A lot has changed over the years in technology and communication tactics. One of the more recent implementations at the Rochester Police Dept. / Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office  has been the implementation of the Ortivus MobiCAD system for public safety. This mobile data application incorporates text messaging, real time automatic vehicle location (AVL) and status updating. The City of Rochester and Olmsted County have equipped over 90 vehicles with the MobiCAD software, which runs on a mobile computer in the vehicles and seamlessly transmits data to and from the 911 Dispatch Center.
In speaking with Mike Sloan, the System Support Coordinator, the MobiCAD system, which was installed over four years ago, has increased the department’s operational efficiency, improved communications and also enhanced officer safety. “Our officers use the MobiCAD system daily and depend on it,” said Mike. In a recent example attesting to the value of office safety, Mike explained that an officer involved in a car chase utilized the MobiCAD information to easily assess the availability of other squads, not only for backup help, but also in deciding on the tactical course of action to take during the pursuit. “In addition to our dispatchers being able to display all the squad cars on a map, the officers in the field are also able to display squad locations on their mobile units.” The MobiCAD software is installed on 45 Olmsted County Sheriff’s squads, over 30 Rochester Police Dept. vehicles and 15 Rochester Fire units. “We can easily identify on our maps the location of the police vehicles (identified by white and black car icons with blue stripes, thereby matching the look of the actual police vehicles), the Sheriff squads (tan car icons), the hazmat vehicles (yellow car icons) and the fire units (red engine/tanker/ladder/rescue icons), including whether they are ladder trucks, pumps trucks, etc. With a quick glance of our maps, we can assess what type of response aids we have available, including their location and status (whether they are available, enroute, or at the scene of an incident or call). In addition, satellite imaging maps have been added which provide detailed ortho information, enabling MobiCAD users to zoom into a specific location on a map and see the exact location and images of houses, driveways, pools, etc. This added level of detail and information about the terrain is very helpful, particularly during conditions when visibility is limited and an officer needs to know his or her surroundings in response to a call; yet another example of how MobiCAD contributes to officer safety.
Concerning efficiency, MobiCAD users can quickly display a location through the site search function by typing in a partial address and as soon as the address is identified, a white flag appears on the MobiCAD map screen, visibly identifying the address location and surrounding areas. From a dispatch center viewpoint, the dispatcher can see real-time status updates to know which units are available and which are closest to an incident (important information for optimal response times), thereby more quickly dispatching the unit that is best suited to respond to the call. The information sent by the dispatch department to the mobile units is updated in all networked vehicle units so that the entire response team, including police, sheriff and fire, can have the same up-to-date information and operate with the same status and location knowledge. Operational efficiency, effective communication and optimal response times are all enhanced through features of the MobiCAD system.
The addition of technology like the MobiCAD mobile data application has helped to improve officer safety, operational efficiencies and response times, making it a wise investment for public safety organizations like the Rochester Police Dept. and the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office.
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