Data terminals help officers work quicker
By TOM BERRY
Staff Writer
Six Calloway County Sheriff's Department cruisers have been recently equipped with mobile data hardware connecting them to state and federal databases. The installation moves the department another step forward in the 21st century fight against crime.
The mobile data terminal, or MDT, is used to acquire instant, electronic information on driver's licensing, outstanding fines, tickets and other warrants, wanted fugitives, stolen vehicle reports and other crime-related data while also allowing instant communication between similarly-equipped vehicles.
The computer also allows a patrol officer to obtain the information without relying on calling a 911 dispatch operator; thus speeding investigation time and setting an emergency dispatcher free to perform other duties. That's very important during heavy emergency traffic.
Sheriff Bill Marcum says the MDTs will serve as an invaluable tool in law enforcement operations and he hopes to obtain as many as possible for the remainder of the department's vehicles.
“We got them and they are great. They're marvelous,” he told members of the Local Emergency Planning Committee during a meeting at Murray State University Monday.
However he noted later that the department still needs three scanners and six printers which will allow deputies to write and issue tickets much faster than before.
“We can still get the information we need and put it in we just can't print any of it right now,” Marcum said. “We can still run license plates, get our messages and things like that. The rest of that will come later.”
A printer cost about $200 and funding is not yet available to purchase the hardware. The terminals were purchased with part of a $110,000 Homeland Security grant obtained through the Purchase Area Development District. The grant paid for 14 terminals with six of those provided to the Calloway County Sheriffs Department and others to law enforcement agencies in the PADD region.
At least 13 Murray Police Department cruisers have been equipped with MDTs and printers, according to Chief Ken Claud. Murray State Public Safety Department reportedly has about four of the terminals.
County Emergency Management Director Jeff Steen told Marcum, Claud, and other officials representing DES Rescue, Murray Fire Department, Purchase District Health Department, Calloway County Health Center and Murray-Calloway County Hospital during a meeting Monday that funds will be sought to purchase more terminals as well as a new computer program that would benefit search and rescue and fire-fighting units.
Steen said an example of how the new system would work would be allowing Murray Fire Department to have electronic access to structure design and layout maps containing the location of sprinklers, cut-off valves, fuse boxes and other important information that could be used to fight a fire at a building on the MSU campus or elsewhere instantly.
Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to obtain funds to install a Reverse 911 system in Calloway County.
Reverse 911 is designed to allow an emergency dispatcher to notify city and county residents, emergency responders or any group of involved personnel by phone when an impending tornado, thunderstorm, power outage, fire or other threat is present. The system could also be programmed to warn only those affected in a particular area when a threat is spotted nearby without ringing the entire county and areas likely not to be affected.
“That would be a very nice tool and we're trying to get that in this year,” Steen said.
A previous request to state and federal sources for funds to purchase a system was turned down. Steen also noted that there have been some reported problems with Reverse 911 in other Kentucky counties that may have to be worked out before a successful bid to obtain funds is possible.
Story created Jul 25, 2007 - 11:39:34 EDT.
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