By Kate Ward
Northwest Arkansas Times
The Fayetteville Police Department has recommended contract approval for a mobile data system upgrade that would create better mapping capabilities, quicker response times and better communication. The total cost is $232,061.
If the City Council accepts the bid, Mayor Dan Coody will be authorized to issue a purchase order to Smith Communications LLC for IP MobileNet equipment and tower site upgrades totaling $164,361.11. The department also recommended the contracts be approved to New World Systems for the purchase of CAD Mapping and Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) software and support for installation and training in the amount of $67,700. “We decided to go to the next level, and it will be voted on Tuesday,” said Shannon Gabbard, Fayetteville Police Department public information officer.
The Fayetteville Police in 1999 implemented New World Mobile Data software utilizing a radio frequency backbone. This system provides officers the ability to receive incident information from dispatch, perform car-to-car messaging and send messages to dispatch. This software also provides interface to the Arkansas Crime Information Center, allowing officers to perform driver’s license, vehicle registration and stolen property inquiries. Current mobile data software has become obsolete and prevents updates of new features such as AVL, logging office activity, improved screen layout and the capability to pass photos cars.
The Fayetteville Police Department has fully utilized the benefits of the current mobile data system. Technology improvements and software requirements have made it necessary to upgrade the current system. In order to keep mobile software supported and add new features to this system, the police department must purchase this equipment and software. The mobile data system provides essential information to officers responding to calls. They are able to see detailed information about the call before they arrive at the scene. “The new system would allow us to receive mug shots of suspects right from our vehicles,” Gabbard said.
The addition of the vehicle-locating software will improve efficiency of dispatching officers to calls for service. The dispatchers will actually see what unit is closest to the call and the result will be an improvement in response time. “It will give us better communication from units to the station,” Gabbard said. “We will also have better mapping capabilities.”
Two bids have been received for hardware and installation. Smith Communications meets all requirements and is recommended to be awarded the contract. The New World software, which includes upgrades to current mobile software and addition of CAD Mapping and vehicle-locating software, is also included in this project. The city of Fayetteville currently has a bid waiver in effect for the purchase of New World Software. The amount moved from other police projects is $111,325. Federal grant and matching funds provided $12,792, and $35,732 comes from an unreserved fund balance. Funding for this project has been reviewed by the Budget and Research Division. “This package would enhance the backbone of the current system,” Gabbard said.