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SafetyPublic

Solution GuideFebruary 2008

Contents

Public SafetySolution Guide

3

Mission Critical ...................................................... 3

Public Safety Data Centers .......................................4

Emergency Communications ....................................6

Critical Infrastructure Protection ...............................7

Mobile Infrastructure ..............................................9

In-Vehicle Systems ..................................................10

Critical Info, Faster .........................................12Reliability and safety were main drivers.

Camera-Ready ................................................13Good system, good numbers.

A Better View .................................................14New monitors help dispatchers with

communications across state lines.

What is a CDW•GSolution Guide?At CDW•G, we’re committed to getting you everything you need to make the right purchasing decisions — from products and services to information about the latest technology. Our Solution Guide is designed to provide you with an in-depth look at topics that relate directly to the IT challenges you face. Consider it an extension of your account manager’s knowledge and expertise, to help your organization succeed. We hope you find this guide to be a useful resource.

CaseStudies

February 2008

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To learn more about interoperable communications for public safety, visit the21stcenturycommunity.com

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Introduction

ThetermsandconditionsoftheproductsalesarelimitedtothosecontainedatCDW•G’sWebsiteatCDWG.com.Noticeofobjectiontoandrejectionofanyadditionalordifferenttermsinanyformdeliveredbycustomerisherbygiven.Celeron,CeleronInside,Centrino,CentrinoInside,CentrinoLogo,CoreInside,Intel,IntelLogo,IntelCore,IntelInside,IntelInsideLogo,IntelViiv,IntelvPro,Itanium,ItaniumInside,Pentium,PentiumInside,ViivInside,vProInside,Xeon,andXeonInsidearetrademarksofIntelCorporationintheU.S.andothercountries.AMD,theAMDArrowlogo,AMDOpteron,combinationsthereof,aretrademarksofAdvancedMicroDevices,Inc.

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For more than a century, information technology has played a vital role in public safety operations. Think back to the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, when mem-

bers of the Army Signal Corps scrambled past the flames to string up a stopgap replacement for the city’s ruined telephone and telegraph lines. If not for the Corps’ work, officials could not have organized emergency relief for the city’s 250,000 displaced residents.

In our own time, both major catastrophes and local inci-dents point to the importance of well deployed information technology for public safety. In the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and the Virginia Tech shootings, analysts asked how many lives might have been saved if computer and communications systems had provided better insight or provided improved situational awareness.

Those catastrophes are just the most extreme examples. Local weather emergencies, robberies, fires, gang shootings, disease outbreaks and other threats illustrate the need for wisely deployed information technology in police, fire, emer-gency medical and emergency management departments.

Public safety agencies count on a wide range of technolo-gies to enhance situational awareness, protect personnel and multiply the strength of the force by increasing efficiency. Among these technologies are:

Public Safety Data Centers: technologies used in 911 centers, emergency operations centers, emergency commu-nications centers and tactical operations centers. These facili-ties incorporate many vital technology tools, such as records management systems, computer-aided dispatch systems, resource management applications and emergency scenario modeling systems.

Emergency Communications: digital systems for alerting emergency personnel, elected officials and the general public, when an incident occurs. This category also includes portable or mobile communications systems that agencies deploy in the field during a disaster or emergency.

Critical Infrastructure Protection: video security and sur-veillance systems to protect roadways, power plants, schools and other public infrastructure; and cyber-security systems to safeguard public-safety information systems.

Mobility Infrastructure: wireless networks that provide mobile communications across a campus or a jurisdiction, as well as point-to-point wireless communications that link remote or secondary facilities to centrally located facilities.

In-Vehicle Systems: mobile technologies, including mobile data terminals, video cameras, printers and advanced vehicle location systems that are used in patrol cars, emergency medical units, fire-rescue vehicles and emergency management vehicles.

When deploying technology in any of these areas, the first thing to keep in mind is the components never work in iso-lation. When choosing a mobile computer system, you must also consider its wireless communication pipeline; when imple-menting a records management system, you should consider data storage requirements. An agency that deploys new tech-nology just isn’t selecting and installing systems; it’s creating an integrated information platform.

It’s important to choose technology that meets the current needs of your agency and jurisdiction. In addition, though, you should build a technology environment that makes it easy to collaborate with local, state and federal public-safety partners. And to future-proof your technology, designing a system that will continue to offer support when new tools and upgrades are added is important, too.

One way to achieve these goals is to find a technology adviser with broad and deep understanding of technologies that support public safety applications. Interview several sys-tems integrators to find one that:· works with many public safety agencies and shares the best

practices developed in those projects;· works with technology solutions from multiple manufactur-

ers, understands the strengths and weaknesses of each, and recommends the best mix of technologies for your needs;

· explains the pros and cons of different approaches to solv-ing your challenges; and

· points you to experts who can help you discover new funding sources to support your implementation.Technology is not a panacea, of course, but a strong infor-

mation technology environment plays a vital role in multiplying an agency’s strength, protecting its personnel and creating better outcomes for the public. <

IntRoduCtIon

CriticalA practical guide to advancing public safety through the use of technology solutions.

