What capabilities must communication units provide? What limitation is placed on many agencies in obtaining updated technology for communications?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The most significant issue for police agencies in the 21st century is obtaining current information technology including training and application. Nothing is more important. It is expensive and goes out of date rapidly which is a major limitation. With the advent of cell phones, GPS and computer mapping, except for landlines use by civilians, nothing else counts as much as access to current information technology. Today, 911 calls are mobile with the use of cell phones, however triangulation, an old technology, and new global positioning chips give the location of all cell phones. With the coming global communication revolution, it is just a moment in historical time when even the New Orleans police department will be able to communicate with the outside world and their own police officers during a hurricane. Meanwhile, many police departments are saddled with old communication technology while the bad guys use global satellite phones. The capability needed for police communication is instant communication and instant connection to databases. This chapter is devoted to older means of police communication and the new. Many small and rural police departments have to live with old technology like land lines and radio calls because of budget constraints.