For law enforcement professionals, communication has always been essential for safe and efficient responses. But over time, the way officers communicate—and the information they can access in those communications—has advanced exponentially.

Wireless technology has played a big role in this advancement by powering the connections that drive communication—the human connections among officers, other agencies and their communities, as well as the physical connections to devices and equipment. By understanding how to use wireless technology to establish these connections, law enforcement agencies can help officers increase their situational awareness and take more effective action.

Connect Your Officers

On any given day, the world generates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data.^¹ In locations where large crowds are gathering (e.g., festivals, concerts, sporting events) or where a natural disaster is underway, regular wireless networks can experience unusually heavy traffic as large numbers of people stream video and send text messages. That network traffic can delay mission-critical data from reaching officers, impacting an agency’s ability to coordinate a successful response.

Data priority solutions are designed to keep officers connected by putting mission-critical data first despite heavy network traffic or limited capacity after a loss of resources. When necessary, these solutions also provide preemption, temporarily removing users so that officers can send and receive the information they need to react quickly.

This same type of prioritization exists for voice communications. Authorized providers offer access to the Wireless Priority Service (WPS), which pushes first responders’ voice conversations to the front of the line. This service allows officers and dispatchers to continue wireless communications.

Connect Agencies and Communities

A recent survey on public safety communication concerns ranked interoperability as one of the top three concerns among all respondents; it was also the top requested functionality among law enforcement professionals.^² However, the crucial interoperability that helps agencies protect their communities can be difficult to establish—especially when natural disasters impact public communication infrastructure. In adverse conditions, cellular networks offer overlapping coverage, redundant routing, and backup power systems to help agencies stay connected.

Temporary solutions are also an important component in aiding interoperability. Cell on Light Trucks (COLTs) and Cell on Wheels (COWs) provide on-the-spot cellular service when regular towers are damaged. Beyond natural disasters, these solutions can also help law enforcement organize responses at crime scenes and large events. They provide on-the-spot connectivity, so that officers have access to the information they need, in the places they need it most.

Connect Devices

As law enforcement technology continues to advance, more departments are employing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions like optical character scanners, gun sensors, and dashcams to gather information. This connected equipment is vital for enhancing situational awareness and delivering sensitive information. Vehicle area networks (VANs) provide mobile, secure Wi-Fi using routers to support all of these devices, providing uninterrupted connectivity where it’s most needed.

Powered by a reliable network, mobile command centers allow law enforcement agencies to expand connectivity even further. These vehicles act as communication hubs that allow commanders to leverage the efforts of multiple agencies in any situation—connecting communications, powering device connectivity, and providing physical space for centralized supervision of complex operations.

With device connectivity comes data privacy concerns, with good reason—44 percent of local governments say they experience cyber attacks at least daily.^³ By choosing private network services that offer private IP addresses, agencies can protect sensitive data from external cyberthreats while still allowing officers access to the data they need.

The Future of Connectivity

The increased speed and ultra-low latency of 5G will bring major additional benefits to law enforcement, unlocking advancements that will improve training, surveillance, and response efficiency. And 5G’s capacity to connect thousands of IoT devices will allow sensors and cameras to deliver more mission-critical information to officers when and where they need it most.

As network connectivity and IoT solutions continue to advance, law enforcement agencies should vet new technology on a regular basis. Some cellular networks have local technology experts who can work with agencies to determine how available solutions line up with their goals — whether they want to connect officers, agencies, vehicles or all three. As police leaders consider the needs of officers today and tomorrow, a cellular network that has experience in implementing law enforcement solutions can help to develop a long-term plan for wireless technology that will help officers stay safe and save lives.

To learn more, visit U.S. Cellular Public Safety Solutions.

Notes:

¹Purdue University Global, “The Growing Role of Technology in the Criminal Justice Field,” Student Resources Blog,  April 9, 2018.

²Yee-Yin Choong et al., Voices of First Responders — Identifying Public Safety Communications Problems, and Requested Functionality: Findings from User Center Interviews, Phase 1, Vol. 2.1 (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2018).

^³Cybersecurity 2016 Survey (International City/County Management Association and University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2016).