Introduction

Mission

Public safety agencies face many challenges when design-ing their data centers. Two of them are determining how to manage the ever-growing volume of data it takes to run the operation, and how to provide for uninterrupted data access when a disaster shuts the main facility down.

A Flood of InformationA public safety enterprise manages day-to-day information

generated locally, plus intelligence obtained from external sources. Information about daily operations — calls to 911 centers, reports on traffic stops and accidents, and fire inspection reports — con-stantly adds new volume to agency databases. At the same time, the agency continually pulls in information from outside organi-zations, such as state motor vehicles departments, the National Crime Information Center and state corrections departments.

Adding to that data volume is the wealth of graphical infor-mation that public safety agencies use today to support their activities. From fingerprints and mug shots to street maps, sur-veillance video and building diagrams, these resources demand much more network and storage capacity than text-based databases and document files.

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Public Safety Data Centers

A special challenge stems from laws that govern the retention of public records. An agency might need to save data for five to 10 years, or more, with different rules applying to different types of records. While storing this data, the agency must protect it from tampering, keep private information confidential, make public information available to interested citizens and provide an efficient way to access data when it’s needed.

And of course, all of these obligations must be cost-effective.

Separate Data Centers, or One?One decision governments face is whether to build a sepa-

rate data management system for each public safety agency, or create a shared resource for law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency medical services and emergency management. Often, when a public safety agency builds its own data center, it uses only a portion of the system’s capacity. A central public safety data environment may provide a much better return on investment.

However, public safety executives often are leery of shar-ing facilities, even with other agencies in the same jurisdic-tion. They worry about losing control of their data in a shared system, or going without the resources they need to support critical functions.

Shared storage area networks and virtual servers are the solution to many of these concerns. Applying security techniques, such as logical unit number masking, a network administrator can keep each agency’s stored data distinct and unavailable to others. Deploying virtualization software, the administrator can use a single physical server to create a separate, secure server environment for each public safety agency.

Continuity of OperationsVirtual servers and shared storage with strong security also

help agencies prepare to continue operations in an emergency. With virtualization technologies, an agency can replicate its data environment at a second facility, such as a data center operated by a mutual aid partner in another city. Should a hurricane, explosion or other disaster cripple the primary data center, the agency can get its systems up and running at the backup location without missing a beat.

Another strategy for business continuity is to deploy a tem-porary mobile data center. One solution packs into a suitcase a � MB satellite uplink for connection to the Internet and a wireless access point with a range of about one mile. With this package, an agency can quickly establish voice, data and video communications from anywhere.

Developing a data center solution for use in emergencies requires careful planning. Information technology profession-als should sit down with dispatchers and first responders to discuss how they do their jobs and how they might replicate those functions from a remote emergency facility.

It’s also important to take stock of all the data an agency owns and determine its asset value. This complex calculation is the sum of what it costs to generate the data and store it over time, the total cost to restore the data if it is lost, and the risks the agency would incur if data becomes unavailable. Asset value helps the agency justify the cost of a solution to ensure continuity of operations. <

CDWG.com/stateandlocal | 5

Public Safety Data Centers

CdW•G can help you implement the solution that’s right for your agency.CDW•G has developed a simple, yet comprehensive approach to data storage management solutions that has proven successful for organizations of all kinds.

Step 1: Engage Your Account ManagerYour CDW•G account manager and their storage special-ists will work with you to assess your current environment and future needs.

Step 2: Assessment and design We begin by taking an environmental profile, which includes what storage devices and protocols you uti-lize in-house, what your storage and disaster recovery needs are, and the results of your storage profile assess-ment. Based on your profile and assessment, CDW•G will provide a best-in-class solution for your needs.

Step 3: Implement and ManageCDW•G will work with you to design detailed con-figurations for your future environment, drawing from best-in-class solutions from our enormous in-stock inventory. We work with multiple service providers to deliver a solution that fits seamlessly into your IT environment. CDW•G also offers complete software configuration and installation.

CDW•G’s commitment continues long after your purchase. Certified technicians offer 2�/7 telephone support for ongoing management needs.

Beyond the communications methods a public safety agency uses every day, two others offer benefits in an emer-gency. These are alert notification systems and deployable communication systems.

Alert Notification SystemsAlert notification systems quickly get the word out about

dangerous situations, allowing emergency plans to go for-ward without delay. These systems play an important role, for example, when a tornado hits the ground, a derailed train leaks a flammable gas or a dangerous criminal is on the run.

Most often, governments use notification systems to contact first responders. They may also use them to alert elected officials, news media and citizens who have registered for this service.

In general, an alert notification system automatically broadcasts messages to a variety of devices, including land-line phones and cell phones, e-mail and PDAs. Software can be programmed to send different messages to public safety officers, government officials, citizens and other groups.

