Tallahassee, FL Named a PTI Innovation Lab

August 2, 2007—The City of Tallahassee, Florida has been recognized by Public Technology Institute (PTI) as an Innovation Lab for its efforts to use technology to improve the effectiveness of its public safety agencies.

Washington, DC, August 2, 2007—The City of Tallahassee, Florida has been recognized by Public Technology Institute (PTI) as an Innovation Lab for its efforts to use technology to improve the effectiveness of its public safety agencies.

PTI is a national, non-profit technology research and development organization created by and for cities and counties. The Innovation Lab program – a “mark of excellence” – recognizes a local government for the proven, successful deployment of a technology solution or practice.

Tallahassee was named an Innovation Lab for its Public Safety Systems Integration Project.

Click to read Tallahassee’s Innovation Lab application in full.

The project involved replacing the police and fire computer aided dispatch system (CAD) and records management system, and integrating both new applications with enhanced 9-1-1, automatic vehicle location technologies (AVL), advanced technical mapping, querying tools, imaging technologies, electronic field reporting, crime and fire analysis tools and the City’s 800 MHz data system.

Additional phases have been included since the project’s inception in 2001 to keep current with technology trends, such as wireless data transmission via cellular technologies.

This project was a collaborative effort between the City’s Information Systems Services Division, Police Department, and Fire Department.

“Secure communications and data-sharing among government officials are vital weapons in the public safety arsenal,” according to PTI Executive Director Alan Shark. “I applaud Mayor John Marks, members of the City Commission, City Manager Anita Favors Thompson, CIO Don DeLoach, Police Chief Dennis Jones and Fire Chief Cindy Dick for having the foresight to bring these technology components together to better serve the citizens of Tallahassee.”

As a result of this project:

• Dispatchers can now transmit call information data along with voice communications to police officers and firefighters, meaning public safety personnel have access to accurate and timely intelligence and analysis through the real-time sharing of information.
• Police officers and firefighters can monitor the status of all CAD call activity on their mobile computers in their vehicles.
• Geographic mapping functionality, working with AVL, is used to dispatch the closest vehicle (when appropriate), assist in determining most efficient travel routes, and visually show crime analysis trends for resource management and strategic planning.
• The City of Tallahassee has saved thousands of dollars by eliminating duplicate entries of police reports, and reduced personnel costs by allowing officers to review and submit reports from the field rather than having to take the time to travel to the police station to submit their reports.

By being named an Innovation Lab, the City of Tallahassee received a special logo to place on its website, and will share information on the project and serve as a resource for government officials interested in improving public safety operations.

A report highlighting the project is available from the Tallahassee website or the PTI site at this link. PTI also has published a report on the Corpus Christi Innovation Lab project.

08-10-2007