If you’re working on a typical police force, you’ve seen many changes in law enforcement technology over the past two decades. One thing that hasn’t changed much? Your communication tools. Most police forces still rely on land mobile radio (LMR) technology to communicate on the job, even while many officers have powerful smartphones in their pockets and tablets in their homes.
Now, public safety communications capabilities are taking advantage of smartphones, tablets and smartwatches to connect officers and deliver robust situational data. Samsung will showcase our latest tools for law enforcement at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference, October 6-9, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Stop by Booth 1421 and the Samsung Mobile Bus to see our latest law enforcement technology offerings and learn about our vision for police communications.
Here’s a brief preview of what we’ll be showcasing.
It’s Mobile First
Smartphones offer enormous benefits for officers in the field, from on-the-go access to computer-aided dispatch (CAD) and more efficient evidence collection, to geolocation tracking for better coordination of incident response. But these new mobile workflows need to be seamlessly integrated, which is why we are working closely with leading public safety software providers on a range of innovative solutions. Our partners will be out in full force at IACP. Here are just a few of the capabilities that will be on display:
- Computer-aided dispatch: Market leaders such as Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure (Intergraph), Motorola Solutions, Central Square Technologies (TriTech), RapidDeploy and Tyler Technologies will demonstrate CAD solutions running seamlessly on Samsung Galaxy smartphones, including our new Galaxy Note9.
- Records management: In addition to the solution providers mentioned above, many of whom also offer records management systems (RMS), we are highlighting our partnership with SceneDoc, whose mobile applications enable officers to use the smartphone for data and evidence collection and to manage a streamlined electronic citation process. We’re also engaging with Mobile Innovations and NicheRMS to bring their RMS to Android. These mobile solutions with intuitive user interfaces help keep officers connected and fully operational while in the field.
- Advanced command and control: In a large-scale emergency event, coordination across multiple agencies is critical. Blueforce Development is leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud connectivity to deliver advanced command and control capabilities, allowing incident commanders to gain a complete view and awareness of emergency scenes, both from officers who are there as well as remotely through autonomous sensors.
DeX Turns Your Phone Into an In-Vehicle Desktop
Today’s powerful smartphones also offer the opportunity to streamline your in-vehicle computing setup.
Samsung DeX, short for “desktop experience,” allows officers to dock their Galaxy smartphones in their patrol vehicles to serve as in-vehicle computers, with a keyboard and larger screen. When they arrive at the station, they can again use DeX to dock their phone and work on a standard desktop monitor, keyboard and mouse. In this way, DeX provides a seamless transition from the vehicle to the office desk, making officers truly mobile-first. Wherever they go, their primary device for secure data access and record management goes with them.
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DeX does not require specific peripherals, so you can connect with a variety of HDMI monitors and Bluetooth or USB keyboards and mice. At IACP, we will showcase the Havis DeX in Vehicle solution, featuring their mounting hardware, monitor and keyboard, as well as two D&R Electronics ruggedized DeX in Vehicle solutions (desktop and Dodge Charger) featuring their hardware combined with two different ruggedized keyboards and monitors (iKey & Xenarc). In addition, Gamber-Johnson, RAM Mounts, Lectronix and others will be showcasing DeX options for public safety. Our goal is to give you the freedom to choose the hardware that works best for your agency.
Smartwatches Deliver Hands-Free Geolocation and Communication
When you’re in the field, you need your hands free, so you can’t always use your smartphone to communicate. This is why watches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch and the Samsung Gear S3 are playing a key role in public safety.
The Galaxy Watch comes with built-in LTE so you can use GPS geolocation services, messaging, voice communications and SOS alerts, even if you’re away from your smartphone. One agency recently shared how they’re using Samsung smartwatches to display short messages and send photos. It’s an effective way to provide officers a good look at a wanted suspect or missing person to enable a coordinated and faster response. And when officers need immediate assistance, the real-time geolocation and motion sensors also help scene commanders accurately locate them and intervene more quickly.
We are truly excited about the way smartphones and smartwatches are reshaping law enforcement technology and keeping officers safer and more connected on a daily basis. If you’re planning to attend IACP, please stop by to share your stories and get a first look at what’s new with us.
Are you missing IACP this year? You can learn more by viewing our new videos about DeX for public safety and smartwatches for public safety.
