Chicomm Blog

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.

School transportation is one of the parts of running a district or campus that has the most moving parts -- quite literally. Buses and other vehicles have to be dispatched and tracked, student class and activity schedules must be coordinated, and for all of that to happen successfully, reliable communication is essential. Whether your district is large or small, your communications solution is tasked with keeping everything running smoothly and all personnel in contact.

Compared to cell phones, radios offer enhanced durability, reliability and functionality, as well as reduced cost, and they’re an ideal way to centralize communications. Two-way radios and mobile radios are user-friendly, and the overall solution is easily scalable for when districts are ready to expand their capabilities or number of users.

In this blog, I'll share some creative ways to use communications to streamline your school transportation system.

Hospitality management is one of the most complex – and most rewarding – leadership careers there is. You’re not only delivering a service, you’re creating exceptional experiences for guests, whether they’re business travelers, moms out for a girls’ weekend or high school students traveling for a band competition.

You are helping guests create memories, and to do that well takes a touch of inspiration. To create that spark, we’ve compiled wisdom from some of the giants in the hospitality industry.

Let’s let these legendary hoteliers speak for themselves; here are 30 inspirational quotes for hospitality management:

Think about the last great customer service experiences you’ve had and what made them so remarkable: Was it the responsiveness of the staff? Their attention to detail? Their ability to resolve your issue on the first try? 

Now think about your own operation and whether customers – either internal or external – can say the same about their dealings with you. If the answer isn’t a resounding yes!, that’s a sure sign that your customer service needs some more attention.

If you’re wondering whether the investment in upgrading your customer service operation is worth it, consider this: 85 percent of U.S. respondents in a 2010 customer service report said they would pay more to ensure a superior customer experience. And 82 percent of consumers stopped doing business with a company because of a bad customer experience.

The real question, then, may be: Can you afford not to invest in better customer service?  Backed by both research and anecdotes, here are three key reasons why you should spend more time thinking about customer service: