Today’s policing requires the ability to gather, catalog, access, and analyze an ever-expanding amount and variety of data. It also requires reliable connectivity to maintain crucial communication with fellow officers and supervisors, as well as situational awareness. Smartphones allow officers to work more efficiently, spending more time in the field and increasing community engagement.

That was the case for the Wichita Police Department in 2020, which had been providing smartphones to a limited number of personnel such as command staff or special assignments. The force of 500 officers was spread thin serving the largest city in Kansas and its population of 397,532 people spread over 139 square miles. Though property crime and burglary declined significantly during the pandemic, motor vehicle thefts and homicides increased. Morale was low and officers struggled to communicate effectively with citizens amid pandemic concerns and social distancing restrictions.

The department was looking to leverage technology more intentionally but had been working with limited resources. Officers were using iPods in the field—a now-discontinued, phoneless handheld device—connected to Bluetooth to upload, title, and categorize footage from body cameras and handheld video cameras. The iPods offered other functions, including still photography, voice recording, and license plate readers, but at the cost of mobility. Every few hours, officers had to drive back to a station and connect to Wi-Fi to communicate and upload data to the network or to make phone calls.

Seeking to improve operations and police-citizen relations, the department issued smartphones to all sworn personnel as well as select support positions. The department now has 650 iPhones and approximately 400 mobile data terminals (MDTs) with mobile365 SIMs. This equipment forms the foundation of a more connected, mobile, and agile force.

“It’s invaluable what officers can do with this service,” says Officer Timothy Baird. “It speeds up our response time and provides digital solutions for better policing.”

Now, with smartphones and high-speed wireless from mobile365 for Government in the hands of every law enforcement officer (LEO) in Wichita, enhanced mobile connectivity is enabling fast data transfers and remote communications. Officers can log information while in the field, allowing for increased patrol time and improved community engagement. A tremendous amount of crime scene evidence—including photos, audio, and video recordings—can be quickly collected, and sent to crime analysts, even as the responding officer travels to another incident. Officers regularly use their smartphones to contact victims and witnesses from the field, rather than returning to the station.

Real-time information sharing and communications have improved patrol operations. For instance, an officer is now able to send a photo of a missing person to the public information officer, who can then post it on social media, even from home, resulting in the information getting to the public faster.

The mobile365 5G network also allows the department to take advantage of powerful mobile equipment and applications, including:

• Using Axon Air, Wichita Police Department drones equipped with high-resolution cameras communicate with Cradlepoint routers that have mobile365 SIMs. The program is dramatically improving operational capability and effectiveness. According to the department, “These drones will be invaluable in locating missing persons or assisting during natural disasters, allowing us to provide crucial support to our community in times of need.”
• MobileDetect, a platform that allows field testing of suspected illicit substances, helps provide more accurate in-field drug detection.
• Flock license plate readers (LPRs) can send real-time alerts to officers’ phones after spotting a vehicle of interest. Officers can then use their smartphones to access additional information from the LPR system.
• PD Share, an application developed with Wichita State University, helps officers connect crime and abuse victims to support resources via text or QR code.
  

The department has also seen an overall boost in job satisfaction after giving its officers the ability to do their jobs more effectively. Like Wichita, public safety agencies across the country, with mobile365 for Government as a partner, can harness the speed, reliability, and coverage of the nation’s largest 5G network to build powerful, scalable mobile platforms that enable agile, efficient, and effective policing—now and into the future.

• Priority service when it matters most.
• Delivering connectivity to first responders.
• Free unlimited service for first responder agencies.