Pierce County Sheriff's Department

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department serves over 750,000 citizens and consists of 323 sworn officers, 319 corrections officers and 141 civilian employees.  Located 20 miles south of Seattle, Pierce County has 11 fairly dispersed stations.  Deputies are responsible for police duties such as patrol, investigations and traffic enforcement.

Challenges

The Sheriff’s Department was looking for a wireless data solution to streamline the reporting process.  On a daily basis officers wrote paper reports, which had to be entered into a shared database.  This required officers to spend valuable hours driving to a station to relay reports for transport to the Records Center.  At the Records Center, key report information was then manually entered into a shared database by a number of data entry clerks.  If the Sheriff’s Department implemented an electronic system, they estimated they would save over 50 officer years on an annual basis.
 
The Sheriff’s Department also decided to use the same technology to solve another major problem it was experiencing – how to provide officers with real-time access to critical information in the field.  Officers relied on busy dispatchers for information such as license checks, 911 calls, and background checks sometimes waiting for over 20 minutes. 

Solution

In 1998, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department began looking at numerous mobile data products using different technologies.  After initial product trials, the Sheriff’s Department quickly adopted the AirCard® 550 operating over Sprint’s network. 

Officers are now able to write reports in the field and send it electronically to the main server, making the data available immediately to all users in the law enforcement and criminal justice department county-wide.  They are also more productive by transmitting booking information to the jail, prior to a prisoner’s arrival, thereby decreasing the time its takes the patrol officer to book a prisoner.

One of the key benefits of implementing this solution is that officers can search local, state, and federal criminal and emergency database systems right from their vehicles.  Officers are empowered with real-time information, improving officer and public safety and reducing the dispatch bottleneck.  

“By giving our officers a fast and reliable mobile solution, they receive instant access to vital information in the field,” said Bogue. “When confronting a dangerous situation, officers are better equipped and informed to protect the public and themselves.”

The Sierra Wireless AirCard 550 data cards have provided the following benefits:

• Cost savings – Redundant data entry positions eliminated.
• Time savings – Reporting times are slashed allowing officers more time in the field.
• Improved personnel safety – Officers can conduct background checks, gaining insight into potentially dangerous situations.