Garland, Texas, Implements Wireless Network for First Responders

The first users of the system are the 290 officers of the Garland Police Department. Conversion from the department's Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network was made within one week, during which mobile data terminals in the city's 80 squad cars were outfitted with NexGen City's NexCard wireless interface and software. Concurrently, the company's 46,000 square-foot Network Operations Center (NOC) was brought online to monitor network performance of the 500 mobile and fixed wireless devices that constitute Garland's NexLink system.

"We're taking this one step at a time," said Darrell McClanahan, Garland's telecommunications manager. "Our initial implementation focuses on data," he explained. "We started with applications that Garland police officers use every day, such as our Computer Automated Dispatch system. Everything is the same as before, including the user interface, but with one big exception -- the 20-fold transmission speed increase with which we can push 911 calls, alarms, report management, graphics and mug shots to our patrol cars throughout the city's 57-square-mile area," McClanahan continued. "Then, we'll phase in new productivity-enhancing public safety applications which we could never send before over the 19.2 Kbps CDPD network.

"This is an important milestone in fulfilling our city's communications vision for a fully converged high-speed data, voice, and video network over which police, fire, emergency medical personnel and, eventually, all city employees will be interconnected in real time," said McClanahan. "We're confident that this system will enhance the overall effectiveness of our public safety teams as well as that of our city employees in managing Garland's daily business."

Prior to the system's deployment, Garland police mapped the city's CDPD network to measure existing coverage gaps and downtime. The team found large areas with no coverage. "The difference in our new network operations is striking," said Officer Bernie Lawrence, mobile systems administrator. "With the new system, we can quickly and easily eliminate any coverage gaps, and our downloads are significantly faster than before," he said. "This means more time on the streets for us to ensure the safety of our 221,000 residents because we can complete more of our reports and other paperwork in the car and out of the station."