The most effective notification systems transmit via both text and voice to make sure the messages reach as many peo-ple as possible. They also use more than one communication pipeline — such as cellular or satellite along with landline. While an agency’s T1 line might carry this traffic most of the time, a major catastrophe could knock it out of service.

It’s also wise to build a notification system that’s easy to use routinely. Emergencies come in all sizes. Staff members who use a system to transmit alerts on smaller hazards, such as washed-out roads, will be experts by the time they need to get out the word on a major disaster. Frequent use also offers a faster return on investment.

To make implementation affordable, jurisdictions can col-laborate to build a regional notification system. Make the

system flexible enough to target messages by geographic region as well as by the recipient’s line of business and other criteria. To provide the necessary data, link the alert system to a geographic information system (GIS).

If citizens can register to receive alerts through the sys-tem, be sure to provide the budget and resources needed to advertise the service. The best notification system in the world is useless if no one signs up to receive the messages.

Deployable Communications SystemsWhen a disaster knocks out regular communications chan-

nels, or when an emergency strikes a remote location with no communications infrastructure of its own, responders can quickly set up a system that provides interoperable voice, data and video communications for personnel from several jurisdic-tions and disciplines. There are three main varieties:· Strike team solution set: This highly portable solution, which

may be packed in a briefcase, is designed to support a lim-ited number of responders charged with a single task, such as urban search and rescue or damage assessment. It uses satellite, cellular and terrestrial backhaul services to pro-vide voice, data and video communications with distant decision-makers.

· Unified command solution: Delivered by SUV or trailer, this supports Unified Command Structure and an entire Critical Incident Site. It is capable of creating the infrastructure for voice, data and video communications supporting hundreds of responders.

· Mobile command center: Built into a recreational vehicle or deployable tent, this solution is similar to the unified com-mand solution, but with enhanced ergonomics and four walls for security.Agencies should take an all-hazards approach to designing

and implementing any of these solutions, anticipating prob-lems such as difficult terrain, extreme conditions and scarce local power sources. To meet any emergency, you should include as many backhaul technologies as possible, including satellite, cellular and terrestrial. It’s also a good idea to move as many computing functions as possible into the field; trying to pump too much data over the backhaul will cause communica-tions traffic jams.

Agencies should practice using these systems often and take them into the environments where they’re most likely to be used. Also, test the technology in all kinds of weather; satellite systems provide different levels of performance in different conditions.

Finally, don’t feel you need to build a deployable communi-cations system in-house. The market offers plenty of excellent off-the-shelf solutions. If you choose a well tested solution and modify it to meet your needs, you won’t need to rely entirely on your own organization for support, and you can look to the vendor’s research and development pipeline for future enhancements.<

Emergency Communications

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Public safety agencies need to safeguard two kinds of critical infrastructure: physical properties — such as roads, bridges and tunnels, buildings and power plants, seaports and airports — and information systems.

Physical PropertiesFor protecting physical infrastructure, video surveillance is a

key technology. Digital video cameras are dropping in price, and they offer many advantages over analog systems:· Digital cameras rely on the same network and storage tech-

nologies as computers, VoIP phones and other informa-tion systems, allowing you to leverage your investment in existing IT infrastructure.

· Digital cameras are IP-addressable, allowing authorized users to view their images from anywhere via the Internet.

· Digital cameras are easy to control and manage from a computer console. What kinds of cameras and housings an agency requires

depends on the location and application. Here are some questions to consider: · How bright or dim is the light at the location? · How wide an area does the camera need to cover?

CDWG.com/stateandlocal | 7

Fortify your defense:the tools you need to stay connected and protected.

Call your CDW•G account manager for pricing.

AXIS 212 PTZ Network CameraFull overview and instant zoom — no moving parts• PTZ with no moving parts — no wear and tear• Simultaneous Motion JPEG and MPEG-4 for optimized quality and bandwidth• PoE for reduced cabling and consolidated power• Two-way audio, including built-in microphone and detection alarm

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Mirasys N Series Advanced IP video surveillance softwareThe Mirasys N Series provides flexible solutions for both small and complicated security and surveillance needs. The software supports all leading IP cameras and video servers, and support for megapixel cameras guarantees an image quality that is better than ever before.

• Up to 100 recorders and 5000 channels can be connected as a system (50 IP video channels per recorder)

• Recording of video from 50 channels, audio from 16 channels, and text data from 32 channels per recorder

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Critical Infrastructure Protection

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· Is it indoors or outdoors? · Will someone monitor the video in real time, or do you need

to record images for retrieval? · Do you require high-resolution images that you can use as

evidence in court? · Do you need to record continuously, or only when some-

thing trips a motion sensor? · How long are you required to store the video?

The answers will vary with location. Agencies generally mix and match equipment for different needs.

