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Thursday, February 8, 2001 Holly Hill officers among first to try 'Dick Tracy' -inspired pagersBy JOHN BOZZO | News-Journal Staff Writer HOLLY HILL — Generations of readers grew up enchanted by comic strip detective Dick Tracy and his two-way wrist radio in the days long before the advances in computers and telecommunications. The detective wore a wristwatch-like device that foretold a future of mobile video-audio communications. It said technology was good. Technology can fight crime. Parents may have smiled and shaken their heads at the image of a two-way wrist radio, but it made perfect sense to legions of younger readers even years ago when black-and-white television and transistor radios were cutting edge. A pager being tested by Holly Hill police offers telecommunications portability similar to that foreshadowed by the famous comic crime stopper. "It's like Dick Tracy's two-way wrist radio comes to Holly Hill," Acting Police Chief Mark Barker said. Holly Hill officers are learning to use the latest advance in pager technology that may not carry pictures or act like a radio, but does offer crime-fighting telecommunications features. The pager, about the size of a cigarette pack, has a display screen and keypad that enables officers to send and receive messages, as well as retrieve information. It can be worn on a belt. Capabilities include faxes, e-mails and data-to-voice transmissions whereby officers can type a phone message that triggers a digital voice for the person answering the call. Officers also can access data bases like the National Crime Information System and Florida Crime Information System to check vehicle registrations, driver's licenses, stolen goods and if someone is wanted for arrest. Barker said Holly Hill is one of the first Florida cities to test the two-way, interactive pager, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He's very happy with results of the test that has been going on about a week and will continue about two more weeks. The system provides greater flexibility and security for officers in accessing information than radio calls that can be overheard by suspects, or returning to a patrol car to access information with a laptop computer. The pager has a vibrate mode to silently alert an officer that a suspect may be wanted. "In terms of officer safety and using technology to work more efficiently, this is probably the cutting edge in law enforcement technology," Barker said. Officer Keith Pendleton said he liked being able to access information without leaving a suspect, or having the suspect overhear a radio call. "It's real quick, real direct," he said. Cingular Wireless (a joint venture between BellSouth Mobility and SBC Communications) and Kinetic Wireless are working with Holly Hill on the test. Officials with the companies said there's interest from other law enforcement agencies and a potential business opportunity. "Once we're in the door, I believe the floodgates will open," said Will Gillespie of Cingular Wireless. Holly Hill is funding the test with federal Law Enforcement Block Grant money. Five pagers being tested cost $995, plus a monthly $220 charge for wireless communication service. Barker said the city's police dispatch system will maintain computer logs of the contents of messages, along with the names of the sender and receiver, so public records are preserved. |
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