Seattle Police Department
Personal Digital Assistant
(PDA) Evaluation
……Safer Places To Live and Work
John Featherstone
VP, Business Development
Voyager Systems, Inc.
July 18th, 2003
Requirement
Seattle PD recognizes the need to get critical
information to the operational decision makers on
scene. The maturity and security of wireless
technology access to information has reached a
level at which it can provide extreme value to
public safety and law enforcement users.
Using secure, wireless technology, authorized officials
can now gain access to any proprietary data source
within seconds of initiating a query. Likewise, any
information may be captured in the field and put into a
database for analysis and retrieval.
Power of information in an
Operational Scenario
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Timothy McVey
Oklahoma City Bombing
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Ted Bundy
Serial Killer
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David Berkowitz
“Son of Sam” Serial Killer
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Lee Boyd Malvo &
VA,DC, MD Snipers
John Allen Muhammad
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Aileen Wuornos
Florida Female Serial Killer
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Kenneth Biachi
Hillside Strangler
All initially apprehended by law enforcement in
traffic-related stops or incidents
PDA Assessment
Pilot Program
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Nine officers participated
Six months continuous use over eighteen
month period
Evaluated all known industry solutions for
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Hardware
Air carrier service
Software application
Detective, motorcycle and bike unit
participation
PDA Assessment
Pilot Program (cont.)
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9,682 Queries
Over 400 Misdemeanor Arrests
55 Felony Arrests
Over 600 DOC contacts
75 suspended vehicles and drivers removed from
the roadways
No confrontations during arrests or officer safety
problems for the evaluating period
Evaluated Hardware
Testimonials
“ We have been using the Voyager for the past two months. This tool has
turned out to be more invaluable than ever imagined. And has been directly
responsible for us making over 30 felony arrests, at least 25 documented
D.O.C. contacts and multiple misdemeanor arrests. The fact that we now
have the ability to verify names, address and personal information that
suspects give us in truth or in a lie has enabled us to deal in a more effective in
our daily duties. Numerous narcotic arrests are directly related to the use of
this tool. Having the ability to run names, get warrant information
immediately has allowed us to contact suspects that in the past would have
been allowed to leave the area before we could check their status….”
“We highly recommend that this tool be issued to all proactive officers…”
Officer Tom Burns
Seattle Police Department
Testimonials
“During the evaluation period I have run hundreds or names on the PDAs. In most
cases I was able to get information back faster than if I ran it over the SPD radio.
This allowed me to complete my stops in a timely, safe and professional manner
without tying up additional resources. The PDAs allowed me to identify people
who provided false information, warrants or court orders in an expedient
manner without tying up additional patrol resources or ID section…..”
“PDAs are the perfect choice, giving us access to all of the information necessary
for officers to do their job in a safe, timely and more professional manner….”
“All the officers I have worked with and been around whole-heatedly endorsed the
PDA program. We feel that it is imperative that we purchase these devices for
officer’s use, officer and public safety and Homeland Defense…….”
Officer Mark Grinstead
Seattle Police Department
Testimonials
“I have heard of several persons asking for information and replies to the
hand held devices we have been using over the past few months. I have no
problems in telling you that they are EXTREMELY VALUABLE and certainly
have assisted us in making numerous arrests over that time period. First,
they make things much quicker for the officers on the streets to run names
and get responses than from data. Second, we are able to have the
information in front of us regarding the the outstanding warrants with case
numbers and warrant numbers. Finally they are much quicker than data
(information network) and make out stops of suspicious persons that much
easier.”
Officer Tad Willoughby
Seattle Police Department,
Testimonials
“I can honestly say that we have made several hundred arrests due solely to
the fact that we had this information so readily available to us through this
system. My partner and I were the only people in our squad with the Voyager
Units, and due to the success of this program, we are regularly contacted by
other officers asking us to run names for them. The Voyager units have also
helped us positively identify numerous people, who without the information
being directly available at hand, would have been let go or unidentified.”
“I can’t speak highly enough about this program. I would jump at the
chance to speak to the decision makers on this program. In my 15 year
career, this is the best tool I have seen for the proactive Police Officer.”
Officer Tom Burns
Seattle Police Department
Testimonials
“ A handheld PDA with the ability to run names for outstanding warrants as
well as to check for the other local charges ( doc detainees, parks exclusions)
would be extremely helpful. At present I run manes via radio and rarely ever
have access to a Mobile Data Computer. At times it has taken radio over 30
minutes to respond back on a name check. As a general rule at the 20 minute
mark we release people if we do not hear back from radio. With this
procedure there have been times that the persons wanted on felony warrants
have been allowed to walk away since the information was not returned in a
timely fashion. With a PDA, I believe that occurrences of
Felony/Misdemeanor suspects waiting out the “time delay” would be
considerably reduced, in not at all together eliminated, as well as
productivity increased.”
Officer David Blackmer
Seattle Police Department,
Testimonials
As proactive team officers, we rarely respond to 911 calls. Together with the Anti-Crime and
Community Police Teams we are the primary emphasis units for Proactive Patrol …On a routine
day, my partner and I contact numerous suspects in suspicious persons. During these contacts
we run their names by radio. This procedure is is a continual frustration to us as well as an
officer safety issue. The reason is time. It is not uncommon for us to wait 20 minutes or more
for a name to come back. On many occasions, a reasonable “investigative detention” period is
stretched to the limit and we are forced to let suspects go. In some instances, a response is
returned with an outstanding warrant after the suspect is long gone. Suspects often become
restless, even aggressive when waiting long periods of time for radio information.
911 communications are stretched to the limit and officers with queries on potentially dangerous
suspects competing for priority during peak hour impound requests, community service calls and
general traffic generated by officers throughout this large department.
I had an opportunity to use a unit with the Voyager Systems application that was being tested.
Responses came within seconds, not minutes and there was no need to tie up valuable radio
airtime. The Voyager units are not only invaluable for making computer inquiries but also a very
useful tool for entering and tracking contacts.
I wholeheartedly support any efforts to make the PDA program a reality within the Seattle Police
Department.”
Officer Don Leslie
Seattle Police Department,
DEA ROI
Business Case
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12-15 Minute Dispatch Response Time Via Radio/Phone
1,350 Special Agents On Duty Any Minute In 24 Hour Period
$50,000 Average Minimal Salary
Response Time in Seconds (Time Saved)
X
Number of Queries in a 30 day Month X 12 Months
X
1,350 Agents
X
$50,000 ( Annual Salary)
…. i.e., and approximate $3.8 million
in time savings
Conclusion
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Secure, wireless information technology
access is critical in today’s world
Rapid, accurate access to data provides a
front line of defense and proactive
prevention method
Equipment with combined, phone, pager,
wireless PDA and walkie-talkie capability
provides common communications platform
for all users
Cost effective, very efficient way to
enhance…… Safer places to live and work