MDT/MDC Who uses the best one?

[10-8 911 Force]

I would like to know who uses MDT/MDC consoles that actually benefit the Officer/Deputy in the field we use the standard touch screen, with no outlets for a portable memory device to do reports in the field, we either do it by hand or wait till we come back to the station.. Also i hear some departments have Gps in their cars when a call comes up it tells you how to get there? I love my Thomas guide.(lol)

Does anyone have other features that would benefit Peace Officers as a whole ..

Give us your thoughts and what you like and dislike about your Hoops MDC/MDT

[Bill M]

Our computers are quite useful. We have the Panasonic toughbooks in most of our cars with touch screen, lighted keyboard, etc. Whenever we get a call all of the info pops up on our screen including directions to the call and whatever pertinent info dispatch has (updated in real time). We also have the standard chat features, maps, NCIC queries, report writing capabilities, etc. In the next couple months our whole city will be on a wi-fi system which will basically put high-speed internet speeds into each of our patrol cars and allow for even greater capabilities, including GPS. Also, each computer can be un-docked and taken out of the car in case you want to do reports while waiting for lunch or whatever.

All of those features are very nice, but I still think it's important not to become over-reliant upon the technology. If I get a call and my computer crashes, I sure still better know how to get there!

[LearninginMN]

The dept. I was with had tough books, with a LOGIS system for our CAD usages. It was nice because we could IM other departments, only problem was that the keys are rubber which can make letters in a long message disapear. Every system will have it's ups and downs, and the Toughbooks we had were touch screen, it was very very nice, took some getting used to but it worked well.

[kenoshacop]

We also have the toughbooks in our squads. Once we get the new modems and software installed (Jan./Feb. '06) we'll have the following capabilities; Touch screen light bar/siren control, all squads status updated in real time, the call screen from dispatch, reports, citations and accident reports done on the MDC, GPS, access to all mugshots from our jail with anticipating having access to the state DOT's DL and ID photos, the ability to do photo lineups, check for DL status, NCIC/CIB wants, probation/parole/sex offender registry's, WI's criminal history records and this will be done using WIFI.

-Kenoshacop

[10-8 911 Force]

We are currently field testing 5 new systems for our hoops.. some of them look promising.. The info system between cars and dispatch are real time but some times it lags and we have to switch channels,, if there is traffic the transmission gets lost. Alot of the areas we patrol there are alot of dead spots.. But i love the department and we always have our Nextels..lol

[LearninginMN]

more and more ofc. are switching to nextel, I've heard one department actualy wrote a "nextel" clause that said they can be used for personal use only NOT on calls, i guess if an Officer wanted say a cell phone called of a victim who got it stolen by the ex, they'd just beep the dispatcher. Now they have to call in and formally say can you call this number when I say Arrived over the radio or when I call Code 4. But I think as technolodgy progress' the laptops place in a squad will too. It'd be nice to have all the light controls and siren controls on the screen, but I always wonder what you'd do if the computer crashed...are there sufficient backups in place for such an even?

[kenoshacop]

It'd be nice to have all the light controls and siren controls on the screen, but I always wonder what you'd do if the computer crashed...are there sufficient backups in place for such an even?

We still have the manual light/siren control box mounted in the squad as well for just that problem. It is underneath the center arm rest that has the printer and credit card swipe reader on it. We lift up the arm rest to access it. And if we choose to, we can just use the manual box at any time.

[LearninginMN]

We still have the manual light/siren control box mounted in the squad as well for just that problem. It is underneath the center arm rest that has the printer and credit card swipe reader on it. We lift up the arm rest to access it. And if we choose to, we can just use the manual box at any time.
That's sweet. When/If i get a job i hope my squad's just like that. Does the siren control still do the yelp/wail/hi-lo switches easily, or do you feel the technolodgy needs to be improved still? Also can you control Takedown, and alley lights? Sorry but one more question, what about an Arrow stick and the controls for that, still through the computer?

[kenoshacop]

The controls on the computer screen allow us to do everything that the manual box does. Just flashers, just corner strobes, just rotators, full lightbar, alley and takedown lights, manual, yelp, hi-lo and airhorn, as well as the arrowstick.

[LearninginMN]

That's awsume! thanks for the clarification Kenoshacop