Sierra and Feeney Provide Real-time Link for San Jose Police
The San Jose Police Department has selected the Feeney Wireless Cellular Internet Routing Appliance (CIRA) with integrated Sierra Wireless AirLink(TM) 3G gateway to provide comprehensive mobile connectivity for its officers in the field. The total deployment will see 452 patrol cars equipped over a 36-month period.
Feeney Wireless is an authorized Sierra Wireless value-added reseller.
Responsible for the safety of more than one million residents in California's third largest city, the San Jose Police Department creates more than 100,000 reports per year. The deployment of the joint wireless solution is part of an ongoing project to decentralize and digitize the department's records and field communications systems.
"We needed a scalable platform that would take us into the future, including camera systems, video and remote sensors and communications equipment," said Deputy Chief Diane Urban. "We are going to send reports seamlessly, wirelessly ─ via a truly integrated paperless reporting and management system."
Urban went on to say, "Technology is the way of the future, it's all about regionalizing services, being more efficient and more transparent. Everyone expects quicker results, and we have the responsibility to provide that to the public."
The Feeney Wireless CIRA solution deployed by San Jose comprises a Wi Fi router that allows officers to connect laptop computers as well as e-citation and electronic fingerprinting devices over a local wireless network centered in their vehicle. The CIRA's integrated Sierra Wireless AirLink 3G gateway then provides a real-time, two-way mobile broadband connection back to the department's main campus, as well as GPS information for dispatch. Thanks to the embedded Sierra Wireless ALEOS(TM) intelligence in the AirLink gateway and the accompanying AirLink management tools, the department can configure, update, and manage the devices remotely over the air, reducing downtime for maintenance.
"We are taking a patrol vehicle and turning it into their wireless mobile communications center," said Bob Ralston, president of Feeney Wireless. "By providing a 3G enabled Wi-Fi gateway to connect almost any device, and instantly communicate with central servers, we have created a truly scalable process that simplifies the addition of new technologies into their operations."