How data-driven technology helps law enforcement agencies improve constituent outcomes  

With the development of 5G and an ever-growing number of cloud-connected devices, data is becoming available at an unprecedented rate. Law enforcement agencies can use this hyper-connected environment to bridge previously isolated data siloes and make better-informed decisions to improve emergency response and citizen services.

To discuss how law enforcement agencies are using new technology to improve constituent outcomes, Amazon Web Services (AWS) recently hosted a webinar featuring a panel of experts. Titled Using data for law enforcement to inform decisions and improve outcomes for constituents, this now on-demand webinar features insights from Janeé Harteau, chief executive officer (CEO) of Vitals Aware; Dr. Scott Howland, chief product officer of Fusus; Rogerick Green, director of community engagement for Pasco County Sheriff’s Office; Bryce Stirton, director of the R2 Network; and Matthew Melton, senior business development manager at AWS.

Read on for key takeaways from the webinar and watch on-demand here.

Addressing interoperability needs in law enforcement to help support civilians

Public safety agencies must understand and address the specific needs of their constituents among a diverse group of communities. Webinar participant, Rogerick Green, director of community engagement for Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, said, “Some of the biggest challenges that we face today are understanding what the gaps are within the community, within the areas that we serve, and how we address those gaps in real time.”

To address community needs, agencies must consider interoperability. Information sharing is vital for response operations that might require input from different divisions, departments, or even neighboring agencies. “Part of the challenge law enforcement has had is a lot of our technologies are very siloed. Dispatch has access, but the responding officer doesn’t…How do you break down those barriers? How do you get real-time information together?” asked Dr. Scott Howland, chief product officer of Fusus, a technology company that focuses on bringing real-time information to first responders.

How data can help public safety agencies support civilians’ needs

With 30 years of experience in law enforcement, Janeé Harteau, CEO of Vitals Aware, is an expert on the importance of information when law enforcement engages with the public.

The Vitals^TM App, built using AWS and available in the AWS Marketplace, gives first responders critical information before they interact with civilians on the scene. It provides real-time digital medical ID that alerts first responders and 911 dispatchers with personalized information to assist a vulnerable person in a crisis according to their specific needs.

“Imagine coming into contact with an individual in which there wasn’t a 911 call or you pulled them over in a traffic stop, and instead of going to the car with no information—outside of maybe a potential name for who’s in that vehicle—that you could actually get a notification on your phone that the driver or personal vehicle has created a Vitals^TM profile, and that they have PTSD or are nonverbal and they’re not being uncooperative per se. Rather, they just have the inability to communicate effectively with you or to understand what you’re saying,” said Harteau in the webinar.

This critical information can allow officers to “slow down a little bit and to think that maybe the situation is a little different than expected,” added Harteau. Agencies around the country use the Vitals^TM App to improve how they engage with at-risk individuals in their community.

Technology to turn data into mission-critical information

“When I started in a patrol car, we had a radio, and that was about the extent of technology,” said Howland in the webinar. Howland led a 30-year career as the California Highway Patrol’s award-winning chief information officer before becoming the chief product officer of Fusus. Today, agencies must consider data inputs from a broad range of technology sources. Cars, cameras, cell phones, and sensors, for example, can all share data with first responders, but how do agencies make sense of the data for actionable intelligence in mission-critical situations?

Fusus is an open and unified intelligence ecosystem that integrates and enhances public safety data including video, data, and sensors from virtually any source. Fusus uses AWS services like Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Aurora, and other serverless and internet of things (IoT) capabilities to accomplish its mission. Available on the AWS Marketplace, Fusus helps hundreds of law enforcement and public safety agencies across the county turn data into useful and actionable information to help communities.

Next steps for law enforcement agencies

Public safety agencies like Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are embracing the cloud and a new age of data-driven information and technology with solutions available on the AWS Marketplace. Technologies like Vitals Aware and Fusus are helping agencies turn data into actionable intelligence to better serve constituent needs. Watch the Using Data for Law Enforcement to Inform Decisions and Improve Outcomes for Constituents webinar on-demand for more information, and learn more about accessing these critical tools in the AWS Marketplace.

For more information about how AWS supports justice and public safety agencies, visit the AWS Cloud for Justice and Public Safety hub. Do you have questions about how to use AWS and cloud technology for your mission needs? Reach out to the AWS Public Sector Team for more.

Read more about AWS for state and local government agencies:

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