Introduction
According to Santos (2013), there are three different types of data collection and storage systems which involve records management systems (RMSs), Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD), and Geographical data system. CAD is extremely specialized system that applies geographical and telecommunication display to collect information that can aid police in response and dispatch functions. Record management system is designed as a system that can collect and store data regarding the police records. On the other hand the function of the Geographic Data System is to create, maintain and store geographical data and is typically used in city or county level. All these systems provide data that is required for the police response and dispatch response.
According to my opinion, the computer aided dispatch is the most efficient data collection system because of the various benefits. This system is in a position to apply the advanced and latest Mobile Technologies (Santos 2013). These technologies are able to provide police with the access to live supporting and geospatial data on tablets, laptops, and smartphones. Consequently, the collected information helps the police to make knowledgeable decisions right away in the field. This in turn makes the CAD an efficient data collection in the contemporary world.
Computer aided dispatch is also more effective to make the record keeping easier and convenient. CAD allows data entry that provides information regarding all the call for services that are received in the police department (Santos 2013). This helps the department to keep a record of all the events that are happening along the streets. With this information, police are able to formulate effective measures to analyze the available information and come up with the response measures.
Different with the other two types of data collection system, CAD can be applied to trace the location addresses with the utmost frequencies of calls for services in a specified period, for instance the last 5 months. These addresses can be used by the police as the fundamentals for problem solving tasks. This allows a subsequent analysis that can assist to measure the impact of the problem solving at the crime scene within success demonstrated by the calls (Santos 2013). The CAD system is also capable of identifying the emerging hot spot areas. This identification can be used by the police to prevent activities that may grow up to solemn hot spot challenges.
In addition to data collection, CAD can be used to conduct a customer satisfaction survey. The system is applied to define whether the citizens were comfortable with the police response at the crime scene. le This is because, this system includes telephone number, name and address that provides relevant information to conduct this survey.
In conclusion, the records management systems and geographical data system are more vulnerable to technological advancement than CAD. Currently, the CAD technology is continuingly being linked with various criminal history databases across the globe (Santos 2013). The EMS dispatch and fire dispatch centers, jails and other police jurisdictions are beginning to apply the CAD technology to regulate crime. Not only today but also in future that this CAD technology will be applied. The system opens a window of opportunity in the police department to restructure and update operations, provide quick and convenient response and keep the police safe via the historical data.
Reference
Santos, R. B. (2013). Crime analysis with crime mapping, 3rd Ed. Los Angeles: Sage
