Cover Story

Eyes wide open

By Donny Jackson (donald.jackson@penton.com)

In the past, law-enforcement officers never knew what they were getting into when they executed a traffic stop. Today, tools abound — and more are on the way — that keep officers safer and help them do their jobs better....

Features

United we stand (with related video)

By Bart R. Johnson

How engagement between the federal government and a nationwide network of state and major urban area fusion centers enhances America's homeland security....

The need for speed

By Patrick Wood

WAN optimization helps retailers better leverage video in order to increase sales....

Good investment

By Todd Mechler

The importance of regular tower and site maintenance cannot be underestimated. ...

First Word

What keeps you up at night? We really want to know

By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)

So, what keeps you up at night? We really want to know and are presenting a webinar next week (on Wednesday, Sept. 21) to find out. Each person who registers for this event — which is sponsored by Cassidian Communications — will be asked to provide a question that is of vital importance to him or her. ...

View from the Top

Let’s come together on social media

By Charles Werner

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate established the Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG). Members interface with their colleagues and other subject-matter experts to examine common first-responder issues....

On the Line

Without the right tools, a tough job gets tougher

By Mary Rose Roberts (maryrose.roberts@penton.com)

When Kim Conway started her career as a dispatcher for the city of Cape Girardeau, Mo., she used a No. 2 pencil and index cards to record information, using a series of codes or shorthand, to identify an incident, such as a fight in progress. Now, a CAD system does most of the work, providing an interactive GUI that makes it easier for dispatchers to process and record data, such as a landline caller’s location....

Final Word

Know your rights regarding frequency coordination

By Alan Tilles

When interference or other problems arise post-licensing, frequency advisory committees are required by the commission’s rules to get involved. Helping to resolve these post-licensing conflicts is an important, non-compensated part of a frequency coordinator’s responsibility. The coordinator’s involvement can take a variety of forms, too numerous for discussion in this article....

Dispatches

Results of Bay Area LTE network tests released

By Donny Jackson

In his report, mobile wireless consultant Andrew Seybold notes that 10 MHz of spectrum will not be enough to support real-time video unless the event occurs within a half mile from the cell site....

Gear

An interoperability app is handy to have when Tony Blair comes to town

By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)

Watch any crime drama on television these days and you’ll see detectives and special agents relying on smartphones and high-tech applications for their voice and data communications. But the reality is a bit different, says David Kahn, CEO of software developer Covia Labs. ...