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Upgraded system for Yuma-area law agencies a few months awayJul 30, 2012 (The Sun - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Yuma-area law enforcement agencies are now only a few months away from being able to flip the "on" switch to a new computer-integrated communications system. According to Lt. Dan Wilkey, the Yuma Police Department has been in the process the past two years of replacing public safety system, which is about 13 years old, with the New World's Aegis computer-aided dispatching and records management systems. Wilkey said all of the local law enforcement agencies already have a fully integrated radio system, and the ability to share information fluidly among each other is the next step in complete interconnectivity. In addition to providing a state-of-the-art data system, Wilkey said, the automated program will allow the area's law enforcement agencies to share their information with each other. "Right now, everybody has their own vendors so none of the systems are compatible. What this program is doing is getting everyone on the same system. Although we will all still have our own servers, they will now be able to share information." For example, Wilkey said if YPD makes contact with someone and does a records check on the individual, the computer would check only their database. With the new system, once it is up and running, every database of every law enforcement agency connected to the system would also be checked. Since the department is still mainly paper-based, Wilkey said, the new system will also enable both the police departments and fire departments to modernize and better support their operations. The same will be true for the other partners in the Yuma Regional Communications System (YRCS). The system is being paid entirely with $4 million in federal grants at no cost to the city and county. New World Systems is in charge of installing the system and will provide the YRCS agencies with Aegis Computer Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Mobile Computing, Corrections Management and Field-Based Reporting software. New World is also providing its Aegis Link, a Web-based interoperability solution to enable complete information-sharing between separate agencies. Every emergency vehicle will be equipped with a computer that is connected to every emergency database in the county. That means if a crime has occurred in San Luis and the perpetrator is pulled over in Wellton a short time later, the deputies there will know instantly of the crime and can arrest the suspect. Wilkey said that since the new system fills out forms electronically, it will also reduce the amount of duplicate paperwork. "Information gets pulled into several different systems automatically, instead of always having to re-enter it. When we arrest someone, we do an arrest report, which goes into our system. When we book them into jail, they use that same information and pull it into their system for their booking records. They won't have to enter their information based off of our paperwork because it will already be in the system, and we won't have to fill out duplicate paperwork." When the system initially goes online, Yuma police, the Yuma Fire Department and the Yuma County Sheriff's Office will be the only ones using it. However, when the system is complete, the police departments for Wellton, San Luis, Somerton and the Cocopah and Quechan tribes will be online, as will the municipal fire departments and correction offices. James Gilbert can be reached at [email protected] or 539-6854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert. ___ (c)2012 The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) Visit The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) at www.yumasun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |