest and respond quicker.

"By getting there faster we're able to hopefully save lives."

Jones pointed out a series of computer screens at her terminal tracking Henderson's police and fire units. Color-coded fire engine, ambulance, and patrol car icons traveled the screen, continuously updating their positions.

When a call comes in, dispatchers locate it on the computer map -- detailed enough to include everything from Sunset at Galleria mall storefronts to fire hydrants -- and send the nearest unit via computer.

The system is the second part in a $6 million, three-phase plan to technically upgrade the department, Capt. Jutta Chambers said. Federal grants paid half of the costs, Henderson the remainder.

It was an investment Henderson Police decided to make after the failure of two recent bond initiatives to put more police on the street. While the new system does not add any badges, it may make more efficient use of existing ones.

"When those bond initiatives failed, we had to be more creative in the ways we looked to try and solve some of those manpower issues," Officer Shane Lewis said. "This computer system helps."

He said the system improves response time and allows officers to file reports from their cars rather than returning to the station.

"It just basically made us more available, which in essence makes it seem like there's a little more manpower."

Chambers said the upgrade will eventually save the department money.

"We anticipate that with this new technology we will delay the need for new personnel in the communications center," she said. "We expect that we will make up the just over $3 million we spent in a couple years with the time savings."

The first phase, in June, put laptop computers with automatic locators in the cars.

The new dispatching system arrived in September. The fully automated system, completed with recommended dispatches, began trials with the department's small fire fleet last week. Chambers expects it to cross over to police calls by the end of the month.

Dispatchers currently use the system's map and locators to manually match the closest units to calls.

"It's taken us a while to make sure we had the dependability and reliability to dispatch a call," Chambers said.

The third phase, slated for June, will incorporate department files into new databases to help manage police systems. It will allow for improved crime statistics based on the mapping information and integrate the prison records to keep accounts of prisoners and arrestees.

Also, the department's finger and palm print files will be integrated into a searchable archive.

"We believe that when our system goes live, it will be the only one in the country with integrated palm prints," Chambers said.

She did not have exact figures on how much the completed system will cut response time, but Lewis said he already has noticed the difference.

Gone are the three-ring map binders officers once carried in their cars. The dispatcher would radio general coordinates and then leave the officers to look up the address and find their way.

"It was time consuming and you couldn't do it if you were driving. You had to stop and pull over," Lewis said.

The frequent radio use cluttered the airwaves, he added, and new officers could have difficulty finding their way.

Routine dispatches are now transmitted to the patrol car's computer, complete with details and a map. High priority calls are sent over both radio and computer.