The first step in a video surveillance implementation is to analyze the whole infrastructure; identify the spots that need protection and setting priorities. Once you’ve designed a sys-tem to serve the entire property, address the highest priorities and phase in more equipment as funding allows.

A technology adviser who has worked with video equip-ment from many manufacturers and understands a broad range of disciplines — such as camera placement and man-agement, networking, wireless communications, servers and storage — can help an agency implement a turnkey solution tailored to protect any physical property.

Information TechnologyCyber-security technologies come in two varieties: those that

protect networks and those that protect client systems, includ-ing desktop and notebook computers and PDAs. Security suites provide software to guard against viruses and other malicious code, bar the door to hackers and block spyware and spam.

On the network side, many vendors offer unified threat management appliances that plug in behind the WAN connec-tion. A major component of such an appliance is an intrusion prevention system (IPS) — an intelligent firewall that recognizes anomalous activity, which indicates an intrusion attempt. Un-like older systems, an IPS can block intrusion attempts before a hacker discovers a usable password or a piece of malicious code gets into the system.

Encryption is another important element in the security tool-kit. For 802.11 wireless communications, many organizations rely on the 802.11i framework, which combines Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) technology with an authentication key that changes each time the user logs on.

Public safety agencies understand the need to secure data as it moves across a wireless network. They also should consid-er what happens to data at the mobile end of this connection. In an information system, the weakest link is the client device that might be lost or stolen. Investing in encryption software for local hard drives ensures that sensitive data won’t fall into the wrong hands.

A judicious cyber-security strategy starts with a top-to- bottom assessment of the entire infrastructure. Start by looking for weak points in the wide area network, and then examine each of the other components — routers, firewalls, switches,

CdW•G can help you secure your mobile devices. CDW•G has developed a simple, yet comprehensive approach to remote access security solutions that has proven successful for organizations of all kinds.

Step 1: Engage Your Account ManagerYour CDW•G account manager and their security spe-cialists will work with you to assess your current environ-ment and future needs.

Step 2: Assessment and designWe begin by taking an environmental profile of your network, including types of users, applications and end-points. Using this data, we will help you determine a plan of action based upon proven best practices. Your CDW•G team will then use our security calculator to generate customized return on investment and total cost of ownership analyses to help you present a compelling business case and recommend initiatives to facilitate more meaningful internal budget discussions.

Step 3: Implement and ManageWorking together, CDW•G will design detailed configu-rations for your future environment, drawing from best- in-class solutions from our enormous in-stock inventory. We work with multiple service providers to deliver a solution that fits seamlessly into your IT environment. CDW•G also offers complete software configuration and installation.

CDW•G ‘s commitment continues long after your purchase. Certified technicians offer 2�/7 telephone support for ongoing management needs.

servers and client devices. Neglect nothing. If you implement a top-rate firewall but let employees connect unsecured laptops to the network, you’re still vulnerable to attack.

An agency can take this top-to-bottom approach even with limited funds. It’s not necessary to implement the latest and greatest security technology across the entire infrastructure. Be sure to secure every point, on both the network and the client side, with the best technology your budget allows. <

Critical Infrastructure Protection

CDWG.com/stateandlocal | 9

With so many critical needs at stake, mobile communica-tions for public safety often demand a complex solution. So does creating a wireless network to tie remote facilities into the enterprise network. In both cases, an agency might require a mix of wireless technologies. Officials might decide to col-laborate with other government departments, and even with the private sector. And these days, they’ll probably also want to cooperate with regional partners.

A point-to-point wireless solution provides line-of-sight com-munications among fixed facilities. You might use the solution, for example, to connect firehouses and police substations at the edges of a city with a data center downtown. Microwave antennas provide the nearly ubiquitous coverage it takes to link many outlying facilities to an enterprise network. But they can’t support heavy traffic, especially when an agency wants to install mobile hotspots at the remote locations.

One solution is to deploy a microwave network. Where you need more bandwidth, fill in the gaps with a Wi-Fi® mesh. Fixed users will rely on the microwave for point-to-point com-munications. Mobile devices traveling around the region also will use this broad coverage when they can. When they need more bandwidth, software will switch them automatically to the mesh network.

For campuswide or municipal mobile communications, how-ever, many agencies use a mix of cellular and Wi-Fi technologies, or they rely on Wi-Fi entirely. There are two ways to build a municipal Wi-Fi network, each with its advantages and drawbacks.

One is to install and manage your own infrastructure. This gives you complete control of the network’s design and usage. But you’ll have to fund the implementation and ongoing maintenance, and you’ll need the expertise to man-age the system.

The second option is to partner with a private operator. They lease part of the bandwidth back to your agency and use the rest to operate a commercial wireless service. This strategy reduces your agency’s costs and financial risks. But you’ll need to negotiate a contract that guarantees the service quality and system priority a public safety agency requires, and that also protects you if the operator goes out of business.

A city or county can build a municipal wireless network strictly for its public safety agencies, or to serve a wider range of users. The more departments use the network, the faster the return on investment. To make sure first responders get the through-put they need, a government can use access points with dual radios, dedicating specific channels to public safety.

