From a police officer's standpoint………
Sgt. Derek Marsh of the Westminster Police Department sees “unlimited potential” for GIS in police work, from the standpoint of both tactical deployment and strategic planning.

Last November, the City of Westminster licensed a GIS data package from Digital Map Products that includes a comprehensive parcel map of Orange County, property attributes, scanned/indexed tax maps and orthophotographic imagery (digitized aerial photography). The police department then overlaid its own crime data.

According to Marsh, GIS is becoming an excellent tactical tool for deployment of officers. In particular, police departments are finding the digitized aerial photography extremely helpful as a briefing tool in emergencies. With the ability to visually focus in on an area right in the squad room, Watch Commanders can make better tactical decisions for officers on the ground (see related story, this page).

“In addition to a tactical tool, GIS is becoming a valuable strategic tool: to map crime trends; to track parolees, probationers and sex offenders; and to do predictive analysis on patterns of criminal activity,” Marsh says. The result is the ability to better focus the department’s efforts and resources to get the best results.

And from the District Attorney’s office………
Jaime Joyce, an investigator with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Target Gang Unit, is assigned to the Santa Ana Police Department. Joyce is finding GIS maps very effective in successfully prosecuting gang members. The GIS is based on a landbase data package that the City of Santa Ana licensed from DMP.

For example, GIS data provided by DMP is considered highly accurate evidence in establishing criminal activity within the 1,000-foot boundary around a school, a penal code violation. “GIS is hard scientific data based on satellite images, you can’t argue with the data, it’s accurate to within inches,” Joyce says. “It’s great; you can’t beat it.”

“In the courtroom, we can convey complicated information much more effectively using GIS maps,” Joyce continues. For instance, aerial photos that map and plot gang activity provide a graphic picture that ties crimes and people together. According to Joyce, GIS helps “brings the idea home” to convince jurors.

Joyce also expects GIS to be an excellent tool in preparing officers to go out in the field with multiple search warrants. The DA’s office plans to use GIS in the future to map out an area of gang residences before sending officers out with multiple warrants.

Overall, Joyce echoes Marsh’s endorsement of the accuracy, effectiveness and versatility of GIS as a crime-fighting tool.

The Westminster Police Department used a GIS data package provided by Digital Map Products to help keep the peace during recent demonstrations that at times drew several thousand people.

The daily protests, against the public display of a communist flag alongside a photo of Ho Chi Minh in a local video store, required the police department to bring in outside law enforcement agencies to help maintain order.

To immediately get the outside officers up to speed, the department relied on a DMP data package that included digitized orthophotography.
“Using the digital orthophotography, we were able to immediately familiarize outside law enforcement agencies with the layout of the land by giving them a bird’s eye view of the area, right down to the alleyways and fences,” says Sgt. Derek Marsh.

“A visual representation is worth a thousand words,” adds Marsh. “This is a great briefing and tactical tool for personnel deployment.

Just a reminder, as budget season enters the final stretch — have you secured a line item for GIS data? Would Internet access to GIS using CityGIS.com be a good way to get your city started with GIS? Could you use some help in presenting the benefits of GIS to budget decision makers? As a complimentary service, Digital Map Products is helping many cities explore GIS options as part of the budgeting process. Cities have demonstrated an overwhelming response to CityGIS.com, the latest innovation that provides GIS access over the Internet. In the next several weeks, Digital Map Products will be providing select access to CityGIS.com on a demonstration basis. If you would like to experience CityGIS.com first-hand over the Internet, call DMP today to reserve your access account and password. Digital Map Products offers a viable alternative to the high cost of data and commitment of resources traditionally associated with building a successful GIS program.

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