HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7793 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7793
" °"•`"�
�Q440R?�� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 18, 1994
Subject: POLICE DEPARTMENT PURCHASE OF LASER PREMRS
FOR USE By CITIZENS ON PATROL
On December 22, 1993, information was provided to Councilmember Silcox in
response to an inquiry about a printer placed in the Fort Worth Police
Department's West Division offices. At the Council meeting on January 11, 1993,
a Council update was requested on the matter. Since other members of the
Council may not have been aware of the printers or their intended purpose, this
update is provided going back to the purchase of the printers.
In mid-1993 the Police Department was attempting to ensure that support for the
Citizens on Patrol (COP) program was improving consistent with the
unprecedented growth and success of the program. Through this assessment
effort the Police Department concluded that the purchase and installation of
printers would improve information flow in this program and the Crime Analysis
division. The Police Department requested that the City Council approve the
purchase of five Dot Matrix printers utilizing awarded assets funds. The printers
were to be located in each of the four field operations divisions and in Crime
Analysis. This purchase was approved by City Council on September 28, 1993
(M&C P-6670).
The printers were acquired and installed in each of the four divisions where they
were to be available to the Citizens on Patrol groups,both to provide the ability to
access more information and to encourage the groups to base their operations
from their respective field operations division. After further assessment of how
to most effectively support the City's growing Citizens on Patrol program, the
decision was made to improve facilities along with information made available.
The improvements made involved providing a dedicated work area, furnishings,
telephone communications, and mainframe computer access with selected
screens available along with the printers to allow hard copy information. The
programming to enable these computer functions to work properly in tandem with
the newly acquired printers has been requested and according to our best
estimate will be fully functional by February 1, 1994.
This improvement also was designed to allow up-to-date radio call data
availability to encourage evaluation by citizen groups to determine the most
appropriate deployment times for them to operate.
The Police Department has allowed each division to individually structure their
op. Citizens on Patrol support function to ensure proper effectiveness. The West
Division support function operates out of the Crime Prevention office and the
Citizens on Patrol base station functions from flits area also.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS—
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7793
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council January 18. 1994
Page 2 of 2
Subject: POLICE DEPARTMENT PURCHASE OF LASTER PRINTERS
FOR USE BY CITIZENS ON PATROL
As with any new and growing program we anticipate that the process of
assessment and Improvement will be ongoing to ensure we maintain an effective
Citizens on Patrol program and system of support.
We recognize the value of citizen participation In the City's efforts to reduce crime.
The Code:Blue program of which Citizens on Patrol is a part has been good for
our city, our community. and our citizens.
If you need additional information, please contact Assistant City Manager Libby
Watson or me.
ob Terrrfl�e��
op"I City Manager
oph,
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
1000 THROCKMORTON STREET
FORT WORTH,TEXAS 76102
(817)871-6111
FAX(81 7)871-6134
Date: December 22, 1993
To: Chuck Silco=, Councilmember District 3
From: Libby Watson, Assistant City Matt`
Subject: SWB 93/11/17 Reference West Di ' n Printer
Per your request, I have received the following information about the Dot Matrix Printer
approved by City Council for purchase 9/28/93 (M&C P-6670)and placed in the Fort Worth
Police Department's West Division Offices.
M&C P-6670 approved the purchase of five Dot Matrix printers. Four of the five printers
went to a patrol division and the fifth printer went to Crime Analysis. The four printers
were purchased to be available to the Citizens on Patrol groups to encourage them to base
their operations from the division. After much discussion as to the type of support the
department was providing to the citizen groups, the decision was made to enhance the
information and facilities for Citizens on Patrol. By providing a work area, mainframe
computer access with selected screens available, a desk and a telephone then more of the
groups might choose to base their operations out of the divisions instead of their homes. The
information would provide up-to date radio call data thereby increasing the effectiveness of
scheduling patrol times for the COPS groups.
Accordingly, the West Division's printer was assigned to the West Division Community
Services Unit and was placed in the Community Relations Office to be utilized by the
Citizens on Patrol people who come to the West Division to base for other patrollers. This
printer is being used to print reports, the unassigned call screen, the dispatcher status
screen,etc.
The printer was placed in the Crime Prevention Office because that was thought to be the
most convenient space within the Sector,given space constraints.The COP base radio station
has been moved into the Crime Prevention Office to provide more working space for the base
function,thus allowing the base operator to monitor what is transpiring in patrol. He or she
can also utilize the computer to research different types of information. A speaker is also
being run from the police base station located at the front desk to the COP base station so
that they may monitor the patrol channel. They are still in close enough proximity to the
front desk officer that questions can be answered or help obtained if necessary.
Lw.-Vr
Fort Worth b'01'd All-America City
P"nw on"WYCWPWW
3