A government often will start with a small wireless network for an application that offers a quick return on investment — projects such as the landline connections to traffic signals or to access surveillance cameras in parks. Once the government can point to a demonstrable success, it has an easier time securing funds to expand the network. Partnering with local businesses, such as banks that want to let police on the streets view video from their security cameras, also can help you gain financial and political support.

The notion of starting small points to the importance of scalability. A small-scale network should be easy to expand across a campus, city or county. The network also should be easy to upgrade without ripping out existing equipment as newer technologies, such as WiMAX, come along. Reputable wireless vendors have designed their hardware and software to offer a seamless migration path to the next generation of technologies.

Whatever implementation strategy you choose, securing funds can be difficult: Federal grants for these kinds of proj-ects are growing scarce. An initiative to develop regional interoperability is more likely to win support, so be sure to seek opportunities to collaborate with your neighbors. If you’re part of a smaller city or county, it’s a good idea to form an alliance with a larger player, which is more likely to attract grant dollars.

In any collaboration, however, protect your enterprise with a contract that clearly defines the role that each partner will play and the services it expects from the shared infrastructure. <

Mobile Infrastructure

CdW•G can help you plan and design a solution that is customized to your needs. Getting started is easy. Your account manager will engage a technology specialist who will work with you to assess your agency’s needs and identify any risks or potential problems. Your CDW•G team will then recommend, design and build a solution tailored to your needs and within your IT budget.

A few years ago, public safety agencies started to put infor-mation technology in their vehicles to support silent dispatching and a few other basic applications. Today, more powerful mobile computers, peripherals and wireless networks have triggered an explosion in mobile data capabilities. Agencies are turning police cruisers, fire engines and ambulances into personal command-and-control centers and situational awareness tools.

As agencies build these resources, however, too many of them neglect the complexities inherent in mobile computing. It’s no longer enough to choose the right mobile computer, GPS receiver or digital video camera. Certainly fast proces-sors, high-resolution screen displays and rugged housings are important. But no matter how much money you invest in these features, the devices in a vehicle will do their jobs only if you engineer a system to link them correctly to the outside world. The care you put into your system architecture is more impor-tant than the time you spend choosing the components.

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Getting it right:rugged mobile solutions tough enough to keep up with you.

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GoBook® VR-2The GoBook VR-2 features patent-pending DynaVue™

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CDWG 530686Docking stations sold separately; call your CDW•G account manager for more information

In-Vehicle Systems

CDWG.com/stateandlocal | 11

Where to Start First, interview systems integrators, looking for a team with

the knowledge and experience to help you build a rich mobile information environment. Once you’ve chosen an adviser, sit down together to map out the technologies you want in a vehicle and discuss how they will operate together.

Besides tapping your systems integrator for ideas, you might seek insight from your counterparts at other public safety agencies. Maybe some of them have posted case studies and white papers on the Internet. You might also want to arrange site visits.

Remember to include someone from your financial services organization early in the process. Work with your integrator and manufacturers to educate your agency’s decision-makers about the best way to deploy mobile data in your organization. To help secure buy-in from all stakeholders, make sure your mobile data team includes members who represent your first responders and your fleet service organization.

Test the Concept Once you’ve designed the system, make sure it really

delivers the performance you expect. Create a pilot: Put all the new systems you want in a single concept vehicle, test your architecture thoroughly and modify it as needed. This strat-egy works better than rolling out products in waves to your entire fleet. For example, don’t give all your personnel note-book computers today, link them to a municipal Wi-Fi network next year, and then six months later, choose video cameras and bar-code scanners. You may find that your original system design doesn’t support the newer equipment.

Choose components that will do the job you need in your particular environment. Does the mobile computer offer fea-tures such as backlit keyboards, touchscreen technology and screens you can read easily in daylight? Does it offer built-in GPS and cellular data service, or the number of USB and serial ports you need? Is it really as rugged as the manufac-turer claims? How is it rated for resistance to dust, grime and liquids?

See the Big PictureDon’t forget to evaluate the mounting and docking options;

make sure they’re durable and safe and won’t dislodge during airbag deployment. Don’t automatically take the recommen-dation of the vendor who supplies your in-vehicle computers. Evaluate several mounting and docking options on your own.

When installing video cameras in police vehicles, be sure they include features to protect the chain of custody. Some systems start recording automatically when a certain event oc-curs: when the light bar and siren go on, or an officer takes a weapon from the gun rack. The officer can’t stop the record-ing, and the data offloads automatically to a back-end system, never giving anyone the opportunity to remove or change it.

By treating your in-vehicle technology as an integrated sys-tem, and designing it to work both now and in the future, you’ll avoid inconvenient surprises. You also will create an information environment that supports first responders in all their mission-critical functions. <

In-Vehicle Systems

CdW•G delivers the Right Configurations, Right to Your door Free up your IT resources — rely on CDW•G to make sure your new technology is ready to go when it arrives at your door. Ask your account manager how CDW•G’s Configuration Services can make life easier for you.

