NCJ Number
17523
Journal
SHERIFF'S STAR Volume: 18 Issue: 8 Dated: (JANUARY 1975) Pages: 2-5
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MODICOM SYSTEM, ITS APPLICATIONS AND ADVANTAGES, AND THE EFFECT IT HAS HAD ON LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY IN THE FLORIDA CITIES NOW UTILIZING THE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN THE MODICOM SYSTEM, THE DEPUTY IN THE PATROL CAR AND THE DISPATCHER AT HEADQUARTERS EACH HAS A COMPUTER TERMINAL KEYBOARD AND A VIDEO SCREEN. MESSAGES MAY BE TRANSMITTED ON THE VIDEO DISPLAY. THE MOBILE UNITS FIT ON SPECIAL MOUNTS IN THE PATROL CARS AND CAN BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE CAR TO ANOTHER WITH EASE. IN FLORIDA, FIVE SHERIFFS' DEPARTMENTS ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF USING OR IMPLEMENTING MODICOM SYSTEMS. THEY ARE PALM BEACH, BROWARD, SARASOTA, HILLSBOROUGH AND PINELLAS. THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS SYSTEM ARE DECREASED USE OF THE VOICE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS, GREATER SPEED IN CHECKING LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS FOR POSSIBLE STOLEN CARS, GREATER EASE IN POLICE REPORT WRITING, AND INACCESSIBILITY OF THE COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS TO CRIMINAL ELEMENTS. THIS SYSTEM ALSO ALLOWS EASY ACCESS TO NECESSARY FILES IN THE CRIME INFORMATION CENTER AND THE FBI'S NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER.