The city of Akron (Akron) and The University of Akron (UA) have teamed up to provide faster response, better record-keeping, improved crime analysis and more efficient evidence processing through a shared police computer and information system. This new joint system, which went live today, Aug. 5, 2013, should provide better response to calls from students, faculty and staff of the University.
The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Record Management Systems (RMS) are hosted and maintained by Akron. Over the past two years, teams from Akron and The University of Akron Police Department (UAPD) have collaborated through many hours of hard work to bring the systems to the University.
Paul Callahan
The CAD and RMS systems are essential to the scheduling, dispatching and tracking of police officers in the field when they respond to public safety calls. CAD and RMS also help dispatchers monitor response activity and play a key role in tracking evidence.
Enhanced services
"This new collaboration means better police service to our campus and surrounding community," says UAPD chief Paul Callahan. "This also enhances officer safety, allowing campus and city police to access and share critical information almost immediately.”
“This is just another example of how collaboration can improve services, make the city safer and save money,” said Mayor Don Plusquellic.
While CAD and RMS provide digital copies of incident reports to state and federal agencies, the new system means students and citizens will be now able to receive digital copies of reports by e-mail as well. Previously, reports for incidents that UAPD responded to were only available as hard copies, received either by mail or in person. A request for a digital copy of a police report can be made to UAPD and on the Internet.
The new system has no impact on how people contact the police for assistance. For those at UA, the call process does not change. You can call either 2911 or 911. The city of Akron will get the call and route it to the UAPD if necessary. For adjoining areas where both APD and UAPD may respond, police in the field for both departments will now see the same incidence report and can better coordinate their activities.
Media contacts: Laura Massie, director of media relations, The University of Akron, 330-972-6476 or massie1@uakron.edu, or Stephanie York, director of communications, city of Akron330-572-7581 or syork@akronohio.gov.