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ST. JOhNS COUNTy,FLA., is home to42miles ofbeaches, plus thousands of avid golfers and tennisenthusiasts. While residents and visitors are havingfun, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is on the

job24/7.BasedinSt.Augustine,theSheriff’sOfficealwaysisstrivingtobringbetterservicestocitizens.That’soneofthereasonsit’saddingnewlaptops,mountinggear,printersandotherequipmenttoitspatrolcars.

Theofficeisbuyingnewlaptopsandmountsfortwomainreasons: reliabilityandofficer safety.“Our failure ratewiththe off-the-shelf laptops was atrocious,” said Jake Parham,informationtechnologymanagerattheSheriff’sOffice.“Wewere constantly replacing computers, hard drives, hinges—all kindsof things.”Becauseof that, the Sheriff’sOfficeswitchedbacktoruggedlaptops.Earlier,ithadusedruggedlaptops, thenit triedoff-the-shelf laptopsbeforegoingbacktotheruggedmodels.WithnewruggedPanasonicCF-19sinplace,failureratesaremuchlower.

The new LEDCO mounts provide a safer environmentfor the deputies. The previous mount placed the laptop inthe airbag zone,whichwas a great risk to thedriver if thepassenger airbag were to deploy against the laptop. Thosemountsalsotookuptoomuchroominthepassengerseat.

TheSheriff’sOfficeworkedwithCDW•Gtofindthebestlaptopsandmountsaswellasmobileprinters,GPSantennasand magnetic card readers, which are used to read driver’slicensedata.Theofficeisinstallingthenewequipmentin200vehiclesoverthenextthreeyears.

Valuable Tools for OfficersThenewequipmentmakes iteasier for theofficers todo

theirjobsonadailybasis.“We’reabletodoourfieldreportingelectronically, so thedeputies cando their report in the carandtransmititbackintotheoffice,”saidParham.“Supervi-sorscanthenreviewandapprovethemwithouthavingtorunaround and chase reports.” With less time spent on paper-work,deputieshavemoretimetoanswercallsforservice.

TheSheriff’sOfficeroad-testedtwopatrolcars with the newequipmentfor30days, then expanded the implementation to more cars. The testswereasuccess,andtheequipmentcontinuestoperformwellsince the wider deployment. In addition to reliability andbettersafety,therearenumerousotherbenefits.

ThenewGPSantennasaidthetransmissionofcriticaldata.“Thedeputiescansee theircalls forserviceontheir screen,along with where the other deputies are in relationship tothem,” said Parham. The cars’ whereabouts are also easilytrackedinthe911callcenter.“Allthecarsshowuponthemaps in the communications center, so they can see whereeverybodyisinthecounty,”saidParham.

Better Info, Better DecisionsThenewmobiletechnologyalsokeepstheofficersinformed.

Forexample,criticalinformationaboutacertainaddresscanbehelpfultoanofficerbeforeheorshearrivesthereonacall.Withbetterinfo,receivedmorequicklythaninthepast,offi-cerscanmakebetterdecisionsinthefield.

The printers allow officers to print traffic tickets. hand-writingiseliminatedfromtheprocess,andinformationgetsintothecourtsystemmorequickly.ResultshavebeensogoodfortheSheriff’sOffice,it’salsoputtingthemobileequipmentin its incident commandvehicles,motorcycles, and perhapseventually,itsboats.

Parhamsaiditwaseasytoworkwiththeequipmentvendors.“CDW•Ggotusintouchwiththepeopleattheothercompa-niestogetthingsrolling,”hesaid.“It’sbeengreat.CDW•Ghasalwaysbeentheretoanswerquestionsandhelpoutifneeded.”

AttheSt.JohnsCountySheriff’sOffice,thenewequipmenthasbeenawelcomeadditionfortheofficers.“Themajorityreally like it,and it’sworkingwell for them,”saidParham.“you’llneverplease100percentofthepeopleallthetime,butwe’vecomeclose.”<

Case StudyCase Study

FasterCriticalInfo,

Reliability and safety were main drivers.

All the cars show up on the maps in the communications

center, so they can see where everybody

is in the county.— Jake Parham, information

technology manager, St. Johns County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office

“

”

CDWG.com/stateandlocal | 1�

WhENPARkER,COLO.,unveiledanewsportscomplex for theuseof its residents, itdid sowiththeconfidencethatthefacilitywasbeingwatched — watched by 24 motion-activated

cameras,thatis.Thecamerasarepartofthestate-of-the-artvideosecuritysysteminstalledatthefacility.

