The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) in 2017 completed the transition to a modern computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, a critical component of the 9-1-1 emergency service system. The PremierOne CAD system replaced an outdated 20-year-old CAD system, giving the city's emergency responders state-of-the-art tools that will improve law enforcement service in the community.

Features of the new $1.4 million CAD system, which was funded by Measure P, include GPS positioning of patrol personnel, ensuring the closest units are dispatched to emergency calls; turn-by-turn navigation, showing officers the quickest route to a call; detailed mapping with GPS technologies and real-time remote monitoring; a modern platform capable of interfacing with portable devices such as tablets and smartphones; and improved capabilities on each officer's mobile data computer and eventually on city-issued smartphones.

Police dispatchers now have seven monitors showing various control panels and databases. One monitor displays a GPS map with the originating location of a 9-1-1 call. The maps also shows real-time movements of police vehicles in the area.

The CAD system automatically assigns incident numbers, allowing dispatchers and officers easy access to find an incident information when needed for reports and follow-up.

This smart city initiative extends the capabilities of officers and has the potential to reduce the amount of time police personnel spend on administrative tasks, thereby making more time available for proactive community policing work. Utilizing these CAD devices and incorporating them into police operations is a key step toward enhancing public safety capabilities.

Project Highlights

• Network of smartphones assigned to sworn officers
• Real-time tracking of patrol vehicles
• Reduced administrative time 
• Increased public safety