What is public safety software and how does it help police fleets optimize their operations?

Public safety software is critical for police departments that want to be data-driven and strive for better officer safety, increased transparency and higher cost savings. However, with many different types of public safety software available, it can be challenging to know where to start when navigating the landscape and finding a solution that will suit your department’s specific needs. This article will explain what public safety software is, the various forms it can take and how it can optimize your operations. We’ll also examine several important factors for you to consider when searching for a police fleet solution, one of the most fundamental types of public safety software.

What is public safety software?

Public safety software describes any digital platform that helps first responder teams coordinate their day-to-day operations and effectively serve the people in their communities. While public safety software can assist with services like emergency medical care or fire response, this article will closely look at its applications for law enforcement.

Public safety software types for police departments can include, but are not limited to:

• Workforce management applications
• Dispatching and scheduling systems
• Communication platforms
• Evidence management systems
• Fleet management solutions

Each of these systems can play an integral role in helping your police department run more efficiently and enhance community protection. Additionally, public safety solutions can often integrate with each other, enabling information to be freely shared and managed across all aspects of operations. You can use many of the aforementioned types of public safety software to coordinate your personnel in concert with a fleet management solution, which can boost your police vehicles’ performance.

Key public safety fleet software features for police departments

Public safety fleet software can provide a holistic policing solution that connects to all aspects of your operations, making it easier to report , analyze and optimize  These solutions provide powerful policing data that helps you uncover the truth, protect your personnel and reduce waste in your operations. Several essential fleet features for data-driven policing include: 

Driver safety tools - Study acceleration, braking, speeding, cornering and collision reports to promote safer driving, enhance officer protection and reduce risk.

Risk analyses - Discover what your fleet’s risk of experiencing a future collision is with AI-enabled calculations that are based on characteristics specific to your police fleet. 

Fleet maintenance capabilities - Track vehicle service schedules and use predictive maintenance features to proactively anticipate vehicle care needs.

Diagnostic insights - Be notified of engine fault codes in near real-time and other key indicators of vehicle health, such as battery and tire pressure statuses.

Integrations - Connect data from critical assets like dash and body cameras, gun racks and lights and sirens to your fleet management system.

Fuel consumption and utilization metrics - Analyze your fleet’s fuel expenditure and unearth insights that help you identify overused and underused vehicles in your police fleet.

The benefits of public safety fleet software in police operations

Using the aforementioned features of public safety fleet software, you can increase precision and efficiency while serving your community. Drive value in every aspect of your operations in powerful ways like these.

Stronger officer safety: Retain crucial fleet data that can help protect your officers by backing up footage from dash cameras and body-worn cameras. Increase safety by identifying where your nearest vehicles are in relation to an officer who needs backup and making proximity-based dispatching decisions. Use AI-enabled insights to determine the likelihood of your vehicles being involved in a collision and reduce risk. If collision does occur, use collision reconstruction capabilities to determine fault and identify strategies to help prevent future incidents from occurring.

Enhanced transparency: Analyze reports on fleet insights and field activities to maintain accountability in your operations. Increase officer presence in under-policed areas with spatial data and by studying GPS locations for each vehicle in your police fleet. Communicate to the public your use of technologies to serve all areas of your jurisdiction evenly.

Greater operational visibility: Increase situational awareness with near real-time vehicle data and respond to incidents faster by coordinating your fleet with efficiency. Study driver behaviors to limit unsafe driving practices like speeding, harsh accelerations and abrupt braking when not in pursuit. By identifying inefficiencies in your policing strategies with data, you can then develop new strategies to reduce them and better serve the public.

Better vehicle performance and longevity: Reduce downtime in your police fleet through utilization reporting that helps you identify the best ways to even out usage. Rely on predictive maintenance insights, near real-time vehicle alerts and diagnostic data to know when the optimal time to tune up your vehicles is.

Cost savings: Responsibly use public funds by using fleet insights to report on and curb fuel consumption, idling and unnecessary speeding. Save on maintenance expenses with a data-driven preventive care strategy for your vehicles and right-size your police fleet to reduce underutilization.

Choosing the right public safety fleet solution for your police department

When searching for the best fleet solution for your police department, there are several important questions to consider.

1. Can this solution replace many of the separate solutions I use for my operations?
2. Can this platform integrate with other systems I already use, like gun racks, video telematics, body-worn cameras, cabin temperature sensors and lights and siren systems?
3. Does this solution provide the data I need to make more strategic decisions?
4. Does the platform offer customizable reporting options?
5. Will this solution demonstrate a clearly responsible use of taxpayer funds and help me keep my community safer?

Asking these essential questions can help you determine if the public safety fleet software you’re researching is worth the investment. 

Geotab’s comprehensive solution for police services

Geotab offers a comprehensive solution for police fleets that includes Geotab GO devices for vehicles, the MyGeotab web application and IOX-AUXM devices, which can transfer data to MyG from gun racks, signal converters, lights, sirens and other key assets. Additionally, temperature monitoring systems can be connected to verify proper cabin climates are maintained for people transport or K-9 vehicles. Geotab GO Anywhere is another add-on capability that enables your department to track non-powered assets like signage or trailers. With this end-to-end public safety software solution, you can enhance safety, accountability and cost savings as you serve the public.

Discover more about how to support your policing operations with data using Geotab’s police fleet management solutions by booking a 1:1 consultation.