MEMORANDUM

June 7, 2004

To:                   Mike Wildgen, City Manager

From:              W. Ronald Olin, Chief of Police

Ref:                 In-Car Mobile Data Systems Purchase

Douglas County has purchased and installed infrastructure for a mobile data system that is integrated with our Computer Aided Dispatch and state inquiry systems.  This system fulfills an identified need for an ability to gain more accurate and detailed CAD records through officers classifying and adding call details from the field in real time.  This capability is a community based interest and been requested by some neighborhood groups. 

I request the expenditure of $58,403.45 to equip seven more cars in our patrol fleet with the integrated computer/radio systems necessary to use Douglas County’s Public Safety Mobile Data system.  I propose the use of $58,403.45 from line item number 205-1000-510-60-01.  The Police Department’s portion of this equipment replacement reserve fund line item is budgeted at $65,000. 

Motorola Direct designed and installed the Douglas County mobile data system, and is the sole source for this equipment.  The quote Motorola has provided is from the most current State of Kansas Contract bid pricing.  State Contract bid pricing has been utilized by Douglas County and the City of Lawrence for the purchase of Mobile Data system infrastructure and Mobile Data vehicle equipment.  This is the purchase method we have used for previous 800 MHz communications equipment purchases. 

This equipment will increase the number of patrol cars from which officers can make retrievable officer notations and call classifications directly to the CAD system.  This further implements the community identified goals which lead to the acquisition of CAD.   The use of this technology will help offset the current dispatch personnel resource limitations as officers in mobile data equipped cars are able to directly access some types of information through the computer rather than a dispatcher on a voice radio channel.

  The purchase of this equipment will serve the community by ensuring officers have the ability to generate improved call documentation when answering citizens’ requests for service.  The added benefit of providing call location history to the computer in the car will improve overall safety for everyone.  I appreciate your consideration of this request.

W.  Ronald Olin

Chief of Police