TheParkerFieldhouseopenedinJune2007.It’sawelcomeadditiontoParker,agrowingcommunityofmorethan40,000locatednearDenver.Thefieldhousecoversjustover100,000squarefeet.Itincludesbasketballandvolleyballcourts,in-linehockeyrink,artificial-turffield,spectatorseating,indoorrock-climbing tower, running track, batting cages, multipurposeroomsandaplayground.Usagehasbeenhigh.Localresidentshavebeenenthusiasticeversincethefieldhouseopened.

WorkingwithCDW•G,thetownofParkerselectedequip-mentfromAxisCommunicationsforvideosurveillanceatthefieldhouse.Thesystemtakesanalogvideofeeds,digitizingtheimagesintoreal-timeIPvideostreams.Itprovidescoverageonthefacility’sentrypoints,corridorsandparkinglots.

Thesystemallowstwostaffersat thefrontdesktomonitoreventsthroughoutthegrounds.Thetownalsooptedforremotemonitoring,sopoliceofficersandrecreationdepartmentemployeescanmonitorthesystemfromanywhereviatheInternet.

Quick and ComprehensiveWhenitcametochoosingtheequipment,thetighttimeframe

dictatedbytheconstructionschedulewasabigfactor.“Wehadaveryshorttimelinetogetequipmentin,andgetitupandavailableinthefacility,”saidTerryDenison,systemsanalystofParker.

Denison was impressed with the wide range of productsofferedbyAxis.“Theyhadtheproductsthatweknewwouldsatisfywhatweneededfortheparticularusewehad,”hesaid.“Theycouldprovideusbasicallyeverything,fromthecamerastothesoftware,tothehelpsettingeverythingup.”

Duringtheplanningphase,Denisonworkedwiththepolicedepartment,therecreationdepartmentandthetown’sprojectengineer. Denison was engaged in the project soon after itbegan.“ITwasinvolvedfromanearlystageintheproject,andI thinkwith good reasonbecause even though it’s kindof ateamsportsvenueanditdoesn’tsoundlikeitwouldneedalotoftechnology,thereisalotoftechnologyinthatbuilding,”saidDenison.“There’salotmorestuffgoingonundertheskinthanpeoplerealize.”

The police depart-ment was involvedduringthedesignandconstruction phases.Denisonsaidthepolice

wereveryhelpful, since theyhavemoreexperiencewithvideosecurity and know what they want to see. Prior to the videosurveillancesystemforthefieldhouse,thepolicedepartmenthadtheonlylargevideosecuritysystemintown.

Number-Crunching SuccessDenison said the system was very cost-effective. In fact,

the town’s recreation director was surprisingly happy withthenumbers.Thetownisequallysatisfiedwiththesystem’sfunctionality.“Thisisnotareallycomplicatedsystembyanystretchoftheimagination,butit’sverycomprehensiveforthefacilityit’sin,anditdefinitelygetsthejobdoneforwhattheyneed,”saidDenison.

Thepolicedepartmentalsogivesthesystemhighmarkssinceits installation.“Responsehasbeenverypositive fromthem.Theyreallylikethewayeverythingissetup,”Denisonsaid.Infact,thepolicedepartmentisconsideringusingthesamesystemforitsnewfacility,whichiscurrentlyattheplanningstage.

Theproject’ssuccessmayleadtootherventures.Thetownisconsideringaddingvideosystemstoitsrecreationcenter,outdoorpoolfacilityandtownhall.“Consideringmostofthetechnologyprojectswedo,thisonewasdefinitelyintheupperechelonasfarasbeingverytrouble-freeandeasytoinstall,”saidDenison.

According to Denison, part of the credit should go toCDW•G. “It’s a very painless process,” Denison said. “It’sveryeasytogethelpfromthem.It’sveryeasytogetquestionsanswered.Wereallythinkofthemmoreasapartnerthanavendor,justbecausetheydotendtoridetoourrescueeveryonceinawhileforthingswhenweneedsomethingquicklyorweneedsomethingthatwedon’thavealotofexperiencewith.IknowIcanalwaysgetastraightanswerfromthem.”<

Camera-Ready

Good system, good numbers. Considering most of the technology

projects we do, this one was definitely in the upper echelon as far as being very

trouble-free, and being very easy to install.

— Terry Denison, systems analyst, Parker, Colo.

“

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Case Study

1� | 888.970.4239

Any emergency operations center can be busy, butfewcoverasmany jurisdictionsas theRedRiverRegionalDispatchCenter(RRRDC)inFargo,N.D.The center handles calls across county and state

lines, covering parts of North Dakota and into Minnesota.It manages emergency calls for six police departments, twosheriffs’departments,twocityfiredepartments,27ruralfiredepartments, six rural emergencymedical servicesprovidersandacommunity-orientedambulanceservice.

The RRRDC serves nearly 175,000 residents. The 28dispatcherstakecallsforanareacoveringmorethan2,800squaremiles.Therearenormallysixdispatchersondutyatatime,andtheyneedtohavevisualinformationalwaysavailable.

