Chicomm Blog

Public safety agencies are pros at maximizing their resources to go above and beyond with less, and the new trends in emergency vehicle equipment reflect that ability.

One common theme across the newest products is that they pack as much power into as small a device or as little space as possible. From three-in-one exterior lights for police cruisers to small mobile radios with oversized controls for firefighters, equipment is working harder, not larger, to keep first responders safe.

The start of a new year is always an exciting time to look ahead at new features and functionality, so here are some emergency vehicle equipment trends for 2017:

Many of the best public safety blogs are written by law enforcement, for law enforcement. But in addition to connecting officers across public safety agencies, blogs can also be an effective way for law enforcement to engage with their communities.

Police departments around the country are using public safety blogs to further their overall community policing strategies, with the ability to quickly disseminate information, offer the public a glimpse into the world of policing and even get a laugh or two.

Here are 7 reasons your agency might want to consider publishing public safety blogs.  

As more police departments – and state legislatures – weigh the use of police body cameras, cost has emerged as the leading barrier. In addition to funding the equipment, training and maintenance, departments and municipalities must also cover the considerable cost of storing video footage.

Storage costs, in fact, have proven to the be most expensive part of a body camera program, according to a Department of Justice Report, “Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program: Recommendations and Lessons Learned.” 

“Storing videos over the long term is an ongoing, extreme cost that agencies have to anticipate,” said Captain Thomas Roberts of Las Vegas in the report. While the cameras generally range in cost from $300 to $800 per officer, which is a fixed cost, the bill for storage can be close to $1,500 per year, per unit, which is an ongoing cost.

Law enforcement agencies across the country are coming up with creative solutions to minimize their storage costs for body cameras, so let’s take a look at three of them.

Much has changed about public engagement for public safety agencies since the days when officers were encouraged not to interact with the people on their beats and not to get too attached to any one community or neighborhood.

Today, departments around the country are successfully engaging with the public outside of strictly law enforcement activities to build mutual trust, relationships and connections. Some departments have gotten particularly creative in their public engagement work, making officers a presence in communities beyond walking the beat, while giving members of the public unique opportunities to be heard. Agencies are also using wireless communications technology to keep in constant contact.

By building dialogues online and in person, here are some examples of public safety agencies that are making public engagement a two-way street. 

Your police public information officer (PIO) is in charge of developing and implementing your public safety communications strategy, and chances are, they’ve got some things they’d love to change.

Because PIOs’ primary responsibility is to interact with the news media during emergencies and situations that are of the public interest, it’s tempting to think that’s where their jobs begin and end. But PIOs also serve an important community relations function and can coordinate communications during large-scale events – if they’re given the room to do so.

Here are five public safety communications strategies that we bet your police PIO wants to change.

When I think about the communications trends among our health care industry clients, one of the biggest emerging themes is collaboration: Hospitals and medical centers are looking for devices, applications and solutions that bring departments, agencies and sites together on the same platform so they can keep in touch to address situations.

Every health care client is different, and within those clients, each department has their own unique communications needs, from the emergency department, to facilities, valet and beyond. As I mentioned in a previous post about school transportation, all of our communications solutions are custom built for each client. Part of our challenge then is to develop systems that work well for each client and all of its parts.

It’s an exciting time to be working in health care, and here are the communications trends that are transforming the industry:

As two way radio makers roll out new products and features, they send a strong message for customers: We hear you.

Manufacturers say recent trends – from high-visibility colors to more lightweight options – have been developed in response to feedback from customers across industries and use cases.  

Here are some of the trends we're seeing for two way radios.

Technology in education is constantly evolving in exciting ways, from apps that aid in learning to communications equipment that enhances school safety. We know that administrators are always looking for economical ways to use technology to address their challenges, so we’d like to share this case study from one Illinois district that made the smart switch to radios.

By transitioning staff and administrators from cell phones to MOTOTRBO two-way radios, Fremont School District 79 (SD 79) not only improved communications, they transformed their school safety.

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the specific advantages that radios have over cell phones for Fremont SD 79 and districts like it.

Motorola radio accessories are the best way to kick everything about your Motorola radio up a notch – or more. Accessories take devices that are already built to be mission critical and tailor them to what individual users, businesses, public safety agencies and industries need.

They go through the same rigorous testing as the radios themselves to ensure that they meet the same standards for durability and reliability. And across each category of accessories, there’s a wide enough range of functionality to give each one versatility for different users.

As you’re looking to outfit a new or existing radio, here are 7 must-have Motorola radio accessories to keep in mind.

In government and public safety, wireless communications aren’t a luxury, they’re lifesavers. Every year, the equipment and features available become even more sophisticated in their ability to ensure everyone’s safety. That knowledge is one thing, and getting the budget and funding approved is another thing.

Our teams are well aware of the challenges that government entities face, and we tailor communications systems that fit agencies’ and municipalities’ needs today and into the future.

As I’ve talked to clients and kept track of trends, here are some of the most innovative and budget friendly wireless communication solutions for government that I’ve come across.