In the fast-paced and often unpredictable world of law enforcement, every second counts, especially when an officer is in distress. The Glendale AZ Police Department Real-Time Crime Center is leveraging technology to enhance officer safety and response times through their radio emergency button system, integrated with CommandCentral Aware. This system provides a crucial layer of protection, ensuring that help is just a button press away.
Imagine an officer in the field who suddenly finds themselves in a dangerous situation. With a quick press of their radio’s emergency button, the system springs into action. The first and most undeniable indication that an officer needs assistance is an “obnoxious sound” that plays, immediately alerting telecommunicators and operators. This audible alarm is designed to grab attention instantly, signaling that an event is unfolding that requires immediate focus.
Beyond the auditory alert, CommandCentral Aware visually highlights the distressed officer’s situation. The officer’s radio symbol on the map immediately centers on their location and changes color, making them stand out clearly. This visual cue tells operators, “Hey, look over here!” For those monitoring the radio console, the system goes a step further: it displays the channel the officer is on and turns their call sign red, providing even more direct information about who needs help and where to find them.
Real-Time Tracking and Location Accuracy
One of the most significant advantages of this system is its real-time radio tracking capability. Once an emergency button is activated, the officer’s movement is continuously tracked on the map. This is especially critical in dynamic situations like foot pursuits, where accurate and up-to-the-second location data can make all the difference in locating an officer quickly. The GPS quality of the newer radios is remarkably accurate, often surpassing the GPS accuracy found in patrol vehicles, making it an invaluable tool for pinpointing an officer’s exact whereabouts.
Clearing an emergency event is also straightforward. Officers have two primary options: either pressing and holding the emergency button again or turning their radio off and then back on. Once the event is cleared, the radio symbol changes back, indicating that the immediate emergency has been addressed.
While the system is designed for critical emergencies, Officer Ward notes that most activations have been accidental, often occurring when officers are switching channels. However, even these accidental activations serve as valuable tests, confirming that the system functions exactly as intended. The fact that it has worked flawlessly even in these accidental instances provides immense confidence in its reliability when a real emergency arises.
Officer Ward, with the Glendale Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center, recently demonstrated the system’s capabilities. Watch the demonstration here:
The Glendale PD’s integration of the emergency button into their Real-Time Crime Center is a testament to their commitment to officer safety. By combining immediate audible alerts, clear visual indicators, and precise GPS tracking, they’ve created a robust system that acts as a silent guardian, ready to summon help at a moment’s notice, ensuring that officers in the field are never truly alone.
