Real-Time Information in Emergency Response: Improving Situational Awareness

Anyone in law enforcement can attest that the more information you have going into a situation, the better the outcome will be. This standard applies to everyday calls for service, high-profile investigations and even walking into the next CompStat meeting. So why is the information still so challenging to obtain? As former law enforcement professionals who both saw and felt these challenges firsthand, the founders of ForceMetrics created a platform to address them.

Aurora911 was the first city department to launch ForceMetrics with its entire staff. Emergency communications specialists can search and access vital safety, mental health and historical information in seconds rather than hours, improving the accuracy and appropriateness of resource deployment.

One of many areas where technology is making a significant impact is in the identification of vehicles, providing law enforcement with powerful tools to streamline investigations, enhance public safety, and combat criminal activities. Here we'll explore the innovative ways technology is being used to identify vehicles in policing.

In the dynamic landscape of law enforcement, the concept of stratified policing has emerged as a nuanced approach to addressing the diverse challenges faced in crime prevention and public safety. This evolving strategy recognizes the importance of tailoring policing efforts to specific layers, or strata, taking into account varying levels of crime, time and risk factors, departmental roles, and unique community needs and patterns. Yet the critical factor to a successful stratified policing approach is having the data available to properly assess and distinguish between these characteristics in the first place. Departments need clear, accurate, and contextual data to understand crime patterns and trends and truly put this evidence based policing strategy to meaningful work. Unpacking the Layers At its core, stratified policing involves the careful examination and classification of crime trends and community challenges based on set criteria. This approach recognizes that a one-size-fits-all strategy may not be effective in addressing the complex and multifaceted nature of crime. Instead, law enforcement agencies employing stratified policing seek to understand the unique characteristics of different strata and implement appropriately tailored solutions. The layers in stratified policing are often broken into immediate, short-term, and long-term problems. Immediate problems are generally recognized as isolated calls and incidents, though with varying degrees of significance, taking anywhere from minutes to months to resolve. Short-term problems are those that occur over days or weeks and are either repeat incidents or recognizable crime patterns, such as a series of similar crimes or crimes committed within a hotspot. Long-term problems or priorities exist over months or years, and frequently arise from opportunities created by everyday environmental or behavioral factors. Risk Assessment One key element of stratified policing is the strategic identification and prioritization of areas of focus based on their level of crime or risk factors. By allocating resources more intensively to high-crime areas, for example, law enforcement agents can maximize their impact and create a more targeted response to identified challenges. Community Engagement Building trust and fostering partnerships within the community are integral components of successful stratified policing. Recognizing that different communities have unique needs and concerns, law enforcement agencies actively engage with residents to understand and address their specific issues. This collaborative approach helps to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community, creating a more effective and responsive policing environment and bolstering public safety in turn. Data-Driven Approaches In our modern world ruled by information and technology, data plays perhaps the single most critical role in shaping effective evidence based policing strategies. Successful stratified policing leverages data and analytics to gain insights into crime patterns and trends within different areas or layers of a community. This information empowers law enforcement to make informed decisions, strategically allocate resources, optimize workflows and performance, and implement targeted interventions where they are needed most. Problem-Oriented Policing Stratified policing goes beyond surface-level crime prevention by addressing the root causes of issues within a community. This problem-oriented approach necessitates effective collaboration with other community agencies and organizations to tackle underlying factors contributing to crime. By addressing these issues head-on, and facilitating open communication and information sharing among community stakeholders, law enforcement agents can create lasting solutions and improve overall community well-being. Conclusion: A Tailored Approach for Safer Communities As law enforcement continues to evolve, the concept of stratified policing stands out as a promising strategy for creating safer and more resilient communities. By recognizing and responding to the unique challenges and needs of our communities with tailored, data-driven approaches, law enforcement agencies can make a lasting, meaningful impact – reducing crime, building trust, fostering collaboration, and ultimately creating a safer environment for all. As this approach continues to develop, it will be essential to stay informed on emerging best practices and adapt strategies to meet the ever-changing needs of our diverse communities. ForceMetrics is actively enabling agencies to leverage clear, contextual data in the implementation of more accurate and successful stratified policing programs. Connect with us to learn how we can help your agency navigate the layers.

How Greensboro PD cracked a hoax call case in record time, rapidly going from reported shooting threat to suspect identified.

ForceMetrics is helping the Waco Police Department identify trends in crime more efficiently. It could sometimes take the department hours on end to access certain crime data, but that can now be done in just seconds.

"It is by far one of the greatest evolutions" | The Greensboro Police Department has joined forces with ForceMetrics to easily access data to crack down on crime and better handle calls for service.

Waco Police Department announces partnership with ForceMetrics to enable first responders to make data-driven decisions in real-time. The enhanced use of data will enable improved, safer outcomes for the public and first responders alike.

Greensboro Police Department announces deployment of ForceMetrics to their 789 officers, dispatchers, and co-responders who are now using our mobile-ready Informed Responder application to make data-driven decisions in real-time.