The Lincoln Police Department’s location-based services application, P3i (Proactive Police Patrol information) is getting a little more attention around the dial these days. Since my blog post back on June 14, the first public unveiling of the concept, we gave gotten a bit of news coverage and a feature-length article in the Police Chief, one of the most widely-read professional publications in the field.
The video has been getting a lot of hits, and inquiries have been coming in from other organizations and departments in such places as Illinois, California, Texas, Washington D.C., Virginia, and Kansas. As the project continues, the research & development team from UNL and LPD will be working on interim reports, articles, a and a book chapter. Conference presentations are also in the works. This weekend, some of our officers are going to be showing P3i to a few parole and probation officers—a field that I think is particularly ripe for the use of location-based services. I’m interested if they will see the potential.
The feedback I’m getting from external sources has included glowing words such as “revolutionary”. We shall see. Sometimes things look good in development, but fall somewhat flatter in the real world. That’s the purpose of the research phase of this project, but I am cautiously optimistic. Remember, though, that this is “Version 1”. Location-based services applications generally, including P3i, will continue to become more polished as time passes.
During the first 45 days of the launch, the application gradually dribbled out in small groups to what was eventually 60 officers. During that time, they reported 504 contacts or attempted contacts that would not have occurred but for P3i, resulting in 65 arrests and 92 Information Reports. We are well into the second month now, and we are now fully deployed for the test. The last of the applications (a web app for our mobile data computers combined with a USB GPS puck) was checked off this week. We now have 75 officers in the experimental group who have P3i on one of five different devices. Their feedback will be far more significant than the impression of anyone who has read an article, attended a conference presentation, or watched an amateur youtube. The jiggling camera and rattle, by the way, an intentional--like reality TV.
Friday, July 15, 2011
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7 comments:
As an officer who likes to stay busy, P3i is great. I try to make 5-10 warrant contacts a shift & usually make 1 or 2 arrests each shift. The ability to update the system with current information as to whether or not the information in the contact is great. Hopefully the days of issuing warrant assignments will only go to those officers that choose not to take advantage of this technology.
what are Information Reports?
12:32-
It is a short online report form that provides brief information of the miscellaneous sort. The Information Reports generated from P3i contacts would primarily concern updated information about a subject's location or status--an outdated address on an arrest warrant and information about the potential location he or she is now frequenting for example, or information that a registered sex offender who appears to be in violation because he can no longer be found at his registered address, and so forth.
I love modern technology.
I read 1027's post and the point made is one I am posting. This is a great tool for those who are hard workers and do not like to loaf around. But after the newness of the device/application wears off, I think the amount of user action (reports ect.) will go way down. What incentive, to do far more work because of new tech stuff, is here for those who use this.
ARRRRG, Too funny!!
ARRRRG!
I was going to say you should start your own blog, now that the (former) chief seems a little too busy to keep up with his. Apparently, you have your own, and you keep it updated about as well as I do mine. :(
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