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Roger Luebkeman, a police lieutenant for the Santa Clara Police
Department, searched for years. The target of his search wasn’t a criminal or
a felon, but a device that could automate accident and crime reports for his
department. He went through many trial runs of various hand-helds, and acquired a
drawer-full of devices that all had shortcomings.
When Lieutenant Luebkeman was introduced to a hand-held device
with built-in wireless communications from Lowry Computer Products, he knew that this
could be the "perfect" hand-held. Lowry’s team not only supplied the
hardware and accessories, but also helped him develop an application called PDACop for his law
enforcement officers.
"Officers now have a device that is very rugged, lightweight,
has built-in wireless communications, and a magnetic-stripe attachment," said Lt.
Luebkeman, "everything that was required for an officer on the street." Once the
information is collected, it is uploaded to the PC in the patrol car via a wireless PCMCIA card
inserted into the laptop.The PDACop software includes a crime report module, field
interview, and traffic collision report. The wireless hand-held enables officers to
collect victim, witness, and suspect information. It documents vehicles involved in accidents
and also creates records of stolen property. Drop down selection lists help
increase the speed and accuracy of data entry.
"The officers cut their time in half for writing up
reports," said Lt. Luebkeman. "They were extremely pleased in the amount of paperwork that was cut, so
they can go out and do their jobs. It also cut time spent by others entering
information into a database to create reports and deciphering officersEhandwriting," he
added.
Due to the nature of police work, the device has to be
water-resistant during wet weather when accidents tend to happen, visible in the dark for
nighttime crime or accident scenes, mobile up to several feet from the police car so
officers can gather statements at the scene, and durable if dropped during a skirmish.
"My PDACop device has survived several falls and constant
rattling in the saddlebag of my motorcycle," said Officer Randy Sheleman. "All the
officers love it!".
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