The new system provides fully redundant recording of all phone and radio communications, offering the department complete data protection and enhanced reliability. The system will capture every call coming into the department's dispatch center while at the same time allowing the dispatch floor supervisor to monitor calls in real time.
The system will replace an outdated digital audio tape-based recording system that offered limited online storage and accessibility. With its new recording platform, the Newark Police Department will be able to retain more recordings online on a 1.06 terabyte RAID 5 server and access them faster and more efficiently.
NICE's Scenario Replay software will also improve efficiency by providing the department with advanced tools for retrieving, replaying, reconstructing and distributing 9-1-1 and radio communications. With just a few keystrokes to input a specific time, date or other information germane to a particular search, users can access recordings instantaneously.
Incidents can be seamlessly reconstructed from those recordings and saved as .wav files onto CDs, or even e-mailed to requesting investigators or attorneys, speeding up the judicial process.
The NICE system will also be equipped with software which enables dispatchers to play back calls instantly from their dispatch positions, saving precious time in an emergency and providing dispatchers with the information they need for a fast and appropriate emergency response. A quality assurance application, also included with the NICE solution, will assist the department in overseeing quality assurance.
"We are using the latest technology to make our Police Department more efficient," Mayor James said. "With this system, we will be able to reliably capture and quickly play back recorded 9-1-1 calls, which can mean the difference between life and death or guilt and conviction and potentially help us put more offenders behind bars. I commend our Police Department on this initiative."
Director Ambrose noted, "We are committed to providing our personnel with the best possible equipment and training in order to ensure that the residents of Newark receive the highest level of police services. This recent purchase is just one of many recent new state-of-the-art purchases of equipment that will enable our Department to operate more effectively and efficiently. This new system will not only improve our records management capabilities, but will also provide our dispatch supervisors with enhanced monitoring, tracking, and recording capabilities."
Ambrose added, "This system will ensure that our call-takers maintain a high level of sensitivity and professionalism as they provide vital emergency assistance to the public. The chief and I have the ability to monitor the call-takers while working, as do the personnel assigned to professional standards which will help to ensure that the residents are provided with the high quality of service that they deserve."
