MANAGING PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
Divided into four sectionspublic safety agencies, key issues like interoperability and cybercrime, management skills, and emerging trends like the transfer of military technologies to civilian agencies, Managing Public Safety Technology illustrates how essential managing technology is to the success of any project. Based on the authors years of experience dealing with information systems and other tools, this book offers guidance for line personnel, supervisors, managers, and anyone dealing with public safety technology.
Designed for current or future public safety personnel, especially those in management, Managing Public Safety Technology can also be used for undergraduate and graduate public safety management and leadership programs.
Jeffrey A. Rose has an extensive background in training law enforcement officers, as well as a bachelors degree in human resource management and a masters degree in education. He has taught numerous courses throughout the country on diverse topics, including criminal justice, administration, budgets, human resource management, and technology. He is a Captain with the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department (California), where he has been a member of the department for over 30 years. Captain Rose has worked in a variety of assignments including Corrections, Patrol, Investigations, Watch Commander, and numerous administrative and managerial positions. He is currently the Commander of one of the largest jails in the State of California, and was previously the Commander of the Emergency Operations Division and the Sheriff Regional Training Center (Academy).
Donald C. Lacher is Chair of the Criminal Justice Management program at the Union Institute and University. He retired at the rank of Captain from the Monrovia (California) Police Department after 31 years of honorable service, including management of both the Services and Operations Divisions. At the rank of Lieutenant he served as the Tactical Response Team Commander, Watch Commander, Detective Bureau Commander, DRE Program Coordinator, and Explorer Advisor. Captain Lacher earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice from California State University-Los Angeles and a masters degree in organizational management from the University of La Verne. He is also a graduate of POST Center for Leadership Development-Command College.
Heretofore, there was little systematic guidance for public agency practitioners and/or educators in navigating the murky waters of publicly-funded technology procurement. Authors Lacher and Rose now provide that much-needed guidance and wisdom about this process from concept to fruition. This book is a must-read for everyone in academia and the public sector.
Paul Cappitelli,Executive Director of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (Retired)
This book is a must read for all public safety personnel who are tasked with a technology project. Millions of tax payer dollars are spent on public safety technology projects. This book provides practical guidelines and examples that will help you save time and money.
Detective Laren Leichliter,San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, San Bernardino County Safety Employees Benefit Association (President), California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission (Chair)
First published 2017
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2017 Taylor & Francis
The right of Jeffrey A. Rose and Donald C. Lacher to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this book has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-138-68995-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-323-29609-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-39786-3 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
This book is dedicated to the men and women who have worked in the public safety field or the military and paid the ultimate sacrifice. You will never be forgotten.
A special dedication to the late Sergeant Robert Rose of the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Robert was a nationally recognized expert in technology and computer crimes. He inspired and mentored many law enforcement officers that were interested in law enforcement technology. Rest in peace, Rob!
This book is written for students and public safety professionals interested in technology. Public safety agencies spend thousands of dollars each year training their personnel on department specific topics like firearms, defensive tactics, fire suppression and officer safety. However, when was the last time a public safety agency sent an officer, supervisor or even a manager to a course that discusses the basic principles of project management, factors for developing a department policy or the way to manage a controversial piece of equipment like a body-worn camera? It simply doesnt happen. Public safety is integrated with technology programs and equipment, but who is actually responsible for the technology?
Typically, a chief, sheriff or department head will decide that the department needs a piece of technology or a computer program that will help the overall efficiency of the department. The task of handling this assignment usually falls to a manager or supervisor who has not been trained in the procurement process for the agency, in how to negotiate with a vendor or in how to properly conduct a needs analysis report. The sad part of this scenario is that public safety spends millions of dollars each year on technology, yet very little is spent on training personnel who are actually responsible for the technology project or equipment purchase.
An informed and educated public safety manager is not only better able to manage technology, but also is more apt to utilize technology in an effective way. Public safety personnel, specifically those in supervisor or management positions, must have a basic understanding of technology in order for a project to be successful. One only has to read the local newspaper to find a story about how the public is upset at local politicians because tax dollars were spent on a project, only to see it fail because of poor management.
The public expects and demands that public safety personnel understand and utilize technology in the performance of their jobs. Technology transcends all aspects of public safety. The general public watches television and is surrounded with innovative technology and equipment. The public expects public safety agencies to use the same type of equipment to solve crime, save lives and protect property.
This book also includes a mixture of contemporary issues facing public safety. Although the book has a primary focus on managers, the information is applicable to all public safety personnel working in law enforcement, courts, corrections and fire services. Students interested in public safety will also benefit from the information provided because it is not just a how to book. It is designed to give a unique perspective on management issues and on the ways technology will influence public safety in the future. The book is divided into four units of instruction with specific chapters that provide an overview of public safety technology.
