chnology is evolving at light speed, and the way public safety agencies work is changing with it.
Not too long ago, an officer would have been considered lucky to have his own laptop. Today, computers have become as common in police cruisers as radios, with officers relying on them for a host of daily tasks such as accessing databases and files remotely, issuing e-citations, filing reports, and operating in-car digital video recording systems.
This tech evolution is now taking another leap forward. Over the past few years, the tablet computer has quickly risen from a niche product to a global phenomenon—so much so that today, more tablets are sold globally than both desktop PCs and laptops combined.1
Although tablets, sometimes called slate PCs, have been used for many years for certain law enforcement tasks such as parking enforcement, accident reconstruction, and forensics, it wasn’t until recently that law enforcement agencies began to seriously consider a broader role for tablets as primary computing platforms. Several models are now available on the market that offer the handheld portability and user-friendly convenience tablets are known for, along with security, power, and durability comparable to that of the rugged laptops the public safety market has come to depend on.
Today, many major law enforcement organizations across the United States have already deployed tablets or are taking a close look at whether the technology has a home in their squads. With some key considerations in mind, agencies can select the right solution for their organization’s needs, and leverage it cost-effectively to keep officers connected, efficient, and safe.
