A Connected Ecosystem of Solutions for Law Enforcement Officers and Staff
Law enforcement workflows have grown more complex in recent years, especially with 87% of officers working in departments that are not fully staffed. With fewer officers and deputies, response times increase, and other department staff, such as investigators, may have to shift responsibilities to meet community needs. It also adds a burden on in-office and IT departments, which now have to strategize how to maximize efficiency and productivity with fewer officers and limited budgets.
Technology is an answer, but no solution alone can transform productivity. It takes an ecosystem of connected hardware, software, and support services to help law enforcement agencies streamline workflows and support communities.
Rugged Mobile Devices for Officers and Deputies
While many departments have deployed rugged mobile computing devices such as laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 devices, agencies that have deployed consumer-grade devices lack the features needed for the rugged, high-pressure situations officers work in. There are a few key elements every mobile deployment should have:
- Engineered durability: It’s not enough to stick a consumer-grade laptop, tablet, or 2-in-1 in a rugged, protective case. Police officers and deputies need devices engineered rugged from the inside out. Panasonic Connect’s TOUGHBOOK line of devices meets this need with a design built to withstand drop, vibration, shock, and elements like water, humidity, dust, and sand. A durable design reduces the likelihood of downtime and the need for repair or replacements.
- Flexibility for any working condition: Whether you are a patrol officer, investigator, or command staff, mobility and flexibility is crucial. Deploying the right tool that is both ergonomically designed and highly functional for law enforcement’s mobile work environments ensures user acceptance, utilization and subsequently, long term ROI on the department’s investment. In addition to ergonomic design, features like enhanced brightness, night mode, and backlit keyboard make it easy for officers to work at any time of day. Daylight readable screens help officers perform their duties more effectively out in the sun, and night mode helps to reduce eye fatigue as well as stay hidden during night ops due to bright blue light. Programmable keys also make it easy for officers to preset useful shortcuts, allowing them to pull up relevant information or databases with a click of a button.
- Connectivity when it’s needed: To keep officers connected to essential databases and other personnel, TOUGHBOOK offers several network options, including 4G LTE, FirstNet, CBRS Private LTE, and 5G networks. The built-in, strong antennas help to retain connectivity to networks even in remote areas.
- BIOS-level security: Panasonic Connect’s frontline address security concerns with software platforms such as Smart Compliance by Eclypsium, which protects the hardware at the BIOS level. This is especially helpful as law enforcement agencies seek to comply with the FBI’s CJIS policy updates for enhanced requirements on firmware integrity.
- Future proofing: TOUGHBOOK devices are designed to be modular, customizable, and configurable. With various modular areas and available expansion packs (xPAKs) that can be swapped out or replaced according to need, you can protect your technology investment and ensure your TOUGHBOOK will continue to serve your needs as they change.
Together, these features ensure officers and deputies can access digital tools, collaborate, and work efficiently in any situation.
Enterprise Laptops for Office Staff
To support officers in the field, administration, investigations and command staff need to quickly retrieve, process, and analyze data, such as sensor readings, photo and video evidence, and lengthy reports. That’s why Panasonic Connect recently launched the Let’s note FV4 computer, which offers several features to help police staff work efficiently:
- Lightweight and intuitive design: For staff not assigned to patrol, device portability is still a top priority. Working in the office is not a stationary endeavor. Between meetings, training, field investigations, travel to other departments and conferences, device portability is still a top priority. The Let’s note FV4 laptop is less than 2.5 pounds with a 5.3 mm bezel design and less than 20 mm thickness, making it easy to carry in a laptop bag or backpack. Additionally, it has a 3:2 aspect ratio and an “Infinite Scroll” circular trackpad, making it easier to view large amounts of data at once.
- User-replaceable battery: Batteries are often the first piece of a laptop to suffer or fail from constant usage. Let’s note has a user-replaceable battery so staff can easily change their battery without involving IT. This keeps devices in rotation longer and minimizes IT stress.
- Supply chain and device security: Every piece of law enforcement technology must meet stringent security demands. Let’s note is manufactured and assembled in Japan and serviced in the U.S., addressing many of law enforcement’s security concerns. It also comes equipped with fingerprint sensors, IR face recognition, and trusted platform module (TPM) 2.0 to give staff and IT teams peace of mind when accessing sensitive information.
Additional IT support services
While these hardware and software solutions may benefit the frontline and office workers, without a trusted technology partner to support strategic implementation, device deployments, IT workflows, and fleet resources can be impacted.
Every law enforcement agency has different priorities depending on their size, location, and number of departments. For example, some agencies may need on-time help installing vehicle mounts for an ergonomic mobile workstation while others need ongoing IT staffing and device support, such as analytic platforms to monitor device health and utilization. Panasonic Connect’s Professional Services can adapt to any agency’s needs.
Everything Law Enforcement Needs From a Single Technology Partner
Rugged and enterprise mobile computing devices, like TOUGHBOOK and Let’s note, help officers and office staff work more efficiently. Through a trusted technology partner, law enforcement agencies can equip their officers and staff with the critical technology and services they need to maintain or boost productivity and effectiveness serving their communities.
Learn more about TOUGHBOOK solutions for law enforcement here and Let’s note.