Whenitwastimetogetnewvideomonitorsrecently,thecenterwenttoCDW•Gforhelpinchoosingthebestsolution.CDW•Gaidedthecenter ingetting42newNECmonitors,which were installed in October 2007. That includes bothstandardLCDandcustomizedtouchscreenmodels.

“Wewerechangingbecausetheoldmonitorshadcometoalifecycleend,”saidReneeLura,desktopandbusinessservicesmanagerofFargo.“Theyrun24hours,sevendaysaweek,365daysayear.Soattheendoffouryears,theywerestartingtoburnout.”

Thenewmonitorshavebeenahitwithdispatchers.At 19 inches, they’re two inches larger than thepreviousmonitors,yettheytakeupnearlythesamespace thanks to the streamlined design and thinnerborder.There is alsonowbetterflexibilitywith themountingsforthemonitors.Dispatchershavemoreoptionsfortiltingthemonitorsandpositioningthemaccordingtotheirpreferences.

Vital Information — AlwaysBy replacingall themonitors atonce, the center

gets everythingon the same life cycle.And theNECmoni-torshavetheneededinteroperabilitytoworkwiththecenter’sexistinginfrastructure.

Eachdispatcherhasadisplayofsixmonitorsinfrontofhimorher.Themonitorsusedforradioand911aretouchscreen.Theotherfourmonitorsshowcomputer-aideddispatchandGPSinformation,inadditiontootherapplications.Withsixmonitorsthatarealwayson,dispatcherscanhaveeverythingopenatonce.

The dispatchers have had six-monitor consoles since thecenter opened in 2003. Although the layout, number andfunctionalityofthemonitorsremainthesame,Lurasaysthisisstillanupgradesincethemonitorsarelargerandeasiertoposition. The new monitors give dispatchers vital informa-tion, allowing them to better serve the public. That’s espe-ciallyappreciatedattheRRRDC,whichservesmorethanthetypicalnumberofjurisdictions.

Lurasaidworkingtogetheracrossbordershasbeenapositiveexperience.“I’msurethere’smorecomplexityfordispatchersbecause they’ve got multiple counties, cities and additionalmaps,butwhatit’sofferedbacktothecommunitieshasbeenjustamazing,”shesaid.“Ithasaidedinmakingservicetothecounties,communities,citiesandstatesmoreeffective.”

Bringingthemonitorstothecentertookmonthsofresearchandplanning.LurasaidworkingwiththepeopleatCDW•Gmadeher job easier. “They respondedquickly andanswered

allmyquestions,”shesaid.Lurahadworkedwiththecompanyinthepast,andsheknewthepeoplethere could help. “They cameback with different options andother suggestions and so forth,”she said. “That really helped,savingtimesowedidnothavetodoalltheresearchourselves.”<

ABetterView

New monitors help dispatchers with communications across state lines.

Case Study

[CDW•G] came back with different options and other suggestions

and so forth. That really helped, saving time so we did not have to do all the

research ourselves.— Renee Lura, desktop and business services manager, Fargo, N.D.

“

”

Copyright© 2008 - Berbee Information Networks Corporation

Proven Partner for It SolutIonSSm

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To learn more about the InformaCast IP Broadcasting Solution and other related products, contact your dedicated CDW•G account manager today.

888.970.4239 | CDWberbee.com

InformaCast-compliant IP Speakers, manufactured by Atlas Sound• Power over Ethernet (PoE) loudspeakers

that require only an Ethernet connection to connect to existing data networks

Zone Controllers, available from Atlas Sound• Connects the network to an amplifier

– from there, a user can daisy-chain analog speakers using the existing system on the IP network, accessing them from a SIP device or from InformaCast

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Support• Send audio messages to their existing

traditional paging systems, InformaCast-compliant IP Speakers and Zone Controllers, through their IP telephony system, without the need for any additional software

Thank you to all of our sponsors.

Join Us for OpCom 2008For a seminar and field exercise series in deployable, tactical and interoperable communications supporting emergency, disaster response and continuity of operations plans. Voice, data and video anywhere, anytime and under almost any circumstance.

The CDW•G OpCom 2008 events are coming to a location near you:

See live solutions that support law enforcement, emergency management, fire/rescue, emergency medical services and continuity of operations, including:

• Satellite communications

• Ad hoc networking

• Situation awareness

• Video security and surveillance

• Mobile computing

• In-car video

• Deployable incident command systems

• Communications interoperability

• Alert notification systems

• Mobile video conferencing

• And more!

For the complete list of CDW•G 2008 Public Safety events, please visit our Web site at CDWG.com/tradeshows

Call 888.970.4239 or visit us on the Web at CDWG.com/stateandlocal

To read more about hot topics in public safety, visit our StateTech magazine Web site at statetechmag.com and download the current Public Safety Newsletter.

• March – Atlanta, GA

• June – Salt Lake City, UT

• September – Detroit, MI

• October – Raleigh, NC

Please contact your dedicated CDW•Gaccount manager for more information.

080213Flyer 42230

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