York Regional Police is rolling out its new Connected Officer Program aimed at modernizing day-to-day law enforcement activities by reducing paperwork and increasing community engagement.
The program "enables and empowers officers to make crucial decisions more quickly, share and access information, intelligence and insight and capture critical information, such as eNotes, witness statements and digital evidence, enhancing communication and above all, assisting in reducing crime," according to a news release.
Beginning with a pilot project involving 25 officers, the program will eventually see every frontline officer equipped with a Samsung Galaxy S21FE device, which is customizable with an array of patrol-related applications.
The force began exploring electronic note-taking technologies in 2017 as it continues to work toward eliminating pen-and-paper processes.
"Moving to an eNotes system allows for better integration of our records and systems, resulting in greater efficiencies and time savings for officers," the news release states. "Keeping officers connected while still in the field means increased engagement with our community and better service delivery to all residents."
“Using eNotes will reduce administrative time for frontline members, keeping those members where they belong – in the community, not in the station,” said Infrastructure Services Superintendent Kelvin Chantiam. “This will allow our frontline to better respond to calls and engage with our residents more frequently.”
In 2022, YRP will deploy more than 1,100 smartphones. The first users will include officers on patrol, with phones later being distributed to investigators in criminal investigations bureaus and specialized units.
Training for officers includes an introduction to the eNotes application, known as Intelligent Mobile Patrol, which was designed specifically for YRP by the app's creator Digital Mobility Inc.
In keeping with our commitment to modernizing our service, we will continue to invest in new technologies to provide the most effective and efficient service possible to ensure our community remains one of the safest in Canada.
Click here for a video on the eNotes application.
